Polynesian check-in

[JulieSharp]

Hi,

Can someone please advise me on the check in procedure please?

I assume we arrive at the resort gate and are then requested to drive direct to the resort entrance for check-in?
Just that we have Joshua who is disabled, with luggage/wheelchair etc so I assume we don't just go and park in the car-park direct. Normally just arrive at a villa which is straight forward

I have also seen picture of a little cart, am I right that we have to ride that to be taken to our room?

 

[Claire L]

Am I right in saying you have the disabled badge from previous threads I ahve read? If so then valet parking is free at any WDW resorts that has valet, and the Poly does. So just pull straigh up to the front of the resort and then go into the lobby. Not sure what happens re getting to the rooms though.

Claire

 

[JulieSharp]

Thanks.

We do have the official blue badge, plus the new parking permit will be with us too.
We only ever stayed on-site once and didn't have a clue about the free valet parking - normally we just drive straight to a villa.

Thanks again

 

[amystevekai&bump]

My husband had a ride in one of the white carts at the poly when he was about to carry the luggage to our room in the rain - someone just came up to him and offered him a lift - so I'm sure there will be no problem with one for Joshua, they are all so helpful at the poly - nothing seems too much trouble for them

 

[JulieSharp]

Nice to get an idea of what to expect, I think John was slightly concerned about a repeat of our Boardwalk check-in where it seemed to be organised in such a way as to get the maximim tip from you.
I think 3 or 4 different staff members were involved in helping us with the luggage!

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Thanks

Nice to get an idea of what to expect, I think John was slightly concerned about a repeat of our Boardwalk check-in where it seemed to be organised in such a way as to get the maximim tip from you.
I think 3 or 4 different staff members were involved in helping us with the luggage!

that reminds mean of our stay at Hard Rock last May - we tipped 3 seperate people just while we were trying to get our car out of valet parking to go to Walmart! I wouldn't mind but we had paid an increased parking fee to park in the car park as it was (So what was the extra for??) and there were 2 or 3 other people hanging around the car and we felt bad for not tipping them too!!! - next time we stay at hard rock we aren't having a car at all!!!

 

[Claire L]

We found no probelm at the Boardwalk and only ended up tipping once everything was brought to the room. I hopee you get the same experience at the Poly. Also just to add you can use valet, where available, free for your entire time whilst staying at a WDW resort

Claire

 

[JulieSharp]

that reminds mean of our stay at Hard Rock last May - we tipped 3 seperate people just while we were trying to get our car out of valet parking to go to Walmart! I wouldn't mind but we had paid an increased parking fee to park in the car park as it was (So what was the extra for??) and there were 2 or 3 other people hanging around the car and we felt bad for not tipping them too!!! - next time we stay at hard rock we aren't having a car at all!!!

I don't blame you - we don't mind tipping for good service but when it's 3 or 4 times just to carry your bags it's a bit over the top.
John sneaked the bags into the car using a side exit on the way out!! Mind you it took him about 4 trips.

Also just to add you can use valet, where available, free for your entire time whilst staying at a WDW resort

Claire

Thanks, again that's something I didn't know about.

 

[Frances999]

When you pull up a bell-hop will come ask you if you will be self-parking once you have unloaded or if you'll be using the valet. Since you are eligible to use the valet service free-of-charge make sure you let them know.

It tends to be hit-or-miss as to whether a golf cart will be offered if you're in standard accommodation. You can always request it, but if it's busy there might be a wait. It's a great welcome to the resort if you get a good CM, because they drive around showing you the location of the various facilities and the best beach areas.

Also, Disney now operate online check-in. You can check-in from home ten days before your trip - and then when you arrive at the resort they'll have your welcome pack and resort keys ready done and waiting to be picked up at a dedicated desk. It's a free-of-charge service and it will save time - you won't have to wait in the "regular" check-in line (which can be a PAINFUL experience at The Polynesian during 2-4pm - the line gets looooong and the CMs are very slow!).

 

[JulieSharp]

When you pull up a bell-hop will come ask you if you will be self-parking once you have unloaded or if you'll be using the valet. Since you are eligible to use the valet service free-of-charge make sure you let them know.

It tends to be hit-or-miss as to whether a golf cart will be offered if you're in standard accommodation. You can always request it, but if it's busy there might be a wait. It's a great welcome to the resort if you get a good CM, because they drive around showing you the location of the various facilities and the best beach areas.

Also, Disney now operate online check-in. You can check-in from home ten days before your trip - and then when you arrive at the resort they'll have your welcome pack and resort keys ready done and waiting to be picked up at a dedicated desk. It's a free-of-charge service and it will save time - you won't have to wait in the "regular" check-in line (which can be a PAINFUL experience at The Polynesian during 2-4pm - the line gets looooong and the CMs are very slow!).

Thanks Frances, is there a link for this check-in , I have tried but cannot find one.

The cart was just something I saw on a website, to be honest we just want to get checked in as soon as we can and get Josh settled in the room.

 

[Frances999]

You need to log-in to MyDisneyVacation on the official WDW website and there will be a link to online check-in. You'll need your WDW confirmation number, so if you've booked with a UK travel agent I'm not sure if you'll have it - they might be able to give it to you upon request?

 

[JulieSharp]

Thanks Frances. Have just registered.

