Back from the Polynesian and AKL..BIG surprises!!!

[Tikiman]

Well I just got in 4:00 this morning. The plane in Denver had a landing gear problem!!!

Besides that I got sooooooooooo much new Polynesian info that my head is still spinning. I will try to get it all down today but no promises. I will also post all pictures and info soon on my pages.

A quick preview of info to come.

I will report on the Animal Kingdom Lodge concierge suites (yes we got moved to a suite).

A 4th of July report. Thanks to guests from other resorts I will not be back to the Polynesian on the 4th. Thanks for trashing the beach.

A report on the good and BAD Polynesian experiences.

Pictures and reports from the Tonga Longhouse suites and my meeting with the new concierge manager.

Yes we got room 1505 again!!!

New construction info.

And information about lagoon view rooms that every Polynesian web page (including mine) had misinformation about.

I will also do a full day to day report on the trip reports board including where we ate.

Aloha

Steve

 

[zulaya]

Steve--

Wow, what a ton of info just in that summary. Can't wait to hear how you got the suite. What a disappointment that the beach was trashed during the 4th. Could locals coming for dinner have stayed and played a part or was it really other resort guests?

Take a nap and let us know all the good and, while I wish there wasn't any, the bad.

 

[jennymouse]

Welcome home! Can't wait for all your new information!

 

[Tikiman]

Zulaya,

Well I am still on Florida time so for me it is in the middle of the day. Tara is sitting here eating uncrustables from the concierge lounge and I am going through all my notes.

I met a couple other board posters on the 4th and we all ran across many guests who said they were from other resorts. They took our chairs and every towel from the pool to sit on the grass. Some people from another resort even walked over and stood on out patio in front of us (not more than 2 feet). There was trash everywhere and a guest from POR said they were told they could use any other Disney resort amenities. We all know that is not true. In the morning it looked like an explosion of trash and chairs. We did have a great time and I have much good to report but I think this year was full of more rude people (not talking of staff) than I have ever seen. I don’t think we will vacation Disney next year. With that said I had some great experiences and wonderful stories to tell.

Steve

 

[Tinkbell]

Welcome back! I'm looking forward to your reports. Someone posted earlier this week about the 4th of July fiasco at the beach. That is so sad. You plan and spend money for the benefit of a relaxing, "private" view of the fireworks and you have to worry about people from other resorts, or even off property. Well, did someone try to take your patio chair? I remember you joking about that before your trip. I can't wait to hear about AKL! Sounds like they treated you great over there.

 

[Tikiman]

Tinkbell,

ALK was great and I am glad I stayed. The rooms were some of the best I have seen and concierge was good. Not quite as good as the Polynesian concierge but I think they have the staff do too much at the AKL and they get behind. I would not spend a full week at the AKL because it is too far out but the 3 days was great. I have so much more that I will try to get writen up. I think it will be the longest post in DIS history when I am done.

Aloha

P.S.
many people had to put their chairs in their rooms this year. Some visitors were from off property also. Security was everywhere and was checking no one.

Steve

 

[CamColt]

Awww, Tikiman, that stinks! People can be so rude. Im sorry that ruined the magical experience for you. I have to say our 1 night at the Poly was wonderful and I seem to fall more in love with that place everytime Im there. I do have a question for you, but Ill let you catch some sleep and settle back in before I hit you with that(no one else onthe boards had an answer for me...I figure youre the one to come to.).
I hope overall that you had a good trip. I was looking for you guys as we were leaving Thursday morning, thinking you may be checking in then, but I didnt see you.
Better luck next time!

 

[pixiechick]

jeez, Steve! Talk about teasing us!!

I've been waiting for your guys to get back and post. We were debating the Poly next 4th, but weren't sure because of the concierge update situation. We just bought at BCV and were thinking of spending our week there with the 3rd and 4th at the Poly. Maybe we'll just stay at BCV instead...

We liked AKL concierge too, but felt it was a little too formal for us. We liked the laidback feeling at the Poly.

Glad you had a good trip and made it home safely. Can't wait to hear the rest!

 

[Planogirl]

How in the world can Disney Security let this happen?

We visit the Poly when we don't stay there but we would NEVER dream of using the facilities except for a quick walk-through and maybe a quick rest on a bench. To me, the beach furniture, etc is there for the use of actual guests, not just anyone that shows up.

What a shame.

