SnackyStacky
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 29, 2002
- Messages
- 6,799
Stayed for 10 nights, split 5/5 between the Beach Club and the Polynesian. I LOVED both places, but also found some negative things about both. I say them not to be nit-picky - but rather for anyone considering staying at either. Something I didn't like may be something someone else enjoys! 
Beach Club: We received a FABULOUS upgrade. We paid for a standard view room. We got what I believe to be water view, because we saw some water! We had a lovely view of Crescent Lake and the Yacht/Beach Club dock for the Epcot/MGM Friendship launch. We also had a wet bar, and a king bed. The room was very spacious, and very pretty. Our bellman said it had just been refurbished. We got ALL of our requests. A full balcony with a garden view close to Epcot. We were in room 4573.
What I liked: EVERYTHING was in the same building. It was nice staying in the AC to go get food, or just to walk around. Our room was INCREDIBLY close to the International Gateway. THAT was truly the best part!!!!! All of the cast members we encountered were helpful and nice. The valet staff was a little TOO helpful, but it was very much appreciated. Every time we pulled up to the port cochere, a valet person was there asking if we needed to unload our luggage, or if they wanted to take the car. Eventually, I just decided to drop Lisa off outside of the covered part. It really was no big deal. Housekeeping!!! We didn't get towel animals, but Rosita left us TRUCKLOADS of those fun free toiletries!
What I didn't like: Stormalong Bay. I was SO disappointed. I had high hopes for it, but it was, in fact, just a pool. I can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would trek from another resort to use it. I also didn't like the layout of the hotel itself. It was really confusing trying to find your way around. All of the carpets are exactly the same in the hallways, and the signs they had blended in a little too well, so I frequently missed them. I HATED the refillable mug program. I actually couldn't find the darn things at first! I thought they'd be in the room, waiting to be unwrapped, but they weren't, so I went to the gift shop. The gift shop sent me to the front desk. The front desk sent me to Beaches 'n Cream who finally had them. There was ALWAYS a line at the to go counter at Beaches n' Cream at night, when Hurricane Hanna's was closed. I didn't like that there was no self-serve beverage machine.
Would I stay here again? IN A HEART BEAT!!!!! The negatives really didn't bother me much when compared with what we liked. We don't feel a need to try the Yacht Club. We know it's a different atmosphere, but it shares the pool, and most of the restaurants.
The Polynesian: We ended up in Tokelau. We got all of our requests: a balcony without a parking lot view. We were very happy with it! We were not, however, at all impressed with the front desk staff. Nancy stood there sorting leis. She saw us and continued to sort. She waited a minute or two and THEN asked us to come over. She was very curt, and somewhat rude. We didn't get a welcome packet, or a map of the resort - nothing. It sounds trivial, but I really did have to search for our building. I've seen maps before, but I needed one there, because I was a little lost. We were in room 3940.
What we liked: The room itself. HUGE. We loved having all of that space. The bathroom was nice as well...very spacious, and lots of marble.
We liked...no, actually, we LOVED the restaurants - er, restaurant.
'Ohana was one of the best meals we ate during our 10 nights, but more on that on the restaurants board! I LOVED my Tonga Toast at Kona Cafe, but Lisa wasn't too impressed. So it's MY review, not Lisa's, so I'll say I LOVED the restaurants!! Both of 'em!
BEING ON THE MONORAIL! 'Nuf said.
The landscaping, and overall atmosphere at the Polynesian.
The refillable mug program, and captain cook's in general. SO much easier having a quick-bite eatery like that with a self-serve soda fountain.
What we didn't like:
The whole longhouse concept. We much prefer being in one building - without having to go outside to get food, or go to the front desk for something.
A lot of the staff. I'd read Tikiman's website about how wonderful the Polynesian staff was. And there were some WONDERFUL people. Shirley at the Polynesian Princess who got our deliveries for us each day, and Jane at Capt. Cook's, and our servers at the restaurants - but the front desk staff, like I said earlier, was not accomodating at all. Lisa spent a night itching and woke up with bug bites, and we got a problem when we asked housekeeping for the sheets to be changed.
Those dang toilets!!!! I thought they'd suck me in each time we flushed!!!
Overall, we LOVED the Polynesian. We would DEFINITELY stay here again.
We were incredibly pleased overall with our first Disney Resort experiences.
Beach Club: We received a FABULOUS upgrade. We paid for a standard view room. We got what I believe to be water view, because we saw some water!
