The Official Polynesian Resort FAQ thread!

[First timer]

Does anyone know if the Poly has adjoining rooms? We are planning to go again next year but need more room. We stayed in the Hawaii Bldg. so that is where we plan to stay again.

 

[Tikiman]

Does anyone know if the Poly has adjoining rooms? We are planning to go again next year but need more room. We stayed in the Hawaii Bldg. so that is where we plan to stay again.

All longhouses have connecting rooms but you will have to request connecting if you want the rooms to share an inner door. If you ask for adjoining you will get rooms that are next to each other and not necessarily connecting.

 

[firkat]

First Timer, thanks so much for all of the great info! I will keep an eye out for your other posts on other boards for reports on all of your adventures.

We also have children with wide age gaps, DD15, DS9 and DS18months. So, I will be curious to read how that worked out for you.

Sounds like the Poly concierge experience made a believer out of you! I keep reading over and over again that once you do it, you get totally spoiled and want to do it again and again!

I am concerned about your report of rude guests, both at the bus and in the concierge lounge. What is with people? Maybe it had to do with the heat you described. I sure hope we don't run into that in October!

 

[Daveylegs]

I can't remember if I've asked this before but...

Are there nachos available at the volcano pool? Is the pool heated? Do I really need to get there at dawn to get chair/table? Are there life vests available (they have a chest of kids' life vests at the pools at Disneyland).

 

[PRaffen]

deleted double post

 

[PRaffen]

When I stopped by the bell desk at the GCH the bell check (clerk?) told me that they were extremely busy right now and that we would have to haul our own luggage - even though I told him we were staying in the concierge bldg. I was so happy to be at the poly that I decided not to push the issue.

Have to admit I'm quite taken back by this.

Tikiman - I don't want to be pushy either, but we are staying concierge next month and I thought they would greet us at the bell stand and take our luggage and us by golf cart to Hawaii. I'm not expecting to be told they are "too busy" and that I would have to haul our bags.

If this happens, how would you suggest handling it?

 

[mlwear]

Originally Posted by First timer
When I stopped by the bell desk at the GCH the bell check (clerk?) told me that they were extremely busy right now and that we would have to haul our own luggage - even though I told him we were staying in the concierge bldg. I was so happy to be at the poly that I decided not to push the issue.

Have to admit I'm quite taken back by this.

Tikiman - I don't want to be pushy either, but we are staying concierge next month and I thought they would greet us at the bell stand and take our luggage and us by golf cart to Hawaii. I'm not expecting to be told they are "too busy" and that I would have to haul our bags.

If this happens, how would you suggest handling it?

The same thing happened to us last year! It was our first trip and we didn't make an issue of it, we only had our carry-on bags, but still...we were just sent out to find the Hawaii building on our own. I know there are plenty of signs, but still we somehow managed wandering around a while in the August heat with bags and kids in tow trying to find the building. Of course, when we did (we asked a groundskeeper, who was very nice)...it was like duh, it was RIGHT there! The rest of check in was nice, though. If it happens this year, we'll just go with it. At least we know where the building is!

 

[First timer]

Have to admit I'm quite taken back by this.

Tikiman - I don't want to be pushy either, but we are staying concierge next month and I thought they would greet us at the bell stand and take our luggage and us by golf cart to Hawaii. I'm not expecting to be told they are "too busy" and that I would have to haul our bags.

If this happens, how would you suggest handling it?

Actually it was bell services inside the GCH that told me they were too busy. It was our fault for not stopping prior to entering the GCH. Although if I had not read it on numerous posts I would not have know at all that bell serives is supposed to escort you to your longhouse. No one stepped out of their way to direct or question us. We hopped off the bus and walked right by! Also, we had only our carry ons (although they were huge) so I guess that's also why I did not make an issue at the time.

Just make sure you make it known that you are staying concierge before you even enter the GCH.

 

[kjccr]

Can anyone tell me if the Poly has its own buses that run to MGM and Animal Kingdom or do we have to walk/monorail it over to the TTC? Thanks!

 

[First timer]

First Timer, thanks so much for all of the great info! I will keep an eye out for your other posts on other boards for reports on all of your adventures.

We also have children with wide age gaps, DD15, DS9 and DS18months. So, I will be curious to read how that worked out for you.

Sounds like the Poly concierge experience made a believer out of you! I keep reading over and over again that once you do it, you get totally spoiled and want to do it again and again!

I am concerned about your report of rude guests, both at the bus and in the concierge lounge. What is with people? Maybe it had to do with the heat you described. I sure hope we don't run into that in October!

I was surprised too - but the number of people that were kind and the CMs that were helpful more than made up for the rude folks. The heat can definitely make one crazy but still was kind of taken aback by some of the rude people. I spoke to some of the concierge group about it and they made it perfectly clear that they would serve those that are rude but would not go above and beyond for them.

 

[Tikiman]

Have to admit I'm quite taken back by this.

Tikiman - I don't want to be pushy either, but we are staying concierge next month and I thought they would greet us at the bell stand and take our luggage and us by golf cart to Hawaii. I'm not expecting to be told they are "too busy" and that I would have to haul our bags.

If this happens, how would you suggest handling it?

