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

[juliebee]

The sliders on the first floor rooms have the lock on the handle and an additional lock higher up. I doubt a young child could do it because it is too high. I have a 6 year old and he wouldn't be able to unlock the higher lock.

The noise is very easy to get use to. I was worried about the ferry horn since we were in Hawaii, but honestly I think I noticed it for the first hour we were there and then didn't notice it for the entire week we were there. It definitely did not keep any of us up at night.

 

[lissiesmum]

We have stayed on both sides of Figi. On the Luau side you can hear them but it is really not so bad. We thought it added to the atmosphere. DD slept just fine.

On the marina side you can barely hear them unless you leave the sliding door open. But you do hear the boat horn blowing but after the first night we got used to it. Again, DD slept fine.

The sliders on the first floor rooms have the lock on the handle and an additional lock higher up. I doubt a young child could do it because it is too high. I have a 6 year old and he wouldn't be able to unlock the higher lock.

The noise is very easy to get use to. I was worried about the ferry horn since we were in Hawaii, but honestly I think I noticed it for the first hour we were there and then didn't notice it for the entire week we were there. It definitely did not keep any of us up at night.

Thank you both, and good mornning Poly friends

Glad to hear about the locks on the sliding doors...sounds safe enough not to worry about. The ferry horns I can definitely handle. We had a courtyard view at WL and we were all the way at the end near Bay Lake and I did hear the ferry horns through the sliding doors. It was a relaxing sound that I enjoyed nightly. The EWP on the other hand... The first night we were there we had a long day and went to bed early and I was jolted out of bed with a horrendous noise and it was the EWP. Even with the sliders closed , it sounded like we were right out there on the barges with them! My DD slept right through it, but I got up, walked out to the balcony and enjoyed the show (and waited for it every night before I went to bed!). I think at the WL, the sound must bounce off the hotel because of its layout??? Don't get me wrong, I love the EWP and watched it every night, but it is so loud at the WL!!!

As for the drums, I think as long as it is faint, it is something we can handle Looks like the Poly is completely full my week anyway so who knows where we'll end up?

P.S....2 weeks from today! (not that I'm excited or anything) (wait til I do my single digit dance! )

 

[lissiesmum]

ok, so I'm dreaming about watching the fireworks from the beach...I was just curious if i didn't actually watch it from within the MK, would I be missing something? I know we'd miss Tinkerbelle, but anything else? And just to confirm, if you go down to the beach by the main pool, they pipe in the music there, right? I'd rather watch from the Poly (with my little cup of Dole Whip ) and stroll back to our room without having to fight crowds to get back....

 

[BreezysMom]

ok, so I'm dreaming about watching the fireworks from the beach...I was just curious if i didn't actually watch it from within the MK, would I be missing something? I know we'd miss Tinkerbelle, but anything else? And just to confirm, if you go down to the beach by the main pool, they pipe in the music there, right? I'd rather watch from the Poly (with my little cup of Dole Whip ) and stroll back to our room without having to fight crowds to get back....

If you have never seen Wishes from in the park, I say watch it there once. There is something magical about it. We will now always watch Wishes from the Poly beach now or stay in the park and ride some things for a while wjile the masses head out.

I think both experiences are a treat either way!

 

[BreezysMom]

Oh my Poly friends! Things almost went very awry yesterday! DH, DD and I were at the mall shopping for some warm weather clothing and Easter dresses and so forth. For some reason, while in the Ralph Lauren section ironically, my husband said we should try the GF this trip instead of the Poly .

OK, I love the GF so I don't want any GF lovers jumping on me!

But I said, No, I really want to stick with Poly. We are staying Club Level, the weather is going to be warm and DD loves the pool and we are familiar with the Poly. I am not ready to explore new resorts. But he insists I look into it. So I look into it and do some exploring around the board and so forth. And while I admit, I like the resort and the grounds are beautiful...it just is not right for this trip.

This morning I declared we are staying put! DD was pleased. At this point DH was indifferent. It must have been a momentary lapse.

While I do expect that we will stay at GF at some time. It will not be in September.

