ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: October 2013

[Ferrentinos]

I hope they keep that fire blazing!!


Carla

I agree! We are scheduled to visit in early July - I really hope that the main pool and GCH are done by then!!! I'm nervous!

 

[tim123]

Tell us how you really feel now Tim
.

you sure?
I feel like goin to the Poly.

 

[Sue M]

you sure?
I feel like goin to the Poly.

Me too . I plan on visiting during my January POR trip to see how things are coming. And check out longhouses requests for August. Now I can't decide which side of Fiji I want, marina or other side so a little walkabout may help!

 

[mommyrosa2]

Me too . I plan on visiting during my January POR trip to see how things are coming. And check out longhouses requests for August. Now I can't decide which side of Fiji I want, marina or other side so a little walkabout may help!

I'll be eating at Ohana Friday night so I'll definitely be checking things out for myself while there .

 

[ksueboo]

Anyone that has been there when the partial beach closure has been in effect...
How busy is the beach for fireworks/water pageant now? What time do you need to get down there to get a chair or is it better to sit on the sand? It's our first Poly stay next month. I would love to sit in one of the hammocks or swings I have seen in pics. Thanks!

 

[jhaig]

We are considering a Poly stay for Sept 2015. Should all of the construction projects be finished by then?

If so, can anyone recommend the best room for us? We would like a quiet, top floor room not overlooking a pool. Having never stayed at the Poly I don't know what buildings are the best choices.

 

[ksueboo]

We are considering a Poly stay for Sept 2015. Should all of the construction projects be finished by then?

If so, can anyone recommend the best room for us? We would like a quiet, top floor room not overlooking a pool. Having never stayed at the Poly I don't know what buildings are the best choices.

Go to Tikiman Pages and click on Longhouses. There are great descriptions and pics there. Although someone here may have better first hand experience than me! I am learning about Poly too!

 

[wendow]

Hmmm, maybe I should change my request, I asked for Fiji Marina side. What do you think?

We were initially put on the marina side. Besides the construction, which was just terrible to look at from the balcony, there was also a tree right in front of the window. I guess with no construction and no tree, that would be a lovely view. I will try to upload pics of our view once we get home. I think it is very nice. We can see some water but no EWP or boats. We can hear both though guessing beach side is quieter once everything is put back together. We prefer quiet rooms.

 

[phorsenuf]

I have a question for anyone there now or just recently.

I'm working on a special present and collecting certain pressed pennies. At the Poly is #6 of 6 of the series I am working on. It's Bruce from Finding Nemo and is listed as being in the press outside of the Kona Cafe. I didn't know though if because of the construction going on that maybe it's been removed. Does anyone happen to know before travelling over there. Thanks!

 

[glohoffman]

We will be there Labor day week next year, standard view, and I honestly don't care what long house we are in as long as it isn't facing a completely torn up pool. After looking at the touring plan map pictures, it seems like we have a decent chance at avoiding that? We are so excited to stay in our first monorail resort...but now I am wondering if I should have chosen Wilderness Lodge for our "magical" deal?

 

[glohoffman]

And also, I know the new water feature is nothing close to being as grand as the old waterfall...but it looks tiny in the concept art as well...its just missing the big tiki man on top. Did they decide to scrap that or something?

 

[ashnjam]

Can I call and ask for a room request anytime or at a certain number of days out?

 

[wendow]

Can I call and ask for a room request anytime or at a certain number of days out?

We are here now. When we checked in last week, the CM told me it was best to call one week in advance with your room request.

 

[Sue M]

We were initially put on the marina side. Besides the construction, which was just terrible to look at from the balcony, there was also a tree right in front of the window. I guess with no construction and no tree, that would be a lovely view. I will try to upload pics of our view once we get home. I think it is very nice. We can see some water but no EWP or boats. We can hear both though guessing beach side is quieter once everything is put back together. We prefer quiet rooms.

I'm going with the assumption the Volcano pool will be open my second request is Aoteraroa facing the lagoon side, according to map they have some standard view rooms on that side, prob because view is partially blocked by trees.

