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

[janiebegood]

So here's a question - what do most of you DO during your stay at the Poly!? Do you spend most of your time in the parks OR do you make it a more leisurly pace and enjoy more time at the resort?

Picabo, you'll probably know the first or second day whether your young'uns can handle going back to the parks in the evening. Our two resort ADR plans kind of preclude us going back the first two days, and my spouse and I are going by ourselves to Coral Reef on NYD. Our last night is the only night we plan to go back into a park (fingers crossed that MK won't be NUTS that day) in the evening.

This first trip, we're really planning to get up early and do the parks until after lunch, then come back and rest/relax/swim if it's warm enough, watch some bowl games, then go to our evening ADR (& our DD will go to the Neverland Club two nights).

Maybe we're not maximizing our park potential, but knowing our family's stamina, I think it's a good plan for us.

On another topic -- we made our theme-park view reservations through AAA for December 08 in January 08, so if I had to guess, I'd say when the rates are official, more rooms may become available. Or else somebody's having a BIG PARTY at the Poly at that time.

 

[sandym718]

So here's a question - what do most of you DO during your stay at the Poly!? Do you spend most of your time in the parks OR do you make it a more leisurly pace and enjoy more time at the resort? In the past (again, pre-kids) I've spend my time in the park from open till close so it never mattered to me WHERE I stayed. But with 2 little ones, I figure I'll schedule in a lot more 'down time' so as to not overdue it with the kiddos. Think it's safe to say that we could do the parks in the mornings and return to the hotel at lunchtime (there about) and then return back to the parks in the evening? Or is that still alot for toddlers to handle?

THANKS!!!

We did exactly that with our 2 young ones last year. Hit rope drop or shortly thereafter, stayed at the park from anywhere from 11:30 (MGM, we were done, had lunch at the Poly) to 3:30(our CM brunch day, DD and I stayed at MK to watch the parade), but usually around 1 or so. Headed back to the Poly and went swimming for awhile. Then it was shower/naptime for the kids and rest/relaxation for DH and I. They napped from about 2 or 2:30 till around 4:30 or so and then we got dressed and headed back out. A couple evenings we headed to different parks, one night DTD, and a couple nights we either stayed (dinner at Kona) or came back (after dinner at WCC) to the Poly to just hang out, swim some more, etc. This worked perfectly for us. We didn't stay late in the parks, we were back at the Poly by 9 or so. Our dinner ressies were between 5:30-6 each night. Next time, since the kids are a little older, we'll probably do 6 or 6:30, relax a little more in the afternoon and stay a little later in the parks.

I think this is a good plan with little ones, esp. staying at the Poly. If you're heading to MK or Epcot in the evening (where we went), the monorail just makes it so convenient!!

 

[lovemy2boys]

We did exactly that with our 2 young ones last year. Hit rope drop or shortly thereafter, stayed at the park from anywhere from 11:30 (MGM, we were done, had lunch at the Poly) to 3:30(our CM brunch day, DD and I stayed at MK to watch the parade), but usually around 1 or so. Headed back to the Poly and went swimming for awhile. Then it was shower/naptime for the kids and rest/relaxation for DH and I. They napped from about 2 or 2:30 till around 4:30 or so and then we got dressed and headed back out. A couple evenings we headed to different parks, one night DTD, and a couple nights we either stayed (dinner at Kona) or came back (after dinner at WCC) to the Poly to just hang out, swim some more, etc. This worked perfectly for us. We didn't stay late in the parks, we were back at the Poly by 9 or so. Our dinner ressies were between 5:30-6 each night. Next time, since the kids are a little older, we'll probably do 6 or 6:30, relax a little more in the afternoon and stay a little later in the parks.

I think this is a good plan with little ones, esp. staying at the Poly. If you're heading to MK or Epcot in the evening (where we went), the monorail just makes it so convenient!!

These are all great, great ideas! Thank you! We have a 3 year old and 2 year old so I am glad to read this!

 

[vtwep]

My GOSH that's NUTS. WOnder if there is something going on there that week or if that's normal. I cannot imagine that the "normal" people (non Dis-ers) even THINK to book 499 days in advance! Well we DO want garden view so I guess I'm ok. I can't call till Monday! (BOOHOO!) So what are you going to do? Do you just keep calling back till something opens up?

