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

[MsStinkerBelle]

what is this ethernet cable i keep hearing i need to bring? if i just get some local access numbers for the LBV area, i can just hop on without the 10 a day fee?

You don't have to bring an ethernet cable as one is included in the room (it's actually in a bag in the closet). You need this only if you want to use the $9.95/day HSIA (High Speed Internet) available in the room.

But you are right, as long as you have some local access numbers for the LBV/Kissimmee area, just plug a phone cord into your laptop and the other in the room phone and you're off.

 

[fortheboys]

Thanks for your review! Since you just came back, I'm wondering... did you happen to notice if they have the resort specific refillable mugs out yet? Or, are they still the Year of a Million Dreams ones?

I didn't take notice because we didn't purchase them, but most of the ones I saw people carrying were the YOAMD variety

 

[summersalt]

Oooo the crowds were wonderfully low! my DBF is spoiled because hes never been at any other time so he'll think 45-an hr for a ride is too long when we went last year, TOT's wait time sign said 13 mins haha. longest waits we saw all week were RNRC and Soarin and TSM because it was new but other stuff like buzz and pirates were walk on, and the longest we waited was how long it took us to walk from the front of the line to the actual ride vehicles im so glad were going the same time because it was very very easy going and the lines werent bad at all

This is good news. After tolerating the week after Easter, the last week in May should be so nice! I'm really excited about our trip.

 

[summersalt]

We traveled to the World on the May Canadian Long weekend (that is usually sometime around the 24th) on our last trip. Our other trips had been during the fall and winter. On our second day, which was a Saturday, at the Magic Kingdom... I found it extremely frustrating. Every ride had a 90 minute wait, we couldn't see any parades, and it was boiling hot. It really actually mellowed out during the rest of the trip.

Thanks for the info! I'm guessing that Saturday will probably be the busiest park days. Maybe we'll not do a park on our arrival day.

 

[Mousecat]

Just got back from a glorious week at the World. It all seemed to work out. I just missed the bad weather on both ends of the trip, loved the low crowds, all of the buses seemed to run on time, and best of all...an upgrade to the concierge level! Never thought that would happen and boy what a difference. Now I am hooked and it will be hard to go back to just a standard room. So until next year's trip, I thank all of you for your advice and suggestions.

 

[rngclick]

DH and I will be making our first visit to the Poly in Sept. We have reserved a garden view room and have requested a king size bed. If we get it, is it likely to be in a particular building? If so, which one? Don't know enough about the layout to request a partiacular building, just hoping not to be disappointed. Thanks!

 

[Soccer Princess]

DH and I will be making our first visit to the Poly in Sept. We have reserved a garden view room and have requested a king size bed. If we get it, is it likely to be in a particular building? If so, which one? Don't know enough about the layout to request a partiacular building, just hoping not to be disappointed. Thanks!

There are no king beds in the standard rooms at the Polynesian. Sorry.

 

[An_Island_Girl]

King beds in the Poly are all handicapped rooms or suites that I have heard of (handicapped rooms are garden view I believe).

 

[BCV23]

King beds in the Poly are all handicapped rooms or suites that I have heard of (handicapped rooms are garden view I believe).

We've had quite a few accessible rooms over the years and none of them have had a king.

It used to be that all accessible rooms were gardenview but that changed a year or two ago and there is at least one lagoon view room that's accessible...with two queens.

King beds are only found in the suites.

 

[Singinglizzie]

Thanks for your review! Since you just came back, I'm wondering... did you happen to notice if they have the resort specific refillable mugs out yet? Or, are they still the Year of a Million Dreams ones?

We just got back too, and the refillable mugs were still the YOAMD as of 1/27!

 

[mmmears]

We just got back too, and the refillable mugs were still the YOAMD as of 1/27!

Maybe 2009 is the Year of a Million Dreams Part III: Birthday Dreams? They've been adding Part III to so many classic movies, maybe it's just a continuation of that!

 

[Tina G]

The rooms at the Poly have 2 queens. This is one of the reasons we like this over the mods and values as we are a family of 3 (me, DH, DD) and the mods and values offer either one king or 2 doubles. DH and I despise sleeping in a double bed so when we stayed at POR we ended up each sleeping in our own double bed and DD alternated nights sleeping with one of us. We like the queens at the Poly as that is what we have at home so DH and I can sleep comfortably and DD can sleep in her own bed.

 

[Tina G]

Originally Posted by CR Resort Fan 4 Life
...however shouldn't we also get the best bus service possible and not having such long waits?

