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

[kaffinito]

I know a TA near us who's been swamped the last few weeks booking trips to WDW for Easter. And she's never booked lots of trips there before now (it's a long way from here). I guess the news about the deals really is increasing attendance. The TA is shocked since she thought she wouldn't have much work to do with the economy the way it is...

I have heard that bookings for Easter are way up this year!

30 degrees and snowing here in Kansas--The pictures of the POLY are helping to warm me up.

I really feel for you - supposed to snow here in Michigan next week.

My DH and I are staying at the Poly for the first time 8/16-8/20. I booked the free dining deal yesterday. I've always wanted to stay there and just decided to go for it. Our 25th anniversary is 8/4, so we'll be celebrating a few weeks later.

Hope you have a wonderful belated Anniversary!

So maybe that is where the few of us here that will be at the Poly together will meet! Unless the pool is so crowded in the afternoon due to the crowds in the parks I am so excited!!! Only 13 days until we head down!

I know - It's getting closer and closer! This is the first time I've ever dreamt about a resort before a trip. Hope that's a good sign!

You'll be able to spot me at the pool - I have my LGMH's all ready to go. And they're BIG.

 

[kaffinito]

Forgot to ask something before. I know this is a dumb question - but are there towels by the quiet pool? I know they have them by the main pool, but wasn't sure about the other one...

And another quick question - are there lounge chairs on the other beaches? I mean the one in front of Tahiti and the one near Fiji (close to GF).

 

[mmmears]

I'll be looking out for LGMHs. I take it they aren't the paint samples? I grabbed a few, but dont really know what to do with them. Started packing yet?

 

[johnsonet]

True, true. Just checked the crowd calendar and our dates have gone up from 7-9s to 9-10s! I'm getting really nervous about that, but looking at the Poly photos calms me down a bit. I hope it's going to be relaxing at the Poly...

mmmears - it IS going to be very crowded. You can count on it. The best thing you can do is be at the parks right at opening. In that first hour you will be able to do and see more than in the following 4 or 5 When you return to the Poly you will definitely RELAX. Especially in your room and the lounge in Hawaii The beach and pools WILL be crowded but it will not be a negative. Just busy and festive Re. crowds, the weeks around Easter are the most crowded I've experienced but the weather makes up for it! You will wait in line for PoC, for example. You will wait for PhilharMagic. But it's worth it. We waited for 50-60 min. for Toy Story at DHS and we were thru the gates before official park opening! But it's worth it! Since you're a park veteran I'm not going to worry about you

30 degrees and snowing here in Kansas--The pictures of the POLY are helping to warm me up.

I always love looking at Poly pics

My DH and I are staying at the Poly for the first time 8/16-8/20. I booked the free dining deal yesterday. I've always wanted to stay there and just decided to go for it. Our 25th anniversary is 8/4, so we'll be celebrating a few weeks later.

Sounds wonderful! Congratulations You will love the Poly and what a great spot to celebrate...

So maybe that is where the few of us here that will be at the Poly together will meet! Unless the pool is so crowded in the afternoon due to the crowds in the parks I am so excited!!! Only 13 days until we head down!

You're almost there

Forgot to ask something before. I know this is a dumb question - but are there towels by the quiet pool? I know they have them by the main pool, but wasn't sure about the other one...

And another quick question - are there lounge chairs on the other beaches? I mean the one in front of Tahiti and the one near Fiji (close to GF).

Yes. And yes!

 

[mmmears]

mmmears - it IS going to be very crowded. You can count on it. The best thing you can do is be at the parks right at opening. In that first hour you will be able to do and see more than in the following 4 or 5 When you return to the Poly you will definitely RELAX. Especially in your room and the lounge in Hawaii The beach and pools WILL be crowded but it will not be a negative. Just busy and festive Re. crowds, the weeks around Easter are the most crowded I've experienced but the weather makes up for it! You will wait in line for PoC, for example. You will wait for PhilharMagic. But it's worth it. We waited for 50-60 min. for Toy Story at DHS and we were thru the gates before official park opening! But it's worth it! Since you're a park veteran I'm not going to worry about you

We're always there for rope drop -- I totally agree with what you've said -- we usually ride more rides in the first hour than we do the entire rest of the day (no matter how long the parks are open). And we'll definitely return to the Poly around or soon after lunchtime for some swim and nap time. We'll need to nap since the parks are now staying open REALLY late (like 3am) and we still need to sleep some. As long as it's relaxing at the Poly, we'll be fine.

