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

[CleveRocks]

Yes, definitely call again. Lately some of the CMs on the phone have been completely ignorant of what Disney is doing. The good CMs are still great, but there are way too many people there who know less about Disney than they should.

If you dont get a good CM this time, keep calling.

Excellent advice.

It's easy enough to pleasantly end the call, and then call right back and speak with someone different.

 

[FirstTimer@WDW]

Hi Everyone,

I am planning a trip to WDW for thanksgiving next year. Yes, next year I'm leaning towards the grand floridian since we stayed there last month and loved it. But I would like to explore other resorts also. Has anyone done the poly for thanksgiving? Or will anyone be staying at Poly for thanksgiving this year?

If so, please share your experience about any special events, cuisine or any enhancement that takes place during that holiday week.

Thanks!

 

[Kteacher]

Hi everyone . I'm so excited.........just booked my Columbus Day Weekend trip This time it's going to be just me and DH It will be his first MNSSHP and Food and Wine Festival

 

[Luvamouse]

Hi Everyone,

I am planning a trip to WDW for thanksgiving next year. Yes, next year I'm leaning towards the grand floridian since we stayed there last month and loved it. But I would like to explore other resorts also. Has anyone done the poly for thanksgiving? Or will anyone be staying at Poly for thanksgiving this year?

If so, please share your experience about any special events, cuisine or any enhancement that takes place during that holiday week.

Thanks!

I completely understand what you are doing. When I planned our Thanksgiving 2007 trip, I booked at the 500 day limit and we had definitive plans from 635 days out! This time we planned 155 days out, so that was easier to handle!

We were at the Poly last Thanksgiving and loved it. We had 5 rooms and 15 people. I love the peace and quiet of the Poly and we had that in Tahiti. Close to TTC, very little foot traffic goes by. We found that even if it is a very busy season, the crowds weren't bad. We found that even at its busiest, the wait at Captain Cook's wasn't intolerable and we just tried to get breakfast earlier than the crowd or catch a bite when we returned late from the parks. Only 2x was there sufficient crowding for us to turn around and come back later. We did make lots of ADR's with such a large group, (but next time Just 4 of us) we will do mostly CS and stop in the morning at at the concierge to try for an ADR that night if we feel lucky I was actually surprised that for being sold out, we never got that feeling from walking the grounds or being in the GCH.

As to anything special at the Poly for T-Day? Nothing I noticed except the Christmas decorations were up. I will say they are not that much compared to the ones we saw at the GF.

I don't think you can go wrong at the Poly, but it is a very different atmosphere than the GF. You already know the feel of the GF. If you think you will like that laid back atmosphere...I say go for it. It works for a lot of us

Have fun planning wherever you stay!

 

[PrincessMomto2]

Just thought I would stop in and say hello! I'm so excited. We were going to wait to go back until 2010 but with the 4/3 offer we are going back this June! I can't wait and looking at all these super pics gets me even more excited. I can't wait!

 

[Shell54]

Just re-booked our June trip to get the 4-3 deal for the Poly. We loved it in Sept. We had already booked it, but this will allow us an extra night. Woo Hoo. Gotta add it to my ticker. Our Feb. trip I have to make an ADR at Kona so I can come visit the Poly since I won't be staying there.

 

[FirstTimer@WDW]

I don't think you can go wrong at the Poly, but it is a very different atmosphere than the GF. You already know the feel of the GF. If you think you will like that laid back atmosphere...I say go for it. It works for a lot of us

Have fun planning wherever you stay!

Thanks for your response Luvamouse. Actually, GF was pretty laid back also but I think I want to try something different this time.

 

[johnsonet]

Hi everyone . I'm so excited.........just booked my Columbus Day Weekend trip This time it's going to be just me and DH It will be his first MNSSHP and Food and Wine Festival

Congratulations! Sounds very fun

Just thought I would stop in and say hello! I'm so excited. We were going to wait to go back until 2010 but with the 4/3 offer we are going back this June! I can't wait and looking at all these super pics gets me even more excited. I can't wait!

The 4/3 package seems to be really working for people (and Disney ) Congratulations. That is awesome! June isn't so far away...

Just re-booked our June trip to get the 4-3 deal for the Poly. We loved it in Sept. We had already booked it, but this will allow us an extra night. Woo Hoo. Gotta add it to my ticker. Our Feb. trip I have to make an ADR at Kona so I can come visit the Poly since I won't be staying there.

September ~ February ~ June... you sound worse than me!
Have fun!

 

[summersalt]

This will be our first trip to the Poly and we're celebrating our 20th anniversary. May 30 thru June 6th. I really EXCITED!!
During our last visit at POP, we had a terrible experience with check out, luggage and transportation back to the airport. In fact it was so bad, my husband wants to drive 12 hours instead of flying so he won't have to deal with it. Can someone please tell me how it all works at the Poly and if they've had bad experiences? We would be flying Southwest or Delta. No sure yet. I know Southwest isn't a partner so would that mean?

