Hello Black Dog!
In all the years we've been staying at the Poly we've never seen fresh leis being handed out. The very first time we went, back many years ago, we were actually given shell leis ... which are hanging right above my head as I type this!![]()
The only way I could see you getting actual real live flower leis would be to contact a florist ... like DisneyFlorist.com ... and see if they'd make them for you ... which they probably would ... for a price. Bottom line, it's all about the money and it is MUCH more economical for Disney to have the fake leis which never go bad and are probably a tenth of the price of real ones.
I agree with you Mikki ...
Listen, I understand that Disney is in it for the money ... that they have stock holders that they are beholden to but why does it seem like they always have to take out those tiny little touches?
Just for argument's sake let's forget the Luau. How about the people that are STAYING at the Poly and paying 4 or 5 or 6 hundred dollars per night (Depending on what your getting and what season it is) ... would it be asking too much to give each guest a real flower lei when they check-in?
In the grand scheme of things is it really breaking their bank? Just like at Sci-Fi ... what happened to the little basket of popcorn they used to give you?
Sometimes it's the little touches that make it ... I wish they would stop taking the proverbial sprinkles off my ice cream!
Anyway, take care & be safe!
Frank
Disney DieHard
Thanks frank...and agree...accept...YKNOW...I dont ACTUALLY think that DISNEY was in it for the money...really I don't...
he really wasnt...it really was all about the betterment of man....that the spirit of man was greater than the almighty dollar....
Just wanted to clear this up because of all of the different things being written. I can tell you that I am 100% certain that the information below is correct
There are fresh leis made each day at the Polynesian. They are made by hand, so there are only a few available. It was correct when someone wrote that because of this, they are only given out for big milestones to the guests.
The cost is not the reason that they are not given to everyone. It is the time. On an average day there are between 150 -250 rooms that check in. Let's multiply that by 4 guests in each room. You are looking at roughly 800 people a day. That would be 800 hand made leis. Making a fresh flower lei is not something that you just slap together, it is an art form and a large part of Polynesian culture. I don't know how any of you could expect 2 women, even though they are very skilled, to whip up 800 leis a day.
Please try to remember that even though you might think it is, NOT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT MONEY!
On another note, you can also order them through the florist. These ones are really very beautiful and are made of plumeria rather than carnations. They might cost a lot, but if you would really like one I think these are a really lovely option.
I think I'm just going to check at the desk the a day or two prior when we are over there... $75 is too much and I'm not too sure I want to do $50 either whether shipped direct from HI or the carnation one from the florist. I'm just going to leave this one to pixie dust. She has a lot coming already so it won't break her day by any means... just thought it would be magical if it worked in right... thanks so much for all of the input![]()