 

[johnsonet]

Forgot to ask something before. I know this is a dumb question - but are there towels by the quiet pool? I know they have them by the main pool, but wasn't sure about the other one...

And another quick question - are there lounge chairs on the other beaches? I mean the one in front of Tahiti and the one near Fiji (close to GF).

Just re-read your post and I am not sure about the beach over by Luau Cove... I did take this pic last week and there are no chairs ~ but it does not include the entire beach...

 

[mmmears]

So maybe that is where the few of us here that will be at the Poly together will meet! Unless the pool is so crowded in the afternoon due to the crowds in the parks I am so excited!!! Only 13 days until we head down!

We're really excited, too! We've been planning this trip for months and months. Hopefully there will be room for all of us at the pool! We're going in 13 days, too, but we'll be at AKL first and then move to the Poly. So you'll beat me there!

 

[Carrie772]

We're always there for rope drop -- I totally agree with what you've said -- we usually ride more rides in the first hour than we do the entire rest of the day (no matter how long the parks are open). And we'll definitely return to the Poly around or soon after lunchtime for some swim and nap time. We'll need to nap since the parks are now staying open REALLY late (like 3am) and we still need to sleep some. As long as it's relaxing at the Poly, we'll be fine.

How do your kids do with that kind of pace? Or, do you have any kids? Just curious. If they only get 6 hours at night and have a big ol' nap, how do they do the rest of the time?

 

[kaffinito]

I'll be looking out for LGMHs. I take it they aren't the paint samples? I grabbed a few, but dont really know what to do with them. Started packing yet?

Packing? I've been packed for two weeks now!

I use the sticky lime green felt from Micheal's. They stick to everything.

 

[johnsonet]

kaffinito

Here is a pic that shows a couple of chairs on Tahiti's beach

And here's a pic that shows how close the Poly (Tahiti and Rapa Nui in particular) is to the TTC (on the left you see the ferry and the monorail at TTC):

 

[johnsonet]

As long as it's relaxing at the Poly, we'll be fine.

 

[kaffinito]

Just re-read your post and I am not sure about the beach over by Luau Cove... I did take this pic last week and there are no chairs ~ but it does not include the entire beach...

That is so lovely! I know where I'm going with my morning coffee!

 

[kandcmch]

I can't wait! I hope to meet a few of you around the pool. This is our first trip to WDW and I am scared I did it wrong. I didn't think the crowds were going to be that bad. I knew it might be heavy but not to the extreme. I hope we will still get to get on alot of rides

 

[PrincessP]

37 days until our first stay at the Poly!!! First trip for our children 5.5 and 3.5. I don't even know how to do a ticker so I'll post that little countdown first.


We would like to rent one of the sea raycers during our stay. Do these have to be reserved well in advance like ADRs, or can we wait until we're there at the Poly to rent?



Thanks so much for this thread. I have read all 200+ pages. Took me a couple of weeks!! Johnsonet -great pics and info. MsStinkerbell...such wit and wisdom...you deserved that upgrade in December and precious daughter pics. Tess - always a wealth of knowledge. And SeaSpray....wow! A Poly Guru What a thread and collection of information. Love the matching shirts! I'm sorry you had to cancel your May trip. Would have been great to meet you. I know there are several others that have been busy posters sharing their Poly expertise as well. Thanks to all of you!

 

[johnsonet]

Packing? I've been packed for two weeks now!

That is so lovely! I know where I'm going with my morning coffee!

