Resort Thread Disney's POLYNESIAN VILLAGE RESORT

[GADisneyDad14]

We are surprising our kids with a stay at the Poly starting November 13th. They are 9 and 13 and they think we are staying at PoP (which we had booked originally pre Covid). We have an Ohana breakfast scheduled the 13th and that's how we are passing off the surprise. My question is, can we get through the security gate without them knowing we have a 7 night reservation? What information/ questions will we receive at the security gate that would tip them off? Our hope was to get through breakfast before telling them but we are worried they'll know when we receive our parking pass. (It has been 7 years since our last WDW trip so things have changed a lot). I wasn't sure where I could get this info so I came here. Any info is appreciated. Thanks!

Well normally when you arrive the guard will ask your reason for needing access, you'd say your checking in, they will ask for an ID, look you up on their list or device, and off you go. FYI they don't give 'parking passes' anymore like they used to do.

Since you don't want to tip your kids off that you are checking in I would simply say you're there for your x;xxAM Ohana reservation and leave it at that and hope whatever is on his/her little electronic device doesn't inspire them to ask any more questions! My guess is they'll wave you in and you'll be fine.

 

[NC Mountain Cruiser]

Well normally when you arrive the guard will ask your reason for needing access, you'd say your checking in, they will ask for an ID, look you up on their list or device, and off you go. FYI they don't give 'parking passes' anymore like they used to do.

Since you don't want to tip your kids off that you are checking in I would simply say you're there for your x;xxAM Ohana reservation and leave it at that and hope whatever is on his/her little electronic device doesn't them to ask any more questions! My guess is they'll wave you in and you'll be fine.

Thanks for the info! It is what it is if they find out as soon as we get there. It will by no means be a downer if they do.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1586031593550131201

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Helpful visuals from the air of the current state of things.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1586025646001717248

 

[PolyRob]

Helpful visuals from the air of the current state of things.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1586025646001717248

I still can't believe Luau Cove is gone! This really puts things in perspective.

 

[MMSM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1586031593550131201

I keep trying to find out. Will there be a new walkway or is the temporary walkway going to be the new permanent walkway to GF? That was a nice walk.

 

[zmdisneyworld]

Should be well into major construction phase by May 2023 since the resort opens late 2024. They are still doing site prep and basic support facilities. Major work should be well in progress by May.

There has been discussion of major construction and pile driving work due to the soft ground around the Seven Seas Lagoon area. Much like you hear in New York. It is expected to be quite noisy and dusty well into early 2024 with heavy equipment hanging Steel 5 floors above the beach area.

Dave

I have always wanted to stay at the Poly and we went back and forth over Poly and WL for our April 2023 trip. I’m beginning to think we should have gone with WL.

 

[Disturbia]

I have always wanted to stay at the Poly and we went back and forth over Poly and WL for our April 2023 trip. I’m beginning to think we should have gone with WL.

We haven’t stayed at WL but they have really good dining (we travelled for the Story Book dining and now you get some ADRs set aside for resort guest only).

We will be traveling from the Poly for pony rides and hopefully horseback riding (no one is interested in the carriage rides in our group). I don’t think you can go wrong with either. We are changing one of our two HS to Epcot so we can spend that morning at the Wilderness lodge.

 

[zmdisneyworld]

We haven’t stayed at WL but they have really good dining (we travelled for the Story Book dining and now you get some ADRs set aside for resort guest only).

We will be traveling from the Poly for pony rides and hopefully horseback riding (no one is interested in the carriage rides in our group). I don’t think you can go wrong with either. We are changing one of our two HS to Epcot so we can spend that morning at the Wilderness lodge.

wife and I would love the WL and I think the kids too, but they are really excited about the Moana rooms. Also the proximity to TTC and monorail put us over the edge to go with Poly. The construction is just this huge unknown. We haven’t been to Disney since we were children ourselves so not sure if we are park people or resort people, I would just hate to try to relax and listen to pile driving. I was imagining when we booked that the construction would be more mild still but as it progresses it seems like we may be there in the midst of some really heavy stuff.

