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

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Oh and we did get the chocolate postcard in our room on our 2nd day

My family and I also got that back in December on our 1st night.

 

[BCV23]

Hi all, We got home last Monday and I must say at this time now I can not imagine staying anywhere but the Poly. We checked in on the 19th and stayed until the 26th and like a few others I noticed while I was just catching up we were upgraded. We had booked club level garden view and were upgraded to a beautiful castle view in room 3508. The club CM's were all wonderful with my DD and helping us with boxes and shipping them home for us when we "over shopped". DD absolutely loved the electric water parade (I think more then the fireworks even) and we can not wait to go back. I will post some pics as soon as I have posted enough to use attatchments. Oh and we did get the chocolate postcard in our room on our 2nd day when they left DD a birthday card from Mickey and Minnie.

What a great upgrade!

Isn't the Electrical Water Pageant great? I'm with your daughter...I like it even better than Wishes.

 

[buzz1fan]

We leave for the Poly next Friday and we are only staying one night, but I am so excited. We should get there around 9 am, and we are spending the entire day there. Our next night at disney will be a the POP, i hope the lugage transfer goes well, we will be at the MK when it happens. I was told it should be easy. We plan on leaving the MK in the afternoon to go back to the POP, check in and rest, then back to the park.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

Hey all!! We got back last night, and I'm already having withdrawal!! We had a wonderful time, and I can't wait to sit and write a trip report.

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!

We were in Rarotonga 1802. At first I was disappointed because we wanted Samoa, but we were very close to the quiet pool, which the kids seemed to like a little better, and the proximity to the GCH was fabulous!! We just ran across to Capt. Cook's when we were thirsty or needed a Dole Whip. Loved it!

I know one item they have for breakfast is Tonga Toast.

Tonga Toast is one of my FAVORITE Foods in the whole wide world!!!!!!!!

I was sooo excited to try this!! Loved that, too!

Thanks everyone for the Dole Whip info. I can't wait to try one (and a Pina Colava) first hand.

By the end of the stay, we had our Dole Whip technique perfected. How to get the most in the bowl and how high to pile it before it fell over.

Thank you very much. I think we would prefer closest to the GCH for the monarail and the fact that we reserved several breakfasts and dinners at the Poly restaurants.

I just called to ask if I could request a specific longhouse. She said absolutely, but this should only be done 3-7 days before arrival.

Thanks again!

Again, we stayed in Rarotonga with a 2 year old, 5 year old and the grandparents, and we found the location ACE!! We left our longhouse, walked almost right into the GCH, turned a corner and hopped on the elevator. A few more feet and we were on the monorail platform. The tiki gods really know what they're doing.

 

[johnsonet]

So glad you had a great time at the Polynesian! I love it there too. I have been in Raratonga twice and I agree that it is an incredible location.
Can't wait to read your report!

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

By the end of the stay, we had our Dole Whip technique perfected. How to get the most in the bowl and how high to pile it before it fell over.

OMG, I'm known in the family as the Tiki Goddess of the Dole Whip because of how much I can cram into that little bowl. I loved all the 'how did you do THAT' looks people gave me when they saw me with my Dole Whip. I tell 'em, "It's what engineers like me do!" ;-)

Glad to hear you had such a great stay and can't wait to read your trip report! What I remember most about Rarotonga was running through it when it was raining to get to my longhouse. Did you have a room facing the monorail?

 

[krbq]

We just returned from a four night stay in the 2br princess suite at the polynesian. It was wonderfull!!!! We went for my daughters high school graduation present. It was myself, dh, dd, two friends of hers, and ds. I will have pictures and review to come later but I am to tired from the 8 and 1/2 hour drive home.

Can't wait to see your photos and read your review! We're staying in that suite next spring.

 

[JRDMAN]

There are a lot of things that make the Poly special and unique. And I'm sure I could write pages about all the things that I find special at the Poly.
But I can't help but notice that a lot of the questions submitted are about the longhouses. Which one should I choose? Should I choose garden view or lagoon view? Which one is closest to transportation? Which one is closest to GCH? Which one is most quiet? etc.ect etc.
Ahhh...that's one of the many special things about Poly. Although similar, all of the bldgs offer something unique and different depending on your preferences. And, whatever your preference, there is a longhouse there that will fill your wishes. I think it's so cool that each and every longhouse is someone's favorite.
I hope everyone is having a magical day.

 

[shyjade]

There are a lot of things that make the Poly special and unique. And I'm sure I could write pages about all the things that I find special at the Poly.
But I can't help but notice that a lot of the questions submitted are about the longhouses. Which one should I choose? Should I choose garden view or lagoon view? Which one is closest to transportation? Which one is closest to GCH? Which one is most quiet? etc.ect etc.
Ahhh...that's one of the many special things about Poly. Although similar, all of the bldgs offer something unique and different depending on your preferences. And, whatever your preference, there is a longhouse there that will fill your wishes. I think it's so cool that each and every longhouse is someone's favorite.
I hope everyone is having a magical day.

