I cant believe this... Poly refurbishment

[chasgoose]

Meh, you'll live. It was an unexpected upgrade to begin with. GCH will still be somewhat open and im sure bustling. Then you have the pool which just cant be beat. Make the best of it !

Do we know that the GCH will still be "somewhat open"? I mean we know for sure that the main entrance and the monorail station will be shut down, but that doesn't mean those are the only things under renovation there. It seems odd that what appears to be mostly a "soft goods" refurb on the Poly rooms and monorail station/entrance would take nearly a full year to complete, especially when the Poly rooms are going to be completely closed off to guests during that time, unlike typical soft goods or even more intensive refurbs. I wouldn't be shocked if they took the time to shut down most if not all of the GCH for a significant chunk of the refurb, including the Kona Cafe. I guess personally (at least until we know more specifics about the full scope of the refurb), I wouldn't want to stay at the DVC studios the Poly unless I was OK with the possibility of only having access to the pool areas and the DVC area and only a counter-service dining option (all while having to deal with the general disturbance of refurbs) while I'm there.

 

[The WDW 3]

Is the refurb just paint and carpet in the guest rooms? The dinner show could use a revamp too.

 

[Fangorn]

Do we know that the GCH will still be "somewhat open"? I mean we know for sure that the main entrance and the monorail station will be shut down, but that doesn't mean those are the only things under renovation there. It seems odd that what appears to be mostly a "soft goods" refurb on the Poly rooms and monorail station/entrance would take nearly a full year to complete, especially when the Poly rooms are going to be completely closed off to guests during that time, unlike typical soft goods or even more intensive refurbs. I wouldn't be shocked if they took the time to shut down most if not all of the GCH for a significant chunk of the refurb, including the Kona Cafe. I guess personally (at least until we know more specifics about the full scope of the refurb), I wouldn't want to stay at the DVC studios the Poly unless I was OK with the possibility of only having access to the pool areas and the DVC area and only a counter-service dining option (all while having to deal with the general disturbance of refurbs) while I'm there.

Just my take, and we have reservations at the Poly (DVC - own there) for December.

The GCH underwent a major refurbishment, what maybe 5 years ago?, when they removed the entire fountain from the middle of the lobby and made other changes to the front desk area and some of the facades of the shops. Throughout it all (and it was a fairly long time iirc) the GCH was generally open. You did have to deal with construction going on, but it was a whole lot busier then than it will be with the hotel rooms closed.

One of the things that had come from Disney re: the room refurb, is the change of color palette and the addition of Moana motifs. I can certainly see that happening in the GCH as well. So, new carpeting, furniture, wall coverings, artwork, etc.. none of that should take terribly long or cause the closure of anything that is already open.

I just don't see them doing a major facelift or rebuild of the GCH when there has been nary a whisper of them wanting or even thinking about doing so. Now the room refurb has been planned for some time, and the work on the monorail station has been on the "we really need to fix this someday" list for years. Timing just seems right on that.

Just my thoughts.

Steve

 

[TivoQueen]

I am in the same exact boat as you. I had the WL booked for January 2021 and when that was announced it was closed, I moved to the Poly with no price protection (about $1100 difference). Now a few weeks ago I found out the Poly was going to be closed. I called and was originally told they could move me to a DVC Studio at the Poly. My kids would freak if they had to sleep on a pull out sofa for 8 days. He told me that was all he was authorized to offer and then connected me to guest services. We were moved to the Grand Floridian without even asking. Its worth a phone call, usually Disney makes it right. I would still rather stay at the WL though. Next time

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Is the refurb just paint and carpet in the guest rooms? The dinner show could use a revamp too.

Refurb is about resort construction. Spirit of Aloha would be a re-cast and re-choreography, and that's separate path.

Unless you're talking about new tables and chairs?

Usually restaurant work is separate from "resort" work, as they run on a different P&L.

 

[Cyndimoreland]

Yes it is about 9 ths of a mile or 15-20 minute walk from SOG lobby to the TTC via the pathway through the Polynesian grounds.

Dave

Can we still use the pathway through the Polynesian grounds since it’s closed?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Can we still use the pathway through the Polynesian grounds since it’s closed?

yes.

The DVC units are open, which means the grounds are open.

 

[Cyndimoreland]

Ok, will the boats that run from the Polynesian still run to magic kingdom? This would be in December. We will actually be staying at shades of green and looking for easiest way to get to MK.

 

[momtwoboys]

Ok, will the boats that run from the Polynesian still run to magic kingdom? This would be in December. We will actually be staying at shades of green and looking for easiest way to get to MK.

it wasnt running this past week. We ended up moving to CCV and used the Boat there to and from MK and enjoyed our stay there very much!

