Poly Quick Questions

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

WE are booked Garden View Poly August 24-30th. Mom, Dad, Son-15, Daughter-13, first stay at the Poly and have a few questions, I don't think I've seen answered before.

1- Have all rooms been refurbished? Do the bathrooms have separate sink areas, from the toilet, tub section? The pics I have seen are confusing. I'd love pics of the rooms, especially bathrooms. At POR and FQ, they even have a curtain dividing the room, so it makes getting us out faster!

2 - What other hotels do the buses stop at for MGM, AK, Downtown and such? Is it possible to get buses to those parks at the TTC. What would the time differences be?

3 - How does early morning hour at Epcot work for the Monorail? Can you do this only from the GCH? Or can we walk to the TTC for EMH as well?

4 - How busy are the Water Mice Rentals? Do you need reservations? Has anyone had trouble getting them, say late afternoon? We would need three!

5 - Any pics of the food court. How is the seating, and menu? All I see people talk about is the confusing computer system, which only means that the children will be doing the ordering for me!

I guess that's about it - THANKS SO MUCH - I AM SOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!

Jane

 

[simonkodousek]

1- Have all rooms been refurbished? Do the bathrooms have separate sink areas, from the toilet, tub section? The pics I have seen are confusing. I'd love pics of the rooms, especially bathrooms. At POR and FQ, they even have a curtain dividing the room, so it makes getting us out faster!

Yes, all of the rooms have been refurbished. The largest are those in Tokelau, Tahiti, and Rapa Nui. The bathrooms are "all-in-one" so to say. Some of the rooms have a wall between the tub and toilet, but there are no rooms where the sinks are actually seperate from the bathroom. Unfortunately, I do not have any pics.

2 - What other hotels do the buses stop at for MGM, AK, Downtown and such? Is it possible to get buses to those parks at the TTC. What would the time differences be?

The Polynesian buses also stop at the Grand Floridian and occasionally at the Contemporary. I do not know anything about taking buses from the TTC, but for convenience purposes, I would probably stick to the ones going to the Polynesian.

3 - How does early morning hour at Epcot work for the Monorail? Can you do this only from the GCH? Or can we walk to the TTC for EMH as well?

Yes, you can walk to the TTC as well as taking the monorail to the GF, MK, CR, TTC, switching monorails, then to Epcot... it is much easier to just walk over to the TTC.

4 - How busy are the Water Mice Rentals? Do you need reservations? Has anyone had trouble getting them, say late afternoon? We would need three!

I do not know much about the Water Mice rentals, but I've heard different things regarding the reservations... I think that if you were to arrive early enough there might be a few available. It would be more difficult to get a walk-up later in the afternoon.

5 - Any pics of the food court. How is the seating, and menu? All I see people talk about is the confusing computer system, which only means that the children will be doing the ordering for me!

Sorry, I don't have any pics of the food court. Captain Cook's isn't too large, but is only very busy early in the morning, during dinner, and lunch. If you arrive at 9-10 AM, there shouldn't be too much of a wait. The menu is pretty good, but somewhat limited in terms of choice. Again, as with every CS restaurant, you are going to have things you like and things you don't... I really enjoyed the Mickey waffles, tonga toast, and cheeseburgers. The computer ordering system is not that confusing once you have used it. You simply select what you would like, the computer will ask if you want any extras (side dishes, drinks, etc.) and then you print out the receipt. You then bring it to the cashier who sends the order to the kitchen and gives you a buzzer which vibrates and beeps when your order is ready. Picking up your meal at the counter is the final step... besides eating!

Hope that helps!

~Simon

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

Thanks alot Simon - it does! I really wish there was a separate area with the bathroom. Does this mean when someone is taking a shower, nobody else can brush their teeth or do their hair? Jane

 

[simonkodousek]

Thanks alot Simon - it does! I really wish there was a separate area with the bathroom. Does this mean when someone is taking a shower, nobody else can brush their teeth or do their hair? Jane

If you want privacy, I wouldn't recommend it!

 

[vicki_c]

Here are 2 photos of our Hawaii bathroom at the Poly. I understand they are all laid out this way, but in some of the longhouses there are 2 sinks. Sorry I don't remember which longhouses those are. The toilet is behind the wall behind the mirror.

 

[simonkodousek]

We stayed in Tahiti and had two sinks.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When it comes to bus service service the Polynesian always shares with the Contemporary. Whenever my family and I have taken a WDW bus back to the Contemporary the Polynesian has always been listed as one of the 3 Resorts it stops at.

Besides that you can also walk over to the TTC and get a bus to Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom. However there are no buses from there to Downtown Disney, so you will need to get on the one that picks you up at the Polynesian. I say in the time it takes to walk to the TTC you could have waited for the bus to arrive at the Polynesian. However when returning if you see a bus at Hollywood Studios or the Animal Kingdom that goes to the TTC and don't see the Polynesian bus, take it because from there you can walk back to the Polynesian.

 

[Blue62]

I am not a water mouse expert, but I have taken my kids out in them 3 or 4 times over the last 5 years and we have never had to wait. There has always been a line of them ready to go and nobody in front of us.

 

[drcandon]

We have been at the Poly 3 times now so far...

as far as buses go - direct to the various parks in the morning and in the later afternoon - they can be shared with the CR and GF later in the evening - usually not...

Do yourself a favour and if you are able to walk a bit - walk to the TTC and take the monorail to Epcot - much faster then transfering

Also take the water taxis to MK - again more convenient and faster then the monorail..my wife and I split up and tried it just for the heck of it last time, I took the water taxis and she took the monorail. I got to MK faster - but she got back the POLY faster after the day..

