Just back from 3 weeks (POP, POLY, BWV, and YC)

[surfingoofy]

Well...I have just returned from a well deserved 3 week break in Disney!
It was:
myself (23) and DBF (25)
DBF's twin brother and older brother (28)
and their girl friends (24, 26)

long posts ahead...just scroll to different resorts...or to end for other info!

POP- I LOVE THIS RESORT! at frist i was really hessitant staying at a value (first time)....but what an experience! The boys really wanted the ASspo...but we talked them into POP since it was new.
We were in the 70s section with connecting rooms looking at the lake! It was great! It was a quick walk to everything...although we were a litte far from the parking lot...
Since there were three pools....no single pool was ever crowded, the main poool was the most busy...but never unbareble! The decorations and theming are to die for...and the resort is well kept and maintained....
There was never a huge noise problem...parents did a good of with telling there kids not to screem and to behave themselves at late hours....we only had an issue with one group of teens who thought it would be funny to have a water ballon fight at 2am...
Over all i would say this resort is a must see for any family!

POLY- It was just my DBF and I and it was very romantic....we were here for 6 days and I have only good things to say...they upgraded us to a lagoon view upon arrival and we could see the fireworks everynight!
bus transportation was decent...having the one stop made peak hours a night mare...plus on some we shared the buses with the WL and GF....so you didn't always get on the first bus....
The service was awsome as always..and get this....I called and asked for some extra towels and mentioned that I was going tanning on the beach...instead of the white 'bath' ones...we recieved polynesian beach towels (2)...FOR FREE! That was the first time that ever happened to us anywhere! When i called the guy back to say there must have been a mistake...he said "nope no mistake...just helping you have a magical day!"
The resort is one of my favorites...its why we picked it...its so easy to relax and enjoy the scenery...its definatly an escape from disney!
The pool was great as always...and the slide was a big hit!

BWV- The 6 of us rented a 2 bedroom villa...and it was wonderful! We had a view of the boardwalk/lake and a decent view of EPCOT!
The Villas were spacious and having a full kitchen was so nice! The decor is very pleasing...and homey...we never found the noise of the boardwalk to be bothersome...we were on one of the higher floors though...it was so nice to wake up and to open the doors and look out...
The pool allows for fun for hours...we even cancelled our lunch reservation because we didn't want to leave. The guys spent hours on the slide...they even made us time them to see who could get down the fastest...
The location is wonderful! We walked to Epcot twice and even took a stroll to MGM one early evening....

YC- We just wanted to try the pool...and what a treat that was...we booked a suite for all six of us...and spent all three days at the pool!! It really is a neat set up...and the kids love it! My cousins (2,7,12) came down that week and were staying at the BCV....there faces were just priceless! There was something for everyone of them to do...even the baby...who found the sand bottom pool to be the coolest thing...everytime he went in...he yelled "nemo...nemo"
The slide scared my 7yo DC....she went down once and said it was too fast...and that she didn't like being in the "dark part"...my 12yo DC and DBF loved it...they said it wasn't as good as the BWV slide...but just as fun!
The room was nice...we had a view of the gardens in the back of the resort/partial lake...it fit 6 comfortably...but i like the villas better!

I'll be happy to answer any of your questions...about anything disney not just the resorts! Feel free to ask!

 

[yecats]

Wow you had a wonderful time. One question, while you were at POP could you hear your neighbors threw the walls or flushing toilets all around in the morning.

 

[surfingoofy]

LOL...good question though

We rarely heard a toilet flush...and if we did it was because we were inside the bathroom...or at the closet....and even then...it was never loud enough to wake us up or bother us....
You could tell when someone was taking a shower....only because you could hear the water running....but even then you would have to be in the bathroom or at the vanity area...and it still wasn't loud enough to bother us!

As for the neighbors...if the TV was loud you could hear it....but it would have to be really loud! The only noise you could hear was people coming and going...and talking as they were walking the hallways....you could hear a door shut every now and then but it was nothing bad...people say that being on the higher floors is less noisy...we were on the third floor...and it was very quiet!
Also not being in a pool facing room cut down on noise level too I think!

