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

[Tess]

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.[/COLOR] thanks!

Parents are not permitted to slide with the child. You can be near the bottom to grab them as they land, but only one person at a time is permitted on the slide. Sorry.

 

[Tess]

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

None of the buildings are too far from the GCH and the monorail. The closest two would be Nuie and Rarotonga. Since you will need to go to the second floor of the GCH to catch the monorail, the floor in the longhouse really isn't an issue. A first floor room would give you the easiest access though.

The resort monorail only travels in one direction, Polynesian, GF, MK, Contemporary, TTC, Polynesian, etc. . . If you travel from the TTC, you could catch an express monorail that stops only at the MK and TTC.

The EPCOT monorail is accessible at the TTC via resort or express monorail, but you need to transfer trains. You can also simply walk from Polynesian to the TTC and catch the EPCOT monorail.

It sounds convoluted, but is very easy once you have done it.

 

[BCV23]

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

I wanted to add to Tess's great info that it might be a good idea to mention why you're requesting those buildings she mentioned.

 

[kaffinito]

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.

I know where you're coming from. I've seen it done everywhere I go at WDW. It makes me every time I see it too! I'm a big proponent of either having wrist bands or a key carded gate at the Deluxe pools for the pool hoppers, and no chair saving at the pools. If you're going in swimming, that's one thing, but to park a towel there and then go eat lunch or dinner is just rude.

I just circle and circle until I see a chair that doesn't look used and then, like Grace&Carolinesmom said, I politely ask the "neighbors if they have seen anybody there. Then I move in. I have had people come back from lunch or even one time the parks and wanted "their" chair back. (That happened at AKL) But I think that if the chair in question has been empty except for your resort towel for two hours, then it's up for grabs.

I'll let you know how the pool situation was when I get back.

 

[kandcmch]

One question?? Can we let the lifeguards know that people are there that should not be there? What do you do in that case??? Are the beach chairs really full too?

 

[sandym718]

Another thing that gets me about chair saving is this - are you all really ever going to actually USE the chair??? I know when we go anywhere - Myrtle Beach, the Poly, our local pool, anywhere - we usually grab just 1 chair for all 4 of us, put our stuff on it. At the beach, I will grab a lounge chair, b/c I'll take pool breaks and read for awhile lounging while the kids and DH play. But they never sit in the chairs - it's beach/pool/beach/pool - why do they need their stuff on another chair? I see families saving 4-5 chairs and the kids never use them.

On our last Poly visit, we hit the pool each day during our mid-day break. We didn't even take a lounge chair. We either found a regular chair (just 1) or just found a place to pile our stuff. We knew we were just going to be swimming (sliding for the kids!) and then heading back to the room for their naps. And we certainly didn't need a table or lounge chair for that.

So even if you ARE at the pool, I think it's good kindness to think about whether you'll Really use a lounge chair (same with tables etc) or do you really just want a place to put your stuff???

 

[Sphyrna]

I think the problem with these issues are how to enforce them. Having a gate requiring using the room key is good for taking care of pool hoppers. But as for the chair saving, how do you know if someone has their towel on the chair while they are in the pool or in a park? That's the worst problem for enforcement. I often go down to the pool by myself and I'm always afraid that when I come out of the pool someone will have taken my chair. Although normally I have more than just a towel to reserve it, like a shirt and sandals.

 

[LuvMySoldier07]

Ok all you Poly experts, I have a little dilema. My friends and I are booked for Poly for July. My one friend is in the military so he booked two rooms with the military discount. One is club level and one is standard garden view. How do they check in? Can my military friend go to the Hawaii building and check in both rooms even if one is not club level? Or does he have to check in twice? He needs to be present for both check ins bc he needs to show his military id/orders. Any help/advice will really be appreciated!!!

 

[mmmears]

I agree -- you dont need 4 chairs if the kids are in the pool the whole time. It's been so bad at the YC that we had to perch our towels on a shrub one time. We couldn't find anywhere to put them.

I really hope it's not going to bad there. This is the reason we didn't stay at the Poly on our last trip -- all the reports of pool-hoppers and chair-saving. We'll be happy if we can find 1-2 chairs to rest on.

Good idea about asking about the chairs. I'm always so reluctant to move people's towels, but it's not right for them to reserve the chairs and not even be at the pool. I've never seen anyone remove people's things (like hats, flip-flops, etc.) when they were swimming, though.

 

[kaffinito]

I take a chaise and then put the kids stuff on the ground or in my bag next to it. I usually am just at the pool with my youngest - my teenager is usually taking a nap. I worry about pool hoppers too, but am not going to stress too much over it. One chaise will do for us - my little fish will be swimming as long as I let him!

I'm getting more an more excited to go! We're leaving at about 4:00 am next Thursday.

 

[byrd328]

Humm..

I can't wait to hear how the pool issue is, since many of you have trips coming up..The one good thing about the remote-ness of AKL is that no one will drive there just for the pool.

I think Poly maybe compromised by the Transportation Center, and the connection to other resorts via monorail with so-so pools.

To be honest, I was actually surprised at how open the resorts are to the public. You would think disney would be more proactive when it came to accesibility for non-guest. I understand having dinner at a resort, but to say I'm going to use their amenities is something else. I've stayed at some pretty plush spots and they were never so open to public and if you had a dinner reservation the guard at the gate would only let you in if you were on the list for reservations.

