Just back from Poly 9 nights, good and less than good

[ModestMouse]

Hi:

Just back from the Poly for 9 nights. Our second stay there and we had a great time. Happy to answer any questions that I can, but I can tell you a brief version of the good and the bad:

The Good:
We requested Rapa Nui, the same longhouse we stayed in last year, and to our surprise they put us in exactly the same room! Which was just fine with us. Our room was spotless, comfortable, and felt like home.

Kona Cafe remains one of our favorite restaurants, we had a great dinner there. The CMs were able to accommodate adding a couple of relatives in Orlando to our dinner reservation, which was greatly appreciated.

We love Kona Island for a quick breakfast/cup of great coffee, although they had multiple issues during our stay (the bakery goods not being there at the 6:30 opening, one of the coffee makers going down). But I do really like their bakery goods, and the coffee is my necessary morning fuel.

They were doing quite a bit of painting in the Great Ceremonial House to spruce up the looks, it didn't create any problems for us, I was glad they were doing it.

Our housekeeping and check-in CMs were wonderful. In fact, every CM at the Poly was incredibly nice and helpful.

The Less Than Good:
Ohana Character Breakfast--we won't do this again unless we do it on a final day when we're not planning on going to the parks. They've changed the format so that it takes an hour to see all four characters. Very frustrating and tables on both sides of us were complaining about the time it was taking to see four characters. The food was fine and our CM was a delight, but the new format doesn't make it work it for us. We've done this breakfast three times before happily.

The Volcano Pool--we tried twice to go there, both times it was an absolute zoo. Way too crowded and I suspect (but cannot prove, of course) that a percentage of the crowd were not Poly guests. I feel they really need to put in a wristband program there like at SAB at BC. Or they need to expand the pool. The quiet pool was very nice and we enjoyed swimming there.

Captain Cook's--our food there was perfectly fine, but the new ordering system seemed to be confusing for lots of people (including me). The one time we used the grill I saw four orders picked up before mine that were wrong (in fairness, that might have been the fault of the people placing the orders using the new touchscreen system, not the kitchen, but I can't know). It was confusing all around.

Would we stay at Poly again? Of course, no hesitation, it's a fantastic resort, we love it there.

 

[cara loves the poly]

Welcome back, thanks for posting!!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I agree with you 100% that there needs to be wrist bands for the Volcano pool because it seems to be the 2nd most popular pool after SAB for pool hoppers to swim at. I would also say they should also use wrist bands for the quiet pool because if they would do it for the Volcano pool, it only makes sense to do it for both.

 

[ModestMouse]

I've already heard from other DISers who feel the same way about the Volcano Pool overcrowding at the Poly, and have sent a note of complaint to WDW Guest Relations (I also complained about the Ohana character breakfast change). If Poly guests are unhappy about the situation, we need to firmly but politely tell WDW about it.

Even if it's not a matter of pool hopping, perhaps enough people saying the pool is overcrowded will encourage them to expand the pool facilities. As much as we love the Poly, if serious resort pool time was a key consideration (which we will want on our next summertime trip), we would not stay at the Poly again, not until they get the situation under control.

 

[william4192]

I've always wanted to stay at the poly and we may this Christmas. Last year, I gave my wife 3 days at GF for a Xmas present, I think this year I should get to pick. Thanks for the notes about it.

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

Thanks for the report. We are staying at the Poly next summer and are so excited!!! I've been looking at pictures of the buildings and I would like to know why you requested Rapa Nui over the others.

 

[ModestMouse]

The surprise was really getting the exact same room. We realized it as soon as we walked in, because the view from the window looks out over a covered walkway, which isn't scenic, but was very quiet for us. The only difference was that they've upgraded the headboards on the beds and the wall art since our visit last June (I believe that was the final part of the room renovation).

Our kids were absolutely delighted to get the same room again, they said it made them feel like the Poly was their home away from home. (In fact, my oldest DS kept insisting to me that some people MUST live at the Poly because they say "welcome home" on the buses when you get back to the Poly.) I am trying to dissuade him of this notion.

 

[ModestMouse]

I've always wanted to stay at the poly and we may this Christmas. Last year, I gave my wife 3 days at GF for a Xmas present, I think this year I should get to pick. Thanks for the notes about it.

William, the GF rooms (so I understand) are about to go through refurbishment over the next several months so that time frame might be a good time to try the Poly. Have a great trip!

 

[ModestMouse]

Thanks for the report. We are staying at the Poly next summer and are so excited!!! I've been looking at pictures of the buildings and I would like to know why you requested Rapa Nui over the others.

For one simple reason: it is a short walk from Rapa Nui to the TTC (ticket and transportation center), which has the Epcot monorail. We spend most of our time at Epcot and MK. So staying at Rapa Nui makes both parks very convenient for us. If you want to be closer to the beach or the pool or the GCH (lobby/main building), then Rapa Nui is not as convenient (but still not a super-far walk).

