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

[jackdis]

Thanks for the mini report. What's the name of your TR? Can you post a link? I will go back and check your siggie just in case it's in there.

No snow here, but cold......wish I was at the POLY right now.

 

[sandym718]

Great report!! And I totally agree - the convenience of wheeling a stroller right on the monorail - Priceless!!

 

[mmmears]

Great report!! And I totally agree - the convenience of wheeling a stroller right on the monorail - Priceless!!

IMO, it's the BEST thing about the monorail!

 

[kkayluvsdis]

Thanks for the mini report. What's the name of your TR? Can you post a link? I will go back and check your siggie just in case it's in there.

No snow here, but cold......wish I was at the POLY right now.

You probably found it in my siggie, but just in case here it is:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2028633

oh, and my sister has a dining report YUM!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=29077262#post29077262

cold cold cold here..boo, winter has definitely found us! -Kelly

 

[momatater]

kkayluvsdis: Thanks for the mini trip report. I have started to read your full trip report and I'm loving it!! I'm so glad you had a wonderful time.

Now I've got to read your sis's dining report....after I eat some dinner of course!

 

[SeaSpray]

8 more days until we will be checking in at the Poly. I cannot wait!!

Just wanted to stop in and say thank you for all the information you all have shared! We are leave tomorrow at 12:30 for our Disneymoon and are so excited to be doing the land/sea and staying at the POLY. We did not make a room request, I wanted to leave it to the Tiki God's to send us some fairy dust for our magical trip I am hoping for one of the newer long houses closer to the TTC.

If theres any thing any one wants me to check out while we are there 12/12-12/21 let me know please! I would love to contribute back!

And any one who will be there at the same time please say "HI"!

We check into the Poly tomorrow! Our flight should land around 11:30am, so hopefully we'll be there a little after lunch. We have a MK view booked and requested Tahiti. Can't wait!!!

YAY! I hope you're all having/will have a WONDERFUL time!

Yeah! We just booked for Feb 4-11 using the 4/3 promo! The only room cat. left for the promotional rate was Garden View, but I'm sure that will work for us just fine.

I do have one question... Our flight arrives at MCO around 10:30 AM, so we are hoping to grab a lunch upon arrival. We have booked the dining plan, and were wondering if we should make ADR's for Kona for lunch, or if they often have walk-ups available?

Thank you!

I always make an ADR for the Kona Cafe for our arrival day, but many times we don't make it in time due to flight delays. However, we've always been able to change it, once we arrive at the resort. Enjoy your trip and the Polynesian and the Kona Cafe!!!

So, it's been a few weeks since we've returned from our first stay at the Poly, but I wanted to #1 Thank you all for all the help that this thread provided while we were planning and #2 Give you a quick synopsis of our trip!
-Kelly

Excellent review! Thanks so much for sharing it!

 

[Laralyn]

Just wanted to post a quick thank you for all the great info in this thread. I've always wanted to stay at the Poly, ever since I saw it on TV when I was a kid. We're going to WDW in late February, and I just switched to the Poly. I'm really excited to finally stay there!

 

[DisneyLily]

Its super busy at the poly tonight!

 

[BCV23]

kkayluvsdis, thank you so much for your review. Just the Polynesian pick me up we needed on here!

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Just wanted to post a quick thank you for all the great info in this thread. I've always wanted to stay at the Poly, ever since I saw it on TV when I was a kid. We're going to WDW in late February, and I just switched to the Poly. I'm really excited to finally stay there!

Congrats on a most excellent choice of resort. I've also always wanted to stay at the Poly since I was a kid and now that I have, it's hard to go any other Disney resort.

 

[matthew&haleysmom]

I am so excited! I just booked for 6/13 -20th. I can't wait!

 

[Think Pink Tink]

Congrats on a most excellent choice of resort. I've also always wanted to stay at the Poly since I was a kid and now that I have, it's hard to go any other Disney resort.

I have been addicted to the Poly since my first trip there when I was 13 years old. I've been to Hawaii a few times but with the economy I know I won't be able to visit there again anytime soon, so the Poly gives me the taste of Hawaii I love with the fun of Disney a quick monorail ride away. What more could anyone want

 

[markar92]

Just back from our 6 night stay at Poly. First time here (went to Wilderness Lodge last year). Myself (40), DH (40) and dd#1 (5) and dd#2 (3).

Highlights:
Check in went very smooth except my request for 3rd flr Tokelau was not granted - assigned 2nd flr Rarotonga. Room was fine, spent 1 night there and then was able to move to 3rd flr Tokelau. Hotel was very accommodating to make the move once the room came available. Room was great - very big compared to Wilderness Lodge last year and balcony was great.

Brkfst at Ohana's with Lilo, Stitch and Mickey was great. Food and service good as well as character interaction.

Had 1 lunch at Kona - food and service was fine - atmosphere a little noisy.

No problems at all with mousekeeping.

DD#1 loved volcano pool and slide - wanted to skip going to parks if she could and played there all day.

Food from Capn Cooks fine. We were on deluxe dining plan which was a gross overload of food (what is with 2 drinks for breakfast especially if you have the free refill mug? would rather have 1 drink and yogurt option).

No issues with Monorail service - very convenient, especially just walking on with stroller. Took boat to Fort Wilderness one night and bus to DHS with no wait times.