We will be there Labor day week next year, standard view, and I honestly don't care what long house we are in as long as it isn't facing a completely torn up pool. After looking at the touring plan map pictures, it seems like we have a decent chance at avoiding that? We are so excited to stay in our first monorail resort...but now I am wondering if I should have chosen Wilderness Lodge for our "magical" deal?

The current time line is that in August main pool will be open, and quiet pool will be undergoing refurb. So, I think you'd have a good chance of avoiding construction.

 

[whiporee]

How busy is the beach for fireworks/water pageant now? What time do you need to get down there to get a chair or is it better to sit on the sand? It's our first Poly stay next month. I would love to sit in one of the hammocks or swings I have seen in pics. Thanks!

On the club level side, almost all of the beach is blocked by the DVC bungalows, so the actual unobstructed views of the castle are pretty small. There's no hammock view over there -- my kids went out about a half-hour early to get one of the swinging benches, but again, those are blocked by the villas. In terms of lounge chairs, they all seemed to be gone by the time the show began, but there wasn't a mob on the beach.

I didn't go over to the other side for the fireworks, so I don't know about them.

But I will reiterate these things. If you're on the east side and you've got a month, reconsider your resort. The construction over there is everywhere and it is a drag, not just because it is ugly but because it is loud. I know I've said this before, but every morning there were leaf blowers going at 7:30. That's okay if you're trying make rope drop, but not so good if you took advantage of EMH and your kids were up until 2 am. Construction machines make noise, and the backup beep is intentionally abrasive. So if you've got magical visions of the Poly, save it for your next trip because the place is torn up, and I'd hate to see you end up as disillusioned about the place as I am.

 

[ksueboo]

On the club level side, almost all of the beach is blocked by the DVC bungalows, so the actual unobstructed views of the castle are pretty small. There's no hammock view over there -- my kids went out about a half-hour early to get one of the swinging benches, but again, those are blocked by the villas. In terms of lounge chairs, they all seemed to be gone by the time the show began, but there wasn't a mob on the beach.

I didn't go over to the other side for the fireworks, so I don't know about them.

But I will reiterate these things. If you're on the east side and you've got a month, reconsider your resort. The construction over there is everywhere and it is a drag, not just because it is ugly but because it is loud. I know I've said this before, but every morning there were leaf blowers going at 7:30. That's okay if you're trying make rope drop, but not so good if you took advantage of EMH and your kids were up until 2 am. Construction machines make noise, and the backup beep is intentionally abrasive. So if you've got magical visions of the Poly, save it for your next trip because the place is torn up, and I'd hate to see you end up as disillusioned about the place as I am.

Thank you for the advice about fireworks and also the warning on construction noise. We aren't CL and have requested Luau side so hopefully we will still be pleased. We are really excited about this trip but I have to say I am surprised at the hate (not from you) that I have seen especially in the comments on picture updates on blogs.

 

[wendow]

I have a question for anyone there now or just recently.

I'm working on a special present and collecting certain pressed pennies. At the Poly is #6 of 6 of the series I am working on. It's Bruce from Finding Nemo and is listed as being in the press outside of the Kona Cafe. I didn't know though if because of the construction going on that maybe it's been removed. Does anyone happen to know before travelling over there. Thanks!

Just looked this morning and the one you are looking for is upstairs outside the mercantile

 

[wendow]

Anyone that has been there when the partial beach closure has been in effect...
How busy is the beach for fireworks/water pageant now? What time do you need to get down there to get a chair or is it better to sit on the sand? It's our first Poly stay next month. I would love to sit in one of the hammocks or swings I have seen in pics. Thanks!

We were down there last night. Plenty of seating. People were arriving even after the EWP and there were still chairs. My only disappointment was that they did not pipe the music in.

 

[wendow]

Christmas tree is up in the lobby behind the curtain. CM told me it opens on Friday. We leave today

 

[ashnjam]

We are here now. When we checked in last week, the CM told me it was best to call one week in advance with your room request.

Thank you!