Back from the Poly

[krbq]

DH and I just returned from WDW and stayed at the Poly Oct. 29 to Nov. 1. We were lucky enough to get a newly renovated LV room on the 3rd floor of Tuvalu, the last room on the end nearest the marina. There was no noise from either the marina or the luau. The new sliders are really effective at blocking out any noise. We had great seats for the EWP, Wishes, and HalloWishes (which was spectacular!).

There was no refurbishment going on while we were there. I walked the grounds to see if I could tell which rooms had been renovated or at least had the new sliders, and found the same buildings had been done as are currently reported on Tikiman's website.

The mattresses and pillows were really comfortable, so much so I had to strip the sheets to find out what kind of mattress we were sleeping on (Sealy). I'd love to get that kind of mattress at home.

The new TV's were pretty cool, but DH felt that the picture looked stretched out and needed adjusting to be proportionate. He never did figure out how to do that.

We had some problems with the climate control system, but understand others have also reported problems. Our thermotat was set on 74 and when DH tried to change the setting, the reading would return to 74. He called Engineering who came while we were in the parks and reset the thermostat to 66 (way too cold for me). He had them come back and set the thermostat higher, but actually the weather was so nice we didn't need to run either the a/c or heater.

The closets were a little funny. The closet on one side had space taken up by the safe and the ironing board, and just a little room to hang longer items. The other closet had two rods, but they were more suited for children's clothing than for adults'. DH's shirts were too long for either rod.

The bathrooms still had the old layout and old fixtures, but had been nicely updated. The shower curtain rod was bowed for more room in the shower. The shower head was large but situated a little lower than normal. I thought DH might have a problem with that, but he was fine. The large shower head made for a wider spray which was really nice and had a setting which especially felt good on sore muscles after a day in the parks. One thing I noticed about the bathrooms was that the lighting was very dim when first turned on, but then almost imperceptibly brightened. It's great for allowing the eyes to adjust (for people who get up in the middle of the night). We had this type of lighting in the bathroom of our room at the Grand Californian at Disneyland and thought it was a nice touch.

There were no tiki torches burning while we were there. Much of the time there was no music being piped through the grounds and the hallways of the longhouses. To me the music always makes the Poly feel more Hawaiian and I missed it.

The music was playing the day I went for a swim. The volcano pool was ok for kids but too shallow for me, so I went to the quiet pool (7' at the deep end). Over there I could hear the music and realized that a garden view room there would feel very much like being in Hawaii. We've always gotten lagoon view rooms at the Poly, but I wouldn't be disappointed to be in one of the GV rooms around the quiet pool, especially when the music was playing.

I knew from these boards that the picture in our room had a hidden Mickey (drawn by a little girl in the sand on the beach), but when I challenged DH to find it, he couldn't find that one but found two others.

Mousekeeping was excellent, as was room service. Overall, our stay at the Poly was wonderful and we're looking forward to going back someday soon.

 

[SeaSpray]

Welcome back and thanks for the detailed review I'm glad you had a nice visit and many of your comments sound exactly like what we experienced at the Polynesian (Hawaii building) a couple of weeks ago.

I had to laugh when I read that you pulled back the sheets to see what kind of bed you were sleeping on because I've done that too!! It was at CBR and the bed was extremely comfortable. The beds at the Polynesian are wonderful too, but I love those pillows! I should've checked to see what kind they were.

Regarding the climate control and the lighting in the bathroom, the Polynesian staff have been getting complaints, and they're being reported. We overheard the concierge staff discussing this during our stay, so they are aware of these situations.

In our own room, it was extremely warm so on the second or third day I called and they sent up a technician who climbed a ladder and removed a ceiling panel over where the new fridge is between the two closets. He made some adjustments up in the pipes and said that there an error made between the hot and cold something-or-others. (I wasn't paying close attention to what he was saying because we were getting ready to go out). Anyway, he did do something that allowed cool air to blow out instead of hot air, and the room cooled off for a day or so, but by our last couple of days the room was warm again. The technician DID say that would happen, and that they have to do some kind of permanent solution to this. Apparently this isn't a problem in only the Hawaii building, since you stayed in the Tahiti building, and it isn't a problem with the actual thermostat on the wall.

