Polynesian Resort

[Bartoli]

We are planning a trip to Disney for mid-June with 3 kids (10, 8 & 6). Planning on staying at the Polynesian due to access to monorail. Does anyone have any experience with this resort? Is it worth the money for the location?

 

[eeyoresmountainpals]

We have stayed at the Polynesian several times and absolutely love it. I doubt we'll ever stay anywhere else. We have four kids and have stayed there when the kids were very little and then again, most recently, with only three of our boys as our daughter is now away at college. We stayed there last October and already have ressies for October 2005! Can't wait.

The monorail makes it soooooooooooo easy to go back and forth to the parks. And the Polynesian is located close enough to the Transportation and Ticket Center so that you can pick up the monorail there or from the Polynesian. You can also take a boat from the Polynesian to the Magic Kingdom or walk to the Transportation and Ticket Center and catch the launch there.

The kids will love the pools at the Polynesian! And they have a great game room, too!

I don't know what kind of a budget you have or how much you can spend on a room but if you can afford it you may want to look into concierge service. We have found that the concierge lounge and the food available there more than makes up for the cost each day. Our boys eat a lot. The continental breakfast alone almost makes up for the cost difference! Plus there are snacks during the day, you can take water bottles with you to the park, and there is an awesome "evening service." What they term "light hors d'oeuvres" was more than a meal for us two or three nights!!! And at night they have desserts and cordials. The desserts were fantastic! What's more, you can eat in the lounge or take it back to your room. We always took a little extra back to the room for later!

I think you'll love your choice for the Polynesian. If I can answer any other questions (not that I'm an expert) please feel free to pm me. HAVE FUN!!!

 

[Ilovestitch]

Good choice- its the best resort

You have the monorail, boat, busses and a quick walk to the TTC- no other resort has all those transportation options.

 

[Bartoli]

Thanks for the info. We have three children (10, 8 and 6). Three yrs ago we stayed off property at the Holiday Inn Family Suites. It was nice, but I felt we missed out on some of the Magic of Disney. Plus, it was not convenient to leave the park to go back to the hotel for a much needed nap. Consequently, we were exhausted at the end of each day and did not enjoy ourselves as much.

We were not going to get the concierge level but we were purchasing the dining plan. My husband likes to spend a lot of time at the park so he does not think we need the concierge level.

The pool did not look that big in the pictures. DOes it get overcrowded?

 

[eeyoresmountainpals]

Because of the monorail, you can leave the parks and come back to the hotel for a quick swim and just to relax before hitting the parks again. We usually go to a park first thing in the morning, come back for a swim and a qucik nap and then head back out feeling all refreshed. It's so much easier than having to leave to go to an off-site hotel. Plus, with the kids, if you need to leave to go back for whatever reason, everyone doesn't have to go. We've had times where one of the kids hasn't felt good so either my husband or I would go back to the hotel with that child and everyone else could still stay in the park.

The volcanoe pool does tend to get crowded in the afternoon. The polynesian does have another pool, though. It's called the "Quiet Pool." We found that we usually had that pool to ourselves. So if the volcanoe pool is packed just head over to the quiet pool.

If you haven't visited the "All Ears" site go to:

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/g_poly.htm

There are lots of pictures there and you'll be able to see a couple of pictures of both of the pools!

 

[Bartoli]

Did you go to the DInner show at the Poly? Is it worth the money?

 

[eeyoresmountainpals]

We've never done the dinner show. Our kids actually haven't shown an interest in going. We've given them the choice and they've chosed to go to a park instead. The price is a little steep and if everyone isn't interested we couldn't see going. Most of the reviews that I've seen about it are good, though.

 

[imatoad]

Yep, 'nother Poly fiend here, can't and won't stay anywhere else. I think it's worth the $$$, some may think otherwise, it's all a matter of personal opinion, and choice. Somebody, please tell me 5 1/2 months isn't that long.

 

[stingmom]

We have stayed at Poly and CR with 3 kids: 11, 9 & 6 and our preference is CR. The CR rooms are larger and there is way more counter and drawer space if you are going to be there a few days. The toilet has a separate door at the CR, the Poly does not. You can WALK to MK from the CR or ride the monorail. The Poly does not have a hot tub, CR has 2 of them. My kids like CR better. Just my 2 cents. Have fun wherever you go!

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

Yup, another Poly. fan here and agree with what the others have said!

Our children are similar in age (DD7 and DS7) and we all loved the atmosphere, the volcano pool (never thought it was too crowded and we went Easter week), taking the MK and Epcot monorails out and the MK boat back, the Neverland Club (free 12-4 to guests), daughter and I took free hula lessons Sat. morning at GCH, and we loved watching Wishes and EWP from the beach.

We did stay concierge, and for us, it was worth the extra money.

