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

[disneysuncat]

Hi everyone!

I just switched our reservation (10/28-11/8) from Boardwalk Villas (which I love) to the Poly because when I called to check on my BWV reservation, for whatever reason it was only until 11/6, and they didn't have the other 2 days to put on the end of my reservation. Anyway, I have always wanted to stay at the Poly, and they had ALL the days available, so yay, that's where we'll be!

I'm paying for a garden view only (to keep costs down a little) and I requested the Aotearoa longhouse due to the proximity to the Grand Ceremonial House. We have LOTS of breakfasts scheduled there, so I thought that would be handy. I was wondering what opinions anyone had about that particular longhouse?

I was also wondering, there's a few times when we want to take a cab (I'm not a fan of the buses!) Can you catch a cab outside of the GCH or do I have to go to the TTC?

I'm so excited to try the Poly!

 

[BCV23]

You can easily catch a cab at the GCH. There always seem to be a few lined up there.

We've never stayed in Aotearoa but I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Raratonga and Niue are actually a little closer to the GCH but we're talking a matter of seconds here.

Have fun!

 

[DaveClan]

I stayed in Rarotonga last week and you cant beat the proximity to the GCH! Literally right out the door... and about 10 steps in front of you!

 

[LastLookAtTheCastle]

I'm paying for a garden view only (to keep costs down a little) and I requested the Aotearoa longhouse due to the proximity to the Grand Ceremonial House.

We stayed in Aotearoa last time, and we loved this longhouse. Super fast walk to GCH.

 

[Cinderella_17]

All of the pictures from this trip were taken using a Sony Alpha DSLR A100. I'm glad you liked the pictures.

Thank you very much!

 

[disneysuncat]

You can easily catch a cab at the GCH. There always seem to be a few lined up there.

We've never stayed in Aotearoa but I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Raratonga and Niue are actually a little closer to the GCH but we're talking a matter of seconds here.

Have fun!

Thanks so much! Another question for anyone...I am driving in, and planned to use the valet service. Do I go ahead and take my luggage into the GHC with me? And if so, and the room is not ready, do they keep it for me until it is? AND...if that is so, whenever the room is ready, do I go ahead roll it to my longhouse myself, or do they offer a ride on a cart or what?

I guess I could save the valet fees and park myself, dropping off the luggage and some family members at the GHC while I park.

Goodness, but I am excited!

ETA: Someone's been kind enough to send me a message detailing the check in process, thanks!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Ok time to finish my resort report but I don't think that I have a lot more to say, since all of the excitement pretty much happened the first day or two. LOL

I've already commented on check-in, the room, our pool experience, and housekeeping. What else...

"Wishes" from the concierge lounge:

Oh yeah, I will say that we finally got to view "Wishes" from the concierge lounge and we left to go out to the beach after the first minute or two. They did dim the lights in the seating area of the lounge, but they left the back lights on over where the food is set up and in the stairways (which I fully understand!) but this caused a glare on the inside of the huge windows and we knew we'd have a better view from outside. Also, they did pipe the soundtrack from the fireworks into the lounge, but the tv in the children's seating area was blasting and it really drowned out the sound. One man got up to see if he could turn down or turn off the tv, and he tried for a minute or so, but then gave up when he didn't find any control buttons. Anyway, that was a slight disappointment but not a big deal at all. Watching it through the windows felt sort of like watching it on tv and I thought to myself "What the heck! I'm HERE at Disney World, I'm going to the beach and see them "live"". We had already seen them from inside the MK and also from the beach a couple of nights as well.

Torch-lighting Ceremony:

We never did make it to the front of the resort to see the torch-lighting ceremony. Maybe next time?!

Music Around the Resort:

We definitely heard Hawaiian music being played from the speakers all around the resort. We heard while walking back and forth between the Hawaii building and the Great Ceremonial House, and also while walking to the TTC, as well as other areas. We also heard the Wishes soundtrack being played from the speakers in front of the Hawaii building, in the area between the Hawaii building and the pool, and over on the beach in front of the pool bar area.

CMs around the resort:

I don't know if it was just me or what, but everyone seemed extra-friendly on this trip! I truly had not heard quite as many "Aloha!"s on past trips, as I had on this trip. The CMs in the Polynesian shops and restaurants all were very friendly as well. Then again, I was in such great spirits just to be at Disney World that when a CM would ask me how I was today I'd say "I am AWESOME, how are you??" and I'd look to see where they're from (their tags list their name and hometown) and I saw so many from the general area that I grew up in, and even from where I live now that I struck up a lot of conversations with CMs on this trip. MOST of them really are very nice people.

Check-Out:

On our last morning I called the concierge desk to request late check-out for our room and our aunt's room. The CM told me that only our room was available for late check-out so we had our aunt bring her luggage and leave it in our room. Our final room-charge statements were hanging on our door knobs that morning and we looked them over and saw no errors, so we were able to do "Express Check-out" which means that we didn't have to go to the desk to check out. Also, one of the concierge CMs printed our boarding passes for us, which was nice, and is also available through bell services if you're using Magical Express. (I believe they may also do it for you even if you're not using ME, but I'm not sure!)


I really can't think of anything else, regarding the actual resort. The place looked great, as always. It looked cleaner than I'd ever seen it before (the parks also looked cleaner than ever and even our aunt commented on how clean it was). If anyone has any questions I'd be more than happy to answer

That was great to read so thanks for taking the time to post it.

 

[SeaSpray]

That was great to read so thanks for taking the time to post it.

You're welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed it. LOL

 

[JRDMAN]

This is my first post...I'm a multi-visit Polynesian nut and even though I thought myself to be an expert on all things Polynesian, I've found I've barely scratched the surface since discovering this dis board.
Thank you all for your information and obvious friendship.
I'll post this now and hope it will be my start of an ongoing appreciation of all things Disney.
Hmmm...does that last sentence make sense?
Hope everyone is having a magical day.

