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

[BreezysMom]

I know I stayed at the Poly 2 years back but I honestly can't remember if there was a hairdryer in the room. I called the Poly and the CM that I talked to said there was a hairdryer in the room but that was all the info she had. So...probably more a question for the ladies but is the hairdryer any good??? I like to straighten my curly hair (don't try to tell me not to! I'll defy Florida humidity...ok, maybe not ) and usually have a 1875 watt hairdryer.

Is the Poly hairdryer any good or should I bring my own?

Funny you mention this because I went to get me hair done today and I was mentioning how I brought my straightener on our first trip which was late September and between the rain and subsequent thick humid air that followed it was great waste of time. She suggested getting a straightening treatment that last for like two months or something??? It costs some bucks though. I don't think I will do it for myself but it is always and option.

 

[BreezysMom]

Beware of that dryer though! It gets super HOT! It was so hot it melted the actual tube the hot air came out of. I had to get another one or I was afaid I would torch our room with the stupid thing.

 

[mmmears]

Wow! I have missed so much. I'm trying to keep up!

MsStinkerbell -- hilarious post! And thanks for sharing the photo -- you were very brave to take a trip so outnumbered -- 4 to 1!

Johnsonet -- I was reading this page & went to check on the hairdryer & had a laugh as I scrolled down and saw your photo.

To those of you coming soon: I haven't used the hairdryer so I don't know how well it works, but the one in my room is the same as the one Johnsonet posted.

Also, I wouldn't worry about the crowds much. It is bound to be less crowded than this week and this week has been less crowded than last week. We haven't had any problems getting on rides. In fact, in every outing to the parks we were able to do more than we planned and in less time. A good plan and showing up before rope drop can really make a huge difference. We've felt that we've been 2 steps ahead of the crowds for the past week.

It really doesn't take long to get to Epcot. I gave it an hour since I was unsure of how long it would take to walk to the TTC and take the monorail. We got there so early we weren't happy -- then they let us in and let us ride Soarin' before the park opened.

 

[johnsonet]

Hi mmmears!! So nice to see a post from you! Hope all is well. Glad to hear the parks haven't been bad for you! Have you just finished watching Wishes from your room??

 

[zima-cheryl]

Anyways to answer your question, last year we arrived at 11am and our room wasn't ready but they gave us the key to it because we wanted to head out to the parks and weren't going to be back until that night. We just left our carry-ons with them and they dropped them off in our room when it was ready. When we got back around 10pm everything was in our room waiting for us.

Did you happen to use Magical Express? If so, I wonder if that's why everything was in your room. In general, I think you have to call bell services to get delivery, don't you?

I think it depends on the time you arrive. Early arrivals they will deliver bags to the room automatically. After a certain time at night they don't deliver (probably for fear of waking someone up) and you have to call to ask them to bring your bags up.

 

[BCV23]

I think it depends on the time you arrive. Early arrivals they will deliver bags to the room automatically. After a certain time at night they don't deliver (probably for fear of waking someone up) and you have to call to ask them to bring your bags up.

I think that is only true if you are using ME as Oand A did.

 

[brentalex]

We leave in 2 hours See everybody there.I'll be wearing the Phillies World Series cap

 

[BCV23]

We leave in 2 hours See everybody there.I'll be wearing the Phillies World Series cap

Have a great time!

 

[lov2b@disney]

We leave in 2 hours See everybody there.I'll be wearing the Phillies World Series cap

Have a great time!

 

[Tiltowhirl]

I wouldn't stress about this. As soon as you see your first photopass person and they take your photograph they will issue you a photopass card in about two seconds.

I just got back and had 252 photos on the photopass CD. It is really a great value if you take advantage of it. When you see the first photographer on main street, ask them to turn around and take a photo of the train station. Near crystal palace there are some lovely gardens for photos nearby. We also managed to catch the mayor of main street for a photo. At the rose garden, you can also ask the photographer for a shot of the tomorrowland entrance. We also were able to get a photopass person to take a shot of the adventureland entrance.

Photopass is such a great deal. Especially since their nighttime photos have just the right camera settings and a tripod. Never be afraid to ask the photopass cast member for some extra shots. Also, always ask if they do anything "magical" as you might be surprised at what they ask you to do. On my most recent trip we had four different "magical" type pictures, two of them were new from our trip two years ago.

They even do photopass at the waterparks with a smaller verision of the card and a rubber band to hold it to your wrist. I have some great shots of Crush Gusher at TL and Summit Plummet at BB.

Thanks for the Photopass tips all! I couldn't remember from my last trips how much time it took to get the actual photopass card the first time. Sounds like it's a lot quicker than I remember. Hey, I didn't realise they also did photopass at the waterparks too. Do I need to bring my photopass card with me to waterparks to link the two cards together or can I just pick up a wrist band with a new card and link the two cards together at another point in time. We're hitting Blizzard Beach for the first time (we've done TL in the past trips) so I'm thinking photopass pics on Summit Plummet would be cool to show their friends once they get home.

And of course this time we're going to try and get a few of the famous "magical" photopass effects. Now we just have to find some experience photopass photographers who can pull it off.

