For those who have stayed in a Poly Studio...

[mousehappync]

What was your experience like? I have to start by admitting we were a "once and done" Poly family. We stayed in a garden-view room (Raratonga, 1st floor) pre-refurb (in 2012) and we just did not love the resort. Something about the new studios really intrigues me, though-- two bathrooms? An extra sleeping space so my kids won't have a kicking war while going to sleep every night? What's not to love?! I've booked a standard view studio for the first two nights of our October trip before we switch over to the BC for a week. I am RIDICULOUSLY excited about it. Can anyone share their experiences? Pictures, stories, helpful room requests-- it's all welcome!

 

[Tiki Sean]

Copied from my Blogpost. https://enchantedtikitalk.wordpress.com/2015/05/28/my-first-stay-at-the-polynesian/

Oh my boyhood dreams of staying at the Polynesian Resort in Walt Disney World. I honestly never thought that day would come, especially when I first bought into DVC. Now a mere 7 short years later after purchasing DVC we finally had our opportunity albeit after some room issues at Kidani Village.

Sunday the 3rd we checked into Kidani Village but ran into some room issues but just 2 hours later we had been moved to the Polynesian Resort into a standard view studio.

My first impression after walking into the Polynesian was that the grandness of the old fountain was no longer there but the openness seemed to bring some more life into the lobby. Granted I think a larger fountain would be better but you do get a view of Cinderella’s Castle when you walk in now. But can I also say how cool it is getting a Lei when checking in. I don’t care if its pink I was sporting it proudly.

Walking to our room in Moorea there was a lot of construction going on but it wasn’t anything that was going to ruin my stay there. I just wish there was music playing along my walk around the other longhouses.

My initial Impression of the studios when I walked in were that they are nice but in some ways seem cramped. Maybe that was because we just stayed in a 3 bedrooms condo at the beach or that my son wanted me to open up the sleeper couch right away. The best part of the studios at the poly is the second bathroom with the stand up shower. You don’t realize how much of a time saver that is with multiple people in the room. The stand up shower with rain shower head is just like home but somehow I have more of a tropical relaxation going on while using it. I didn’t feel cramped inside the shower at all.

I loved the convenience of having the monorail at the Poly but it was easier for us to walk to the TTC to grab it than walk to the main lobby. I just wish the Monorail didn’t break down so often. You also have the option of the ferry boat as well as the smaller boats by the main building.

What really got this Disnerd excited was actually swimming in the new pool. The water is fairly shallow at 3 and maybe 4 feet in some spots but what really brought everything home was seeing Cinderellas Castle and Space Mountain in the distance. I can’t quite describe that feeling of relaxing in the pool and seeing the Magic Kingdom in the distance. Its a feeling I never thought I would experience. I could have stayed there all day looking at that view but my kids had other plans.

The kids splash area is something i think every resort should have. There was so much for them to do. From firing water cannons to dumping buckets on me or going down the water slide my son had so much fun swimming and playing in that area and of course I did as well. Disney went above and beyond with this and I am glad to see so many kids enjoying it.

 

[Tink10]

We were in a standard view studio for 5 nights in May. The rooms are GORGEOUS & the TV's are amazing. They probably had THE best shower I've ever experienced in all of the rooms I've stayed in anywhere.

We were in a 3rd floor room in Pago Pago and at that time there was a ton of construction. We weren't too concerned about the view, so it didn't bother us at all.

The huge issue that we had was that our magic bands didn't work half the time and it was a real pain to have to go all the way back to the GCH every time we had an issue. We even tried calling from the building and had to go back every single time. It was great that they gave us a master key card to enter the building, but it didn't help with all of the issues that we had getting in to the room.

Even when I travel alone, I stay in 1br unit, so I probably wouldn't go back, but they really did a very nice job on the rooms

 

[freediverdude]

I guess my question first would be, why didn't you like the resort on your first stay? Because all or most of those things are probably still the same. If you're just going because now it's trendy to go to the Poly post-refurb, then you'll end up just not liking the same things and regretting your stay again. The Beach Club has only one bathroom and only two beds, but you seem to like it there, so I'm thinking it must have been something different about the resort that you didn't like, other than the room setup.

 

[cgh]

I had questions too. We are deciding between a studio or concierge next August for DH, me, DS7 and DS2 (at the time). I was thinking that pull down bed would be great for the 2 year old with bed rails. I was also hoping we could keep the kids beds closed up unless someone were sleeping. The 2 year old would nap each day.

