Disney's POLYNESIAN VILLAGE RESORT Information & Questions

[916chipndale]

 

[916chipndale]

The patchy grass

 

[916chipndale]

 

[916chipndale]

Sorry for the pictures being so big.

 

[akhenaten]

to
7) The Poly elevators. In the GCH there are only two and given people are going to/from the second floor for the monorail or dining/shopping options it seems a tiny number. Additionally we saw a lot, and I mean a lot, of fit people who didn't need to use an elevator but chose to, which added to delays for us (we had a stroller with child in it) and many others who had strollers, wheelchairs, ECVs or walking aids. Also the GCH elevators are grotty inside, and I mean grotty. In our longhouse the elevators were tiny and we could barely fit two adults and two kids (one in a stroller) inside.
!

I just have to point out to you that there are many hidden disabilities......you can not know that someone getting into the elevator should choose to take the stairs.

I personally may look able to take the stairs ...but my kidney disease and subsequent transplant make me tire out very easily. (among some other physical symptoms I don't want to get into). At Disney I try not to rent an evc because I want to walk and stay as fit as possible.... But with the great distances and constantly being on my feet any steps I can save I do..so at the resort I use the elevators....

 

[nabby]

I just have to point out to you that there are many hidden disabilities......you can not know that someone getting into the elevator should choose to take the stairs.

I personally may look able to take the stairs ...but my kidney disease and subsequent transplant make me tire out very easily. (among some other physical symptoms I don't want to get into). At Disney I try not to rent an evc because I want to walk and stay as fit as possible.... But with the great distances and constantly being on my feet any steps I can save I do..so at the resort I use the elevators....

And that's your perogative and right to choose how you live with your condition.

My point is a wider one about, for example, certain people within a group needing the elevator and the whole group using it. If there was a crowd waiting for the elevator either myself or my wife would always walk with our eldest child and the other take the stroller in the elevator. That way someone else could go in the elevator.

To me it's a consideration thing. From my experience on this trip a significant number of people who don't need to use the elevator don't appear to consider if they need to use the elevator, they just automatically use it.

It's a minor gripe tbh. But one that I've seen in many places both here in the UK and on travels overseas.

 

[jesster]

I just have to point out to you that there are many hidden disabilities......you can not know that someone getting into the elevator should choose to take the stairs.

This. My mom has been type 1 diabetic since she was 9-years-old. She had a heart attack at 30, and now in her 50s cannot feel the nerves in her feet and falls down - a lot. But you'd never know by looking at her how frail her body is. She's had a handicap parking permit for as long as I can remember, and as a kid I remember suffering through a lot of dirty looks when she'd park handicap. One time she was in tears over what a man yelled at her, and I remember her yelling back something along the lines of "not every disability can be seen!"

My point is a wider one about, for example, certain people within a group needing the elevator and the whole group using it. If there was a crowd waiting for the elevator either myself or my wife would always walk with our eldest child and the other take the stroller in the elevator. That way someone else could go in the elevator.

To me it's a consideration thing. From my experience on this trip a significant number of people who don't need to use the elevator don't appear to consider if they need to use the elevator, they just automatically use it.

It's a minor gripe tbh. But one that I've seen in many places both here in the UK and on travels overseas.

So while I completely understand the above, I absolutely agree with this. Our family of five is capable of taking the stairs, even if we have a stroller, which we did for our 5-year-old, at least half of us will take the stairs while the other two will ride in the elevator. A few times we'd see the line for the elevator at GCH and my 5-year-old would hop out of the stroller and my DH would carry it up the stairs. Honestly, we started doing this most of the time at GCH because of the speed (or lack thereof) of the elevators.

The elevators at the Poly seem small and SLOW. We were at the Beach Club for the last two nights of our trip and every one of us noticed the difference in the elevators. (The elevator in the Hawaii building was almost comical how slow it was, but with the narrow stairs we waited for it when we had the stroller.) The BC is a lot newer, so it just depends on what convenience means more to you, I don't think one is better then the other; just different, and a slow elevator wouldn't keep us from returning to the Poly.