Regarding the lighting in the bathroom, I noticed that it was very dim at first then got brighter (if you left the lights on long enough). It wasn't a problem at all for us, but according to the concierge CMs, many people were complaining about it.

We loved the bowed shower curtain rod and large showerhead too

We've always had lagoon view rooms for our stays at the Polynesian too, but I agree when you say that you'd be happy in a garden view room too.

 

[LukenDC]

Thanks for the review of the Poly! I agree that the beds are very comfortable. The Poly bed is one of the most comfortable hotel beds that I have ever slept in.

When I went in September, I had one of the older rooms and it was still nice. I like the pictures that I have seen of the newer rooms, but I do not care for the new artwork on the wall. It looks like something that one would find alongside a velvet Elvis. Perhaps seeing it person would give me a different perspective.

 

[Tikiman]

Nice report. I love the new beds. They had them in some of the rooms in August even before the redesign so even if someone gets an older room they might already have the new beds in them.

I never heard that about the lights. Thanks for letting us know. The tourches and music seem to be sparatic lately but they were on when I was there in August including the music playing and the sound for wishes around the grounds, near the pool in the lobby and even in the halls of the Hawaii longhouse. My guess is either someone is working on the tourches and the music system at certain times or someone forgets to turn them on.

I have stayed in LV Tuvalu and never found there to be noise from the Luau unless the door was open even with the old doors and I was closer to the Luau end of the building.

Thanks for the report.

Aloha

Steve

 

[BCV23]

I didn't notice that about the lights at all. Pretty nifty.

Do you think it works by motion sensor? That way the wattage use would be lower if the light was on for ambiance or as a night light but increase when needed for showers, baths etc..

Anyway, enjoyed your report. I was getting desperate for a Polynesian fix.

 

[Chip126]

Wow........thanks for the great review! I love the Poly!

Now I am just wondering which building to request for my upcoming stay in two weeks I stayed in Samoa last December and loved it so I'm not sure whether to keep that request or request a different building

 

[pal]

Thank you for the report

 

[Tikiman]

Wow........thanks for the great review! I love the Poly!

Now I am just wondering which building to request for my upcoming stay in two weeks I stayed in Samoa last December and loved it so I'm not sure whether to keep that request or request a different building

Hey Chip126,

There won’t be any changes in the next few weeks or even months. If you want a new room than you will have to put in a request for Fiji or Niue. Tuvalu and Rapa Nui are partly done so if you request one of those two you might not get a newly designed room. No other longhouses will be done until the beginning of the year but the rooms are still in great shape in the older design.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Thanks for the review!

 

[Chip126]

Hey Chip126,

There won’t be any changes in the next few weeks or even months. If you want a new room than you will have to put in a request for Fiji or Niue. Tuvalu and Rapa Nui are partly done so if you request one of those two you might not get a newly designed room. No other longhouses will be done until the beginning of the year but the rooms are still in great shape in the older design.

Which one would be better to request - Fiji or Niue?? Do they have second floor balconies?? Which is closest to the GCH??

Thanks for your help!

 

[oots]

CHIP

we just got back last nite-stayed in FIJI-it was great. There are not balconies on the second floor-patios on 1st floor balconies on 3rd. We stayed in room#3318-great views facing the marina & the lagoon.

 

[Tikiman]

Which one would be better to request - Fiji or Niue?? Do they have second floor balconies?? Which is closest to the GCH??

Thanks for your help!

Although any answer to what is best is dependant on each person’s opinion. I think it is a safe bet to say Fiji is better than Niue because niue is smoking optional and is only 2 floors tall with no balcony on the second floor. Niue is very close to the pools and the GCH but Fiji is close to the GCH and not far from the pools. Fiji is your better bet but I am sure many are requesting it so don’t be surprised if they are unable to honor your request, especially since they have been extremely full. This is one of the reasons why renovations have not continued or finished in some buildings because they are too full to shut them down.

