Count Down to Disney
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2007
- Messages
- 30
Okay, I have pouted for a week, now it is time to write my trip report! 
We were at the Polynesian resort from Oct 23 - Nov 3. Our kids were 12, 8 and 7 so, we decided it was the perfect time for a nice long trip.
We loved the Polynesian! We arrived at 1 p.m. (Our magical express departed at 12:10 or so from MCO. We stopped by the Wilderness Lodge and Contemporary first.) We were warmly greeted by Harry. I decided not to make any requests and just see what I got. We were placed in Tokelou second floor - room 2938. We loved Tokelou. It was the room right next to the outside stairwell. We did not hear a lot of noise as people went in and out. Our building was near the quiet pool but away from the main traffic area.
I felt our room was very clean. There was no mold or mildew in the tub. I felt around for dust since people were complaining. I did not find it in very many places. The lights, mirror, top of tv were all clean. Yes, the top of the coffee pot was dusty but since I don't drink coffee, I don't care. Besides, I am just not that bothered by things like that. The resort was full and it made me happier to have them arrange my kids' stuffed animals than worry about small things like that. Before I left, people complained about spider webs on the balcony. Yes, they were there between the railing posts but get real. Unless, the porches are hosed off every morning, they are going to come back. It is just nature. That's my two cents on that topic. I am very sensitive to how bright a room is and I did not feel our room was too dark.
Captain Cooks can be busy but we tried to get there before 7:30 a.m. to pick-up our food so, for us, it wasn't bad. Captain Cooks was always very clean. There was always at least one person restocking and wiping things down. The only time I saw overflowing trash cans was on Sat. Nov 3 and it was 10:30 and very busy. It was cleaned up in 10 minutes. We went to Ohana. It was okay. Not bad just not our favorite place. (By the way, our favorites were, in order, Jiko, Chef Mickey's Breakfast and Japanese Steakhouse.)
It was our first time on the dining plan and we loved it. It was easy to use. The cashiers helped explain it and my fellow disers had us prepared before we left.
The Volcano pool was lots of fun and we didn't feel like it was too crowded. We were able to play monkey in the middle as a family and not feel like we were running people over. It was definately cooler than the quiet pool. The slide was lots of fun too.
We watched fireworks and the electric light parade on the beach probably 7 times. It was very cool. Loved having the monorail. We were always bumming when we had to take the bus. The monorail was just so awesome.
Halloween was a ton of fun! We had gone to MNSSHP on the 26th and had a blast so, we were looking for something to do on Halloween. The Polynesian had a ton of fun things for us to do. There were beach games like tug-a-war and playing with a parachute. Later kids could paint Tiki masks $10 and decorate Trick-or-Treat bags $10 or $5. Then at 7, the kids could trick-or-treat in the lobby. After that, they took those families who wanted to go over to the Grand Floridian ballroom to a Halloween party that was free. There were only 50 families or so there. We had our own Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and photopass photographer. It was so cool! Tattoos, cookie decorating, craft projects, dancing, and a costume contest. Our son won one of the age groups and he won a board game and 30 minutes on those searays they have. It was truly magical! Brandy, Susanne and the rest of the lifeguard staff did an awesome job!
We also got to the torch lighting ceremony 15 minutes early and got to be the family for the evening. We got to yell aloha and have our picture taken with the drummer and the torch lighter. It was very cool. My kids loved it!
We visited quite a few resorts while we were there and Polynesian was definately one of our favorites. Okay, the outside of the buildings can be seen as kind of cheesy but the resort is gorgeous on the inside and the rooms were very nice and not cheesy.
The Wilderness lodge looked awesome too..however, no monorail. We would definately stay at the Polynesian again. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
P.S. Our return ME driver, Bill Murphy, was hiliarious! He cracked up the kids and the parents on the return trip to the airport!
We were at the Polynesian resort from Oct 23 - Nov 3. Our kids were 12, 8 and 7 so, we decided it was the perfect time for a nice long trip. We loved the Polynesian! We arrived at 1 p.m. (Our magical express departed at 12:10 or so from MCO. We stopped by the Wilderness Lodge and Contemporary first.) We were warmly greeted by Harry. I decided not to make any requests and just see what I got. We were placed in Tokelou second floor - room 2938. We loved Tokelou. It was the room right next to the outside stairwell. We did not hear a lot of noise as people went in and out. Our building was near the quiet pool but away from the main traffic area.
I felt our room was very clean. There was no mold or mildew in the tub. I felt around for dust since people were complaining. I did not find it in very many places. The lights, mirror, top of tv were all clean. Yes, the top of the coffee pot was dusty but since I don't drink coffee, I don't care. Besides, I am just not that bothered by things like that. The resort was full and it made me happier to have them arrange my kids' stuffed animals than worry about small things like that. Before I left, people complained about spider webs on the balcony. Yes, they were there between the railing posts but get real. Unless, the porches are hosed off every morning, they are going to come back. It is just nature. That's my two cents on that topic. I am very sensitive to how bright a room is and I did not feel our room was too dark.
Captain Cooks can be busy but we tried to get there before 7:30 a.m. to pick-up our food so, for us, it wasn't bad. Captain Cooks was always very clean. There was always at least one person restocking and wiping things down. The only time I saw overflowing trash cans was on Sat. Nov 3 and it was 10:30 and very busy. It was cleaned up in 10 minutes. We went to Ohana. It was okay. Not bad just not our favorite place. (By the way, our favorites were, in order, Jiko, Chef Mickey's Breakfast and Japanese Steakhouse.)
It was our first time on the dining plan and we loved it. It was easy to use. The cashiers helped explain it and my fellow disers had us prepared before we left.
The Volcano pool was lots of fun and we didn't feel like it was too crowded. We were able to play monkey in the middle as a family and not feel like we were running people over. It was definately cooler than the quiet pool. The slide was lots of fun too.
We watched fireworks and the electric light parade on the beach probably 7 times. It was very cool. Loved having the monorail. We were always bumming when we had to take the bus. The monorail was just so awesome.
Halloween was a ton of fun! We had gone to MNSSHP on the 26th and had a blast so, we were looking for something to do on Halloween. The Polynesian had a ton of fun things for us to do. There were beach games like tug-a-war and playing with a parachute. Later kids could paint Tiki masks $10 and decorate Trick-or-Treat bags $10 or $5. Then at 7, the kids could trick-or-treat in the lobby. After that, they took those families who wanted to go over to the Grand Floridian ballroom to a Halloween party that was free. There were only 50 families or so there. We had our own Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and photopass photographer. It was so cool! Tattoos, cookie decorating, craft projects, dancing, and a costume contest. Our son won one of the age groups and he won a board game and 30 minutes on those searays they have. It was truly magical! Brandy, Susanne and the rest of the lifeguard staff did an awesome job!
We also got to the torch lighting ceremony 15 minutes early and got to be the family for the evening. We got to yell aloha and have our picture taken with the drummer and the torch lighter. It was very cool. My kids loved it!
We visited quite a few resorts while we were there and Polynesian was definately one of our favorites. Okay, the outside of the buildings can be seen as kind of cheesy but the resort is gorgeous on the inside and the rooms were very nice and not cheesy.
The Wilderness lodge looked awesome too..however, no monorail. We would definately stay at the Polynesian again. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
P.S. Our return ME driver, Bill Murphy, was hiliarious! He cracked up the kids and the parents on the return trip to the airport!
