Just back from Poly...

[linjohn]

We stayed at the Poly in May of 2009 and it was a dump, and apparently still is!!

 

[MassMom94]

This report from the OP has made me appreciate WL even more. Don't pay as much for it, but a great resort. Although I'd like to continue to try other resorts I wonder about pushing the envelope and why mess with a good thing. Maybe we should just stick with a good thing. Now I think all other stays will be compared to the high bar that WL has set. I think too, I better not look back.

We stayed at the WL three times and loved it. DH even dubbed us "Wilderness Lodge People." Last time I decided to try the BC because Epcot had become our favorite park. Well, we loved that more. The location suits us better and we prefer the dining options at the BC and Boardwalk area to WL. There are pros and cons to trying different resorts. If you truly love the WL so much, maybe you shouldn't change!

I'm checking out this thread as we are staying at the Poly next trip - I got a great rate. I guess I need to request an unpopular, lightly used longhouse location!

 

[cm8]

and let's just say, we wouldn't stay there again. Very bummed as this was our first visit and I was so looking forward to the atmosphere. The atmosphere and transporation convenience were fine. The room itself and some unsatisfactory service were not.

We got in early Thursday morning, about 9 AM...room wasn't ready but that wasn't a big deal as we weren't expecting it to be ready. I was super excited to learn that I got both my room requests...first floor of the Tokelau building. We checked our bags with valet and away to Epcot we went. I got a text about 3:30 with our room # and the rest of the afternoon at Epcot was spent wondering what room 1940 would be like after ALL the months of dreaming about it. LOL Perhaps that was my mistake...

When we finally got back and went to the Tokelau building, the first thing we noticed was that the outside automatic door was stuck open (and remained that way for the rest of our stay). Not a big deal but I had hoped it would be fixed. We opened the door to our room and there was a musty odor. Again, not a huge deal as I had read reviews and packed some Febreze. The room seemed well worn, the bedspreads showed signs of frequent washing (a good thing!). The location of the room was awesome...first floor with a patio with a direct view of the quiet pool. That was nice.

We had 3 lights out in the room and we told ourselves it was no big deal, we aren't the type to make a big stink about much. The first thing that really bothered me was the bathroom. There was paint peeling everywhere and paint chips could even be found on the floor upon check in and although I cleaned them up myself - had to because they were sticking to our feet/shoes and getting tracked into the room they kept coming off the door and Mousekeeping overlooked it. The wall and ceiling tiles had stains. And there were bugs, several different varieties...ones that appeared to be centipede like in nature. Fortunatly, no bed bugs or love bugs but yucky enough. We debated on whether we should call and complain or just leave it alone since we weren't planning on being in the room too much. We were running behind for an ADR at GF so we decided to leave it alone and we stayed there for another few nights before the final straw happened.

One more annoyance before the final straw...I had placed a Garden Grocer order that was delivered on time and the front desk was holding it until we had access to our room. Once we were in our room, we had Bell Services bring it to us and they only brought one of 5 bags...they had misplaced the rest and it took them until the next morning to find them.

The final straw was that the internet jack was broken. We returned to the room late Saturday night and needed access to do our fantasy football for the week and imagine our surprise to learn that the cable connection was actually broken off in the jack, so bad that my DH (who is an IT Support Specialist) couldn't fix it. He must have spent an hour working on it and got aggrevated and then we stepped back and looked at the big picture...all of the little things wrong with the room, while little, added up to be big aggrevation. So my DH went down to the front desk to see what could be done. He came back about 20 minutes later to say that we were being moved to Fiji (I was bummed...I loved our location, just wanted a room that was clean and had everything in working order) and that bell services was on their way to assist. It being 11:30 and having three children sleeping peacefully, I knew that if we woke them and told them we were moving tonight and they got to ride on a golf cart that they would NEVER go back to sleep. I called the front desk and nicely asked that they wait until the morning and got some resistance but once I explained the dilemma, they were agreeable but let me know that bell services can't be guaranteed in the morning. I said that was fine. So my DH and I spent the rest of the night packing up our room so that we could move prior to our 7:35 AM ADR for breakfast.

