Just got back...

[samlab25]

We just got home last night from WDW. We had a fabulous time. We had a great room at Poly Hawaii Longhouse, room 1504 right on the lagoon with a great view. I would say the Hawaii longhouse is ready to be renovated though. There was a tear in the carpet and it was a tad musty (but not anything horrible). We really enjoyed the Poly and love the ease of getting to MK and Epcot. We probably won't try it again for a few years, but it was definitely an enjoyable experience. I found the Concierge people very polite and helpful. I actually prefer the Concierge at AKL, but I also decided I really like the concierge's being in the lounge and not in the lobby. JMO. I was also disappointed (but I knew ahead of time) about the lack of Jacuzzi at the Poly. I get cold when I swim with my son and its a great, relaxing was for me to warm up.

We had some wonderful meals, most surprisingly being Hollywood Brown Derby. We didn't remember it being outstanding last year, but this time it was phenomenal. Spoodles was also wonderful. Narcoosee's was good. Flying Fish and Ohana were alright, not great. We ate at Le Cellier for lunch and Kona Cafe - both were terrific as well. Dessert at the Patessiere in France was GREAT! The Napoleans are to die for. Otherwise, the rest of our meals were in the parks or continental at the concierge lounge.

When we go back this fall we will definitely stay at the Yacht or Beach Club. Any tips? I want to eat at California Grill and Artist Point this time. We missed Fantasmic this time so now we have an excuse to eat the the Brown Derby again and get the package! Can anyone recommend anything at the YC or BC (not including Beaches and Cream - we've been there and will go back next time - YUM).

Let me know if you have anymore Q's about the trip!

 

[Ursula]

Welcome back! I'm leaving on Sun. How were the crowds & weather?

 

[samlab25]

The crowds were not bad after Saturday and Sunday (Sunday was terribly crowded). The weather: rainy, hot and humid. Sorry. It may get better by the end of the week, but it was in the mid to high 80's with 100% humidity the last few days. Early in the week its supposed to get into the 90's. Thank goodness for the fountains and cool zones.

 

[perpetualplanner]

When you say a bit musty could you be more specific. We're heading to Poly GV concierge next week and have 2 severe mold allergists amongst us. My husband has already expressed concern since Hawaii will close soon after we leave for refurbishment - should I be worried??

 

[samlab25]

I have mold allergies too and this did not bother them. I do take Zyrtec for my allergies though.

As far as musty I would describe it as normal for any room right off a lagoon or ocean (or pool) that get a lot of moist air. It wasn't overly bothersime or smelly. I wouldn't have noticed, but my nose is ultra sensitive. This smell that I describe is not only Hawaii, but everywhere since you're surrounded by water everywhere at Poly. The refurbishment shouldn't make a difference in the smell. The room was still fresh (didn't look like it needed a major refurbishment) except for the carpet which needed replacing.

If you get there and notice, I would report it to the Concierge right away, they will take great care of you.

Have a great time!

 

[perpetualplanner]

Thanks for making me feel better. We also have allergy medications so hopefully that will help. I just don't know how the change in climate will effect the allergies and don't want to push it.

 

[floridafam]

That's what I don't get about the Poly.

Does it smell or not? Some people find it awful and others don't notice.

We visited there in October and both of my kids plugged their noses. The area near Captain Cook's smelled like sewage.

I'm very interested in this because I would love to stay there but I hear a lot of things about the smells. Is that the main reason they are doing the refurb? Did they find some mold problem or something?

I really love the feeling of the resort, size of the rooms, etc. but I just keep seeing my kids with their noses plugged saying "let's get out of here".

The only thing I can say to someone with mold allergies is really consider if it is a good choice. If they indeed had moisture getting in under the foundations of the longhouses then it could have turned into a major mold problem.

This whole issue hits home because we had to have our home tested for mold last year because our children were sick a lot more than they should have been and we had no way to explain it-don't smoke-not a flaming issue-just the first question you are asked at the hospital when your kids have respiratory problems, eat lots of fruits/veggies, very active. We did a lot of research and were able to get a lot of info from our doctors that wasn't pretty.

 

[perpetualplanner]

I guess thats why I'm so nervous. The two people with mold allergies are my sister and my son. My sister would probably, from experience, end up with an ear infection which if not treated would rupture her eardrum. This happened to her within 24 hrs when she lived in Louisville. My son is asthmatic and is already having difficulties due to the time of year. I'm worried about bringning him to Florida and then this stuff about possible mold. He gets allergy shots but they're not really helping yet - he just started the beginning of this year. We're bringing all our medications but if it is a mold problem we're going to be having big time problems. I'm sure if we do concierge would help us to move to another resort - I've heard it's happened before. I just don't want to have to waste a day with that. We're pretty set on the Poly. so I won't change resorts unless we have to. Here's hoping for the best!!!