John booked with Disney direct by phone and we have an email from 'Disney Destinations' with a confirmation number on.

 

[Frances999]

Thanks Frances. Have just registered.

John booked with Disney direct by phone and we have an email from 'Disney Destinations' with a confirmation number on.

Excellent

You can try this link, too https://secure.reservations.disney....s/processEngine?process=false&pageRender=true

 

[JulieSharp]

Excellent

You can try this link, too https://secure.reservations.disney....s/processEngine?process=false&pageRender=true

Only problem is the total price now shown is over $130 more than we were quoted on the original invoice , which we have a printed copy of.

 

[oceanscape]

Only problem is the total price now shown is over $130 more than we were quoted on the original invoice , which we have a printed copy of.

Did you book room-only or a package with tickets/dining? Apparently packages can change in price until paid in full

 

[JulieSharp]

Did you book room-only or a package with tickets/dining? Apparently packages can change in price until paid in full

Room only, I have actually figured out to a degree what the difference in price is.
On the 'mydisneyvacation' it shows a deposit figure of $45, if you multiply that figure by the number if nights then it comes to the total price that is now shown.
So basically there seems to be some addition/deposit showing which is not listed on the initial confirmation that we printed off.
So we are being charged $45 per night more....haven't a clue why.

Total price on the initial confirmation, should surely mean "total price"

 

[Chilly]

Also, Disney now operate online check-in. You can check-in from home ten days before your trip - and then when you arrive at the resort they'll have your welcome pack and resort keys ready done and waiting to be picked up at a dedicated desk. It's a free-of-charge service and it will save time - you won't have to wait in the "regular" check-in line (which can be a PAINFUL experience at The Polynesian during 2-4pm - the line gets looooong and the CMs are very slow!).

You need to log-in to MyDisneyVacation on the official WDW website and there will be a link to online check-in. You'll need your WDW confirmation number, so if you've booked with a UK travel agent I'm not sure if you'll have it - they might be able to give it to you upon request?

Excellent

You can try this link, too https://secure.reservations.disney....s/processEngine?process=false&pageRender=true

I hadn't heard about that thanks.

 

[JulieSharp]

Many thanks for all the responses and the time you have taken to reply.

Unfortunatley for various reasons (shown below) we have cancelled the Polynesian part of our trip and extended our villa stay to cover the entire 14 nights, as it was available for the first few nights of our holiday also.

As much as we wanted to stay there, especially John, we just no longer felt right about it.

We have contacted Disney and they will arrange a full refund of the deposit.

Facts are they increased the price of the stay something which we were unaware of until we looked in the check-in online option. If that's our fault for being naive regarding the 'terms and conditions' then so be it, but the 'total price' we have on our invoice has now increased.
There are other reasons too, we cannot be 100% sure Joshua will settle there, with the first few nights the possibility his sleeping pattern will be up and down - not ideal when there are people in the next room. Whilst we will love it there I am sure we think Josh will enjoy the villa/private pool so much more. We can fully unpack at the villa without having to check-in, out more than once. The overall cost of our few nights at the Polynesian, especially with the current exchange rate is just more than we want to pay now, it's approx. costing us $568 per night there. We can stay at the villa for 4 nights for the same cost of 1 night in reality.

There is an element of dissapointment, but fact is the villa is lovely, probably the nicest we will have stayed in, owner's are brilliant, the Terre Verde resort looks really nice.

We will just have to encourage Josh to go out more in the evening and also try some new dining opportunities.

True there are negatives, but we have done it we feel for the right reasons.

Thanks again for everyone who replied, hope you don't feel you wasted your time doing so.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Many thanks for all the responses and the time you have taken to reply.

Unfortunatley for various reasons (shown below) we have cancelled the Polynesian part of our trip and extended our villa stay to cover the entire 14 nights, as it was available for the first few nights of our holiday also.

As much as we wanted to stay there, especially John, we just no longer felt right about it.

We have contacted Disney and they will arrange a full refund of the deposit.

Facts are they increased the price of the stay something which we were unaware of until we looked in the check-in online option. If that's our fault for being naive regarding the 'terms and conditions' then so be it, but the 'total price' we have on our invoice has now increased.
There are other reasons too, we cannot be 100% sure Joshua will settle there, with the first few nights the possibility his sleeping pattern will be up and down - not ideal when there are people in the next room. Whilst we will love it there I am sure we think Josh will enjoy the villa/private pool so much more. We can fully unpack at the villa without having to check-in, out more than once. The overall cost of our few nights at the Polynesian, especially with the current exchange rate is just more than we want to pay now, it's approx. costing us $568 per night there. We can stay at the villa for 4 nights for the same cost of 1 night in reality.

There is an element of dissapointment, but fact is the villa is lovely, probably the nicest we will have stayed in, owner's are brilliant, the Terre Verde resort looks really nice.

We will just have to encourage Josh to go out more in the evening and also try some new dining opportunities.

True there are negatives, but we have done it we feel for the right reasons.

Thanks again for everyone who replied, hope you don't feel you wasted your time doing so.

From what you've said in the past about Joshua's routine, I think you've definitely made the right choice for you - and at the end of the day thats all that matters - and you know you'll have a wonderful time regardless (probably even better than if you had the worry of whether Joshua would enjoy the poly)

 

[JulieSharp]

Thanks Amy for the nice response.