 

[LvsTnk]

Sorry about your 4th! We were down the hall 1516 and did not have the problem of people standing in front of us , but we did put our chairs in our room too. It was rather an interesting evening. Security did stop one man who was walking around with 3 loungechairs on his back LOL! I did think the fireworks were outstanding this year. We loved AKL and the concierge staff. I am thinking about adding on another day to our Sept. trip so DD can see it. Welcome home, and looking forward to your report! Laurie

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

That's a shame. Someone else who was there at that time posted that they felt the same way! I have actually read on other forums of this board, people encouraging others to use the pool and facilities at resorts they are not staying at! It amounts to stealing in my book, and teaches children the wrong thing! I wish all the resorts would come up with some sort of color coded wrist bands or either start carding people! Can't wait to read your report !

 

[wdwnutze]

Can't wait to read your trip report! Looking forward to the updated info on the Poly. Sorry things weren't as they should have been on the 4th. It always amazes me that some people can be so rude.

Well, welcome back and get some rest so you can get that report going!

 

[susy]

I believe that if you stay at a value resort, you can go to another resort to use the bikes, water mice etc-which you pay a fee for, but NOT the pools!!!! That's pool hopping! The chairs belong to the pool and should be used only by the resort guests.

We will be at AKL soon. Can't wait to hear all about it!!!!!

 

[Tikiman]

THat is true. Like the boats at the Polynesian can be used by anyone who rents them.

I don't want to give the wrong impression. I did have a great time and many things happened that made the trip special. My report will be filled with good and bad. I will just report it as I see it. Some of the bad experiences we had are not typical of what usually happens. It just goes to show you that bad experiences happen to everyone at every resort. That does not mean anyone with reservations should second guess their decision. Just always be prepared to experience some CM's having a bad day.

I have to go eat something and take care of the paperwork on our new home but when I return I will be typing up the report from the log book I kept. Pictures will have to come later but I took about 200 of both resorts and I have a .mpg of the Animal Kingdom Concierge Lounge if anyone wants it emailed later.

Aloha

Steve

 

[BrianD]

Welcome back, Steve!!! I'm glad it was a great trip, overall! Can't wait for the new info on the Polynesian. (Especially the info on renovations ) We'll be there in October!


LvsTnk - 3 lounge chairs on a guy's back???? That is hilarious! People just amaze me sometimes...


Good to have the Tikiman back!

 

[DisneyPoly]

Hi Steve -- Welcome Back!!

I can't wait to hear what you say about Poly lagoon view rooms. I just upgraded our garden rooms to lagoon yesterday. We've stayed in lagoon previously, but am curious as to what you have to report.

Waiting patiently ....

 

[mirlow]

Welcome back Steve! I was hoping to hear a report before we leave on Tuesday Our plans changed all the way up to last week. We are now going to spend two nights at the AKL doing concierge after 5 nights at the Polynesian concierge and 4 nights at the BWV. I had to add in the AKL after we saw the broadway production of the Lion King I had a reservation last yr to stay at the AKL concierge, but we cancelled while we were there. We took a tour and we decided that with 3 young kids it would be better to stay at the Polynesian concierge the entire trip. I can't wait to hear about everything

 

[lvs_eeyore]

Welcome back Steve!!

I cant wait to hear your report on the Polynesian. We have ressies here for next July, LV concierge for our 20th anniversary. I had made the ressie to start on July 4th but maybe I will change that now.

 

[B3LM]

Welcome back, Steve! I had read a couple of other reports of how bad the Poly's beach was on the 4th of July. What a shame for Poly resort guests!

I'm anxious to read your trip reports!

Beth

 

[Disneydenise]

Welcome Back Tikiman and Tara,
I haven't had a chance to read the whole post and I am running my son to a meeting with 100 of his closest friends. I just had to write quickly though that I have felt the way you sound on a few of my recent trips. I can't ever put my finger on what it is that I am missing. I do think that the trash on the beach could be a part of it. I think that by February next year you will begin to feel like you really need your Disney Trip. Its your happy place and mine too. I went for the first ime with a friend this past April. My expectaions were very different and I had a great trip. I think that Disney in the summer now is just too crowded and the people are not considerate. We are going as a family in October for a fencing tournament at the WWS. We will be staying at the Poly but I don't think we will be able to swing concierge. It will be another short trip 5 days but I look forward to it. My family is growing and things are changing I think that maybe that is just life. I am glad that you had a nice trip. I hope the weather was good. It had to be better than Summer Nationals in Greenville SC. I tried to escape and go to Disney for 3 days but my son was doing well with the fencing and I couldn't make him leave. I was shocked at how a relaxing vacation feels. Looking forward to your report. Denise