 

[Silvermist999]

We currently have both a Contemporary Main tower room and the Poly Standard View room booked, need to cancel one reservation soon, and trying to decide where to stay.

Which buildings would the “Standard View” rooms be in, would they all be facing the construction? Anyone stay there recently, how noisy does it get? Would you recommend not staying there due to the construction, we will be there early January 2023.

We have stayed at the Poly before but always in a DVC studio, and also at BLT so love both resorts basically equally, just concerned about the construction. Thanks!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

We currently have both a Contemporary Main tower room and the Poly Standard View room booked, need to cancel one reservation soon, and trying to decide where to stay.

Which buildings would the “Standard View” rooms be in, would they all be facing the construction? Anyone stay there recently, how noisy does it get? Would you recommend not staying there due to the construction, we will be there early January 2023.

We have stayed at the Poly before but always in a DVC studio, and also at BLT so love both resorts basically equally, just concerned about the construction. Thanks!

There are Standard View rooms in pretty much all of the non-CL longhouses, with the majority being in Rarotonga (away from construction) and Aotearoa, followed by Fiji & Tuvalu (close to construction, some overlooking the site). I suspect Rarotonga is going to be the overwhelmingly popular/#1 request for that view type for the foreseeable future.

Construction is still pretty much a dirt pit with various construction staging activities occurring. Seems poised to kick into more active gear any moment I suspect.

I personally have not seen a report from anyone that has had a construction facing room yet. I've wondered if DIsney would in fact put guests in some of those rooms (construction fencing is literally right up against sides of Aoteraoa, Fiji, and a bit of Tuvalu) but I guess they are/will, TBD.

Personally I don't think January is the best Poly season given the cooler weather - CR is much more of my cooler month/less pool time resort.... so if you're in any way concerned about Poly work, I'd lean CR if this were me.

Although for me I'm not changing my Poly plans for 2023. I lived through the rather horrific 2014-2016'ish resort renovations which were far more obtrusive than this (everything from DVC conversion, lobby renovations, pool renovations, etc) - it was ugly. But I have a pretty high tolerance for not everything being perfect and it was kind of interesting to be there in such a state of upheaval (substantial discounts at the time also helped). Not everyone is going to feel like that though, which is understandable.

My two cents.

 

[zmdisneyworld]

There are Standard View rooms in pretty much all of the non-CL longhouses, with the majority being in Rarotonga (away from construction) and Aotearoa, followed by Fiji & Tuvalu (close to construction, some overlooking the site). I suspect Rarotonga is going to be the overwhelmingly popular/#1 request for that view type for the foreseeable future.

Construction is still pretty much a dirt pit with various construction staging activities occurring. Seems poised to kick into more active gear any moment I suspect.

I personally have not seen a report from anyone that has had a construction facing room yet. I've wondered if DIsney would in fact put guests in some of those rooms (construction fencing is literally right up against sides of Aoteraoa, Fiji, and a bit of Tuvalu) but I guess they are/will, TBD.

Personally I don't think January is the best Poly season given the cooler weather - CR is much more of my cooler month/less pool time resort.... so if you're in any way concerned about Poly work, I'd lean CR if this were me.

Although I'm personally not changing my Poly plans for 2023. I lived through the rather horrific 2014-2016'ish resort renovations which were far more obtrusive than this (everything from DVC conversion, lobby renovations, pool renovations, etc) - it was ugly. But I have a pretty high tolerance for not everything being perfect and it was kind of interesting to be there in such a state of upheaval (substantial discounts at the time also helped). Not everyone is going to feel like that though, which is understandable.

My two cents.