 

[linfin]

just came back from spending 7 days concierge there. The rooms are large, volcano pool very small and only 3feet deep only one very small section if 4 feet. Monorail..... constantly something wrong with it, it would have been faster if there was a bus from MK. The ferry service is nice, if not to cold or raining. The only thing that gets me about the concierge is they put out snacks and a lot of guests use them for meals, so many guests dont get any. People fill their plates several times, or takes 3-4 plates back to their room to get their money worth, only to screw everyone else. Its a shame if you cant afford ( and not everyone can, we saved for this trip) to stay there and feed your family then you should not be there. Its not fair to other guests, and you should not depend on concierge snacks to feed your children.

 

[trappednabox]

Wow can't believe no one mentioned "The site"! Tikiman has the best poly website ever! I'm sure it will answer any questions you could possibly have!http://www.tikiman2001.homestead.com/index.html Hopefully it will be back up soon!

 

[Tess]

Did you go to the DInner show at the Poly? Is it worth the money?

We've been to the luau on several occasions. It's fun, but we prefer Hoop De Doo in Ft. Wilderness. The luau is entertaining enough the first time, but we found the food lacking. Both times we went, our food was cold and not all that tasty. If you have an interest in the show, by all means go--it's an experience I'm glad we've enjoyed, but we don't feel the need to do it again.

Kind of a wishy-washy review, but that's how we feel about the luau--kind of .

 

[dtsaos]

Been to the luau twice, before it was called the spirit of aloha. (can't remember what they used to call it). I found the entertainment to be very good back then, but the food was lacking. That said, I still think it's worth going to at least once. It's one of those things that you really do for the show, the food is just a bonus (IMO). DH and I love to eat at all the higher end restaurants at WDW, but you can't expect the dinner shows to produce that kind of food since they have such huge amounts of guests to feed every night. I'll admit they could do a little better...but anyway, yes I think the show is worth seeing.

 

[disneycruise05]

I'll be staying at the Polynesian this summer with my friends when we take a Disney Cruise 7 day Land and Sea trip. We have everything planned, but we aren't sure about something. Is breakfast included in the trip? Any info would be alot of help. Thanks

 

[MPLsDad]

The only thing that gets me about the concierge is they put out snacks and a lot of guests use them for meals, so many guests dont get any. People fill their plates several times, or takes 3-4 plates back to their room to get their money worth, only to screw everyone else. Its a shame if you cant afford ( and not everyone can, we saved for this trip) to stay there and feed your family then you should not be there. Its not fair to other guests, and you should not depend on concierge snacks to feed your children.

If concierge wasn't so overpriced, people wouldn't feel the need to get their money's worth. I don't agree that people should feed their families at the concierge lounge, but if they insist on doing it, the resort should put out more food for those who didn't get any. I read so many stories about people acting inappropriately staying concierge that I have no desire to do it. I can't see the benefit. I'd rather just pay for real food anywhere else, I can sit on the beach overlooking Seven Seas Lagoon and see fireworks, and I can turn down my own bed - am I missing anything??

 

[fam4jc]

WE stayed poly concierge last summer with our two dd's. It is a very nice resort. I didn't think the concierge level was worth the price but that was mho. It is agreat location and the pool area is wonderful. The slide is dark and steep. My girls hated it. They were 5 & 7 at the time. It's a good choice. The rooms are large and the grounds are beautiful.

 

[Aisling]

The only thing that gets me about the concierge is they put out snacks and a lot of guests use them for meals, so many guests dont get any. People fill their plates several times, or takes 3-4 plates back to their room to get their money worth,

I've seen this happen, and it makes me laugh. I know my family looks forward to going to the wonderful WDW restaurants instead of filling up on pretzles and chicken nuggets from the concierge table. The money we save not using concierge is spent having Zebra Domes at Jiko, smokes salmon at Bistro de Paris, and Uala Kahiki at 'Ohana for breakfast.

I can turn down my own bed

You don't have to be concierge to have your beds turned down.
We had them turned down every night, just for the asking, and it was nice to come "home" at the end of a tiring park day to dim lighting in the room, covers invitingly turned down on the beds, chocolates on the pillow, and soft music playing.
If you're staying deluxe, ask for turn down, and you won't be sorry!!

We love the Poly!

 

[skiwee1]

If concierge wasn't so overpriced, people wouldn't feel the need to get their money's worth. I don't agree that people should feed their families at the concierge lounge, but if they insist on doing it, the resort should put out more food for those who didn't get any. I read so many stories about people acting inappropriately staying concierge that I have no desire to do it. I can't see the benefit. I'd rather just pay for real food anywhere else, I can sit on the beach overlooking Seven Seas Lagoon and see fireworks, and I can turn down my own bed - am I missing anything??

Concierge is mostly for service and not food. Therefore most, at least in non Disney hotels, book concierge for the extra service given. They are willing to pay what some consider a lot money for this. Generally these people do not consider it a lot of money. It seems as though Disney brings out the people that factor food into the price when booking concierge. That is the problem. Food shouldn't factor in at all. So now we have gluttons that think they should suck down every last wing and cookie because they paid big bucks. To me, if anyone considers concierge expensive really can't afford it and should book a standard room.

 

[MPLsDad]

Can someone list all of the services offered by staying concierge? Maybe I'll consider it this year.