And for resorts -some resort buses might come to the Poly - but it is again a lot easier and more convenient to walk to the TTC and get the resort bus you want from there..for example we did not know about that tip on our second stay at the Poly - we took the bus to AK then the bus to AKL for dinner - it took us over 45 min and we had quick connects in September..A CM told us the other way and on our next trip ( to AKL and eat at Boma) we just walked over to the TTC and then took the AKL resort bus direct..20MIN!!! seriously...

Another tip that sometimes works depending on connections if you are going to the WL for hoopdedoo or dinner is to take the water taxi to MK from the Poly and then take the WL water boat ride to that lodge..depending on connections about 30 - 40 min...However compare that to taking the monorail to the TTC the the WL bus - about an hour...

And finally if you are in good shape, can walk and want to get some exercise and save a lot of time if the crowds are low take the Monorail to Epcot - walk to the far end and then either walk over or take the water taxi over to the BDW if you are going to dinner there..

 

[ny judy]

you can also take the monorail to epcot and catch the water taxi to Disney Studios. quick easy and nice trip.

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

Thank you all for your advice! I had no idea that there were resort buses at the TTC! - Good to know - as we do have Boma ressies for dinner and were planning to go to AK and then bus to AKL!

For those of you who have stayed at the Poly with 4 guests in the room, how do you find the bathroom layout? I am really nervous it will take forever to get out of the room! Are there enough other mirrors to "do" your hair and makeup in front of? I can't believe I can be the only one who thinks this layout stinks!! For any of you who have also stayed at POR or FQ, you know what I mean about the curtain and the sinks outside of the bathroom. We are so efficient there - boys on one side, girls on the other - then switch!

Once we stayed at the Boardwalk and the closet was so enormous I actually got dressed in there!!

So, please help me out about the bathrooms - I don't want to stress over something so dumb. Thanks Jane

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thank you all for your advice! I had no idea that there were resort buses at the TTC! - Good to know - as we do have Boma ressies for dinner and were planning to go to AK and then bus to AKL!

That does sound like a good idea.

 

[mommy22pumpkins]

Sorry to jump in here but can someone clarify where you would get the water taxi to DHS in Epcot? Is it actually in Epcot or outside the entrance...as you can see I am clueless! Thanks for the info

Danielle

 

[ZebraDomeCrazy]

Sorry to jump in here but can someone clarify where you would get the water taxi to DHS in Epcot? Is it actually in Epcot or outside the entrance...as you can see I am clueless! Thanks for the info

Danielle

The Water Taxi is inside Epcot - World Showcase side - Between England and France. I think they call it the International Gateway. You can catch the boat - it takes you to the Boardwalk, Yacht and Beach, Swan and Dolphin, then on to Disney Studios. Just to get to the Boardwalk area from there, it is faster just to walk over. Lots of nice restaurants there. At night, we have watched Illuminations on the bridge near France, and walked over to Jelly Rolls at the Boardwalk for a fun evening. Jane

 

[jw50]

Are there enough other mirrors to "do" your hair and makeup in front of?

You are going to be at Disney in the heat of August, forget about the makeup (its all going to run as soon as you start sweating) and forget about the "do"ing your hair, wear a hat.

 

[Clotho]

And for resorts -some resort buses might come to the Poly - but it is again a lot easier and more convenient to walk to the TTC and get the resort bus you want from there..

I am sure you know this, but I wanted to clarify as I thought the above statement was a little confusing to those who don't know. No resort buses will take you from one resort to another unless they already share a route. For instance, you could take a bus from Boardwalk to the Swan/Dolphin, because, for instance, the bus to MK goes from Boardwalk to the Swan/Dolphin, then YC/BC before heading to the park. So if you share a bus with one of the resorts you want to go, you're set. Otherwise, the fastest way is to go the park either nearest you or the park nearest the resort you are trying to get to, and then hop that resort bus.

I have also read there are a limited number of resorts that have bus service at the TTC, but I have never been able to find a comprehensive list of these resorts, how often they run, or an explanation why some have buses here and others don't. Anyone have a tip on that?

I sometimes find the myriad transportation options to be like a fun (sometimes frustrating, but mostly fun) puzzle!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I have also read there are a limited number of resorts that have bus service at the TTC, but I have never been able to find a comprehensive list of these resorts, how often they run, or an explanation why some have buses here and others don't. Anyone have a tip on that?

No WDW Resorts have bus service to the TTC. The only Disney buses that go there are for Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom.

 

[Clotho]

Must be old info I read here, then:
http://wdisneyw.co.uk/trantip.html

"If you want to transfer from resort to resort, go via one of the four main parks, or Downtown Disney. Many resorts don't have direct buses from the TTC, you need to go across to the Magic Kingdom to get a bus to your resort. Always check the transport guide to see if there is a bus from the TTC direct to your resort."

I always understood there were no resort buses from the TTC, and never saw any there when I was staying at the Poly last year and was at the TTC nearly daily. But then I saw this and the comment above, and wondered if I was confused.

Sometimes the wealth of "information" on the internet can be a blessing as much as a curse.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Must be old info I read here, then:
http://wdisneyw.co.uk/trantip.html

"If you want to transfer from resort to resort, go via one of the four main parks, or Downtown Disney. Many resorts don't have direct buses from the TTC, you need to go across to the Magic Kingdom to get a bus to your resort. Always check the transport guide to see if there is a bus from the TTC direct to your resort."

I always understood there were no resort buses from the TTC, and never saw any there when I was staying at the Poly last year and was at the TTC nearly daily. But then I saw this and the comment above, and wondered if I was confused.

Sometimes the wealth of "information" on the internet can be a blessing as much as a curse.

That must be old information, because as I said before the only Disney buses that go to the TTC come from Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom.