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

[PolyHereWeCome]

I agree with this. Last December when DD8, my sister and I checked into the AKL for our standard view room, I just asked the CM for a room in a 'quiet' area of the hotel due to my daughter's PDD. After she checked a few things she told me in a lowered voice that she'd given me a complimentary upgrade to savannah view. In the meantime, a loud gentleman next to me was trying to ask the CM helping him for a free upgrade to savannah. He was told by the CM that he could upgrade but for an additional $75/night. I never told my DD8 we had a savannah view before we got there as I wasn't counting on it. So it was a great surprise and Christmas gift to her to get the view.

So to make a long story short and to agree with CRFan, if there's a specific view you want, book that view so you're not dissapointed.

I was one of the two folks who posted over the past few days that we received a free upgrade to concierge, I totally agree with this. Think it's just Disney Magic luck, ours came generously and unexpectedly from our check-in CM. And oddly enough, on our last day I went down to the concierge desk to have them generate/print our Southwest boarding passes and a rude woman who'd checked in within the hour was there complaining about her Hawaii (concierge) gardenview room and was clearly wanting a free upgrade to lagoon/Magic Kingdom view -- and the CM just politely told her repeatedly that she could move to another gardenview room tomorrow but that the room type she wanted would cost her more money. The woman then was going on about already paying enough, blah blah blah, and not thinking her room was worth the money because of the view (and their room was exactly 2 floors below ours, and we loved loved loved it, looking out of quiet pool). I hope this woman got over this, because it's a shame to ruin your and your family's vacation with such expectations.

 

[SnowWitch]

My advice like many others is book what you are willing to pay for. We have been to Disney 25+ times since 1995 staying onsite onsite, 4 of which have been at the Poly, and we have never rec'd an upgrade there. We were upgraded once at the CR from a reg tower room to club level and that was 9 years ago. Granted, we are always pretty grumpy when we check in after being in the car for 8+ hrs with the kids.

The Poly is great regardless of view. We have always booked GV and have been pleased and we have stayed in a different building every time.

 

[shyjade]

We booked a land/sea pkg in Feb of 06,so we have been waiting a long time to get to the Poly. Still have 7 months to go. We have a lagoon view booked,and are waitlisted for club level upgrade. Do you think we have any chance of getting it during Christmas week? I'm not counting on it,and I'm really hoping for a 3rd floor LV in Tahiti.
Also, we fly into MCO at 10:00 am. Considering how early we have to get up to get through security at DFW(our flight is 6:30 am) we are going to be tired and hungry. We can't decide if we want to hit a park(our original plan) or spend that day at the resort recovering from our very early morning. Any suggestions? If we wanted to do a park, which would you suggest for two adults and a set of 16 yr old twins who have been up since 4:00 am?

We always take a similar early flight to Disney. Yes, we're tired, but once we approach Disney we get so excited that we can't just hang low. Usually we spend a few hours in the afternoon at Epcot (our personal favorite) then back to the Poly for an early dinner at Kona. Then a little swimming and early to bed so we can start out fresh early the next morning.

It works for us!

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Any suggestions? If we wanted to do a park, which would you suggest for two adults and a set of 16 yr old twins who have been up since 4:00 am?

There is a very interesting phenomenon that seems to happen when you check into the Poly after being up since some ungodly hour of the morning--everyone wants to go hit the MK! I'm serious. When I took the Terror Squad last August (DD8, DN9, DN13, DGsis14) we'd been up since 4am but as soon as we got to the Poly they wanted to go to the MK. Nevermind that I wanted to hit the pool.

I guess that's my long-winded way of saying definitely do the MK. You've got easy access there via the boat launch and the monorail.

 

[packerbeth]

Is breakfast at Ohana as fun as I remember?
Do they still serve Tonga toast?
Can you still hear fun polynesian music as you walk on the paths?

I'm way behind, so maybe these questions have already been answered, but I thought I'd share my experience.

On our last morning, my DD8 and I went to breakfast at Ohana for the first time. (The rest of our group was sleeping in!) We had a really nice time. The characters were fun, the food was plentiful and delicious, and it was a lovely last-morning activity.

My DH had Tonga Toast twice, and loved it. Once he got it at Kona and once from room service.

The music they play as you explore the Poly is lovely, it really adds to the atmosphere.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Just checking in to say that we returned the night before last from our AKV/Poly split stay. As usual, the Poly was amazing! We enjoyed every minute there and we just feel such a calm when staying at the Polynesian. On our last day, I recognized a man and woman in the elevator of the Hawaii bldg. It was SEASPRAY! It was nice to meet them although we didn't get to chat long as "Mrs. Seaspray" was engaged in conversation with others and my brood of three was keeping me occupied! Chef Dick created his masterpieces as usual, and we were able to catch up with Marie in the lounge. We just love her. We used to also see her when she used to work at the Grand Flo. The resort is as beautiful as ever and our room was spectacular.