We moved early the next morning and while I preferred our Tokelau location, the Fiji building had nice views of the marina and was closer to the volcano pool which excited the kids. The room was okay, no paint in the bathroom but the room was similar to Tokelau's in that it needed TLC.

To sum it up, the two longhouses I was in at the Poly certainly need renovation! We were disappointed, considering the money spent to stay at a deluxe resort. The grounds and location/convenience of the Poly are certainly what make people come back again and again...it's what brought us there in the first place. But there are two other monorail resorts and after spending some time at the GF for meals and the movies on the beach, we decided we will spend a little extra and stay there next time. In fact, we got a bounce back offer and I'd like to try to book there.

I guess as long as you know what to expect, you will be fine at the Poly, barring any unforeseen room problems like we ran into. It being our first trip, we just weren't prepared for the sad state of the rooms.

Just our two cents, from our experience...

we love the GF and I hope that you find your stay there in the future to be a great one. I am sorry that you had a bad experience with the Manager, she obviously did NOT eat her Wheaties that morning

 

[Joshua_me]

Let me preface these remarks by saying that I dearly love The Poly.

I've been staying there with my family since I was six years old, and have had many visits with friends and my own family now for over 30 years.

It's one of my "magic places".

That being said, I can't turn a blind eye to what has happened to the resort in the past few years. There have been leaks in the roof of the GCH for over three years now, and during rain storms, five gallon white plastic buckets can be seen scattered around the building. This is the first impression many first-timers to The Poly see upon their arrival. That, quite frankly, breaks my heart. Even after the renovation, the ancient, out-dated elevators remained. Often times large families have to make two trips because of the ridiculously small size of their interiors.

Then, there's the matter of the rooms. Dusty corners, burned out light bulbs, always broken Internet connections. (And at this stage, where is the wi-fi for Pete's sake ?) Worn linens, lousy shower heads with slow to no drainage in the tubs below.

Outsourced Mousekeeping that often seem like they couldn't care less, and often seem to show a real sense of contempt toward the guests.

For a resort that charges as much or more as many Ritz Carlton's and Four Seasons, there is absolutely NO excuse for this...

Disney is making money hand over fist at this resort, and in turn is doing the thread-bare minimum they can get away with in terms of staffing and upkeep of the rooms and GCH.

Having the staff say, "Aloha" to you 20 times a day doesn't cover up the obvious problems.

This is why, with a heavy heart, we stay at The Dolphin (and occasionally the Contemporary) these days.

For a fraction of the price, The Dolphin offers a superior experience in every way, and any problems you might have are taken care of immediately and with a sense of professionalism that's sadly lacking at The Poly.

So, for now, for us, it's "Aloha" to The Poly.

 

[Glenn]

Seems like the poster paid for a 5 star room & got one in a condition that would make Motel 6 look good. Yes it's a great location but the room sounded like a dump. And face it unless people show up at the front desk demanding a clean, decent shape room ( a little wear & tear is normal) or to be moved nothing much is going to happen to improve the conditions. Let us know if you ever hear from Disney & if their response is more than the generic "Thank you for letting us know about your concerns" response.

 

[Snape]

Rather than band-aid the areas of the building(s) that are sinking and leaking, I really think they should bulldoze the resort and re-build it. I believe some of the buildings are loaded with mold which isn't good at all.

 

[Joshua_me]

An interesting, (and IMO honest...) review of a recent stay at The Poly from a Trip Advisor member....

______________


Not worth it at half the price. Don't fall for the hype, unless you like it noisy.”
Disney's Polynesian Resort
firesaint 15 contributions
Denver
Oct 14, 2010 | Trip type: Couples

The fourth time I called the front desk to complain about our ear-splitting domestic nightmare next door, the burned-out desk clerk told me "this is a family resort" - as if to say "it's noisy, get over it".

Disney still lists the Polynesian as a Deluxe Resort, not a 'family resort', but you wouldn't know it staying here. The grounds are amazing, the Monorail is a treat. But if you're hoping to find an inviting, peaceful, tropical paradise - it's not here.

