Request issue at the Polynesian (or any resort)

[Tikiman]

Just to make sure everyone is clear on this. Requests for buildings or even rooms are in no way a guarantee that you will get this as your room or location. Disney does their best but if they cannot fulfill this is not a legitimate reason to get upset at the CM checking you in.

I have been hearing from CMs that people are checking into the Polynesian and when they are not getting their requested longhouse they are getting very irate with the staff. This is not acceptable behavior in my opinion and is leading to bad feelings between CMs and guests. Also how would you like to be the person to check in with a CM after they just got chewed out by someone because they did not get their “REQUEST”?

The other problem that keeps coming up is people here getting the impression that there are one or two prime locations at the Polynesian. As an example the staff has been reporting an increase of requests for Samoa and Samoa is not the only good location but people are getting upset if they do not get placed there. Just because someone comes home and reports that Samoa was the best spot or the best view just remember that is just an opinion and might not be the best for you or the only good spot. I can think of something good about every longhouse and many don’t even get mentioned.

So the moral of this story is be flexible about your location. Realize that requests are not always fulfilled. Don’t take your anger out on the CMs that don’t even assign your room and may not be able to change it. I know in the last few weeks the Polynesian has been overbooked and even had to open up some of the rooms in the building that is being worked on so there might not be any other rooms to change you to if you don’t like your location.

If you try to not have unrealistic expectations and treat the staff with some respect than maybe things will go smoother for all of us.

Aloha

Steve

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Steve, this is excellent advice! CMs, especially those working the front desks at resorts, have a tough enough job without guests ranting about their less than perfect room location. Unfortunately, I've witnessed a couple of these events and it's not a pretty picture.

Flexibility and properly managed expectations are important aspects of any vacation, not just at Disney.

 

[Tikiman]

Yes that is so true.

I don’t usually get emails about these issues from the staff but I guess it is getting bad enough for them to tell me about it. I even asked them once before when I heard it was becoming a problem if they suggested I remove all the info about the different longhouses from my page since it seemed to be causing problems and they said not to since it was helpful information to their guests but it seems the information is being misused by some.

 

[Sammie]

I could not agree more that everyone needs to remember that requests are that a request, not a guarantee.

With all due respect though I know many on these forums consider you the official word on the "best" at the Polynesian due to your many visits there and the wonderful info and photos on your site.

Recently someone asked about the good garden view locations and you ranked them with Tokelau and Samoa being one and two. So maybe this listing, along with recent trip reports from others raving about Samoa contributed to the problem.

I know you would never intentionally ever do anything that might in some way cause a hardship on an CM at the Polynesian, but I do think many on these forums take your opinion very seriously. Just something to consider.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I,m planning to very nicely request Samoa. I'll make it very clear that I know they may not be able to do it. If they can't I will smile and be happy..I can't imagine acting nasty about it

 

[Davefrompgh]

ditto..According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary the word "request" means.."the act or an instance of asking for something". Asking is not a guarantee. I also really think the CM's do everything in their power to accomodate guest requests, but really....to be irrate about your view.....gosh, when we check in...I sure do hope we are not facing the dumpsters... ..Come on people...CM's are people too....

 

[alohaguy]

I think that most people that have been to WDW at least once, know already that room and building requests are not gauranteed. And for those that have never been, that information has been posted here and elsewhere many times, so I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that this, or any other website, is causing this problem at the front desk.

This time of year is extremely crowded at WDW and the Polynesian is always one of the most crowded resorts on the property. I think this alone leads to some frustrations guests have when their requests are not met. Check-In can be tedious and long in the summer months. Obviously everyone has a different threshold for disappointment and various levels of patience. While it's clearly not necessary to take frustration out on CM's that aren't responsible for room assignment, I doubt that forums like this are the cause ... or anything Tikiman's site says. People who go frequently probably are the ones getting most frustrated because they have come to expect, or desire, a certain building.

During my most recent trip in April, I personally witnessed four families get bumped from Hawaii because they were overbooked. Talk about angry. These people were offered rooms at the GF instead of what they'd booked many months in advance. I would have been furious.

I have justified the extra cost of concierge on many of my trips partly because of the gaurantee of being in the Hawaii building. You know where you're going to end up. But after seeing what happened in April, that's not even always true.

When it's crowded, tempers rise ....

I think everyone is entitled to their opinion regarding their favorite buildings. And the info given out on this site and others helps new guests find their way in the Polynesian. I bet once the summer crowds leave, the problem will largely disappear.

By the way, only once did I not get the building I requested, and that was during a school break in February when it was extremely crowded. It's been my experience that when occupancy is lower, room requests are almost always granted.

