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

[juliebee]

How is it that I haven't posted in this thread?? I've been reading it for months and now that my vacation is just days away (eeek!!!) I have a few questions that I hope you all can help with!

- is there lemonade (minute maid lemonade?) either in the Club Lounge or at Capt Cooks? And if it is at Capt Cooks, is is available for the refillable mugs? My 5 year old only drinks lemonade and I'm hoping I won't need to bring the powdered stuff to mix my own. And while I'm asking, anyone know if they sell it in the parks at the quick serve locations?

- I have heard about the leis and was wondering if they are real flower leis or are the plastic or silk variety? Just curious if I'd even want to ask for one.

- in the club level rooms, there are DVD players. Do they also have DVDs or will I need to bring my own? My 5 year old son is very excited about watching Cinderella in the room while also seeing the castle outside. Awww!

Thanks for all the help! I swear as I read this thread, I would jot down questions and just a page later someone would answer my unasked question! You all have been a wonderful help!

And woohoo! Less than a week from my dream come true at the Poly!

 

[CleveRocks]

How is it that I haven't posted in this thread?? I've been reading it for months and now that my vacation is just days away (eeek!!!) I have a few questions that I hope you all can help with!

- is there lemonade (minute maid lemonade?) either in the Club Lounge or at Capt Cooks? And if it is at Capt Cooks, is is available for the refillable mugs? My 5 year old only drinks lemonade and I'm hoping I won't need to bring the powdered stuff to mix my own. And while I'm asking, anyone know if they sell it in the parks at the quick serve locations?

- I have heard about the leis and was wondering if they are real flower leis or are the plastic or silk variety? Just curious if I'd even want to ask for one.

At Capt. Cooks, the soda fountain has Minute Maid LITE Lemonade, not the regular stuff. Sorry, I don't recall if they sold bottles in the refrigerator case.

The leis are silk or silk-like, but they are very nice, at least in my opinion. Here are a couple of semi-close-ups of them:

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Thanks to those of you who helped answer my "bathroom storage space" question! And thanks, Johnsonet for posting the pix! Looks like we'll ahve PLENTY of room! woohoo!

Is there storage for your luggage or will it fit under the bed? Nothing irks me more than being in a hotel and having to leave my luggage out to trip over it all the time. hehe I pray there's a place to keep it tucked away at the Poly!!

We put suitcases behind the easy chair. We sort of pulled the chair and lamp out a little and stacked most of them back there and put a few of the smaller ones between the daybed and the sliders.

 

[Debbie]

On the first page of the thread, there is a fabulous shot taken from a MK view room

Can anyone tell me which building this is taken from? I haven't any requests on my reservation, yet, as I contemplate which longhouse would suit us best. (CM put a request for king beds since it is our silver anniversary, but I realize that that is not possible, so I'll have them remove it) Thanks for any information!!

 

[Tess]

On the first page of the thread, there is a fabulous shot taken from a MK view room

Can anyone tell me which building this is taken from? I haven't any requests on my reservation, yet, as I contemplate which longhouse would suit us best. (CM put a request for king beds since it is our silver anniversary, but I realize that that is not possible, so I'll have them remove it) Thanks for any information!!

I can't be certain, but it appears to be a third floor view from Hawaii (concierge building). Since it is Terry's photo, I'm about 99% sure that would be the location.

 

[Tess]

Thanks to those of you who helped answer my "bathroom storage space" question! And thanks, Johnsonet for posting the pix! Looks like we'll ahve PLENTY of room! woohoo!

Is there storage for your luggage or will it fit under the bed? Nothing irks me more than being in a hotel and having to leave my luggage out to trip over it all the time. hehe I pray there's a place to keep it tucked away at the Poly!!

We usually store our emptied luggage in the closets outside the bathroom. We take three suitcases--a large, medium, and small wheeled type as well as four carry-on cases. I have had no problems storing them in the closet.

I also utilize the luggage rack for one suitcase to refold/sort the dirty laundry. When the case is full I close it up and store it in the closet and bring out the next. . .hope that helps you. I, like you, hate having luggage lying about the room.

