The *NEW* Polynesian Resort FAQ thread - *2008*

[buffi]

Great to see all the updates! We stayed at the Poly every year from 83 to 89! Wow what changes

 

[BCV23]

Does anyone know if there are public computers in the Poly? I'm not going to bring my laptop but I may need computer access or I may go thru withdrawl

Thanks for any help.

No, but you can go to the convention center at the GF.

The safes at the Polynesian will hold a laptop if that's your concern.

 

[BCV23]

Great to see all the updates! We stayed at the Poly every year from 83 to 89! Wow what changes

Welcome to the DIS and the Polynesian FAQ!

Our first Polynesian stay was in 83 as well. It has changed but the magic is still alive and well.

 

[Shell54]

No, but you can go to the convention center at the GF.

The safes at the Polynesian will hold a laptop if that's your concern.

That was going to be my question..Iam bringing my lap top..I'd be lost with out it, but I wondered if it would be safe. I'm glad the safes are that big at the Poly. My mac and me are joined at the hip

 

[mommyof2~]

Hi....We leave for the Poly in a couple of days and we are just wondering what beverages you can get with the refillable mugs (we are specifically thinking about our children....is there juice?) Also, for us, is there coffee (I have heard that Disney coffee is terrible...what is your opinion of the refillable mug coffee??) I have been reading most of the posts on this board for months and you have all been so helpful in our planning....thank you. (....and I may have a few more question in the days before we leave )

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Hi....We leave for the Poly in a couple of days and we are just wondering what beverages you can get with the refillable mugs (we are specifically thinking about our children....is there juice?) Also, for us, is there coffee (I have heard that Disney coffee is terrible...what is your opinion of the refillable mug coffee??) I have been reading most of the posts on this board for months and you have all been so helpful in our planning....thank you. (....and I may have a few more question in the days before we leave )

When it comes to the soda machines at Captin Cook's I remember they had Coke, Diet, Coke, Sprite, Barqus Root Beer, Coke Zero, Lemondae, Ice Tea, however I don't think there was Juice. If there was any drinks I missed or was wrong about I am sure someone would let you know. Besides that yes there is Coffee available to use for the mugs, however you are right that it is not the greatest.

 

[shyjade]

I am by no means a coffee expert, but one taste of the instant garbage they serve as "coffee" made me quickly realize the posts I'd read were very accurate - it's BAD. Good thing about the refillable mugs...just dumped it and refilled with something I could actually drink.

I don't remember juice being an option either; like milk, it's something you need to purchase seperately.

I do remember hot chocolate being available for the refillable mugs...not that we ever need it down there!

 

[Aliceacc]

I'm not a coffee drinker, so this one's for my husband:

Those of you who do drink coffee, what do you do?? Just give it up for the time you're in WDW, or is there someplace where I can get him something that isn't awful??

 

[johnsonet]

When it comes to the soda machines at Captin Cook's I remember they had Coke, Diet, Coke, Sprite, Barqus Root Beer, Coke Zero, Lemondae, Ice Tea, however I don't think there was Juice. If there was any drinks I missed or was wrong about I am sure someone would let you know. Besides that yes there is Coffee available to use for the mugs, however you are right that it is not the greatest.

Right I have to buy my daughter's apple juice.
Same goes for milk.

 

[ZIPBAGS]

I got a special rate at the Poly for the end of August. After tax I am paying $214! I got the rate code through an email and not from my credit card statement.

 

[shyjade]

I'm not a coffee drinker, so this one's for my husband:

Those of you who do drink coffee, what do you do?? Just give it up for the time you're in WDW, or is there someplace where I can get him something that isn't awful??

When I stayed at AKL, I gave it up for the week (just like I have to do with my Diet Mt. Dew since only Coke products can be found onsite).

At the Poly, there is a tasty coffee bar located right outside the monorail entrance so you can get tasty coffee there (in the mornings only) or while dining at Kona Cafe.

A third option is the rooms (at the Poly) each have a coffee maker so your husband could bring his own coffee from home. I haven't done that but others say it's best to use bottled water when making your own coffee in the room...

 

[Aliceacc]

When I stayed at AKL, I gave it up for the week (just like I have to do with my Diet Mt. Dew since only Coke products can be found onsite).

At the Poly, there is a tasty coffee bar located right outside the monorail entrance so you can get tasty coffee there (in the mornings only) or while dining at Kona Cafe.

A third option is the rooms (at the Poly) each have a coffee maker so your husband could bring his own coffee from home. I haven't done that but others say it's best to use bottled water when making your own coffee in the room...

Thank you so much!

 

[shyjade]

"Kona Island Cafe Coffee Bar" is the name of the coffee bar I mentioned in my post (forgot the name but just looked it up).

Kona Cafe has pressed pots of coffee, if that matters to your husband. I've never had it so I'm not sure what it is, but it's supposed to be great!

 

[honeybee30]

That was going to be my question..Iam bringing my lap top..I'd be lost with out it, but I wondered if it would be safe. I'm glad the safes are that big at the Poly. My mac and me are joined at the hip

I always bring my laptop to WDW (mainly to unload my digital camera), and although this may not be the brightest idea and if it ever gets stolen it serves me right, I always just leave my computer sitting on the hotel room desk for the entire trip. It's never been a problem. At the other WDW resorts where I've stayed, there was no way my laptop would fit in the safe. I have a Dell, not a Mac, so yours might be smaller than mine, and it sounds like the Poly may have bigger safes, but knowing me, I'll probably still leave my computer sitting on the desk the whole time.

