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

[maidenfairy]

subscribing

We are staying there Dec29th-Jan2nd. Originally we were booked for the allstar sports. but we just weren't that excited about that resort, so we upgraded. I've always wanted to stay at the Poly. And its a Christmas gift for the family, why not splurge a little.

 

[Aliceacc]

Seaspray,

My sincere sympathies. We lost my dad in 2003, it's brutal to go through.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Seaspray ~ My condolences on losing your dad. You and your family are in my prayers.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

Terry, we're all thinking of you and yours. Take care.

 

[BKMETV]

Seaspray: So sorry to hear about your father.

 

[vtwep]

VTWEP-
I would make a reservation in another room catagory, then keep checking availabilty for MK view online. The only time I have ever seen a certain room catagory not becoame available for our dates was when there where renovations planned, but the Poly has already been refurbed. IMO it is always better to have some type of reservation in place, I think the time you want to go in Dec may be Pop Warner week.

Thanks...I took this advice and have since been able to change over to the MK view room! I guess it just took a few days for them to hit the computer system as BCV23 suggested.

vtwep, I'm as certain as I can be without actually knowing that all those rooms aren't booked. I imagine they just haven't been loaded into the system.

Perhaps they evaluate the MK views much closer to the actual dates. Tikiman posted that they actually went into each room before categorizing it as MK or lagoon. If a tree or bush was partially blocking the view of the castle, it wasn't called MK view. Since trees and bushes have a habit of growing, I can imagine they reassess the rooms from time to time. Perhaps that's all that's happening.

I agree with Tony. Book something and then call back. But frankly, I wouldn't drive myself crazy and do it daily. Maybe once a month. The vast majority of us don't book that far out.

Happy planning! You'll get those rooms in time!

Thanks for the reply. That is interesting about the Tikiman report on how they categorized rooms. Pretty cool! Can you PM me his website? I feel dumb not having it already...sounds like there may be some good info there!

From what I've seen over my years of booking is they don't release all of the available rooms at once. A portion are set aside for packages (I usually book a package for December trips) and the rest are released at a later date. Definitely do keep checking back. I usually have my TA do this for me.

Thanks for the info. It all worked out!

And thanks to anyone else who replied that I may have missed in this reply. I really appreciate all the replies/info!

My sympathies to SeaSpray and zoie101

 

[Picabo]

I'm doing a HAPPY DANCE! Just called today and was able to make my Dec 2009 reservation! WOOOOOO HOOO! NOW it seems real!

When do we need to put room requests in? (For now, I just noted a few bldgs) Any rush to get requests in - do they give priority to those who request sooner than later???? Don't know if I should ask for Samoa (GV) on the volcano pool side or at Tokelau on the Hawaiia bldg side, closer to the lagoon. Part of me wants to see the lagoon, even if from the side, and be close to that beach. The other part of me wants to be closer to the pool. But then I wonder...maybe the pool just outside our room would NOT be so good with 2 kids always wanting to go jump into it! LOL

Melanie

 

[sandym718]

So sorry for your loss SeaSpray.

My FIL has been gone 3 years now, on July 17th. That is my sister's birthday and mine is the 18th. It still feels odd celebrating on what was also such a sad occassion.

 

[Walt Disney Worlders]

Thank you so much for this thread! We are staying at the Polynesian in Jan 09, and this thread rocks!

Tonga Toast here we come!

 

[amsafko]

Firstly, I don't know you SeaSPray but am still coping with the loss of my father in May. I had a good cry once today even. The thing that brings me peace and that I must focus on is that he wouldn't have wanted to live as he was (he'd suffered a massive stroke in Feb.). Each day gets better, but there are moments where I just have to let myself grieve. I hope your family can find peace as we are slowly doing the same. Actually my trip to Disney is partly due to the fact that with such a bad year behind us, we just want a break (we also lost our dear SIL, only 48, in October).

I do have a Poly question for those returning and who have little kids. I have kids age 6, 4, and 2...is it reasonable to think the kids will be content to hang at the resort most nights and swim/play? We do the early mornings in the parks and finish the amusement activites by lunch so as to not overwhelm them and get too tired. I am so happy we are staying at the Poly and want to take in the wonderful atmosphere as much as I can.