 

[CleveRocks]

On the first page of the thread, there is a fabulous shot taken from a MK view room

Can anyone tell me which building this is taken from? I haven't any requests on my reservation, yet, as I contemplate which longhouse would suit us best. (CM put a request for king beds since it is our silver anniversary, but I realize that that is not possible, so I'll have them remove it) Thanks for any information!!

After studying the photo as if I worked for the National Security Agency , I am 100% sure this photo was taken from a 3rd floor room in Hawaii. Hawaii is exclusively a Club Level building. In Club Level rooms, you can't book a MK view room. You can book Lagoon View, and then hope that your room has a clear, unobstructed view like the one in that photo. Some LV rooms in Hawaii will have a tree or some foliage partially blocking the view of MK.

Just for comparison, here was my view from Tahiti:

 

[johnsonet]

Thanks to those of you who helped answer my "bathroom storage space" question! And thanks, Johnsonet for posting the pix! Looks like we'll ahve PLENTY of room! woohoo!

Is there storage for your luggage or will it fit under the bed? Nothing irks me more than being in a hotel and having to leave my luggage out to trip over it all the time. hehe I pray there's a place to keep it tucked away at the Poly!!

I know BreezysMom and Tess have answered but I just wanted to add my 2 cents. I WISH they fit too (mine don't fit at AKL or GF either)
At AKL I slide 1 under the sink area... b/c it's carpeted it doesn't bother me. I'm not going to do that on the tile at Poly though... At the Poly the rooms are so spacious that I think I put the largest one behind the chair by the sliding glass doors. Maybe one at the foot of the daybed?

I am very jealous that you will be at the Poly soon. Have fun

BUT...I have no sympathy for you saying it is cold in SC. Come on. I live in WI. I was tt my mom the other day and she was saying it was in the 80s and she got a sunburn planting some blueberries. I know, I know, I am from SC and folks in SC put on heavy coats when it is 50 degrees. Up here, that is short sleeve weather.

I know, I know But we had beautiful WARM, sunny days a week or so ago and we got spoiled Today it's grey and 50s

How is it that I haven't posted in this thread?? I've been reading it for months and now that my vacation is just days away (eeek!!!) I have a few questions that I hope you all can help with!

- in the club level rooms, there are DVD players. Do they also have DVDs or will I need to bring my own? My 5 year old son is very excited about watching Cinderella in the room while also seeing the castle outside. Awww!

Bring your own or there are certainly plenty for sale We've never done it but I have heard that there are some you can borrow from the CL CMs... Have a GREAT time!!

 

[mmmears]

How is it that I haven't posted in this thread?? I've been reading it for months and now that my vacation is just days away (eeek!!!) I have a few questions that I hope you all can help with!


- in the club level rooms, there are DVD players. Do they also have DVDs or will I need to bring my own? My 5 year old son is very excited about watching Cinderella in the room while also seeing the castle outside. Awww!

Welcome to the Poly thread! And congratulations on your trip -- I wish I was traveling so soon!

As for the DVDs, from my experience staying CL at other Disney resorts (and elsewhere), if there is a special movie that you really want, like Cinderella, make sure that you bring it along. They have a nice selection of movies to watch, but often our first or second choices are already checked out by another guest. So we always bring a few DVDs with us, then check out what they have.

 

[cmesq61]

ClevesRocks: We love Tahiti too!! I thought it was going to be too far away when we first arrived but we ended up loving being so close to the TTC and I fell in love with the walk along the beach to the pool. We hope to be there on our next trip. Although I like your view better!

 

[matthew&haleysmom]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me which buildings have theme park views? I have looked and must be missing it. Also, I would like to request a 1st floor room. Will that make a difference in the view?

TIA!

 

[CleveRocks]

I was wondering if anyone could tell me which buildings have theme park views? I have looked and must be missing it.

Tahiti, Tuvalu and Aotearoa.

 

[Debbie]

Tahiti, Tuvalu and Aotearoa.

What are the pluses and minuses of each? I think that I want a balcony, but other than that, I'm pretty open.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Picabo - I do the same as Tess, and store our luggage in the closet. I'm able to nest our smaller bags inside the larger (25 in.)bag, so it's not hard.

johnsonet - I like your idea of storing them under the sink (where carpeted), I do that with a cooler if we drive!

