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

[MsStinkerBelle]

Since I'm kinda homesick for the Poly right now, I found some links over on YouTube for some Disney cartoons that help me miss it a bit less. in Enjoy!

Hawaiian Holiday (Pie-eyed Mickey and the gang! And why ducks shouldn’t wear grass skirts near fires….)

Hello Aloha (Like most of us, Goofy escapes the trappings of work for a tropical island…)

Timon does the Hula (Hilarious!)

Hawaiian Coaster Ride (If this don't get you in the Poly mood, nothing will!)

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

I have two little ones, so I'm interested in the kids' activities at the resort, too. Saw that MsStinkerBelle (Poly PR Maven!!!) mentioned a schedule of kids' activities was available. Anything else?? MsStinkerBelle, Seaspray?

Wow, Poly PR Maven! Thanks!

One other thing I remember for kids is that from 1pm - 4pm there is an activity in the Neverland club for kids 4 - 12. You have to be there with your kids at that time but it's a great way to see if they'll like the Neverland club. while there are some things that are scheduled, the Keki Corner (the kids area in the GCH where the flat-screen tv running the cartoon loop is) always has crayons and paper for the kids, and sometimes a CM is there making towel animals the kids can take with them. Nice comfy chairs for worn-out parents too.

Can you pack me in your suitcase? I wanna go back to the Poly now!

 

[Tess]

Hey Everyone! I love this thread, my hubby found it, and we have been reading through it getting more and more excited about our upcoming vaca - we'll be checking in to the Poly for 7 nights next Friday.

We are a tad concerned about one thing though... we will probably go to the Boardwalk area one night, and may end up in the ESPN Zone in the evening... late evening... I have a question about how to get back to the hotel... what time does the monorail stop running? I notice the times for Epcot show Future world closing around 7 each night... can we still walk thru it to get to the Monorail? If so, how late will it run - till the end of the closing of the World Showcase? What if we miss the Monorail completely? Is there a way to walk or bus back, or would a taxi be our only option?

Thanks in advance! I appreciate everyone's input!

If you are truly having a "late night", then your best option is to taxi back. It will cost around $10 (not sure of the rate this year w/gas prices ) and well worth it. You can catch a cab in front of BWI just down the Boardwalk. Very simple procedure, have bell services hail it for you.

Of course, if you are planning on leaving ESPN around the time EPCOT closes, yes, you can get through the International Gateway to the monorail. If it happens to be a late evening at MK, you can always catch a bus from one of the EPCOT area resorts back to MK and monorail back to Polynesian from there, too.

The taxi would be the simplest mode of transportation though and then you have no pressure to leave before you are ready.

BTW, if you want to extend your "late night", I would suggest a trip over to Jelly Rolls--great adult fun.

 

[ardnassac79]

If you are truly having a "late night", then your best option is to taxi back. It will cost around $10 (not sure of the rate this year w/gas prices ) and well worth it. You can catch a cab in front of BWI just down the Boardwalk. Very simple procedure, have bell services hail it for you.

Of course, if you are planning on leaving ESPN around the time EPCOT closes, yes, you can get through the International Gateway to the monorail. If it happens to be a late evening at MK, you can always catch a bus from one of the EPCOT area resorts back to MK and monorail back to Polynesian from there, too.

The taxi would be the simplest mode of transportation though and then you have no pressure to leave before you are ready.

BTW, if you want to extend your "late night", I would suggest a trip over to Jelly Rolls--great adult fun.

Perfect! Thanks for the info.. this is what I was thinking, but wasn't totally sure about getting back into Epcot. Thx for the tip on Jelly Rolls too!

 

[DisneyDad in PA]

Hey Everyone! I love this thread, my hubby found it, and we have been reading through it getting more and more excited about our upcoming vaca - we'll be checking in to the Poly for 7 nights next Friday.

We are a tad concerned about one thing though... we will probably go to the Boardwalk area one night, and may end up in the ESPN Zone in the evening... late evening... I have a question about how to get back to the hotel... what time does the monorail stop running? I notice the times for Epcot show Future world closing around 7 each night... can we still walk thru it to get to the Monorail? If so, how late will it run - till the end of the closing of the World Showcase? What if we miss the Monorail completely? Is there a way to walk or bus back, or would a taxi be our only option?

