How smelly is smell???

[Cantw8]

O.K. you guys are starting to scare me with these smelly tales of the Poly!!! We'll be staying in Sept for 3 nights in a standard room, how musty smelling is it?? I was thinking about upgrading to concierge is it less stinking there? LOL. I was real concerned about the posting that claimed "there was a large smelly stain on the carpet." What the heck is going on over there?

[Mom of 5]

Our rooms at the Poly didn't smell at all. We were on the third floor in the Tokelau longhouse.

Enjoy the Polynesian!!

[polyfan]

We stayed at the Poly for 4th of July. It was just fine. The room was very clean. (We had previously stayed at CSR in April- that was not as clean.) There was a smell one day outside near the main building, but it was not there all day and really didn't effect us. I would highly recommend staying there.

[Patrick IL.]

This is subjective.....we did 5 nights in the Hawaii building, never smelled anything out of the ordinary, it was wonderful. Enjoy you trip! :D

[PeterPam]

I used to live in Hawaii. When we arrived at the Poly, I said to my DH "it smells like Hawaii!" The smell people are refering to is probably the beautiful tropical vegetation. Don't worry about this suppossed smell...The Poly is my favorite resort. It is beautiful, tropical and relaxing. :o)

[hmp2z]

We haven't stayed at the Poly yet, so I can't say anything about the rooms, but there is an AWFUL smell in the back left corner of the lobby. When you're right by that little bakery, it stinks like mutton tallow. I tried to go into the clothing shop back there and left because the smell was making me nauseous. This was definitely not the tropical plant smell, which is fine with me; it smelled like congealed animal fat - blech!
Again, this was only in the corner of the lobby, and I have a feeling it's due to that bakery there...
Cheers!
Heather P

[CamColt]

We stayed in Rarotonga last September and Samoa(smoking) earlier this month. Our rooms never smelled, not even like smoke.
While I do find a certain smell in the GCH, its nothing bad. Just water and flowers, sort of like when you go to a garden dept of Home Depot, only better.

[Tikiman]

I told my self I would not get into another “SMELL” debate but I have a few things to say. First off the Polynesian does not have a bakery and the only thing in the far left corner of the GCH are clothing stores. Maybe the smell was the person walking in front of you.

Something I must first say is that I have such a strong sense of smell that people at work and my own wife make jokes about it. I will say I smell something and they will say it must be 3 blocks away if I can smell it. I am also very sensitive to strong odors and I have never had a problem at the Polynesian. The lobby either smells like the wonderful food in the restaurants or a tropical greenhouse smell every time I have been in it.

As far as the rooms are concerned. Some people do not like the tropical fragrance they use when cleaning the room. There is also a distinct “Polynesian Resort” smell in some of the older buildings but I have actually smelled the same thing in other Disney resorts and I figure it is due to the Florida moisture but it is not what I would call smelly. The only other odor I have smelled in a room that was not pleasant was when people mess with the air conditioning. I did it my self once. The housekeeper sometimes turns up the air-conditioning and then if you turn it off and turn on the heat or the fan the moisture in the system smells like when you first turn on the car air-conditioning after a hot day. This smell goes away in a matter of minutes and again I have smelled this same smell if not stronger at other resorts so as far as I am concerned there is no “POLY SMELL” or smell that is only at the Polynesian. In fact, as we speak they are redoing the rooms and cementing in the ground level floors and removing and replacing the wood around the rooms as well as replacing the ventilation to reduce the moisture affects from Florida’s climate.

Well that is all the fact and opinion I have on this matter.

Aloha

Steve

[hmp2z]

Steve,
If there isn't a bakery, then the place I was talking about is some type of food shop in the back corner, across from a clothing store. I saw baked goods, so assumed it was a bakery, but the smell prevented me from entering ;)
It was definitely a strong odor coming from there, but, again, I wanted to say this is not about the bedrooms at the Polynesian (not sure if this was clear or not in the last post). Yes, there was a strong smell, yes, it was in the back corner of the lobby, coming from the shop selling food across from a clothing store (can you tell I've never stayed there?), but no, it wasn't coming from a hotel room, and I wouldn't imagine that this particular smell would be a problem in a hotel room at the Poly.
If other people have been there and not noticed the smell, it may be that on this particular day, there was something unusual going on in the food shop that caused a strong odor of congealed fat. Believe me, this was NOT the kind of smell that could be missed :) Definitely coming from the shop - definitely not from a person. My fiance joined me, and he noticed it, too, so I wasn't hallucinating :)
Just wanted to clarify!
Heather P

[Tikiman]

That sounds like Captain Cook's. It is a food place. Maybe they were burning some pizza or something.

Steve

[dwdeb]

I too, would like to add to what tikiman says:
THERE IS NO SMELL!

[polyfan]

maybe it's all the tropical plants that people are not used to being around. As for Captain Cooks, we loved that place. It was very convenient for our kids(they especially like the uncrustables) and the baked goods were great also. I would not hesitate to recommend eating there or staying at the Poly.

