beach at polynesian

[lark]

Another kind of neat out of the way place to watch the fireworks is on the grass between the lagoon and Boca Chica at the Grand Floridian. You're actually a lot closer. It doesn't have the beach feel, but it definitely does not have any signs that say you can't sit there if you're from another resort.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

So excited about our Poly trip! I'll be there in early Jan and I can't wait to
watch wishes from the beach

 

[Tikiman]

I was asked by someone at the Polynesian who read this to post a response with the following information. Before I post the information I want to just add that at one point there was a sign that said the beach area was for Polynesian guests only but it sounds like it no longer exists and if it no longer exist than it does not seem to be that the Polynesian management minds if other people go down to the beach to relax or watch fireworks.

Here is the information I was asked to post.

“You don't have to be staying at the Polynesian or the grand Floridian in order to watch the fireworks or sit on the beach furniture. There also isn’t a sign that says that. There is a sign in the water about no swimming or feeding the ducks.”

 

[BCV23]

Well, that's good to know and ends that long running discussion doesn't it?

 

[LukenDC]

The podcast is something you can just download the episode or subscribe to them.

Happy Thanksgiving.

What is the URL to the podcast?

 

[lagunaseca]

Thank you Tikiman (and the person who asked you to post that info) for clearing this issue up.

 

[cara loves the poly]

I have to add, we were there in April, in Tahiti, there was NEVER anyone at the beach in front of our room, and we would not have minded a bit. The fireworks display is beautiful! Oh my gosh come see the fireworks. I guess I'm just not an uptight kind of person! My kids fingerpaint too! I even have white couches in my living room! How dare I!

 

[skiwee1]

I have to add, we were there in April, in Tahiti, there was NEVER anyone at the beach in front of our room, and we would not have minded a bit. The fireworks display is beautiful! Oh my gosh come see the fireworks. I guess I'm just not an uptight kind of person! My kids fingerpaint too! I even have white couches in my living room! How dare I!

I don't think anyone was uptight. I must have missed that. I am at the poly 30 days a year and just thought the sign was still there last month. I do feel for poly guests during busy season though. In low season there isn't a chair to be had on the beach due to those that aren't staying there. I imagine there isn't much beach left during busy season for those guests that pay to stay there.

 

[chamonix]

Yes, the beach in front of Tahiti is nice and peaceful--but the beach area in front of the volcano pool and the Hawaii building (this is the closest beach to the restaurants in the GCH and the launch boat dock so gets most of the non-resort guests) can be quite full of people during Wishes and the EWP.

Just one of the reasons we have enjoyed Tahiti when we have stayed there! There is also a nice quiet beach on the far side of the resort, along the path to the Grand Floridian.

We usually enjoy the fireworks, etc from our balcony, but it's also nice to lay in a hammock.

edited to add, I cross-posted with skiwee. I can't say I know whether the folks on the beach are resort guests or not, so it's never bothered me to think about it.

Skiwee, I was there Oct 7th-16th. There was no sign that I could find (weren't you there about that same time?) I do seem to recall one from past visits though, I was thinking perhaps it came down during last years' hurricanes.....? I also think I may just be confusing myself with the pool sign that must be somewhere that says the Pool is for resort guests only. (?)

 

[cara loves the poly]

I don't think anyone was uptight. I must have missed that. I am at the poly 30 days a year and just thought the sign was still there last month. I do feel for poly guests during busy season though. In low season there isn't a chair to be had on the beach due to those that aren't staying there. I imagine there isn't much beach left during busy season for those guests that pay to stay there.

sorry, your right. i've let other posts influence mine here. we were there last year in a lagoon view room, would not mind at all if anyone else watched from the beach, we watched from our room. i suppose if we were in a garden view and wanted to watch the fireworks and could not find room on the beach , maybe i would feel different.

 

[cara loves the poly]

sorry, your right. i've let other posts influence mine here. we were there last year in a lagoon view room, would not mind at all if anyone else watched from the beach, we watched from our room. i suppose if we were in a garden view and wanted to watch the fireworks and could not find room on the beach , maybe i would feel different.

most likely i would feel different.
.

 

[laura001]

where are you staying?

there are romantic places at most of the WDW resorts. they were designed that way. WDW is the number one place for honeymoons and they know it.

however be aware that even if you can't see anyone - doesn't mean you aren't being watched....cameras are every where especially in the parks.

