We are just back from a week's stay at the Polynesian. This was our 10th stay at the Polynesian since 1987. I was getting a little concerned about this trip reading some of the negative reviews here the week before we left, but all I can say is the Polynesian has never looked better!
We arrived at 12 Noon and there was no line at check-in. Our room was ready (a nice surprise) and the CM checking us in said, "Congratulations!" So, I'm thinking "yippee, upgrade from GV" and the CM hands me 2 "Just Married" buttons and asked me where is the Mrs.? I point to the seating by the waterfall where my wife and two sons are sitting and the CM asked, "Isn't this your honeymoon?" I explain that I've been married for 20 years and that this is the 20th anniversary of our first trip to the Polynesian. The CM exchanged the Just Married buttons for "Happy Anniversary" buttons - and I am still thinking a first ever free upgrade is coming! It was not to be!
I had requested Fiji or Samoa and was initially disappointed to be assigned a first floor room in Rapa Nui on the parking lot side (I chalked it up to paying 45% off rack rate for GV). Our view was of the lush landscaping. a tiki torch, and the driveway that leads to the building. I have to say that it was the "worst" view we have had at the Polynesian in all our stays, but it was still pretty nice and we spent some enjoyable time sitting out on our patio. The big benefits of staying in Rapa Nui (which my youngest kept calling Ratatouille) were being just steps to our rental car which we used to go to EMH at AK, as well as TL, BB, the Boardwalk, and WinterSummerland Mini Golf, the two sinks and lots of counter space in the bathroom, and proximity to the TTC. There were never very many cars in the smaller parking lot by Rapa Nui and we always got the same parking space in the row closest to the building entrance regardelss of the time of day. By the end of the week my wife said "We should request Rapa Nui next time!"
Pictures do not do the new room decor justice. It is like staying in Adventureland! We really liked the new closet set up and having the refrigerator and coffee maker in the room. We also liked being able to dim the lights. Our room was clean when we arrived and housekeeping always was done before we returned for our mid-day break. We've never received towel animals and this trip was no different. This is not a big deal (or even a small deal) for our family. We did however receive a thank you note from the housekeepers for tipping everyday.
A burned out bulb in the bathroom was replaced without our reporting it. We did report when the desk lamp burned out and it was replaced that same day.
My wife is sensitive to perfumes and said, "This room smells" when we first walked in. I laughed and told her she sounded just like the complainers on the DIS! The "smell" was perfumey like carpet freshener or Febreeze. After that first afternoon our room no longer "smelled" so maybe housekeeping uses some product once a week or on check-out to freshen the room for incoming guests? The hallway also had the same scent. We would take a shortcut to the GCH through Raratonga and that hallway did not have the same scent.
The A/C was loud when the fan was on high to cool the room down upon entering but was unobtrusive on low speed once the room had cooled down. To avoid the loud, high speed fan (which might have been a problem while sleeping) we successfully used the motion sensor "bypass" procedure the day we checked in and again 4 days into our stay. In either mode, the A/C was much more quiet than that at a brand new Hampton Inn we stayed at 1 night recently.
The room was very quiet, despite the bathrooms being equipped with those "turbo toilets!" (wish we had those at home!!) The only sound I heard from neighboring rooms was a phone ringing (probably a wake up call) when I was lying in bed one morning and the rest of the family was still asleep and all else was quiet.
We ate at Ohana, Kona, and Captain Cook's. The new set up at Captain Cook's is much better than the old one. Guest confusion about what is and isn't included in the dining plan caused back-ups at the cashier several times. I was on the lookout for the reported "overflowing trashcans" and filthy tables. Very happy to report I saw neither and saw someone sweeping the floor at least once every time we lunched there.
I was amazed that the Volcano Pool was not more crowded! On arrival day we spent the afternoon at the pool and I counted 25 people max in the pool. My son rode the slide almost non-stop and had very short waits. On one afternoon, the pool deck was crowded (though the pool was not) and we had to do a "mall parking lot at Christmas" search for a free chair. We lucked out and grabbed a table as some guests were leaving.
Service was typically friendly and we shared "alohas" often with CMs. The only "downer" was that Deloitte & Touche (the accounting firm) was having some sort of meeting at Disney and we saw alot of guests in dark suits in the 100 degree heat!!