 

[lilluv117]

I just have to point out to you that there are many hidden disabilities......you can not know that someone getting into the elevator should choose to take the stairs.

I personally may look able to take the stairs ...but my kidney disease and subsequent transplant make me tire out very easily. (among some other physical symptoms I don't want to get into). At Disney I try not to rent an evc because I want to walk and stay as fit as possible.... But with the great distances and constantly being on my feet any steps I can save I do..so at the resort I use the elevators....

I agree. My cousin looked perfectly fine this trip but had a cardiac ablation 2 weeks ago and got chest pain with exertion so she used the elevators. She's usually very fit and a runner but she needed to use the elevators this trip. And I don't think the elevators are for certain people. Maybe your feet hurt from walking all week and you choose to use the elevator. Maybe you just don't like walking up stairs. I think anyone who wants to walk can walk and anyone who wants to use the elevator can use the elevator.

 

[jesster]

Here's our view from the Hawaii bldg, room 3530.


It might look awful but seriously it didn't bother us AT ALL. In fact, we joked about the mud pit, and were able to dream about how amazing it will all be when it's complete. The palm tree placement also helped You guys, the Poly is BEAUTIFUL.

 

[jesster]

A few more pictures to share...

We had a towel animal most nights, and always something cute with the kids' stuffed animals. One day Mousekeeping lined up our shoes in a neat row and my boys thought that was the coolest thing (ahem, not so much shoe organizing at home I guess).

The daybed was perfect for our 5-year-old:


And one of Olaf, because #FrozenSummerFun

 

[mickeynut1]

http://imgur.com/a/hKKbl

Some pictures taken about 3 weeks ago... might upload more later

Love the pics, thanks for sharing .

By this time tomorrow I should be walking trough the doors of Hawaii.

Have a great time!

Thanks for the wonderful review. We had stayed at the Poly for our first time from 8/15 to 822. DS just loved the place. We had stayed on the third floor in the Rarotonga building. I had requested the non construction side, but didn't get it. At least we really didn't notice any noise and was able to view the fireworks from our balcony. The one thing that really bothered me was walking down the stairs from the third floor. The second level was the place where everyone was allowed to sit and smoke. It was awful passing through that area on some days. I'm not picking on the smokers, but I think a better designated area would be better.

I'm sorry you didn't get a room away from construction and sorry about the smoking area you had to walk through on the 2nd floor, but I hope you had a nice trip overall .

I just started reading your report (finally catching up after returning home/kids starting school yesterday) and saw your view from room pic and realized we were RIGHT NEXT DOOR to you!! Our family was in 3530 - the one with the Mickey banner hanging from the door Aug 22-28!

What a small world that you were neighbors with another Diser. Hope you had a nice trip .

And I can't wait to go back once that pool is complete, too!

We are planning to return to the Poly next July/August and I'm hoping the pool is complete by then . If not, we'll still have a great time, but it would be nice to have that completed!

Checking in to the Poly on September 15, and it will be my first time staying there. Have stayed at the Contemporary twice (once in the 80s and once 8 years ago), and love being on the monorail, so decided to try the Poly. It will just be me and my 10 year old daughter and she thought the Poly's volcano pool looked much more fun than the Grand Floridian's pool, so Poly it is!

My question -- I know nothing about the buildings and which ones are more desirable than others. Factor in the construction and I feel like a complete newbie (which I guess I am). I booked a standard garden view room, so I'm hoping you experienced DIS-ers can give me your thoughts/opinions on the best buildings and rooms.

Thanks!

Have a great trip! We've stayed at both the Poly and GF and while the GF pool is nice, our favorite is the volcano pool.....I'm sure your DD will love it!