 

[habg1]

Less than 24 hrs til our 1st stay at the Poly!

I will be doing my first dining review when I get back as well; we're on the deluxe dining plan. So I'm sure there will be many thoughts about this and the food.

Wish us luck

 

[momatater]

Less than 24 hrs til our 1st stay at the Poly!

I will be doing my first dining review when I get back as well; we're on the deluxe dining plan. So I'm sure there will be many thoughts about this and the food.

Wish us luck

How exciting!!

Have a wonderful time and I'm looking forward to your dining review!!!!!

 

[John's Mom]

Less than 24 hrs til our 1st stay at the Poly!

I will be doing my first dining review when I get back as well; we're on the deluxe dining plan. So I'm sure there will be many thoughts about this and the food.

Wish us luck

 

[ReneeDisney]

Less than 24 hrs til our 1st stay at the Poly!

I will be doing my first dining review when I get back as well; we're on the deluxe dining plan. So I'm sure there will be many thoughts about this and the food.

Wish us luck

ENJOY! Make sure to post the link to your dining review! Have a wonderful trip!!!!

 

[DiznEeyore]

Less than 24 hrs til our 1st stay at the Poly!

I will be doing my first dining review when I get back as well; we're on the deluxe dining plan. So I'm sure there will be many thoughts about this and the food.

Wish us luck

Have a magical trip!!

 

[CastleLight]

We are off in a few weeks for our first Poly stay. I don't have a real preference about which longhouse we get, but I would really like a balcony. Is our best chance to get a fuull balcony to ask for a 3rd floor room?

 

[DiznEeyore]

We are off in a few weeks for our first Poly stay. I don't have a real preference about which longhouse we get, but I would really like a balcony. Is our best chance to get a fuull balcony to ask for a 3rd floor room?

I would say just request a balcony, period. That way they know that the balcony is the priority rather than a certain floor. Tokelau, Rapa Nui and Tahiti all have balconies on the 2nd and 3rd floors, so those would be options for you, too.

Have a great trip!

 

[zima-cheryl]

This will be our first trip to the Poly and we're celebrating our 20th anniversary. May 30 thru June 6th. I really EXCITED!!
During our last visit at POP, we had a terrible experience with check out, luggage and transportation back to the airport. In fact it was so bad, my husband wants to drive 12 hours instead of flying so he won't have to deal with it. Can someone please tell me how it all works at the Poly and if they've had bad experiences? We would be flying Southwest or Delta. No sure yet. I know Southwest isn't a partner so would that mean?

Congratulations! 20 years is exciting! What is the secret to such a long, happy marriage?

Did you have problems w/Magical Express? Or the airline? Or a towncar service? Or the folks at the resort?

We've used Magical Express from Riverside & Animal Kingdom w/no problems. On our way down the bags arrived in our room a few hours after us. Just plan accordingly & bring a carry on w/your swim suit or whatever you'll need right away when you arrive. For our return trip we checked in & checked our bags in the resort lobby so we could skip that at Orlando.

Since Southwest isn't a partner, that just means they can't check you or your bags in for the flight. I've never flown Southwest, but I assume like all the other airlines they have on-line checkin? If so & you have a laptop, you can checkin yourself. Otherwise, just get to the airport a bit earlier so you have time to checkin at the counter & check your bags.

Other options would be to get a towncar or a rental car and skip Magical Express. That just means you have to claim your own bags, and allow time on return to check in. Of course nice thing w/those options is you can do a store run on the way to the resort.

 

[habg1]

Thanks everybody!

Everyone is soooo nice here at this forum.

And I will link to the food review.

Tomorrow night at this time I will be at the HDDR.

 

[sm04]

Thanks everybody!

Everyone is soooo nice here at this forum.

And I will link to the food review.

Tomorrow night at this time I will be at the HDDR.

HOW EXCITING!

Have a wonderful, magical trip! Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[PolyAddict]

This will be our first trip to the Poly and we're celebrating our 20th anniversary. May 30 thru June 6th. I really EXCITED!!
During our last visit at POP, we had a terrible experience with check out, luggage and transportation back to the airport. In fact it was so bad, my husband wants to drive 12 hours instead of flying so he won't have to deal with it. Can someone please tell me how it all works at the Poly and if they've had bad experiences? We would be flying Southwest or Delta. No sure yet. I know Southwest isn't a partner so would that mean?

We will be there at the same time. Our 20th is June 30th!!! We were going to go June 27 through July 4 but the 4/3 deal changed our mind. Maybe we will see each other there!!!