 

[**tinkerbell**]

Does anybody know if early check in is avaliable (at a surcharge) - i was hoping for 10am? thanks x x

 

[johnsonet]

Oh my Poly friends! Things almost went very awry yesterday! DH, DD and I were at the mall shopping for some warm weather clothing and Easter dresses and so forth. For some reason, while in the Ralph Lauren section ironically, my husband said we should try the GF this trip instead of the Poly .

OK, I love the GF so I don't want any GF lovers jumping on me!

But I said, No, I really want to stick with Poly. We are staying Club Level, the weather is going to be warm and DD loves the pool and we are familiar with the Poly. I am not ready to explore new resorts. But he insists I look into it. So I look into it and do some exploring around the board and so forth. And while I admit, I like the resort and the grounds are beautiful...it just is not right for this trip.

This morning I declared we are staying put! DD was pleased. At this point DH was indifferent. It must have been a momentary lapse.

While I do expect that we will stay at GF at some time. It will not be in September.

How hilarious that he brought this up in the Ralph Lauren section
I'm a GF lover and I totally understand your need for the Poly
Glad you're getting your way on this

 

[johnsonet]

Does anybody know if early check in is avaliable (at a surcharge) - i was hoping for 10am? thanks x x

Hi.
You will be able to check in at 10am but your room may not be ready. I would recommend using online check-in and giving your estimated arrival time as 10am. This should increase your chances of having a room ready for you.

 

[mmmears]

Hi everyone

I'm at AKL now and it's amazing. We love it here.

Check in to Poly tomorrow.

Can't write much since I'm typing on my iPhone.

I'll post a review when I can.

 

[dfarner]

Hi everyone

I'm at AKL now and it's amazing. We love it here.

Check in to Poly tomorrow.

Can't write much since I'm typing on my iPhone.

I'll post a review when I can.

I'm glad you're off to a good start! Can't wait to hear more.

 

[PolyAddict]

Hi everyone

I'm at AKL now and it's amazing. We love it here.

Check in to Poly tomorrow.

Can't write much since I'm typing on my iPhone.

I'll post a review when I can.

Glad you are enjoying it, we loved our stay there back in 2007 even if we were looking at the parking lot. I would love to do CL there, it just doesn't seem to be in the cards with a family of 5. hhhmmm wonder what a 1 bed villa with concierge goes for? Hope you have lots of pics.

 

[BCV23]

If you have never seen Wishes from in the park, I say watch it there once. There is something magical about it. We will now always watch Wishes from the Poly beach now or stay in the park and ride some things for a while wjile the masses head out.

I think both experiences are a treat either way!

I agree with seeing Wishes from inside the park at least once. There are some effects besides Tinkerbelle that can only be seen inside the MK. For the most part though, we enjoy it more from the Polynesian.

How hilarious that he brought this up in the Ralph Lauren section
I'm a GF lover and I totally understand your need for the Poly
Glad you're getting your way on this

We love the Polynesian and the GF. One great advantage of both is their proximity to each other. It is so easy to dine or shop at the other resort.

Hi everyone

I'm at AKL now and it's amazing. We love it here.

Check in to Poly tomorrow.

Can't write much since I'm typing on my iPhone.

I'll post a review when I can.

I'm glad you're enjoying AKL. It's beautiful, isn't it? Have fun at the Polynesian.

 

[TJM1976]

ok, so I'm dreaming about watching the fireworks from the beach...I was just curious if i didn't actually watch it from within the MK, would I be missing something? I know we'd miss Tinkerbelle, but anything else? And just to confirm, if you go down to the beach by the main pool, they pipe in the music there, right? I'd rather watch from the Poly (with my little cup of Dole Whip ) and stroll back to our room without having to fight crowds to get back....

I recommend watching Wishes inside MK. At least for the first time. Otherwise you miss the music thats sync with the fireworks.

 

[SeaSpray]

fingers crossed it will still be great this year!! All this crowd level talk has me so nervous, and wondering if we should have gone the last weekend in April instead. But, what's done is done and none of it makes any sense to me anyhow. So we'll see!!