Your input is valuable -- thanks for sharing.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

It’s very pretty, love this change. Entry seems to be designed for “don’t even think of bringing your double wide stroller in here” purposes.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1587411291358265344

 

[Silvermist999]

There are Standard View rooms in pretty much all of the non-CL longhouses, with the majority being in Rarotonga (away from construction) and Aotearoa, followed by Fiji & Tuvalu (close to construction, some overlooking the site). I suspect Rarotonga is going to be the overwhelmingly popular/#1 request for that view type for the foreseeable future.

Construction is still pretty much a dirt pit with various construction staging activities occurring. Seems poised to kick into more active gear any moment I suspect.

I personally have not seen a report from anyone that has had a construction facing room yet. I've wondered if DIsney would in fact put guests in some of those rooms (construction fencing is literally right up against sides of Aoteraoa, Fiji, and a bit of Tuvalu) but I guess they are/will, TBD.

Personally I don't think January is the best Poly season given the cooler weather - CR is much more of my cooler month/less pool time resort.... so if you're in any way concerned about Poly work, I'd lean CR if this were me.

Although for me I'm not changing my Poly plans for 2023. I lived through the rather horrific 2014-2016'ish resort renovations which were far more obtrusive than this (everything from DVC conversion, lobby renovations, pool renovations, etc) - it was ugly. But I have a pretty high tolerance for not everything being perfect and it was kind of interesting to be there in such a state of upheaval (substantial discounts at the time also helped). Not everyone is going to feel like that though, which is understandable.

My two cents.

Thank you for such a detailed response, it’s very helpful!

 

[kylenne]

It’s very pretty, love this change. Entry seems to be designed for “don’t even think of bringing your double wide stroller in here” purposes.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1587411291358265344

I really love it. It seems a lot less chaotic in terms of design elements while still keeping to the theme. Really interested to see the menus now.

 

[KimMcGowan]

We are surprising our kids with a stay at the Poly starting November 13th. They are 9 and 13 and they think we are staying at PoP (which we had booked originally pre Covid). We have an Ohana breakfast scheduled the 13th and that's how we are passing off the surprise. My question is, can we get through the security gate without them knowing we have a 7 night reservation? What information/ questions will we receive at the security gate that would tip them off? Our hope was to get through breakfast before telling them but we are worried they'll know when we receive our parking pass. (It has been 7 years since our last WDW trip so things have changed a lot). I wasn't sure where I could get this info so I came here. Any info is appreciated. Thanks!

As a Polynesian Resort guest you are safe. If you do online check in your Magicband will get you into the resort without having to speak to the guard. Just use the lane to the right that has the band reader. Scan your band and the barrier will go up.
So, now just make sure you purchase Magicbands in advance and your surprise should be safe.

 

[CarolynFH]

As a Polynesian Resort guest you are safe. If you do online check in your Magicband will get you into the resort without having to speak to the guard. Just use the lane to the right that has the band reader. Scan your band and the barrier will go up.
So, now just make sure you purchase Magicbands in advance and your surprise should be safe.

The last few times we’ve checked in, our MBs didn’t work for entering the parking lot on arrival, even though we’d checked in online. We had to go to the guard. Sure would’ve nice if they’ve changed it so that we didn’t!

 

[NC Mountain Cruiser]

As a Polynesian Resort guest you are safe. If you do online check in your Magicband will get you into the resort without having to speak to the guard. Just use the lane to the right that has the band reader. Scan your band and the barrier will go up.
So, now just make sure you purchase Magicbands in advance and your surprise should be safe.

Ahh, now this is the kind of information I was hoping for. We have checked in online and we have magicbands so hopefully they will work and we won't have to talk to anyone. Thanks for the info!

 

[NC Mountain Cruiser]

The last few times we’ve checked in, our MBs didn’t work for entering the parking lot on arrival, even though we’d checked in online. We had to go to the guard. Sure would’ve nice if they’ve changed it so that we didn’t!

Noted... Hopefully it will work for us. It's not a big deal if they find out at the gate. We are just hoping to delay it as long as we can. Thanks for the info!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1587806932215136260