 

[CleveRocks]

What are the pluses and minuses of each? I think that I want a balcony, but other than that, I'm pretty open.

I've stayed only in Tahiti, so my opinions on the others are pure assumptions.

Aotearoa - the only plus I can think of is it's relatively close to the Great Ceremonial House. The minuses are many: it's pretty far set back from the lagoon, and because of Tuvalu and Fiji you have a sort-of tunnel vision view of the Castle (the definition of Theme Park View is an unobstructed view of the Castle); the only path to and from the Luau goes right by the frint of the building, so I would imagine that would increase the noise and decrease the privacy; the second floor rooms don't have balconies.

Tuvalu - the main minus is that the second floor rooms don't have balconies; the next thing can be a plus or a minus, depending on your opinion: it's just about right on the water, so there's no beach in front of it.

Tahiti - the only minus in my opinion is that it's pretty far from the Great Ceremonial House. The pluses are many, to me: the rooms are about 30 square feet larger than the other two buildings' rooms; there are 2 bathroom sinks, and the other 2 have only 1 sink per bathroom; it is a very short walk to the TTC, which means easy access to a direct monorail to Epcot, plus to the TTC buses to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios (about the same distance as to the Poly bus stop); panoramic view of the lagoon, MK, the other 2 monorail resorts, the TTC ferry dock, and so on.

 

[juliebee]

At Capt. Cooks, the soda fountain has Minute Maid LITE Lemonade, not the regular stuff. Sorry, I don't recall if they sold bottles in the refrigerator case.

The leis are silk or silk-like, but they are very nice, at least in my opinion.

thank you! Happy to hear that Capt Cooks has Minute Maid Lite Lemonade! That is actually preferred for us. Just so relieved that we can get it at all! One less thing to pack is good!

Thanks for the pics on the leis!

As for the DVDs, from my experience staying CL at other Disney resorts (and elsewhere), if there is a special movie that you really want, like Cinderella, make sure that you bring it along. They have a nice selection of movies to watch, but often our first or second choices are already checked out by another guest. So we always bring a few DVDs with us, then check out what they have.

Bring your own or there are certainly plenty for sale We've never done it but I have heard that there are some you can borrow from the CL CMs... Have a GREAT time!!

My trouble is that I am very retro! LOL... I have most of our Disney videos on VHS because I bought them when my teen was little! The newer movies are on DVD for us, but Cinderella is VHS. I guess I will Netflix Cinderella then! I'd better hurry and request it so I get it before our trip!

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

Can someone direct me to photos of all the food offerings at the Hawaii Club Lounge. I am trying to get teenage DS excited!

Thanks - I've searched for a while!

 

[juliebee]

Can someone direct me to photos of all the food offerings at the Hawaii Club Lounge. I am trying to get teenage DS excited!

Thanks - I've searched for a while!

here is the menu-
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24477595&postcount=1152

pictures-
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=22950938&postcount=37
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=22950450&postcount=36

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

here is the menu-
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24477595&postcount=1152

pictures-
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=22950938&postcount=37
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=22950450&postcount=36

Thanks so much. That was exactly what I was looking for. We just got back from the Princess Marathon 5K (which was great) and I am already looking forward to the next trip!

 

[KSBelle]

Just booked our 1st stay at the Poly and our 1st stay on the monorail. I have read most of this thread and appreciate everyone's posts.
I tend to go for a cheaper option so that I can go to WDW more often but the Poly has been calling to me for a long time now. I just decided that now is the time to splurge.
It will just be DH and me for 7 nights Garden View. I am looking for a romantic stay this time. The MK view from the beach has got to top that list.
We will be going to MNSSHP and to EPCOT for F&W. I'm looking forward to taking the monorail to EPCOT instead of a bus. That has to be a plus--right?
I haven't decided what, if any, longhouse I will request.
I do have one question???? We are planning on taking the Steam Train Tour at MK and I believe you have to be there around 7 AM. Does anyone have any experience getting to MK from Poly that early?
TIA