They wouldn't happen to have camera's in the pools and pool areas would they??? Late at night???

 

[Sammie]

most likely i would feel different.
.

I think if the visitors are respectful to the guests paying to stay there, then it is no different than sharing the lobby while waiting to dine at a restaurant at resort you are not staying in.

However I have been a guest at the Polynesian when others not staying there, came and took the chairs off our patio to use to watch the fireworks, When questioned about why they could not use their own chairs and please put mine back, they replied they were not staying there.

Also as a Polynesian guest I have had to park at the TTC and walk to my resort because I could not find a place to park in the lot of my resort due to visitors. It seemed this was always a problem early in the morning and late at night. Had to wonder where all these people were going as the shops were not open yet and at night they were closed, restaurants were not busy either at these times.

I think if one is visiting the Polynesian to dine or shop then by all means you should enjoy the grounds. However if people are just coming over to use the beach and the view that others have paid hundreds of dollars to have; to the point that the peace, quiet and serenity of the resort is affected then I say the sign would be appropriate. As Skiwee stated we have stayed in the summer and won't again because the grounds at night begin to be as crowded as the parks and so were the parking lots.

Things like this leave one with a bad impression of some of the visitors.

 

[chamonix]

Things like this leave one with a bad impression

Wow, nothing like that has ever happened to me at the Polynesian, but if it did, I guess I might feel differently, as was said.

 

[skiwee1]

Things like this leave one with a bad impression of some of the visitors.

I agree. I had one run in with folks not even staying onsite at WDW. It was last year on the beach. My mom, DD, and I went down to watch the fireworks. We took two chairs since DD could sit on the lounge with me. Another family came and proceeded to take 9 chairs and line them up right next to ours. There were 3 couples and about 5 little kids between them. One of the men started bragging on his cell how his wife has read in some book how they could park at the Poly and watch the fireworks from the beach. They were staying in some hotel on the main drag. He went on and on about how great it was to be there. Meanwhile the other man was looking for another chair. I guess 9 wasn't enough. He kept looking at my mom who was sitting in the chair right next to their line up. He really wanted my mom's chair! He proceeded to stand directly in front of my mom's chaise with his shin touching my mom's toe! I asked him to move and he told us that we weren't missing anything as the fireworks hadn't started! I told him that might be the case but we really didn't want to stare at his oversized ****! He was actually touching my mom's foot! He finally moved. So that is my experience with non guests.

 

[lagunaseca]

I agree. I had one run in with folks not even staying onsite at WDW. It was last year on the beach. My mom, DD, and I went down to watch the fireworks. We took two chairs since DD could sit on the lounge with me. Another family came and proceeded to take 9 chairs and line them up right next to ours. There were 3 couples and about 5 little kids between them. One of the men started bragging on his cell how his wife has read in some book how they could park at the Poly and watch the fireworks from the beach. They were staying in some hotel on the main drag. He went on and on about how great it was to be there. Meanwhile the other man was looking for another chair. I guess 9 wasn't enough. He kept looking at my mom who was sitting in the chair right next to their line up. He really wanted my mom's chair! He proceeded to stand directly in front of my mom's chaise with his shin touching my mom's toe! I asked him to move and he told us that we weren't missing anything as the fireworks hadn't started! I told him that might be the case but we really didn't want to stare at his oversized ****! He was actually touching my mom's foot! He finally moved. So that is my experience with non guests.

He deserved what you said to him since he was acting like a huge ****. But, you can run across guests staying there or staying elsewhere that fit into that category. I think everyone should be respectful of one another no matter WHERE they're staying. If they are, I don't see any harm on them watching Wishes from the Poly beach but that's just mho.

 

[jcemom]

DH and I stopped in at the Tambu Lounge for drinks and apps in June and the bartender suggested that we go out to the beach to watch fireworks as we were leaving. I got an extra drink to go and we headed out to the beach. There were still available lounge chairs even after the fireworks started, so it wasn't crowded at all. It was a very nice view, but I wouldn't go out of my way to watch from there unless I was dining there (or staying there, of course). JMO.

 

[ducklite]

They wouldn't happen to have camera's in the pools and pool areas would they??? Late at night???

No, but security makes a swing through pretty often, especially when they know peopole are using the area. I would think having cameras on the pool area would be good, it would help immensely with safety.

Anne