3 more days to go until we arrive ! The excitement in my house is reaching fever pitch

 

[Tiltowhirl]

Love the pic Tiltowhirl! I'll also be at the Poly 4/24 - 5/1 (check out my avatar pic for what we look like). So liliesmum - we can also help with taking pics for you! It's actually the little 'extra' my husband likes to do for folks so their whole family can be in the picture - he's ALWAYS asking people if they would like him to take a picture (so mom, dad, etc, can also be in the picture.) I know how it is because I always end up being out of the picture and taking the photos!

Sounds like your husband shares the same trait as me as far as taking pix so the whole family can be in the picture together. Whenever I see a family shot being taken, I always stop and ask if the photographer if they want to be in the picture too.

So Tinkerbellie if I see you and your family taking pix, I'll volunteer to take one for you as well !

 

[Tiltowhirl]

We leave in 2 hours See everybody there.I'll be wearing the Phillies World Series cap

Have a great trip . See ya at the Poly, I'll have my Red Sox World Series Champs hat on !

 

[tcolling]

I didn't realise they also did photopass at the waterparks too. Do I need to bring my photopass card with me to waterparks to link the two cards together or can I just pick up a wrist band with a new card and link the two cards together at another point in time. We're hitting Blizzard Beach for the first time (we've done TL in the past trips) so I'm thinking photopass pics on Summit Plummet would be cool to show their friends once they get home.

On my trip last week we ended up with five different photopass cards. The photopass folks at Trader Jacks merged them later in the week when we bought the CD. In the past I have purchased the photo book online and was able to use photopass and other digital photos for the book.

I will try to post my photos in the next few days, but the reason we had so many photo passes is that the photographer took a picture of me as I was falling on Summit Plummet and at the end. They don't have time to wait to scan your card, so they just issue a new wrist band card. At TL they also had photopass folks at the end of Crush Gusher and Gangplank Falls.

 

[Tiltowhirl]

On my trip last week we ended up with five different photopass cards. The photopass folks at Trader Jacks merged them later in the week when we bought the CD. In the past I have purchased the photo book online and was able to use photopass and other digital photos for the book.

I will try to post my photos in the next few days, but the reason we had so many photo passes is that the photographer took a picture of me as I was falling on Summit Plummet and at the end. They don't have time to wait to scan your card, so they just issue a new wrist band card. At TL they also had photopass folks at the end of Crush Gusher and Gangplank Falls.

Thanks for the info Tcolling, just curious, besides Summit Plummet do you remember seeing the photopass people being elsewhere at Blizzard Beach. My girls always love mugging it up for the cameras!

 

[BCV23]

... and "Lissiesmum", I see we overlap a couple of days at the Poly. If you see me out and about with my family, I'd be glad to take any pictures you'd like :

So you know what I look like here's a shot of my family and I from MNSHP for 3 years ago.

-Greg

Cute picture.

Sounds like your husband shares the same trait as me as far as taking pix so the whole family can be in the picture together. Whenever I see a family shot being taken, I always stop and ask if the photographer if they want to be in the picture too.

So Tinkerbellie if I see you and your family taking pix, I'll volunteer to take one for you as well !

We try to do that, too.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

This is perfect - thank you so much!!!

Beware of that dryer though! It gets super HOT! It was so hot it melted the actual tube the hot air came out of. I had to get another one or I was afaid I would torch our room with the stupid thing.

Good to know. I'm glad it is 1875 watts but I don't want to melt anything including my hair. I will go curly and if I can't force the straight hair once in a while, I'll be ok - I'm going to Disney so who cares!!!

We leave in 2 hours See everybody there.I'll be wearing the Phillies World Series cap

I'm so excited for you! I'd be really pea green with envy but I'm leaving in one week so I'm just pale green with envy

 

[NJBILL]

I'm so excited for you! I'd be really pea green with envy but I'm leaving in one week so I'm just pale green with envy

I have 92 days.I am jealous!!!!!

 

[maiapapaya]

I have 92 days.I am jealous!!!!!

Try 375!

 

[tcolling]

Thanks for the info Tcolling, just curious, besides Summit Plummet do you remember seeing the photopass people being elsewhere at Blizzard Beach. My girls always love mugging it up for the cameras!

Near Lottawatta Lodge there is a sculpture of three snowpeople including a little one wearing a hat labeled "button." (As in "cute as a button.") There was a photopass person there. This time at BB we didn't do the lazy river, but in previous trips we have also encountered photopass people in the river and sometimes in the wave pools. (Also applies to TL.)

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Single digit dance here too! I FINALLY went shopping for DD10 and myself yesterday as going naked to Disney was the only other alternative and I would definitely want to spare the public from that sight.

I am so freaking out though. My work keeps pileing on and everybody wants to buy/sell NOW. People--where were you last year when I was twidling my thumbs? Just because I am going to Disney they want to stress me out now??? Geez.


It may horror everyone to know I have not even started packing. My suitcases are still in the top of my closet. I can't find my favorite pink flip flops for the pool. I still need batteries for my camera. I have not notified my girls' teachers. The clothes I bought are still in the bags and unwashed.

At least I already submitted and paid for my gardengrocer order. WOW....I am thankful I have the plane, transportation, hotel, adrs and tickets already taken care of from months ago.

Anybody else as far behind????