The Polynesian is like the islands!!!

[Tikiman]

Well We just got back from Hawaii (the real one not the Polynesian longhouse) and all I can say is everywhere we went we saw things that looked just like things at the Polynesian. We even entered a hand crafted tiki store in Haleiwa town and some of them are exactly like the tikis and masks at the Polynesian. I keep telling everyone how authentic the Polynesian is to the Polynesian islands. We heard some of the same songs played that they play on the grounds of the Polynesian (on the radio KINE). I have heard the argument that the Polynesian does not look like the hotel that people have stayed at in Hawaii but you have to remember that many of the hotels in Hawaii have an British décor because of the early British influence. On the other hand much of the furniture in the hotels in Hawaii and in peoples homes looks like the furniture at the Polynesian. For those of you who think it looks dark, go visit the Polynesian cultural center and tell the people of the islands that their colors they use are too dark. In fact go up to the biggest Samoan there and tell him that. I can't tell you how many times I felt like I was at the Polynesian when I was there. Now I remember why I love the Polynesian. I could feel like I was in Hawaii and still have all that WDW offers. I know this may start a debate again but I am in a playful mood.

By the way, all you Polynesian lovers must visit the islands. It has been a few years for me and they are looking better than ever. I think I am going to start spending most of my time in the islands when I can so I hope I don't lose touch with the Polynesian but maybe someone else can take over. Next stop for us is Maui but hopefully we will return to the Polynesian in the fall.



Aloha

Steve

 

[Misti]

I'm glad you had a nice trip, Steve!

It's a tough balance between WDW and Hawaii. Our Hawaii trips have definately cut into our WDW travel budget the past few years. I hope you have a great time in Maui.

 

[Tikiman]

Mahalo Misti,

Is was great to be in the warm weather watching the sunset in February. I would move there in a second if I could get a job there.

I guess the good thing is the trip to WDW is about the same distance as the trip to Hawaii for us. I will say that the trip to Hawaii cost less to stay but we spent more on food and we wanted to bring home half the island in our bags.

On the WDW subject have you heard anything about the Polynesian changing the Tahiti longhouse to be smoking and non-smoking? Someone just emailed me and said they were in a smoking room in Tahiti. I have an email in to the Polynesian but I have not heard back yet.

Aloha

Steve

 

[robinb]

I just finished finalizing my 10 day trip to Hawaii in March and April. What tour did you do at the cultural center? I'm really looking forward to that. We're going to stay at the Hilton Waikoloa Village (on points ) on the big island for 6 nights and then go to HNL for 4 nights. Any recommendations? You can email (or PM) me .

 

[Tikiman]

robinb,

what is your email?

 

[lizzie64]

I would move there in a second if I could get a job there.

hey Steve,

My sister in law went to Kaui on her honeymoon. Well, they both fell in love with it and wound up moving there within the year. Alas, they are now divorced, but both still live there. Wouldn't move back for anything.

Can you believe she's been there 10 years and I still haven't been there.

I guess the Polynesian this May will be good enough for me. With 4 kids there is no way I'm making that flight from NJ.

Liz

Oh, Please let me know about Tahiti. I had my heart set on staying there. Hopefully it won't go totally smoking. I hate the thought of it being smoking at all. Then you run into the smoking on the balcony issue.

 

[ga9497]

Originally posted by robinb
I just finished finalizing my 10 day trip to Hawaii in March and April. What tour did you do at the cultural center? I'm really looking forward to that. We're going to stay at the Hilton Waikoloa Village (on points ) on the big island for 6 nights and then go to HNL for 4 nights. Any recommendations? You can email (or PM) me .

The Hilton Waikoloa village is a wonderful hotel. I will say that the boats and the monorail to get you around the resort will remind you of Disney.

If you can fit it in, make an appointment with their dolphin quest.

I believe what Steve is talking about is the Polynesian Cultural center in Oahu. It's a great place to visit.

 

[Tikiman]

From what I was told by a guest, Tahiti has a few rooms that are now smoking but not the whole longhouse. Maybe they are doing one floor like in Hawaii and Tuvalu. This is new to me but I will find out what the story is. That would make sense to make a floor smoking since it will be conceirge for a few months.

robinb,

we just paid for the entry and went to the different islands. We did not stay for the luau or the IMAX. We were traveling the whole island so we only spent a few hours there but I learned a lot more about the different cultures from the people who lived on the different islands.

