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

[BCV23]

How should I put in my request for a Longhouse. We would love to be in the same one as last year. We leave next Wednesday Should I fax or call in my request?

I would call and add the request to your reservation.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

I
So would any of you say that the AP's are still worth it? We are hoping to start going to WDW every year now and thought that the AP would help us save money and get discounts, thus allowing us to stay at the Poly or other deluxes more often. I also see talk of "bounceback", what is this? Is this something they offer you while you're there?

PS- You always have great pictures MsStinkerBelle!

Isn't this thread awesome?

As for the worth of APs, it depends. If you just spend one week a year at WDW I'd say it isn't worth it. However, if you spend more than 10 days and/or can make two trips in one year, the second trip being before the pass expires, I'd say it is worth it. We usually go for 10 days twice a year so I usually have APs for myself and DD8. This year we're only going once at Christmas as we're visiting Disnelyand as well so we didn't renew our APs. I don't get the APs for the room discounts as when I usually go (Easter, Christmas), there are no room discounts.

Glad you enjoy my pics! I love sharing them.

Where in the resot would you request (and I know it's just that...a request) a room that had a balcony...maybe a peek at the lake (not vital) and would be close to main building. Thanks!

I'm not sure about balconies so I can't speak to that. With being close to the main building and possibly a peek at the lagoon you're looking at Samoa (facing towards the volcano pool) or Fiji (facing the lagoon). Tokelau may also give you a peek at the lagoon but it is further away from the GCH. I'd pick what feature is most important to you to put on your reservation.

How should I put in my request for a Longhouse. We would love to be in the same one as last year. We leave next Wednesday Should I fax or call in my request?

I would call in your request. When I would make my own ressies I would let the CM know what my longhouse request was. Now that I have a TA do it, she puts the request in for me. I've heard mixed results on faxing. I've never faxed and have gotten 90% of my requests met. The only time I didn't get a request met was when the Tahiti building was full so I took Tuvalu. It worked out great as I now love that longhouse.

 

[BCV23]

I already answered about the balconies I thought.

The only rooms at Tokelau with a view of the lagoon are at the very end of the building farthest from GCH.

Aortearoa also has some rooms with a view of the lagoon that aren't MK view. It's not as close as Raratonga though. Raratonga is the longhouse absolutely closest to the GCH. No views of the lagoon though.

 

[bunnyscootles]

Hi guys,

This has been an awesome thread and since I've been reading it for awhile I hope you've not covered this already.
We are taking ME from the airport to the Poly, any guesses on about how long that takes? We arrive at 10:30 am on Saturday May 17th.

TIA!

 

[BCV23]

I've read that the average is 90 minutes. That's about what it took us once. Another time with a wheelchair it took 2 hours which is also how long it took us to get to GF again with a wheelchair.

 

[sarha]

We just used ME last week. We landed at 2:30 pm and we arrived at the Poly by 3:30. Very smooth process, we had no problems at all.
I really loved ME and plan on using them any time we visit WDW.
I loved checking our luggage at Newark airport and not having to deal with them again till they magically reappeared in our room.

 

[BCV23]

We just used ME last week. We landed at 2:30 pm and we arrived at the Poly by 3:30. Very smooth process, we had no problems at all.
I really loved ME and plan on using them any time we visit WDW.
I loved checking our luggage at Newark airport and not having to deal with them again till they magically reappeared in our room.

I agree that is is so magical to have the luggage appear. We like RAC even better as we always have a rental car. It's so nice to drop the bags and see them next at our home airport.

I'm envious of your transit time. I've seen posts on the transportation forum with times like that. I wish we had been that fortunate. But still for free transportation and luggage delivery, I'm not complaining. What other resorts did you go to first on the route?

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

How long does it take if you are driving yourself from MCO to the Poly? We're planning on using ME, but my grandparents will be in Florida before us (they are driving) and are available to pick us up from the airport, too. Thanks!!

 

[BCV23]

The drive time is about half an hour to WDW...maybe another 10-15 minutes to the Polynesian.