[dwdeb]

I too, would like to add to what tikiman says:
There is no smell! other than the tropical frgrance from all the lush foliage, and waterfall in the GCH.
we are headed back for our 4th stay at the concierge, this will be about our 6th or 7th stay at the polynesian.
we are dvc mmbers, but the polynesian is our absolute favorite resort for service, atmosphere, disney magic, and NO SMELL!!!!!

[Tigger73]

I read the same thing about this smell and was considering staying somewhere else. Some people really made me question staying at the Poly... I am happy to report, there was no smell in the Tahiti, or anywhere else for that matter. The Poly is wonderful and enjoy your stay....

I think the people who complain about the smell are the same people complaining about the mugs.....

[Cantw8]

ok, you have all said exactly what I wanted to hear....the Poly is great. I have always wanted to stay at the Poly since my very first visit back when WDW opened (1975?). I was visiting my Grandmother in Orlando and she took my father and I to the Magic Kingdom (that's all that was there then!!). We met one of her friends for lunch at the Poly and I fell in love with the resort. I swore that I would return someday with my kids. After several visits to WDW and twenty-five+ years later, I am finally staying there. It was breaking my heart to hear all the negative comments being posted about the Poly. I am going no matter what. Tikiman, I am with you...there is nothing more relaxing than the smell of flora and fauna. I am going to have a great time. Thank you all for reassuring me.

[Tikiman]

Enjoy your stay Cantw8.

Steve

[Tess]

Holy Peat Moss! Not again! Maybe we need one of those stationary posts for the "smell debate"! ;)

I'm with you Steve--this seems a neverending issue and I always try to avoid it, but the doggoned mouse keeps clicking whenever I see the topic! :D I'm going to have to do a bit of remedial training for the mouse. . .

I concur with your commentary 110%--there is no smell at Polynesian that shouldn't be there OR in Florida for that matter! :D

[Cantw8]

I am so sorry for opening up this can of stinking worms!!! I certainly did not mean to. I will never again post anything having to do with aromatherapy at the Poly!! LOL. Tikiman, your website is awesome......thank you.

[Tess]

LOL--you'll have a wonderful trip, I'm sure! We, like Tikiman, love the Polynesian! We Cantw8 to get back next summer! :D

[Cantw8]

Thanks, Tess.....I have to ask. What is beers for the ears? I hope i'm not starting more trouble!!! Don't tell me that you need lots of beers so you don't hear all the noise at the Poly as well as smelling all those smells!! LOL

[Trekker]

Hello to all,

Please keep in mind that there are posters like myself who have been around here for awhile and have gone through several rounds of threads about the same subject. (It could be the Poly smell, reusable mugs, the best place to watch fireworks, etc)

But there are just as many posters who have joined us in the recent months and this could very well be the first time they have heard of any of these topics and they have a need to learn about them.

It is inevitable that with an ever growing population of DISsers we will have need to repeat conversations we have previously had.

Thanks,

[MAC3]

Smell is in the nose of the beholder.... Smelly or not smelly I can't wait to stay there. I feel fortunate to have the option to do so as the result of an add-on @ the Beach Club. This will probably be our only opportunity to do so until DD doesn't want to come with us anymore. Not that I am in a hurry for that .

[hmp2z]

I just wanted to point out that just because a resort has a smell, doesn't mean it's an unpleasant smell. I think that each WDW resort we've been in has its own distinct smell. When we step into the lobby of the GF, and the aroma hits me, I know that I've come home :) And sometimes here, I'll smell a particular plant or something that smells like Disney, and it really brings back the memories.
Cheers!
Heather P

[Tess]

I thought it was obvious from my post, I was jesting. . . :jester: Guess not--my apologies to any newbies who may have been offended. My comments were all meant to be silly.

I know some of us have been around here far too long--boy, could I tell you stories. . . LOL

As to Cantw8's ?--Maybe that's why I've never smelled anything--too many beers? Hmm, I'll have to consider that next time. :cool: :confused:

Beers for the Ears was just another one of those "grass roots" movements to have beer reinstated as part of the evening service in concierge. Way back when, beer was offered along with wine during the late afternoon/evening service. Due to some distribution agreements with Anheuser/Busch, beer is no longer offered as a "freebie"--or at least that's the party line I receive each time I have asked over the years.

Well a while back, some others on the boards started one of these "clubs" in order to bring our complaint to the forefront--didn't work well, but I haven't given up yet! ;) (Really, I'm just too lazy to change my sig line-- :D )

Hope that briefly answers your question and again, my most sincere apologies if I offended anyone with my humor! You don't have to worry about starting any trouble Cantw8--there's no one twisting our arms to read the posts--then again, I did mention I have an untrained mouse in control--darn thing! ;)

[Trekker]

Tess

my post is not direct specifically at you. It is just a general reminder - I know some of us that have been around way to long - and do not a have a life outside these boards (that would be me) sometimes forget -

Have a beer for me please!

