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

[Luvamouse]

OK -- all packed now! DH is grumpy, though, since he hates packing. That's why I'm doing it so early, so he wont be grumpy when we actually go! Packing was extra-hard this time -- no room for extra shoes , but I'm so excited!!!

How many people here are going Easter week? me, kaffinito, kandcmch... anyone else?

It's rough when you can't pack extra shoes! I usually pack a few pairs then only ever wear one.

For Easter week I know of the aforementioned three above and Luvamouse too! There should be four of us all together that I know of...

I have one more question - is Captain Cooks really open 24 hours? I know the grill closes at 11:00 but was wondering if I could fill up my refillable mug later on at night.

Hi mmmears! Yes, Kaffinito is right-- I will be there too. (Thanks kaffinito for remembering me-- I keep forgetting kandcmch until I see their posts!). I am beside myself right now! We leave next Thursday at noon to drive down! Dinner at Kona at 7 p.m. Saturday. I've requested Tahiti as it's our fave longhouse. My LGMH is at my computer as I speak, so perhaps I'll find a way to attach it to me...or my bag.

All the posts on the Poly thread keep me going. We have packed nothing ...but the Easter goodies) yet. Have it all, probably ought to pack the shorts, etc. but haven't gotten that far. Gathering it all and making sure we have what we need before the last shopping run!

Hope to see you there-- to all who have a "long" time to go...it goes by faster than you can imagine!

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

I have been monitoring this free dining offer today, at least on the DIS, and I have to say that it is not as popular as I have seen in years past. Usually the board is lit up with people announcing their booked trips. Maybe the next few days will be different once the word is out??? Or maybe people just don't think it is that great of a deal because you still pay rack rate or the people that could swing a trip this year used the 4/3 deal? I am curious to see how this plays out.

Does anyone know what precentage of the rooms they allot for FD?

I think it's still pretty popular but there are plenty of people who took advantage of the 4/3. Disney has also sent out a lot of 40% pins. We booked bounceback free dining for September at POFQ, but we switched to BWI after we got a pin. There are just a lot more discounts available this time around.

 

[2manypets]

I agree, we are already booked with another code that works better for our individual needs rather than free dining.

 

[mmmears]

It looks as if you probably received your answer, but thought I'd just give our personal experience.

Taxis might be your best option from TL to DTD.

Tess, thanks for the info. Everyone's input is really appreciated -- I think that some of these things are so hard to plan because the routes keep changing. We'll just bring along some extra cash to TL to pay for the taxis that day.

Just returned last week from a lovely stay at the Poly. It was our first visit there and we are huge Epcot resort fans.

Belle, thanks for the great review! We're Epcot resort people, too. One of the reasons we chose the Poly is that is has better monorail access to Epcot than the GF does. I agree that the best thing about the BW area is walking around WS at night and the quiet stroll back to our room. I know we'll be missing that as we get in line for the crowded monorails, but I hope we enjoy our first trip to the Poly like you did.

Hi Byrd,

We are planning our first family trip to the Poly CL this summer and I have also read the threads about people parking a towel on a pool chair all day. I just have to say that just reading this upset me, we are paying alot of money to stay at a deluxe hotel and if I cannot sit in a lounge chair because somebody is currently at the MK and their towel is saving a lounge chair at the volcano pool I am going to be really angry

This also goes for pool hoppers, maybe I am just a little testy but I want to have a great experience as well. So if you are at the pool than great leave your stuff there if not than just have some consideration for others who are. Just my opinion, I will step off the soap box now

Show Me the Magic, I totally agree! I hope they don't allow people to reserve the chairs (Byrd, I understand your question & concern, though, since I've been wondering the exact same thing!)). This summer at the Grand Californian at Disneyland, we went down to an empty pool with no guests and EVERY chair reserved. We grabbed lunch at the CS and went out to the pool, where the CM was removing every single towel! We had our pick of chaise lounges and umbrellas!!! Later, people came back grumbling that we & other guests had "stolen" their chairs -- I didn't move.

