Just returned from Poly - Great stay!

[pozey]

We just returned from a stay at the Poly. We were there from June 8 - 15.

We had a wonderful stay. The trip was not without its ups and downs, but as far as the Poly was concerned....it was great.

We arrived at the Poly at about 2:00 on Wednesday, June 8. Check in was pretty much a breeze. In fact the Cast Member that checked me in was a fellow Oklahoman and fellow University of Oklahoma grad (or student).

I had requested the Tahiti Longhouse, non-smoking, 3rd floor room, with a balcony. Well, we got the Tahiti longhouse, but we were put on the 1st floor. I asked her if there were any 3rd floor rooms available and she told me no. She said that they were rehabbing some of the 3rd floor rooms. I'm a little disappointed in not getting the 3rd floor with a balcony, but oh, well....no biggie....we're at Disney.... She says our room is ready and gives us our keys.

We find our way over to the Tahiti Longhouse and find our room. We are (to put it mildly) pleasantly surprised at the size of the rooms. There are 2 queen beds and a daybed. And the bathroom is very spacious, with 2 sinks, and everything is inside the bathroom. This is convenient since I could shower and blow dry my hair in the morning without waking everyone else up.

But I was kind of disappointed in the view. Just outside our patio was a huge clump of trees, shrubs, and bushes that blocked about 2/3 of the view. Standing right in the middle of the patio we could see Space Mountain clearly, but Cinderella's Castle was completely blocked. We had to walk out in the grass and to the right about 15 feet to see the castle clearly. Minor issue, but still disappointed me somewhat. Again....no real biggie....we're at Disney. The beach was about 20 yards from the patio.

At night we could see the Wishes fireworks, but we would actually have to walk out to the beach to see them because of the trees and shrubs.

Anyway.....the kids loved the pools, especially the slide at the Volcano pool. The grounds were beautiful. We had breakfast twice at Kona Cafe and a couple of times in Captain Cook's.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Welcome back! Glad to hear you had a wonderful trip. We're staying at the Poly for the first time in August and cannot wait! Thanks for the report!

 

[johnsonet]

Welcome home. I stayed at the Poly for the first time this March and really loved it. We, too, were in Tahiti but were in a garden view room. We just LOVED the bldg. and the "private" beach behind it. Next time I stay there, if not concierge, I will be requesting/begging for/demanding the Tahiti Longhouse and reserving a lagoon view room. I felt it would be ideal - sorry your views were somewhat blocked~

 

[PamNC]

for teh report - I'm glad you enjoyed the Poly. It's our favorite resort. They should trim those bushes and shrubs...really!

PamNC

 

[pozey]

The more the week went by, the less I cared about not having a 3rd floor room. I adapt....I'm on vacation....I'm at DISNEY!! Plus, by the end of the trip, I had myself a couple of pet ducks. I had brought a package of crackers to snack on and I would go out and feed my ducks each morning. There were a couple that would catch them out of the air and eat out of my hand. One morning, I swear they were knocking on the patio door telling me they were ready for breakfast!!

The trees and shrubs that blocked the view was a minor disappointment, but I really feel sorry for the people in the room right next to us. The view from that room would be completely blocked. In fact, I'm not sure they had less than 5 feet between the end of their patio to the cluster of trees and shrubs.

 

[Tikiman]

Thanks for the report. Sounds like you had one of the rooms right near the middle entrance to the building.

Aloha

Steve

 

[pozey]

Thanks for the report. Sounds like you had one of the rooms right near the middle entrance to the building.

Aloha

Steve

Yep. Room 1030. I think it was 2 rooms down (on the TTC side) from the very middle of the building.

For the first 2 days, there was scaffolding right next to our patio. I assumed that they were working on the 3rd floor room next to us. But we never saw any workers, nor did we hear a sound. In fact, the rooms were VERY quiet.

Later in the week, I noticed some workers down toward the very end of the longhouse.

Again, we loved the Poly. Just kind of wished we could have been just a couple of rooms down.

I'll post some pictures either later this afternoon or tomorrow.

 

[Tikiman]

We checked in to room 2029 (right against those trees) and could not see much of anything (one of the very few rooms that are blocked) and we just asked if there was another lagoon view room open. They moved us to Tuvalu (than called Samoa) and we had a great view.

I just found out that they are working on and have already cut back on some of the trees and bushes that block some of the rooms in Tahiti and Hawaii lagoon view. I know about a year ago they took down the two trees over at Tuvalu that blocked the view so now none of the rooms at Tuvlau lagoon view are blocked.