Aloha

Steve

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Tikiman - good to hear you had a great trip to Hawaii.
Hawaii is nice, but if you want to really experience Polynesia - you should try some of the other islands......I know you'd love Fiji, Tahiti (although very expensive) and especially The Cook Islands.
On the island of Rarotonga they have a wonderful cultural center. The Cooks are really affordable too (can you tell I used to work for a company that flys there....)
Good luck with your future Polynesian travels....
Kia Orana!

 

[Tikiman]

Mahalo Yzma and Kronk,

Tahiti is starting to grow up a little but Fiji, Bora Bora and some of the other small islands would be nice. I may be making my way to Rarotonga soon for a quick trip here soon. Fiji will be on my list very soon. There are some good deals to go there but the flight would not be very fun. it is like 2300 miles from Honolulu. I guess that is one of the good things about Hawaii is that it is closer and you get a mix of many of the cultures.

Aloha

Steve

 

[ZachnElli]

Glad you had a great trip Tikiman!! I've never stayed at the Polynesian but have wondered about it being "dark" in reviews. I've been to Hawaii several times and all the hotels I've stayed at in Hawaii, the halls were open like the Poly is described to be. Sounds authentic to me! And you sound like my dh, he always checks the help wanted ads when we go to Hawaii, even went on an interview once! LOL!

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Bula Tikiman
A suggestion for you (to fit in between your WDW trips).
You might want to look into cheaper fares to New Zealand (a lot of Polynesian culture there too!) that allow free stopovers in the Islands. It's usually cheaper than a one island only fare. There are also a few Island Hopper fares out there, but usually going to NZ or Australia with stopovers is cheaper. Check out Air New Zealand's website.
About the long flights - if you can do Hawaii - you'll have no problem with longer flights (just another movie and perhaps another meal and you're there!)

 

[Tikiman]

New Zealand use to be Aotearoa right? I found this to be a fascinating culture. I will have to check it out.

 

[Tess]

My guess is that there is a smoking optional floor in Tahiti because when concierge moves there in June, there will be such a floor. I know we have a "guaranteed" smoking room because my husband enjoys his occasional cigar while on vacation. Because of this we request a smoking floor. Thankfully, he stays on the balcony, but it won't be bothersome to anyone else on the smoking optional floor, hopefully.

I'm not sure why they would add the floor in advance of the concierge move, which BTW, was confirmed to be the first of June (give or take a few days on either side), just as you predicted. I was told the move had been moved later in June and then moved back to the beginning just recently. I'm planning on just going with the flow!

Glad you had a good trip--I love Polynesian, but I'd never get my husband on an airplane to Hawaii (if I could I'd probably go for Australia instead)!

 

[Tikiman]

I got the info on the Tahiti smoking issue and I will post it in a Polynesian update.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I thought they made the third floor in Tahiti smoking when they made the 1st and 2nd non-smoking in Tuvalu? Atleast I think that is what I read on the boards.

Anyways, welcome home, Tikiman. Which islands did you visit, and where did you stay? I'm glad you had a nice trip.

 

[Tikiman]

I was just told the smoking rooms went into Tahiti not too long ago and Tuvalu was changed back in October 2001.

We were on Oahu. Next stop is Maui and Hawaii.

Aloha

Steve

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Steve
You are right - Aotearoa means "Land of the long white cloud" in New Zealand Moari.
New Zealand has an incredible polynesian culture.
The names Disney picked for in and around the Polynesian Resort are very authentic. I'm sure most people don't realize that they are from various places in the South Pacific. It's actually great that Disney can provide people with an experience as close to they'll ever get to visiting The South Pacific/Polynesia with the resort. It's too bad there are those who still complain, and just don't get it!!
Oh well, that's human nature!

 

[Tikiman]

Yzma and Kronk,

I have a book of Polynesian history and of the origin of the Tiki and in both Disney is mentioned for his research that the staff at Disney and Walt himself did before the Tiki room was created. Originally the Tiki room was going to be a big restaurant and dinner show but it became what it is today. The Polynesian’s original names included the name Bali Hai (now Tonga suites) which was the only name that was not an actual place. It was only in the movie South Pacific. When the names changed they now have all actual locations and they even put them in order of where they are located to each other on a map of the islands with an exception of Hawaii would need to be farther north of Tahiti but east and west is very close to the actual proximity of the islands.

I enjoy your input on this subject. Thanks for sharing.

Aloha

Steve