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

[rlahsin]

Hi everyone! We just booked 7 nights at the Poly for this fall. We were able to book it using the free Disney Dining plan, so we're really excited. We've only been to Disney one other time, and then we stayed at POR. I've heard fabulous things about Poly...we can't wait. We'll be traveling from October 4th - october 11th.

Regina

 

[MaryKLady]

Us too, us too!!!

We'll be there for two days before out DCL cruise in Jan....so excited!!!

 

[thudfather]

We're staying at the Polynesian for 6 nights starting best Tuesday. We have 3 little girls, 4, 6 and 9. First Disney trip. My highly experienced sister made our ADRs and park touring plans but she has never stayed at the Poly. (She's at POR) Anything I need to know? I already checked in online, is it too late to ask for a particular building? Do I want to be near the pool?

our group, although split between resorts, is a grand gathering. Does that mean we can get room keys to each other's rooms? it would be nice for changing for dinner, etc.

 

[mmmears]

We're staying at the Polynesian for 6 nights starting best Tuesday. We have 3 little girls, 4, 6 and 9. First Disney trip. My highly experienced sister made our ADRs and park touring plans but she has never stayed at the Poly. (She's at POR) Anything I need to know? I already checked in online, is it too late to ask for a particular building? Do I want to be near the pool?

our group, although split between resorts, is a grand gathering. Does that mean we can get room keys to each other's rooms? it would be nice for changing for dinner, etc.

Congrats on your 1st WDW trip! And you're really lucky that you have an experienced helper to make all of your plans for you! It's not too late to request a building -- they only block the rooms out a couple of days in advance. I would go ahead and make any requests you have ASAP, though.

With 3 little girls, if you do plan on pool time, I think it would be a very good idea to ask to be near one of the pools. The Poly is pretty spread out, but if you're close to the pools, you're also pretty close to the lobby (GCH), which is also very convenient.

I hope you have a great time! The Poly is a wonderful place to stay!

 

[jeffandpamsmith]

We are going to stay at the Poly Nov 30 leaving Dec 6 2009. We looked at the Southwest Airlines Disney Package deals, but when I factored in the seperate costs of air only thru SWA and the Poly thru Disney with the same meal plans, the price was the same. Disney starts you out with a lagoon view and when I subtracted for the Garden view, it was actually a bit cheaper.

Question: now that I'm booking the Poly thru Disney, is there a way to request a particular longhouse? I read a post or two ago someone was going to do this. How? Do I do it when reserving online, or do I reserve by phone and ask? Is the price the same by phone and online?

I've read a lot here but couldnt make the search function find the answer. Basically I want the best compromise between great view and short walk to transportation (view first).

Do I read the above post to mean I need to wait to choose until a few days before? If so, when is the soonest I can call to get my choice? I know the dining has a 90 day start date...I think.

 

[jeffandpamsmith]

After lookinf further, another question. Is it worth the extra money for a "theme Park view"? I think the difference was $270 more than the lagoon view.

The site says they are only in Tahiti (which is close) and Tuvalu (which is not, but I bet has a kiler view).

Advice here would be good too. Do all the theme park view rooms have balconies, and are you almost always guarenteed a better view in general than a less than prime lagoon view?

So just how far a walk is Tuvalu from the transports anyway...if its a beautiful walk it may be worth doing anyway. Tuvalu just seems, by the map, to have the best view potential.

 

[lissiesmum]

I've been checking the WDW website daily to see if any lagoon view rooms become available...and today, the only thing available is garden view for the last week of February!!! Yesterday there was garden view, garden view concierge, theme park view, or lagoon view concierge...why would almost every room category disappear in one day??? Thoughts anyone?

 

[lissiesmum]

After lookinf further, another question. Is it worth the extra money for a "theme Park view"? I think the difference was under $200 from the lagoon view.

The site says they are only in Tahiti (which is close) and Tuvalu (which is not, but I bet has a kiler view).

Advice here would be good too. Do all the theme park view rooms have balconies, and are you almost always guarenteed a better view in general than a less than prime lagoon view?

So just how far a walk is Tuvalu from the transports anyway...if its a beautiful walk it may be worth doing anyway. Tuvalu just seems, by the map, to have the best view potential.

Tuvalu is right next to the GCC, where the food and monorail station is located, plus the dock for the boat transport is a short walk from Tuvalu. The volcano pool is also close by. From what I've read, the best (non concierge) views are from Tahiti, and every room there will have either a balcony or patio, vs Tuvalu, I believe, does not have balconies on the second floor. I am also flirting with a better view. I have garden view booked and have been looking daily for a lagoon view, which is not available the week we are staying. If a good deal comes out, I would consider theme park view for sure. I looked out my neighbor's sliders our last trip when we were in Hawaii on the GV side. THe views were breathtaking, and I longed to be there!

 

[Capt. Barbosa]

I've been checking the WDW website daily to see if any lagoon view rooms become available...and today, the only thing available is garden view for the last week of February!!! Yesterday there was garden view, garden view concierge, theme park view, or lagoon view concierge...why would almost every room category disappear in one day??? Thoughts anyone?