Two interesting things to note.....1) I met a family in the lounge who had a regular roach (not a palmetto bug) in their room in Fiji. They were upgraded to Hawaii as a result. Again, !!

2) DS and I heard many kids in line for the volcano slide talking about which resorts they were staying in. I sure wish they had a system that would keep pool hoppers out.

All in all, a FANTASTIC stay and perfection for us. Any questions I can answer? I hope all of your upcoming trips are just as magical!

 

[wideeyes]

Hi I am staying at the Poly in september, really looking forward to staying there, we had dinner at Ohana & Kona Cafe last year and my DD loved it. we are booked into a GV, it seems like there is now bad views at the hotel.

We will be there the first two weeks of September.

 

[wiseguyslovethemouse]

Just checking in to say that we returned the night before last from our AKV/Poly split stay. As usual, the Poly was amazing! We enjoyed every minute there and we just feel such a calm when staying at the Polynesian. On our last day, I recognized a man and woman in the elevator of the Hawaii bldg. It was SEASPRAY! It was nice to meet them although we didn't get to chat long as "Mrs. Seaspray" was engaged in conversation with others and my brood of three was keeping me occupied! Chef Dick created his masterpieces as usual, and we were able to catch up with Marie in the lounge. We just love her. We used to also see her when she used to work at the Grand Flo. The resort is as beautiful as ever and our room was spectacular.

Two interesting things to note.....1) I met a family in the lounge who had a regular roach (not a palmetto bug) in their room in Fiji. They were upgraded to Hawaii as a result. Again, !!

2) DS and I heard many kids in line for the volcano slide talking about which resorts they were staying in. I sure wish they had a system that would keep pool hoppers out.

All in all, a FANTASTIC stay and perfection for us. Any questions I can answer? I hope all of your upcoming trips are just as magical!

Welcome back! That sounds like fun! I'd love to see Seaspray. And whoa on the roach! Glad it wasn't you!!

 

[shyjade]

1) I met a family in the lounge who had a regular roach (not a palmetto bug) in their room in Fiji. They were upgraded to Hawaii as a result. Again, !!

So THAT'S the way to assure an upgrade at the Poly!!!

JUST KIDDING!!!!!

 

[Marc A.]

Currently we have a ressie for the POLY GV for 11/8 to 11/19 using our DVC points. I have been trying to upgrade b/c we do have more pts we can use but I am not sure we will get anything else due to the fact that they don't release much to DVC (non cash ressies). It will be myself DW, DD 4 and DS 2.
We have made our ADR's and will be visiting the parks via monorail for a majority of the time.
Best GV rooms please so thaty I can add a request to my ressie if I am unable to upgrade?
Thanks

 

[John's Mom]

WoodysRoundup,

Would you please tell me about your stay at the AKV? We're are staying at The Poly and AKL in December.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Just checking in to say that we returned the night before last from our AKV/Poly split stay. As usual, the Poly was amazing! We enjoyed every minute there and we just feel such a calm when staying at the Polynesian. On our last day, I recognized a man and woman in the elevator of the Hawaii bldg. It was SEASPRAY! It was nice to meet them although we didn't get to chat long as "Mrs. Seaspray" was engaged in conversation with others and my brood of three was keeping me occupied! Chef Dick created his masterpieces as usual, and we were able to catch up with Marie in the lounge. We just love her. We used to also see her when she used to work at the Grand Flo. The resort is as beautiful as ever and our room was spectacular.

Two interesting things to note.....1) I met a family in the lounge who had a regular roach (not a palmetto bug) in their room in Fiji. They were upgraded to Hawaii as a result. Again, !!

2) DS and I heard many kids in line for the volcano slide talking about which resorts they were staying in. I sure wish they had a system that would keep pool hoppers out.

All in all, a FANTASTIC stay and perfection for us. Any questions I can answer? I hope all of your upcoming trips are just as magical!

Thanks for your review.

 

[Corryn]

Hi WoodysRoundup,
Your trip sounded like fun I'd love to hear more about your experience as a resort, so if you post a trip report, let us know
BTW, It's unfortunate about the whole roach situation, but sometimes you just can't help it......We stayed in a place where I saw dead ones around the perimeter of the room (sooooo gross, the maids never vacuumed them up) and because there was no chance of us leaving the place, I just kept everything zippered up in the luggage the whole time we were there, and we checked EVERYTHING before we left to make sure there weren't any tagalongs
As far as pool hopping, I thought it was permitted if you were staying on-site? We've never done it because we never had the time, but I've heard of lotsa people doing it.