 

[maltdizzy]

Ok, will the boats that run from the Polynesian still run to magic kingdom? This would be in December. We will actually be staying at shades of green and looking for easiest way to get to MK.

Boats aren’t running from Poly, not have they been.

They are only running boats from WL/FW and GF and the latter only started when the hotel side of GF reopened.

I doubt they will add service from Poly even when the monorail service stops, but we’ll see.

 

[peteykirch]

I can't believe they are redoing the GCH again so quickly.

I wonder if the rumors of there still being decent chucks of asbestos in the lobby to be true and they are doing this to get the last of it out.

I can tell you the regular hotel rooms are in really bad shape, and they need to be gutted already.

The DVC rooms are beautiful, but the regular hotel rooms, oof.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I can't believe they are redoing the GCH again so quickly.

I wonder if the rumors of there still being decent chucks of asbestos in the lobby to be true and they are doing this to get the last of it out.

I can tell you the regular hotel rooms are in really bad shape, and they need to be gutted already.

The DVC rooms are beautiful, but the regular hotel rooms, oof.

Sounds like they cheaped out on the last remodel?

 

[Dave006]

Nope the bulk of the GCH work is focused on the main entrance and the Giant Wooden Beams that need to be replaced as they open up the existing porte cochere which as not really changed much since 1971. The new design will feature an open truss design with a high-pitched thatched style roof and new screening along the Monorail facade.

That's what the big mobile crane is for and not for a main lobby space remodel that was covered in the previous GCH remodel.

Dave

 

[imktdqt810]

We had our bucket list "poly" vacay at CL booked for May 2020...so that didn't happen. I then changed over to a villa for June 2021 (since it's the only thing open) THEN heard about no monorail etc. DH suggested we don't make 2021 the bucket list trip and just not stay at Poly and make it a shorter trip (from 8 days to 6 days including travel days). I haven't cancelled anything yet but am considering BW or BC...then realized they only have villas to book also. But my thoughts on one of those two is the option to walk, bus or boat to two of the 4 parks. I'm going to hold off a new months to see what opens up at poly and then look into pricing a change, if I deem necessary. I hope things open back up for Poly but since "Summer 2021" is the targeted open for the full resort and I'm not even sure what month Disney considers as Summer. LOL

 

[Dave006]

The target date is July 19th for reopening smack dab in the middle of Summer 2021.

Dave

 

[grannyminnie]

For those staying in the villas, is there still a shop open to buy food to prep in the kitchenette (microwaveable or toaster foods)?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

For those staying in the villas, is there still a shop open to buy food to prep in the kitchenette (microwaveable or toaster foods)?

Moana Mercantile is open. Current hours are 8am-9:30pm.

 

[StarlitNight05]

We had our bucket list "poly" vacay at CL booked for May 2020...so that didn't happen. I then changed over to a villa for June 2021 (since it's the only thing open) THEN heard about no monorail etc. DH suggested we don't make 2021 the bucket list trip and just not stay at Poly and make it a shorter trip (from 8 days to 6 days including travel days). I haven't cancelled anything yet but am considering BW or BC...then realized they only have villas to book also. But my thoughts on one of those two is the option to walk, bus or boat to two of the 4 parks. I'm going to hold off a new months to see what opens up at poly and then look into pricing a change, if I deem necessary. I hope things open back up for Poly but since "Summer 2021" is the targeted open for the full resort and I'm not even sure what month Disney considers as Summer. LOL

Yacht Club is bookable for non-villa stays. You could also try Swan or Dolphin if you wanted to save even more but still be in the same area. I believe the main differences with Swan/Dolphin is no ME or ability to charge to your room from your magic band. There is also a resort fee to consider, but often times the price is still much cheaper even with that included.

 

[silver236]

Boats aren’t running from Poly, not have they been.

They are only running boats from WL/FW and GF and the latter only started when the hotel side of GF reopened.

I doubt they will add service from Poly even when the monorail service stops, but we’ll see.

They are adding the Poly boat service back in once the monorail service is gone. It's been in the communication from Disney.

 

[Denise W]

Yacht Club is bookable for non-villa stays. You could also try Swan or Dolphin if you wanted to save even more but still be in the same area. I believe the main differences with Swan/Dolphin is no ME or ability to charge to your room from your magic band. There is also a resort fee to consider, but often times the price is still much cheaper even with that included.

Yacht Club is not a DVC resort. All hotel rooms.
Denise