Polynesian May 2013

[Mom2Dash&JackJack]

We are planning a moderately large family vacation to the Polynesian next May 2013. Reading tiki man and Dis it looks as though there may be construction and potentially a closure of the volcano pool in 2013. This does impact our decision to stay there as we have small kids who enjoy their time at the pool (especially the volcano slide). What are our chances of this being an issue in May? When would we find out for certain? Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[mickeynut1]

I don't have any answers for you, but I'm interested in this as well. We are planning a Poly CL stay in July 2013 and one of the many things we love about the Poly is the pool. Closure of the volcano pool will change our resort plans .

 

[Mousemommy1]

We are planning a moderately large family vacation to the Polynesian next May 2013. Reading tiki man and Dis it looks as though there may be construction and potentially a closure of the volcano pool in 2013. This does impact our decision to stay there as we have small kids who enjoy their time at the pool (especially the volcano slide). What are our chances of this being an issue in May? When would we find out for certain? Thanks in advance!!!!

I agree with PP that if the volcano pool and slide is closed, we would have to change resorts. We are going to be there in April 2013. I haven't been able to find any hard answers anywhere though.

 

[Wynton67]

LOVE Polynesian!!!!

 

[Mom2Dash&JackJack]

I guess it's a big mystery. We'll have to hold tight for a bit.

I agree with most! The closure of the volcano pool is definitely a game changer!!!

 

[mickey2minnie1]

We are looking for next June. The pool/GCH closure would be a deal breaker fo me too. Unfortunately we may not find out for awhile.

 

[nh grandma]

We just returned from 8 days at the Polynesian. They have renovations planned in all the buildings, as well as the pool, and the Grand Ceremonial House, which houses the food locations, as well as the monorail boarding. We heard that the GCH would be totally removed and rebuilt and the pool did need renovations, at best. Walking to swim or get food would be a deal breaker for us. The worst thing is that there is no time schedule to these renovations at this time. We will be booking for 2014 in 2013 and don't know whether things will be in place or not! Frustrating!

 

[Wanna be Ariel]

Oh no this is not good. We are planning to stay at the Poly for the first time the first week of Nov 2013. My DS will want to swim for sure and this will be a BIG deal breaker for us. I guess I better start to wrap my head around staying at the Contempory or Bay Lake DH is not going to be happy.

 

[Masonmj84]

One of my pet peeves with Disney is that they typically wait until the 11th hour to announce resort rennovations.

Now part of this may be because they themselves haven't finalized their plans until that 11th hour.

But I suspect they have a pretty good idea of their plans well in advance of their public announcement. For example, Disney typically announces theme park refurbs many months in advance.

But they typically wait until much later to announce resort refurbs (the current/upcoming refurbs at the GF being the most recent example).

Obviously, they want people to book rooms that might not otherwise be booked, had the public known of their plans (the possible upcoming Volcano Pool/GCH refurb at Poly being a prime example).

But this really isn't fair to someone booking a resort, particularly a deluxe resort, who is relying on the fact that the resort will be fully functional (in most material respects) during their visit, only to find out at the last minute that it won't be.

For example, someone might book the Poly months in advance, find out only weeks in advance that the Volcano pool will be closed and then be left with only limited options at that point.

If Disney isn't going to make public announcements about material resort refurbs until the last minute, they should do at least one of the following:

(1) As soon as their plans are solid, let people know who have booked, are booking, or are trying to book a particular resort that a material refurb is scheduled during the time of their visit (even though this would spread on boards like this one, it would simply be a rumor, and most of the non-Disney fanatic general public would be totally unaware of it).

(2) If someone booked at a discount, allow them to apply the same discount at a different resort even if the period for the discount has expired.

(3) Waive the fee to change package reservations after the 45 day mark.

 

[Wanna be Ariel]

One of my pet peeves with Disney is that they typically wait until the 11th hour to announce resort rennovations.

Now part of this may be because they themselves haven't finalized their plans until that 11th hour.

But I suspect they have a pretty good idea of their plans well in advance of their public announcement. For example, Disney typically announces theme park refurbs many months in advance.

But they typically wait until much later to announce resort refurbs (the current/upcoming refurbs at the GF being the most recent example).

Obviously, they want people to book rooms that might not otherwise be booked, had the public known of their plans (the possible upcoming Volcano Pool/GCH refurb at Poly being a prime example).

But this really isn't fair to someone booking a resort, particularly a deluxe resort, who is relying on the fact that the resort will be fully functional (in most material respects) during their visit, only to find out at the last minute that it won't be.