Same as you, I spent a lot of time & money planning this trip. I read a lot of reviews, and few mention how noisy the Polynesian is. Maybe we just got a bad room with horrible neighbors. If that's the case, Disney was of no help whatsoever and there's nothing to prevent you from having the same experience. Once-in-a-lifetime vacation? Sorry pal, better luck next time.

I'm not kidding, I've had quieter nights at airports. The kids screamed all morning and the adults screamed right back. There was a lull in the afternoon, then they got going again after dark. I called the desk every day we were there to find a quieter room, and they couldn't help me. The only option was to move us to a room with (and I quote) "paper-thin walls". That's great. The rumors of being granted an upgrade after an unpleasant night are just that - rumors. I even offered to pay for an upgrade - any upgrade - to get us a quieter room and the frosty desk staff were incapable of helping.

Speaking of which, if you're used to Marriott's level of customer service, get ready to be underwhelmed. I thought Disney wrote the book on good guest relations, but I was misinformed. Marriott still rules (and Disney's beds aren't nearly as good, just FYI).

This was my fifth stay on Disney property, and the worst so far in terms of customer service. My distinct impression was that once you've checked in here, Disney has your money and they could care less about the quality of your experience. I got a decent deal on the room, and even then I don't think it was worth it. Without some kind of concession or guarantee from Disney (not holding our breath here), there's no way I would return to the Polynesian.

I'm not a Disney hater. I'm still a fan of the parks and I will return (someday), but I won't be staying here.

This is why: Nearly every room at the Poly has a metal connecting door. These horrible hold-overs from the 1970's are acoustic nightmares, transmitting much of what goes on in one room right into the room next door (i.e. yours). Until those doors are removed, the Poly is just a glorified Howard Johnson's. I know, it's rough to hear. I really wanted to love the Polynesian too, but the noise was intolerable. You're spending a lot of money - even with a discount it's not a cheap place. And while you are gazing lovingly at the ever-changing hue of Cinderella's Castle, you are lulled to sleep by the sounds of a crazed Brazilian beating the tar out of his eight-year-old (and yes, I called the desk that night too... twice. sigh).

Everyone has a different idea of what "quiet" is. If you have young kids, you're probably used to a lot more noise than I am. Even so, this was over the top. It was loud enough to wake us both out of a sound sleep. Try touring the happiest place on earth after a relatively sleepless night listening to people screaming at each other... it affects you. The setting is magic and the groundskeeping is world-class, but the connecting door in our room and the guests staying right behind it were pure Motel 6.

Don't believe the hype, Disney will NOT make your resort stay right. You will have to holler, claw and scream to get anything resembling customer service - and my question is: What kind of vacation is that?

The other thing that got me is the check-out process. After all of Disney's bluster about what a warm, inviting, tropical paradise the Polynesian is, their startlingly impersonal "don't let the door hit you on the way out" check-out process leaves a foul taste in the mouth for days to come.

If you are looking for that peaceful, tropical paradise Disney sells on the Polynesian's website - do not stay here. Come visit the beach & get a Dole Whip at Cap'n Cooks. Stroll around & enjoy the amazing landscaping. Then get back on the Monorail and stay someplace else.

After our "dream vacation" at WDW, we left Orlando & went to the beach for two days. We slept great & it was the highlight of our trip.

 

[Eastern]

I was considering Poly and BWI for our next trip. This thread was enough to push me over to BWI. It really sounds like the rooms need a bit of work (as well as some of the employees).

 

[GailT]

We stayed at the Poly in May of 2009 and it was a dump, and apparently still is!!

DUMP. come on, it isnt a new hotel but it isnt motel 6 either, I didn't think it was that bad and I am the fussiest person when it comes to hotels

 

[padawans]

It sounds like this thread has become a dumping ground for everyone that hates the poly. Its too bad there will be people changing there reservations because of this thread. They are going to miss staying ot a great resort.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

It sounds like this thread has become a dumping ground for everyone that hates the poly. Its too bad there will be people changing there reservations because of this thread. They are going to miss staying ot a great resort.

