ALOHA! The Polynesian Resort Information Thread: October 2013

[Tikiman]

While I don't want to argue with someone who spends as much time at the Poly as you, I can just tell what I experienced. The old path kept you on the lake side of the sidewalk from the TTC, and you picked it up and were finished in the middle of the east side, depending on your longhouse. The new path makes you walk all the way around that turnaround -- you can't cut across it because it's fenced -- and then walk down to the street, past the parking lots until you're past the laundry, and then you can head north again into the resort. At leas tot us, it felt like a significantly longer walk. Others may have different opinions, but it's disingenuous to suggest the path is only slightly changed. What used to be a tropical entrance to a resort now is a fenced off part of the sidewalk.

I never suggested the path is only slightly changed. It is a totally different path for now. I do know that the distance difference from the longhouses that are still open has not increased by 300 years. If you were in Hawaii and had to walk over to the new path there would be a less than 2 minute walk difference by the time you got to the TTC. I would show what I am talking about on a map but I don’t know how to post a photo here. You are correct that it is longer. I’m saying it is slightly longer and not as long as you are suggesting. If anything the temporary rout is more direct. Often people got lost going through the resort. Many times I had to give people directions to get through the resort.

 

[Tikiman]

While I don't want to argue with someone who spends as much time at the Poly as you, I can just tell what I experienced. The old path kept you on the lake side of the sidewalk from the TTC, and you picked it up and were finished in the middle of the east side, depending on your longhouse. The new path makes you walk all the way around that turnaround -- you can't cut across it because it's fenced -- and then walk down to the street, past the parking lots until you're past the laundry, and then you can head north again into the resort. At leas tot us, it felt like a significantly longer walk. Others may have different opinions, but it's disingenuous to suggest the path is only slightly changed. What used to be a tropical entrance to a resort now is a fenced off part of the sidewalk.

I picked Hawaii longhouse as a point of reference because it would be the most affected by the reroute of the path. You use to be able to walk around Tokelau and through the longhouses to get to the TTC and now you have to walk out to the parking lot and over. From the end of Hawaii longhouse the old path would have been about 233 yards to get to the TTC and the new path from the same part of Hawaii is now about 366 yards. So slightly over 100 yards difference doesn't seem too bad to me.

 

[Koh1977]

@Tikiman - Is the area between the DVC longhouses all fenced off at the moment? Do we think they will come down and the path in between useable again once DVC opens up next month?

 

[hsmamainva]

We just booked the Poly for August 15-22! I still can't believe I'm going!!!

I've wanted to stay there for YEARS and finally booked it!

Question....which Longhouse for us? I'm thinking Rarotonga?

It's me and my adult daughter and my youngest daughter, who has special needs. So close to the Ceremonial House and monorail is preferred. It looks close to the quiet pool and the bus also.

I wanted to make sure nothing changed there with the construction. Thanks!

 

[PAdislover]

We just booked the Poly for August 15-22! I still can't believe I'm going!!!

I've wanted to stay there for YEARS and finally booked it!

Question....which Longhouse for us? I'm thinking Rarotonga?

It's me and my adult daughter and my youngest daughter, who has special needs. So close to the Ceremonial House and monorail is preferred. It looks close to the quiet pool and the bus also.

I wanted to make sure nothing changed there with the construction. Thanks!

the quiet pool will be closed in august. it is undergoing refurb from mid-April until early 2016.

 

[hsmamainva]

Thank you for letting me know!! Will the Volcano pool be open?

I'm thinking Samoa would be the next best?

 

[PAdislover]

Thank you for letting me know!! Will the Volcano pool be open?

the feature pool is supposed to open in April, so yes, will be open in august

 

[hsmamainva]

Thank you again!!!

Rarotonga doesn't look too far from the Volcano pool either. Looking at the map now!

Where would YOU stay? I booked a Standard (used to be Garden) Room.

Looking at Rarotonga and Samoa.

 

[Ferrentinos]

Thank you again!!!

Rarotonga doesn't look too far from the Volcano pool either. Looking at the map now!

Where would YOU stay? I booked a Standard (used to be Garden) Room.

Looking at Rarotonga and Samoa.

We stayed at Rarotonga our first stay - LOVED it's location! It was super convenient to the GCH and a short walk to the volcano pool. Highly recommend!

 

[hsmamainva]

Thank you!!!! I can't wait!!! Rarotonga it is!

 

[Cluelyss]

We stayed at Rarotonga our first stay - LOVED it's location! It was super convenient to the GCH and a short walk to the volcano pool. Highly recommend!

Fiji is also a great location to both the volcano pool and GCH

 

[Tikiman]

@Tikiman - Is the area between the DVC longhouses all fenced off at the moment? Do we think they will come down and the path in between useable again once DVC opens up next month?

All the paths in at the east end of the resort might be slightly different but will be accessible. The path that has the bricks that goes to the TTC is still there.

 

[LauraC]

We are not staying at the Polynesian but I have booked a Wishes cruise which will be leaving from the Polynesian marina. Can we park at the Polynesian... or would it be better to park at the TTC and walk over? If we can get out of paying the parking fee for the TTC, that would be preferable, but I wasn't certain how much parking space would be available at the resort itself. I also wanted to know if a non-guest can use the monorail to check out the other Magic Kingdom resorts while we are there?

 

[Koh1977]

We are not staying at the Polynesian but I have booked a Wishes cruise which will be leaving from the Polynesian marina. Can we park at the Polynesian... or would it be better to park at the TTC and walk over? If we can get out of paying the parking fee for the TTC, that would be preferable, but I wasn't certain how much parking space would be available at the resort itself. I also wanted to know if a non-guest can use the monorail to check out the other Magic Kingdom resorts while we are there?

I don't know about the parking situation currently. Usually it's not a problem if you tell them that you have a cruise booked. And yes, you are more than welcome to use the monorail

 

[dawn117]

We have a single night stay at Poly this coming Saturday. Which building would you recommend?

 

[LauraC]

I don't know about the parking situation currently. Usually it's not a problem if you tell them that you have a cruise booked. And yes, you are more than welcome to use the monorail

Our reservation is not until August, so I will check on the parking situation then. Thanks for your help!

 

[Disneychick75]

Kind of freaking out-I booked Poly DVC for April 19-24. Is the construction horrible? I know this isn't the DVC thread but I figure some of you may have been to the Poly lately. Trying to decide if I should switch back to SSR. Thanks!

 

[Koh1977]

the quiet pool will be under construction by then, but the main pool should be open!

 

[Disneychick75]

Thank-you.

 

[ckelly14]

I posted this thread on the resort board but haven't had any bites. Let me know if anyone has an opinion:

Considering a 50th birthday party at the Poly in 2016. Probably a split stay with days at the Poly and 4 nights at the Dolphin on points (i.e. free), so going all out on the Poly stay. Haven't stayed at the Poly since the 70's and early 80's when we used to go all the time as a kid.

The one bedroom suites at the Poly will probably not work for us since it only has a pull out couch in the living room (4 adults, 2 kids). I was considering a two bedroom vs. connecting club level rooms instead. I don't see the 2 bedrooms very often- how difficult are these to book? Do they still exist? Do they still use the terms Honeymoon Suite, Princess Suite, etc? Should I pick Hawaii over Tonga due to the level of Club Level amenities?

Any info would be welcome. Thanks.