Good luck to everyone ... and enjoy your room no matter where it is...

 

[susy]

I requested and got Samoa. HOWEVER, there are many other locations that were very nice and very convenient. If I stay again at the Poly, it will be Hawaii, though (he he)

 

[Lewisc]

I agree 100%. A year ago one poster wanted to know how to guarantee she'd get a room from a specific list of rooms. I suggested booking a LV rather than hoping they'd get a GV room with a partial LV. Not sure who she was trying to con but she dropped it after she realized how obvious she was.

Steve you might want to remove specific recommendations. Based on the pictures and map guests can come to their own conclusion on what to request.

BUT there is no excuse for overbooking Hawaii. Disney would have no trouble finding volunteers to be upgrade to Hawaii but I'm sure there is a shortage of guests who would volunteer to stay at another resort, even with a discount. Normally guests who're walked to another hotel get upgraded and get their room comped. I don't think Disney does this but that's the minimum they should be doing.

If the hotel is sold out someone is going to get the less desirable room.

I always think if at least 25% of the rooms in the category I reserved will meet my request than my request is reasonable. If only a handful or rooms will meet my request then I'm being unreasonable. Somoa longhouse, third flood is how many rooms? How many of those rooms aren't already rented to a continuing guest?

 

[Tikiman]

Sammie,

I agree with you. Sometimes maybe I need to not comment. I just try to be honest with my impressions. When I do create a list this is only my opinion and I by no means consider my opinion to be the best one out there. I try to stand by my facts as the best out there but opinion is just that, an opinion than many don’t agree with. What I see as the best and the worst might be the opposite of someone else. Also the longhouse at the bottom of my list is still a good location and is not that much worse that the longhouse that is at #1. My web pages do not rank the longhouses as good or bad or in between.

When asked I will always give an honest opinion. After all just because I have a web page (than anyone could have created) does not mean I gave up my rights to my opinion and the only reason I believe many people listen to what I write is because I try to give good information and tips to make their visit the best it can be but I have never promoted the making of requests. In fact I believe that requests are not necessary.

As always Sammie I enjoy your posts and your point of view. I guess I am just trying to figure out what it is I am supposed to consider? Should I give up my right to an opinion? Do you think the descriptions on my pages need to be limited? I look forward to your suggestion.

Aloha

Steve

 

[Tikiman]

gosh, when we check in...I sure do hope we are not facing the dumpsters... ..Come on people...CM's are people too....

Well if you end up looking toward the only place the dumpsters are located than you would be thrilled because you would be in one of the Ambassador suites in Tonga. Yes they face the closed off area where the dumpsters are located.

 

[Tikiman]

I think that most people that have been to WDW at least once, know already that room and building requests are not gauranteed. And for those that have never been, that information has been posted here and elsewhere many times, so I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that this, or any other website, is causing this problem at the front desk.

I posted this here because in the email to me from the CM it stated that the guest said that they found out from here that Samoa was the place to stay and they were demanding that the request be granted.

This time of year is extremely crowded at WDW and the Polynesian is always one of the most crowded resorts on the property. I think this alone leads to some frustrations guests have when their requests are not met. Check-In can be tedious and long in the summer months. Obviously everyone has a different threshold for disappointment and various levels of patience. While it's clearly not necessary to take frustration out on CM's that aren't responsible for room assignment, I doubt that forums like this are the cause ... or anything Tikiman's site says. People who go frequently probably are the ones getting most frustrated because they have come to expect, or desire, a certain building.

I totally agree that many of the frequent visitors are the most demanding. New visitors might be more confused and worried about what they will get but in many cases they are also just happy to be there.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I'm just so darned happy to be staying at the Poly..I've wanted to go there for years now... I don't care if I have to look at a dumpster,I'll still be smiling

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Sammie,

I agree with you. Sometimes maybe I need to not comment. I just try to be honest with my impressions. When I do create a list this is only my opinion and I by no means consider my opinion to be the best one out there. I try to stand by my facts as the best out there but opinion is just that, an opinion than many don’t agree with. What I see as the best and the worst might be the opposite of someone else. Also the longhouse at the bottom of my list is still a good location and is not that much worse that the longhouse that is at #1. My web pages do not rank the longhouses as good or bad or in between.

When asked I will always give an honest opinion. After all just because I have a web page (than anyone could have created) does not mean I gave up my rights to my opinion and the only reason I believe many people listen to what I write is because I try to give good information and tips to make their visit the best it can be but I have never promoted the making of requests. In fact I believe that requests are not necessary.

