Pin Code upgraded me to dream resort...why am I not excited? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
Pin Code upgraded me to dream resort...why am I not excited?
This morning my DFi got a pin code for 40% off....great!! We were booked in at AKL CL savannah view so I called to see if I could get the pin for that room....I spoke with a wonderful CM who was so full of information and fun facts about the hotels....anyway she wasn't able to apply the 40% off CL at AKL..sold out I was really disappointed.
She asked if I had any other resorts in mind or if I wanted to get rid of CL and just stay Savannah View....I really had my heart set on CL since this is our honeymoon and we'll probably never stay CL ever again....And the Poly!!! I have always dreamed of staying there since visiting the poly ever since I was a little girl...my parents always used to bring me here to use the pool (a HUGE no-no I am well aware of now when your a kid you don't the difference)....
The CM found a CL garden view rm at the Poly with the discount im not saving as much money now ...it only knocked off $400 of the total rather than close to $1000 but DFi is just happy we're still saving money....So it's all booked!!
Im staying at my dream resort Poly GV CL for 7 nights w/park hopper....wanting to add DDP later when we know how $$ is going and if I can calculate whether it's a good deal for us or not....
but why am I not jumping for joy? I think I was getting used to idea of having a great room with a great view (savannah vs garden/possible parking lot) and waking up to see animals everyday..but on the flip side I was really worried about transportation at AKL..this way we'll be so much closer to MK/Epcot...
Has anyone stayed at both AKL and Poly? Can anyone give me some comparisons? Do you think that if I call back there might be a chance of getting a AKL CL room w/discount even though they are currently sold out?
TIA everyone!! you guys always have the best advice!!
Ooh - that's a tough one! I actually have stayed both AKL and Poly club level - although the AKL stays were both prior to the DVC addition - we were on the fifth floor, Arusha savannah, Zebra trail both times - fabulous location. The rooms for AKL club level are now on the lower floors, near the elevators.
I think you will be happy in either location - and the Poly is lovely for a honeymoon. We were on the second floor - no balcony - but really easy access to the lounge - which is gorgeous, and has a fabulous view of the castle. The food at the Poly was much more plentiful than at the AKL - we did love the service at AKL, but the Poly was fine as well. I think I would have been happy with just the club offerings every night for dinner!
Good luck with your planning, and congratulations on both your wedding and your pin code!!
Well I´ve stayed in both. The view from Poly garden view is not parking lot (we faced the back pool), the building Hawai has that lounge where you can have continental breakfast and refreshment all day and watch Wishes at night (actually I found the view there more beautiful than from California Grill terrace!!!). Let´s them know you are in honneymoon. We were celebrating DD Bday and they were wonderful!!!
An d being in the monorail...well can not beat the confort! A great boat ride to MK, and monorail to Epcot and other resorts...so you can book ADR in all without worrying!!!
Also we´ve stayed a couple of nights at AKL, also CL savanah (this is a problem..CL can be addictive...)
The view of animals...well DD loved them and it was really great! I found CM there more "special", they did those towel animals and leave tons of mint chocolate in our bed!! Also they gave us some presents, like 2 animals parfum bottle for our 13th anniversary....the mousekeeping and other CM at AKL (almost) compensate the 20 minute ride to everywhere you want to go....I think that the distance is the only downside of AKL!!!
I´m sure with both you´ll have great honneymoon! I can´t say which I´d pick because each one has a "special touch" of its own. If Poly is your dream resort, than have fun!! The pool is really great (we did not try the AKL´s b/c it was raining all day and a bit chilly for us). We would definetelly return to both!
I think CL worth the extra $, they assisted us in booking all ADR´s (and the thousent changes we did later on), plus the lounge itself is a great treat!
I´d get basic dining plan if I were you. Specially if you like dining in special restaurants! We´ve that past trip and definetelly it worthed! Saved a lot and we´ve our food prepaid and avoid the "let´s not ask for dessert [or something] for saving $" talk Only for the freedon of asking whatever I wanted I´d say "go for it!".
