The *ALL NEW* Polynesian Resort FAQ thread - *APRIL 2009*

[Aliceacc]

We didn't have a "pool day" today so I did not get a chance to speak to the manager. We spent the day at DHS, had a great time. Anyway, "people won't want to wear them" is a terrible argument for not having resort guests wear bracelets. Small price to pay to reduce the overcrowding in the Volcano Pool.

People will wear them if it's the only way they can get to use the pool they've paid for.

And if the Poly bracelets were, say, blue, and Contemporary were green, then DVC could have a red "all access" bracelet. Everyone in the Poly pool would have either blue or red, everyone in the CR pool either green or red... it could easily be done!

 

[BCV23]

The laptop we brought does not fit in the safe. And our's is not a large laptop. I don't feel particularly worried about locking it up anyway. We just put it in one of our luggage pieces.

Interesting, huntconn. ???

I'm glad you're having a great trip despite the pool hoppers. Isn't Dick an incredible asset to the Polynesian? What a great CM.

Have fun the rest of your stay.

 

[Julieh22]

I have a MK view reserved. Is one of the buildings with this view superior to the others?

 

[cmac609]

People will wear them if it's the only way they can get to use the pool they've paid for.

And if the Poly bracelets were, say, blue, and Contemporary were green, then DVC could have a red "all access" bracelet. Everyone in the Poly pool would have either blue or red, everyone in the CR pool either green or red... it could easily be done!

Hi

I was at the Poly last July 4th and the Manager was going around to all the tables and checking to make sure that you were Staying at the Poly, if not they escorted you out. If so, they gave your a wrist band to wear for the day. So, they were trying to do something last year.

 

[vicki_c]

As for the whole DVC wrist band idea (good one I think) -- at SAB, you get a wrist band when you check in at the pool and show your KTTW card. DVC members are supposed to check with the front desk when pool-hopping to make sure it's allowed that particular day. So there's no reason the front desk couldn't give out a wristband (and it wouldn't have to be different than the Poly guest ones). Or at least DVC members could show their KTTW card (it says DVC member on it) to the lifeguard and get a wristband, so it would really be no different than the policy at SAB.

 

[Disneenut]

Hello Poly fans!

Just wanted to say hi, we are planning a trip for Dec 2010... and it will be our first time staying at the Polynesian!!!

So i am going to be a sponge here.

 

[Picabo]

Hello Poly fans!

Just wanted to say hi, we are planning a trip for Dec 2010... and it will be our first time staying at the Polynesian!!!

So i am going to be a sponge here.

Congrats on planning for Dec '10! You remind me of myself - I started planning this time last year for Dec '09 and booked my Poly room in August the first day it was possible to book! You'll learn SO much here about the Poly! Have fun planning!!

 

[tarak]

I think the wrist bands sound like a great idea. So after much discussion with my husband, we decided to scrap the trip to Ireland next year (I was going to take my mom and daughters) - we were going to take an ABD trip and while they are wonderful, I had a hard time justifying the price. Especially when I was looking on the WDW site and realized for 1/5 the price I could take them to WDW for a week during the Food and Wine fest. So I have a new ticker!
We're doing a split stay at the AKL and WL, though. No Poly (although I was going to try to get a breakfast at Ohana). I used a TA for the first time and she's been amazing (she's on vacation, but booked the trip for me last night after I emailed her about 4 hours earlier). I feel bad asking her to try to get the Ohana breakfast when she's on a trip. Is it terrible to do that? I guess that's part of the job, but I feel bad anyway.

 

[Lilmattie13]

So question for your Poly experts?

I tried and tried to get an ADR for Ohana. I was online at 6, called at 7 at 90 days, then tried again online on the exact day 90 days from the date I wanted to go to Ohana. Anyhow I got a reservation alright for 9:50 pm

No I am thrilled I even got a reservation however that seems a little ridiculous to eat at that time. I dont know if food even digests at that time

So since we are staying at Poly what do you think my chances are of changing the time on the reservation when we get there? Do they offer any kind of assistance to the people who are actually staying on the property. I am not trying to annoy anyone or get any kind of freebie or perk but it seems like it would be nice if they tried to accomodate the people who are staying at that hotel for the in house restaurants. We have a reservation, its just so late.

Has anyone had any luck changing a reservation before? Also I didnt book any breakfasts at Kona actually because I forgot you needed to but now am going to try. If I cannot get one, what are my chances of getting one when we get down there?

Thanks so much, you guys are great will all the wonderful information we get here. TIA

 

[mmmears]

The laptop we brought does not fit in the safe. And our's is not a large laptop. I don't feel particularly worried about locking it up anyway. We just put it in one of our luggage pieces.