 

[DiznEeyore]

I always bring my laptop to WDW (mainly to unload my digital camera), and although this may not be the brightest idea and if it ever gets stolen it serves me right, I always just leave my computer sitting on the hotel room desk for the entire trip. It's never been a problem. At the other WDW resorts where I've stayed, there was no way my laptop would fit in the safe. I have a Dell, not a Mac, so yours might be smaller than mine, and it sounds like the Poly may have bigger safes, but knowing me, I'll probably still leave my computer sitting on the desk the whole time.

DUDE!! Put your laptop in that safe!

Even if the laptop itself doesn't get stolen, any info you might have on it can be!

There have been several threads lately about employee theft at WDW (for example, the manager at WL who stole a guest's cc number) and you can't just assume that you'll always be ok even if it is Disney World.

The safes at the Poly, CR and Grand all are nice and big and will easily hold a laptop (my 15" fits just fine), plus other items like a camera, money, jewelry, etc.

OK, that's my P.S.A. for today.

 

[Naisy68]

DUDE!! Put your laptop in that safe!

Even if the laptop itself doesn't get stolen, any info you might have on it can be!

There have been several threads lately about employee theft at WDW (for example, the manager at WL who stole a guest's cc number) and you can't just assume that you'll always be ok even if it is Disney World.

The safes at the Poly, CR and Grand all are nice and big and will easily hold a laptop (my 15" fits just fine), plus other items like a camera, money, jewelry, etc.

OK, that's my P.S.A. for today.

This is good to know - I too tend to be a bit too trusting but then I live in South Dakota and it's hard not to be here. I will try my best to be more alert on our upcoming trip to WDW.

 

[Angel16]

Hi.
I was wondering if someone could tell me how much the "specialty" boats are to rent at the polynesian.
Thanks.

Hi MonorailGirl, I don't know which "specialty boats" you were thinking of. So here is some general information. The boats are rented through the Polynesian recreation department. You can contact them from your in-room phone. Or just walk over and talk to the CM's working at the boat building/shack which is right by the marina next to the pool.

The boats usually rent by the half hour. However, these were the set prices for the boats listed as of February 2007. The Polynesian mikala canoe club (marina) offers water mice for

$23.47 for 30 min.
$32.86 for 45 minutes
$37.55 for 1 hour

17' Boston Whaler Montauk 6 passengers $33.80 for 30 min.
21' Pontoon boat 10 passengers max. $39.43 for 30 min.

Specialty Cruise (fireworks) 8-10 guests max. Start at 250.00 I believe. This does includes driver I couldn't find any current rates. Sorry, maybe someone here has the 2008 rates.
I do recommend a site that I can not list here. If you want to PM me I will be happy to give you the information.

I hope this helps.

Angel

 

[johnsonet]

...
Specialty Cruise (fireworks) 8-10 guests max. Start at 250.00 I believe. This does includes driver I couldn't find any current rates. Sorry, maybe someone here has the 2008 rates.
I do recommend a site that I can not list here. If you want to PM me I will be happy to give you the information.

I hope this helps.

Angel

Hi Angel
Thanks for that Marina info!
Re. the specialty cruises, here is what Poly IPO sent me a couple of months ago:

Aloha!

The Specialty Cruises for the Magic Kingdom region are available for
pick up at any of the following resort marinas: Disney's Grand Floridian
Resort and Spa, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort
and Disney's Wilderness Lodge.

There are two types of cruises: the Standard Cruise and the Premium
Cruise. The main difference in these two is that the Premium Cruise
includes onboard audio of the soundtrack to Wishes. Both cruises are
booked by boat. Each boat can accommodate up to 8 passengers, and come
with onboard snacks (a variety of popcorn, chips and pretzels) and Soft
Drinks (Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Bottled Water). Additional food and
beverage offerings are available through each resort's Private Dining
Department, at an additional cost.

The cost is $225.00 for the Standard Cruise and $275.00 for the Premium
Cruise. For an additional $25.00, any cruise can be made a Celebration
Cruise, to commemorate an anniversary or birthday. The boat will be
decorated with a banner and balloons.

Reservations for Specialty Cruises can be made up to 90 days in advance
of the requested date. All reservations require a credit card guarantee
as they do have a 24-hour cancellation window.

Please contact us with your complete credit card information including
card number, expiration date, card holder's name and billing address,
and the date you would like if you would like for us to arrange for this
event.

Mahalo

 

[DiznEeyore]

This is good to know - I too tend to be a bit too trusting but then I live in South Dakota and it's hard not to be here. I will try my best to be more alert on our upcoming trip to WDW.

Better (in the) safe than sorry, I say!

And I'm from Detroit ... we trust no one!

 

[honeybee30]

Better (in the) safe than sorry, I say!

And I'm from Detroit ... we trust no one!

My computer is password protected, and I don't store anything confidential on it, but still, you're probably right. It's not that I'm overly trusting, it's just that I doubt anyone would go to the trouble to steal my old laptop or any of the lesson plans that I have stored on it (I'd share those for free ). That's just my carelessness talking & not a recommendation, however. Please use the safe, Poly-lovers! Especially if you have a really expensive computer with all of your bank account and credit card info stored on it!