The Official Polynesian Resort FAQ thread!

[Secondgradememories]

Can you purchase a Pal Mickey at the Polynesian? I was thinking about grabbing one while kids are at the pool and sneaking into the room. Are they worth the $$?

I called ahead our last trip and requested a Pal Mickey be left in our room for us. They even added a little note from Mickey and Minnie. He was very cool - but here's my advice - don't use the clip to hold him on to your belt. We had him for about 2 hours when he fell off of DS's belt as we left in a packed crowd from Mickey's Philharmagic. Someone scooped him up and just walked away with him. My DS was SOOOO bummed! We loved him dearly for the two hours we had him and I almost bought another but couldn't bring myself to spend the $$$. Call ahead and ask for one to be put in your room when you are out and ask for the note too. It was worth it, even if we only got to love him for a little bit.

 

[JerseyGirl114]

CKMOMMY -
Can you please take a pic of the temporary location of Captain Cooks? When I told my kids it was closed they were devastated. I tried to explain to them how it's in a temporary location, but lord knows what they have in their heads. I heard DD explaining to DS that it's probably a room with a cart in it! I'd like to show them that it's really not that bad, although we will miss the mug program terribly!

 

[huntconn]

mmmears, there's definitely enough food in the concierge "evening offering" to make a full meal. The only thing you are sacrificing is variety. We always schedule our sit down ADR's on the nights when the offering is not to our liking... specifically sushi night on Mondays! I have read posts on this and other boards claiming that people shouldn't make the concierge offering their evening dinners but I honestly have never seen them run out of food once in the four consecutive years we have been going there. And it's never been posted anywhere that these are only to be "snacks". It's just never been an issue, even though some people will make a big deal out of it on these boards. Actually I've never seen them run out of anything at any time of the day. Sometimes I think people claim that they saw something happen (concierge running out of food due to some people taking "too much") just to support their own personal feelings on the matter. Anyway, you get the idea!

 

[Grumpy'n'Goofy]

CKMOMMY -
Can you please take a pic of the temporary location of Captain Cooks? When I told my kids it was closed they were devastated. I tried to explain to them how it's in a temporary location, but lord knows what they have in their heads. I heard DD explaining to DS that it's probably a room with a cart in it! I'd like to show them that it's really not that bad, although we will miss the mug program terribly!

The new location, IMHO, is perfectly fine. The food is much better quality and the choices are better. Here are a couple of pics (there are some better pics floating around, I think Safetymom posted them).

The breakfast "crowd" at 8am:

Entry to the additional indoor seating area:

the additional indoor seating area:

 

[Flora Fan]

Grumpy'n'Goofy...thanks for the pics.
This place is wonderful! Can't wait to go back...

 

[Darian]

Hi mmmears!!!

I agree with the other posters that a stay at the poly is definitly worth it! My DW and I have stayed concierge there several times. And the sushi is delicious. Chef Dick loves it when you complement him on his sushi. He's such a sweet guy! DW and I have asked concierge staff about the whole food thing --- about making the appetizers there into an evening meal expressly because of the debate we've seen on the DIS. Their reply was that the food offerings were merely appetizers and snacks to go with the beverages (a nice selection of wines and cordials) they serve. Yeah, not really an answer I know. But it seemed to favor the "snack only" side of the debate. I have no "dog in the show" with the whole "how many appetizers should you eat" debate! Do what you think is proper. Though I have seen empty trays after they got cleared out by people taking a lot of food back to their rooms. huntconn maybe you just got there early and were one of the fortunate few to be able to taste the treats available.

I don't know. I'm no fortune teller. I just post here.

 

[Darian]

Hi All!!!

I have question about the Poly's bar service at the volcano pool. When I was last there you had to actually haul your carcass to the bar, get your drink and pray your lounger was still unoccupied. At the AKL, BC etc they have pool side service... a person comes by, takes your order, brings your drink. As it should be. Has the poly started doing this yet? I wonder if the boardwalk has it..... wrong thread for that part of the question.....

Thanks!

 

[nybound]

Hi all,

I just got back from a week's stay at the Poly LVC. It was another fabulous trip!

If you have any questions, I'll answer what I can.

I will second Grumpy'n'Goofy's comment that Captain Cook's food quality has improved at it's new location (at least for what I had). I didn't care for it last year, but I actually enjoyed what I had. The menu is more limited which may explain the better quality (what they do have, they do better).

Outside of that, little else has changed in the past year. The new rooms are quite nice.

 

[TheIncredibles]

Hi All!!!

I have question about the Poly's bar service at the volcano pool. When I was last there you had to actually haul your carcass to the bar, get your drink and pray your lounger was still unoccupied. At the AKL, BC etc they have pool side service... a person comes by, takes your order, brings your drink. As it should be. Has the poly started doing this yet? I wonder if the boardwalk has it..... wrong thread for that part of the question.....

Thanks!

In March, I didn't see poolside service...wasn't there a whole bunch, but I don't remeber ever seeing it in nthe past either...bummer.

 

[BCV23]

I've never seen poolside service in over 30 trips, Darian. Personally, that's OK with me though.

Thanks for the pictures Grumpy'nGoofy. It looks like the extra tables are in the entrance area for Tangaroa Terrace????