Totally agree! Before our first stay last year at the Poly I read a trip report which went on & on about how HORRIBLE and NOISY Fiji was. And guess where our room was? Fiji! Contrary to everything I read in that trip report, I found Fiji to be beautiful, peaceful, and close to the GCH. I'd stay there again without hesitation. And actually the woman who posted such negative things about Fiji actually asked to be moved to a different building.


I considered requesting Fiji again this year (DD10 keeps begging me to do it) but I'm considering leaving it up to the "tiki gods" once again. Because honestly, I never saw a building I'd be upset about staying in.

 

[bridcarp]

Since I've never been to WDW before and am heading there in Dec... What is the TTC and is it good for anything else than catching the monorail to epcot? Thanks for all the help all you Poly Regs

 

[BCV23]

The TTC used to be the master transportation center for WDW.

It is still an important hub as MK parking is located there in addition to the monorail station where the resort, express MK and Epcot monorails converge.

The MK ferry also docks there. It's a great way to get to the MK especially with large strollers, ECVs and wheelchairs. very short walk from the Polynesian.

Buses to the DHS and DAK go there as well. Buses from those parks to the MK drop off guests at the TTC. This is a bonus for Polynesian guests as it is such a short walk back to the resort.

Off site buses and Shades of Green shuttles are also located there.

There are also ticket booths at the TTC.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Since I've never been to WDW before and am heading there in Dec... What is the TTC and is it good for anything else than catching the monorail to epcot? Thanks for all the help all you Poly Regs

The TTC which means the Transportation and Ticket Center is the main area for WDW Transportation. Besides the Monorail which goes to Epcot there is the Express Monorail to the Magic Kingdom and buses which go to and from Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom. It's also the area where offsite guests would park their cars when going to the Magic Kingdom.

Since you would be staying at the Polynesian you have the Resort Monorail to the Magic Kingdom there is no sense walking to the TTC to get that one, unless you happen to staying in the Tahiti Longhouse which is right next to the TTC. Although if you went to the Magic Kingdom during AM EMH the Express Monorail does not start until 9:00 AM, so your only option is the Resort Monorail. As for the buses once again you have them at the Polynesian when going to Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom. However if you are still waiting for the Polynesian bus at either park and happen to see the bus which goes to the TTC, if you got on that once you arrived there you could walk back to the Polynesian. As for a Downtown Disney bus there are none at the TTC so your only option is waiting for the one at the Polynesian.

 

[JRDMAN]

Note: You can also take a boat to Magic Kingdom from the Polynesian. The boat goes directly to MK from Poly but the return trip stops at Grand Floridian on the way to Ploy

 

[Simbee3]

Are all of the rooms recently renovated?

 

[JRDMAN]

To the best of my knowledge, refurbishing is finished on all the rooms.

 

[dishm12/08]

So I was reading the most recent posts about the TTC. Is there a place that has the most effective routes to get from the Poly to the parks and other resorts? Thanks

 

[JRDMAN]

Probably the fastest route from Poly to Magic Kingdom is the boat...it is non-stop from Poly. The monorail stops at GF first and then the MK. The boat might be 5-10 minutes faster if they are both departing at the same time.
Buses depart continually from in front of the GCH to the parks, water parks and Downtown Disney. However, probably the best way to get to Epcot is one of 2 choices. You can take the monorail to MK , through the Contemporary and then to the TTC and transfer to another monorail for the ride to EPCOT. Or you can walk from Poly to the TTC and get on the monorail to EPCOT.
As for other resorts, it's probably best to go to the TTC and get a bus from there.
Some of the buses that leave from the front of Poly for the parks do stop at some of the resorts along the way to pick up other passengers . I guess you would have to ask the bus driver whene he stops along the way

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

So I was reading the most recent posts about the TTC. Is there a place that has the most effective routes to get from the Poly to the parks and other resorts? Thanks

Since your a Monorail or boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom, that is basically the best location to get on a bus to any WDW Resort because you know they will have a bus which goes there. As for the parks once again the Polynesian has direct buses to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Downtown Disney and for Epcot all you need to do is walk over to the TTC and get on the Epcot Monorail.

 

[torian]

can a 1br princess suite fit 6 people?

 

[darthvaderusa]

Probably the fastest route from Poly to Magic Kingdom is the boat...it is non-stop from Poly. The monorail stops at GF first and then the MK. The boat might be 5-10 minutes faster if they are both departing at the same time.
Buses depart continually from in front of the GCH to the parks, water parks and Downtown Disney. However, probably the best way to get to Epcot is one of 2 choices. You can take the monorail to MK , through the Contemporary and then to the TTC and transfer to another monorail for the ride to EPCOT. Or you can walk from Poly to the TTC and get on the monorail to EPCOT.
As for other resorts, it's probably best to go to the TTC and get a bus from there.
Some of the buses that leave from the front of Poly for the parks do stop at some of the resorts along the way to pick up other passengers . I guess you would have to ask the bus driver whene he stops along the way

Does anyone know when the boat sarts in the am? I don't think that it is early enough for the EMH @ the MK but I am not sure.