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

[byrd328]

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

 

[FozzieFan]

Thanks for your help! I kind of figured the elevators would be an issue and he's not excited about having to use an ECV as it is, so I want to make it as "painless" for him as possible.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Is swimming allowed at the Poly beach? I thought there was a problem with a bacteria or virus in the water??? Would love to be able to take advantage of the pool and the beach if that's not true.
TIA

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Is swimming allowed at the Poly beach? I thought there was a problem with a bacteria or virus in the water??? Would love to be able to take advantage of the pool and the beach if that's not true.
TIA

No it's not allowed and there are signs which say no going into the water.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Thank you for that rapid response! I wasn't sure if I remembered it right about the beach swimming...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thank you for that rapid response! I wasn't sure if I remembered it right about the beach swimming...

You're welcome.

 

[papaof3]

What exactly is a "pinacolava"? Same as a pinacolada? Please someone, I've got an important question here and I only have 121 days to find the answer before going

 

[mmmears]

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

Hi Kelly. The only things I have heard were over on the GF board. I did ask the IPO office when I called them last time since I was curious about it, but they didn't have any information on it. My guess is that it isn't happening for a while, if at all.

 

[juliebee]

WOW - this thread is huge! But great info. We will be making our first visit to the Poly in August and are wondering about people's experiences using the Magical Express service. Specifically, how long has it generally taken folks to get to Poly from the airport using this? Does it stop at a lot of other resorts before reaching Poly? Thanks for any info!

To go from the airport to the Poly-
I took the ME on 3/20 to the Poly, and the bus lines are signed with the route they serve. The Wilderness Lodge, the Contemporary, the Polynesian, and the Floridian (in that order) are all on one bus. It took us about 60-75 minutes to get to the Poly. They had a nice video to watch.

On the return to the airport-
I just took the ME on Saturday and it stopped at the Grand Floridian after the Poly. I had been assigned a 1:15 bus for my 4pm flight. I was actually ready earlier but was not allowed to get on the 12:45 bus because they already preassign space on the bus. It took us 50 minutes to get to the airport.

 

[juliebee]

We've done both, but usually just walk. If the resort monorail is pulling in and we're really tired, we'll take it to the Poly. Otherwise the time saved by using the closer Poly monorail stop (to the Hawaii bldg) is eaten by waiting for it. But I will assure you, it is not a 5 minute walk from the TTC monorail to the Hawaii building; closer to 15.

We timed it as a 5 minute walk, but truthfully we left the Hawaii building from the "back door" and cut through Tokelau to get on the walkway to the TTC. And that was with my slowpoke 5 year old!

 

[mmmears]

We timed it as a 5 minute walk, but truthfully we left the Hawaii building from the "back door" and cut through Tokelau to get on the walkway to the TTC. And that was with my slowpoke 5 year old!

Thanks for the timing, and the shortcut information. I'll have to remember that when we're there.

 

[LJD2143]

What exactly is a "pinacolava"? Same as a pinacolada? Please someone, I've got an important question here and I only have 121 days to find the answer before going

A Pina Colava is a frozen, blended drink with:
Bacardi Razz Rum
Pina Colada Mix
Raspberry Puree

Yum Yum!!

 

[juliebee]

EDIT : Also if ur staying at poly club level do you still but The Refillable Mugs?

Capt Cooks offers more options than the CL Lounge does, so in my case I bought 2 refillable mugs for my boys so they could have lemonade and powerade. Whether it is a good idea probably depends on what your family likes to drink.

 

[juliebee]

I only swam in the quiet pool and it was certainly not warm but it felt good. Definitely not too cold. You adjust quickly. In my opinion the pools are always chilly at first

It's so funny that we were there at the same time, I wish we had run into each other! I only went into the volcano pool and I'd say it was cool. The weather was about 74-80 while we were there, but the WIND was pretty whippy at times and that is what caused us to feel so cold in the pool. The parts under the water were okay but a little chilled, but anything over the water was cold! Don't underestimate the winds in WDW. It was something that I was surprised about and caused us to have to buy sweatshirts to go out onto the beach.

 

[juliebee]

Thanks for the info. Love the pics and thanks for posting them...I don't remember webkinz May 2008. My DD8 has 30 of them and is going to go when she sees them for sale at her favorite place on earth...

We found lots of Webkins there that we can't typically find in our local stores. My son had been wishing for a Fantail Goldfish and we found it at the Animal Kingdom. Go figure!

 

[Tess]

What exactly is a "pinacolava"? Same as a pinacolada? Please someone, I've got an important question here and I only have 121 days to find the answer before going

A Pina Colava is a frozen, blended drink with:
Bacardi Razz Rum
Pina Colada Mix
Raspberry Puree

Yum Yum!!

And even better than this new version (Pina Colava), is the original--a Lava Flow. While it is not on the menu board, the bartenders should remember it--unless they are newbies--and I really haven't seen a noob at the Barefoot Bar for a few years.

It's basically the same: 1/2 Pina Colada and 1/2 Strawberry Daiquiri rather than the raspberry--we prefer it, but to each his own. I may actually try the raspberry version this year.

Enjoy it--I know we will be in 41 days or so. . .

 

[PrincessP]

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.

Thanks for the information, Tess!

 

[Luvamouse]

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

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...

We usually leave at 5 a.m. too, this time we leave at noon...but a day early! Picking my DD's up at school and heading to VA for the night. My Dh works nights, so the early morning trips don't appeal to him. We do love the drive and seeing the rest of the US, so it will be neat to not night drive this time

Have safe, wonderful trips down. If I can convince myself I'm not looking for Jack Skellington and Ariel, I'll be good!!

 

[wahmtexas]

are all the rooms the same size at the Poly?

 

[BCV23]

The rooms in the original longhouses are 415 sq ft. Those in the three newer longhouses are 476 sq ft.. Those are Tokelau, Tahiti and Rapa Nui.