Just back CBR, AKL, Poly & More....(long)

[NHBelle]

Just back so these thoughts are all very fresh in my mind. I have so much to say, but first off we had a great vacation as usual and were all pooped out and ready to sleep for two days. I also just want to say that these are all just MHO and not meant to offend anyone in anyway. Anyway, we were sceduled to stay at CBR for 5 nights and Poly for 6 nights. Upon checking into the CBR there was a huge line. In over 10 years of traveling all over the place we have never encountered such a long check in line, so already I was having some doubts. Finally it was out turn and I wasn't asking for much. I had requested (in advance) ns, 1st floor. I wanted any building but Trindad South and a parking lot view, so what did we get...2nd floor Trinidad South facing the parking lot. I politetly said NO WAY!!! I had to have 1st floor because of our stroller and any other building with a garden view would do. Unfortunately she did not want to budge, but eventually gave us a room in Jamiaca 1st floor, but facing the parking lot. I know when you book a standard room there is a chance of getting parking lot view, however with a resort of this size I figured there would certaily be a garden view available, but I was told they were all booked. This also made be nervous. If the CBR was all filled up then the pools etc. would be mobbed, and they were. We tried the main pool, but it was so crowded. Same with the food court, shops everything. We were far from drinks and food and my dd insisted on the main pool because of the slide. This resort was making my dh and I dizzy. The resort was just too big for us, too many people, too many buildings and too many bus stops. We knew we were'nt happy just not sure what to do. Do we request another room, or switch resorts altogether. We decided to go to dinner and figure it out. We ended up at the AKL at Boma's. We fell in love this place. We didn't want to go back to CBR. We decided to see how much more it would be to stay there and if it would even be possible leave CBR without a penalty. We went to the front desk and someone must have thrown some pixie dust our way, because before I knew it they were arranging for us to be moved into a pool view room that night for no extra cost. I could've cried with joy. We packed up and moved to AKL that night. The AKL took care of everything. We could hardly believe it. We had an awsome pool view. We LOVE this resort. We would wake up and open up our balconie to hear African music playing lightly in the background. The lighting is dim and warm. We especially liked this after coming back from a crowded resort. It made us feel cozy and helped us to wind down and sleep. It is definately our favorite Disney Resort. Even with a pool view room , you can see animals all over in the halls etc. There are a ton of nice viewing areas with rocking chairs and trails too. There are two jacuzzi's, a nice playground and an awsome pool and slide. MY dd was so excited. Even my son who hates water, was jumping in because of the zero entry. I love that. The busses were great too. No other stops, it was so easy and we even went back to the hotel for breaks in no time. Anyway, it was awsome. Then we had to check out, we considered staying, but had always wanted to stay at the POLy and also wanted to try a monorail resort. Upon checking into the Poly. I had a hard time getting a good room. Again, I know I paid for garden view, but I did not want to face a parking lot, especially after staying at the AKL with such a great view. Anyway, the first room was in Samoa which was smoking and REALLY smelled. We had to move. We ended up oin Roratonga. Great location as far as the lobby, food, shops, monorail and pools too. We had a partial view of the quiet pool (only blocked by palm trees). The room was huge. Biggest I've seen in Disney, but we found a diaper and some hand cream left in a drawer and we had a ripped comforter on our bed. I reported to housekeeping but nothing was ever done. I actually reported to front desk twice and again during check out. Maybe it's no big deal, but we paid a lot of money and I at least want a decent comforter. Anyway, we found the resort to need some updating. The room had a very "wet" feeling to it. I think it was because of the a/c. Very musty as well. The pools were good, just not spectacular and the MK seemed so far away. Watching the fireworks from the beach was awsome and the lit up tiki torches was a nice touch too, but IMHO this resort is lacking something. No jacuzzi, no playground, no Hawiian music playing in the background. The monorail is great, but only if you spend all your time at Epcot and MK. Personally we visit all parks equally as much and didn't get enough use out of the monorail. We definately prefer the Epcot (Boardwalk area). Maybe we expected too much, we were just a little dissapointed. We also visited the Contemporary and were pleasantly suprised, the Grand Floridaian (exactly what we expected) and the Wilderness Lodge. So if anyone has any questions I would be happy to help.

