ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: October 2013

[trishadono]

Where did you find this? I have called and spoken to two different CMs, one in reservations and one at the Poly and both said they saw nothing on the agenda for the pool. I am so frustrated! We are going in September and it's hard to imagine paying those prices and not having the volcano pool. Is it one of those things where it's "not official" but seems to be fairly common knowledge?
Thanks!

When you call it is not the resort. They are generally the last to know what's going on.

Dates often change but tikiman has 7/28 for now.

It is frustrating

 

[trishadono]

Video of lobby and outside.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JlMp1wbRrS0

Jeff Lange from mousesteps has great videos. This one looks like from this weekend. Star Wars playing in background I assume for SWW

 

[mom2jcg]

Tikiman had that date posted, and there was somewhere else, maybe a TA confirmed? I can't remember specifics, but there's been more than one source. Most phone CM's (don't have updated info on stuff like that unless it's already underway. I'm surprised the Poly CM you spoke to didn't know about this. As I've mentioned in previous posts, a friend spoke to a customer service CM from the Poly a few months ago and she told her that by the fall the resort is "going to be a mess."

Thank you! It all started when I called to apply free dining...the CM read a statement about construction going on and when I asked for specifics, she pulled up another page and read from that and said she saw no mention of the pool so I should be ok. While she was very nice, I know that you often get different answers from different CMs, so I thought I'd go directly to the source and called the Poly. That CM was very nice also and said that she too saw nothing on the schedule and that she had all plans through the end of July. I started researching and saw a post on Tikiman's Facebook back in February that said it was pushed to late August, but I couldn't find any update since then. (I don't do FB so it's possible I overlooked.) I too am surprised that the CM at the Poly didn't know. I just can't decide if paying premium prices is worth that. The Poly is where we always stay, and my kids say they still would want to stay there even if the pool is closed. We are a family of 5, so it doesn't save us huge money to stay elsewhere. Ugh!!

 

[trishadono]

http://www.mousesteps.com/extra-fea...4-first-wall-up-at-waterfall-dvc-construction

Found Jeff's pictures from yesterday too.

 

[mom2jcg]

When you call it is not the resort. They are generally the last to know what's going on. Dates often change but tikiman has 7/28 for now. It is frustrating

Thank you and yes! Had I not called to apply the code for free dining, were they even going to tell me it was under construction? I've had this booked for 6 months or more. I normally read read read before our disney vacation but have been so consumed with FP+ debacle that I somehow missed the construction plans.

 

[trishadono]

Thank you and yes! Had I not called to apply the code for free dining, were they even going to tell me it was under construction? I've had this booked for 6 months or more. I normally read read read before our disney vacation but have been so consumed with FP+ debacle that I somehow missed the construction plans.

I have been going to disney for many years. So many people get the wrong information from the call centers.

Last may I asked to put in a request for king bedded room and they said they don't have them. I walked into the lobby and told them how I tried to request one and they didn't know about it . I laughed and said I follow tikiman and says you DO have them, any chance one available? Since one wasn't left at the time they gave us an upgrade to CL instead

Just came back to add some people got letters at 30 days out about updates on construction. I did not get one but I booked with Orbitz. I did see one on Tikiman's facebook page. At 30 days that doesn't give people enough time to change resorts

 

[mom2jcg]

I have been going to disney for many years. So many people get the wrong information from the call centers. Last may I asked to put in a request for king bedded room and they said they don't have them. I walked into the lobby and told them how I tried to request one and they didn't know about it . I laughed and said I follow tikiman and says you DO have them, any chance one available? Since one wasn't left at the time they gave us an upgrade to CL instead Just came back to add some people got letters at 30 days out about updates on construction. I did not get one but I booked with Orbitz. I did see one on Tikiman's facebook page. At 30 days that doesn't give people enough time to change resorts

You are exactly right! I plan, and Disney forces us to plan, way in advance. We have been to WDW 11 times and have stayed at the Poly 8 of those times. I am not a complainer and usually just accept things for what they are and know it's my choice not to go if I don't like what's bring implemented. However, if I book and they don't give me a heads up about major construction until the last minute? That's a different story.

 

[maiapapaya]

Thank you! It all started when I called to apply free dining...the CM read a statement about construction going on and when I asked for specifics, she pulled up another page and read from that and said she saw no mention of the pool so I should be ok. While she was very nice, I know that you often get different answers from different CMs, so I thought I'd go directly to the source and called the Poly. That CM was very nice also and said that she too saw nothing on the schedule and that she had all plans through the end of July. I started researching and saw a post on Tikiman's Facebook back in February that said it was pushed to late August, but I couldn't find any update since then. (I don't do FB so it's possible I overlooked.) I too am surprised that the CM at the Poly didn't know. I just can't decide if paying premium prices is worth that. The Poly is where we always stay, and my kids say they still would want to stay there even if the pool is closed. We are a family of 5, so it doesn't save us huge money to stay elsewhere. Ugh!!

Well in the past guests have been allowed to use the GF's pool when the volcano pool was closed (shuttle boat service over from the beach). That should be an option for you if the pool is closed for your trip.

