Just back from WL and Poly

[dlrich]

Just back from an eleven day stay between WL (3nites) and the Poly (7nites). Our first three nights were at the WL and we had a second floor room (2020) which I would highly recommend. It had bunk beds and a wonderful view of the otter pond.Every morning we sat on the balcony and watched about three otters swim around that pond. We also saw bunnies, ducks, and cranes. We upgraded to concierge but kept our second floor room. We really liked the concierge and would definately do it again. After three nights we checked out and nervously moved to the Poly.
We moved to the Poly and right away wished we hadn't. We loved the grounds of the Poly, the pool was nicer but much more rowdy and crowded. We really liked being on the monorail, this saved us many a morning to get to our ps's on time. I think in the end though we never felt comfortable there. We ran into a few nice cms but for the most part we didn't feel as comfortable as we felt at the WL. We never got used to the constant golf cart traffic at this resort. At one point we counted six of them right outside our building(Somoa). At night we would be walking back and we felt they were annoyed because we were in there way. In the end I think that for the price difference (800.00) was definately not worth it for us. We did eat at Ohanas one night we were there and that meal was wonderful. I would highly recommend it.


Lisa

 

[Andrew015]

Thank you for the nice summary! I can sympathyze 100% with what you've said! My family has stayed at the WL the last 5 trips. We love many of the other resorts, but would feel "out of place" staying anywhere but the lodge! It truly is our home away from home!

 

[Wendi]

We have stayed at the Polynesian 2 times and while I absolutely Love the Atmosphere and setting, I have to say we never get that "Home" feeling like we get at The Grand Floridian. I don't like to say this, for fear of being bashed by the true Polynesian Lovers. We went in off season (January) and found the same thing. We felt like we were a burdon on them. We found Concierge Castmembers on the phone with friends, wives or family that refused to get off the phone to answer a few questions. One was so bad, he kept going on and on with someone about the football game that was on tv. We finally gave up after waiting 10 (NO stretch of the truth) and went over to the Front Desk and asked there. We had Carts, Service Carts and just Maintenance men FLYING through the grounds. We Never hogged the walkway, we always left at least 1/2 if not more for other guests or carts. I don't know why we got the same feeling as you but we did too. Some people say it's that we expected too much, we went expecting NOTHING. I did all my PS, never asked for any services and literally just asked a few questions. We still Love the Atmosphere of The Polynesian, but prefer the manners of the Castmembers at the Grand Floridian.
I think it just depends on timing (with any resort). It just might be that we always approach the cm's at a Bad time. I just don't think that since I am paying to be there, that their bad time should be passed on to me. They should just keep a stiff upper lip and answer a quick couple of questions. Just our 2 cents.

I will say we saw a man YELLING at a Castmember because he didn't have extra towels when he came back from the parks, he was sooo loud and complaining about everything from not having "6 towels like I requested", to bad food & not enough time for Breakfast offerings. We started laughing at how demanding this fool was and walked on to our room. Now, in this situation I would expect to be treated badly. Go figure.

Wendi

 

[dlrich]

Reading the last post about towels reminded me of a constant problem we had at the Poly. We would take the kids to the pool in the evening and there were no towels because they had locked them up already. I thought, no problem, go to the front desk and they will send someone to get us some. This was one of our problems we had, what I thought would be simple, turned into a big deal because the front desk cm told us that we are supposed to use our bathroom towels and then went on to tell me that if I needed more towels brought to our room he couldn't tell me how long it would take(they never came). This was one of many things that kept me asking myself "We paid 100 more a night for this?" Don't get me wrong this resort was very beautiful but we just didn't feel that it was worth the extra money we paid to switch to this resort.

Lisa

 

[Tess]

Pool towels are available at all hours in the quiet pool area--in all the years I've been there, I've never found them locked up during pool times--even late at night. Further, the pool towels at the volcano pool haven't been locked up either--they are just well disguised in the "hairwrap" area behind the pool bar. We've gotten towels at the quiet pool in the very early a.m. and late at night during our June visits. The fool who told you to take your room towels should be reinstructed!

As to your worry about being bashed by those of us who are devoted Polynesian loyalists--fear not--we all have different homes! Mine just happens to have "palms and not pines".

 

[BCV23]

We've also always been able to get pool towels. Even at 6:00 am in Dec. years ago when my eldest who was on a HS swim team did his laps.

Too bad about the bad advice!

I agree with Tess. Every resort holds a special place in someone's heart. Now you know your heart is at WL. Did you consider switching back?

 

[dlrich]

Yes we tried to switch back but because it was the july 4th weekend they were 100% booked. I never thought of looking for towels by the quiet pool. I think they were having some lighting problems while we were there because the first night (7/3) at about 11:45pm my 5&8 year olds were in the pool when all lights everywhere went out at once and they were in the middle of the volcano pool in complete darkness. It must have been a fluke because it never happened the rest of our time there.

Lisa

 

[Goofy'sFriend]

On our last trip to the Polynesian, the towels were available at the quiet pool.....but they were locked up at the Volcano pool. The first half of the trip they were not, but the 2nd half, they were. We were told to check in at the marina window to pick them up. They told us that they had to check resort id's before giving out towels........to help curtail pool hopping.

 

[Tess]

They used to utilize the marina to "check out" towels during the busier times at the resort. You had to show your room key to obtain them. This year, as in years prior, the towels were maintained in the hairwrap station by the pool bar. On the weekends and other busy times, the person doing the hairwraps was checking ID for towels. This was pretty hit and miss though. The hairwrap attendant told me that they were doing it because too many people were poolhopping. I guess limiting the towels would help, but if you're bent on poolhopping--I'd think you'd bring your own!

In either event, after marina/hairwrap hours, the pool towels have always been in a pool towel cupboard at the hairwrap station--not an easy find if you don't know where to look! The pool towels at the quiet pool are always readily available or at least have been during our visits.