Thanks.

 

[Walt Disney Worlders]

Seaspray,

So sorry for your loss. Your in my thoughts...

 

[sandym718]

I do have a Poly question for those returning and who have little kids. I have kids age 6, 4, and 2...is it reasonable to think the kids will be content to hang at the resort most nights and swim/play? We do the early mornings in the parks and finish the amusement activites by lunch so as to not overwhelm them and get too tired. I am so happy we are staying at the Poly and want to take in the wonderful atmosphere as much as I can.

Thanks.

My children were almost 5 and almost 3 when we went last - and I'll tell you, that Volcano pool was definitely one of the TOP things on their vacation! Especially for DS - he loved that slide so much. He even requested to go back to the Poly after our CM brunch one day, rather than back to the MK. So, DH took him back and DD and I went to see the princesses and the parade. The kids swam every day and never got tired of it. What's also great is that you can see the EWP and Wishes each evening right from the Poly!! The kids might like playing on the beach too, or just walking around the paths - mine liked looking for the little lizards. There's a nice gift shop, too, that they liked checking out. We did go back to the parks most evenings, but there's plenty to do if you don't. DTD is also a nice option for an evening!

 

[vtwep]

I'm doing a HAPPY DANCE! Just called today and was able to make my Dec 2009 reservation! WOOOOOO HOOO! NOW it seems real!

When do we need to put room requests in? (For now, I just noted a few bldgs) Any rush to get requests in - do they give priority to those who request sooner than later???? Don't know if I should ask for Samoa (GV) on the volcano pool side or at Tokelau on the Hawaiia bldg side, closer to the lagoon. Part of me wants to see the lagoon, even if from the side, and be close to that beach. The other part of me wants to be closer to the pool. But then I wonder...maybe the pool just outside our room would NOT be so good with 2 kids always wanting to go jump into it! LOL

Melanie

Great to hear! As for room requests, I am far from an expert. But I have read from time to time that the sooner the better. But there are never any guarantees. When I made the switch from GV to MK View, the CM told me I'd be better off giving my requests when I call back to change from room-only to a package once the 2009 rates are out. So, I took that advice and will give my requests then.

The only experience I personally have is from last year. We stayed at the YC in November, and we had put our reservations/requests in less than 2 months prior and got them (upper floor / water view also being able to see EPCOT). While "seeing EPCOT" meant we faced that direction and could see the top of the Eiffel Tower, we could still see it. It was a great room with a view of the water, the Boardwalk, and towards EPCOT.

This is all I know! Hope it helps a little bit!

 

[Naisy68]

Great to hear! As for room requests, I am far from an expert. But I have read from time to time that the sooner the better. But there are never any guarantees. When I made the switch from GV to MK View, the CM told me I'd be better off giving my requests when I call back to change from room-only to a package once the 2009 rates are out. So, I took that advice and will give my requests then.

The only experience I personally have is from last year. We stayed at the YC in November, and we had put our reservations/requests in less than 2 months prior and got them (upper floor / water view also being able to see EPCOT). While "seeing EPCOT" meant we faced that direction and could see the top of the Eiffel Tower, we could still see it. It was a great room with a view of the water, the Boardwalk, and towards EPCOT.

This is all I know! Hope it helps a little bit!

I have heard that you can't put in your room requests more than a week prior to your stay. Is this false? I am a month out and want to request a balcony room in Tokaleu (sp?) I think, but I'm not sure if these are garden view or not. Should I be calling to put in our room request like now??!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I have heard that you can't put in your room requests more than a week prior to your stay. Is this false? I am a month out and want to request a balcony room in Tokaleu (sp?) I think, but I'm not sure if these are garden view or not. Should I be calling to put in our room request like now??!

That's not true, you can make your requests anytime before you check-in. For example last December when my family and I stayed at the Polynesian before WDW made all their rooms non smoking, we requested a non smoking room in the Hawaii Longhouse since we had a Club Level reservation. We called CRO months before we were suppost to arrive and had no problems making that request. In the end we did not need it because of them making all the rooms non smoking, but the main point is we made that request a long time before we were to arrive.