Oh good! That was taken from the end of Tuvalu, looking back toward Aetearoa. I hope you have an amazing trip

I can't wait! I hope to meet a few of you around the pool. This is our first trip to WDW and I am scared I did it wrong. I didn't think the crowds were going to be that bad. I knew it might be heavy but not to the extreme. I hope we will still get to get on alot of rides

Please don't worry. I just know how busy the weeks around Easter are. I don't mean to scare you off. Just be prepared! Definitely try and be at the parks at opening and KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO! Then, of course, be open to new things and Disney Magic...Go to the rides that develop the longest waits first (Dumbo, Space Mtn, etc. depending on the people in your group) and get FPs to complement... SIL and nieces waited just 20 min. for Magic Carpets last week around noon; 20 min on Indy Speedway one morning and that was the first thing we went to that day, right at park opening! (non-EMH).
We did HM walk-on but 2 hours after opening, for example, It's a Small World had a 30 min. wait It gets hairy in FantasyLand!

37 days until our first stay at the Poly!!! First trip for our children 5.5 and 3.5. I don't even know how to do a ticker so I'll post that little countdown first.


We would like to rent one of the sea raycers during our stay. Do these have to be reserved well in advance like ADRs, or can we wait until we're there at the Poly to rent?



Thanks so much for this thread. I have read all 200+ pages. Took me a couple of weeks!! Johnsonet -great pics and info. MsStinkerbell...such wit and wisdom...you deserved that upgrade in December and precious daughter pics. Tess - always a wealth of knowledge. And SeaSpray....wow! A Poly Guru What a thread and collection of information. Love the matching shirts! I'm sorry you had to cancel your May trip. Would have been great to meet you. I know there are several others that have been busy posters sharing their Poly expertise as well. Thanks to all of you!

Thank you and you will have no problem walking up to rent Sea Raycers These are not reserved in advance like ADRs.
Yes, this is a GREAT thread!! Have fun!!

 

[kandcmch]

Thank you so much Johnsonet! I really am glad to have this board for info and get me excited for my trip!

 

[kaffinito]

You'll be fine! Our first trip was over Spring Break too - I paid rack rate (3500.00) for the trip and kind of screwed up a bit touring wise. But I only found the DIS a few weeks before we left and didn't know any better.

Don't forget that quite a few of us will be there. Just wave a large LGMH if you get into trouble and one of us will come running!

 

[kandcmch]

You'll be fine! Our first trip was over Spring Break too - I paid rack rate (3500.00) for the trip and kind of screwed up a bit touring wise. But I only found the DIS a few weeks before we left and didn't know any better.

Don't forget that quite a few of us will be there. Just wave a large LGMH if you get into trouble and one of us will come running!

I certainly will! I am so looking forward to it all. My hubby is in the military and he has been gone alot. So our first get away in along time. I really think we all will enjoy just very surprised how crazy it may get. We already booked and paid before they started offering the 4/3 deal. But o'well. I didn't know about this sight either until a few weeks myself. I did alot of research. I really think we made the right choice after changing our resort about 5 times.

 

[mmmears]

How do your kids do with that kind of pace? Or, do you have any kids? Just curious. If they only get 6 hours at night and have a big ol' nap, how do they do the rest of the time?

We'll end up sleeping more than 6 hrs at night -- we just can't stay in the parks much past midnight. Our DD has always done great this way -- of course when we started she was napping every day anyway... Now, even though she's older, she's tired enough to fall asleep a bit or just rest in the dark room in the afternoon for a bit. Honestly, we're so worn out we usually have no trouble sleeping in the afternoon for a couple of hours.

After dinner (or at dinnertime if we have ADRs in a park) we'll return to the parks. People are leaving in droves by then, with tired, cranky kids who are either crying or sleeping. We're all refreshed and ready to go! If we stayed in the park all day, we'd be dead tired by dinner.

 

[mmmears]

Packing? I've been packed for two weeks now!

I use the sticky lime green felt from Micheal's. They stick to everything.

OK -- now I feel REALLY behind! Hopefully we'll have time to pack this weekend...