The Official Polynesian Resort FAQ thread!

[jw50]

1- Do you only get a DVD player in the concierge rooms?

Yes, only in the Concierge (Club level) rooms.

2-Is there a website that I can use to buy gifts, to be waiting in my room, when I check in?

Yes and no, there are a number of websites where you can order gifts to be delivered to your room but no guarantee that they would be waiting in your room since your exact room number may not be assigned until you check in. If you are staying Concierge there is a higher probability they may be in the room by the time you get to the room depending on when you check in and when the room is ready. However, based on your previous post I don't think you are intending to stay Concierge.

disneyflorist.com and giftsofalifetime.com are two websites that will deliver to your room.

3- Say I order Chocolate Strawberries, who do I talk to to make sure they're there in my room when I arrive? Do I ask when I make reservations or when I check in?

If you are staying Concierge then IPO (Island Planning Office at the Poly) would be who you would talk to, not CRO when you make the reservation.

4-Lastly, I read somewhere that someone stayed about 7 days at the Poly & wasn't able to make reservations at Ohanas. I was once told that if you stayed at a resort, they always made room for you, even if you make same day reservations, is this not true?

If you are intending to just show up at a very busy time of the year then it is quite possible you will not be able to get into Ohanas, although there are usually cancellations if you want to keep checking every day that you are there and will to accept whatever time is available. They do not hold back reservations just for resort guests so do not assume that just because you are staying there that you will be able to get in whenever you decide you would like to go. This is why you make your ADRs as soon as possible. I also assume you are talking about Ohana for dinner since it is not difficult to get in Ohana when it opens for breakfast.

So you can see that the answers to some of your questions can vary depending on if you are booking concierge.

 

[kutchyone]

Would like to say I read through the entire thread looking for the information I need but we all know I didn't. Boy this thread is big.

Can anyone request turn down service or only concierage? Also, can we request that housekeeping clean the room early? We plan on afternoon naps.

Thank you.

 

[dancemomnj]

Would like to say I read through the entire thread looking for the information I need but we all know I didn't. Boy this thread is big.

Can anyone request turn down service or only concierage? Also, can we request that housekeeping clean the room early? We plan on afternoon naps.

Thank you.

Yes, anyone can request turn down service. Just call housekeeping when you arrive. We had it last week.
I believe you can request housekeeping to come early. They came early to our room with out even asking. I guess our room was in the early part of their route.

 

[jayally]

what exactly is turn down service?

 

[disneyfan67]

what exactly is turn down service?

It's where they will come into your room and turn the bedding down and arrange your pillows as if your going to bed. Plus they leave some form of chocolates on your pillow. It like the Ritz Carlton treatment, but that's where the comparison ends.

Much like what a live in butler or maid for a wealthy person, would do.

I had it done once at the Poly and while it's nice I guess, it didn't make me say wow, I got to get this done every night! Each to their own though and some members here really like it.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

I did a separate thread for this question but now I'm thinking I should have placed it here. Does the Poly offer late checkout? I just got our flight info from our TA today and we don't leave Orlando until 5pm but check out is 11am. ME will pick us up at 2pm so we have 3 hours to "kill". Didn't know if we could get a late checkout or maybe just schedule a lunch at Kona Cafe? Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[rjeash]

It's where they will come into your room and turn the bedding down and arrange your pillows as if your going to bed. Plus they leave some form of chocolates on your pillow. It like the Ritz Carlton treatment, but that's where the comparison ends.

Much like what a live in butler or maid for a wealthy person, would do.

I had it done once at the Poly and while it's nice I guess, it didn't make me say wow, I got to get this done every night! Each to their own though and some members here really like it.

I think it is a really nice service for those of us with young children who will be falling asleep before we get into the room. We won't have to undress the bed as well as the child.

 

[marlower]

I will be staying at the Poly for the first time Aug 18th and was just wondering about the EWP. First of all, is it really worth seeing, this is my dilemma. On the 18th we will be at MGM for Fantasmic, on 19th we have ADR at Calif Grill at 740pm, on 20th we have Biergarten/Illuminations, on 21st we have Luau at 8pm, and we check out on the 22nd. What would you do in order to see EWP, is the Luau good? What about Fantasmic? Should I change anything in order to view EWP? Thanks in advance

 

[WickedWench]

I will be staying at the Poly for the first time Aug 18th and was just wondering about the EWP. First of all, is it really worth seeing, this is my dilemma. On the 18th we will be at MGM for Fantasmic, on 19th we have ADR at Calif Grill at 740pm, on 20th we have Biergarten/Illuminations, on 21st we have Luau at 8pm, and we check out on the 22nd. What would you do in order to see EWP, is the Luau good? What about Fantasmic? Should I change anything in order to view EWP? Thanks in advance

If you get a window seat at the California Grill you can see the EWP from there. You won't hear the music, but you can see the lights. I wouldn't change any of your other plans just for the EWP, it's very short, and your other plans are better.