Best because the cost of the room is more? No.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandym718
Deluxe resorts should have EXCELLENT bus service, we certainly pay enough!!

ALL of Disney's guests should get excellent service.

I have to disagree with this. You are not just paying for a better ROOM when you stay at a deluxe resort. You are paying for a better resort experience which IMO should include better transportation. I don't disagree that all Disney's guests should get good service, but I just personally feel that the level of service should increase with the level of resort and that includes transportation. That's how life is. You can't expect to pay a value price and get the same level of service, amenities, and experiences as someone who pays a deluxe price.

I tend to think Disney does try to provide better bus service to deluxe resorts. The Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian have about 2800 rooms combined. The All-Star resorts have double that, about 5760 rooms. When you are at DHS or AK, twice as many people are going to be waiting for buses at the All-Star bus stop versus the C/P/GF bus stop. Now maybe Disney does try to send more buses but in my experience, you don't see two All-Star buses for every one bus for the deluxe resorts. I tend to think that in general, the value resort people tend to wait in longer lines and for longer times than the deluxe. There are always exceptions to this of course.

 

[CleveRocks]

Quote:


I have to disagree with this. You are not just paying for a better ROOM when you stay at a deluxe resort. You are paying for a better resort experience which IMO should include better transportation. I don't disagree that all Disney's guests should get good service, but I just personally feel that the level of service should increase with the level of resort and that includes transportation. That's how life is. You can't expect to pay a value price and get the same level of service, amenities, and experiences as someone who pays a deluxe price.

I tend to think Disney does try to provide better bus service to deluxe resorts. The Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian have about 2800 rooms combined. The All-Star resorts have double that, about 5760 rooms. When you are at DHS or AK, twice as many people are going to be waiting for buses at the All-Star bus stop versus the C/P/GF bus stop. Now maybe Disney does try to send more buses but in my experience, you don't see two All-Star buses for every one bus for the deluxe resorts.

I respectfully disagree.

All other objective evidence suggests an egalitarian Disney society, one where resort amenities and privileges end at the resort exit.

Deluxe resort guests don't get preferential park hours or admissions, preferential FASTPASS privileges, preferential dining reservations ... and I don't see where they get preferential bus transportation, either. For example, your math with the buses just doesn't add up. You compare the monorail resorts with the All Stars. But what about comparing the monorail resorts to Pop Century (a Value resort, just like the All Stars) and its 2,880 rooms, almost identical to the number of rooms at the combined monorail resorts. Or Caribbean Beach Resort (a Moderate) with its 2,112 rooms, or Coronado Springs Resort (another Moderate) with its 1,967 rooms.

You've cited one example, but I've cited three opposite examples. It seems to me, given this evidence, that there was not a decision to systematically make bus service better for those more expensive resorts.

Other than buses, what other evidence can you cite that demonstrates the Deluxe resort guests get better service outside of their "home" resorts?

And by the way, this isn't sour grapes by someone who feels offended by your hypothesis ... in 8 days I'll be enjoying a Magic Kingdom view from my room at Polynesian. It's just that I call 'em like I see 'em.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

I have to agree with CleveRocks regarding the buses. The advantage most Deluxes DO have is the ease of transportation to one or more parks that does not involve a bus. GF, Poly, CR have monorail to MK and Epcot. GF, CR, Poly and WL all have boat service to MK. CR can also walk to MK. YC, BC, and BW can walk to Epcot and DHS. AK is the oddball with all bus transport but their prices are not as high.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

I am looking forward to the new afternoon/evening sushi bar. Can anyone confirm if you can get the sushi to-go?

 

[jmamom]

Have any of you Poly regulars visited the last week in September? How were the lovebugs by the pool? I just heard that the last week in Sept was the time for lovebugs, and I'm considering changing my dates to October. Any advice from those who have been there? Thanks!

 

[Mocharilla]

Any reason they canceled those two luau shows?

I'm just worried, because you know how occasional cancellations turn into overall cancellations, and we were hoping to do the luau in August.

I couldn't find any info, and I know if there is any, it's probably just hear-say, but just curious if anyone had heard anything.

 

[PolyAddict]

Any reason they canceled those two luau shows?

I'm just worried, because you know how occasional cancellations turn into overall cancellations, and we were hoping to do the luau in August.

I couldn't find any info, and I know if there is any, it's probably just hear-say, but just curious if anyone had heard anything.

I thought it was because of the cold weather?

 

[Mousecat]

If the temp gets below 55 they cancel the Luau show. Great for predicting the weather.