 

[samlab25]

I really didn't find the smell unmanageable. I saw/heard of no instances where people were plugging their noses or anything like that. No one in the Poly (and it was pretty full) commented to me on anything negative at all and we had occasions to tlak abou that kind of stuff. There was absolutely no smell of sewage or anything like that. The marina is right next to Captain Cooks and I wondered if they could be smelling the gas from the water mice or the general lake smell you get there. Its hard to explain - if you've ever been in a place that's primarily surrounded by water you have the same smells. I didn' see any evidence of mold and I think the renovations they are doing on Hawaii are just cosmetic (I'm not sure if they are adding second floor balconies too). I cough severly when I am around mold and in fact, when I left for our vacation I was getting over bronchitis and my bronchial tubes were highly irritated. I am all better now and in fact, didn't cough at all while I was there from any irritation. Given all the water and plants, etc., I think that's pretty remarkable. I can't imagine that the Yacht/Beach club doesn't have the same faint smell in its common areas and the lower level rooms. You have to remember that the Poly longhouses are fairly small. The other resorts are big and sprawling so you would notice a watery smell much less in them. Just my two cents on this issue. I am sure if you too a look at the room and walked around for five minutes and didn't like it, you could be easily booked into another deluxe without a problem. My advice though, AKL might not be good for someone with bad allergies. I am crazy about the hotel, but I did have more problems there with the animals and constant feeding/watering/eliminating. Of course I ignored it because I am wild (get it..lol) about AKL. The concierge service there is second to none. In fact the Concierge at the Poly said that AKL concierge was just ranked number one in all of Disney (then she laughed and said "only cause they are new"). I gather the Poly usually gets this distinction. She said they were kind of sore about losing to AKL (in a joking way).

Good luck! I'd love to hear what happened when you get back.

 

[perpetualplanner]

Thanks for reassuring me. We specifically avoided AKL because of the animals - my youngest would love it but his brother would be breathing through a straw. I'll try to post a trip report when we get back - I'm an eternal optomist when it comes to vacations and I'm sure everything is going to be WONDERFUL!!! I still can't believe I talked my DH into concierge

 

[floridafam]

I just remembered I think they had some sort of sewage/drain/whatever problem near Captain Cook's when we were there in October-maybe this smell was the pre-cursor to the eventual problem.

We really didn't notice any smell at WL-we just woke up stuffy nosed because the A/C would shut off in the middle of the night and it would get real "stuffy" in the room. All it took was a little walk down for breakfast and some moving around and it would clear up.

I guess I wouldn't worry too much about it. Yes, some of the smell in the GCH can be from the indoor plants but I found it funny that the longhouse also smelled musty.

Some people just don't notice musty smells but it does bother some people that have asthma or the like.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

I stayed in the Hawawii Building last august and then returned to Tokelau in October last year. We both have severe asthma and allergies, and have taken allergy shots for years. Right now having problems in illinois with everything turning green. But our stay in Hawawii and the polynesian for that matter, and especially in august (can't get more humid than that) was very uneventful (asthma-wise). The "smell" to us only appearred to be floral scent, from the folage that surrounds the buildings, it was pleasant and did not "set us off"! (We are both very sensitive to mold as #1 allergy). One thing that does effect me in wdw always is that housekeeping in all resorts likes to spray, a room deodorizer or spray in the room when finished not sure what it is but it is strong and hangs in the room now that sets me off, so I like to have a can of lysol, and spray it, open the balcony door for a few minutes air out the room and afterward always leave a note to please not spray the room with it again, cause of the asthma, etc.... Our room at the poly was on the 2nd floor, GV mid way down hall, perfect view of quiet pool, outside our room. It may of helped that we were not directly on the 1st floor near the plants on patio's? but far enough away to enjoy seeing them, but not smelling them up close.

Please enjoy your stay at the poly, and hawawii, we did! Mahalo! And keep track of the peak flow's! MKY

 

[perpetualplanner]

PEAK FLOWS!!! Oh how I've learned!! My poor son if supposed to able to blow a 280 - I'll let everyone know if we EVER get above a 210. Even at his best he's not exactly wonderful. Being from Illinois we've also been having problems - spent the entire month of April with at least a weekly doctors visit between my two boys - sometimes more than once a week. Boy she must love my family. Thank goodness we have good insurance.

Now the spray thing - that would probably bother me - I'm the REALLY sensitive nose type. Especially when it comes to perfumey smells. I never noticed at the WL last time we were there though so maybe I'll luck out.

Thanks for all the advice and encouragement. I'm really looking forward to this trip and I'll post when we get back.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

I love the Poly. I've never had the pleasure of staying there, although I will sometime soon. Kona Cafe is my favorite restaurant in all of Disney. Their seafood potsticker appetizer with some sort of ginger cream sauce is heavenly. And I love walking through the lobby and taking in the beautiful foliage.

However, last August, I strolled by the pool area one afternoon to see the renovations (and to do a little shopping in their gift shop nearby). The smell of sewage was overwhelming. It wasn't exhaust from the Water Mouse Boats.

It was definitely sewage. I'm not sure what the problem was. I remember wondering how the people in the pool were able to tolerate it. However, not that many people were in the pool.

My visit was in mid-August and in the mid-afternoon.

I didn't stay in the area more than 5 minutes; the smell was overpowering. I just assumed Disney was working on it. I figured that they would have it fixed in a day or so. Things like that happen. And Disney is great about fixing problems.

I'm surprised to hear someone still smelled it in October. I wonder if it's a problem that only occurs under certain conditions. I haven't seen much about it on the boards, so I imagine it's a rare thing.

 

[tnkrbell]

We stayed at the poly inJanand after two nights We left and went to Yacht club (much better experience)Poly had a foul smell,was noisey and filthy!!!! JMHO!! I know my opinion may not be poplular but it was our experience with this hotel.

 

[samlab25]

What longhouse did you stay in?