 

[cotomom]

Hi all!

Can anyone please tell me how the buses work from the Poly? Are they on set schedules, like every 20 min. or ??? When is the first one to AK and/or MGM? Are the morning ones so crowded you might have to wait for another bus or ?

thank you!

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

Hi all!

Can anyone please tell me how the buses work from the Poly? Are they on set schedules, like every 20 min. or ??? When is the first one to AK and/or MGM? Are the morning ones so crowded you might have to wait for another bus or ?

thank you!

And to add to this very good question, would it be faster to walk to the TTC and catch a bus to DTD than wait at the Polynesian?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

And to add to this very good question, would it be faster to walk to the TTC and catch a bus to DTD than wait at the Polynesian?

This is just a guess of mine but I think it's better to get on the bus from the Polynesian and not the TTC. My thinking is since the Polynesian shares with the Contemporary and Grand Floridian there would be more buses. Where as the buses that go to the TTC come from MGM and the AK, so I would think there would be less of them.

I also don't think there is a bus from the TTC - Downtown Disney because what would stop guests from parking at Downtown Disney all day for free, so they get on the bus to the TTC and then are off to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[RivaLJ]

As far as I know, you can only get a bus to DTD from a resort and not from TTC or a park.

 

[disneyfan67]

As far as I know, you can only get a bus to DTD from a resort and not from TTC or a park.

That is true. People were parking at DTD for free and using the DTD buses to get into the parks, so Disney eliminated the stops. The buses still run but not directly to a park. On my last visit I couldn't get a bus from the TTC to DTD and when I asked why, that's the answer I got. If I go to DTD, I just grab a bus from the stop in front of the Poly.

 

[dancemomnj]

If you get a window seat at the California Grill you can see the EWP from there. You won't hear the music, but you can see the lights. I wouldn't change any of your other plans just for the EWP, it's very short, and your other plans are better.

I agree. It's not worth changing your plans.

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

Thanks all, for the TTC-DTD answers. I had read conflicting reports of that bus being in operation (or not).

 

[lklasing]

I did a separate thread for this question but now I'm thinking I should have placed it here. Does the Poly offer late checkout? I just got our flight info from our TA today and we don't leave Orlando until 5pm but check out is 11am. ME will pick us up at 2pm so we have 3 hours to "kill". Didn't know if we could get a late checkout or maybe just schedule a lunch at Kona Cafe? Any ideas? Thanks.

Yes, we got late checkout in May - I think we were able to stay in the room until 1:00 or maybe 2:00 p.m. Just ask sometime while you're there. I arranged it on our last day to accomodate DH, who wasn't feeling well and wasn't up for another trip to the MK.

 

[BCV23]

marlower, if it were me I would try to change California Grill to an earlier time. Wishes is better from the MK (best there) or the beach of the Polynesian than it is from CG IMO. We love CG and dine there every trip but find it more pleasant earlier.

Or is there an earlier Luau? Although I wonder how well you can see the Electrical Water Pageant from the Luau itself? Anyway, I would not miss Fantasmic, Illuminations or Wishes but the Pageant is such a tradition at the Polynesian and we try to catch it as often as possible. It is a short show BTW.

 

[mickeymotto]

Hi all!

Can anyone please tell me how the buses work from the Poly? Are they on set schedules, like every 20 min. or ??? When is the first one to AK and/or MGM? Are the morning ones so crowded you might have to wait for another bus or ?

thank you!

This is the most useful travel tool I have found to help you find what it the best possible transport between places while in WDW.

http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.aspx

Hope this helps!

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Yes, we got late checkout in May - I think we were able to stay in the room until 1:00 or maybe 2:00 p.m. Just ask sometime while you're there. I arranged it on our last day to accomodate DH, who wasn't feeling well and wasn't up for another trip to the MK.

Thank you for that info. I'll ask sometime during our trip - that would be really great so the kids could swim more. I know theres lockers by the pool so if we don't get a late check out we could always do that but it would be so much easier w/a late check out. Thanks again!