From what I've been reading about building requests, Fiji seems to be a good choice for avoiding construction. We love Samoa, but that might not be the best option at this time with the quiet pool construction going on. Hopefully others will give their opinion/suggestion .

 

[jesster]

We saw the banner and thought it looked really great!!! Never heard a sound. Now I can say that I "know" the people staying in the rooms on either side of us because a family we met in the lounge and who also posts on Tikiman's FB page was/is in 3532. "It's a small world afterall...." lol

All 3 of those rooms have great palm tree placement! lol And I can't wait to go back once that pool is complete, too!

Wish we would have caught you guys in passing - would have been fun to have a drink (that punch!!) in the club with you and your hubby! Next time!

 

[jesster]

My question -- I know nothing about the buildings and which ones are more desirable than others. Factor in the construction and I feel like a complete newbie (which I guess I am). I booked a standard garden view room, so I'm hoping you experienced DIS-ers can give me your thoughts/opinions on the best buildings and rooms.

Thanks!

We walked around while we were there, thinking where we might stay if we weren't staying CL and I'd choose Tokelau. I think the location is great, right across from the Volcano pool, and very close to GCH. I'm pretty sure the view from the back side is the mud pit for now, but after facing it for a week I can say it might be an eye sore but it certainly isn't anything bothersome on a noise level. Here's a pic of the Volcano pool side of Tokelau - I didn't want to forget how much I liked this location! HTHs!!

ETA: just learned this is DVC bummer!!!

 

[mickeynut1]

Here's our view from the Hawaii bldg, room 3530.


It might look awful but seriously it didn't bother us AT ALL. In fact, we joked about the mud pit, and were able to dream about how amazing it will all be when it's complete. The palm tree placement also helped You guys, the Poly is BEAUTIFUL.

What a great outlook you had on the view! Like you said, it's a pretty awful site, but overlooking it and dreaming about what it will look like when it's done is a very positive attitude . LOL on the palm tree placement, but you're right....great place for it! Glad you had a great time and enjoyed the Poly. Thanks for sharing the great pics .

 

[rcraw45425]

We walked around while we were there, thinking where we might stay if we weren't staying CL and I'd choose Tokelau. I think the location is great, right across from the Volcano pool, and very close to GCH. I'm pretty sure the view from the back side is the mud pit for now, but after facing it for a week I can say it might be an eye sore but it certainly isn't anything bothersome on a noise level. Here's a pic of the Volcano pool side of Tokelau - I didn't want to forget how much I liked this location! HTHs!!

Tokelau is a great location, our favorite overall, unfortunately they turned it into DVC

 

[rainboots]

If renting points thru a third party, how would I add room requests? We are SV, 4 rms. I would really just prefer not construction view. Should I wait until online check-in? (We get to do that, right?). Why don't I know any of this right now??

 

[jesster]

Tokelau is a great location, our favorite overall, unfortunately they turned it into DVC

Oh, did they? It's nearly impossible to tell what's Poly and what's DVC. That's too bad, that was a primo spot

 

[jesster]

I have some more pictures finally uploaded and ready to share!

More of the mud pit/our view! This is without the help of the palms:

It was pretty cool, during our week there we could see them laying out the spot for the hot tub, which DH is very excited for

Just for fun: we got stuck behind these guys after leaving the GCH one morning (had to try a Kona Pot). We could have gone around the building but we chose to walk in the shade and follow them. They were heading to Hawaii same as us.


Walking to the bus stop. My kids never tire of watching the monorails.

 

[bethclayton]

Tokelau is a great location, our favorite overall, unfortunately they turned it into DVC

are you positive? i could have sworn that was moorea?

 

[Tess]

If renting points thru a third party, how would I add room requests? We are SV, 4 rms. I would really just prefer not construction view. Should I wait until online check-in? (We get to do that, right?). Why don't I know any of this right now??

Ask the third party from whom you are renting points to make the request on your behalf. It will or should not be a problem.