Only thing I would say is for Christmas, I did prefer the lobby decor at the Wilderness Lodge - it is hard to beat that beautiful tree - but no complaints at all about the Poly.

markar92

Wilderness Lodge - Dec 2007
Polynesian - Dec 2008
2009????

 

[CleveRocks]

markar92,

Thanks for getting me even MORE excited for my February trip ... I didn't know that was possible!!!

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Its super busy at the poly tonight!

Is it due to the usual activity with 'Ohana (and the luau) or the Christmas entertainment they bring in this time of the year?

I am so excited! I just booked for 6/13 -20th. I can't wait!

Congrats! That wait is a killer but soo worth it when you get to the Poly.

I have been addicted to the Poly since my first trip there when I was 13 years old. I've been to Hawaii a few times but with the economy I know I won't be able to visit there again anytime soon, so the Poly gives me the taste of Hawaii I love with the fun of Disney a quick monorail ride away. What more could anyone want

I'd love to visit Hawaii and DD9 really wants to go as well. We don't know when we'll make it either but in the meantime just like you, the Poly gives me a taste of it.

Only thing I would say is for Christmas, I did prefer the lobby decor at the Wilderness Lodge - it is hard to beat that beautiful tree - but no complaints at all about the Poly.

Glad you enjoyed your stay! The Poly has what I like to call more 'cultural' Christmas touches. I haven't seen the tree at the WL but if it's anything like the one at the AKL for Christmas, it is indeed spectacular.

 

[ppan77]

Should I or should I not make a longhouse request??? My only request so far is the bottom floor room. We have little ones who go to bed early and my hubby and I would like to take advantage of the patio. I am afriad if I request a specific longhouse we wont get the bottom floor. Plus we've never been to the poly to really know which longhouse is best for our family. What would you do???

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Should I or should I not make a longhouse request???

Since a bottom floor room is important to you, I wouldn't make a specific longhouse request. When you check in, politely reiterate your request to the CM. If the bottom floor room the CM first brings up for you isn't in the longhouse you would like, you could always ask if another is available. The Poly CMs are really friendly in doing their best for you.

 

[WickedWench]

You can request a longhouse as well as the bottom floor, just make sure you tell them which request is more important to you. If they can meet both, they will. If they can't, they'll try to give you your priority request.

 

[crazyoldmaurice]

We just returned from WDW this weekend and made a stop by the Polynesian on Sunday. The resort is looking great! There was work being done to the Tokelau longhouse roof. The roof was actually green, instead of the normal brown, so I guess they are either repainting it, or replacing it. It did not look like the building was closed, however.

Also, it is very sad to hear about the Torch Lighting Ceremony ending, along with the live music in the Tambu Lounge. Hopefully they will both be back soon, and those CMs will be able to continue to work elsewhere until then.

 

[BreezysMom]

Aloha all!

I just returned from a great 8 nights at the Poly. This was a second trip. All in all it was a great time. The Poly and the grounds look great. They really are keeping up. DH and DD and I enjoyed a beverage in the Tambu lounge on the last night the music was played which I did not know until I came here and read it...

Check in went well. The guy was a little, well let's call him snippy. Apparently, there was nothing in the area I requested. It is all good, I'll just take what I can get , we are at he Poly!!! So we head to our room and dh opens the blinds and low and behold the largest tree is right there. There was not a view of anything but this tree. For two or three nights I can manage, 8 was not going to work. So I go back to the desk and nicely ask him for a change. He snaps back that I paid for a GV room and that is what I got. I calmly explained that a) I was not looking for any type of "upgrade" I perfectly happy with any GV close to GCH, and B) I did not appreciate his tone. I inquired when I may be able to move to a different room and his answer was..."we don't change". Obviously he does not read the Dis. I politely said my goodbyes and headed back to discuss with DH our next step or just be happy with the room. When I walked through the hallway to our room I smelled, well let's say some "herb". I was like Oh great... When I got in the room dh was nuts with the smell. We decided to make the best of the room and just go to MK and get this vacation started.

We got back to the room and we were not there 5 minuted and Cheech and Chong were at it again. That was it. I called the front desked asked for a manager and the next morning we moved to Figi third floor marina view. It was great DD could see the EWP from the balcony. I have to say, other than Mr. Snippy, we encountered nothing but wonderful customer service the entire trip.

So on our trip goes.

The crowds were crazy but we did fine. Rode everything we wanted.

The weather was warm, hot, cold, rainy, sunny, cloudy, you name it, we got it. Nothing too extreme though! We did get to swam two days. And to all you kiddos swimming when it was in the 60's that is just plain CRAZY! More power to you!

We ate at Kona dinner and O'Hana breakfast. No problems getting seated and the food was good.

We like Captain cooks, just wished they had a little more variety but we love the food so It was all good.

So another great trip at the Poly. Things got icky at the end. With two days to go DD spiked 103.5 fever. So thank goodness I did not have that massive tree to stare at my last two days, But the first 6 were awesome and we goy all the "must see and do" done before she got sick so it was all good. If I am going to be stuck in a room with a sick kid, Poly is where I would want to be!!

I'll be happy to answer any ?. DD is still sick so I am homebound. But I have enough laundry to keep me busy till Christmas.