 

[alacazander]

Oh nice review!

I'm so glad you had a great vacation and it sounds like you had a good long one too!

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Thanks for sharing your trip report!

Sounds like you had a blast!

 

[Lexxiefern]

Great report!! I am really impressed that you got an upgrade at the Poly and free beach towels! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[Tikiman]

Thanks for the report. That sounds like the Polynesian I know. Don’t you just love the view? We will be there for a few weeks in July (Concierge Lagoon View) and it would be nice if some AP rates come out since it is already going to cost us $1200 to fly from California (one of the reasons we only go once a year.

So the busses at the Polynesian are back to sharing with the WL? Someone told me they were being shared with the Contemporary but it has always been WL, Polynesian and GF when we have been there. I will need to change the info on my web page again.

Aloha

Steve

 

[surfingoofy]

Originally posted by Tikiman
So the busses at the Polynesian are back to sharing with the WL?

We road the bus 3 times...to BB, DTD, and TL...all three times we made stops at the WL...I'm pretty positive about that one...I remember looking at the resort and thinking what a nice job they did on it!
I don't recall anyone mentioning stops at the Contemp??

As for the POLY...they gave us excellent service! The beach towels were just the beginning...They were extremely helpful...and most likely the nicest CMs I ever met...another example would be the fact that we were going to breakfast at O'hanas...and it was pouring out...I called down to the desk and asked if there was anyway we could cancel our reservation as we would come to breakfast soaked if not...the lady said that she would send a bellhop over to DRIVE us!!! ...sure enough 5 mins later he arrived...I was so grateful since we were meeting people there to eat!!

 

[Tikiman]

Thanks for the info. I will make sure I update my web page.

Aloha

Steve

 

[dbail2]

Did they just offer to upgraded you to a lagoon view upon arrival ? Were you in the Hawaii Building? I can't wait to go in August...We love the Polynesian...

 

[kc&dmom]

more about the slide at YC --- is the entire slide dark??? I too have 3 little ones (8,6,5) who live for water slides but refuse to go down them without lights. AAGGH!! I have debated for weeks about our stay at the YC and I am about to throw in the towel and head back to the Poly. Only problem (if I could call it that) is we qualified for the recent visa 7/4 promo and our kids expect we would return to the Hawaii building which of course is not available during our stay.

Please let me know about the slide -- the Poly wins hands down for us for the amount of family activities and atmosphere. I hoped our kids would enjoy SAB enough to make the switch but after a recent post about the speed/depth of the lazy river and now the slide --- after all, they did enjoy pretending they were red hot lava at the Volcano slide.

dbail2 -- for the first time our vacation dates and well even our families match with another family -- We just might see you at the Poly!

 

[surfingoofy]

We were upgraded upon arrival! I'm not sure why...maybe just by chance of luck...My DBF and I went up to the desk, we gave our name and information, chatted just a little bit (small stuff) and then were told this...
"ok well you guys have been upgraded to a lagoon view room....here are your keys and have a magical day!"
we were so suprised...i thanked the lady for like 3 minutes and kept asking if this was true...or just a joke...
we were in the long house over by the marina...not Hawaii...I can't emeber the name off my head....but If I saw a map I could tell you!

I would say stay at the YC...
the slide is enclosed (easily the first half)...it leaves the ship (enclosed)...crosses the sidewalk...then opens up...twists and turns and then drops you into the pool...because it is downward in the beginning you do go faster through the enclosed part...
I think because it does open back up your kids should do ok...I know my DC hates it when all of the sudden you can't see anything and then it just drops you off in the pool...the SAB slide is nothing like that...although enclosed...it does open back up and slow down before droppng you into the pool....

I guess it depends on your kids, I know some good sites with over view shots of the slides...I'll PM the links to you...you can judge it for yourself!

Hope I was helpful!

 

[zippehsmom]

Welcome Back!!

Sounds like your vacation was awesome. We really loved the Poly when we stayed in 2002. We had a chance to stay concierge and I think my DH thought he had died and went to heaven.

Now, if I can only get my DH to take me for 3 weeks...

zippehsmom