As always Sammie I enjoy your posts and your point of view. I guess I am just trying to figure out what it is I am supposed to consider? Should I give up my right to an opinion? Do you think the descriptions on my pages need to be limited? I look forward to your suggestion.

Aloha

Steve

Steve, your opinions and information about the Poly are just as valuable (maybe more so) as anyone else's. You are entitled to share your point of view. You have earned the reputation as a trusted resource for accurate information about the Poly. I don't believe you need to apologize for, retract or give up your right to express your thoughts on this resort.

It's not your fault that some people (hopefully a minority) may misuse that information or allow it to warp their expectations. I seriously doubt that as good as your site is... that it is the sole contributor to the problems some of the CMs at the Poly face. It is not your responsibility to manage the expectations of every Poly guest or to ensure that everyone is completely satisfied with their room location, view, or stay.

People need to learn to accept responsibility for their choices, expectations and desires. Sure, we'd all love to have the absolute perfect room with the perfect view in the perfect longhouse the perfect distance from the restaurants with the perfect parking spot and perfect weather. To paraphrase the Walgreens commercial... That's Perfect... this is the Poly and the Poly exists in reality, so welcome to reality, folks.

Someone once told me that I shouldn't expect the CMs to create all the magical moments for me and my family at Disney... that with a little effort and some planning, I could create a lot of the magic for myself. They were right!

No matter what the location, no matter what the view, no matter what the situation... there is always something good and something magical to find if one is willing to look for it. Steve's even found it for a room that overlooks the dumpsters at the Poly for heaven's sake! Now THAT'S the way to approach your stay at the Poly or any Disney resort.

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

For what its worth.....I just did a google search for "Disney's Polynesian Resort". Anyone care to know what came up on the first page......on top before even disney's link was this site (Dis) and them all ears. I went through three pages and still didnt see a link to Steves site.

I've got an idea which will make the CM's happy! People say I look like Santa. Really...every year I'm asked and I do the Santa thing. White hair, white beard, big belly......(if i cud just hide those tattoos )

Anyway, I read on these boards about bringing small gifts for the cm's and handing them out to those that deserve. So along those lines I was thinking of bringing 20 or 30 small wrapped gifts and doing the Santa thing in my Hawaiian outfit that I have and bring a bit of cheer to the wonderful CM's who take such wonderful care of us.

 

[Tricialiv]

We requested Aotearoa longhouse hoping for a veiw of the monorail. If you want something enough to get an attitude you should have paid for it. I hope the whiners don't ruin it for everyone. Also what values are they teaching their kids!

 

[Tikiman]

Someone once told me that I shouldn't expect the CMs to create all the magical moments for me and my family at Disney... that with a little effort and some planning, I could create a lot of the magic for myself. They were right!

That is the best and truest statment I think I have ever seen on the DIS. I thank you for your message and I know myself that most of my magic has come from the things I have done and the things my wife has done for ourselves when we visit WDW. We give each other magical moments.

 

[Davefrompgh]

OMG - Steve...I had no idea that even existed and was totally being facitious..wow...I could definetely handle that....

7th dwarfguy---that sounds like a wonderful idea.....I just got done making some of the best "mousekeeping" envelopes ever.

I downloaded some Disney clipart and made up some clever sayings for each envelope for each day...(i.e dalmation puppy carry a big brown teddy bear--"Mousekeeping, thanks for picking up after us)...I thought they might enjoy these daily "tips"

 

[triplefigs]

Someone once told me that I shouldn't expect the CMs to create all the magical moments for me and my family at Disney... that with a little effort and some planning, I could create a lot of the magic for myself. They were right!

That is so true! When we go in December, I'm arranging for a few personal "magical" surprises that I'm paying for (anniversary cake, welcome baskets from Feralpeg for the kids, maybe some balloons for DH's b'day). If some extra magic happens, that's a fantastic surprise. But I would never EXPECT it to. So, I'll just take care of it beforehand!

 

[offwegotoneverland]

in 4 on site trips I've never gotten a building request I've made..(and when someone can tell me how all wanted so badly to stay in the mighty ducks wing that we were in Herbie's in 2002 I'd love to know?) Every time we make a request we get something different and it always seems to work out.

That said we have two choices for the Poly (based on reasearch and agony of choice from Steve's site). 1st Choice was Toveklau, second was Somoa we ended up in Fiji and loved it a lot!!

What was funnier was I tried all the two weeks before to upgrade to a lagoon view (paying for it I mean!) and then when the CM was checking us in asked if it was possible for us to pay for that and get it then (we had been told it was sold out) when she said well you could but look where you are (Marina view overlooking volcano etc).

Moral of my story the building we got was way better (for me that trip you could be different) than what we had wanted.