 

[sunee]

I agree about the Captain Cook's situation. You're in the line to place your order forever, because people in front of you can't figure out how to get french fries or whatever. Then you have to wait in line AGAIN to pay...and those cashiers aren't the fastest ones in the world.

I'd prefer one line. If they're going to set up a "We can't be bothered to take your order - Do it yourself" line, why not put in those little machines the grocery stores (who can't be bothered to ring up the groceries) have...and let us pay, too?

I was really disappointed that WDW sunk so low as to make people do their own work and wait in two lines.


I disagree about the wristbands. I hate wearing them. They give me a sort of wrist claustrophobia. Weird, but true. And they create resistance when you swim. It is better if they can be attached to the suit, but I don't like that, either. It draws attention to my chest...and I've spent the last 25 years of my life trying NOT to do that.

So, I vote for NO WRISTBANDS. But, that's me.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I disagree about the wristbands. I hate wearing them. They give me a sort of wrist claustrophobia. Weird, but true. And they create resistance when you swim. It is better if they can be attached to the suit, but I don't like that, either. It draws attention to my chest...and I've spent the last 25 years of my life trying NOT to do that.

So, I vote for NO WRISTBANDS. But, that's me.

I still say the Volcano pool should have the same rules when entering as SAB does and if you don't like wrist bands, the only other thing I can think of is having the Resorts make their KTTW cards design with the Resort itself on the back and you show it to gain entry. So if someone does not have a Polynesian design on their KTTW card, then they should not be allowed in to the pool area. In fact I thought all Resorts should have that design because to me that would be the easiest way to stop pool hoppers. I know the numbers at the bottom are codes of the Resort itself, however what if you get a lifeguard who can't tell the difference?

 

[ModestMouse]

I agree about the Captain Cook's situation. I disagree about the wristbands. I hate wearing them. They give me a sort of wrist claustrophobia. Weird, but true. And they create resistance when you swim. It is better if they can be attached to the suit, but I don't like that, either. It draws attention to my chest...and I've spent the last 25 years of my life trying NOT to do that.

So, I vote for NO WRISTBANDS. But, that's me.

I dislike paying deluxe rates for a room and not getting to use the themed pool. But, that's me. Wristbands seem to me a minor annoyance. I heard people at Captain Cook's complaining about how crowded the pool was as well. We complained about it last year when we stayed at the Poly when we got a followup customer satisfaction survey and the situation this year is worse, not better.

 

[DiznEeyore]

I dislike paying deluxe rates for a room and not getting to use the themed pool. But, that's me. Wristbands seem to me a minor annoyance. I heard people at Captain Cook's complaining about how crowded the pool was as well. We complained about it last year when we stayed at the Poly when we got a followup customer satisfaction survey and the situation this year is worse, not better.

We were at the Poly 3 weeks ago and totally agree with everything you said (including how wonderful Rapa Nui is and how dumb the new ordering system at Captain Cook's is!). We started our week at the Beach Club and found Stormalong Bay *much* more enjoyable than trying to get into the Volcano Pool (and we'd expected just the opposite). We just gave up and used the quiet pool, which of course isn't as much fun. I also agree that at those prices, *everyone* should get a shot at using the pool and not be discouraged due to crowding.

Bring on the wristbands!!

 

[Disfan3]

It is so weird to read of the volcano pool being THAT crowded...and I do you

it is just that we were there in Sept and Aug with free dining and it was never crowded...no matter what time we were there. It is not that big though so I can see how it could get to be a zoo..for sure.

We enjoyed the quiet pool on occasion...but we found the pool at POR to be so much better than POLY no matter HOW much I hate to admit it
We love the Poly so much...and glad you had a great time...

even tho my dd's BOTH say they want to stay at POR again even without the monorail!!!WIERDOS!!

I don't see why they can't do the wristbands or card idea. It makes some sense...but if you think people are pool hopping...maybe from the MK?? Then it would stand to reason that the CR and GF pools would also be overcrowded which leads me to believe it is more about the sz of the pool than the actual pool hoppers

guess we shall never know that answer huh?

p.s. I never realized how small it really was til I saw POR pool...and their HOT TUB!!!

 

[ModestMouse]

I don't see why they can't do the wristbands or card idea. It makes some sense...but if you think people are pool hopping...maybe from the MK?? Then it would stand to reason that the CR and GF pools would also be overcrowded which leads me to believe it is more about the sz of the pool than the actual pool hoppers

I don't know that it's pool-hopping. If they had a wristband system in place and the pool was still this crowded, then that would be a clear sign they need to expand the facility to accomodate the resort's guest load. If the wristbands decreased the crowds, then we know it's pool hopping.

I do think the Poly is more prone to pool-hopping. The pool is a bit more kid-themed than either the CR or the GF pool, is close to MK, and is a walk away from the TTC and is also close to other resorts.

The core problem is paying guests are not getting to use the facility. So the Poly either needs to a) expand the facility to handle the number of resort guests or b) enforce their own stated rules to stop pool hopping.

OT, Disfan: I agree with you, POR does have a nice pool. We stayed there a couple of years back and really enjoyed the pool.