THANKS!!!

Thanks for the replies. It seems that some have gotten MK view rooms a bit closer, so I suppose I'll definitely call as soon as rates are out. If still not available, I'll probably call once or twice a week until I get lucky!

As for what to do. Last year was our first trip in YEARS. We had our DD4 with us. Some days we'd go early, break, then go back to that park or a different one for evening. Some days we'd go from open 'til close! But it was November so parks closed a bit earlier than peak times. We did spend some time in the Yacht Club pool area. This year, we'll have DD and an infant, so I'm not exactly sure how we'll handle it. We'll probably gauge it the first couple of days and just see how things are going and adjust as needed.

We just pick the deluxe resorts due to location and room size. Last year, Yacht Club - loved it. Later this year - GF...looking forward to it! And of course, December 2009 - Poly.

Thanks again. I'll keep my fingers crossed that we end up with MK.

Picabo - good luck with your call on Monday! Hope it works out!

 

[Tonyspad]

VTWEP-
I would make a reservation in another room catagory, then keep checking availabilty for MK view online. The only time I have ever seen a certain room catagory not becoame available for our dates was when there where renovations planned, but the Poly has already been refurbed. IMO it is always better to have some type of reservation in place, I think the time you want to go in Dec may be Pop Warner week.

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

What's the best rate I could hope for the first week of March for a GV?

Any help would be appreciated! I must try out the Poly after hearing about it from you raving fans.

 

[JRDMAN]

Hi Picabo,

Yes - I called 499 days from our checkout and I had to be the CM's first caller of the day (I'm sure not first overall, but for her). All they had was Garden View and suites. I couldn't believe it!

I'm hoping that they'll have MK view rooms available when the rates come out?

I was also hoping some of the Poly experts here could give me some info on whether or not this is "normal" and if I need to be worried or not. We really wanted the MK view rooms...

Thanks!

Dec is a special time to be at The World and it's not surprising that some specific room requests might not be available.
I have been doing some tentative reservations online 2-3 months in advance. Not being sure of the exact dates I can travel yet, I have explored numerous date groupings and almost all of them show club level lagoon view (themepark view) available.

 

[BCV23]

vtwep, I'm as certain as I can be without actually knowing that all those rooms aren't booked. I imagine they just haven't been loaded into the system.

Perhaps they evaluate the MK views much closer to the actual dates. Tikiman posted that they actually went into each room before categorizing it as MK or lagoon. If a tree or bush was partially blocking the view of the castle, it wasn't called MK view. Since trees and bushes have a habit of growing, I can imagine they reassess the rooms from time to time. Perhaps that's all that's happening.

I agree with Tony. Book something and then call back. But frankly, I wouldn't drive myself crazy and do it daily. Maybe once a month. The vast majority of us don't book that far out.

Happy planning! You'll get those rooms in time!

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

My GOSH that's NUTS. WOnder if there is something going on there that week or if that's normal. I cannot imagine that the "normal" people (non Dis-ers) even THINK to book 499 days in advance! Well we DO want garden view so I guess I'm ok. I can't call till Monday! (BOOHOO!) So what are you going to do? Do you just keep calling back till something opens up?

From what I've seen over my years of booking is they don't release all of the available rooms at once. A portion are set aside for packages (I usually book a package for December trips) and the rest are released at a later date. Definitely do keep checking back. I usually have my TA do this for me.

So here's a question - what do most of you DO during your stay at the Poly!? Do you spend most of your time in the parks OR do you make it a more leisurly pace and enjoy more time at the resort?

When we stay at the Poly we take things at a more leisurely pace. Like you, pre-kids I would hit the parks hard all day long. But after I had DD and I could afford to stay at the Poly, I slowed down by necessity. We would hit the parks very early, come back for lunch at Captain Cooks, take a nap in the room, go back to the parks for a little bit and then have a late swim. We like doing things like playing games in the arcade, swimming during the fireworks and the electric water parade, hanging out in 'keki corner' of the lobby in the GCH so DD can color, draw and watch Disney cartoons in the TV.