Most pools have a rule about how long you can leave stuff before they remove it -- I hope they have this at the Poly... And on the poolhoppers -- I have no problem asking for them to be escorted out.

 

[PrincessP]

Wow! Trip is fast approaching for many of you! How exciting! Can't wait for trip reports. Have fun, mmmears, kaffinito, kandcmch, luvamouse....and to anyone I missed.

Volcano Pool Question: I know an adult can go down the slide, but can a parent slide down WITH their child. My kids would probably love it...but not sure if they'll be brave enough to try it w/o mom or dad going w/them first. thanks!

 

[sandym718]

A couple questions - they're Poly related. I know there's more specific threads about these things elsewhere, but I just love this thread and would love to hear all your opinions!

1) Poly Photoshoot - anyone done this? I was really wavering, esp. since it's now $75 even with the preordered CD email. But I think I've decided to go ahead and do it. I'm thinking a 5:15 or so time on May 5. That's our latest dinner ressie (6:30 at T-Rex) because DD and I are doing CRT lunch and we'll probably be too full to eat earlier. DD will nap each day, so with our other dining ressies around 5:30, it would be a real squeeze to do our swim/nap time and a photo shoot and then get to dinner! What do you think the light will be like around 5:15 PM in May? Any other thoughts/suggestions? I think we're going to wear red. We've done white our last two beach trips, so I think DH would have a fit if we did that again!! The guys both have red polos and can wear khaki shorts. I need to buy things for DD and I. Probably a simple sundress for her and khaki capris and a red top for me. I've seen some shoot photos and the red looks nice with the Poly greenery and flowers. And I'm thinking maybe a Christmas card....

2) Online check-in...what are your thoughts on getting requests using this? We should arrive at the Poly around 12/12:30 (lunch time). I don't mind in waiting in a bit more of a line if we have a better chance of getting our requests NOT doing online check-in. Any thoughts?

3) Got our docs today- yay!! The arcarde card - that 30 mins needs to be used all at once, is that right? I told DS he can have that for one day while DD is napping. She's getting CRT, so he needs a few extras!

I think that's it! You guys are GREAT on this thread, I appreciate all the help I've gotten/will get!!

WE LEAVE 1 MONTH FROM TODAY!!!!!!!! WAHOO!!!

 

[mmmears]

Hi mmmears! Yes, Kaffinito is right-- I will be there too. (Thanks kaffinito for remembering me-- I keep forgetting kandcmch until I see their posts!). I am beside myself right now! We leave next Thursday at noon to drive down! Dinner at Kona at 7 p.m. Saturday. I've requested Tahiti as it's our fave longhouse. My LGMH is at my computer as I speak, so perhaps I'll find a way to attach it to me...or my bag.

All the posts on the Poly thread keep me going. We have packed nothing ...but the Easter goodies) yet. Have it all, probably ought to pack the shorts, etc. but haven't gotten that far. Gathering it all and making sure we have what we need before the last shopping run!

Hope to see you there-- to all who have a "long" time to go...it goes by faster than you can imagine!

Luvamouse, I figured with "record crowds" right now there must be more of us out there. Looks like everyone's getting to the Poly before us (we'll be at AKL for a few days first). I'll keep an eye out for any LGMHs while we're there -- I have a few of the paint samples that I can attach to DH's backpack. Hope packing goes smoothly and have a good drive down to the Poly!

 

[mmmears]

Wow! Trip is fast approaching for many of you! How exciting! Can't wait for trip reports. Have fun, mmmears, kaffinito, kandcmch, luvamouse....and to anyone I missed.

Thanks, PrincessP. I hope I'll have some interesting things to report. This is our first trip to the Poly, and I really, really hope that I love it as much as so many other people do.

Can't answer about the slide, yet.

