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

[Cobbo]

We stayed at the Poly from 1/24 to 1/28. It was too short a trip!
...
We were in the Tahiti Building, in room 1019. Ground floor, facing the beach and the MK. We reserved a Garden View room and made no specific request, but they must have upgraded us - and it was fabulous!

What a coincidence...we too were at the Poly from 1/24 to 1/28, and were in Tahiti, only we did not luck out to get the lagoon view upgrade, so we were in garden views in 2001 & 2002...

Definitely worth another repeat trip with more time to enjoy the resort (and warmer weather to enjoy the pool )

 

[jasbellehontas]

Hey Poly Experts! Love this thread. We are going in Sept. Just a quick question about the safe in the room? How big is it? I don't need dimensions or anything but would it hold a laptop? camera? We have stayed in POR and the safe barely held my wallet. lol. Just wondering if these were bigger since it is a deluxe resort. If it matters, I am staying in a MK view room. Thanks!

 

[DiznEeyore]

Hey Poly Experts! Love this thread. We are going in Sept. Just a quick question about the safe in the room? How big is it? I don't need dimensions or anything but would it hold a laptop? camera? We have stayed in POR and the safe barely held my wallet. lol. Just wondering if these were bigger since it is a deluxe resort. If it matters, I am staying in a MK view room. Thanks!

The new safes are much bigger than the wall ones at POR and most of the other resorts. They held a laptop and a few other things (our digital cameras and cell phones) with no trouble at all.

 

[jasbellehontas]

Oh thank you so much for your response. That is so good to know! I will definitely be taking my laptop then. Last time DH and I were trying to squeeze as much into the lanyards as possible and then squeeze the rest into the safe. It was quite a workout.

 

[jedi jen]

Hey everyone. You guys sure are helping me enjoy dreaming about our upcoming trip. I am wondering what the torch lighting is like. Is there any kind of ceremony? Is it worth seeing?

 

[DiznEeyore]

Oh thank you so much for your response. That is so good to know! I will definitely be taking my laptop then. Last time DH and I were trying to squeeze as much into the lanyards as possible and then squeeze the rest into the safe. It was quite a workout.

Glad I could help!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

I have a question about transportation. I have read that the buses from the TTC are faster to get to AK and the studios because they are direct. Can you also get direct buses to other resorts from the TTC if you have ADRs there? (Rather than a bus to a park and then another to the resort)

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Thank you MsStinkerBelle! That is what I was worried about...the kids will be 5 6, & 7 when we go and my gut feeling is I'm going to want that monorail. Plus - fireworks on the beach? That would be hard to give up.

You're very welcome! Trust me, when you guys are all pooped out and tired from the MK, the monorail will look like a godsend! LOL! I had kids that were 8 (my DD), 9 (my youngest nephew), 13 (my oldest nephew) and 14 (my godsister) and if I had to deal with the buses in addition to dealing with all of them, I would have lost my mind. It was to the point where if we had to go to MGM, the kids would complain about having to take a bus. For them, the monorail was the way to go--especially since they got to ride up front.

Hey everyone. You guys sure are helping me enjoy dreaming about our upcoming trip. I am wondering what the torch lighting is like. Is there any kind of ceremony? Is it worth seeing?

Yes there is a torch lighting ceremony. It's usually held around 6pm I think (you'd have to check the Island Press newsletter or with any CM) at the entrance to the GCH. For me it was definitely worth seeing because the guy doing the ceremony was, well, quite good looking. The kids just thought it was cool watching the guy use 'fire' and chant. Very nice cultral touch and definitely worth checking out at least once. It really adds to the ambiance of the resort.

I have a question about transportation. I have read that the buses from the TTC are faster to get to AK and the studios because they are direct. Can you also get direct buses to other resorts from the TTC if you have ADRs there? (Rather than a bus to a park and then another to the resort)

You can only get direct buses to the other resorts from the MK. The TTC handles transportation to other parks. Just take the monorail (or the boat launch) to the MK then walk over to the bus stop for the resorts. For eample, we had an ADR at the Beach Club so we just took the monorail to the MK then took the bus to the Beach Club from the MK.

 

[jedi jen]

Yes there is a torch lighting ceremony. It's usually held around 6pm I think (you'd have to check the Island Press newsletter or with any CM) at the entrance to the GCH. For me it was definitely worth seeing because the guy doing the ceremony was, well, quite good looking. The kids just thought it was cool watching the guy use 'fire' and chant. Very nice cultral touch and definitely worth checking out at least once. It really adds to the ambiance of the resort.

Thank you MsStinkerBelle. I can't wait.

