Help on Poly Construction Info

[MountainMouse]

Just wondering if anyone could summarize the remaining construction plans at the Poly. Personally, I'd like to know what will be going on in September since I have a trip planned then and am considering changing my reservation to Poly. All of the existing construction I think should be done by then (Volcano pool, GCH), but I've read talk of construction of another pool...any definite plans for this? Anything else? Thanks.

 

[dizfan]

The best place to find out information about Poly is Tikiman's website and his Facebook page.

Last I recall, even he was not sure of all the construction plans (or at least he cannot disclose that information without causing problems to his sources).

We do know when the main pool is completed, the East pool will undergo a major change. Sounds like the pool will be redone, new pool bar, and more.
This is not expected to be completed until December-February. The East pool is located near the Tokelau.

 

[disneynutz]

Personally I don't understand the rush to stay in a construction zone. I would wait until next year, by then the construction will be completed, additional units will be declared, the bugs worked out, the landscaping will be better established, and the CM's trained.

Bill

 

[MountainMouse]

Personally I don't understand the rush to stay in a construction zone. I would wait until next year, by then the construction will be completed, additional units will be declared, the bugs worked out, the landscaping will be better established, and the CM's trained.

Bill

Well, I can live with a few bugs but I don't want to pay good points to stay in an area under construction. I called Disney and was told there were no plans for construction in September. Given the talk of work on a second pool I'm thinking this was probably bad information from the cast member. I specifically even asked if there would be any additional construction in the villas area. I'm not all that familiar with the Poly (stayed there once in 2003) so I have to rely on maps to determine where folks are referring to when they talk about potential construction but I think the work on the pool that's being rumored is in the villas area, possibly even a new pool for the villas? It doesn't show a pool on the Disney maps.

 

[MountainMouse]

The best place to find out information about Poly is Tikiman's website and his Facebook page.

Last I recall, even he was not sure of all the construction plans (or at least he cannot disclose that information without causing problems to his sources).

We do know when the main pool is completed, the East pool will undergo a major change. Sounds like the pool will be redone, new pool bar, and more.
This is not expected to be completed until December-February. The East pool is located near the Tokelau.

Thanks for the reply, I looked through the Tikiman pages before I posted. Maybe I wasn't reading the correct material, but it wasn't very clear to me what was in the 2015 plans. When you say East pool, are you referring to the one in the middle of all of the long houses? Will there be a DVC only pool?

 

[disneynutz]

Well, I can live with a few bugs but I don't want to pay good points to stay in an area under construction. I called Disney and was told there were no plans for construction in September. Given the talk of work on a second pool I'm thinking this was probably bad information from the cast member. I specifically even asked if there would be any additional construction in the villas area. I'm not all that familiar with the Poly (stayed there once in 2003) so I have to rely on maps to determine where folks are referring to when they talk about potential construction but I think the work on the pool that's being rumored is in the villas area, possibly even a new pool for the villas? It doesn't show a pool on the Disney maps.

Aren't they still converting one of the long houses to DVC? DVD usually completes part of the new resort and uses money from sales to fund the remainder of the project.

Bill

 

[dizfan]

Thanks for the reply, I looked through the Tikiman pages before I posted. Maybe I wasn't reading the correct material, but it wasn't very clear to me what was in the 2015 plans. When you say East pool, are you referring to the one in the middle of all of the long houses? Will there be a DVC only pool?

From what I gather, Tikiman does his best to try not to give out wrong information. If he is unsure of something or it would reveal his sources, he doesn't put it out there. I believe he posted somewhere (possibly not on Facebook but one of dozens of places), that he was not sure of all the work for the fall. The biggies that I remember are the East pool and at some point the kitchens for Ohana and Kona Cafe are supposed to see upgrades.

Yes, the East pool is the pool in the middle of several longhouses. It is located next to Tokelau. It will not be a DVC only pool.
From what I remember, Tikiman said it will be a major rehab. I believe the pool itself may be torn up and replaced. The plans are to add a hot tub and a pool bar with a grill.

Aren't they still converting one of the long houses to DVC? DVD usually completes part of the new resort and uses money from sales to fund the remainder of the project.

Bill

Tokelau is the last longhouse to be completed. It is scheduled for June completion. The pool on one side of Tokelua will be seeing major work through the remainder of the year.
(Pessimists will say they will use those rooms will use those rooms while the pool construction is going on. Optimists will say they will not use those rooms until pool construction is complete.)

 

[kt_mom]

I was trying to find out the same thing since we are looking at possiby switcing our October trip. I'm interested in lake View though and was thinking that those rooms wouldn't be facing a construction area. But if the pool was under construction you would be passing by it everytime you went to the main pool or main building I think right?

