Does the Poly Need a FACELIFT?

[brunette8706]

Hi MsStinkerbell-

You're the one that gave me that great recommendation to stay GV facing the volcano pool! Thanks for that. The view outside our patio door was awesome. Very lush, with palm trees and the pool was a few feet away.

I do respect your opinion, some do like a darker room. Now, I loved the AKL and that was a darker room. I loved that whole African theme.

Brunette

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Hi MsStinkerbell-

You're the one that gave me that great recommendation to stay GV facing the volcano pool! Thanks for that. The view outside our patio door was awesome. Very lush, with palm trees and the pool was a few feet away.

Oh, I'm glad this worked out for you! Isn't that view just wonderful? It's a hard view to get so I'm glad you lucked out and got it.

I do respect your opinion, some do like a darker room. Now, I loved the AKL and that was a darker room. I loved that whole African theme. Brunette

I loved the rich colors and upholstery at the AKL. The wallpaper adds a really nice touch. My ideal Disney stay would be one split between there and the Poly.

 

[Orange&BlueMonorail]

I would agree with the POLY supporters here. NO facelift needed. We stayed in April 09 and it was great. The decor of the grounds and rooms are perfect. Mattresses, televisions, bathrooms all great.

I think the resort exudes much of the embiance that it has had since it opened. Some of the 'darkness' is what makes POLY, POLY.

 

[monorail girl]

HI! I think the Poly is beautiful just as it is. I love the theme, the dark wood and all the beautiful flowers and plants around. My favorite part is walking into the GCH and admiring the waterfall and I love the smell of the lobby. To me this is Disney

 

[wdwobsessed]

I think so. The look of the Poly makes me think of the Brady Bunch episode where they went to Hawaii and Greg found the voodoo tiki.

Ha ha ha That is soooo true!!!

But like another poster said it's "kitchy" and is supposed to be.

I agree the one time I stayed there it was a bit musty ... other than that we liked the size of the rooms and the decor didn't bother us.

WDWO

 

[brunette8706]

Oh, I'm glad this worked out for you! Isn't that view just wonderful? It's a hard view to get so I'm glad you lucked out and got it.



I loved the rich colors and upholstery at the AKL. The wallpaper adds a really nice touch. My ideal Disney stay would be one split between there and the Poly.

**
I agree! The AKL can not be beat! Very authentic and exotic!

Brunette

 

[Spaceship Tigger]

I have no problems with the decor of the Poly. I love the rooms - they're one of the reasons that I like staying there. I've heard people say there's not enough lighting in the rooms or bathrooms but we've never had a problem with either one.

The only really outdated thing I noticed last trip was the elevators as some have mentioned - they seemed pretty old and rickety. And I would never accept staying in one of the rooms with no balcony.

 

[skeeterfoot]

Don't get it! Why does Poly receive so many complaints? I have been there twice recently and have found the service, amenities, food, beach wonderful. Maybe people have very high expectations of what their dream of a Disney vacation should be. Poly is a four star hotel that offers a great view of wishes, a nice pool, entertaining restaurant and fairly clean 40 year old amenities. It is a monorail resort close to Magic Kingdom and monorail to Epcot. That is what you pay for. If you want to be at a newer resort and don't have young children stay on the Boardwalk.

 

[Marty Joe]

When I enter the lobby of the GCH, the first thing I notice is "the smell". I love that smell. It tells me I'm home. I wish I could bottle it up and bring it back to Indiana. While I love the Poly just the way it is, there could be a few minor changes: fire the idiot who took Maui potatos off the menu at 'Ohana, bump the bus transportation up a couple notches, and explain to current management how Walt did it and to do it that way or your going to be looking for a job with the person who took Maui potatos off 'Ohana's menu. BTW - I never read a post with Brady in it.

 

[MarieTheCat24]

When I enter the lobby of the GCH, the first thing I notice is "the smell". I love that smell. It tells me I'm home. I wish I could bottle it up and bring it back to Indiana. While I love the Poly just the way it is, there could be a few minor changes: fire the idiot who took Maui potatos off the menu at 'Ohana, bump the bus transportation up a couple notches, and explain to current management how Walt did it and to do it that way or your going to be looking for a job with the person who took Maui potatos off 'Ohana's menu. BTW - I never read a post with Brady in it.

I agree with all of this. The smell of the GCH is the greatest smell in Disney. I could just sit in there all day and inhale. I also agree with you about the potatos at 'Ohana. They were sooooo good! I miss them. And yes, I've stayed at the Polynesian many times, and the only issue I've ever had was with the bus service. It can be a little slow. Er...actually a lot slow.

 

[rie'smom]

Don't get it! Why does Poly receive so many complaints? I have been there twice recently and have found the service, amenities, food, beach wonderful. Maybe people have very high expectations of what their dream of a Disney vacation should be. Poly is a four star hotel that offers a great view of wishes, a nice pool, entertaining restaurant and fairly clean 40 year old amenities. It is a monorail resort close to Magic Kingdom and monorail to Epcot. That is what you pay for. If you want to be at a newer resort and don't have young children stay on the Boardwalk.