I think you should be fine, but then again I haven't been here on the Resorts Board much lately; is there talk of heavy crowd levels for this May? Please come back and let us know how it was, ok??

I swear I think my favorite time is the summer. k&a&c'smom and I have talked about this before... there's something extra-magical about summers in WDW

Yes, I agree - the summer has a special magic for us, as well! I have often said that there is almost an electrical feel to the parks, especially at night - with the heat, the crowds, the late hours! For most people I have probably just defined their nightmare.

We have very humid summers here, too, so it doesn't wilt us like it does most people. We get up early, do the first couple of hours at the early entry park, head back to the resort for a swim or laundry. Have an early dinner, then head back to the parks for night-time fun. Good times, good times!

ETA - we like the off-season, too, as a PP poster said - we enjoy pretty much any time of year!

You know, I totally agree with this! I've been to WDW in the summer several times and there IS an electricity in the air. The parks are open later, everything's all lit up (I LOVE the lights in the sidewalk in Epcot), I love the late-night swimming, etc. I just really can't take the humidity. High temps without humidity is fine with me, but when that humidity is high... *ugh*!

Terry....so you are doing the WBTA??? Us too!!! Can't wait. I thanked you back on the other thread for putting the whole Poly thread together.....it is great. We are headed down to WDW on the 25th of April for 3 nights and to Disney's Vero Beach resort for 3 nights. Can't wait. I did not request any specific building for our GV room...I think I may just roll with punches and take whatever we get. As of yesterday they seemed to now be sold out for the dates we are going. I did a dummy booking to see if any CL rooms were available and there were no rooms available at all, even for just 2 adults. I know rooms open up again sometimes but I think the resort will be pretty full, especially with grad night that Friday and Saturday night we are there.

I usually see you on the cruise board but glad I came over to check out the Poly thread.

MJ

Hi MJ! Yes, we're on the WBTA!!! We booked it a few months ago, and I can't wait. I hope you have a great time at Vero Beach and at the Polynesian! I've been homesick for the Polynesian lately, I really need to book something. LOL

Hubby and I stayed at the Yacht Club a few times without the kids....a beautiful resort and very nice. I love the whole Nautical feel about the Yacht and Beach Clubs......love, love, love Stormalong Bay and Beaches and Cream Shop for the best ice cream and burger type foods!!!

MJ

I still want to try out the Yacht Club one of these days.

I like the 2nd floor myself. You get the higher view, without the balcony (I'm afraid of heights LOL).

You could just NOT step out onto the balcony if you were in a 3rd floor room you know.

(Just kidding with you...Hi DAVID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! )

 

[lissiesmum]

I recommend watching Wishes inside MK. At least for the first time. Otherwise you miss the music thats sync with the fireworks.

okay, so you can't hear the music from the fireworks? I could have sworn I read that they pipe it in to the beach.....I decided to do the fireworks once from the park. We have CM reservations for six o'clock, so I figure by the time we're done eating and head back to the park, that might be a good night to catch them there, plus the next day I have planned as a Poly day, with no parks, that way if DD is up a lot later, hopefully she can sleep in a little later or at least relax around the Poly if she's tired

 

[SeaSpray]

ok, so I'm dreaming about watching the fireworks from the beach...I was just curious if i didn't actually watch it from within the MK, would I be missing something? I know we'd miss Tinkerbelle, but anything else? And just to confirm, if you go down to the beach by the main pool, they pipe in the music there, right? I'd rather watch from the Poly (with my little cup of Dole Whip ) and stroll back to our room without having to fight crowds to get back....

I love to watch the fireworks from the beach at the Polynesian. You might want to try watching them while swimming in the volcano pool too.. VERY COOL! As you know, you'll miss seeing Tinkerbelle, and the only other thing that I know that isn't too visible are the lighting effects that flash across the castle that you can see while inside the MK. Other than that, you really aren't missing that much. I definitely agree that everyone should see it from inside the MK at least once, though!

And there's nothing like being right there near your room after the fireworks are over.

