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

[BCV23]

BVC23 what was your favorite longhouse when you stayed there. I believe I read you stayed at every longhouse but 1 or 2...

No actually our 30 stays have been pretty evenly split between Tonga/Hawaii, Samoa, and Rapa Nui....probably fewer in Samoa than the other two.

Our last stay in Hawaii began with one night in Raratonga for DS2 and I due to my error in booking our flights! Then we moved into Hawaii.

Those are the only buildings we've stayed in.

But I love all three buildings. Each has advantages. Hawaii probably would win out because of a combination of view and location.

And although we had but that one night in Raratonga facing the monorail on the second floor, I was so surprised at just how beautiful that view was. I knew of course that there was lots of beautiful landscaping there but didn't realize that it effectively blocked any view of the parking lot.

We've actually never requested a building. I truly think there are advantages to all and I wouldn't want our vacation to start with even a twinge of disappointment that we didn't get a request.

 

[BCV23]

Thanks for the info.

He has a higher showerhead at home because it is difficult for him to bend over backwards to get his hair under the water!

Oh, I hope you know I wasn't being critical.

I'm just always surprised to read that it's a problem for some as it's never been an issue for my DH nor was it for our eldest son who is the same height. It's just my guess that those who have complaints don't travel much and are used to their own particular setup. There's no place like home!

And I've never observed whether he has to bend backwards, forwards or whatever.

 

[SeaSpray]

It took me through 3 explorer crashes and 2 system freezes before her most recent addition (extremely picture heavy) would load correctly ah but it was worth it.

The only downside? (well beside the freezing and crashing ) Somehow my GV room category just ain't cuttin' it next to her LVC lol

BVC23 what was your favorite longhouse when you stayed there. I believe I read you stayed at every longhouse but 1 or 2...

Oops! Sorry about the web page with the 5 million pictures on it.

Also, we'll be experiencing a garden view room at the Polynesian for first time! We've had a lot going on this past winter, and just 2 days ago we had to change from garden concierge to regular garden (after changing from lagoon concierge to garden concierge a couple of weeks ago! LOL). But I swear, this is the LAST change, and at least we're still at the Polynesian Hey, I'm trying to keep a positive outlook! In addition to being in pain for virtually 24 hours a day, at least I still have my sense of humor intact.

I haven't made ANY room/building requests yet; this will be the first time I'll have to think about that. What should we request?? (just kidding!) LOL

Honestly, I don't think I'm going to make any requests. I'll have an ECV so maybe a first floor room would be best, but I don't know if it's worth it to request in advance or just discuss our preferences once we're checking in. Any suggestions? I think, IDEALLY I'd love ground floor Samoa facing the volcano pool. But isn't that what everyone requests?? LOL

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Terry,

We had a really nice gv room in Fiji, facing the beach towards GF. You could even see the lagoon!

 

[typhoonlagooner]

No actually our 30 stays have been pretty evenly split between Tonga/Hawaii, Samoa, and Rapa Nui....probably fewer in Samoa than the other two.

Ah ok... apparently I just can't read lol. Thanks for sharing though!

Oops! Sorry about the web page with the 5 million pictures on it....

Also, we'll be experiencing a garden view room at the Polynesian for first time!...

Honestly, I don't think I'm going to make any requests. I'll have an ECV so maybe a first floor room would be best, but I don't know if it's worth it to request in advance or just discuss our preferences once we're checking in. Any suggestions? I think, IDEALLY I'd love ground floor Samoa facing the volcano pool. But isn't that what everyone requests?? LOL

Welcome to GV club... my names Ty, I'll be your guide...

I too am debating the whole request thing at the moment. I'd LOVE a room in FIJI overlooking the beach/Luau Cove or SAMOA overlooking the volcano pool. So to answer your last question, yup I think everyone does request that lol.

Our reservation is blank as of right now but I'm thinking that I'll send a fax request 5 days prior. I figure worst case, they don't look at it and I'll bargain for my room at check-in. I'm hoping to get the building floor plans from Steve's site printed to bring down with me so I know "exactly" what I get before I even leave the desk.

Here's the fax that I've made...