I only use the website to do some general checking and rates, I always call to do my actual booking. Many times I've called and got rooms that were not aval. online. I think they only update the inventory online once a day or so.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Hey I just wanted to stop in and say hi. We will be at The Poly Dec 5-12. This is our first time staying there and I am so excited. I see that others on this site will be there at the same time. Hopefully we will run into each other.

 

[lissiesmum]

I only use the website to do some general checking and rates, I always call to do my actual booking. Many times I've called and got rooms that were not aval. online. I think they only update the inventory online once a day or so.

Hmmm, well, maybe I'll give them a call and check then. You know, I have called Disney so much this past year that I actually created a speed dial # for both reservations and dining? Time to give it a try! Thanks for the tip. I checked other weeks before and after my week and they all look normal. Not sure what's going on, but maybe customer service might have some insight

 

[mmmears]

I've been checking the WDW website daily to see if any lagoon view rooms become available...and today, the only thing available is garden view for the last week of February!!! Yesterday there was garden view, garden view concierge, theme park view, or lagoon view concierge...why would almost every room category disappear in one day??? Thoughts anyone?

Are you looking under the full-price rooms or under a special discount. If it's just the regular rooms, I'd be surprised. If you're looking from a discount link, I think that they add and subtract the number of rooms they give out with a deal, depending on what else is going on (other resorts filling up, people booking at full price, etc.). When I booked under the 4/3 deal, I noticed that the room inventories at the GF and at the Poly would swing wildly, depending on which day I was checking.

 

[LexisAuntieLala]

We (my mom, my 4-year old niece, and I) will be at the Poly too from December 10-15! It is our first stay at the Poly and am soooo looking forward to it, especially after reading this board.

 

[johnsonet]

I've been checking the WDW website daily to see if any lagoon view rooms become available...and today, the only thing available is garden view for the last week of February!!! Yesterday there was garden view, garden view concierge, theme park view, or lagoon view concierge...why would almost every room category disappear in one day??? Thoughts anyone?

Hey lissiesmum
Not sure why it would all disappear in a day but keep trying

 

[lissiesmum]

Are you looking under the full-price rooms or under a special discount. If it's just the regular rooms, I'd be surprised. If you're looking from a discount link, I think that they add and subtract the number of rooms they give out with a deal, depending on what else is going on (other resorts filling up, people booking at full price, etc.). When I booked under the 4/3 deal, I noticed that the room inventories at the GF and at the Poly would swing wildly, depending on which day I was checking.

Hi MMMears! Nice to hear from you How was your recent vacation to the world? Believe it or not, I was just looking at regular rooms, not on the special discounts page or anything. I actually just got off the phone with customer service and the CM was dumbfounded! She said usually if there's a convention they might block off some rooms, or even a grand gathering, but she said there were no rooms available for that week! She had no explanation and checked other resorts for the same week and every other resort was ok except Polynesian. Maybe someone's getting married and they're all staying at the Poly??? I guess I'll have to keep checking back to see...I'm bummed now because I was hoping for some magical deal to be offered so I could upgrade to CL or TPV (sniff sniff)

 

[lissiesmum]

Hey lissiesmum
Not sure why it would all disappear in a day but keep trying

Hi Johnsonet! nice to see some old friends on here again! I'm back in planning mode and have been anxiously awaiting a deal and toying with theme park view or concierge again...guess I'll have to wait and see what the heck is going on the last week of February??? how have you been?

 

[mmmears]

Hi MMMears! Nice to hear from you How was your recent vacation to the world? Believe it or not, I was just looking at regular rooms, not on the special discounts page or anything. I actually just got off the phone with customer service and the CM was dumbfounded! She said usually if there's a convention they might block off some rooms, or even a grand gathering, but she said there were no rooms available for that week! She had no explanation and checked other resorts for the same week and every other resort was ok except Polynesian. Maybe someone's getting married and they're all staying at the Poly??? I guess I'll have to keep checking back to see...I'm bummed now because I was hoping for some magical deal to be offered so I could upgrade to CL or TPV (sniff sniff)

Hi Lissiesmum!

That is so strange. I would bet that something will open up again, though, since Feb. isn't a heavily-traveled time. Keep trying -- I really hope you do get what you want!

We had a really nice trip, thanks for asking. It was really fun staying at 3 resorts. I missed the Poly, though. I hope that someday we'll be able to stay there again.

 

[lissiesmum]

Hi Lissiesmum!

That is so strange. I would bet that something will open up again, though, since Feb. isn't a heavily-traveled time. Keep trying -- I really hope you do get what you want!

We had a really nice trip, thanks for asking. It was really fun staying at 3 resorts. I missed the Poly, though. I hope that someday we'll be able to stay there again.

which one did you like best out of the three of them? I know you loved AKL...

 

[captainofthepearl]

We lucked out last Febuary with that buy 4 get three free, we booked the garden view and when we checked in they gave us a lagoon view with a perfect view of the castle! It was totally awesome. I wish they would do that buy 4 get three free again I'd book it again in a minute.

 

[mmmears]

which one did you like best out of the three of them? I know you loved AKL...

They all have their plusses and minuses, and we honestly enjoyed staying at them all. We all decided that our family favorite is AKL -- it's just an amazing and wonderful place. But, because of it's location, I think I'll always want to do a split with AKL and an Epcot or a monorail resort. That way we'll get the best of both worlds.