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

[schwenksvillemouse]

Subscribing

 

[BCV23]

Hi all--- considering staying at poly if good AP rates come out (staying now at WL, our 3rd time)...
question about transportation (or link to the answers)
1) which is faster: boat from MK to Poly ( I know it stops at GF 1st, I think)
or the monoral from MK to Poly

2) I will have a GV- how long would the longest walk be to the TTC (from the fartherest longhouse)... we are average speed walkers

thanks Jill

The launch actually goes directly to the MK from the Polynesian so once you're on it, it's probably faster than the monorail. However, it is more variable in hours and there seem to often only be two operating.

I don't suppose they serve the macadamia pancakes at Capt'n Cooks?

No pancakes at all at Captain Cook's.

This is a great idea. On my most recent trip our flight was scheduled to arrive at 11:30 pm on a Friday night and we weren't in our resort room until 1:30 am. Of course, we were able to hit a Typhoon Lagoon by its 10:00 am open.

How does the price compare for your one night at the airport Hyatt vs. the rate at the Poly? If it is a significant cost savings, I could see doing this on future trips. I could also see this being a large plus that you could check in and have the family in bed, while one person gathers the luggage on a rolling cart.

When we visited a few years ago, we had the earliest possible flight but weren't really able to get to a park on the first day until 1:30 pm. (crowded conditions prompted us to try something different this time.)

I could see sleeping at the Hyatt, doing an early check in at the hotel and still making it to a park by 11:00 (and probably just starting with Epcot's World Showcase).

We used to stay off site the first night all the time. Hyatt once, the Marriott airport several times. Many, many years ago we stayed at a couple different spots on International Drive the first night and started our Gold Key package bright and early the next am. It was fun.

Just a caution about the Hyatt....the rooms are really small at least for our family of five.

 

[TJM1976]

for the replies on my Tonga Toast question!!

 

[mmmears]

How does the price compare for your one night at the airport Hyatt vs. the rate at the Poly? If it is a significant cost savings, I could see doing this on future trips. I could also see this being a large plus that you could check in and have the family in bed, while one person gathers the luggage on a rolling cart.

I could see sleeping at the Hyatt, doing an early check in at the hotel and still making it to a park by 11:00 (and probably just starting with Epcot's World Showcase).

We did the opposite once and spent our last night at the Hyatt since we had to be at MCO at 5am the next morning! I thought it was great. Very nice, but small, rooms (you can choose to get larger rooms, I believe). Comfy beds, sound-proofing. Even a pool out on the roof where you can watch the planes!

Price-wise, it compares very favorably to the Poly. We were at the GF that trip, but it saved us about $300, which is a lot of $$$ to me. And it saved us the hassle of traveling early, early morning. I could see it saving your family the hassle of waiting for the luggage (which always seems to take an hour when all is said and done).

I booked an internet rate through Hyatt.com that was somewhere around $140 dollars (3 adults in the room, too). I thought it was worth it for the cost savings and the convenience of being right at the hotel. You wont waste any time getting to it!

Enjoy your stay at the Poly -- we just came home from there and keep wishing we were still there...

 

[lissiesmum]

Ok, guys! I leave tomorrow morning and I don't have much time to look through all the recent threads...I caught a post that caught my eye about transport if someone could get me up to speed...I was wondering about the ferry to and from the MK...does it stop at GF each way? I thought I saw it was quick to take the monorail there, and take the ferry on the way back. I"m packing and taking care of my brother's dog today so I don't have much time to read Thanks for your help as always and I'll miss chatting with you while I'm at the Poly (but will of course be having the time of my life!) Talk to you all soon!

 

[Circusgirl]

Ok, guys! I leave tomorrow morning and I don't have much time to look through all the recent threads...I caught a post that caught my eye about transport if someone could get me up to speed...I was wondering about the ferry to and from the MK...does it stop at GF each way? I thought I saw it was quick to take the monorail there, and take the ferry on the way back. I"m packing and taking care of my brother's dog today so I don't have much time to read Thanks for your help as always and I'll miss chatting with you while I'm at the Poly (but will of course be having the time of my life!) Talk to you all soon!

The ferry goes straight from the Poly to the MK. The route is MK to the GF then to the Poly and then back to MK.

 

[tcolling]

Ok, guys! I leave tomorrow morning and I don't have much time to look through all the recent threads...I caught a post that caught my eye about transport if someone could get me up to speed...I was wondering about the ferry to and from the MK...does it stop at GF each way? I thought I saw it was quick to take the monorail there, and take the ferry on the way back. I"m packing and taking care of my brother's dog today so I don't have much time to read Thanks for your help as always and I'll miss chatting with you while I'm at the Poly (but will of course be having the time of my life!) Talk to you all soon!

I think it may also depend on your long house. If you are near the launch, go ahead and take it and save your feet. If you could magically appear at either the monorail or the ferry dock, the monorail is always faster.

Going to the MK it always stops at GF and then MK
Returning it always stops at CR, TTC, and then the poly.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Almost there! I'm in line for the magical express & I have never seen the line so long. People are cranky but I'm on vacation & just happy to almost be at the poly!! Thanks mmmears for the iPhone tips & u r right- it's a bit slow going.

 

[mmmears]

Almost there! I'm in line for the magical express & I have never seen the line so long. People are cranky but I'm on vacation & just happy to almost be at the poly!! Thanks mmmears for the iPhone tips & u r right- it's a bit slow going.

