Polynesian Magic

[thefigueroas]

I have come across scores of signatures showing time and time again that people really seem to enjoy the Polynesian and often consider it their "home" resort. Can a few of you explain to me what makes it "magical" to you? We have eaten at O'Hana before and enjoyed the hotel and are considering it for our next trip for my husband's birthday. What makes it better than some of the other hotels and what makes you keep coming back? Thanks for your input!

 

[Ilovestitch]

I think the Polynesian has a nice laid back atmosphere, a great view of the MK, the best restaurants, super-friendly CM's, a nice counter service restaurant, pretty landscaping, and the BEST transportation of any resort. That's why its my favorite!

 

[disneyfan67]

I can tell you what makes the Polynesian special for me and my family.

1. The wonderful theming and landscaping done with a South Sea's or Hawaii feel to it. I read somewhere when the Poly first opened it was refered to as Hawaii east. I think I might of read that on Tiki Mans website, I'm not sure. When you see the attention to detail that the designers and builders used, you can't help but feel impressed. A very relaxing and beautiful resort.

2. The Poly has also has the feel of nostalgia for some Disney fans like me because it was one of the two deluxe resorts that opened in 1971. There was only the CR and the Poly along with FW campgrounds for onsite lodging back then. Walt Disney never saw the finished product of WDW or the 2 deluxe resorts but his finger prints and ideas were all over them in the begining stages. Walt loved the South Seas theme and the Tiki room was one of his favorite attractions in Disneyland (I read this in several books, yes I'm a Disney nerd)

3. The Poly is made for everyone but especially Families, it seems custom made for them. The pools are great, so is the food, and the transportation also is a big plus. I love the feeling when the Monorail pulls into the GCH of the Poly, it's so cool! The beach is wonderfull to watch the fireworks or just to kick back and relax. When you walk the grounds at night you feel safe and secure plus the Tiki torches are so pretty lit up at night. This hotel just shouts "Hey, you're at Disneyworld!!" when you walk in the doors to the GCH. I can think of a 50 things why you should stay at the Poly but can't think of one reason why you shouldn't. I hope this has helped and I'm sorry if I ramble on, but you got me started on my favorite subject!

 

[imatoad]

Jeez, stitch and fan just stole all my reasons, but they actually nailed it, so I won't repeat the obvious. The Poly is Disney World to me, and if for some reason, I wasn't able to stay there, I wouldn't go. I'm somewhat biased, as the Poly is the only resort I've ever stayed at, since my first trip as a kid in '72. My friend had never stayed on property until last Oct., we stayed at the Poly for 3nts/4days, guess what, we're going back for 5nts/6days this Oct. She's hooked.

 

[BCV23]

Oh, good job everyone!

Yes, the Polynesian is magical.

I do think you have to actually stay there to understand.

 

[Goofy'sFriend]

Magic, pure Disney magic

Ditto on the above replies

 

[kirbsam]

The poly was the first resort i ever stayed at. I love the atmosphere, and yes, it just screams disney. Watching wishes from the beach, the family friendliness of the resort, the best transportation options bar none, the size fo the rooms, the feeling in the gch, walking the grounds at night under the light of the torches,...wow, awesome. I have stayed at other resorts sicne then, and I compare each of them to the poly. so far, poly is still the best.

 

[PamNC]

to the list of people who consider the Poly their "home" resort. We absolutely feel the magic, the Disney spirit even, at the Poly! The CMs are so wonderful, they truly have the Hawaiin friendliness going on, the landscaping is so beautiful..if you close your eyes you feel like you're in the South Seas instead of the Southeastern US, the tiki torches that light the pathways, the Hawaiin music piped in underwater in the Volcano pool. But there is something else. Something almost unexplainable about the Poly that makes it so magical. To us anyway. I think it's a nostalgia thing - it's one of the original resorts and the Disney family's favorite choice. Add on top of this the location, the views, the food and drink offerings, the volcano pool, big rooms...you can't go wrong.

Long live the Poly!

PamNC

 

[jlrose]

The the Barefoot Bar and the bartender (Rosie). Try the Funky Monkey

 

[ridgewood]

Figured you guys would best know rates since many of you have stayed there many times. How low will they go in Regular Season?

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I use to wonder the same thing... then I stayed there! I can't even talk about it without getting so excited I'll start hula-ing!!!!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Figured you guys would best know rates since many of you have stayed there many times. How low will they go in Regular Season?

The lowest code rate room at Poly I've seen was $229 with an ap about a year or two ago.

The ap rate this spring, regular season, is $254. It's a little bit lower if you can get a PIN #. I think someone said about $239 or so.

 

[kkozma]

I love the Poly and love how its close to MK. We like hearing the train at MK in the distance. We love the flowers, and all the theming. We especially love the pool and the food options. We just love it.

TgrLvspooh-how do you go all day with 2 little ones then have the energy to go to Pleasure island at 10:30 at night....wow, I was exhausted just watching...

 

[ridgewood]

Would love to hear comments from those staying at the Poly for more than a few days, staying in one room with 3 kids (i.e. using the day bed)?

Torn between going to CBR or CSR and getting connecting rooms or cramming into one room at the Poly? The Poly sounds so much more appealing, but with 3 kids ages 10, 7 and 3, am I asking for trouble? My kids are well behaved, but a week anywhere is long!!!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

TgrLvspooh-how do you go all day with 2 little ones then have the energy to go to Pleasure island at 10:30 at night....wow, I was exhausted just watching...

