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

[momatater]

Hey all you Brady Bunch lovers!!!

I'm flippin through the channels just now and found the Brady Bunch, and low and behold....it's the 2nd episode of The Brady's go to Hawaii!!! LOL The Brady boys are going to ancient burial ground to return the cursed idol! Gotta love it!

Gotta run to watch it! Have a great night everyone!!!

 

[SeaSpray]

Hey all you Brady Bunch lovers!!!

I'm flippin through the channels just now and found the Brady Bunch, and low and behold....it's the 2nd episode of The Brady's go to Hawaii!!! LOL The Brady boys are going to ancient burial ground to return the cursed idol! Gotta love it!

Gotta run to watch it! Have a great night everyone!!!

TVLand is playing all 3 "Bradys go to Hawaii" episodes right now! LOL

And not for nothing, but NOTHING I see in those episodes reminds me of the Polynesian Resort. Hehehe....






Debbie: The picture of the room view was taken from the Hawaii building, room #3502.

 

[matthew&haleysmom]

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.

Thanks for this information! I going to look at a map now.

 

[Debbie]

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.

Thanks for all the information, CleveRocks! Decisions, decisions!

Debbie: The picture of the room view was taken from the Hawaii building, room #3502.

Thanks Terry. It looks like a fabulous room! Your pictures are terrific. Makes me WISH I were there right now!

 

[jackdis]

about the Brady Bunch episodes. I was flipping through the channels and watched a little of it. Hard to believe it's from so long ago.....1972, I think. I remember watching it like it was yesterday!

 

[CleveRocks]

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.

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.

The picture of the room view was taken from the Hawaii building, room #3502.

Dang, I'm good!

 

[SeaSpray]

Thanks for all the information, CleveRocks! Decisions, decisions!
Thanks Terry. It looks like a fabulous room! Your pictures are terrific. Makes me WISH I were there right now!

I know what you mean! LOL My pictures make ME wish I was there right now!!

about the Brady Bunch episodes. I was flipping through the channels and watched a little of it. Hard to believe it's from so long ago.....1972, I think. I remember watching it like it was yesterday!

Me too!

Dang, I'm good!

 

[m2j]

We are so excited to be finally staying at the Poly this August. One of our main reasons for staying at the Poly is the convenience of the monorail. But how are the buses? Are they shared w/ other resorts? How frequent do they arrive? My sister-in-law just returned from WDW and commented about long they had to wait for the Poly bus. Not sure how long they waited but she said that she watched 3 POR buses go by before a Poly bus ever arrived. On our most recent trips (Pop & POFQ), we never had any problems w/ the bus transportation. I'm hoping that I will be just as satisfied w/ the Poly buses!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We are so excited to be finally staying at the Poly this August. One of our main reasons for staying at the Poly is the convenience of the monorail. But how are the buses? Are they shared w/ other resorts? How frequent do they arrive? My sister-in-law just returned from WDW and commented about long they had to wait for the Poly bus. Not sure how long they waited but she said that she watched 3 POR buses go by before a Poly bus ever arrived. On our most recent trips (Pop & POFQ), we never had any problems w/ the bus transportation. I'm hoping that I will be just as satisfied w/ the Poly buses!

In the mornings the Polynesian will share bus service with the Contemporary or the Grand Floridian. However in the afternoon they always share with the Contemporary and Grand Floridian with the picking up and dropping off location always being #1 Contemporary, #2 Polynesian and #3 Grand Floridian.

 

[CleveRocks]

We are so excited to be finally staying at the Poly this August. One of our main reasons for staying at the Poly is the convenience of the monorail. But how are the buses? Are they shared w/ other resorts? How frequent do they arrive? My sister-in-law just returned from WDW and commented about long they had to wait for the Poly bus. Not sure how long they waited but she said that she watched 3 POR buses go by before a Poly bus ever arrived. On our most recent trips (Pop & POFQ), we never had any problems w/ the bus transportation. I'm hoping that I will be just as satisfied w/ the Poly buses!

It's so rare that people ever comment when things go okay. So we never even think about such things until someone says something, and since people usually say something only when there's a complaint ... well, I think you know where I'm going with that one.