 

[Mike]

We just returned from our 17 day trip. I surprised my wife and kids at the beginning of the trip with a 2 night stay at the Poly Club Level. We were celebrating my wife's 40th Birthday as well as our 15th anniversary. My wife has always wanted to stay at the Poly but never has. We joined DVC 5 years ago so she thought she never would.

The Concierge staff was great. We got upgraded to a MK view and that was a great surprise. What a gorgeous view. We received balloons, pins and and chocolate bar with a picture of the Poly on it. We really enjoyed the lounge and all of the offerings. I was a big fan of the coffee machine.

My only complaint - and it is minor - was that we were really surprised that there are no hot tubs at the Poly.

We did the photopass session and the pictures came out great. Lindsey our photographer was awesome!!

It was a great start to our trip. We had two great weeks at OKW as well. Thanks to all who contribute to this thread.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We just returned from our 17 day trip. I surprised my wife and kids at the beginning of the trip with a 2 night stay at the Poly Club Level. We were celebrating my wife's 40th Birthday as well as our 15th anniversary. My wife has always wanted to stay at the Poly but never has. We joined DVC 5 years ago so she thought she never would.

The Concierge staff was great. We got upgraded to a MK view and that was a great surprise. What a gorgeous view. We received balloons, pins and and chocolate bar with a picture of the Poly on it. We really enjoyed the lounge and all of the offerings. was a big fan of the coffee machine.

My only complaint - and it is minor - was that we were really surprised that there are no hot tubs at the Poly.

We did the photopass session and the pictures came out great. Lindsey our photographer was awesome!!

It was a great start to our trip. We had two great weeks at OKW as well. Thanks to all who contribute to this thread.

Thanks for posting about your review and congragulations on the upgrade.

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Just wanted to add my condolences to SeaSpray and her family. You guys are in my thoughts and prayers during this time.

The thread will take care of itself in the meantime. No worries.

 

[JRDMAN]

To Seaspray and family, my sincerest condolences.
You're all in my thoughts and prayers

 

[madysmom]

Is this something you have to specifically request, does it cost anything, and what do they do if you do request turndown service?

Regarding turn down service, my understanding is that it is automatic with the CL rooms, but we were in a regular garden view...so I just wrote a note on the envelope with our mousekeeping tip in it, and they did it for us. Otherwise, I think you can just give mousekeeping a call and request it. It was very nice, the lights were dimmed and the sheets were pulled back and little chocolates were left for us. Nice touch. I think Seaspray may have some photos earlier in the thread if I recall.

Teri - thanks for the awsome report on your recent Poly Trip! Sounds like everyone had an amazing time!!! You mentioned you didn't have good seats near the entertainment at dinner....what is the entertainment?? I've been wanting to go to Ohana and now I'm even more intrigued. How did your 3 yr old do with the parks? Mine will be 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 when we go and I'm a bit nervous about hwo to pace things!

Melanie

Regarding the entertainment at the Ohana, there was a lovely, Hawaiian woman who played the ukelele and gave some hula lessons and faciliated the coconut races with the children, she was very cute and a very good entertainer.

Regarding your 2 and 3 year old....My 3 year old was so much fun for me this year at Disney. She loved the princesses and she was so wide-eyed and fhad so much fun on the attractions. She made it so special for me. My 6 year old boy was very good as well. I planned our days very loosely because I knew the kids energy level would determine how much we did each day, and my son especially needs some down-time to just play with legos in the room. We didn't make them get up early any of the days, and we tooks naps when they needed them. We utilized the fast passes as much as possible so they didn't need to wait in lines very much at all. And, the couple of attractions we did have to wait, they did surprisingly well. I think we just hit things at the right times, we were fortunate. I do believe that your kids ages are perfect for Disney...there are so many slow and fun rides for children who are small. And I love how they still believe the characters are real. I think that is so sweet! I know they will be fun in a different way when they are older as well, but I just really loved this particular trip with the ages that they are now. Have fun!