 

[byrd328]

Hi

I just read a trip report that said this had happened and they were unable to enjoy the pool. I in know way ment to suggest I was going to do this, I was just wondering if this was something that is common practice..

With that said, it seems that the CM's are not enforcing removing the towels, and there seems to be alot of pool hopping lately from other resorts.

Believe me I'm with you..I'm paying everynight just like you and if I can't get a seat at the pool, I will be

At least at BC they have wrist bands which weed out pool hoppers. I don't want to spend this kind of money and have to fight with someone over a lounge chair that's all.

Hi Byrd,

We are planning our first family trip to the Poly CL this summer and I have also read the threads about people parking a towel on a pool chair all day. I just have to say that just reading this upset me, we are paying alot of money to stay at a deluxe hotel and if I cannot sit in a lounge chair because somebody is currently at the MK and their towel is saving a lounge chair at the volcano pool I am going to be really angry

This also goes for pool hoppers, maybe I am just a little testy but I want to have a great experience as well. So if you are at the pool than great leave your stuff there if not than just have some consideration for others who are. Just my opinion, I will step off the soap box now

 

[Missus Toad]

1) Poly Photoshoot - anyone done this? I was really wavering, esp. since it's now $75 even with the preordered CD email. But I think I've decided to go ahead and do it. I'm thinking a 5:15 or so time on May 5. That's our latest dinner ressie (6:30 at T-Rex) because DD and I are doing CRT lunch and we'll probably be too full to eat earlier. DD will nap each day, so with our other dining ressies around 5:30, it would be a real squeeze to do our swim/nap time and a photo shoot and then get to dinner! What do you think the light will be like around 5:15 PM in May? Any other thoughts/suggestions? I think we're going to wear red. We've done white our last two beach trips, so I think DH would have a fit if we did that again!! The guys both have red polos and can wear khaki shorts. I need to buy things for DD and I. Probably a simple sundress for her and khaki capris and a red top for me. I've seen some shoot photos and the red looks nice with the Poly greenery and flowers. And I'm thinking maybe a Christmas card....

We did this in October and pics turned out great. I would suggest doing it around sunset (if possible) for great light. I have several photographer friends who call it "the magic hour". We had a decent sized group-- the exact number of colors in the spectrum-- so we did ROYGBIV, and the rainbow effect was very pretty and colorful in the pics. I'm sure red would be cool too, and great for Christmas cards.

 

[sandym718]

We did this in October and pics turned out great. I would suggest doing it around sunset (if possible) for great light. I have several photographer friends who call it "the magic hour". We had a decent sized group-- the exact number of colors in the spectrum-- so we did ROYGBIV, and the rainbow effect was very pretty and colorful in the pics. I'm sure red would be cool too, and great for Christmas cards.

Thank you! I think I heard the latest they do the shoots is 6 PM, so I don't think sunset will be an option - that's probably closer to 8:30/9 right? I figured 5:15 is the latest that's "doable" for us (with ADR's) if 6 is the latest appt.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Hi Byrd,

We are planning our first family trip to the Poly CL this summer and I have also read the threads about people parking a towel on a pool chair all day. I just have to say that just reading this upset me, we are paying alot of money to stay at a deluxe hotel and if I cannot sit in a lounge chair because somebody is currently at the MK and their towel is saving a lounge chair at the volcano pool I am going to be really angry

This also goes for pool hoppers, maybe I am just a little testy but I want to have a great experience as well. So if you are at the pool than great leave your stuff there if not than just have some consideration for others who are. Just my opinion, I will step off the soap box now

I agree with you 100% about everything you said.

 

[mmmears]

I agree with you 100% about everything you said.

Me, too.

So the staff at the Poly never remove towels or deal with poolhoppers? Do you think they will do something if some of their guests complain about things?

 

[johnsonet]

Just booked the Poly this morning with free dining! I can't wait to go!!! We thought about staying somewhere else this trip, but just couldn't do it. We love the Poly too much.