So, some more questions:
1. Was luggage storage a problem? We will be in the Orlando area for 2 weeks in August. We most likely will have 2 large suitcases, plus a roll-aboard, multiple backpacks etc. I see the drawers but I wonder if we'd be better served with a regular room at the poly (concierge).
2. DS has food allergies so I liked having a microwave. It appears that the refrigerator is just a refrigerator and there is not a freezer component-is that correct?
3. How are the laundry facilities- are they crowded normally?
4. How's the noise? At Moorea was the ferry horn a problem?
5. Is there a lounge anywhere for DVC people at the Poly? I know some other resorts (ie. BLT) has this, and I was wondering. Is there generally a 'lobby' in the longhouses.

I wish the Poly had 1 bedroom villas. We did BLT last time and I wanted the Poly. (and construction was going on).

 

[freediverdude]

I had questions too. We are deciding between a studio or concierge next August for DH, me, DS7 and DS2 (at the time). I was thinking that pull down bed would be great for the 2 year old with bed rails. I was also hoping we could keep the kids beds closed up unless someone were sleeping. The 2 year old would nap each day.

So, some more questions:
1. Was luggage storage a problem? We will be in the Orlando area for 2 weeks in August. We most likely will have 2 large suitcases, plus a roll-aboard, multiple backpacks etc. I see the drawers but I wonder if we'd be better served with a regular room at the poly (concierge).
2. DS has food allergies so I liked having a microwave. It appears that the refrigerator is just a refrigerator and there is not a freezer component-is that correct?
3. How are the laundry facilities- are they crowded normally?
4. How's the noise? At Moorea was the ferry horn a problem?
5. Is there a lounge anywhere for DVC people at the Poly? I know some other resorts (ie. BLT) has this, and I was wondering. Is there generally a 'lobby' in the longhouses.

I wish the Poly had 1 bedroom villas. We did BLT last time and I wanted the Poly. (and construction was going on).

1. The bed is raised so that you can put suitcases under the bed, as well as the drawer on each side. Also the coffee table opens and is storage inside.
2. True, the refrigerator does not have a freezer, but the studios have a microwave which the regular rooms do not. The studios also have a toaster.
3. The free laundry room for the studios did seem busy, and you have to use the laundry app to keep track of the open machines and run over when it's open.
4. You can hear the boat horns from inside the lake view studios, but it didn't seem like something that would keep most people up at night- depends if you need absolute quiet for sleeping. Standard view studios you probably won't even hear the horns.
5. Each floor of each studio longhouse has a sitting area lobby area with some cool looking furniture. Also there's a grilling area with covered picnic tables outside between the longhouses.

 

[mousehappync]

We love how bright and light BC is; the Poly seemed darker. We didn't love that you had to go outside to get to the lobby. That trip was also not our best overall; my luggage was lost for three days, my place of business had burned to the ground with thousands and thousands of dollars in already-purchased furniture inside about 24 hours before we left and my mom was with us. This trip we have the first couple of days planned as more relaxing times; I had already planned to spend our arrival night hanging at the Poly checking out Trader Sam's; now we can swim after it becomes 21 & up. We can eat at Kona (been trying to fit that in) and have a relaxing morning before using our USO AP's for a quick visit to Hogwarts. And if we hate it, by some chance, we still have 6 nights at the BC to look forward to. I have learned after many trips that we are paying $$$$ for our resorts and we need to spend more time in them-- Hallowishes on the beach, swimming in sight of the castle, taking a monorail tour... These all sound like fun. The studios just seem like a real step up from some of the other DVC spaces in our price range

 

[freediverdude]

Well, the Poly is still going to seem dark, and you will have to walk outside a bit, that won't change. But I agree that if you're planning to spend more time at the resort, and doing the pool and Trader Sam's, that this time it will seem a little bit more pleasant. DVC does change how you vacation. Park commando goes out the window and more resort time. Pro tip- watch Wishes from over by Trader Sams on the other side of the volcano instead of on the beach. The music is piped in much better by Trader Sam's and the docks. You would think that the castle is blocked by the volcano from over there, but it isn't! Also if you don't want to walk outside much to get to the main building, walk through Tokelau and Rarotonga, then you'll only be ducking outside for a just a moment.