Change from Polynesian to Grand Floridian for $150 more?

Kodachrome_Dreams

Kodachrome_Dreams

Mouseketeer
Joined
Feb 28, 2015
On Sunday I booked our three night May getaway to WDW, staying at the Polynesian. I booked everything through the WDW website. In the days since, I have poured over photos, videos and comments about the construction at the Polynesian. While I don't expect we will spend much time in our room during such a short trip, and we will spend no time at the pools, I still don't want to see, hear, and walk through lots of construction each day.

I just discovered that by using the current promo code on Orbitz I can book the Grand Floridian for just $150 more total. I like the convenience of booking everything through Disney, but the Grand Floridian is over $300 more through the Disney site. Would you make the switch?
 
We visited the Poly for dinner in January and didn't see or hear much construction, but there were some areas that were walled off. Keep in mind that we were only there for a few hours, but we did walk around the grounds. I may be wrong, but I believe that the worst of the construction is over. If you haven't already, check out Tikiman's site. The Poly is my favorite resort, but The Grand Floridian is very nice and I would love to stay there someday.
 
Anytime after april id keep the reservation at the poly. The main pool area should be complete as should trader sams. Itll be the spot alot of people want to be.
 
As a general rule I try to avoid resorts during construction. They handle it very well, but I don't like to see behind the magic if I don't have to. I'm not familiar with the construction schedule at Poly though.
 


I think it's so close to the time where construction on the main pool will be completed, but then they are starting construction on the other pool (I think). However, if you're going to be unhappy with construction, I would still stay clear of the Poly for a while. We had thought about staying there in August, but I still think they are doing too much with DVC that we wait to wait. I doubt by May they will be 100% completed with EVERYTHING, and like you said, construction bothers you. I don't blame you, it bothers me too! So why set yourself up for a possible unhappy experience? I would switch to the GF just to be safe.
 
Yes I'd switch! GF is always so much more expensive (at least in the category I book: standard or garden).

Construction annoyance: possibility (at a minimum) at Poly. None I've heard of at GF.
 
I just spent 16 minutes on the phone, 9 of which on hold listening to pitches for me to spend even more money. The CM was useless. He tried to tell me that the most of the construction at the Polynesian was finished two months ago (!) and the only area impacted is the volcano pool. I told him that is just not true: I follow Tikiman's Polynesian Resort page on Facebook, and there are daily updates with photos submitted by people currently staying there showing extensive construction throughout the property. I also mentioned how disappointed I was to learn the resort's special features, like the torches and piped in Polynesian music, are also inoperational. He didn't know what to say.

He also could not let me reserve a Tower TPV room at the Contemporary at rack rate for the first night of our stay followed by the next two nights at the Spring Offer rate (that rate is not available for our first night, but is for the second and third). Even though it's the same room category, he told me it would be treated as two separate reservations and our theme park tickets, etc. would not be valid for the entire stay. The whole thing is absurd.

I decided to keep checking the website daily and hope a Spring Offer room comes back on the system for our whole stay as people cancel closer to the 45 day deadline. I may just cancel and rebook through Orbitz. My customer service with them has been much better than what I have experienced so far with Disney. Grrr...
 


I'd go for the grand floridian. I'm staying at the Polynesian April 13-20th and I think it will be wonderful, but I'd choose the grand floridian if I could get it for only $150 more for my dates. It's the best resort on property, and it's not really even close.
 
Kodachrome_Dreams said:
I just spent 16 minutes on the phone, 9 of which on hold listening to pitches for me to spend even more money. The CM was useless. He tried to tell me that the most of the construction at the Polynesian was finished two months ago (!) and the only area impacted is the volcano pool. I told him that is just not true: I follow Tikiman's Polynesian Resort page on Facebook, and there are daily updates with photos submitted by people currently staying there showing extensive construction throughout the property. I also mentioned how disappointed I was to learn the resort's special features, like the torches and piped in Polynesian music, are also inoperational. He didn't know what to say.

He also could not let me reserve a Tower TPV room at the Contemporary at rack rate for the first night of our stay followed by the next two nights at the Spring Offer rate (that rate is not available for our first night, but is for the second and third). Even though it's the same room category, he told me it would be treated as two separate reservations and our theme park tickets, etc. would not be valid for the entire stay. The whole thing is absurd.

I decided to keep checking the website daily and hope a Spring Offer room comes back on the system for our whole stay as people cancel closer to the 45 day deadline. I may just cancel and rebook through Orbitz. My customer service with them has been much better than what I have experienced so far with Disney. Grrr...
Click to expand...

While it is true that you would have to make two separate reservations to piece-meal a one night rack rate + two night spring offer rate at CR TPV to get 3 nights if the spring offer isn't available the first night, the CM doesn't seem to have given you accurate info on the tickets. If you need to do two separate reservations to get 3 nights in that room, you can very simply either buy length-of-stay tickets with your first reservation and use them your whole trip or buy your tickets separately and just link them to MDE.

Between GF and Poly, I would choose GF right now. We just stayed at GF two weeks ago. The rehabbed rooms are gorgeous!
 
I chose GF or the Poly for the about the same amount for June. I'm glad I did with construction.
 
I would switch to the GF. I hate construction and it is likely still going to be present at the Poly for a while. After they finish the Volcano pool they plan to start on the quiet pool. We visited the Poly in Jan - no way would I be happy staying there with that much of the resort in slings. A large part of the beauty of the Poly is the tropical atmosphere which is destroyed for me during construction.

Everyone hopes to not have a room near the construction, but some people have to be the unlucky ones. When I learned of the quiet pool construction about to occur, I switched our NOVEMBER trip from the Poly to the GF.

The GF is an awesome resort!
 
If you can, book both now and cancel before 5 days to your trip so you get a full refund. Thatway you can decide based on the pics that come out closer to your dates.
 
Not sure how much help this will be but here's my experience. Last year, I switched from the Poly to the GF after hearing the pool was closing. And thankfully so, because I loved the GF!!! And otherwise, I would never have chosen that resort. (We had no interest in CR and wanted a MK resort leaving us with the GF) This year however, I booked the Poly! I think with the majority of the major refurb done, the rest can be easily dealt with. Like I said, you're not getting much help here. I guess I just wanted you to consider the fact that you'll have a great stay no matter which one you choose. I mean, if the Poly was your original resort of choice and you were offered a free stay at the Poly would you be happy? Certainly! Don't let the fact that you are paying for it affect your decision making. If on the other hand, you're not a steadfast Poly-lover and any MK deluxe resort will do, then you can't go wrong with the Grand Floridian. I thought I had died and gone to heaven!
 
This is exactly what we are trying to decide! We are currently booked at the Poly, however, are rethinking since we booked CL and will be right next to the quiet pool construction. We are trying to decide if we should move to GF instead. We have never stayed at either resort!
 
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