But that doesn't include waiting for luggage. That is a slow process at MCO. It amazes me that it takes so much longer at MCO than at ORD which is a much busier airport. That aspect of the trip is one more reason to appreciate ME.

 

[3PrincessesDad]

Does anyone know which longhouses have connecting rooms? Anybody ever stayed in one? Just wondering, because I requested connecting rooms when we go in May. Thanks!

 

[BCV23]

Does anyone know which longhouses have connecting rooms? Anybody ever stayed in one? Just wondering, because I requested connecting rooms when we go in May. Thanks!

We've had rooms in Hawaii, Samoa, and Rapa Nui that had connecting doors with multiple stays in each. We've only stayed in Raratonga one night and I don't remember about that room. One room we had in Rapa Nui had connecting doors on each side. So my guess is that you have a good chance with your request.

 

[CinderellyCinderelly]

We are going to be in Hawaii and requested a MK/Lagoon view, but my dad put priority on the fact that he wants connecting rooms so they said that we will be in Hawaii wherever there are available connecting rooms. I am anxious to see the view we end up with!

 

[Matt'sMom]

Does anyone know which longhouses have connecting rooms?

I can add that Tahiti also has some connecting rooms. If you check Tikiman's site (for maps of the longhouses), I think you will probably find that most if not all of the longhouses do include connecting rooms.

 

[DiznEeyore]

We are going to be in Hawaii and requested a MK/Lagoon view, but my dad put priority on the fact that he wants connecting rooms so they said that we will be in Hawaii wherever there are available connecting rooms. I am anxious to see the view we end up with!

If you've paid for the lagoon view in Hawaii, then that's what they'll give you, with connecting rooms if possible. Garden view concierge rooms are a different category/price.

 

[BCV23]

If you've paid for the lagoon view in Hawaii, then that's what they'll give you, with connecting rooms if possible. Garden view concierge rooms are a different category/price.

Yep. And there are connecting rooms on the lagoonview side of Hawaii. We've had them.

 

[sarha]

I'm envious of your transit time. I've seen posts on the transportation forum with times like that. I wish we had been that fortunate. But still for free transportation and luggage delivery, I'm not complaining. What other resorts did you go to first on the route?
_ BCV23
Sorry, I don't know how to put quotes in, but to answer your question; the bus went to the Poly, GF and WL and Poly was the first stop. Really lucky!
It was also not very busy when we arrived, only about 8 other people on the bus.

 

[bunnyscootles]

Thanks for the replies guys! I was giving it a two hour window (I'm really trying to figure out where we will be for lunch) so if it takes less time than that we will just have more time to

 

[BCV23]

I'm envious of your transit time. I've seen posts on the transportation forum with times like that. I wish we had been that fortunate. But still for free transportation and luggage delivery, I'm not complaining. What other resorts did you go to first on the route?
_ BCV23
Sorry, I don't know how to put quotes in, but to answer your question; the bus went to the Poly, GF and WL and Poly was the first stop. Really lucky!
It was also not very busy when we arrived, only about 8 other people on the bus.

That was very sweet indeed, Sarha. We've always been the last stop when we've taken ME but I think that has to do with the fact that 2 out of our 3 trips were with a wheelchair.

To quote a post, just hit the quote button on the lower right hand side of any given post.

bunnyscootles, happy planning!

 

[senecabeach]

How long does it take if you are driving yourself from MCO to the Poly? We're planning on using ME, but my grandparents will be in Florida before us (they are driving) and are available to pick us up from the airport, too. Thanks!!

about 40 min. but save the grandparents the airport hassle of picking you up at the airport and maybe just meet them at the resort!!

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

The drive time is about half an hour to WDW...maybe another 10-15 minutes to the Polynesian.

But that doesn't include waiting for luggage. That is a slow process at MCO. It amazes me that it takes so much longer at MCO than at ORD which is a much busier airport. That aspect of the trip is one more reason to appreciate ME.

We're sending our luggage with the grandparents, so that's not a problem. Is the ride interesting enough to keep the kiddos entertained?