Oh my Poly friends! Things almost went very awry yesterday! DH, DD and I were at the mall shopping for some warm weather clothing and Easter dresses and so forth. For some reason, while in the Ralph Lauren section ironically, my husband said we should try the GF this trip instead of the Poly .

OK, I love the GF so I don't want any GF lovers jumping on me!

But I said, No, I really want to stick with Poly. We are staying Club Level, the weather is going to be warm and DD loves the pool and we are familiar with the Poly. I am not ready to explore new resorts. But he insists I look into it. So I look into it and do some exploring around the board and so forth. And while I admit, I like the resort and the grounds are beautiful...it just is not right for this trip.

This morning I declared we are staying put! DD was pleased. At this point DH was indifferent. It must have been a momentary lapse.

While I do expect that we will stay at GF at some time. It will not be in September.

A lot of us like both resorts (I've only stayed at the GF once, though), but I'm glad that you decided to stick with the Polynesian. I hope you have a wonderful time there!

Hi everyone

I'm at AKL now and it's amazing. We love it here.

Check in to Poly tomorrow.

Can't write much since I'm typing on my iPhone.

I'll post a review when I can.

I'm glad you're enjoying AKL. I love that resort, as well! (Disclaimer: I've never stayed at a WDW resort that I didn't at least thoroughly enjoy! LOL). Looking forward to your review!

 

[SeaSpray]

okay, so you can't hear the music from the fireworks? I could have sworn I read that they pipe it in to the beach.....I decided to do the fireworks once from the park. We have CM reservations for six o'clock, so I figure by the time we're done eating and head back to the park, that might be a good night to catch them there, plus the next day I have planned as a Poly day, with no parks, that way if DD is up a lot later, hopefully she can sleep in a little later or at least relax around the Poly if she's tired

I know that there are speakers on and near the beach that pipe in the music, but if the crowd on the beach is loud, sometimes you can't hear it very well. We've always sat and stood right near the Hawaii building, close to the beach, and have never had a problem hearing it. But if hearing the music along with the fireworks is very important to you, then the beach is definitely not the best place.

 

[TJM1976]

okay, so you can't hear the music from the fireworks? I could have sworn I read that they pipe it in to the beach.....I decided to do the fireworks once from the park. We have CM reservations for six o'clock, so I figure by the time we're done eating and head back to the park, that might be a good night to catch them there, plus the next day I have planned as a Poly day, with no parks, that way if DD is up a lot later, hopefully she can sleep in a little later or at least relax around the Poly if she's tired

Well now you have me second guessing myself. But I've been at Poly a couple times and don't remember hearing the music. Maybe someone else can shed some light.........

 

[TJM1976]

I know that there are speakers on and near the beach that pipe in the music, but if the crowd on the beach is loud, sometimes you can't hear it very well. We've always sat and stood right near the Hawaii building, close to the beach, and have never had a problem hearing it. But if hearing the music along with the fireworks is very important to you, then the beach is definitely not the best place.

I'm usually closer to the pool area on the beach during the fireworks so maybe the swimmers and pool crowd is louder than the music.

 

[lissiesmum]

I know that there are speakers on and near the beach that pipe in the music, but if the crowd on the beach is loud, sometimes you can't hear it very well. We've always sat and stood right near the Hawaii building, close to the beach, and have never had a problem hearing it. But if hearing the music along with the fireworks is very important to you, then the beach is definitely not the best place.

well, it would be nice to hear the music, but it won't kill me if I can't! I sat online the last week of December when one of our fellow disers had his cam set up for the week and I logged on every night to watch the fireworks in silence and enjoyed it every time, even if it was on my little computer screen! I just can't believe that I'll actually see it in person after thinking about it for all of these years. Only drama is, I'm hoping DD will adjust to the change I made (jumping ship from AKL to the Poly). She kept talking today about opening up the sliding doors and seeing the animals and I keep trying to explain that we're staying at an even better place...hope the Poly will be ok for my DD...I really think once we get there that there'll be plenty for her to enjoy! I just couldn't pass up the chance to stay at the Poly this time!