And thankfully there's the Neverland Club where I can drop DD off so I can hit the parks for as hard as I want for a few hours.

 

[BCV23]

We did exactly that with our 2 young ones last year. Hit rope drop or shortly thereafter, stayed at the park from anywhere from 11:30 (MGM, we were done, had lunch at the Poly) to 3:30(our CM brunch day, DD and I stayed at MK to watch the parade), but usually around 1 or so. Headed back to the Poly and went swimming for awhile. Then it was shower/naptime for the kids and rest/relaxation for DH and I. They napped from about 2 or 2:30 till around 4:30 or so and then we got dressed and headed back out. A couple evenings we headed to different parks, one night DTD, and a couple nights we either stayed (dinner at Kona) or came back (after dinner at WCC) to the Poly to just hang out, swim some more, etc. This worked perfectly for us. We didn't stay late in the parks, we were back at the Poly by 9 or so. Our dinner ressies were between 5:30-6 each night. Next time, since the kids are a little older, we'll probably do 6 or 6:30, relax a little more in the afternoon and stay a little later in the parks.

I think this is a good plan with little ones, esp. staying at the Poly. If you're heading to MK or Epcot in the evening (where we went), the monorail just makes it so convenient!!

That's exactly how we did it when we had two and then three little ones way back in the 80s and 90s at the Polynesian. The only difference is that sometimes my DH and sons would golf in the afternoon during our break time. And sometimes we would rent the little boats or a pontoon.

All these years later, we still vacation that way.

 

[sandym718]

These are all great, great ideas! Thank you! We have a 3 year old and 2 year old so I am glad to read this!

You're welcome!! One other hint that we tried and it worked so wonderfully for us: We requested and got a first floor room (Tokelau). Normally, at the beach, we want as high a floor as possible for the view. But we decided to try 1st floor at the Poly to have more "space". We definitely liked this and will request again. Each day as the kids napped, DH and I sat just outside - either right on the patio in the shade, or in the grassy area just off it if we wanted sun. We could peek in on the kids, we took turns taking walks, going to CC for a snack, etc. It really gave us so much more freedom, esp. during naps, than a balcony would have. We could take turns coming and going without disturbing the kiddos. DH also would take the kids out to play (mostly with the ducks!) while I was finishing up getting ready either in the AM or before dinner. We're used to a condo at the beach, so I was nervous about us all being in 1 room for the week - but the 1st floor/patio definitely made us seem to have more "space"!

I'm going to be requesting 1st floor Tokealu, east side, again!!

 

[lovemy2boys]

You're welcome!! One other hint that we tried and it worked so wonderfully for us: We requested and got a first floor room (Tokelau). Normally, at the beach, we want as high a floor as possible for the view. But we decided to try 1st floor at the Poly to have more "space". We definitely liked this and will request again. Each day as the kids napped, DH and I sat just outside - either right on the patio in the shade, or in the grassy area just off it if we wanted sun. We could peek in on the kids, we took turns taking walks, going to CC for a snack, etc. It really gave us so much more freedom, esp. during naps, than a balcony would have. We could take turns coming and going without disturbing the kiddos. DH also would take the kids out to play (mostly with the ducks!) while I was finishing up getting ready either in the AM or before dinner. We're used to a condo at the beach, so I was nervous about us all being in 1 room for the week - but the 1st floor/patio definitely made us seem to have more "space"!

I'm going to be requesting 1st floor Tokealu, east side, again!!

Our room is definitely on the 1st floor!

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

Our room is definitely on the 1st floor!

We requested first floor, too. Wouldn't have minded the view, but we had strollers and a grampa with recent knee surgery (who refused to rest in the parks, though!!), and we didn't want to have to wait around for elevators or do the stairs. Loved it!! Several times we hopped out the patio door and over to the pool.

 

[Picabo]

Hmmm, that's a GREAT idea about the 1st floor! I LOVE it! Is it safe at night and with kids...meaning, is it a REALLY good lock system AND is there a way to keep it locked up top so kids can't open it and get out? I love the idea of the patio and being able to just walk out that way or sit there....is the Tokelau bldg garden view? CLose to the food court and TTC?