I don't know if I would necessarily have to courage to rat someone out..but my poor husband would just have to hear me complain about it all night

 

[mmmears]

I'm getting more an more excited to go! We're leaving at about 4:00 am next Thursday.

I'll be happy if I can find one chair, too.

I was reading your post thinking: 4am! Then I realized we'll be leaving around 5am -- not really much difference ... It's going to be a very long day...

 

[johnsonet]

Humm..

I can't wait to hear how the pool issue is, since many of you have trips coming up..The one good thing about the remote-ness of AKL is that no one will drive there just for the pool.

I think Poly maybe compromised by the Transportation Center, and the connection to other resorts via monorail with so-so pools.

To be honest, I was actually surprised at how open the resorts are to the public. You would think disney would be more proactive when it came to accesibility for non-guest. I understand having dinner at a resort, but to say I'm going to use their amenities is something else. I've stayed at some pretty plush spots and they were never so open to public and if you had a dinner reservation the guard at the gate would only let you in if you were on the list for reservations.

I don't know if I would necessarily have to courage to rat someone out..but my poor husband would just have to hear me complain about it all night

Actually... within the past 18 months I've chatted with someone at the AKL pool who happened to be "visiting" We struck up a conversation b/c she herself had taken the chairs of someone who'd "saved" some chairs by the pool The offenders had left magazines and this woman not only took the chairs but the mags too She was a South Florida businesswoman who looked and sounded like Victoria Gotti and I would've loved to have seen the offenders show up and try and re-claim their seats She was a ^&*(-buster! She told me she was just there for the day and was unapologetic

Re. the Poly, I realized a couple of weeks ago how open the monorail/boat resorts are (or TTC walkway) to visitors... Unless they really crack down, there are going to be people who come to enjoy the facilities

 

[johnsonet]

Ok all you Poly experts, I have a little dilema. My friends and I are booked for Poly for July. My one friend is in the military so he booked two rooms with the military discount. One is club level and one is standard garden view. How do they check in? Can my military friend go to the Hawaii building and check in both rooms even if one is not club level? Or does he have to check in twice? He needs to be present for both check ins bc he needs to show his military id/orders. Any help/advice will really be appreciated!!!

Hi there. I don't have any experience with this but my guess is you will need to have your friend present at check-in. Both for his room and your room. I don't know how strict they are but make sure he's available...
Have fun!

 

[BCV23]

Actually... within the past 18 months I've chatted with someone at the AKL pool who happened to be "visiting" We struck up a conversation b/c she herself had taken the chairs of someone who'd "saved" some chairs by the pool The offenders had left magazines and this woman not only took the chairs but the mags too She was a South Florida businesswoman who looked and sounded like Victoria Gotti and I would've loved to have seen the offenders show up and try and re-claim their seats She was a ^&*(-buster! She told me she was just there for the day and was unapologetic

Re the Polynesian, I don't think I've ever seen the type of seat savings that happens at some resorts...as in setting things out at 7am to reserve a seat for hours later.

But I have seen hoppers including people on the monorail in swimming suits on the way to the Polynesian for a swim. I've had young CMs in stores ask me about our resort...when I say the Polynesian, they'll rave about the beach or pool and how they were just there last week. And DVC guests can hop to the Polynesian "legally" most weeks of the year.

But I'm glad they haven't roped the pool off like SAB. My family has always had room to swim and there is always plenty of room on the three beaches. Keeping the pool open visually adds to the magic IMO.

I will say one Easter week was the only time the crowds at the pools really annoyed me. Even the "quiet" pool was crowded.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

So what is going on with the cabanas at the poly? I have no heard anything lately.

 

[FozzieFan]

So my parents are taking me along MOST expenses paid to Disney this October if I agreed to do ALL of the planning for them , yeah I had to think about that . My dad always dreamed about staying at the Polynesian, and we were both able to convince my mom that it was absolutely worth the money.

Anyway, my dad will most likely have an ECV due to arthritis in his spine he can't stand for long periods of time. We're booked in a garden view, and I was hoping for a 3rd floor balcony, do the longhouses have elevators? And if they do,are they large enough to get an evc in? Or should I just go for the first floor room for convenience?

Thanks for all of your help everyone!

 

[BCV23]

So my parents are taking me along MOST expenses paid to Disney this October if I agreed to do ALL of the planning for them , yeah I had to think about that . My dad always dreamed about staying at the Polynesian, and we were both able to convince my mom that it was absolutely worth the money.

Anyway, my dad will most likely have an ECV due to arthritis in his spine he can't stand for long periods of time. We're booked in a garden view, and I was hoping for a 3rd floor balcony, do the longhouses have elevators? And if they do,are they large enough to get an evc in? Or should I just go for the first floor room for convenience?

Thanks for all of your help everyone!

Frankly, I'd request first floor and mention the ECV. All building except Niue (and maybe Tonga but it is all suites) have elevators but other than the concierge building, the elevators are rather small. And really the views from the first floor are gorgeous.

 

[CleveRocks]

Each building has elevators.

 

[BCV23]

Each building has elevators.

Except Niue...and maybe Tonga.