We were staying at the Country Inn and Suites in Kissimmee that is connected to Calypso Cay resort..We stayed in the hotel two nights and then a week at the resort...Anyway, we were at the pool area and there was a whole big showdown that someone got involved with, the 'perps' thought I was the one who started it but the woman who did was blonde, I don't know how they thought I was in anyway involved, I have dark brown hair, she had blonde...Police helicopters flying above the resort, I thought I was back in The Bronx It turned out that the locals often try to sneak into the resorts - that was the case this time, the locals started trouble with the guests, they had to be escorted out (they didn't like that!) it was a fun night..........

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Two interesting things to note.....1) I met a family in the lounge who had a regular roach (not a palmetto bug) in their room in Fiji. They were upgraded to Hawaii as a result. Again, !!

Good to hear they got upgraded to Hawaii. I think if that had happened to me the whole resort would have heard me scream.

I'm glad to hear you had such a wonderful stay! The Poly is such a peaceful oasis away from the chaos of the parks.

 

[sandym718]

We were staying at the Country Inn and Suites in Kissimmee that is connected to Calypso Cay resort..We stayed in the hotel two nights and then a week at the resort...Anyway, we were at the pool area and there was a whole big showdown that someone got involved with, the 'perps' thought I was the one who started it but the woman who did was blonde, I don't know how they thought I was in anyway involved, I have dark brown hair, she had blonde...Police helicopters flying above the resort, I thought I was back in The Bronx It turned out that the locals often try to sneak into the resorts - that was the case this time, the locals started trouble with the guests, they had to be escorted out (they didn't like that!) it was a fun night..........

Hi Corryn! Other than that craziness, can you tell me more about the Country Inn in Kissimee? We are planning on staying there our first night before checking into the Poly. We stayed at one in Niagara Falls and all liked it, so I looked into them in Orlando. It looks nice, the kids will love the pool/slide after our 19 hour ride, and we enjoyed the breakfast. Was it clean? Any other problems? How far was the ride to the Poly? We'll be checking out of there early and checking in at the Poly early AM, heading to the MK for rope drop, so I'd like to be somewhere close. Thanks!

 

[brendalee59]

There is a very interesting phenomenon that seems to happen when you check into the Poly after being up since some ungodly hour of the morning--everyone wants to go hit the MK! I'm serious. When I took the Terror Squad last August (DD8, DN9, DN13, DGsis14) we'd been up since 4am but as soon as we got to the Poly they wanted to go to the MK. Nevermind that I wanted to hit the pool.

I guess that's my long-winded way of saying definitely do the MK. You've got easy access there via the boat launch and the monorail.

I hope you're right MsStinkerbelle. The whole reason I booked an extra day is so we could do one park per day without having to do the whole marathon park run we did the first time. I know The kids and I will be fine. DH on the other hand will be ready for lunch and a nap

Thank you all for your responses. Sounds like either Epcot or MK will work for us.

 

[Mike]

Hi Corryn! Other than that craziness, can you tell me more about the Country Inn in Kissimee? We are planning on staying there our first night before checking into the Poly. We stayed at one in Niagara Falls and all liked it, so I looked into them in Orlando. It looks nice, the kids will love the pool/slide after our 19 hour ride, and we enjoyed the breakfast. Was it clean? Any other problems? How far was the ride to the Poly? We'll be checking out of there early and checking in at the Poly early AM, heading to the MK for rope drop, so I'd like to be somewhere close. Thanks!

I'd like to know as well. I just reserved the Country Inn for friends for 1 night in July for $46 through priceline before we check into OKW.

As far as location goes, I stayed in the AmeriSuites in this complex 2 years ago. You are an easy drive (3miles maybe? ) from the Main Gate. Plus you are very close to a Super Walmart so you can load up on supplies.

 

[BCV23]

WoodysRoundup, I'm sorry we didn't run into each other. I knew we might miss Seaspray as they checked in the day we moved to BCV.

Anyway, we had a great but super short stay in an accessible room in Hawaii on Friday and Sat. nights. The accessible bathroom was great for our daughter. We were thrilled that there was a door switch for the room!!!! And the closets had sliding doors unlike the room we had in Rapa Nui after the last renovation. I'm hoping the doors just hadn't been installed when we were there.

 

[jeanylaser]

Do you know the address of the Polynesian. And how to get to EPCOT?

 

[Aliceacc]

Do you know the address of the Polynesian. And how to get to EPCOT?

Disney's Polynesian Resort
1600 Seven Seas Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000
Phone: (407) 824-2000
Fax: (407) 824-3174

And to get to Epcot, just get on the monorail from the TTC-- you can walk to the TTC from the Poly or take a short hop on the monorail then transfer.