Atleast they are trying to make things better. I am glad you still had a good time.

Aloha

Steve

 

[pozey]

I thought about asking to be moved once we got to our room and saw the view. But my wife said not to bother and as the week went along, it bothered me less and less.

My only real regret is that we never got to see the Electrical Water Parade from the beach. We saw Wishes several times from the beach, but always seemed to miss the EWP.

 

[Tikiman]

That is too bad. One of the best parts about the Polyensian is the EWP is right before the fireworks. They do this for the Polyensian so that they can view the two back to back becasue the EWP was designed for the opening ceremony for the Polynesian back in 1971 so it sort of is their show.

Well next time.

Aloha

Steve

 

[WDWLinda]

Is your website back up? We're staying in the Poly. lagoon view, in Oct. and I'd like to request a first floor room where we can see the EWP and fireworks. Thought I'd find a suggestion on your website, now I can't find it...

Thanks!
~Linda

 

[Tikiman]

Well it went back down today. There has just been too much traffic and I also need to do a few things to help reduce the download size. Also I have been finding out some people have my web page as their home page so every time they open the internet it comes up and uses up bandwidth.

Sorry it is down. I will do what I can to help it but it is just too expensive to upgrade the bandwidth since I don't get any money for my site so I have to pay for the upgrades myself. It will be back up on July 4th.

I would say that just about every ground floor room has a view of the EWP but even if it is partly blocked you can walk to the beach like we usually do. They have been working on trimming and even removing some of the trees and plants from the lagoon side to help with the blocked views.

If you have questions you can post them here or email me.

steves5150@yahoo.com

I will be in Disneyland next week so let me know before I go.

 

[pozey]

Hey Steve.....

Just a general question......not a complaint, just an observation....

We were there for pretty much a full week. The grass was never mowed the entire time we were there. When do they mow? I realize that the grass on the grounds is fescue and fescue really doesn't grow real long like the bermuda grass we have here at home. But by the time we left, it was beginning to look like it needed a little trim.

Just thinking out loud....

 

[Tikiman]

You know I think I have only seen the lawn mowed once during the day out of all my stays and a few times we were there a couple of weeks. I would guess once a week but I am not sure.

 

[WDWLinda]

Thanks Steve...I only glanced at your site once, but I remember it was really helpful. You certainly help a lot of people out, its too bad you're so popular that you get bogged down. All I ask is for it to be back up by early Oct., before we go.

So what bldg should I ask for - my dream is to lay in bed and watch the EWP and the MK firweorks. We have 2 little ones, so I'd prefer not to bring them out on the beach too late. It would be really great if we could see the castle too...and non-smoking.

I appreciate any advice you can give!

~Linda

 

[Tikiman]

Linda,

If you don't need a beach outside your slider than maybe get a lagoon view room and ask for Tuvalu. None of those rooms are blocked. That is not to say that there are not plenty of great views from Tahiti and Aotearoa lagoon view rooms but Tuvalu is right there with nothing between it and the lagoon.

Aloha

Steve

 

[chamonix]

I just wanted to add that I have seen them mowing the grass several times. I have no idea on what type of schedule they mow though.

Another Tikiman fan here, you rock Steve!
I was just on your site yesterday, and had already seen it was down today. I loved the new pictures! We're also planning a trip in October.

 

[BCV23]

Glad you had such a great stay overall, pozey.

Tikiman, I have to disagree with you about one thing....or maybe I just misread your post. The Electrical Water Pageant is at 9 each night year round.....unless Wishes is at 9 in which case it follows immediately after the fireworks end.

We did see an extra show around 8 a year or so ago but I think they might have been testing something as it came by again at its appointed time.

It has been at 9 as many years as we've been going. It is even listed that way in Island Palm Press. I think it is cool that it always starts at the Polynesian and I think it always ends at the CR....TRADITION!

 

[Pattymouse]

Leave it to me to notice these things, but when we were at the Polynesian 6 months ago (Nov/Dec) they mowed on Mondays. I LOVE a freshly mowed lawn! We will be there in two weeks and I will check it out.

Pat

 

[johnsonet]

Tikiman Can you give me any idea about the status of the Tahitibuilding right now? I have booked a standard garden view room for 3 nights in late July. I am really hoping that Tahiti will be available during that time~
Any news on the upgrade schedule?
Thanks so much~
Have fun in DisneyLand