Like your laptop, ours did not fit into the room safes at the Poly or at AKL. It was a MacBook Pro -- and not huge. But we didn't really worry about it. DH left it on the desk the whole trip and nothing happened to it.

People will wear them if it's the only way they can get to use the pool they've paid for.

Well said! No one thinks twice about it or complains about it at the place we frequent in Hawaii. If not for the bracelets, the pool would be terribly overrun and no one staying there would have a good time. And believe me, it really works and you don't need a fence.

Hi

I was at the Poly last July 4th and the Manager was going around to all the tables and checking to make sure that you were Staying at the Poly, if not they escorted you out. If so, they gave your a wrist band to wear for the day. So, they were trying to do something last year.

That sounds great! We were there during Easter week and I didn't see any checking at the pool.

Hello Poly fans!

Just wanted to say hi, we are planning a trip for Dec 2010... and it will be our first time staying at the Polynesian!!!

So i am going to be a sponge here.

Welcome! I learned so much about the Poly from this thread that my family thought I was an expert during our very first stay there!

So question for your Poly experts?

I tried and tried to get an ADR for Ohana. I was online at 6, called at 7 at 90 days, then tried again online on the exact day 90 days from the date I wanted to go to Ohana. Anyhow I got a reservation alright for 9:50 pm

No I am thrilled I even got a reservation however that seems a little ridiculous to eat at that time. I dont know if food even digests at that time

So since we are staying at Poly what do you think my chances are of changing the time on the reservation when we get there? Do they offer any kind of assistance to the people who are actually staying on the property. I am not trying to annoy anyone or get any kind of freebie or perk but it seems like it would be nice if they tried to accomodate the people who are staying at that hotel for the in house restaurants. We have a reservation, its just so late.

Has anyone had any luck changing a reservation before? Also I didnt book any breakfasts at Kona actually because I forgot you needed to but now am going to try. If I cannot get one, what are my chances of getting one when we get down there?

Thanks so much, you guys are great will all the wonderful information we get here. TIA

'Ohana is one of the hardest places to book. I had to switch my ADRs around since the IPO office couldn't get me anything for the date I wanted in August!

While we were there in April, we tried to get an ADR at the last minute (well, I asked around noon for dinner). The concierge CMs were able to get us in around 8:45 ish, but that was too late for us. We stayed CL so I asked them there, but I know there is a hotel concierge in the lobby (right by the doors) who will help you try to get a reservation. You can also just show up early and hope for the best. Good luck!

 

[Disneenut]

Congrats on planning for Dec '10! You remind me of myself - I started planning this time last year for Dec '09 and booked my Poly room in August the first day it was possible to book! You'll learn SO much here about the Poly! Have fun planning!!

Welcome! I learned so much about the Poly from this thread that my family thought I was an expert during our very first stay there!

Thank you both!

 

[momof3poohlovers]

So question for your Poly experts?

I tried and tried to get an ADR for Ohana. I was online at 6, called at 7 at 90 days, then tried again online on the exact day 90 days from the date I wanted to go to Ohana. Anyhow I got a reservation alright for 9:50 pm

No I am thrilled I even got a reservation however that seems a little ridiculous to eat at that time. I dont know if food even digests at that time

So since we are staying at Poly what do you think my chances are of changing the time on the reservation when we get there? Do they offer any kind of assistance to the people who are actually staying on the property. I am not trying to annoy anyone or get any kind of freebie or perk but it seems like it would be nice if they tried to accomodate the people who are staying at that hotel for the in house restaurants. We have a reservation, its just so late.

Has anyone had any luck changing a reservation before? Also I didnt book any breakfasts at Kona actually because I forgot you needed to but now am going to try. If I cannot get one, what are my chances of getting one when we get down there?

Thanks so much, you guys are great will all the wonderful information we get here. TIA

If you can't get an earlier time before your trip or through the concierge, I would suggest getting there when it opens(5 PM I think). We went Thanksgiving week last year(so very busy!) and I saw several walk ups being told they could accommodate them but they were told they may have a wait of an hour or longer. If you don't mind waiting, I bet they will be able to seat you. It doesn't hurt to try, esp. if you are already staying at the resort, you won't have to travel far!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

So question for your Poly experts?

I tried and tried to get an ADR for Ohana. I was online at 6, called at 7 at 90 days, then tried again online on the exact day 90 days from the date I wanted to go to Ohana. Anyhow I got a reservation alright for 9:50 pm

No I am thrilled I even got a reservation however that seems a little ridiculous to eat at that time. I dont know if food even digests at that time

So since we are staying at Poly what do you think my chances are of changing the time on the reservation when we get there? Do they offer any kind of assistance to the people who are actually staying on the property. I am not trying to annoy anyone or get any kind of freebie or perk but it seems like it would be nice if they tried to accomodate the people who are staying at that hotel for the in house restaurants. We have a reservation, its just so late.

