ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: October 2013

[dansdad]

I have been trying to keep up with the construction. Yet the amount of rumors are daunting..

we will be going in Sept 7-14 to be exact... what should i expect? is the GCH going to be in ruins as i am led to believe by the rumors? Will the pool be demolished?

I love the Poly.. it is my home resort i cannot wait to go back!!! I just wish i had some concrete information to say no the resort will be in livable loveable means!!! or it will be a construction nightmare.

Knowing Disney they can't have a resort in such ruins with people still staying there?!?!

can someone help my poor little head? I am following the poly construction thread as well.. which is why my head hurts!!!

Unfortunately, nobody can answer any of these with any amount of certainty.

 

[Chicago Mo]

Unfortunately, nobody can answer any of these with any amount of certainty.

I see your also from Chicago...



This is killing me... the NOT KNOWING is killing me...

 

[Tikiman]

I have been trying to keep up with the construction. Yet the amount of rumors are daunting..

we will be going in Sept 7-14 to be exact... what should i expect? is the GCH going to be in ruins as i am led to believe by the rumors? Will the pool be demolished?

I love the Poly.. it is my home resort i cannot wait to go back!!! I just wish i had some concrete information to say no the resort will be in livable loveable means!!! or it will be a construction nightmare.

Knowing Disney they can't have a resort in such ruins with people still staying there?!?!

can someone help my poor little head? I am following the poly construction thread as well.. which is why my head hurts!!!

Consider that in the past Disney has had whole sections of the Polynesian resort closed off and under construction including the early 90s that had a redesign to the entire GCH and had most of it closed off for long periods of time. Then from 2000-2001 the whole middle section of the resort was dirt and construction with trucks driving in and out along the GCH to get to the new pool being constructed including a huge crane in the middle and the beach closed off by a wall as seen in this photo.

 

[ALMinVA]

Thanks for the help ( and to all who gave info.) What does beach view being down mean? Was really looking forward to sitting on beach and watching fireworks. Trying to stay positive . But DH is becoming annoyed

I've looked all over for that letter and can't find it but I wouldn't worry too much. I believe you can sit on the beach but not to the right of Hawaii but more to the left and please if anyone else has more current information please correct me if I'm wrong. You will be able to watch the fireworks from what I understand, the work is there but more to the right side from what I understand. We worried too at first but decided to remain with Poly and still feel we made the right choice.

 

[Chicago Mo]

Consider that in the past Disney has had whole sections of the Polynesian resort closed off and under construction including the early 90s that had a redesign to the entire GCH and had most of it closed off for long periods of time. Then from 2000-2001 the whole middle section of the resort was dirt and construction with trucks driving in and out along the GCH to get to the new pool being constructed including a huge crane in the middle and the beach closed off by a wall as seen in this photo.

WOW!
Thank you very much for responding. This is not helping my newly formed ulcers!
I am shocked it stayed open while the construction was going on! wonder how many people will run from here because of the construction and rumors.. Hopefully we will have the resort to ourselves...

Yet scares me even more. I guess time will tell. I will be keeping a watchful eye here and on your web site as the news trickles in. The CM i spoke to yesterday said all she can tell - the Monorail will be "adjusted" and will finish by march.
We are still going to our HOME away from home Sept 7th. I don't have plans to change unless the construction is that horrible, it takes away from the poly i know and love...

Again thank you so much for your reply. Looking forward to your updates.

 

[Tikiman]

WOW!
Thank you very much for responding. This is not helping my newly formed ulcers!
I am shocked it stayed open while the construction was going on! wonder how many people will run from here because of the construction and rumors.. Hopefully we will have the resort to ourselves...

Yet scares me even more. I guess time will tell. I will be keeping a watchful eye here and on your web site as the news trickles in. The CM i spoke to yesterday said all she can tell - the Monorail will be "adjusted" and will finish by march.
We are still going to our HOME away from home Sept 7th. I don't have plans to change unless the construction is that horrible, it takes away from the poly i know and love...

Again thank you so much for your reply. Looking forward to your updates.

If you got there in September and the construction was bad, I am sure they would put you in another Deluxe resort. They have done that before.

 

[jandkmom]

There will just be myself, DH and DD3 for 4 nights - We'll be there for breakfast every day and apps as many times as we can. We love the food offerings there and you can't beat the view of Wishes!

We will be doing as much as possible in the lounge too (except for one ADR at Crystal Palace for breakfast…I just love going into MK before rope drop). My DD11 has a chronic illness and may need frequent breaks from the parks. The lounge makes it much easier to enjoy ourselves, although the monorail being down during the day is kind of a pain. Oh well, we'll make do! See you there!

 

[Eparisher]

I'm biting my nails... I'm taking my skeptical Grandmother, My mom, and my Aunt as well as my two kids, 4 and 15 months. We are arriving May 3rd. I have never actually stayed at the Poly but I always eat at Ohana while I am in Disney. I am excited for sure but soooo nervous about all the construction! I really hope the pool will be open!

 

[Skywise]

Disney really needs to get this information out. They've setup their entire system so that you MUST plan 6 months in advance and then they can't even figure out what the resort status is going to be not even 2 weeks from now. I'm trying to form up plans for a fall trip now and I'd like to stay at the Poly but I'm not sure what to expect... Will the pool still be closed? (Will it have even closed to begin with?!) What will the status of the ceremonial house be? The beach?