 

[jdwright13]

Thanks for the info! I have a couple of questions about the AKL. I'm curious how crowded it was? I'm going in less than a month, and hoping it's not going to be packed. Also, what was the bus service like? Very busy and slow, empty and fast, or somewhere in between? Finally, is Boma is good as everybody says?

Thanks -- JD

 

[corvair]

NHBelle. thanks so much for the reveiws. I was thinking of staying at CBR but I am afraid what happened to you would happen and I would not enjoy Trinidad South. We are thinking of AKL. What is it you enjoyed so much about the resort. Where was your room located?? I am not sure if I would want pool or savanah veiw. Your pool veiw sounded great?? How was the Mara?? Was the pool bigger than CBR pool?? I read somewhere that the walk to the bus was long at the AKL. Did you think so?? What floor were you on at AKL? Any other great tips would be great.... thanks again....amy

 

[mirlow]

I'm glad you ended up moving to make yourself happy. We had the same dilemma on whether to stay where we weren't happy or to move. We moved to the AKL and loved it too I just can't believe how many stories I hear on these boards of people complaining about this and that and they didn't do anything while they were there. If you aren't happy move (that is of course if there is room available elsewhere) it's your vacation I'm sorry to hear your visit to the Polynesian wasn't that impressive. It's our favorite resort next to the AKL I'm surprised they didn't have music playing because that is one of my favorite things about the place. Some times you just don't know about a place until you stay there. Glad to hear it worked out for you!

 

[dandave]

Hi! I didn't care for the Poly either, but DH really liked the atmosphere. We also had a ripped bedspead, the remote didn't work, and a package was taken from our room. This "package" was a bag of merchandise totalling about $25 from Epcot. I saw no need to lock it in a safe, yet it was missing when we returned to our room. I might try Poly concierge someday just for the experience, but I have no great desire to return to that resort.
No offense to those of you who love it. Thank goodness we don't all have the same resort tastes.
I did think the AKL was fantastic! Thanks for the resort reviews!

 

[DisOrBust]

Ugh! I have been trying to decide on splitting our AKL stay this Jan with either the GF or the POly. You broughtup a point about no hot tubs at the Poly which could be a major downfall in Jan. I am still a bit leary on GF because the reviews are do inconsistant. MY DH and DDs LOVE AKL and insist we stay for at least 4 days maybe I should just make it the whole 9 days.

 

[Dancind]

Seems like there's more and more AKL converts. I know they had trouble filling that resort when it opened, and still have less occupancy than say the monorail resorts. But we're trying it in October (my DD has always wanted to stay there, but we're DVC!), and can't wait. Thanks for the report. Diana

 

[Tikiman]

Welcome back. Sorry about your experience at the Polynesian. I liked the AKL very much but I was not happy with the bus system. It took forever for the bus to come to the parks and I did not know why since it did not stop anywhere else. I love the food and atmosphere of the AKL but it was just a little to far away from everything for me. I would go back but only for a split stay.

I am surprised at the condition of the room and I have never been there with out music playing. I don’t mind not having the hot tub because I get the same thing from the warmer water and jet area of the volcano pool. I can sit in the bubbles and jets and relax. The heat for the pool comes in over there so it is warmer, just not HOT like a hot tub. All the construction they are doing on the longhouses now is to eliminate the moisture from the resort. All the floors are being cemented; the wallpaper is being changed as well as all the carpets and air conditioning units. This is already done in Aotearoa, Fiji and Tuvalu but still needs to be done in some of the others. I hope you try it again sometime.

Aloha

Steve

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Will they be changing the colors or designs of anything in the rooms? (bedspreads, etc)

Thanks.

 

[2WinniePoohs]

Since you just returned, can you tell me if the Aotearoa long house has been reopened yet? We will be going in 3 weeks and I was going to fax my request for this house if it is available.

 

[Tikiman]

Hey Cali,

I don’t want to turn NHBelle's post into a Polynesian rehab post since it is not the topic but I don’t know what the new rooms look like. I think the one person who posted that came back from the Polynesian Aotearoa longhouse may not know what the old rooms looked like and I have not seen any pictures yet.

Aloha

Steve