Just returned from the Poly (long)

[maciemouse]

We just got back last night from a week at the Poly. We really enjoy the grounds at this resort. We stayed by the pool pretty much all afternoon. I love that you can relax and feel like you are on a vacation. We liked watching wishes from the beach. And WE absolutely love the convenience to the monorail. Now for the rooms- they are not worth the price tag. I think when you are paying $400 a night it is for the proximity to the Magic Kingdom and the outside tropical area of the resort, it is not for the rooms. We arrived on Monday, our room was ready. It was in Tuvelo (sp?). Very last room in the building on the ground floor. We stayed at the Poly last year in Rarotunga, so this seemed like quite a hike away from everything. Well when we get into the room, there were potato chips and what looked like bread on the floor. I know this kind of thing can happen anywhere. So I cleaned it up. We were waiting for bell services to deliver our luggage so we could get ready for our dinner reservation and they never came. We called again after an hour and the said they were on there way. Well we waited another hour and half before we got our luggage. We missed our dinner reservation because all of the stuff we needed was in our bags. We couldn't swim because or bathing suits were in our bags and we also did not want to leave because we might miss the bellman. Now before I get flamed, I realize the bellmen are busy people. I would of walked to the front to get what I needed but they said they were on their way. (and all of our swim suits were in different bags) Well we finally we got our luggage after two and half hours. I take a quick shower and went to blow dry my hair and guess what? The electrical sockets in the room did not work in the bathroom or by the bar. I pressed the reset button on the blow dryer,on the socket, nothing. I plugged my husbands razor in to make sure it wasn't my blow dryer, nothing. I was truly frustrated by this point. I did not let it ruin our evening. We went to DTD and ate. My husband told me to go to the front desk and calmly explain that we wanted to change rooms. So I did. I will say they were super nice. They were booked solid that night but had another room available for me the next morning. They even gave me a choice on which room I wanted. Well we were put in Somoa, ground floor, facing the Volcano pool. We packed up our stuff, waited 30 minutes for a bellman to store our luggage for the day, and we were off. We got back to the resort around three. Our room was not ready so we just swam. Our room was finally ready around 5:15. I thought that was a little late but it was worth the wait for our room location. Now we call bell services again for our luggage and we waited an hour and half this time. My husband called after an hour and fifteen minutes and they said they were on their way. When the bellman brought our stuff, my husband asked if they were that busy and the bellman said no. So he asked what took an hour and half and he said he just got told a few minutes ago to bring the luggage. There must be some poor communication going on. When we checked on Friday, my husband said after tipping over $35 dollars and having the waits we waited on bellman, he would take our luggage to the car. He went to see if we could use a cart and they told him no. They could only be used by bellman. I have never heard of that. So my husband used our stroller to transport our luggage. We love the Poly and we will stay here when a discount is available. I love the atomosphere and convenience but I do feel the rooms need a little work. Overall the staff was great, but did think bell services was lacking.

 

[vicki_c]

Too bad about your room issues! And the bell services sounds terrible, no doubt. I'm glad they were able to move you somewhere else.

I think you're right, you're paying for the monorail and the location, mostly (which has still always been worth it to us).

As for the "work" on the rooms - if you mean, mousekeeping before you arrived and the electrical problem, I would agree. But they just refurbed all the rooms at the Poly, so I don't think anything else will be happening relative to the rooms.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

So sorry you had those room issues and problems with the bellman. If it helps when my family and I arrived at the Polynesian in December we were waiting at least 15 minutes at the bell stand, to be taken on the golf cart with our luggage to the Hawaii Longhouse so we could check-in. So it was frustrating having to ask where is the bellman and hearing he will be here any minute.

 

[NewCrew42]

We had this same type of issue with bell services at our last stay at the CR. I do agree that pay for the location.

I just never felt that the services offered at the deluxe resorts were that great.

 

[maciemouse]

vicki c,

Unfortunately I meant the rooms. I know that they just got refurbished. They still just seem so warn. I don't know if it is the amount of people that go through the rooms or if it is just that the building is old. I might be being picky. We still love the grounds. Having the monorail beats the bus any day with two young kids.

 

[vicki_c]

Oh, that's too bad about the room - our room was wonderful in January and everything looked brand new and spotless to me. But I'm really not that picky, either! I rarely find anything worth complaining about at WDW!

 

[maxsmomamy]

Oh, that's too bad about the room - our room was wonderful in January and everything looked brand new and spotless to me. But I'm really not that picky, either! I rarely find anything worth complaining about at WDW!

We are going in November. PLEASE tell me which room/building you stayed in!

 

[vicki_c]

Oops - you won't like my answer. We were concierge level last trip, so Hawaii! Unless you're already doing concierge, you won't be in that building! Sorry!