Okay, maybe I'll do end of April because I know the pool will still be open (kinda, sort of)... but now I'm inside of the 180 day window for dining reservations and I'm screwed that way! :headbangingsmiley:

 

[HairyChest]

What do you guys think about reserving kona in mid may for dinner? Would the closure of the pool effect the access to the beach to watch the fireworks from after dinner?

 

[Tallent]

I just booked our trip for aug 8-14. Don't think construction will bother us as long as long as volcano pool and monorail are in use. Csr is our 'home' but the poly deal I got was too good to pass up and poly has always been a dream of mine. Dd 12 and ds 9 are hoping dh will even consider joining us since he's always wanted to stay there---he does not do heat much less fl in August heat so planned to sit this one out. Soo excited for our poly stay!

 

[Ferrentinos]

We will be doing as much as possible in the lounge too (except for one ADR at Crystal Palace for breakfast…I just love going into MK before rope drop). My DD11 has a chronic illness and may need frequent breaks from the parks. The lounge makes it much easier to enjoy ourselves, although the monorail being down during the day is kind of a pain. Oh well, we'll make do! See you there!

I agree about the monorail but I think it will be only a problem for one day that we will leave MK in the middle of the day. Otherwise, we will be traveling during times that the monorail is running or we'll be heading off the monorail anyway. Just so excited to be heading back to Poly CL!!! Can't wait for a glass of wine and watching Wishes with DD3 in her pjs!

 

[jude&jonah]

I'm spending one night at the Poly March 28th. Two quick questions:

1. Volcano pool will be open right?
2. It's CL- so it's that automatically Hawaii?

Thanks!

 

[Tess]

I'm spending one night at the Poly March 28th. Two quick questions:

1. Volcano pool will be open right?
2. It's CL- so it's that automatically Hawaii?

Thanks!

1. Good guess?

2. Unless you are booked in a suite, it will be Hawaii for CL.

 

[Tess]

Consider that in the past Disney has had whole sections of the Polynesian resort closed off and under construction including the early 90s that had a redesign to the entire GCH and had most of it closed off for long periods of time. Then from 2000-2001 the whole middle section of the resort was dirt and construction with trucks driving in and out along the GCH to get to the new pool being constructed including a huge crane in the middle and the beach closed off by a wall as seen in this photo.

Ron and I actually remember that rehab of the pool--we were so bummed the old pool was being changed. While it added a bit of sitting space, I wouldn't consider the "new" pool an improvement. Let's hope the new concept provides more space for lounging.

For those who are concerned about the construction, I will say that in all the years we have stayed at the Polynesian, the various construction/rehabs have never interfered with our enjoyment. Inconvenienced at times, but we have enjoyed each and every stay regardless.

 

[jandkmom]

I agree about the monorail but I think it will be only a problem for one day that we will leave MK in the middle of the day. Otherwise, we will be traveling during times that the monorail is running or we'll be heading off the monorail anyway. Just so excited to be heading back to Poly CL!!! Can't wait for a glass of wine and watching Wishes with DD3 in her pjs!

Me too! Make mine a Lapu Lapu and I'll be all set

 

[maddiebee]

What do you guys think about reserving kona in mid may for dinner? Would the closure of the pool effect the access to the beach to watch the fireworks from after dinner?

We just booked for August 24-31 and access to the beach is really my main concern at this point. While I'm not a huge pool person, it does seem completely crazy to me that they would choose hottest time of year to rehab it. If they had been working on it this past week I don't think anyone would of minded!!

Also, I think I saw somewhere that if the pool IS closed, Poly guests would be granted access to another pool? Is that true?

As far as noise from the construction is concerned, if it ends up being too loud where we are, is that something they are generally ok moving you to another spot for?

 

[maiapapaya]

We just booked for August 24-31 and access to the beach is really my main concern at this point. While I'm not a huge pool person, it does seem completely crazy to me that they would choose hottest time of year to rehab it. If they had been working on it this past week I don't think anyone would of minded!!

Also, I think I saw somewhere that if the pool IS closed, Poly guests would be granted access to another pool? Is that true?

As far as noise from the construction is concerned, if it ends up being too loud where we are, is that something they are generally ok moving you to another spot for?

In the past, when the pool was closed, or even the slide out of service, Poly guests have been allowed to take a shuttle boat over to the GF to use their pool. I would imagine that will be done again while the refurb is going on.

People have reported being moved upon request when having problems with construction noise. I think they will try to accommodate guests the best that they can based on availability.

 

[maddiebee]

In the past, when the pool was closed, or even the slide out of service, Poly guests have been allowed to take a shuttle boat over to the GF to use their pool. I would imagine that will be done again while the refurb is going on.

People have reported being moved upon request when having problems with construction noise. I think they will try to accommodate guests the best that they can based on availability.

Has previous construction on the pool cut off access to the beach?

 

[maiapapaya]

Has previous construction on the pool cut off access to the beach?

Not in recent years, but this upcoming project sounds very large scale. However, I can't see them completely cutting off access to the beach for a couple of reasons. Guests will still need access to the dock for the MK shuttle boats and if they have to use the GF pool the most convenient way to get guests over there is to use the pontoon boat from the beach that they have in the past.

If the beach were completely closed off there would be no access to the small boats, the fireworks or the EWP. On top of everything else that is going on I think that would be the breaking point for a lot of already inconvenienced guests. Of course this is just an educated guess on my part