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

[mmmears]

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.

I think the Poly is a great choice for your first trip. My first trip was between xmas and new-year's, so you can imagine the crowds we dealt with that time! Just have a plan so that you dont waste half of your time thinking "what should we go on now."

If you haven't seen it, check out the Unofficial Guide to WDW (we have copies available at our local libraries -- so you dont even have to spend any $$$ to check it out). It gives advice as to which rides get long lines quickly and which are better to ride later in the day. I found this book extremely valuable for our first trip to WDW. Now I kind of just know how to put my own plan together.

And really take advantage of that 1st hour in the parks -- you can get more done then than you can in the whole rest of the day (seriously).

See you 'round the pool!

 

[Tess]

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.

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!

You are dedicated to learning--what patience to read all 200+ pages. If you need more, there is an old thread somewhere too. All kidding aside, I hope you have a fantastic trip and taking the time to gain knowledge about your stay will make it that much more pleasant!

It looks as if we will just miss each other--always fun meeting fellow Polynesian fans.

Aloha & Mahalo for the compliments.

Johnsonet--great shots, as always! I may have to take a stroll some morning to the far end of Tahiti! I have stayed in Tahiti, albeit many moons ago, but I don't remember that dock structure--see even us long timers can find new nooks! Thanks for taking the time to post the pics.

 

[johnsonet]

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

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.

Thank you and enjoy your family vacation! You couldn't have chosen a better resort

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!

OK - I'm clueless What is LGMH?

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, from one of your earlier posts I thought you meant that you were at the parks at opening AND would stay until 3am on EMH evenings (of course I knew you took a long break too) I was impressed

You are dedicated to learning--what patience to read all 200+ pages. If you need more, there is an old thread somewhere too. All kidding aside, I hope you have a fantastic trip and taking the time to gain knowledge about your stay will make it that much more pleasant!

It looks as if we will just miss each other--always fun meeting fellow Polynesian fans.

Aloha & Mahalo for the compliments.

Johnsonet--great shots, as always! I may have to take a stroll some morning to the far end of Tahiti! I have stayed in Tahiti, albeit many moons ago, but I don't remember that dock structure--see even us long timers can find new nooks! Thanks for taking the time to post the pics.

Tess I hope you have yet another great trip... Thank you for the compliment. I was just surprised to see, at least from that angle, how close the TTC really is from the Tahiti beach! At night on that beach it's magical to sit and watch the ferries go back and forth across SSL, all lit up, carrying guests to the MK

 

[mmmears]

mmmears, from one of your earlier posts I thought you meant that you were at the parks at opening AND would stay until 3am on EMH evenings (of course I knew you took a long break too) I was impressed

While I would like to think that we could stay until park closing, we've never made it past midnight or so. Too bad, since I bet the park is pretty empty at 2am. We'll see what happens this trip, but Disney just changed the MK opening times our week from 9am to 7am. That makes a big difference in when we need to wake up! (But it also means less people there at rope-drop, since most people wont want to get up before 7 on their vacations! -- I'll be wondering why we chose a WDW vacation when I have to get up at 5 or 6 in the morning, too).

 

[BreezysMom]

I need good vibes from my Poly friends right now...

Just priced out a few scenarios for Sept/Oct this year with free dining. We have always stayed GV and planned on going back and staying LVCL but with free dining I would rather just do TPV.

DH is "thinking" about it. I have put slight pressure since the offer opens to general public Monday....

Come on Tiki Gods...call out to DH...come back to the Poly, Come back to the Poly...

Give me some good vibes friends

 

[mmmears]

BreezysMom,

Yeah -- I think that the CL food plus the dining plan would be too much food.

Plus, if you go for Free Dining, don't you have to pay rack-rate for the room itself? That would be a lot to pay for a LVCL room, especially if you wont be able to eat in the lounge because you are dining out so much.

Good luck on getting to book your trip!

 

[johnsonet]

While I would like to think that we could stay until park closing, we've never made it past midnight or so. Too bad, since I bet the park is pretty empty at 2am. We'll see what happens this trip, but Disney just changed the MK opening times our week from 9am to 7am. That makes a big difference in when we need to wake up! (But it also means less people there at rope-drop, since most people wont want to get up before 7 on their vacations! -- I'll be wondering why we chose a WDW vacation when I have to get up at 5 or 6 in the morning, too).