Has anyone had any luck changing a reservation before? Also I didnt book any breakfasts at Kona actually because I forgot you needed to but now am going to try. If I cannot get one, what are my chances of getting one when we get down there?

Thanks so much, you guys are great will all the wonderful information we get here. TIA

I would keep checking online until you arrive at the Polynesian and if you can't get an earlier time then I would keep asking the lobby Concierge desk until the day of your ADR. If you still have no luck then I agree about going there at 5:00 PM on the day of your ADR seeing if they can seat you earlier. If all that fails at least you still have an ADR there and even though it's at 9:50 PM at least it's better then not having one. Plus since your staying at the Polynesian at least you won't need to worry about transportation going back to another resort once your meal is finished.

 

[momof3poohlovers]

I have a question for the Poly Experts! We are staying Concierge level, Lagoon View the first week of Oct. Should I make any requests? Maybe close to the lounge or a certain location? I know that we are in the Hawaii building but I wasn't sure about floor level etc. Thanks for any help you can give! This will be our first time at the Poly.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I have a question for the Poly Experts! We are staying Concierge level, Lagoon View the first week of Oct. Should I make any requests? Maybe close to the lounge or a certain location? I know that we are in the Hawaii building but I wasn't sure about floor level etc. Thanks for any help you can give! This will be our first time at the Poly.

If you want a balcony request a 3rd floor room and if you want a room with a patio request a room on the 1st floor and there are also no balconies available on the 2nd floor. Besides that you can also request a room close to the lounge, although I also read the less requests you have the better. So you might be better off requesting the 1st or 3rd floors.

 

[momof3poohlovers]

If you want a balcony request a 3rd floor room and if you want a room with a patio request a room on the 1st floor and there are also no balconies available on the 2nd floor. Besides that you can also request a room close to the lounge, although I also read the less requests you have the better. So you might be better off requesting the 1st or 3rd floors.

I didn't know that about the 2nd floor(no balconies). Thanks for letting me know! Do you think we will have a view if we request 1st floor?

 

[cmac609]

Hi

For those of you who have been to the Conceign lately, what kind of cereal did they offer for breakfast? Also, did they have plain white bread for toasting and butter? Trying to see if I am going to need to bring some stuff for the kids or not. Thanks.

 

[Melody L]

I would not request a certain room by number. Instead request what you want - 3rd floor (due to balcony usually), 1st floor (gets you the patio), closest to lounge, etc.

If you have paid for the park view, you will be on that side of the building and MOST of the views should be good - a few may have trees somewhat obscuring the views.

We were in 1503 last trip and that was a pretty good view - I think 3503 would be better as the beach swing was in front of our room and a few palm trees. We stayed in 1501 previously, which is right next to the check in area (but separated by a wall and door) - it had a good view, but a bush in front of the patio that you had to walk through to get to the beach. But still given that info, I wouldn't request a particular room, but more the things you're trying to accomplish - get a balcony, whatever.

Thanks so much for the advice. I have requested a third floor room already and I will leave it at that.

I agree because everyone seems to say the less requests the better chances you have of getting them, if they are very simple. When my family and I stayed Club Level at the Polynesian in December 2007 we ended up on the 3rd floor in room 3510 which had a clear direct view of Cinderella's Castle and it was great.

Thanks! I don't want to look too picky. I'm sure any room on the third floor will be great. The balcony is very important to us for evening viewing of Wishes. I would hate to get stuck on the 2nd floor.

 

[Kathy Z]

So question for your Poly experts?

Also I didnt book any breakfasts at Kona actually because I forgot you needed to but now am going to try. If I cannot get one, what are my chances of getting one when we get down there?

Thanks so much, you guys are great will all the wonderful information we get here. TIA

You've probably already been on-line or on the phone with Disney this morning. You'll probably have luck in getting an ADR for Kona for breakfast. It is much easier to get in there than 'Ohana. The Tonga Toast that many simply love does not appeal to me. But those Macadamia nut pancakes - YUM!

 

[Kathy Z]

Hey Poly People!

My DF and I will be spending our honeymoon at the Poly in Oct and I've been reading a lot about people watching the fireworks from the beach at the Poly.

Are there a lot of people who do this? How crowded can we expect the beach to be? Any chance we'll be able to sit alone, away from the crowds and enjoy a nice romantic evening on the beach, watching the fireworks?

Try the beach in front of the Tahiti longhouse. It is much more private than the larger beach that runs from the Volcano pool and in front of the Hawaii longhouse.