But all the rooms were refurbed at the same time, so honestly, there shouldn't be any difference. I think the difference is just in my perception and the OP's perception. Everyone sees things differently! Maybe I AM abnormal -- if this helps or not -- I have stayed at: Poly, WL, AKL, POR, POFQ, CBR, and YC. I have never complained about anything in my room ever - I never found any issue that I even considered complaining about. Like I said earlier, or in another thread - I'm either really lucky or just not picky!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well thanks for your honest opinion. We are going next sat. and all I can say is I am sure glad we are not paying cash for the room, we are using our american airlines miles. While we do love the Polynesian, we had issues too on our last trip. I am faxing a room request and holding my breath until we get there. I am glad I always have a Plan B, a nice govt. discount room at the Swan or Dolphin and Starwoods points to boot. I think I will only do another disney deluxe for our next trip if we get a bounceback rate in the room, did you have one ?, (The brochure) in your room, just curious. I honestly dont think the rooms are worth paying rack rate for with the customer service you get etc. Hope your next trip is better.

 

[maciemouse]

Please don't get me wrong, I love the Poly and I will stay there again. I too have stayed at alot of the resorts on property and Poly and POR are my favorite. I really don't try to be picky, I just noticed our room looked worn. Mousekeeping was good on our trip. I hope I did not sound negative about my stay. We did have a lot of hassle with the bellman but we loved our stay. I think a lot of Disney resorts are over priced, but that doesn't keep me from going back.

 

[wdw4us2]

I've noticed that many people are having issues with the bell services at the Poly. I believe this is the case property wide since Disney contracted out the valet/bell services in January 2007.

We noticed a difference after our first trip in 2007. Some of the workers are not as friendly, knowledgeable or efficient as the Disney Cast Members were. This is another case of Disney sacrificing service to save $$.

 

[Frances999]

Have you sent an email to Disney about this? Please do. The more people who let them know about bad experiences, the better the chance they will take action. I'm sorry some points to your trip were disappointing.

 

[EltonJohn]

He went to see if we could use a cart and they told him no. They could only be used by bellman. I have never heard of that.

That is standard policy here in Yellowstone. They probably have only so many luggage carts that they don't want to lose one because a guest didn't return it.

 

[mmmears]

Well thanks for your honest opinion. We are going next sat. and all I can say is I am sure glad we are not paying cash for the room, we are using our american airlines miles. While we do love the Polynesian, we had issues too on our last trip. I am faxing a room request and holding my breath until we get there. I am glad I always have a Plan B, a nice govt. discount room at the Swan or Dolphin and Starwoods points to boot. I think I will only do another disney deluxe for our next trip if we get a bounceback rate in the room, did you have one ?, (The brochure) in your room, just curious. I honestly dont think the rooms are worth paying rack rate for with the customer service you get etc. Hope your next trip is better.

luvmarypoppins,

Could you let me know how to use AA miles for WDW hotels, please? I've checked their website, but cant see how to do it.

Thanks!

 

[Happymom34]

I'm very sorry about your room issues.

 

[Echie]

Thanks for posting about your trip! That's too bad about the room and the bell service.

Interestingly we had similar issues at the Poly, although not quite to the extent as you, but it seems to be more common, although I guess these things do happen anywhere We still really loved our time at the Poly and would definitely return!

We too found our room not 100% clean... we found a Q-tip on the floor by the bed, and chocolate covered almonds in between the desk and dresser...

The bellman almost sent our held luggage on the Magical Express bus when they were just supposed to be hanging onto it for us after we'd checked out - We were just coming to pick it up and we see it being rolled out to the bus... I ran after it and got it just in time, saying that's our luggage and it's not tagged for the bus and isn't going on the bus!!

 

[Kira G.]

He went to see if we could use a cart and they told him no. They could only be used by bellman. I have never heard of that.

That was also true when we stayed at an Embassy Suites last month in Washington DC. Perhaps they are concerned about lawsuits? He had to bring the cart, load it himself and follow us to our car.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

For the original poster: Did you guys arrive at the Poly by taxi? Or drive yourselves? Or take Magical Express?

 

[maxsmomamy]

Have you sent an email to Disney about this? Please do. The more people who let them know about bad experiences, the better the chance they will take action. I'm sorry some points to your trip were disappointing.

How do you send an email to Disney? Is there a link somewhere with those addresses on it? Should it go specifically to the resort?

 

[GirlfromTN]

I have not stayed at the Poly....but at the Yacht Club last year I had similar problems with the room being cleaned. The room was clean enough when we checked in. However, 2 times when we returned to the room at night, after mousekeeping had come in to make up the bed etc., there was FOOD and DIRTY FOOD WRAPPERS in the room! (and it was muffins and chips and things that we did not have in the room). This means that the food was not leftover from another guest, but actually left in there by the cleaning people. I guess they were EATING in the room (on 2 different days) while cleaning it, and didn't bother to get rid of the leftover food or the trash. It was sooo disgusting. And it is absolutely unacceptable for food to be in your room when you check in. I used to work at hotels, and standard practice if for the head housekeeper to check off each room before it is put on the "ready" list for guests to check in. SOOO unsanitary. This is different than the rooms not having new furnishing or being a little dusty; it is just really gross. I was really upset with my stay at the Yacht Club. And yes I complained to the front desk, who would not help me or move my room, but when I got home I called Disney and ended up getting a 1 night voucher for a stay at any property. But still