For example, someone might book the Poly months in advance, find out only weeks in advance that the Volcano pool will be closed and then be left with only limited options at that point.

If Disney isn't going to make public announcements about material resort refurbs until the last minute, they should do at least one of the following:

(1) As soon as their plans are solid, let people know who have booked, are booking, or are trying to book a particular resort that a material refurb is scheduled during the time of their visit (even though this would spread on boards like this one, it would simply be a rumor, and most of the non-Disney fanatic general public would be totally unaware of it).

(2) If someone booked at a discount, allow them to apply the same discount at a different resort even if the period for the discount has expired.

(3) Waive the fee to change package reservations after the 45 day mark.

I agree!!! It was was never a big deal for us to have a pool when we were in Disney in the past, But now with my DS he loves the water and this is really a deal breaker for us. For the amount of money we need to pay to stay here. They better do something if the pool is going to be closed or the other big deal breaker would be the monorail for us also. I hate secrets

 

[mickey2minnie1]

I am on standby and will have a backup plan too for next year.

 

[bwifan]

I am also planning for June 2013. The poly is our first choice, but only if there is a pool! Our second choice is a split stay between beach and AKL. I'll be keeping my ears open.

 

[Magalex]

For first time I was thinking of adding Poly to our list of resorts. 2013 will be our 20th wedding anniversary & I was thinking of going "deluxe" for June 2013. So now I have keep tabs on the Poly.

 

[DisneyJanFeb2008]

Any updates on this??? Considering the Poly for March 2013~~

 

[Sherlee]

Looking for updates too - planning for November 2013

 

[Polydweller]

Ok, let's set straight. Lots of rumors here and most are wrong.

Rooms: they are doing room refreshes and guests will not be at all affected by these. They will completely close a longhouse at a time to put in new furnishings, wall paper, flooring and add a sink in some buildings. This can be ignored as a worry for staying there. It is not major construction, basically redecorating. By the way, announced in the middle of last year.

GCH: it does not need to be totally torn down and there is no current plans to work in it. This was a rumor but the most that needs to be done is some work on the water feature but not on the books at the moment. The tear down rumor is basically gone.

Pool: there are conflicting reports on this. There are some statements of work in Feb/March and other sources say nothing is happening. The only place with a notice is the travel agent calendar but the dates are essentially the same as last year's closure. Maybe real maybe not but at the worst will be only a short period in Feb/Mar.

GVC: nothing announced though obviously some preliminary investigation has been done to look at feasibility. Nothing more at this time and not yet green lit. That likely won't become clearer until the GF one is near completion.

So those going, stop worrying. The Poly will be the Poly and with the refreshed rooms, it will be better.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

According to the Disney Travel Agents site, the Nanea Volcano Pool will be closed from February 18 - March 1, 2013

 

[Cindie-rella]

Any updates on this??? Considering the Poly for March 2013~~

If you haven't booked yet you better hurry. Because of the refurb there will be longhouses unavailable and I'm understanding it's becoming very hard to get a room there. I had to take Lagoon View b/c no garden views were available. I've checked at least 10 different times and well, looks like I'm stuck with a LV I made my POLY ressie back in early Nov. I do believe I read somewhere that the Pool refurb wasn't going to be until maybe next Sept ? I'm not sure where I read that but I somehow remember it being in the fall b/c I knew we were safe for the end of April. I want to request Tahiti so I hope it will be available !

 

[jfondulas]

I am staying at Poly in March and my travel agent said that there was a closure set for 3/4-3/15. So I called Disney reservations and they said it was a rumor and it was going to be opened. Then I called Polynesians front desk directly and they did see something about closures but she said that she saw that the pool would be open on the dates we are there, 3/5-3/7.

I'm still confused on if it will be open or not.

I booked with a 30% discount back in october for this trip. Now I'm trying to reschedule for a date close to my original date and they are going to charge me full price. They won't honor my discount that I booked for. I'm very disappointed in Disney. Here's hoping that this is all a rumor.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

I am staying at Poly in March and my travel agent said that there was a closure set for 3/4-3/15. So I called Disney reservations and they said it was a rumor and it was going to be opened. Then I called Polynesians front desk directly and they did see something about closures but she said that she saw that the pool would be open on the dates we are there, 3/5-3/7.

I'm still confused on if it will be open or not.

I booked with a 30% discount back in october for this trip. Now I'm trying to reschedule for a date close to my original date and they are going to charge me full price. They won't honor my discount that I booked for. I'm very disappointed in Disney. Here's hoping that this is all a rumor.

Just wanted to say - Gorgeous wedding pics! What fun!