[tinofan]

I agree with PeterPam,
No smell in our room last year, but the smell around the resort, IMO, was nothing more then the plants. I'm sure that smell could bother some people, but there were 7 of us (including my VERY picky mother!) and no one complained.
Have a GREAT time! I LOVE the Polynesian - we're heading back in Oct.:D

[donnamerry]

this 'smell thing' at the Poly really urks me. The Poly is a beautiful resort and has 'Florida and tropical' scents.

[PatriciaH]

Don't know about the Poly. Never noticed a smell there. The Wilderness Lodge really smells like BBQ though:) At first it is nice but after a week you start to get sick of it.

[jimmalru80]

Have to agree w/Tikiman and the other Polynesian fans. Have been there 5 times (96-98-00-01-02) and have not encountered any smell. If all goes according to plan, we will be there again in June '03.

[Minnie's Mate]

THERE IS NO SMELL!
We stayed at the Polynesian last year and I hate to be the only decenting poster, but there was definately a smell in the room and the hallway of our building. I don't remember the building name, but it was near the marina (we were there only one night of our planned 5 night stay). You got to it by going through the gift shop.

It was not cleaner or air freshener. If it was, I don't want to use it in my house. It was not from someone smoking cigarets in the room, either. My wife noticed it, too. The smell was so offensive that we moved to the Yatch Club for the remainder of our stay. The smell was not the same as the smell in the lobby or at the court porchere with the water falls and lush vegetation. If the same smell had been in the lobby area, we would not have eaten at O'hana's! BTW, a great character breakfast.

[luvdzny]

There is definately a musty-moldy smell on the 2nd floor of the Hawaii building. My entire family noticed it last November, and I never told anyone about it prior to our trip. DD is allergic to mold & has asthma, she needed her inhaler A LOT at Poly, but not at all during the 8 days at AKL before we arrived at Poly. I have heard many people that say it does not smell (and many that say it does.) All I know is we would have changed resorts if we were staying for longer than 3 nights because DD's asthma was really acting up.

[Marty Joe]

I do a fair amount of reading about the different resorts because it adds to the magic for me. Planning the Disney Journey is half of the excitment for me. Thanks to Tikiman's reviews and web site I/we decided to give the Poly a shot. That was two trips ago and I don't see us staying anywhere else. One of the first things I noticed about the Poly was how great and tropical the GCH smelled. This carried over to our room (Fiji - loved the view too) and the rest of the resort. Granted, I did not spend a lot of time searching for bad odors(!) but I would have noticed if there were.

[WebmasterPete]

Ahh, the great Poly Smell thread.

Being a Florida resident, and someone who has seen MANY of the hotels in this town, I'll share something with you. Any building in Florida that is more than 10 years old is going to have a certain amount of "musty-ness" to it. Depending on where you are and what day it is, and how hot it is, and how much rain we've had down here will all be factors in its 'presence'.

I've stayed at the Poly several times with no problems. I've also inspected enough hotel rooms to know when they are trying to cover the musty smell with cleaners or air fresheners.

For instance, there is one hotel on Hwy 192 (no, we don't offer it here), that was originally provided as TEMPORARY HOUSING 20 years ago for a sporting event that came to town. The guy who owned the land thought this would be a cheap way to build a resort, so they never removed the TEMPORARY HOUSING; they just made a hotel out of it. Now, fast forward 20 years, and this poor, unsuspecting webmaster goes in (at the hotels request) to inspect the property (something we do before any hotel can be added to this site). Well, the smell of cleaners and deodorizers was SO STRONG that within 5 minutes (this is no exaggeration) I was nauseous and had a vicious migraine. I can assure everyone that this has never happened to me at the Poly. Is there a musty smell in some areas, yes, but in my experience it has more to do with what's going on outside the resort (weather conditions), than inside the resort.

In any respect, my only complaint about the Poly is the lack of a Jacuzzi (it's the only Deluxe that does not have one). The reason: The GM feels that it's too much to maintain, so he doesn't want it. Other than that, it's a great resort and I think all who go will love it!

Pete

[winniedapooh]

So happy to hear that I am not alone.....with 5 D cherubs I always bring along the deoderizer, wipes, and disinfectant! I can't wait to show this to my hubby.....I am not alone, YIPEE!



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[Disneydenise]

Oh The smell thread. I have been to the Poly several times. I LOVE the place. I always thought that folks were wacky when they wrote on and on about the odor. Well I smelled it once last summer exactly where someone had posted it was near the entrance to the monorail. I have never had a problem with any odor at this resort but I did smell it once. I am sure it must have something to do with what is going on in the weather or atmosphere but I too have a very good sense of smell and I think that I won't tell people they aren't smelling something anymore. I like I said have never had an odor in my room and I have stayed in about 10 different rooms there.