 

[oots]

CHIP

we just got back last nite-stayed in FIJI-it was great. There are not balconies on the second floor-patios on 1st floor balconies on 3rd. We stayed in room#3318-great views facing the marina & the lagoon.

both are very close to GCH.

 

[JulieAnne]

I was wondering if they're using LED bulbs... they take a while to get bright but are much more economical.

 

[Tikiman]

How would an LED take a while to get bright? They are a diode and go on instantly when the voltage is put on them as apposed to a filament in a bulb that has to warm up. They do not use LEDs from what I saw.

I would like to know how they are increasing the brightness myself. The ones I saw did not do this.

 

[SeaSpray]

How would an LED take a while to get bright? They are a diode and go on instantly when the voltage is put on them as apposed to a filament in a bulb that has to warm up. They do not use LEDs from what I saw.

I would like to know how they are increasing the brightness myself. The ones I saw did not do this.

Steve, it really was a strange thing, and it wasn't until the second day or so that I even noticed that the lights would come on rather dimly, and then another time they wouldn't be as dim. They never got very bright, but at their brightest, they were fine. Now, I wish I had paid more attention to when they were dim, and when they were brighter. (See, it takes a lot for me to think something is "negative" on a trip. lol)

I never called concierge or housekeeping about this because it wasn't a problem at all for us, but we did hear the concierge desk CMs talking about it while we were sitting in the desk area talking to one of the CMs. I know Marilyn was there, I believe she was the one talking to several of the other CMs about the lights in the bathroom, and the room temperature issue as well.


When we were there in July, the lights (remember, these are only the lights in the bathroom that did this) definitely did not do this, and our room stayed relatively cool, especially considering that the heat index was 110-114 during our trip! So these are new issues, since the remodel.

 

[Tikiman]

Well it sounds like a feature other resorts have but the earlier comments. I did turn on the lights in the bathroom of the new room in Rapa Nui and I did not notice them being dim but maybe they got even brighter later. Well someday I will see it for myself.

Thanks for the info.

 

[MINNIEBOWSER]

Krbq

What a coincidence!!! I checked out of Tuvalu, room 3414 on October 29th. From your description of your location, it sounds like that was the same room. I LOVED that room. And I thought all the same things about the room that you covered in your review of it. LOL!!! Even down to uncovering the mattress. I could not find the tag though and I am sorry I didn't because I am in the market to buy a new mattress and I would love to buy that one. I did not realize just how uncomfortable my bed was until I slept in that bed. You did say that it was a Sealy, but do you know what kind it was by any chance?
At first we were in Tahiti, room 3022. It had a beautiful view. But then Wilma came and the rain leaked onto the carpet through the sliding glass door even though it was closed. So I asked to be moved. So, on Monday evening we packed up our stuff and moved to Tuvalu. I loved that view just as much and I liked the location even better because it was closer to the GCH.
I love the remodeled rooms, the TV is a great improvement. The only complaint for me was the closet. The whole closet area is very attractive looking in the new rooms but after just coming from an older room, we found that we could not fit our stuff as neatly into the new closets as we did the old closets.
I really liked the style of the new rooms......Now if only I could find that mattress!!!

 

[PJV57]

There were no tiki torches burning while we were there. Much of the time there was no music being piped through the grounds and the hallways of the longhouses. To me the music always makes the Poly feel more Hawaiian and I missed it.

We just returned from the Poly last night and while the torches were lit, there was no music playing. I too was disappointed.

 

[krbq]

What a coincidence!!! I checked out of Tuvalu, room 3414 on October 29th. :

That was it -- 3414! We checked in about 3 pm so it was probably only a few hours after you left the room. I guess it really is a small world after all . . .

I really liked being next to the outside stairway. I was afraid it might be too noisy, but we never heard anything and the convenience can't be beat. It was nice to step out on the deck at the top of the stairs and look over the marina, the Hawaii Longhouse, etc., and just take it all in. It was also nice to be able to look out the side of the room's balcony since we had no neighbors there. Somehow it felt a little more private, without being too far from the action.

The mattress label simply said "Sealy" with nothing else printed on it, but I figured it was a place to start if I decide to splurge and buy one like it. If you do happen to find any more details about it, I'd be curious to know.