 

[BCV23]

That is amazing, Ty!

 

[SeaSpray]

Ah ok... apparently I just can't read lol. Thanks for sharing though!



Welcome to GV club... my names Ty, I'll be your guide...

I too am debating the whole request thing at the moment. I'd LOVE a room in FIJI overlooking the beach/Luau Cove or SAMOA overlooking the volcano pool. So to answer your last question, yup I think everyone does request that lol.

Our reservation is blank as of right now but I'm thinking that I'll send a fax request 5 days prior. I figure worst case, they don't look at it and I'll bargain for my room at check-in. I'm hoping to get the building floor plans from Steve's site printed to bring down with me so I know "exactly" what I get before I even leave the desk.

Here's the fax that I've made...

WOW, I'm SPEECHLESS! That's quite intense!!! I love how you blacked out the buildings that you DON'T want, just so there'll be no mistake!!! I will be very curious to hear what kind of reaction you get when you check in! That's almost a piece of artwork!

 

[typhoonlagooner]

Thanks for the kind words

It's just about done but I'm still fooling around with all the clip art. It's a mix of internet clip art sites and Zazzle's Disney Inkshop using screen shots (all those hours on vmk were useful afterall ) It was actually a really fun pre-trip "project" and I figure if anything, it'll make the CM who recieved it smile or giggle!

I know that it's just a request and therefore not getting my hopes up; I believe these locations are probably within the top 3 requested at the resort and my chances are slim to none, especially with checking in on a Monday. Like I said before, worst case it goes in the trash but I hightly doubt it will "worsen" my chances of a decent room.

I'll definately follow up with how the fax worked out, I've read mixed results on these boards but I figure the "cuter" I make it, the better someone will take 'interest' in our reservation. Wishful thinking I guess

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Ah ok... apparently I just can't read lol. Thanks for sharing though!



Welcome to GV club... my names Ty, I'll be your guide...

I too am debating the whole request thing at the moment. I'd LOVE a room in FIJI overlooking the beach/Luau Cove or SAMOA overlooking the volcano pool. So to answer your last question, yup I think everyone does request that lol.

Our reservation is blank as of right now but I'm thinking that I'll send a fax request 5 days prior. I figure worst case, they don't look at it and I'll bargain for my room at check-in. I'm hoping to get the building floor plans from Steve's site printed to bring down with me so I know "exactly" what I get before I even leave the desk.

Here's the fax that I've made...

That is very impressive of how you plan to fax that to the Polynesian, so hopefully everything will work out and you will get either request. Good lucky and let us know how it went when you get home from WDW.

 

[cutedisneygirly]

Oh, I hope you know I wasn't being critical.

I'm just always surprised to read that it's a problem for some as it's never been an issue for my DH nor was it for our eldest son who is the same height. It's just my guess that those who have complaints don't travel much and are used to there own particular setup. There's no place like home!

And I've never observed whether he has to bend backwards, forwards or whatever.

Oh I knew you were not being critical Yea he doesn't travel too much!!! He just used to complain about the height of showerheads in some of the hotels we have stayed at!

Thanks again for the info!

 

[PNO4TE]

Ty - your FAX looks phenomenal. We don't send FAXs anymore and have relied on the notes in our reservations to get what we asked for (so far we have been very lucky) But I agree that the CM who reads it will probably love it... might even keep it! And hopefully will also sprinkle some pixie dust on your room assignment.

 

[BCV23]

Oops! Sorry about the web page with the 5 million pictures on it.

Also, we'll be experiencing a garden view room at the Polynesian for first time! We've had a lot going on this past winter, and just 2 days ago we had to change from garden concierge to regular garden (after changing from lagoon concierge to garden concierge a couple of weeks ago! LOL). But I swear, this is the LAST change, and at least we're still at the Polynesian Hey, I'm trying to keep a positive outlook! In addition to being in pain for virtually 24 hours a day, at least I still have my sense of humor intact.