Thanks in advance! I appreciate everyone's input!

Not sure when your going, however, keep in mind that while Future World lists that they close at 7:00, World Showcase is usually open until at least 9:00 and Illuminations. I believe many rides are still active in Future World until 9:00.

Not sure this will be late enough for your "late evening" though. I would catch a cab at the Boardwalk Inn.

 

[TDISFAMILY]

One other thing I remember for kids is that from 1pm - 4pm there is an activity in the Neverland club for kids 4 - 12. You have to be there with your kids at that time but it's a great way to see if they'll like the Neverland club.

My cousin just asked this ques on another board about parents going with the children in the Neverland club, but she didn't include the ages.....she has a DD4 and a DS3....Do you think they would allow them to play with both of her kids during this time?

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

Wow, Poly PR Maven! Thanks!

One other thing I remember for kids is that from 1pm - 4pm there is an activity in the Neverland club for kids 4 - 12. You have to be there with your kids at that time but it's a great way to see if they'll like the Neverland club. while there are some things that are scheduled, the Keki Corner (the kids area in the GCH where the flat-screen tv running the cartoon loop is) always has crayons and paper for the kids, and sometimes a CM is there making towel animals the kids can take with them. Nice comfy chairs for worn-out parents too.

Can you pack me in your suitcase? I wanna go back to the Poly now!

Haha, you're welcome!! I actually just gave my PR Capstone presentation yesterday, so I'm in total PR meltdown right now! One more final, and I am a college graduate!!

I'd love to have a personal Poly tourguide, so I'll let you know if I find a people-sized suitcase.

Thanks for the tips!!

 

[bunnyscootles]

Another question
(I promise I'll post lots of pics when I get back for a thank you!!)

Can you tell me where you can fill up a refillable mug (at the Poly of course) and what is at the refilling station.

About how long it would take you to walk there, from the furthest distance (I think someone said 5-10 minutes from any point to the GCH but not sure).

Again - Thank you thank you - this thread kicks butt!

 

[Tess]

Another question
(I promise I'll post lots of pics when I get back for a thank you!!)

Can you tell me where you can fill up a refillable mug (at the Poly of course) and what is at the refilling station.

About how long it would take you to walk there, from the furthest distance (I think someone said 5-10 minutes from any point to the GCH but not sure).

Again - Thank you thank you - this thread kicks butt!

Refill your mugs at Captain Cook's--if it takes you 5-10 minutes from anywhere at the Polynesian, you are a slow walker or have small children in tow. I would think more like 3-5 minutes would be the most from Tahiti to GCH. Anything else is closer. We will hold you to your promise of many, many pics!

 

[packerbeth]

I promise pictures too! I just bought a second memory stick; can't wait to fill those babies up with pics of the Poly (oh, and DH and the kids, and the rest of WDW, too...)

 

[bunnyscootles]

Refill your mugs at Captain Cook's--if it takes you 5-10 minutes from anywhere at the Polynesian, you are a slow walker or have small children in tow. I would think more like 3-5 minutes would be the most from Tahiti to GCH. Anything else is closer.

We do have a toddler in tow - sometimes it take me 5-10 minutes to get from my front door to my car

We will hold you to your promise of many, many pics!

Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye!!
(wow that's pretty morbid when you write it out)

 

[LETSGOFAM]

We do have a toddler in tow - sometimes it take me 5-10 minutes to get from my front door to my car :sad


so true! although mine are older!

 

[monorailsilver]

I have a fridge question & instead of making a new thread I will stick it hear, OK?

The last time I went it was during remodel so I didn't have a new room. But the new fridges doesn't have a freezer section, right? I know I saw a thread with the picture of it opened.

What if I need one? Can I get a freezer? I would prefer one that makes ice, do they have them (OK you know I am kidding on that one, right?).

My 4 yo has food allergies (dairy/peanut/tree nut) & I know he can eat some of the the food in the parks/resort but I'd like to give him other choices as well & since it is going to be warm when we go, I know the food won't last with out an ice pack.

Worse comes to worse, I will double or triple bag ice in a zip lock & throw stuff in there but the ice will melt quicker then me in the August warmth.

Thanks in advance & Aloha.