I stayed at Poly for a week last month, and the bus service was perfect. We stayed from Saturday to Saturday, and I swear I'd never had luckier bus service in my life, this being my 5th trip to WDW as an adult (and my first staying at Poly). Like I said, we arrived on Saturday, and it took until Thursday morning that we found ourselves hanging around the bus stop for a little while. We were at Poly, waiting for an Animal Kingdom bus. Three Downtown Disney buses and two Hollywood Studios buses passed by before our AK bus came. I was annoyed, but then I looked at the time and realized we'd waited 15 minutes. Since the buses are supposed to run about every 20 minutes, we were still within the "normal" wait time. But it was the very very longest we'd waited all week.

And guess what? I've never told this to anyone, except if they've specifically asked about the bus service. It's just human nature ....

 

[mmmears]

Since the Poly shares busses with CR and the GF, would it better for us to just walk over to the TTC (we don't mind a little walking if it saves us time) to catch the busses directly to AK and DHS?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Since the Poly shares busses with CR and the GF, would it better for us to just walk over to the TTC (we don't mind a little walking if it saves us time) to catch the busses directly to AK and DHS?

That sounds like a good idea and don't forget from those locations you can take the bus back to the TTC and walk to the Polynesian.

 

[m2j]

It's so rare that people ever comment when things go okay. So we never even think about such things until someone says something, and since people usually say something only when there's a complaint ... well, I think you know where I'm going with that one.

I stayed at Poly for a week last month, and the bus service was perfect. We stayed from Saturday to Saturday, and I swear I'd never had luckier bus service in my life, this being my 5th trip to WDW as an adult (and my first staying at Poly). Like I said, we arrived on Saturday, and it took until Thursday morning that we found ourselves hanging around the bus stop for a little while. We were at Poly, waiting for an Animal Kingdom bus. Three Downtown Disney buses and two Hollywood Studios buses passed by before our AK bus came. I was annoyed, but then I looked at the time and realized we'd waited 15 minutes. Since the buses are supposed to run about every 20 minutes, we were still within the "normal" wait time. But it was the very very longest we'd waited all week.

And guess what? I've never told this to anyone, except if they've specifically asked about the bus service. It's just human nature ....

Thank you!! My gut feeling was that it would be fine. Two of my friends have recently stayed at the Poly (one of which has stayed at least 3 times so far) and never once mentioned any problems with their buses. I actually never thought to ask about it since I haven't had a problem with it at other resorts. Like I said, my sister-in-law mentioned it and it got me thinking. She actually wasn't even staying at Poly, but she needed to board the Poly bus in order to get to the monorail from Downtown Disney...so it was the only time she had to wait for Poly's bus. Thank you for telling me about your experience. It's always nice to hear the good ones. I'm just so grateful to finally be able to experience the Poly...I've been waiting forever to stay there, I think I can handle waiting for their buses!!

 

[mmmears]

I remember seeing an online video someone took of their walk from the GCH (or somewhere nearby) to the TTC. It showed the path and how long it took.

Does anyone remember seeing this little video? And if so, do you remember where it was?

I've been searching for it online but I can't find it anywhere. I'd appreciate a link if anyone has it!

Thanks!

 

[Mrs.Prince]

I think Steve had that on his Polynesian website

 

[mmmears]

You are right -- I just found it there. It doesn't show up on my computer since I'm on a Mac and don't have Real Player (whatever that is). Thanks!

 

[johnsonet]

Seems as though the Polynesian bus stop is often near the TTC bus stop at the parks (def. at DHS)... we just wait and see which bus comes first and take it The walk back to our room is pleasant, even when we're tired.

 

[BCV23]

Seems as though the Polynesian bus stop is often near the TTC bus stop at the parks (def. at DHS)... we just wait and see which bus comes first and take it The walk back to our room is pleasant, even when we're tired.

That's exactly what we do too.

 

[LJD2143]

Seems as though the Polynesian bus stop is often near the TTC bus stop at the parks (def. at DHS)... we just wait and see which bus comes first and take it The walk back to our room is pleasant, even when we're tired.

We end up grabbing the TTC bus quite often from DHS and AK. Not because it arrives first, but since it's usually less crowded.

 

[BCV23]

It's also faster since it's direct. Still I just take whichever one comes first.

Anyone going soon be warned that the launch was docking at the larger pier this past week...the one that the boats to FW and WL use. The first week of March, the launch was at its usual spot but switched sometime this week I guess.