We had a lovely view of Crescent Lake and the Yacht/Beach Club dock for the Epcot/MGM Friendship launch. We also had a wet bar, and a king bed. The room was very spacious, and very pretty. Our bellman said it had just been refurbished. We got ALL of our requests. A full balcony with a garden view close to Epcot. We were in room 4573.What I liked: EVERYTHING was in the same building. It was nice staying in the AC to go get food, or just to walk around. Our room was INCREDIBLY close to the International Gateway. THAT was truly the best part!!!!! All of the cast members we encountered were helpful and nice. The valet staff was a little TOO helpful, but it was very much appreciated. Every time we pulled up to the port cochere, a valet person was there asking if we needed to unload our luggage, or if they wanted to take the car. Eventually, I just decided to drop Lisa off outside of the covered part.
It really was no big deal. Housekeeping!!! We didn't get towel animals, but Rosita left us TRUCKLOADS of those fun free toiletries! What I didn't like: Stormalong Bay. I was SO disappointed. I had high hopes for it, but it was, in fact, just a pool. I can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would trek from another resort to use it. I also didn't like the layout of the hotel itself. It was really confusing trying to find your way around. All of the carpets are exactly the same in the hallways, and the signs they had blended in a little too well, so I frequently missed them. I HATED the refillable mug program. I actually couldn't find the darn things at first! I thought they'd be in the room, waiting to be unwrapped, but they weren't, so I went to the gift shop. The gift shop sent me to the front desk. The front desk sent me to Beaches 'n Cream who finally had them. There was ALWAYS a line at the to go counter at Beaches n' Cream at night, when Hurricane Hanna's was closed. I didn't like that there was no self-serve beverage machine.
Would I stay here again? IN A HEART BEAT!!!!! The negatives really didn't bother me much when compared with what we liked. We don't feel a need to try the Yacht Club. We know it's a different atmosphere, but it shares the pool, and most of the restaurants.
The Polynesian: We ended up in Tokelau. We got all of our requests: a balcony without a parking lot view. We were very happy with it! We were not, however, at all impressed with the front desk staff. Nancy stood there sorting leis. She saw us and continued to sort. She waited a minute or two and THEN asked us to come over. She was very curt, and somewhat rude. We didn't get a welcome packet, or a map of the resort - nothing. It sounds trivial, but I really did have to search for our building. I've seen maps before, but I needed one there, because I was a little lost. We were in room 3940.
What we liked: The room itself. HUGE. We loved having all of that space. The bathroom was nice as well...very spacious, and lots of marble.
We liked...no, actually, we LOVED the restaurants - er, restaurant.
'Ohana was one of the best meals we ate during our 10 nights, but more on that on the restaurants board! I LOVED my Tonga Toast at Kona Cafe, but Lisa wasn't too impressed. So it's MY review, not Lisa's, so I'll say I LOVED the restaurants!! Both of 'em! BEING ON THE MONORAIL! 'Nuf said.
The landscaping, and overall atmosphere at the Polynesian.
The refillable mug program, and captain cook's in general. SO much easier having a quick-bite eatery like that with a self-serve soda fountain.
What we didn't like:
The whole longhouse concept. We much prefer being in one building - without having to go outside to get food, or go to the front desk for something.
A lot of the staff. I'd read Tikiman's website about how wonderful the Polynesian staff was. And there were some WONDERFUL people. Shirley at the Polynesian Princess who got our deliveries for us each day, and Jane at Capt. Cook's, and our servers at the restaurants - but the front desk staff, like I said earlier, was not accomodating at all. Lisa spent a night itching and woke up with bug bites, and we got a problem when we asked housekeeping for the sheets to be changed.
Those dang toilets!!!! I thought they'd suck me in each time we flushed!!!
Overall, we LOVED the Polynesian. We would DEFINITELY stay here again.
We were incredibly pleased overall with our first Disney Resort experiences.
I have to agree about Stormalong Bay. It is a neat pool but maybe I've been spoiled with some of the "water parks" I've seen during our stays in Hawaii. LOL We like Stormalong Bay but choose the BC for location and theming more than anything. Plus, whenever we've stayed there it was always so crowded at SAB that we could barely find chairs. So, we usually end up at the quiet pool anyway.
Neighbor!
I also just returned from the Yacht club. I have to disagree about the pool though. I thought it was awesome. I am probably easily amused though. 
I also have a 1.5 year old daughter that would play forever in the sand and the water slide so that mommy could lay in the sun so I am sure that helps with my impression of the pool! I also had a view of the boardwalk but paid for a standard room. The Yacht club rooms all have a balcony which we totally loved. Nice place to sit outside and have some wine when the little one goes to sleep. I had a wonderful time too. 