THANKS!
Melanie

 

[sandym718]

Hmmm, that's a GREAT idea about the 1st floor! I LOVE it! Is it safe at night and with kids...meaning, is it a REALLY good lock system AND is there a way to keep it locked up top so kids can't open it and get out? I love the idea of the patio and being able to just walk out that way or sit there....is the Tokelau bldg garden view? CLose to the food court and TTC?

THANKS!
Melanie

I'm trying to remember the locking system but can't. I don't remember worrying about it at all so I must have thought it was secure. Mine aren't the type that would go out alone anyways, though, nervous nellies, LOL. Hopefully someone will have more specific info on the locking system.

Tokealu is almost all Gardenview. I think only 2 end units are lagoon-view. We were thrilled with our room placement. The west side of the building faces the quiet pool area. We were on the opposite side, east. Looking directly out of our sliding door/patio, it opened onto a large grassy area with some trees and then a walkway (NOT right near the room, a very good ways out) and then the end of another building (Tahiti I believe). The lawn area was very nice. Best part - step out onto the patio or grass, look left and what do you see? The lagoon, Space Mountain, the castle!! I would DEFINITELY not pay more for any other room category.

Tokelau is central to both the TTC and GCH and Volcano pool. I've often seen it recommended as the go-to building if you want something central to all!

 

[Picabo]

Sandy...thank you so MUCH for the awsome info! Do you know approx how long it takes to get from that bldg to the main building with restaurants and to the TTC?

ALSO...can someone shed light on how long (and best route) to get to Wilderness Lodge? Someone mentioned they thought we could take a boat there from Poly but I don't think that works.....trying to determine if it's worth it to eat at WL?

 

[sandym718]

Sandy...thank you so MUCH for the awsome info! Do you know approx how long it takes to get from that bldg to the main building with restaurants and to the TTC?

ALSO...can someone shed light on how long (and best route) to get to Wilderness Lodge? Someone mentioned they thought we could take a boat there from Poly but I don't think that works.....trying to determine if it's worth it to eat at WL?

I'd say 4-5 minutes to the GCH (where main lobby, monorail, Kona, Ohana, Captain Cook's all are), maybe 8 or so to the TTC?

We drove to the WL since we had our car, so I'm not much help. Maybe quickest to take the monorail to MK and then the boat to the WL?

 

[lovemy2boys]

Sandy, you're great!!!! So much info!!

What do you think about the Tonga building? Is that close to the main building? How far are we from the pool? I believe we have a MK/marina view but I know we are on the first floor so I hope the bushes and trees don't obstruct the view!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Sandy...thank you so MUCH for the awsome info! Do you know approx how long it takes to get from that bldg to the main building with restaurants and to the TTC?

ALSO...can someone shed light on how long (and best route) to get to Wilderness Lodge? Someone mentioned they thought we could take a boat there from Poly but I don't think that works.....trying to determine if it's worth it to eat at WL?

From the Great Ceremonial House I would say it takes 8-10 minutes for walking to the TTC.

As for getting to the Wilderness Lodge there is no boat from the Polynesian to there, however if you could go to the Magic Kingdom and from there take the bus or boat which goes there. The other option is just driving there if you have your own transportation, which would take less then 5 minutes.

 

[BCV23]

Sandy, you're great!!!! So much info!!

What do you think about the Tonga building? Is that close to the main building? How far are we from the pool? I believe we have a MK/marina view but I know we are on the first floor so I hope the bushes and trees don't obstruct the view!

Tonga is a great location too. Right next to the GCH. If it's raining, you'll be able to walk right to your longhouse under a walkway. The rooms are elevated a bit which should make it feel more private. I don't think you can walk right out as a result. But the view has to be wonderful. Low shrubs for privacy and beauty but unobstructed view down the marina and across the lagoon to the castle.

As for the locks, you can't lock your room from the patio. I do remember a lock up high in addition to the one that is handle level but can't remember if it is still there since the rehab....probably though.

The courtyard that Sandy faced is huge and lovely. It affords many Polynesian rooms a beautiful view that feels quite private since the other buildings are so far. There are rooms in all three newer buildings face that way.