You're gonna have SO MUCH fun! We've never made it past midnight either. I'm a morning person but DD is definitely NOT so sometimes I let her sleep in... Yes, those hour changes are gonna make it more difficult. How awesome, though, that in the case of MK you only need to leave your room about 10 min. before you want to be there

I need good vibes from my Poly friends right now...

Just priced out a few scenarios for Sept/Oct this year with free dining. We have always stayed GV and planned on going back and staying LVCL but with free dining I would rather just do TPV.

DH is "thinking" about it. I have put slight pressure since the offer opens to general public Monday....

Come on Tiki Gods...call out to DH...come back to the Poly, Come back to the Poly...

Give me some good vibes friends

Hi BreezysMom! I can totally relate and good luck w/ hubby.

 

[BCV23]

johnsonet, those party Tiki gods are awesome!!!

Good luck, Breezysmom.

 

[BreezysMom]

WoooHoo!!!!!!!

Thanks to all! Just BOOKED!

9/19 - 9/26 TPV with free dining!!!

Thanks all!

 

[kaffinito]

OK - I'm clueless What is LGMH?

Sorry about that! A LGMH is a lime green mickey head. Dissers (well some of them) carry or wear them so that they can identify themselves to others at the parks/resorts. You can get them as paint samples at Home Depot or can make them. I have a few t-shirts and some sticky felt LGMH's for my trips.

We'll see what happens this trip, but Disney just changed the MK opening times our week from 9am to 7am. That makes a big difference in when we need to wake up! (But it also means less people there at rope-drop, since most people wont want to get up before 7 on their vacations! -- I'll be wondering why we chose a WDW vacation when I have to get up at 5 or 6 in the morning, too).

Wow, now that's impressive to me! I didn't even know what "rope drop" was until I looked it up a few weeks ago. I did see two of them (at AK and DHS) when DH and I were down earlier this month, but with two boys I doubt if we'll be seeing it this trip! I'm planning on evening EMH's for the boys.

WoooHoo!!!!!!!

Thanks to all! Just BOOKED!

9/19 - 9/26 TPV with free dining!!!

Thanks all!

Great! Glad you were able to book!

 

[BreezysMom]

Man, what a morning so far. Booked the Disney package. Found awesome airfare and booked it. It seems so unreal. The thing that I LOVE is I don't need to stress about room location because I am cool with any location for TPV!

I have always used a TA but this time I am doing it alone. The only thing she really did was the ADR's and I figure I can do it just the same. Now I just need to book those and then buy MNSSHP tickets and we are good to go.

Off to do my ticker...

 

[johnsonet]

WoooHoo!!!!!!!

Thanks to all! Just BOOKED!

9/19 - 9/26 TPV with free dining!!!

Thanks all!

Wow! That was fast!! Congratulations

Sorry about that! A LGMH is a lime green mickey head. Dissers (well some of them) carry or wear them so that they can identify themselves to others at the parks/resorts. You can get them as paint samples at Home Depot or can make them. I have a few t-shirts and some sticky felt LGMH's for my trips.

Thanks! I laughed when I read that b/c look what I have

I bought it last summer at the shop on the 2d floor of Poly's lobby... Just took that pic. It's really small (like a gumball size)

Man, what a morning so far. Booked the Disney package. Found awesome airfare and booked it. It seems so unreal. The thing that I LOVE is I don't need to stress about room location because I am cool with any location for TPV!

I have always used a TA but this time I am doing it alone. The only thing she really did was the ADR's and I figure I can do it just the same. Now I just need to book those and then buy MNSSHP tickets and we are good to go.

Off to do my ticker...

Sounds as though this trip was really meant to be I agree that any TPV at the Poly must be good. I always book my trips myself For me the planning is half the fun!

 

[kandcmch]

So we just got back from the commisary (grociery store) Anyways we bought pop tarts, small boxes of ceral (get a half gallon milk), and lots of snacks, 24 pack of bottle water, 2 things of gatoraid, and 2 24 packs of soda. Do we have enough??? Now just need to pack mine and hubby's clothes and clean house one more time and we will be ready! Am I overly excited or what????

 

[mmmears]

So we just got back from the commisary (grociery store) Anyways we bought pop tarts, small boxes of ceral (get a half gallon milk), and lots of snacks, 24 pack of bottle water, 2 things of gatoraid, and 2 24 packs of soda. Do we have enough??? Now just need to pack mine and hubby's clothes and clean house one more time and we will be ready! Am I overly excited or what????

