ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: October 2013

[Poohsmommi]

There will still be construction when you go. You have to decide where in the resort you want to stay, construction side or non construction side. I would do some research on where the construction is, what it is, and if you can live with it. If it were me I would go to the other side of the resort from the construction. To me it will still be a magical, wonderful, calming place even with the construction. The resort itself is large enough for me to pretty much stay removed from it. Of course they will be doing work on the GCH at some time and that you wont be able to avoid. They are supposed to do it in sections as to not disturb the guests too much. We don't yet know when that will begin. Also the pool will be down during the time you are there but there will be a launch over to the Grand Floridian and there is also the quiet pool.

I can't imagine staying at the Poly without the pool, or at the GF knowing it will be twice as crowded now with GF AND Poly guests.

 

[shellypaige]

Does poly have washers/dryers in the buildings? Going for 8 days with 3 under 5... Lots of laundry!

 

[Tinkl0ver66]

There will still be construction when you go. You have to decide where in the resort you want to stay, construction side or non construction side. I would do some research on where the construction is, what it is, and if you can live with it. If it were me I would go to the other side of the resort from the construction. To me it will still be a magical, wonderful, calming place even with the construction. The resort itself is large enough for me to pretty much stay removed from it. Of course they will be doing work on the GCH at some time and that you wont be able to avoid. They are supposed to do it in sections as to not disturb the guests too much. We don't yet know when that will begin. Also the pool will be down during the time you are there but there will be a launch over to the Grand Floridian and there is also the quiet pool.

I knew there would probably be some construction, but also figure in true Disney fashion they would probably make it as low key as possible. The last time we were there we stayed at Aotearoa, and I really liked the location. Fiji was right over there too. We will have an electric wheel chair for my sister, so I'm thinking a first floor room would work best. Pretty bummed about the pool tho, I would have thought they wouldn't have it closed during the summer months :-/ thank you for the information. Construction or not, I still can't wait!!

 

[karriealex]

Does poly have washers/dryers in the buildings? Going for 8 days with 3 under 5... Lots of laundry!

There are washers and dryers in a separate building but not in each building.

 

[mch521]

Is construction slated to run through October 2014? I think I have finally talked my husband into our first stay here towards the end of Oct. 2014 & club level. Would love to know because he would rather do AKL CL, the construction may be the deciding factor. Thanks in advance & sorry if this was discussed, I may have overlooked it.

 

[karriealex]

Is construction slated to run through October 2014? I think I have finally talked my husband into our first stay here towards the end of Oct. 2014 & club level. Would love to know because he would rather do AKL CL, the construction may be the deciding factor. Thanks in advance & sorry if this was discussed, I may have overlooked it.

As far as we know yes it will still be going on.

 

[maiapapaya]

Is construction slated to run through October 2014? I think I have finally talked my husband into our first stay here towards the end of Oct. 2014 & club level. Would love to know because he would rather do AKL CL, the construction may be the deciding factor. Thanks in advance & sorry if this was discussed, I may have overlooked it.

If you want more info on the construction you may find this thread more useful, most of the news is being posted in here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3110773

 

[mch521]

If you want more info on the construction you may find this thread more useful, most of the news is being posted in here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3110773

Thank you kindly, I did a search on my phone and couldn't find that thread so that is perfect!

 

[maiapapaya]

Thank you kindly, I did a search on my phone and couldn't find that thread so that is perfect!

You're welcome!
Good luck with your decision! I know construction isn't an ideal selling point for the Poly and by then the bungalows will probably be well underway (but definitely not finished), the pool may or may not be reopened and there will likely be work of some kind going on in the GCH, although it won't be closed. On the other hand, the location of the Poly can't be beat and the rooms are bigger than AK and newly refurbed this year.

 

[rymahoney]

When is pool going to be closed.? We will be there jan 7 for 8 days.

 

[karriealex]

When is pool going to be closed.? We will be there jan 7 for 8 days.

It is going down for a short time in Jan for resurfacing work and then it goes down again in March for much more significant work. The dates for Jan have not been announced yet.