Trick photography! After walking through the gate into PI we turned right around and walked back out. We were so tired I don't even think tired is a good enough word to describe it.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Would love to hear comments from those staying at the Poly for more than a few days, staying in one room with 3 kids (i.e. using the day bed)?

Torn between going to CBR or CSR and getting connecting rooms or cramming into one room at the Poly? The Poly sounds so much more appealing, but with 3 kids ages 10, 7 and 3, am I asking for trouble? My kids are well behaved, but a week anywhere is long!!!

The week will fly by. We spent a whole week at the Poly with our two kids, one slept in the daybed, the other slept in the second queen with bedrails. They were ages 1 and 3 at the time. I think the convience of having the monorail and the boat to MK outweigh the square footage you'd gain by booking two moderate rooms. But I guess it just depends on the family.

 

[BCV23]

Would love to hear comments from those staying at the Poly for more than a few days, staying in one room with 3 kids (i.e. using the day bed)?

Torn between going to CBR or CSR and getting connecting rooms or cramming into one room at the Poly? The Poly sounds so much more appealing, but with 3 kids ages 10, 7 and 3, am I asking for trouble? My kids are well behaved, but a week anywhere is long!!!

We have three kids as well and we never felt cramped even as they grew up. We used to spend our whole vacation at the Polynesian. The rooms are very spacious. The daybed is a full size twin bed. There is plenty of floor space around the room so you never have to do a "step out of the way jig" as we've experienced at other hotels. If you request one of the newer longhouses the rooms are even more spacious.

The only downside is once you try the Polynesian, you will not want to stay at a moderate again.

 

[Bride In The Attic]

Another Poly love here....I think my love for the Poly is more of a sentimental thing - I stayed there the first year WDW opened when I was 5 and it became my family's "place". We never stayed anywhere else on our family trips to Disney and now that I have a family of my own it has become our special place as well. There have been years where we've had to stay at WL or others due to our budget and I have to say the WL runs a close second for me - but there is still nothing like the Poly.

I love being able to sit out on the balcony in the morning and hear the whistle of the train and howl of the wolf from HM and realize I'm in the entertaiment capital of the world but you would never know it because of how peaceful things are.

I love the convenience of the monorail - especially with the little ones! And you can't beet getting from the Poly to the MK in 10 minutes!

I love the smell when you first walk into the GCH - humid and tropical and the sounds of the beautiful waterfalls splashing down.

I love walking at night by the light of the tiki torches hearing the polynesian music

I love watching wishes and the ELP from the beach in a hammock

I could go on and on but as others have said - you really need to just stay there once to feel the Poly magic. But, be careful! It's addictive!

It's my heaven on earth!

Aloha!

 

[mickeyluv]

We took our DD age 6 to WDW last year for the first time and it was only our 2nd trip to WDW (first trip at staying onsite). We stayed at the Poly and absolutely loved it, loved it, loved it, loved it!!!! We are going back this year, but staying at the WL. I wanted to stay at the Poly again, but also wanted to try a different resort (I hope I don't regret that decision)! The pool at the Poly was my DD's favorite thing!! She could have stayed in that pool and gone down slide all day I think. She was a little disappointed this year when I told her we were not going to be staying at the Poly, but she said that was okay. She is just happy that we are able to go to WDW!! I loved the Hawaiin feel of the Poly, the tiki lamposts at night and the music while walking around, the beach, watching Wishes, the GCH lobby, the monorail, just everything about it our stay there was so relaxing.

If I don't like the WL lodge at least I'll know where we'll stay when we go back!!! The POLY!!!!!!

 

[disneyfan67]

Would love to hear comments from those staying at the Poly for more than a few days, staying in one room with 3 kids (i.e. using the day bed)?

Torn between going to CBR or CSR and getting connecting rooms or cramming into one room at the Poly? The Poly sounds so much more appealing, but with 3 kids ages 10, 7 and 3, am I asking for trouble? My kids are well behaved, but a week anywhere is long!!!

Here is my suggestion and I hope it helps. The Poly has large rooms with very comfortable queen beds and the day bed is comfortable for kids, so here is what I would do if I was you. Have the oldest take the day bed and the 7 and three year old take the other queen bed, it's big enough so there shouldn't be any fighting for space. Once your kids see all that the Poly has to offer and feels her magic, the only fighting that will happen is when it's time to leave and go home! LOL! They will love it and I hope you will too!

Here is my very own family secret that works for us and is a another reason why we love the Poly! Get a room facing the Volcano or quiet pool on the 1st or 3rd floor (2nd floors don't have a patio) so you can sit out on the patio with a cup of coffee in the morning or adult beverages at night and gives you a break while the kids are sleeping. I like the ground floor because my kids can race right out to the pool and I can go out and watch them while my wife gets ready and prepares us for a day in the parks. My kids love swiming before breakfast for about an 30 or 45 minutes and when my wife gets done then we trade off and I get ready. Everyone is happy and refreshed and there is no complaints about eating breakfast and heading off to the parks.

Go to www.tikiman2001.homestead.com and check out Steve's beautiful website and see for yourself all that the Poly has to offer. There is more info on that website than anyplace else and you can see what rooms are good for you. I recomend Samoa but you should spend some time on his website and see for yourself, it's a wonderfull tool for information. There is one drawback to the Poly, when you stay there you won't be able to stay at a value, moderate, or even some deluxe's ever again. The Poly is a little expensive for me but now that I've stayed there twice I can't see going anyplace else. It's not a true Disney trip for me without staying at the Poly! Boy, I love threads on the Poly and could go on for hours talking about it. Sorry and thanks for putting up with me!

Eddie (DisneyFan 67)