 

[SeaSpray]

Yes there is a torch lighting ceremony. It's usually held around 6pm I think (you'd have to check the Island Press newsletter or with any CM) at the entrance to the GCH. For me it was definitely worth seeing because the guy doing the ceremony was, well, quite good looking. The kids just thought it was cool watching the guy use 'fire' and chant. Very nice cultral touch and definitely worth checking out at least once. It really adds to the ambiance of the resort.

You know, this is something that I still haven't done during one of our stays at the Polynesian! In May, I'm definitely going to plan to be there at least one of the evenings, at 6pm, so I can finally get to see this and take some pics. I think our DAunt(75) will enjoy seeing this, as well

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

You know, this is something that I still haven't done during one of our stays at the Polynesian! In May, I'm definitely going to plan to be there at least one of the evenings, at 6pm, so I can finally get to see this and take some pics. I think our DAunt(75) will enjoy seeing this, as well

Definitely check this out. When we had dinner at Kona in December, my sister asked what that drumming and shouting noise was. I told her it was the torch lighting ceremony I told her about--the one with the good-looking guy. She immediately got up and ran downstairs to see the ceremony. LOL! I think your DAunt will really like it.

 

[SeaSpray]

Most rooms at the Polynesian resort have 2 queen beds, plus a day bed:

A chair, ottoman, and drum end table are in the corner near the sliding glass doors:

There's an area between the 2 closets that has an ice bucket, the room service menu, and a coffee maker on top, and a mini fridge in the cabinet below:

Close-up of the closet doors, with the closet light on inside:

The nightstand between the beds has a glass panel that matches the closet doors:

This is the couch that turns into a bed at night:

Desk and chair:

Balcony with table and chairs:

Flat-panel TV in concierge rooms with built-in DVD players:

Flat-panel TV in standard room (without built-in DVD player):

I really liked the carved details in the furnishings:

Bathroom:

Don't forget to look for the Hidden Mickeys in the artwork in the room:

 

[RachelTori]

Hey there Terry! Love your thread!

We've stayed at Poly before, but July/Aug will be our first CL stay there. Went all out and booked LV!

The IPO staff has been wonderful; super-efficient!

 

[Twinsmomma]

How are the daybed to sleep on? Are they comfy enough for a teenager for 10 nights?

 

[Bubby4Clay]

Don't forget to look for the Hidden Mickeys in the artwork in the room:

Ok, I give up! I found the one in the 1st one....

But, not in this one. Where is it in the 2nd picture??

 

[SeaSpray]

Hey there Terry! Love your thread!

We've stayed at Poly before, but July/Aug will be our first CL stay there. Went all out and booked LV!

The IPO staff has been wonderful; super-efficient!

I love the Polynesian IPO staff, especially Allison who has been helping my with my current trip and has helped me in the past. She's excellent

I hope you have a great trip and enjoy CL. Come back and tell us how you like it!

How are the daybed to sleep on? Are they comfy enough for a teenager for 10 nights?

My DSs were 18 and 15 when they took turns sleeping on the day bed. They each alternated between the second queen bed, and the day bed. They said the daybed was comfortable, they didn't mind sleeping in it at all. They did prefer the queen bed only because they couldn't see the tv from the day bed.

Ok, I give up! I found the one in the 1st one....


But, not in this one. Where is it in the 2nd picture??

The second picture IS more difficult! LOL In fact, I had to go back and find my original photos and make them larger so I could remember where the Mickeys were. LOL I don't want to spoil it for anyone who will be staying at the Polynesian and want to find the Mickeys on their own, so I will send you a PM instead.

By the way, there are 2 Hidden Mickeys in each picture.

 

[lissiesmum]

I've read a few posts about noise inside your rooms. If you are on the bottom floor, do you hear the people walking around and talking in the room upstairs from you? I"m just thinking ahead to whether I want a ground level room or a third floor with a balcony? Both DD and I are light sleepers so can anyone suggest a quieter building or something specific to request? Thanks

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

I've read a few posts about noise inside your rooms. If you are on the bottom floor, do you hear the people walking around and talking in the room upstairs from you? I"m just thinking ahead to whether I want a ground level room or a third floor with a balcony? Both DD and I are light sleepers so can anyone suggest a quieter building or something specific to request? Thanks

I stayed on the bottom floor twice and never heard people above me. The only noise I heard was from people walking/talking in the hallways. Neither I nor my daughter are light sleepers so if you're on the bottom or the top floor, it's best to request a room far down from the elevators.

 

[lissiesmum]

it's best to request a room far down from the elevators

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THanks for the tip...should I go one further and request a corner room? Are those generally quiet?

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

.

THanks for the tip...should I go one further and request a corner room? Are those generally quiet?

You're welcome!

We had one on the far end in the Tuvalu long house once. It was pretty quiet even with the automatic sliding door entry right outside. Most people were exiting/entering near the main entrance and the elevator.