I'm happy to answer any questions
We arrived at 12 Noon and there was no line at check-in. Our room was ready (a nice surprise) and the CM checking us in said, "Congratulations!" So, I'm thinking "yippee, upgrade from GV" and the CM hands me 2 "Just Married" buttons and asked me where is the Mrs.? I point to the seating by the waterfall where my wife and two sons are sitting and the CM asked, "Isn't this your honeymoon?" I explain that I've been married for 20 years and that this is the 20th anniversary of our first trip to the Polynesian. The CM exchanged the Just Married buttons for "Happy Anniversary" buttons - and I am still thinking a first ever free upgrade is coming! It was not to be!
I had requested Fiji or Samoa and was initially disappointed to be assigned a first floor room in Rapa Nui on the parking lot side (I chalked it up to paying 45% off rack rate for GV). Our view was of the lush landscaping. a tiki torch, and the driveway that leads to the building. I have to say that it was the "worst" view we have had at the Polynesian in all our stays, but it was still pretty nice and we spent some enjoyable time sitting out on our patio. The big benefits of staying in Rapa Nui (which my youngest kept calling Ratatouille) were being just steps to our rental car which we used to go to EMH at AK, as well as TL, BB, the Boardwalk, and WinterSummerland Mini Golf, the two sinks and lots of counter space in the bathroom, and proximity to the TTC. There were never very many cars in the smaller parking lot by Rapa Nui and we always got the same parking space in the row closest to the building entrance regardelss of the time of day. By the end of the week my wife said "We should request Rapa Nui next time!"
Pictures do not do the new room decor justice. It is like staying in Adventureland! We really liked the new closet set up and having the refrigerator and coffee maker in the room. We also liked being able to dim the lights. Our room was clean when we arrived and housekeeping always was done before we returned for our mid-day break. We've never received towel animals and this trip was no different. This is not a big deal (or even a small deal) for our family. We did however receive a thank you note from the housekeepers for tipping everyday.
A burned out bulb in the bathroom was replaced without our reporting it. We did report when the desk lamp burned out and it was replaced that same day.
My wife is sensitive to perfumes and said, "This room smells" when we first walked in. I laughed and told her she sounded just like the complainers on the DIS! The "smell" was perfumey like carpet freshener or Febreeze. After that first afternoon our room no longer "smelled" so maybe housekeeping uses some product once a week or on check-out to freshen the room for incoming guests? The hallway also had the same scent. We would take a shortcut to the GCH through Raratonga and that hallway did not have the same scent.
The A/C was loud when the fan was on high to cool the room down upon entering but was unobtrusive on low speed once the room had cooled down. To avoid the loud, high speed fan (which might have been a problem while sleeping) we successfully used the motion sensor "bypass" procedure the day we checked in and again 4 days into our stay. In either mode, the A/C was much more quiet than that at a brand new Hampton Inn we stayed at 1 night recently.
The room was very quiet, despite the bathrooms being equipped with those "turbo toilets!" (wish we had those at home!!) The only sound I heard from neighboring rooms was a phone ringing (probably a wake up call) when I was lying in bed one morning and the rest of the family was still asleep and all else was quiet.
We ate at Ohana, Kona, and Captain Cook's. The new set up at Captain Cook's is much better than the old one. Guest confusion about what is and isn't included in the dining plan caused back-ups at the cashier several times. I was on the lookout for the reported "overflowing trashcans" and filthy tables. Very happy to report I saw neither and saw someone sweeping the floor at least once every time we lunched there.
I was amazed that the Volcano Pool was not more crowded! On arrival day we spent the afternoon at the pool and I counted 25 people max in the pool. My son rode the slide almost non-stop and had very short waits. On one afternoon, the pool deck was crowded (though the pool was not) and we had to do a "mall parking lot at Christmas" search for a free chair. We lucked out and grabbed a table as some guests were leaving.
Service was typically friendly and we shared "alohas" often with CMs. The only "downer" was that Deloitte & Touche (the accounting firm) was having some sort of meeting at Disney and we saw alot of guests in dark suits in the 100 degree heat!!
I'm happy to answer any questions
Me and my 'gang' will be at the Poly in 13 days! 
I've been a little worried even though everything was great last year,and its nice to hear some good news.