Yay!!! You've got it working!!!

Sorry about the huge line for the ME busses. You'll be at the Poly really soon!

Thanks for the update -- it's fun to have a vicarious vacation

 

[mmmears]

Ok, guys! I leave tomorrow morning and I don't have much time to look through all the recent threads...I caught a post that caught my eye about transport if someone could get me up to speed...I was wondering about the ferry to and from the MK...does it stop at GF each way? I thought I saw it was quick to take the monorail there, and take the ferry on the way back. I"m packing and taking care of my brother's dog today so I don't have much time to read Thanks for your help as always and I'll miss chatting with you while I'm at the Poly (but will of course be having the time of my life!) Talk to you all soon!

I hope you have a fantastic vacation! Only one more day!!!

As for the ferry, we took it to the MK except early am when it wasn't running yet. I found that, for the return trip, the monorail was faster.

 

[notaclue]

Thank you for the link to the Tikiman pages. How did I ever live without knowing about that awesome link with everything I wanted to know and stuff I never thought about asking. Fantastic!!

 

[BCV23]

Ok, guys! I leave tomorrow morning and I don't have much time to look through all the recent threads...I caught a post that caught my eye about transport if someone could get me up to speed...I was wondering about the ferry to and from the MK...does it stop at GF each way? I thought I saw it was quick to take the monorail there, and take the ferry on the way back. I"m packing and taking care of my brother's dog today so I don't have much time to read Thanks for your help as always and I'll miss chatting with you while I'm at the Poly (but will of course be having the time of my life!) Talk to you all soon!

We usually take the monorail to the MK but I think the launch is actually faster if you were to board them both at the same moment. The monorail stops at the GF and that can take a minute to several minutes depending on how many people are boarding.

There is a third option which is the ferry from the TTC. It crosses in 5 minutes. But be careful not to ask for directions to the ferry if you really want the smaller boats, commonly called the launches.

Have a fantastic trip! Aloha!

Almost there! I'm in line for the magical express & I have never seen the line so long. People are cranky but I'm on vacation & just happy to almost be at the poly!! Thanks mmmears for the iPhone tips & u r right- it's a bit slow going.

Hope ME goes quickly. Sounds like you're already in a Polynesian frame of mind. Have fun!

 

[dislover78]

Subscribing

Trip planned 8/2 - 8/9!!!! 99 more days! Woo hoo!

 

[maiapapaya]

Thanks for the replies about the pancakes. I didn't think so, but I thought I would ask. I don't think it will be too much of a hardship to have a meal at Kona though.

 

[NJ2Boardwalk]

My trip is booked at the Poly! Woo hoo. Lagoon View Club Level. I just faxed my Dining Reservations as well as others to my IPO today. My ADR window is Monday, I'm crossing my fingers that I am able to get the ressies I want.
I have a random question -
Does anyone know if they make Tonga Toast with milk or butter? My daughter saw pictures of it on a Trip Report and fell in love, but she is allergic to milk so I was curious to see if it was safe for her or not. From what I've read it looks like banana stuffed bread which is then fried. Can anyone help me out?
Thanks!!!

 

[lissiesmum]

I hope you have a fantastic vacation! Only one more day!!!

As for the ferry, we took it to the MK except early am when it wasn't running yet. I found that, for the return trip, the monorail was faster.

We usually take the monorail to the MK but I think the launch is actually faster if you were to board them both at the same moment. The monorail stops at the GF and that can take a minute to several minutes depending on how many people are boarding.

There is a third option which is the ferry from the TTC. It crosses in 5 minutes. But be careful not to ask for directions to the ferry if you really want the smaller boats, commonly called the launches.

Have a fantastic trip! Aloha!

Thank you both! My brain is fried but hopefully I can get it sorted out once I get there. Hope you all have a great week and I'll be sure to post when I return

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

I have a random question -
Does anyone know if they make Tonga Toast with milk or butter? My daughter saw pictures of it on a Trip Report and fell in love, but she is allergic to milk so I was curious to see if it was safe for her or not. Thanks!!!

I don't know about the recipe, but I DO know that if you mention any food allergies or intolerances when your ADR's are made and again when you check in at the restaurant, the chef will come out & speak to you about your food. They will make every attempt to cater to your needs. They will do this at every single place you eat, if you just be sure to note it on your ressies.
Have a great trip.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I have always wondered what is the specific reason that the 2nd floor rooms don't have a balcony?

 

[WOODY13]

I have always wondered what is the specific reason that the 2nd floor rooms don't have a balcony?

A CM once told me that the reason they didn't have balconies on the second floor of the original buildings was because (according to Polynesian legend)there was a group of trouble makers ( can't remember what she said the name was for these people I think they have a statue of one of them in Boutiki) that would climb up to the second floor and get in so they wouldn't bulid balconies on the second floor. She also said the newer buildings(Tokelau,Tahiti, and Rapa Nui) got the blessing of this group that is why second floor balconies on thses buildings. Maybe someone else has heard this story and can fill in the gaps for me.

 

[melanie11793]

Will be staying at POLY for first time in two weeks. Our first trip to WDD. I have a question about the best way to travel from the POLY to the Hoop-dee-Doo Muscial review. We will have a car available. Was wondering if driving over our taking the boat from MK would be a better option? We have reservations for 7:30 PM show. What time would you suggest leaving? Would appreciate any information. Thank you.