 

[dizfan]

I was trying to find out the same thing since we are looking at possiby switcing our October trip. I'm interested in lake View though and was thinking that those rooms wouldn't be facing a construction area. But if the pool was under construction you would be passing by it everytime you went to the main pool or main building I think right?

I believe you can walk along the lake side to avoid the quiet pool area construction. Walk between Tokelau (4) and Moorea (2) toward the lake. Walk along the water area to the main pool. The construction area (6) should be almost entirely blocked by the longhouses.

Here is an image from the dvcnews.com web site.
http://dvcnews.com/index.php/resort...guide-to-disney-s-polynesian-villas-bungalows

 

[kt_mom]

Thank you!

 

[emilymad]

We were debating the same thing. It seems like a lot of construction still to be done and I doubt it will be completed for September.

We have always found the main pool at the Poly to be very crowded and there is no way to know how that will be until it opens next month. I am sure it will be even more crowded with the East pool under construction.

We decided it was too many points to chance a stay at the Poly. I am sure in another year it will be great.

 

[kt_mom]

My thought though is that with so few lake view studios, this may be the best chance of getting to stay in one as a non-owner. Other than the quiet pool is there any other anticipated construction aread in the fall?

 

[dizfan]

Tikiman did a great podcast yesterday. People may want to listen to it so they have a better feeling about the resort.
He answered a ton of questions.

http://www.enchantedtikitalk.com/mobile/e/episode71-poly-want-an-update/

From what I remember, the only significant construction item will be the quiet pool.
Best to listen to the podcast and decide for yourself.

 

[gdrj]

My thought though is that with so few lake view studios, this may be the best chance of getting to stay in one as a non-owner. Other than the quiet pool is there any other anticipated construction aread in the fall?

That's why we booked a lake view this year. We should be able to bypass quiet pool construction by walking along path past hawaii on Lake side, quite the sacrifice With main pool done when we go, trader sams completed and lobby interior done it was a no brainer to book. We may never get lake view in the summer as anon owner in the future.

 

[MountainMouse]

That's why we booked a lake view this year. We should be able to bypass quiet pool construction by walking along path past hawaii on Lake side, quite the sacrifice With main pool done when we go, trader sams completed and lobby interior done it was a no brainer to book. We may never get lake view in the summer as anon owner in the future.

Personally I think the lake views would be more popular as well, but for September it appears that the standard views are the most desired. Much more lakeview availability so it seems people want to save the points. Why wouldn't this trend continue?

 

[DenLo]

The cheaper point rooms always book first at most DVC resorts, so the members can stretch their points and take more or longer vacations. Which works well for those of that like rooms with views as it gives us a better chance to book them at the 7 month mark.

 

[dizfan]

Personally I think the lake views would be more popular as well, but for September it appears that the standard views are the most desired. Much more lakeview availability so it seems people want to save the points. Why wouldn't this trend continue?

Currently, it's about 50% lake view declared and 50% standard view declared.

When fully declared...
20% lake view (72)
80% standard view (288). Of those, about 36 will be in Pago Pago with a parking lot view.

Scary part is depending on how they determined which are lake view, it is possible 100% of the lake view rooms are declared.

 

[emilymad]

Tikiman did a great podcast yesterday. People may want to listen to it so they have a better feeling about the resort.
He answered a ton of questions.

http://www.enchantedtikitalk.com/mobile/e/episode71-poly-want-an-update/

From what I remember, the only significant construction item will be the quiet pool.
Best to listen to the podcast and decide for yourself.

Thanks so much for posting this! Lots of great information and it doesn't seem that the construction will be that bad going forward.

 

[MountainMouse]

Thanks so much for posting this! Lots of great information and it doesn't seem that the construction will be that bad going forward.

I had a little different take. I think he said its a full pool replacement, so digging up the entire area. I've never been at a resort during a refurb like that but it can't be quiet.

 

[emilymad]

I had a little different take. I think he said its a full pool replacement, so digging up the entire area. I've never been at a resort during a refurb like that but it can't be quiet.

That is 100% true. Right now so much of the resort is under construction that having just the quiet pool closed off is a huge improvement. We ate breakfast at Kona in January. Even with the lobby open the resort felt like a construction site. If most of the main walkways are back open you could avoid the quiet pool for the most part. We are the most concerned about how crowded the new pool will be. It has always seemed crowded to us in the past and they didn't make the actual pool any bigger.

We are already in our 7 month window so we would have to book now instead of waiting until after April 1st to hear first hand reports. Decisions, decisions.....