If a resort is in major need of repair, it's a good thing that people are posting about it. Maybe Disney will get the rooms cleaned up!

 

[vicki_c]

If a resort is in major need of repair, it's a good thing that people are posting about it. Maybe Disney will get the rooms cleaned up!

That may be true, but you've been around long enough to know how these threads go. We've had 2 Poly stays in the last 2 years and our rooms were great. And many other posters have said the same. Negative threads attract more negative responses than positive, always. It does become a piling on type thing, no matter which resort is being discussed.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

That may be true, but you've been around long enough to know how these threads go. We've had 2 Poly stays in the last 2 years and our rooms were great. And many other posters have said the same. Negative threads attract more negative responses than positive, always. It does become a piling on type thing, no matter which resort is being discussed.

Well, yeah, I agree with that. But then again, if there's even a kernel of truth, that's when the pile-on becomes relevant, right? I've never read one post on here about the GF or CR being dirty.

 

[rie'smom]

DUMP. come on, it isnt a new hotel but it isnt motel 6 either, I didn't think it was that bad and I am the fussiest person when it comes to hotels

Dump may be strong but compared to all of the resorts/hotels we've stayed in at WDW and elsewhere in our travels, the Poly was the worst. That includes a place in Bosnia.

That may be true, but you've been around long enough to know how these threads go. We've had 2 Poly stays in the last 2 years and our rooms were great. And many other posters have said the same. Negative threads attract more negative responses than positive, always. It does become a piling on type thing, no matter which resort is being discussed.

It's great that this has been your experience however look at the numbers of people on this thread who have had a bad one. Of all of the resorts on this thread, I don't remember one in recent history that has been getting bad reviews as often as the Poly. It may be because at one time, no other resort received as many raves. I know I changed a reservation to the Poly after having read all of the great posts. I went there hoping we'd have a great time. We didn't.

The room-bad-dark,dank, someone's clothes left in a drawer, borken internet that took forever to get fixed, bathroom was smelly
The beds-uncomfortable
The CMs- worst we've ever encountered
Captain Cooks-ick
Volcano pool-much too small

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

We were at Cap'n Cooks three weeks ago and it was delicious.

 

[Snape]

I recently saw a bad review of the CR where someone complained of birds inside doing their business over Chef Mickey's. Pretty gross right? That can at least be wiped down and bleached. You can also wipe up dust and vaccuum cheerios off the floor but you can not get rid of mold inside the walls with a clorox wipe. That would be my major concern.

 

[jmpellet]

Yikes, this is my dream resort We've never stayed deluxe, probably could have but always opted for the longer vacation. I actually priced out 2 weeks at the poly and was considering it for 2012 -- definitely rethinking that! My son has major allergies and for the price of this joint, you should not have to bring your own Febreze!

 

[Cherinva]

It really saddens me to read all the bad reports on the Poly. It has always been my dream resort...and for the first time, I get to stay there in December.

I will keep my reservation and see for myself.

 

[brergnat]

The Polynesian smells bad just walking around the grounds.

When you can smell mildew, there is a lot of mold that you are NOT seeing.

Complaints of a "musty", or "stale" or "mildewy" smell are prevalent in reviews of the Poly. This means the buildings are likely mold infested.

I agree with another poster that this resort should be razed and rebuilt from scratch.

About a year and a half ago, we started noticing a "musty" odor in our kitchen (we live in an apartment, have been here 6 years). I mentioned it to the maintenance team. They came and did an inspection, pulled out the dishwasher and found the ENTIRE back wall behind it covered with mold. It had gone all the way behind the sink, and under the FLOORING. We had to have 1/2 of our kitchen torn up and rebuilt with new materials, including drywall and replacement of concrete floor under the tile. All this was the result of a "musty" odor....

I won't stay at the Poly. The thought of what is growing in those building freaks me out.

 

[colbyky]

The Poly is great! Listen, all the naysayers say as you will - I have loved the resort everytime I have visited and I think that it is beautiful and great! I do not notice any smells or things of that nature. Maybe I need to get my sniffer checked - but it continues to be a great resort and I would recommend it any fellow Diser!!