With the lounge you skip breakfast, so I´d not book it. You can use credits for lunch at the park and book dinner TS everynight in different places!!! We´ve left a lot of snacks credits behind (I learned latter that I could have reendemed those for take over stuff) because we had the lounge for drinks, sodas, wine and snacks!!!
I've stayed both (although not club level)! The garden view room we had was Fiji, 1st floor (patio) overlooking the Cove where the luau is. For me, AKL is still my favorite. I found it easier with everything in one building, and loved looking at the animals outside my window! If you haven't done the Poly, you've got to at least give it a go!
I have stayed at both AKL and Polynesian and would choose Polynesian hands down. Yes, I would stay at AKL again, but it felt so far removed from the rest of WDW. That might be a good thing, but I just like being in the middle of all the magic. With the Polynesian, you will have access to the monorail and boat, which is an awesome perk! And the ambience there cannot be beat. Both are excellent choices, but if I had to choose it would be the Polynesian for me.
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
Darn I should of saved the pin code info I got, our trip is booked and paid for but maybe if I would of called I could of upgraded. Boy I would love to be able to go back to Poly. It was beautiful there. We were upgraded to a Mk view when we arrived free of charge, had a beautiful view of the castle. Saw fireworks each night from our room.
__________________
Love the Magic of Disney Thanks Dad for our first 5 trips.
I've done both, or rather, am trying CL at AKL in just a few days. CL at Poly is not a parking lot view, as stated above. It is however of the pool or garden. Very lovely. Their service is top notch. The juice they have in the machine. The view of Wishes from the lounge, can't be beat. It's nearly as perfect as viewing it from Main Street!!
You're going to have a fabulous, FABULOUS time no matter which resort you stay. You're saving a great deal of $$ anyway, so be happy!! Go! Have a great time!!
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chapel Hill, NC USA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 36,592
Post Thanks / Like
The garden view rooms at Poly are really nice. And being in Concierge, wow!
My sister honeymooned at the Poly and said it was a dream of a place to stay for that purpose. They loved it! We stayed there about 9 years ago, and its now on the top of our list for our next family WDW vacation. We are excited about being in the renovated rooms with all the space and comfort.
Have you taken time to look at pictures of the resort yet and read more about it? You've had all your attention on AKL up to this point, that you are having a hard time imagining yourself at the Poly. Do some research on the resort and I'm sure you'll come to love your new choice!
PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Southwestern Florida, USA
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 39,153
Post Thanks / Like
Likes (Given): 39
Likes (Received): 114
Thanks (Given): 18
Thanks (Received): 46
Pixie Dust (Given): 1
Pixie Dust (Received): 8
I have stayed at both resorts, but not CL.
I love both of these resorts!!
I think since this is your honeymoon, you will love the Poly!
It is a very romantic and relaxing resort.
Congrats on the pin code and the great upgrade!
A CL Garden View room at the Poly is wonderful! You will look out at the beautiful grounds and the quiet pool if in the Hawaii bldg. (not so close as to be noisy,though). The Poly is our favorite. I love the monorail and proximity to the MK. The AKL is a great place, but I just love the atmosphere and location of the Poly more.
Look at it this way - you'll be getting 2 honeymoons for the "price" of one! You get a WDW Disneymoon no matter where you stay. But by staying at the Poly, you'll also be getting that tropical honeymoon that so many people dream of, too! You'll be pampered as if you were in the islands themselves, while having WDW readily available by hopping on the monorail or boat....
I think you just need a day or two to adjust from being excited about AKL to this. It's a change and your mind needs to switch gears (not to mention there's a wedding being planned before all this!). You've got a lot on your mind....
About This Page: 
I was really disappointed.
im not saving as much money now ...it only knocked off $400 of the total rather than close to $1000 but DFi is just happy we're still saving money....So it's all booked!!
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
Only for the freedon of asking whatever I wanted I´d say "go for it!". 
The view of Wishes from the lounge, can't be beat. It's nearly as perfect as viewing it from Main Street!! 
Dana
Linear Mode
