Room Question/Poly Related

[FirstVisitEver]

Sorry about two different threads!

Those of you who travel with children, do you typically get adjoining rooms? Or, are the rooms at the Poly (specifically) semi-divided, with a sofa bed/tv area and a partial-wall before the bed area? Or do you just turn the lights off and deal with trying to get your kids to sleep and then sit out on the patio or something?

And as an aside, has anyone used the childcare/babysitting 'service' at the Poly? Is it fun for the kids? I don't imagine us using it just because I want us to do everything as a family and we have a baby ANYWAY, so we can't have too much fun 'alone'.. but I want to know to keep it in mind just in case!

Ut oh.. ONE more question. Then I'll be quiet! :O) What 'fun' things do you do to make things more 'magical' for your kids while in the hotel (any hotel at DW!)? Do you bring special Disney-themed PJ's to surprise them with? Any other ideas? I just think this is a great age where she can really enjoy and remember it all, but she's still young enough to be into all of the MAGIC!

I remember when our 4 year old was a baby. We stayed in a VERY nice hotel in Houston and the bathroom was as large as a small bedroom. We ended up putting her pack n' play in there! It worked GREAT. Until... somehow the door LOCKED and my husband had to explain that to the front desk to get someone to come unlock it. I was so embarrassed, I hid.. hehe. Fortunately, she slept through it.

But this is our first time traveling with her AND our baby, so I was wondering how the logistics with rooms work and how much more expensive an adjoining room can be!

 

[pddmom]

There are no wall to separate out the room at the Poly or any resort that I know of...unless you get a suite somewhere. We just stayed at the Poly with our kids 3 & 5 and we just either turned out the light at all went to bed at the same time (we got a lot of sleep on this trip, but were totally exhausted ) or just kept the lights low and read a book when the kids fell asleep.

As for special things to do...we did bring new disney pjs for them and I also found at the dollar store..small disney games (matching, go fish, flash cards, etc..) I also picked up on ebay a small doll for each (JoJo for my daughter and Goofy for my son). They really enjoyed it.

 

[WendyisDarling]

We've shared a room with our two boys in the past. Certainly no "private" time. Some nights they would be so tired they would fall asleep no problem. We've gone on the balcony and waited until they fell asleep just to have some time not focused on the kids.
This year we are getting connecting rooms (be sure you ask for connecting and not adjoining--I believe some ppl think adjoining means next to but not necessarily connected) as they are getting older and we would like some private time. Often the oldest stays up later than I do.

With small children I doubt I would spend the money on an extra room. JMHO. Unless no "private" time is a big issue.

When my kids were little, Tinkerbell visited every night when they were asleep. She left a few large metallic confetti pieces on the pillow -- her "pixie dust". Tink left tiny surprises for them. (Just little things like candy or some trinket I had bought on clearance at the Disney store before we left). I know it is spoiling them, but we are at WDW and I don't get them a bunch of souvies.
I think Disney PJ's are a great idea

It has been years since my kids were at Neverland Club. It wasn't a good fit for our family. But, most comments I have read are positive.

 

[Lynne M]

But this is our first time traveling with her AND our baby, so I was wondering how the logistics with rooms work and how much more expensive an adjoining room can be!

Just a bit of info.....in Disney reservation-speak, "adjoining" means rooms that are near each other. Might be next door, might be across the hall, might be on the same floor but not close.

I think you're talking about two rooms that have an internal door connecting them, so that you don't have to go out into the hall to go from one room to another. If that's what you want, you need to request a connecting room. Note also that it's a request, not a guarantee.

There's no price break for requesting connecting rooms, so you'd be paying for two rooms.

 

[Family24]

It would be very expensive to get adjoining rooms. If you wanted that extra space maybe look into the Wilderness Lodge Villas. How old are your kids? When we went this past January our kids were 10 and 6 at the time so we just sat out on the patio while they fell asleep which did not take long. We also were upgrade to concierge so one of us had the option of going to the lounge to get drinks, etc while the other one sat outside. When are you going? We had some nights that were cool but we just took a blanket or sweatshirt outside and some wine and were good to go. Good luck in whatever you decide. The Polynesian is a great resort and we hope to return next January.

 

[mmmears]

We tend to be so exhausted at the end of the day that we just all go to bed at the same time. Or, I'll read a book and DD will go to sleep anyway. WDW has a way of tiring kids out!

 

[FirstVisitEver]

Thanks everyone!!

 

[vicki_c]

I agree with the PP who mentioned the DVC Villas (Wilderness or elsewhere). They're pricey though when booked through the regular Disney reservations for cash. But you might find some good deals with the 4 for 3 package that's going on through next week (must book by 1/24 I think).

If you could, you could get a 1 BR -- which would have a bedroom and a separate living area with a sofa bed, and a full kitchen and a washer/dryer.

All of the Disney rooms can be very "cozy" for a family of 4, but we've done it many times just like the others said - we all go to bed together or DH and I have a seat on the patio/balcony until the kids are out.

 

[brergnat]

Look into the Junior Suite (Deluxe Room) at the Wilderness Lodge. This may be just what you are looking for. It is two separate rooms. The bedroom has two queen beds a dresser and television, as well as a door out to a balcony. The parlor is separated by french doors and has a pull out queen sized sleeper sofa, another t.v., 2 chairs, a small table, another door to the balcony, and a wet bar area. The bathroom area is accessible from both the parlor and bedroom. The sinks are on the outside, the commode and shower are in a separate room with a door.

This room is less than the villas in cost. It is also considered a concierge level room, so you would get those benefits as well.

The best benefit of this room, in my opinion, is the ability for some people to nap (or sleep) in the bedroom while the others can be out in the parlor watching t.v. or having a snack, etc. This could also work in your favor at bedtime. You could potentially put the kids to sleep on the pull out sleeper in the parlor area (put the baby in the room with you maybe) and then your DH and you can have some "private time" at night, and the baby won't disturb your older one if he/she wakes in the nighttime.

 

[blessedby3]

We have always gotten one room- until our family maxed out the occupancy limits- and now if we are at a value we have to get 2 rooms, but we can still fit (at least one more time) in a regular deluxe room with our family of 6 - (baby is just 1). I cant see shelling out that much extra cash for another room. We go to the parks and stay all day so when we come back to the room we are all ready to go to bed. Everyone usually falls asleep really fast!!