I love your "crowd" picture.

 

[Grumpy'n'Goofy]

Thanks for the pictures Grumpy'nGoofy. It looks like the extra tables are in the entrance area for Tangaroa Terrace????

That's correct.

I love your "crowd" picture.

yeah, after hearing the horror stories of the loooong lines at breakfast I figured I'd take my camera and get a picture of the chaos

 

[DaisyD]

Grumpyn Goofy, just because you didn't run into any crowd doesn't mean it wasn't crowded when we were there. We were just there for 12 days and every morning at about 9am that we were there the line was out the door. We waited approximately 1 hour from getting in the line to actually being handed our food on 3 mornings! It really gets difficult to post about one's experience on a trip only to be made fun of and tried to make it seem like it simply wasn't true. I'm happy that YOU didn't run into any crowds. You were either very lucky or we were very unlucky.

 

[DaisyD]

Hi All!!!

I have question about the Poly's bar service at the volcano pool. When I was last there you had to actually haul your carcass to the bar, get your drink and pray your lounger was still unoccupied. At the AKL, BC etc they have pool side service... a person comes by, takes your order, brings your drink. As it should be. Has the poly started doing this yet? I wonder if the boardwalk has it..... wrong thread for that part of the question.....

Thanks!

Unfortunately the Poly Barefoot poolbar does not have poolside service. We have never lost our table or lounger getting a drink though! The lines may get long but they are pretty fast about it.

 

[chamonix]

Wow, AKL and BC have poolside service?! Why not the Polynesian? I have been in some really long lines waiting for service at the bar. You know, if they had poolside service, the same CMs might be in a good position to ensure folks in the pool area were actually Poly guests too!

 

[Grumpy'n'Goofy]

Grumpyn Goofy, just because you didn't run into any crowd doesn't mean it wasn't crowded when we were there.

I agree, and never said it wasn't crowded when you were there.

It really gets difficult to post about one's experience on a trip only to be made fun of and tried to make it seem like it simply wasn't true.

Sorry if you felt I was making fun of you, that certainly was not my intention.

My intention was, like you, to post about my experience so others might get an idea on what to expect w/ the changes at CC's.

 

[chamonix]

I think it is very valuable and important for both folks who had "different" experiences to post about them since otherwise people might read one thing and think it is "always" going to be just like that one way. Obviously Cooks isn't going to be crowded 24/7, but it sure sounds like it was crowded at 9am for breakfast when DaisyD was there! I can't imagine waiting an hour morning after morning! If it was me, I would have hightailed it to another location for breakfast--another resort, the park you are going to, buy snacks somewhere, etc! (especially after the first day of waiting that long!)

DaisyD, I am sure GrumpyGoofy wasn't trying to make you feel bad or "prove you wrong", she was understandably wanting to show it was empty when she was there. What time in the morning was that anyway? I am thinking earlier than the time DaisyD was in there.

 

[DaisyD]

yeah, after hearing the horror stories of the loooong lines at breakfast I figured I'd take my camera and get a picture of the chaos

Grumpy goofy, this is what I'm referring to. Your little at the end of your post. As if to say you don't know what everyone else is talking about. Just because you were lucky enough to avoid the crowds doesn't mean everyone will. Perhaps I'll keep my camera at breakfast when I return in 10 weeks and see if I can capture the crowd I did see.

 

[DaisyD]

I think it is very valuable and important for both folks who had "different" experiences to post about them since otherwise people might read one thing and think it is "always" going to be just like that one way. Obviously Cooks isn't going to be crowded 24/7, but it sure sounds like it was crowded at 9am for breakfast when DaisyD was there! I can't imagine waiting an hour morning after morning! If it was me, I would have hightailed it to another location for breakfast--another resort, the park you are going to, buy snacks somewhere, etc! (especially after the first day of waiting that long!)

DaisyD, I am sure GrumpyGoofy wasn't trying to make you feel bad or "prove you wrong", she was understandably wanting to show it was empty when she was there. What time in the morning was that anyway? I am thinking earlier than the time DaisyD was in there.

I totally understand showing a different view. I really didn't take that post as that way though. To me it was more like they didn't really believe the so called horror posts because they took this great pic of absolutely no one in there. I guess I read too many posts where heaven forbid someone complains and then everyone else comes back saying their experience was just fantastic and they get confused because they didn't get the same experience. Unless one was there at the same time then they won't get the same experience.

 

[mlwear]

... specifically sushi night on Mondays!

? is sushi served only on Mondays? Bummer for DH and DS, they love it, it isn't for me, though. Anyone know if it is offered an additional night? Not a big deal, they can get their fill at Teppanyaki, but it would be a welcome treat.
Glad to know food quality at Captain Cook's is good. That clears up one planning glitch for me
Truly, I think it is good to get different sides of the story on this board. That way you can prepare for the worst and hope for the best (however, I don't think there is a "worst" at WDW, I'd rather call it "less than ideal").

 

[mhanback]

ckmommy:

Will you take a picture of the new menu, so I can see prices and what all is there?
I have just realized the new menu is not showing french fries...my husband will die! And no adult chicken tenders...this is what we live on there; we are very picky eaters.
Thanks and have a great time!!!