Awesome! Congratulations

It looks as if you probably received your answer, but thought I'd just give our personal experience.

We have been going to TL for years rather than BB because we like the coaster rides best. When we've gone, the bus heads from Polynesian to GF and directly to TL. When we have returned, there was no side trip to DTD, just back to the resort.

Now, in the late afternoon when leaving DTD, we've stopped at TL to pick-up around closing time--talk about a fiasco! Waiting and waiting for what seemed an eternity in the closing time traffic (or weather related early closing traffic). . .

Maybe the routing is different in the early a.m. with the bus going from resorts to TL and so forth, but I know on the return trip we did not go to DTD, ever.

Taxis might be your best option from TL to DTD.

Good to hear an actual account from someone who knows The review I linked to was from 10/2007 anyway...

Hi

Just wondering if its common practice to reserve your lounge chair by the volcano pool with a towel. I notice some people seem to complain about the lack of seating and the fact that people do this...

For some people it is This is an industry-wide problem and many high-end resorts deal with it by having VERY strict time limits and patrolling - placing items "staged" to look as though someone is using the chair in storage. I read an article about this subject a year or so ago and it's a frustrating problem that is difficult to deal with.
My problem at Poly a couple of weeks ago was not towels on unused chairs (which has been a problem for me at a lot of resorts over the years) but that every chair was filled with a real, live person! And there are definitely pool-hoppers at the Poly. For those of you on your way, as much as I'd hate to have to do it, I'd just tell a lifeguard or the CMs in the Hawaii Bldg, for those of you staying club level, or even someone at the front desk the very FIRST time you are unable to find a chair - if it should come to that. They will be forced to deal with it (I saw a security guard walking around the Volcano pool in the afternoons and I would've maybe asked him) I hate having to complain but it's just not right for paying guests to not be able to enjoy the resort's pools... And chair-savers are just beyond selfish

Belle72 Thank you for your review and it was great to hear from someone who loves another Deluxe resort and another resort area so much but also loves the Poly! You summed it up perfectly when you said, "It is just a very relaxing place to stay." It's awesome, isn't it? And I can totally understand about the difference b/w walking around WS in the evenings vs. arriving at a packed and roped-off MK at night We like to do the parks in the a.m. and relax in the afternoon/evenings but when we stay at the Epcot resorts - we go to Epcot at night too!

Hi Byrd,

We are planning our first family trip to the Poly CL this summer and I have also read the threads about people parking a towel on a pool chair all day. I just have to say that just reading this upset me, we are paying alot of money to stay at a deluxe hotel and if I cannot sit in a lounge chair because somebody is currently at the MK and their towel is saving a lounge chair at the volcano pool I am going to be really angry

This also goes for pool hoppers, maybe I am just a little testy but I want to have a great experience as well. So if you are at the pool than great leave your stuff there if not than just have some consideration for others who are. Just my opinion, I will step off the soap box now

Show Me the Magic, I totally agree! I hope they don't allow people to reserve the chairs (Byrd, I understand your question & concern, though, since I've been wondering the exact same thing!)). This summer at the Grand Californian at Disneyland, we went down to an empty pool with no guests and EVERY chair reserved. We grabbed lunch at the CS and went out to the pool, where the CM was removing every single towel! We had our pick of chaise lounges and umbrellas!!! Later, people came back grumbling that we & other guests had "stolen" their chairs -- I didn't move.

Most pools have a rule about how long you can leave stuff before they remove it -- I hope they have this at the Poly... And on the poolhoppers -- I have no problem asking for them to be escorted out.

 

[Missus Toad]

Thank you! I think I heard the latest they do the shoots is 6 PM, so I don't think sunset will be an option - that's probably closer to 8:30/9 right? I figured 5:15 is the latest that's "doable" for us (with ADR's) if 6 is the latest appt.

Yeah, the May part of the equation presents sunset challenges. In any event, I've yet to see bad shots, so I'm sure you'll be fine no matter what time you do it!