Concierge guests should not ever have to walk to or take their bags to the building themselves. If this happens please ask to speak to a manager right away.

 

[mlwear]

Actually it was bell services inside the GCH that told me they were too busy. It was our fault for not stopping prior to entering the GCH. Although if I had not read it on numerous posts I would not have know at all that bell serives is supposed to escort you to your longhouse. No one stepped out of their way to direct or question us. We hopped off the bus and walked right by! Also, we had only our carry ons (although they were huge) so I guess that's also why I did not make an issue at the time.

Just make sure you make it known that you are staying concierge before you even enter the GCH.

Not to beat the topic to death, but I guess I am. We did stop outside before entering(because I read on this board to do just that) and were sort of given this brush off hand gesture and told to go to the Hawaii building. It wasn't a big deal. It just made getting into the air conditioned building and having a cup of juice all the better.
I would say, just speak up and say you'd like help with your baggage and getting to the Hawaii building, if you have a problem. I feel sure that would resolve it.

 

[First timer]

Not to beat the topic to death, but I guess I am. We did stop outside before entering(because I read on this board to do just that) and were sort of given this brush off hand gesture and told to go to the Hawaii building. It wasn't a big deal. It just made getting into the air conditioned building and having a cup of juice all the better.
I would say, just speak up and say you'd like help with your baggage and getting to the Hawaii building, if you have a problem. I feel sure that would resolve it.

I don't think you are beating the issue to death. You are correct and when you are paying for these additional services you should not be made to feel like you are asking for something unreasonable. Next time I will be better prepared. I was just so dazzled by it all - seeing and being there for the first time.

 

[firkat]

I posted this on the Dining board, but would like to get an opinion from you Poly pros. I have ADRs for dinner at 'Ohana, Kona and SofA. Will that be too much of a good thing? Are the food styles too similar to take in all three?

If you answer yes, then which one do I cut? (I also have breakfast ADRs at Kona and 'Ohana.)

 

[DaisyD]

We've always been asked to be driven to our building and we never stay concierge. All guests should be carted to their buildings, not just concierge. We are usually told to go check in, since we aren't concierge, and when our room is ready to come out front, have luggage load up the cart and they drive you to your room. We generally pass on this now that we have been there enough and would rather walk and enjoy the sites and sounds a little more on our way to our new room. It is terrible that the staff would not offer this service to any guest of the Poly. They must be shortstaffed or something.

 

[Tikiman]

I posted this on the Dining board, but would like to get an opinion from you Poly pros. I have ADRs for dinner at 'Ohana, Kona and SofA. Will that be too much of a good thing? Are the food styles too similar to take in all three?

If you answer yes, then which one do I cut? (I also have breakfast ADRs at Kona and 'Ohana.)

Each location serves different food. I like the food at each location and if you have time for them all than why not try them. The only one I would pass on ever doing again was the ‘Ohana breakfast. Food was ok (mostly what you would get at any place for breakfast) not cooked very well and service was the worst I have ever had at WDW. I prefer breakfast at Kona Café myself.

 

[Daveylegs]

Thought I'd try again and see if I had any takers...

Are there nachos available at the volcano pool? Is the pool heated? Do I really need to get there at dawn to get chair/table? Are there life vests available (they have a chest of kids' life vests at the pools at Disneyland)?

 

[First timer]

Thought I'd try again and see if I had any takers...

Are there nachos available at the volcano pool? Is the pool heated? Do I really need to get there at dawn to get chair/table? Are there life vests available (they have a chest of kids' life vests at the pools at Disneyland)?

You do not need to get there at dawn for a chair - nor for a table. While we were there (June/July) we noticed that it got quite busy in the afternoons. The mornings were nice and peaceful. I noticed several children with vests - not sure where they got them though. Don't know about the nachos.

 

[DaisyD]

Thought I'd try again and see if I had any takers...

Are there nachos available at the volcano pool? Is the pool heated? Do I really need to get there at dawn to get chair/table? Are there life vests available (they have a chest of kids' life vests at the pools at Disneyland)?

The only food at the Barefoot bar is chips and pretzels. No nachos. As far as getting there at dawn you won't but you will have to remove some towels that are saving those tables. We only get a table because my mom cannot get down into those lounges chairs. We were there two weeks ago for two weeks. Every morning around 10am we went down to the pool to hang out for a couple hours. Everytime the tables and chairs had towels on them and there was no one in the pool or barley anyone. I simply removed the towels from the table we wanted and sat down. It has gotten worse over the years as far as chair saving. So much so that the Poly now has it in its welcome packet about not being allowed to save chairs with towels. Two mornings we were there I saw a lifeguard come through and remove the rest of the towels from the chairs because no one was in them. Lifevests are available at the marina boat rental which is the other side of the volcano pool. You might need a drivers license or room key to get it but they are free to use.

 

[BCV23]

mlwear, you said you only had your carryons. Were you on Magical Express too? First timer was.

Perhaps bell services tell people whom they see arrive that way to walk on to Hawaii since they know they will be making a delivery later anyway. I can imagine making two trips to one room would increase the demand on bell services quite a bit depending on what percentage of guests are using ME.

Just a thought.