We really struggled with the decision too. We always stay at the Poly and had a BB booked for this October. We finally bailed and moved to the GF for this trip. We just didn't like the idea of staying at a resort with so much construction for the same price as a resort with no construction. The construction on the beach last fall was no big deal, but with the GCH under construction this year and walls up and work going on with the main pool, etc we decided to take a year off and come back to the new Poly later.

 

[mom2jcg]

Well in the past guests have been allowed to use the GF's pool when the volcano pool was closed (shuttle boat service over from the beach). That should be an option for you if the pool is closed for your trip. We really struggled with the decision too. We always stay at the Poly and had a BB booked for this October. We finally bailed and moved to the GF for this trip. We just didn't like the idea of staying at a resort with so much construction for the same price as a resort with no construction. The construction on the beach last fall was no big deal, but with the GCH under construction this year and walls up and work going on with the main pool, etc we decided to take a year off and come back to the new Poly later.

Thank you! Unfortunately, this will probably be our last trip for a while. Our kids are getting older, and we enjoy DCL as well as whitewater rafting and would also like them to start experiencing other places too. That (and the fact that I have 3 boys who think the GF is too girly ) is why I guess we'll stay at the Poly regardless. It just stinks to pay the same price even with all the craziness going on.

 

[PolyAddict]

thanks for the video and pic link!

we are ready!!!!

 

[maiapapaya]

For those of you visiting the Poly during the pool closure, Tikiman is reporting the following on his FB page:

"Guests who are staying at the Polynesian during the closure of the Nanea pool are going to be offered a visit to Blizzard Beach for free. Letters going out to guests will have this statement in it.

“We anticipate the Nanea Volcano Pool and Slide to close for enhancement in late July through early 2015. Should you find the pool unavailable during your stay, one complimentary ticket to Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, our watery winter wonderland featuring waterslides, a wave pool, water play areas for the kids and more, will be given to each member of your party. To ensure you have a seamless visit to the Park, we will provide transportation to a dedicated check-in at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park where you will receive your complimentary tickets and towels.”

He said guests will also be allowed to use the GF pool.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

For those of you visiting the Poly during the pool closure, Tikiman is reporting the following on his FB page: "Guests who are staying at the Polynesian during the closure of the Nanea pool are going to be offered a visit to Blizzard Beach for free. Letters going out to guests will have this statement in it. “We anticipate the Nanea Volcano Pool and Slide to close for enhancement in late July through early 2015. Should you find the pool unavailable during your stay, one complimentary ticket to Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, our watery winter wonderland featuring waterslides, a wave pool, water play areas for the kids and more, will be given to each member of your party. To ensure you have a seamless visit to the Park, we will provide transportation to a dedicated check-in at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park where you will receive your complimentary tickets and towels.” He said guests will also be allowed to use the GF pool.

Was just heading to post the link... Lol!

http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/dis...-beach-during-the-main-pool-refurbishment.htm

 

[maiapapaya]

Was just heading to post the link... Lol!

http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/dis...-beach-during-the-main-pool-refurbishment.htm

Great minds think alike

 

[Wheelwatcher]

Video of lobby and outside.



Jeff Lange from mousesteps has great videos. This one looks like from this weekend. Star Wars playing in background I assume for SWW

Thank you for posting the link to the video...we're staying at CR in July and I was wondering if the Poly construction would be visible from CR...looks like it is, but at this point maybe not too much of a distraction. And I agree, the music DOES sound like Star Wars, but it's not! It's Wagner. John Williams definitely studied Wagner and others. "Ride of the Valkyries." Just sayin'!

 

[trishadono]

Thank you for posting the link to the video...we're staying at CR in July and I was wondering if the Poly construction would be visible from CR...looks like it is, but at this point maybe not too much of a distraction. And I agree, the music DOES sound like Star Wars, but it's not! It's Wagner. John Williams definitely studied Wagner and others. "Ride of the Valkyries." Just sayin'!

Thanks for the info

 

[Aristocath]

Tikiman also posted yesterday that Trader Sam's is closing mid June and won't reopen for about a year. I wonder if this includes Samoa Snacks?

I'm also very hopeful that the new Captain Cooks opens by early July. That would be awesome!

 

[disgirl14]

Wow. I am so sad that the polynesian is being renovated. I have stayed at almost all of the Disney hotels and the polynesian is my absolute favorite. It is such a beautiful resort, and makes me sad to see them make so many drastic changes, especially when there are plenty of other places throughout the entire Disney world resort that need work.

 

[PolyAddict]

I just had to post that we are 2 days and some hours away and I finally secured the AP discount!!

Saved me $235 that is now a credit on my room account ready to use

Don't ever give up on trying to apply discounts

 

[Skywise]

I just had to post that we are 2 days and some hours away and I finally secured the AP discount!!

Saved me $235 that is now a credit on my room account ready to use

Don't ever give up on trying to apply discounts

Stupid question that I probably know the answer to...

Can the AP discount be applied to Christmas/NYE week resort stays?

 

[trishadono]

Stupid question that I probably know the answer to...

Can the AP discount be applied to Christmas/NYE week resort stays?

There are usually no discounts offered over Christmas.

Worse yet the prices are the highest.