The Poly gets complaints because the service has gone down tremendously. My expectations are not too high. I expect a clean room and good service and I expect this no matter where I go. Unfortunately, the Poly has not met either requirement. BTW,the fact that it is on the monorail does not and should excuse its failings. The GF and CR both meet my expectations and they're on the monorail. What makes the Poly different?
As for it being a 4 star hotel - only in Fantasy land and compared to other Disney resorts. In the real world, it might be a 3 star. what Frommer's gives it 2 stars and they rate resorts around the world.

 

[morecowbell]

A clean room is a high expectation?

 

[Scott MC]

I actually love the entire look of the Polynesian from the outside in. On our most recent trip, we were deciding which monorail resort to stay in (tough life huh? ) and the reason why the Polynesian was completely eliminated right off the bat was that 2 of the 4 members of our party felt that for the money we were paying, the rooms weren't nearly as deluxe and luxurious looking as those at the GF or CR. I happen to disagree with this. The Polynesian does a magnificent job rendering its theme, and it's semi-70's dated look is part of the original charm that I believe should go with this original resort.
I wouldn't change a thing.

 

[CanadianGuy]

For the record, I've been harsh in this thread but its NOT on the Poly decor or decoration.

But rather .. its about the decline in cleanliness and the decline in service occasionally.

I have zero faith the current management team at the resort level to correct these issues. They created both issues directly.

 

[kayleesmomxo]

The Poly gets complaints because the service has gone down tremendously. My expectations are not too high. I expect a clean room and good service and I expect this no matter where I go. Unfortunately, the Poly has not met either requirement. BTW,the fact that it is on the monorail does not and should excuse its failings. The GF and CR both meet my expectations and they're on the monorail. What makes the Poly different?
As for it being a 4 star hotel - only in Fantasy land and compared to other Disney resorts. In the real world, it might be a 3 star. what Frommer's gives it 2 stars and they rate resorts around the world.

Now I am getting worried that I might have chosen the wrong resort I booked our first stay at the Poly this September and I am so excited....but I started reading these reviews people are writing and I can't believe it! I think we would be o.k. if it were just my DH, DD, & myself, but my Mom is coming with us on this trip and I really want it to be special for her. I thought the monorail was a plus since she has a hard time getting around. We also went to Hawaii a few times when I was little so that is why I decided on the Poly. Do you guys think I should switch to CR or GF ? I am really confused now

 

[CandyMandy]

We will be pool hopping here in June (DVC members), which will include spending time walking around the property and visiting all the indoor public spaces. Will keep eyes out for any evidence of the complaints I'm reading here.

That stated, I wonder if part of the debate here is misinterpreting "vintage 70s kitsch" for "worn and needs a facelift."

I'm part of the crowd that likes this property particularly because it offers some very retro elements ("modern" Hawaii wouldn't appeal to me as much as the "Blue Hawaii" variant). That stated, there's a very fine line between tasteful, well maintained retro and "worn-at-the-edges/feels dated." Given all the belt-tightening at Disney, I wouldn't be at all surprised if some evidence of the latter is starting to creep in.

Again, I'll offer an asessment in a month.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Now I am getting worried that I might have chosen the wrong resort I booked our first stay at the Poly this September and I am so excited....but I started reading these reviews people are writing and I can't believe it! I think we would be o.k. if it were just my DH, DD, & myself, but my Mom is coming with us on this trip and I really want it to be special for her. I thought the monorail was a plus since she has a hard time getting around. We also went to Hawaii a few times when I was little so that is why I decided on the Poly. Do you guys think I should switch to CR or GF ? I am really confused now

You need to take all negative reviews on here with a grain of salt because not everyone who visits WDW posts on Disboards, so just because a few people on here didn't like the Polynesian doesn't speak to the huge numbers of guests they get each day. Plus if people tend to have bad experience chances are they will post that a lot more and with more detail if they had a great experience.

 

[kayleesmomxo]

You need to take all negative reviews on here with a grain of salt because not everyone who visits WDW posts on Disboards, so just because a few people on here didn't like the Polynesian doesn't speak to the huge numbers of guests they get each day. Plus if people tend to have bad experience chances are they will post that a lot more and with more detail if they had a great experience.

Thank You! I guess you really have to experience it for yourself before you make a decision By the way, my hubby can't wait to try the CR, hopefully we will get to stay there next time

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thank You! I guess you really have to experience it for yourself before you make a decision By the way, my hubby can't wait to try the CR, hopefully we will get to stay there next time

You're welcome and I hope you will get to stay at the Contemporary on your next trip after trying the Polynesian.

 

[CandyMandy]

fire the idiot who took Maui potatos off the menu at 'Ohana.

They were replaced as part of the Disneyland 50th Anniversary celebration (you know, where Disney Parks all over the world had to give each other "gifts.")

Some idiot (more likely a committee) decided that the one of the appropriate gifts the then Euro Disney Park was going to give WDW was -- scalloped potatoes. And of all the eateries in the World, the most approriate place to deposit said "gift" was....a Polyensian-themed restaurant.

I agree, in the realm of all the stupefyling bad decisions ever made by Disney, this was at or near the top.