Sell my mother on the Polynesian!

[zulaya]

I am staying at the polynesian with my family(me, DH and our two kids, who are the only grandkids on both sides) and my in-laws. I want my side of the family to come to. My mom is the hardest one to convince and she is pretty money-minded. I am going to push with the codes that are avaiable she can get a great rate, but this is a woman who thinks spending $110 on a Holiday Inn is a ripoff. I know, I know there is no comparison, but I want to hear your best reasons why the Polynesian is worth the money.

I have my own reasons and my own arguments to make with her, but i want to hear yours in case I have missed anything obvious.

Please reply soon as I want to talk her into it today!!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Well, the Polynesian is the closest you'll get to the South Pacific without actually going to the South Pacific. Some of the rooms will even be newly renovated by the time you go. There are two great pools, the theme one and the quiet one. Lots of great shops as well. The views of fireworks from the beach (and many rooms) are awesome! The location is perfect, short monorail or boat ride to the MK, walk to the TTC (non-stop monorail to Epcot).

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

I say GO GO GO. the feeling you get from staying at the POly (I just came back from a June vacation) is that os a tropical island. the rooms are big, the total atmosphere is just so relaxing.you'll get so spoiled you will never want to go to another HI again,oh and make sure you try Ohana's, it is priced right and to food is so good.I was thinking, if you're mother still doesn't wanna go, count me in, I would love to go back

 

[aring75]

My DH and I stayed at the Poly last year.

The monorail was right outside the door. The convenience to MK can't be beat. The bus transportation was also good.

Every night walking back to the room, we would wander down lush, tropical paths lit by tiki torches. The ambience was incredible.

The Electrical Water Pageant can be seen from the beach at the Poly. And, if your lucky, the fireworks over Cinderella's Castle.

The rooms are large and comfortable and most have been recently refurbished.

Hope this helps!

Wherever you stay, I hope your visit is magical!

 

[ReneeDisney]

Take a look at Tikiman's website and you'll fall in love with the Polynesian. Web address is: http://tikiman2001.homestead.com/

ENJOY!

 

[zulaya]

I am insanely familiar with Tikiman's website. Just was wanting personal reasons people like the Polynesian in case you had something i missed.

Thanks for everything so far.

 

[scanne]

You are completely immersed in total relaxation when you are at the Polynesian! It is a lush, tropical, paradise that takes you away from reality and into a magical vacation environment. The ambiance is truly leisurely and romantic. I'll also add that the rooms are very large and comfortable, the bathrooms are all marble (a beautiful deep green - I love them!), amazing restaurants, great views of the lagoon and Cindy's castle, a monorail or walk to the GF for more great dining, a boat or monorail ride to MK, a monorail ride to Epcot and good bus transportation any where else in the "world" you want to go. Plus, you can lounge on the beach or in a hammock and just read or sunbathe, great pools, recreation and MAGIC! I can't wait to stay at the Polynesian again!

 

[JayCT]

It sounds to me like your mother won't be convinced no matter what. Lets face it, the Poly is expensive. It is the top-of-the-line. No matter what the hotel offers, you will not convince someone that is "money-minded" that the Poly is worth what is charged, even with a code. Personally we loved staying there in May and will again. To us it is worth it. There are a lot of advantages (theme, monorail, pools, walk to the Epcot monorail, etc.), but compared to the rates charged at off-site hotels for similar rooms, I doubt you will convince her. Good luck and for the sake of your vacation, I hope I am wrong.

 

[Wendi]

Tell her she is getting 2, yes 2 vacations in one. She is not only getting the "Disney" vacation with her 2 wonderful grandchildren who really would like for her to be close to them, but she is also getting the "South Pacific" vacation without having to go to Hawaii. The nights will allow for her and her daughter to take a stroll around the lush landscape and catch up on things as well as be surrounded by the ones who love her. The tropic warmth with put a youthful feel back into anyone. The Volcano pool will scream her name while she watches the Wonderful Grandchildren play, yet she can relax in a hammock and admire the Magic Kingdom as few can do, changing colors and listening to all the wonderful sounds, music and joy coming from the "Magic" Kingdom. And finally, after telling how much using a code will save her she must agree that "Her" baby and those "Precious" Grandchildren have got to be worth it.
The Holiday Inn won't have family there, they only have concrete, longer bus rides, strangers and NO DISNEY feel.
I converted my parents and my dad is notorious for the $49 dollar a night, anyplace that has a bed hotel, into a Polynesian loving addict. Hope this helps.
Wendi

 

[zulaya]

Wendi--

If I didn't know the Polynesian already, I'd be in more Disney withdrawal than I already am!

I love your words for it! Thanks!