 

[mrsmoore]

Why oh Why did I have to read this post!!??

We are headed to WDW at the end of August 2009. Doing 3 days at WDW, then a 7 day cruise. DD will be 4, so just want to introduce her to WDW, but also relax and enjoy our resort. Thinking of 1 or 1.5 days at MK, and .5 or 1 day at HS. I was leaning towards WL for our resort, then decided to read this post today.

So, I would love some thoughts on how to convince my husband an extra $100-$200/night is worth it!! We are all very light eaters, so concierge might actually be a good option, for breakfast and dinner purposes, then do lunch at the park. I hope by then they still have the Little Einsteins Lunch at HS.

HELP!!!

 

[momsavealot]

I have a fridge question & instead of making a new thread I will stick it hear, OK?

The last time I went it was during remodel so I didn't have a new room. But the new fridges doesn't have a freezer section, right? I know I saw a thread with the picture of it opened.

What if I need one? Can I get a freezer? I would prefer one that makes ice, do they have them (OK you know I am kidding on that one, right?).

My 4 yo has food allergies (dairy/peanut/tree nut) & I know he can eat some of the the food in the parks/resort but I'd like to give him other choices as well & since it is going to be warm when we go, I know the food won't last with out an ice pack.

Worse comes to worse, I will double or triple bag ice in a zip lock & throw stuff in there but the ice will melt quicker then me in the August warmth.

Thanks in advance & Aloha.

Wow - I have the same question. My kids are picky eaters and I was thinking of bringing yogurt sticks and juice boxes in (I was hoping to have them delivered by grocer.com). But how am I going to keep my ice packs frozen all week???? At least the older frigs had that small freezer section at the top where you could keep your freezer packs overnight. Please let me know if you get an answer to this question! And if I hear anything, I'll let you know! By the way, I have 2 kids with peanut allergies and we're also going in August, so pm me if you have any advice on where to dine! We are really looking forward to staying at the Poly and love this thread!

 

[sandym718]

Gosh, I'm having a hard time remembering. It doesn't seem like the fridges (we were in remodeled Tokelau in April/May 2007, so would've been the new ones, right?) had a freezer. I took a soft-sided cooler and cool paks so we could take bottled water into the parks. I think I remember that we put the cool paks in the ice bucket with a bunch of ice to get them as cold as possible overnight, and kept the waters in the fridge so they were at least starting out cold and just had to stay that way. I'm pretty sure that's how we did it, but not positive. I also remember the water not being SUPER cold by mid-day, but cool enough. We were back at the Poly by 2 or so each day, so it wasn't like it had to stay cold ALL day. I hope I'm remembering correctly. And, of course, this was just for water - not dangerous if not at the right temp. If it's something that would spoil, that would be harder.

Hopefully someone will have a more concrete answer for you both.

 

[BCV23]

Yep, no freezer section in the new fridges.

On a side note, I was told to set the refrigerator at 5. That way everything is kept cold, nothing freezes, the units don't overheat and you can shut the cabinet door. Worked perfectly for us.

 

[tete01830]

I have set the fridge all the way up and had water bottles freeze most of the way through! Just the way I like it! You could use a water bottle as your ice pack instead...Just a thought...

 

[BCV23]

My cousin just asked this ques on another board about parents going with the children in the Neverland club, but she didn't include the ages.....she has a DD4 and a DS3....Do you think they would allow them to play with both of her kids during this time?

In the afternoon, I think it would be fine. I don't recall any age limits just that parents need to be present. Seaspray probably has the info posted on the first pages of the thread.

 

[momsavealot]

I have set the fridge all the way up and had water bottles freeze most of the way through! Just the way I like it! You could use a water bottle as your ice pack instead...Just a thought...

OH! I hope that works! I'll try it as soon as we get there! I don't care if anything freezes. We're talking AUGUST here! I also like the idea of covering stuff with ice from the ice machine in the room at night. If anybody else has ideas, I would love to hear them. I wish the hotel had a big freezer where we could all freeze our ice packs over night.
By the way, I want to thank the person who posted the link to the YouTube Video of the torch ceremony. Is this nightly? because I think the kids would like this but they're too young to sit thru the entire luau show. Speaking of hotel events, do they give you a sheet of the week's activities when you check in?