 

[kim_o]

How does everyone know about the pool? I can't find it anywhere outside of disboards - (not that I don't trust anyone here - they tend to know more than CM's ;-)). What are the chances that the big pool closure will be pushed back? It seems the January closure was pushed back from September? I'm contemplating booking April 5 -12. If they do bus people to GF for the pool - any idea on how convenient/often shuttles will be?

 

[maiapapaya]

How does everyone know about the pool? I can't find it anywhere outside of disboards - (not that I don't trust anyone here - they tend to know more than CM's ;-)). What are the chances that the big pool closure will be pushed back? It seems the January closure was pushed back from September? I'm contemplating booking April 5 -12. If they do bus people to GF for the pool - any idea on how convenient/often shuttles will be?

The info came from Tikiman (he has sources at the resort - he's been posting updates on his FB page). I don't think anyone knows if Disney will stick to their schedules or not. If the pool is closed, they don't bus you to the GF. They take you over on a boat launch that picks you up on the Poly beach. I think the launch just pretty much keeps going back and forth

 

[carnival kid]

We have a booking for 5 nights in early july and I totally had my heart set on staying at the Poly.... but I think the pool closure is a deal breaker for us

We are travelling from Australia and paying full room only rate so it is really expensive. We have 2 toddlers so travelling to the GF for the pool will be a real pain.

Aggghhh I don't know what to do..... so much uncertainty and no confirmations from Disney..... I think I will be changing

 

[JessicaNY]

Hi everyone, I really appreciate the effort that goes into creating this post. It's very informative!

I've done a lot of reading about the various longhouses and I need to ask our travel agent to submit some room requests for our November 2013 trip. My parents are coming along so we will be getting two rooms. We have standard view rooms.

I'd love to have something with a nice view, not too loud and not too close to the construction. Is that asking a lot or do any of you have recommendations? Fiji and Samoa look like possible good choices. My kids are 5 and 3 and I am expecting we'll come back some days for naps, so I am thinking of asking for a first floor room so my husband and I can sit out on the patio and relax while they rest.

It's the kids' first trip! I am counting down the days!!

 

[karriealex]

Hi everyone, I really appreciate the effort that goes into creating this post. It's very informative!

I've done a lot of reading about the various longhouses and I need to ask our travel agent to submit some room requests for our November 2013 trip. My parents are coming along so we will be getting two rooms. We have standard view rooms.

I'd love to have something with a nice view, not too loud and not too close to the construction. Is that asking a lot or do any of you have recommendations? Fiji and Samoa look like possible good choices. My kids are 5 and 3 and I am expecting we'll come back some days for naps, so I am thinking of asking for a first floor room so my husband and I can sit out on the patio and relax while they rest.

It's the kids' first trip! I am counting down the days!!

Samoa is closer to the construction than Fiji and one side of it faces the volcano pool which can get kind of loud. Areotoa is also a nice longhouse. One side faces the monorail and the other the garden, lagoon, and theme park. There are standard (garden view rooms) on the side that faces the lagoon and theme park. I am not sure if you would hear the monorail if you were facing it but I cant imagine it would be loud based on how it sounds coming into the stop when you are outside. I would go with either of these two if it were me. In fact that is probably what we will ask for in December.

 

[monorailsilver]

OT - but you might want to avoid the Lee County beaches if the Lake O releases are still going on. The water is nasty, and gators have been photographed in the gulf. It's crazy. Stick with Venice Beach, or Sarasota even.

My sister has been telling me how nasty the water has been over the past few months with the abundance of rain! We aren't going until April so hopefully it won't be murky by then...and gator free! Oh and dead fish free. I think she said in early spring/late winter on their walks in the beach a few nights a week that there were dead fish all over.

 

[karriealex]

Steve, tikiman has an all NEW site!! It is not gone just BETTER!!! Check it out!! It is at the old sites address!!

 

[rymahoney]

What's his website?

 

[dansdad]

What's his website?

tikimanpages.com