You must be driving! We ordered several cases of water from Garden Grocer, since we can't fly with even one bottle. Sounds like you have plenty of snacks & cereal. When we dont stay CL, we always get milk, cereal & snacks (and sometimes bread, cheese, peanut butter, etc.), too. It's really nice not to have to go out and find a place to wait in line just because someone's a little hungry.

I still need to pack...

 

[Carrie772]

So we just got back from the commisary (grociery store) Anyways we bought pop tarts, small boxes of ceral (get a half gallon milk), and lots of snacks, 24 pack of bottle water, 2 things of gatoraid, and 2 24 packs of soda. Do we have enough??? Now just need to pack mine and hubby's clothes and clean house one more time and we will be ready! Am I overly excited or what????

Yeah, you're excited! Your whole post is one dancin' fool!

 

[Mrs.Prince]

Do they have H2O products in the gift shop available for purchase?

 

[BreezysMom]

Do they have H2O products in the gift shop available for purchase?

They sure do!

 

[CleveRocks]

The thing that I LOVE is I don't need to stress about room location because I am cool with any location for TPV!

I agree that any TPV at the Poly must be good.

I hate to add any doubt into otherwise wonderful feelings, but I'd feel bad if I didn't share my opinion here.

Personally, I'd be very dissatisfied with a TPV room in Aotearoa, especially a 2nd floor room, since these don't have balconies. Aotearoa is set back pretty far from the lagoon. At Poly, TPV is defined as an unobstructed view of Cinderella Castle. From Aotearoa (or at least from standing right in front it), you have what I'll describe as a "tunnel vision" view of the Castle, due to Fiji and Tuvalu on the right and the Luau Cove on the left. And like I said, there is a lot of land in between the building and the lagoon. AND, the path in front of the building is the only path, or at least the main path, between the bulk of the resort and the Luau Cove, meaning the crowds of people going to and from the Luau have to pass across the front of the building, on the path that is direectly in front of and adjacent to the building. I would imagine that gets noisy a few times a day, and would also take away from privacy, especially (I'd imagine) for the first floor rooms.

I think Tuvalu looks like an excellent location, but keep in mind that the 2nd floor rooms have no balconies. There's also no beach in front of it ... it's just about right on the lagoon. This wouldn't be a problem for me, but might be for some people.

I requested Tahiti, 3rd floor (I just figured the higher the room the better the view of MK). I picked Tahiti over Tuvalu because, if for no other reason, both the 2nd and 3rd floors of Tahiti have balconies. It's also very close to the TTC, which I prefer.

I'll put it to you this way, to illustrate how strong my preference was. We arrived to check-in at 9:45 a.m. We were assigned a 2nd floor room in Aotearoa, and it was ready for us. I nicely asked the front desk CM if we could get our request, a 3rd floor room in Tahiti. She got on the phone, and then told me we could have our request, but would have to wait until mid-afternoon. As it turns out, our room wasn't ready 'til 5:15 p.m. As unhappy as I was to have to wait that long, I was thrilled that our request could be met, and waiting until after 5 was a small price to pay for 8 days in a room I strongly preferred.

Just my 2 cents. When I think that I could have paid the same amount of money and had to keep the 2nd floor room in Aotearoa, I consider myself very lucky that they were able to accomodate my request. Just my opinion.

 

[lissiesmum]

hello fellow Poly fans! After trying for months to get a room at the Poly, some rooms finally opened up today and I booked for the last week of April! I have some quick changes to make to my dining ressies (and I hope it's not too late!). We were staying at the AKL and had a lot of dining reserved over there but I'm looking to book a breakfast at Kona Cafe. I'm wondering what time it opens in the am, and if you were to go first thing in the morning is a ressie necessary, or could you just walk in? Tonga Toast and pressed pot, here I come! I'm sure I'll have a ton more questions, I'm just getting started!

 

[lissiesmum]

okay, here comes another question: We have a dinner booked at Boma and I'm wondering the best way to get there. I think we'll be going on an Epcot day so I was thinking of leaving Epcot, taking the bus to the AKL, but then was wondering how best to get back to the Poly...should I bus back to Epcot and take the monorail to the TTC, or bus to MK and take the boat across?

Also, I'm not sure how much time to allot in the mornings. We'll be there the last week of April and it appears the hotel will be full. How much time including waiting in line for monorail/ferries do you allot to arrive at the MK? Epcot?

TIA for your help and I look forward to chatting with everyone and learning everything I can