John

PS. Special thank you to Seaspray for your Poly posts

 

[mousescrapper]

Only 1 week left till my stay and just getting my ducks in a row so to speak....

just a few last minute questions:

I know at the arcade you use a rechargable card for the games, does anyone know the minmum you can put on the card and do you just insert cash into the machine to get your card?

When using the DME, non-concerige level room, is your luggage usually delievered to your room for you once arrived/room ready? or do you need to come get it?

Also for your departure, I know you can ask bell sevices to help you down w/ luggage and then do they put it on the bus for you directly when it's time (we'll be checking out approx 5 hrs before our DME pick-up), or do you need to get it and bring it to the stop?

Trying to get all my monies together for tips and such....

Lastly,

does anyone know the approx depth for the quiet pool or how deep the water is off the slide at the Volcano pool, trying to determine if I should pack a swim vest for my semi swimmer...

and finally do you need to reserve a beach cabana/tent thing with lounges or is it first come first serve or just for concierge level?

Thanks all!

Can't wait to go and get there and then post my newbie review when we get back!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Only 1 week left till my stay and just getting my ducks in a row so to speak....

just a few last minute questions:

I know at the arcade you use a rechargable card for the games, does anyone know the minmum you can put on the card and do you just insert cash into the machine to get your card?

When using the DME, non-concerige level room, is your luggage usually delievered to your room for you once arrived/room ready? or do you need to come get it?

Also for your departure, I know you can ask bell sevices to help you down w/ luggage and then do they put it on the bus for you directly when it's time (we'll be checking out approx 5 hrs before our DME pick-up), or do you need to get it and bring it to the stop?

Trying to get all my monies together for tips and such....

Lastly,

does anyone know the approx depth for the quiet pool or how deep the water is off the slide at the Volcano pool, trying to determine if I should pack a swim vest for my semi swimmer...

and finally do you need to reserve a beach cabana/tent thing with lounges or is it first come first serve or just for concierge level?

Thanks all!

Can't wait to go and get there and then post my newbie review when we get back!

I believe the minimum $ you can spend on the card is $1.00 and you can insert cash, a credit card or your KTTW card as a form of payment.

Your luggage is delievered to your room usually 3 hours after you check-in, so it does not matter if your staying in a regular room or a Club Level room. My family and I have never done Magical Expess, however that's what I read how things work.

Once again since we never done Magical Express I can not answer about your luggage on the day you check-out.

I don't remember how deep the water is in the volcano pool and we never went to the quiet pool, so I say do what you think is best for your semi swimmer.

Finally the Polynesian does not have a cababa/tent that you would be thinking of with plates of food and everything that comes with it. Instead they had something on the beach with a chair that you can lie down on, so it's 1st come 1st sereve.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

DME has your bags automatically sent to your room-even if you have left for a park. It is usually 2-4 hours after you arrive, so plan on a carryon with anything you may need while waiting for checked luggage, ie: swimsuits, suntan lotion, medications, etc.

 

[shyjade]

Also for your departure, I know you can ask bell sevices to help you down w/ luggage and then do they put it on the bus for you directly when it's time (we'll be checking out approx 5 hrs before our DME pick-up), or do you need to get it and bring it to the stop?

You can call bell services to bring your luggage to the lobby and they will store it for you until your departure time. At your departure time, you'll need to claim your luggage from Bell Services and take it outside to the ME bus yourself. At least that's been our experience in the past.

 

[krbq]

Has anyone ever stayed in either of the Princess Suites in the Tonga Longhouse? I'd love to hear about it!

 

[krbq]

Only 1 week left till my stay and just getting my ducks in a row so to speak....

does anyone know the approx depth for the quiet pool or how deep the water is off the slide at the Volcano pool, trying to determine if I should pack a swim vest for my semi swimmer...

The deep end of the quiet pool is 7 ft. -- the shallow end is probably more like 2 or 3 feet, but I am sure of the 7-foot depth.

I'm not certain of this, but I think the depth of the water off the slide at the volcano pool is probably about 4 feet because that's about as deep as that pool gets.

If you have, as you say, a "semi-swimmer" it would be a good idea to pack a swim vest or buy one at the shop in the GCH.

 

[ConcKahuna]

If you have, as you say, a "semi-swimmer" it would be a good idea to pack a swim vest or buy one at the shop in the GCH.

They will also let you borrow a life vest from the Marina for free during your stay

 

[buzz1fan]

Does anyone have a recent menu of Captain Cook's?

 

[stetz69]

The depth off the slide in the Volcano pool is 3' 6". Or at least that is what the lifeguard told me last October when we were there. It's a pretty good dunk when you come off the slide, so if your little one is not real comfortable in the water yet, I would suggest a life vest.

 

[BCV23]

mousescrapper, what airline are you flying? If it's a participating airline which includes most of the biggies except SW, you can check in right at the resort. Bell services can take your luggage there with you or you can schlepp them yourself. The service will take your checked bags and the next time you see them will be at your home airport. You will get your boarding passes, too.

Bell services can then hold your carryons if you like until you need to catch ME.

 

[Bella O]

Someone asked about the princess suite - we have not stayed there yet, but will be staying there right after New Year's. I have asked this question before, and searched the forums, but no luck (there are only 2 I think so many nobody on this board has stayed in them - they are $$$$$$$ - we are celebrating my dd's health after a long illness, and before she heads off to college) - so I'll be sure to post pics and review when I get back. Tikiman's site is the best source for info - he has pics. The only bad thing is all the suites are in Tonga, and I really wanted to stay in Hawaii - but I'm sure it will be great! I know they are first floor and border the marina - you can see the castle in the distance.