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

I had that pool towel saving-the-chair issue on our first trip to WDW when we stayed at the CR. I simply watched for a little while and if noone was around that chair: I walked up, asked a few folks nearby if they were saving the chair or if they had seen anyone at the chair recently. If the answers were both "no", I removed the towel and set it to the side. Never had anyone come up and complain. Guess they weren't around.... If they got ticked off later when they returned, oh well, too bad.

We never had a problem at the Poly but then again, we prefer a table and chairs w/umbrella. Always had great luck finding an empty table or someone getting ready to leave. Once there were no open chairs on the beach with all the sunbathers but that's no biggie. I just used a towel to sit upon and watch the girls while I summoned my butler--by that I mean my DH--for another Pina Colava. Our kids tend to go back and forth between the pool and beach. Many times we are split up with one in the pool and one in the sand. Another reason I love the Poly because you can still "see" each other when you need something...like another Pina Colava

 

[johnsonet]

...Once there were no open chairs on the beach with all the sunbathers but that's no biggie. I just used a towel to sit upon and watch the girls while I summoned my butler--by that I mean my DH--for another Pina Colava. Our kids tend to go back and forth between the pool and beach. Many times we are split up with one in the pool and one in the sand. Another reason I love the Poly because you can still "see" each other when you need something...like another Pina Colava

You've got the right idea

 

[kaffinito]

Here is what we do when on vacation to noise out all the people partying at 1am. Turn on the alarm clock radio to a location with no radio stations, just fuzzing sounds or white noise. Works great for us so we can get a good nights sleep.

In a perfect resort and world you go go to bed and not hear a thing but the breeze. Good luck with that though.

Although sometimes I have a hard time finding a dial location with no radio stations in bigger cities like Orlando. And sometimes I will set it correctly and a station drifts in a little overnight, so I wake up to mexican music (Not in Mexico). But most of the time this works.

You'd think with the polynesian theme maybe they would put ceiling fans in. That would help set the mood and your problem.

I am addicted to my fan/white noise at home so I bought a travel sound machine at Brookstone - it's worth every penny. It's very small, and very portable. If you buy batteries, you won't have to tote the power cord w/you - the cord is heavier than the actual machine. It is also a (alarm) clock. Even when I don't check luggage I bring it along. I'm a terrible sleeper, and wake up at every little noise - especially when traveling, and this thing works like a charm!

If you are staying cl and need something, the cm's are who you would talk to, but not sure they'd have a fan available.

I have never heard of anyone requesting a portable fan whether club or not. I suppose you could ask--not sure they would have these types of things though.



The Polynesian does have ceiling fans in its rooms--this might help a bit with your noise issues.

Honestly, my husband is a very light sleeper and with the ceiling fan running, he is rarely awakened by noise at night. Of course, there is always the occasional inconsiderate guest, but thankfully they are few and far between.

We also bring our white noise machine along. DD uses it at home, has since she was a baby! I bought it in the baby section at Target 5 years ago for only about $15. She's a light sleeper so it helps her not be disturbed by other house noises. We like taking it along to Disney or other vacations, helps us all sleep well!

Thank you to everyone! Now I just have to figure out which suggestions to try out!

 

[wahmtexas]

What is the closest Poly bldg and what floor for Monorail? Due to health issues and the August heat we are planning this trip easy with all meals at monorail hotels and parks, no buses etc. Need to limit walking and extra transp. time.
Also does the monorail go both ways or always GF MK EP Cont etc or can you go Poly-Cont
Thanks

 

[CleveRocks]

The arcarde card - that 30 mins needs to be used all at once, is that right? I told DS he can have that for one day while DD is napping. She's getting CRT, so he needs a few extras!

The arcade card expires 30 minutes after first use. Just after yu swipe it, the read-out on the game tells you how many minutes are left. My best advice is to run around like mad and get in as many games as you can.