 

[Tink]

My parents have come with us on a few trips and we had stayed at the moderates. Last year we went to the Poly. Well, my Mom fell in LOVE with it. Now she tells me she won't stay anywhere else (unless she gets a good deal at GF) and if we can't spend that much, too bad, she'll meet us at the parks.

At first she was skeptical, too. She loved everything about it, especially the monorail and not having to take the bus everywhere.

I think once your Mom goes, she'll love it.

 

[dalepool]

DH and I own a condo on Waikiki Beach and as such we each think the Poly is the next best thing to being "home in Hawaii". We have never stayed at the Poly ( we stay BW area resorts) but on our resort visiting days we checked the Poly out for future visits and were amazed at how much we felt like we were back in the Islands. My thought to your Family --You'll get the experience of two vacations for one price---and if they have ever been to Hawaii and wished they could return ---staying at the Poly would fill the bill. One other note---comparing apples to apples same type of room with like service would be much more money in Waikiki Beach and without the magic of Disney.......Aloha PattyN

 

[hmerritt]

We just got back and OMG what a wonderful place to stay! I can't even put into words how beautiful the hotel is. It is like being at Disney during the day, and being in Hawaii at night. We would just sit out at the pool at night and it was wonderful. The pool is really great! And we LOVED being a hop skip and jump away from MK on the monorail. With two kids it was really convenient coming and going. I was skeptical paying so much but can now say it was worth every penny!

Good Luck!
Heather

 

[Emilys_Dad]

Don't get too wrapped up in it, don't spend too much time, emotion, and energy on it. She's a big girl capable of making her own choices, and must be willing to accept the consequences of her choices.

My family has stayed and the Polynesian twice, and absolutely loved it. We have no basis of comparison, but would stay there again in a heartbeat even if it meant spending more than other resorts.

Here's how I'd present it.

• 
  First, it's a wonderful resort that costs more because it offers more than the other places.
  
  Second, it offers two of the best restaurants on the property, but she doesn't have to stay there to eat at them.
  
  Third, it has among the best transportation options anywhere on the Disney property.
  
  Great views of the Magic Kingdom.
  
  It offers two great pools, but I'm sure the Holiday Inn has a pool.
  
  Finally, the Polynesion offers.... her family. If she wants to stay somewhere else, let her. Tell her it's OK with you, and if she chooses to stay someplace else, you'll try to get her grandchilden to call her on the phone every night at bedtime. Unless something else is going on and they're busy.

You don't mention how old your mother is or what her circumstances are, but I will offer you a rhetorical question my father once asked his mother when he caught her climbing in and out of a Barcalounger over the arm on the side without putting the feet down (she was convinced its predecessor only lasted 18 years because the footrest had been raised and lowered too much). You're welcome to remove his, um, eloquent "stylings" and replace them with your own declaratives.

He said "@#$% it Mom, you're 78 years old.... what the @#$% are you saving FOR?!?!"

There's are times and places for scrimping and saving. It's none of my business, but as far as I'm concerned a few days with the grandchilden at the Polynesian is worth the splurge.

Or you could really be nasty and tell her that it's ok, your children won't be lonely, because their OTHER grandparents will be there. Now THAT'S nasty....

Good luck, and remember, it's her choice. Don't let her take the wind out of your sails over this.

Have a GREAT time.

 

[Tuffcookie]

Zulaya, Hi! We will be staying at the Poly in 2 1/2 weeks. It is our first time to stay at anything other than a budget WDW resort. I am a single mom. I will have youngest DS (age 10) and my DM with me. To be able to stay at the Poly is a dream for me and I have told mom this vacation is my treat for her BUT if she knew how much the Poly cost per night, she would be shocked!! I think the idea of writing down all the costs of a real Hawaiian vacation vs. the cost of staying at the Poly is a great idea. Has she ever stayed at WDW before? Sometimes you have to stay at a budget resort to fully appreciate a deluxe.

TC

 

[zulaya]

She has never stayed at an onsite property. The last visit to the World was in 1994 for her. She stayed at Buena Vista Suites which is a nice off site property, but its not the Polynesian!

She actually stayed at the Polynesian once probably in 1989 or thereabouts. My brother was appointed one of the Thousand points of Light and the ceremony was in WDW and they were accomodated at the Polynesian.

 

[goofy4tink]

Somen terrific responses here! I especially like the one where you tell mom 'it's okay, the kids will have their other grandparents there' and 'I'll try to get them to call you at bedtime'. Both of those would have my mother at the Poly in an instant! So....how many chances will she have to share such a special time with her grand-kids?? But, if she doesn't really care(me, heaving a really big sigh) it's okay, she can stay at an AS and catch up with us later. (another big sigh) Hey, GrandMom, go with the flow, life is way to short. Those kids will only be young once. Don't miss a great time just to save a couple hundred dollars!! I'm done now.