I haven't made ANY room/building requests yet; this will be the first time I'll have to think about that. What should we request?? (just kidding!) LOL

Honestly, I don't think I'm going to make any requests. I'll have an ECV so maybe a first floor room would be best, but I don't know if it's worth it to request in advance or just discuss our preferences once we're checking in. Any suggestions? I think, IDEALLY I'd love ground floor Samoa facing the volcano pool. But isn't that what everyone requests?? LOL

Terry, I would request first floor if I were you. Although the elevator in Hawaii is good sized some of the others are rather small. And of course in case of emergency, it would be better to be on the first. Non smoking, first floor was our standard request. Now I don't have to remember to ask for nonsmoking.

 

[SeaSpray]

Terry, I would request first floor if I were you. Although the elevator in Hawaii is good sized some of the others are rather small. And of course in case of emergency, it would be better to be on the first. Non smoking, first floor was our standard request. Now I don't have to remember to ask for nonsmoking.

Thanks, that is a good idea, and it certainly can't hurt to at least request 1st floor

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Here's the fax that I've made...

OMG, I am in awe of this fax! Even more so since the Tiki 'stickers' you used are the same ones I just put on some pages for my nephew's scrapbook of our trip in August. Very cool!

Hope this works out great for you!

 

[TDISFAMILY]

Ty I absolutly LOVE that fax, I wish I could be that creative. Well I need some advice on my Dec trip, we will probably have enough people coming with us to have a Grand Gathering(some are staring to back out)but we will have a minimum of 5 rooms needed at ther POLY.If it was just my family I would leave the room request up to the Tiki Gods, but since we are going with Parents, cousins Aunts and Uncles we were thinking of all requesting a Patio level in Rartotonga bldg.(we will also have a ECV) hopeing that when the littles ones are sleeping the older ones can still hang out outside.Do ya'll think it is even possible to get such a large request? Should I try requesting this through Grand Gathering? Any suggestions welcome!

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

Oh I knew you were not being critical Yea he doesn't travel too much!!! He just used to complain about the height of showerheads in some of the hotels we have stayed at!

Thanks again for the info!

I totally agree with him!! I'm an avid traveler, and I am always bumping my head on the showerhead. I also have long-ish (middle of my back), extremely THICK, curly hair, so water pressure is usually not near what I need. I usually spend 20 minutes rinsing shampoo out of my hair! Thank goodness for leave-in conditioner!! I'm sure, though, my massive hair will be in a ponytail 99.9% of the time we're in Orlando. <--My hair + humidity.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

We've made notes on our reservation, but is it overkill to fax it, too? I just love the fax and want an excuse to make my own. Haha!!

 

[typhoonlagooner]

OMG, I am in awe of this fax! Even more so since the Tiki 'stickers' you used are the same ones I just put on some pages for my nephew's scrapbook of our trip in August. Very cool!

I grabbed those images via disneyinkshop.com and screen shoting the graphic images normally applied to t-shirts, posters, mugs, stamps, etc. I had no idea they have actulal stickers though... very cool! I was actually really impressed with their "hawaiian" line! Thanks for the kind words!

We've made notes on our reservation, but is it overkill to fax it, too? I just love the fax and want an excuse to make my own. Haha!!

That's actually how the "fax" started! I was reading a thread one afternoon about a woman looking to request a building at Pop; she had posted a page link to another fax someone had created for Pop.

His fax was simple, but I liked the incorporation of the resort logo and map with shaded areas. It got me thinking about how I could do something similar for the Poly. Like I said before, it just turned into a really fun pre-trip project!

I'm not sure if it's over kill but I figure a fax does no harm! We're not planning on making any notations on our actual reservation as we've had better luck "bargaining" at check-in. I figure a cute and fun fax can only help us, not hurt!


After looking at it online, I wasn't overly impressed with the overall appearance of the fax. I fooled around with the clip art some more and think I've got the final product. I'm sure it will change a dozen more times before August... but I'll definately let everyone know how it worked and thanks agian

A small question too:
Does anyone know how to request turn down service at this resort? Is this something we can do here?

 

[XxDisneyFan00xX]

Turn Down Service
I'm pretty sure that I have read somewhere that you just have to ask them at the front desk. Don't hold me to this though.

 

[Aliceacc]

I thought it was only on Concierge level.