LOVED Poly villas until....

[jar]

I just stayed at the Poly villas and was so impressed from the moment I walked in the door. Incredible views of the MK from our room, layout was well done, the mini-bathroom with a 2nd shower was great, and so on.

But then 7am rolled around after a late night at MK. That's when the transportation center ferry started (MK opened at 8am for Easter week) and blew its horn every 5-10 minutes. It could not be louder in our room. With sleep impossible from 7am onward, thank goodness that we at least came back at midnight rather than wait until the 2am end of EMH.

As wonderful as these villas were, I cannot recommend it for anyone who prefers late nights and late mornings. Impossible to sleep once the ferry starts. The ferry horn seems so unnecessary (it's not like it's a busy harbor), but I guess Disney has decided to prioritize the "experience" of the 1000s of ferry passengers over the sleep of hundreds of deluxe hotel guests.

 

[Shanti]

I guess it depends on which longhouse you're in. We stayed last July and never heard the ferry boats. Sorry the noise was a spoiler for you!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The lakeview rooms can be tough for noise.

 

[Sammie]

I do find it interesting that until the DVC rooms were built, I never remember seeing on the Resort forums complaints about the horn noise. And yes they need to blow those horns, people in those little boats are everywhere.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I do find it interesting that until the DVC rooms were built, I never remember seeing on the Resort forums complaints about the horn noise. And yes they need to blow those horns, people in those little boats are everywhere.

And get slammed over there?! I had picked up over the years about the noise there and the distance from the Ceremonial House so someplace there were remarks (complaints) about it. Actually, as people say there weren't complaints there have been a few other posters who remarked they were told by CM's that those buildings were the least requested and the ones with the most complaints so they tried to fill them last.

 

[Sammie]

And get slammed over there?! I had picked up over the years about the noise there and the distance from the Ceremonial House so someplace there were remarks (complaints) about it. Actually, as people say there weren't complaints there have been a few other posters who remarked they were told by CM's that those buildings were the least requested and the ones with the most complaints so they tried to fill them last.

We have stayed in Tokelau and Hawaii. Is it only the Moorea building that it seems to bother.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We have stayed in Tokelau and Hawaii. Is it only the Moorea building that it seems to bother.

I think every report I've seen has been from stays in Moorea. But people who aren't real noise sensitive or bring noise machines have seemed ok. We had 2 rooms lakeview in Moorea in Oct and the noise was enough for comments from everyone. We're aware now though so would either adjust the routine or try standard view.

My only other stay there was years ago and I can't recall what exact building it was but it wasn't a building close to TTC and I recall no noise issues.

 

[PlainJane]

I had a similar problem at the BWVs when we had a second floor BW view. It was beautiful, but between the boats and the people walking around (up until last call), it was very hard to sleep.

This is a good thing to know about the Poly. I don't know the next time we'll stay here, or if we ever will again, but I know that much noise would really put a damper on things for me. We stayed in Samoa on the quiet pool side. It was pretty quiet, but it was winter, so no real noise from the pool area.

 

[jar]

We were in Moorea, lakeview. Have lived in NYC for over 20 years, so street noise definitely something I can ignore/sleep through very easily. Home resort is BWV and, in fact, we had a Boardwalk view for the three days prior to switching to Poly -- no problems there either (we always request it if available). The loudness of the boat horns were really something else though.

 

[disneynutz]

And get slammed over there?! I had picked up over the years about the noise there and the distance from the Ceremonial House so someplace there were remarks (complaints) about it. Actually, as people say there weren't complaints there have been a few other posters who remarked they were told by CM's that those buildings were the least requested and the ones with the most complaints so they tried to fill them last.

IMO those are the rooms at the resorts that DVC gets to take over. Same with locations like BCV which is behind the BC without much of a view.

Bill

 

[drusba]

As to the prioritizing the experience for guests by blasting horns in the morning, be aware that boats large enough to be required to have horns are also required by Florida internal waterway regulations to use the horns whenever there is more than one boat in the same, general area and the number of blasts (one, two, or three) tells other boats the direction a boat will be going.

 

[jar]

As to the prioritizing the experience for guests by blasting horns in the morning, be aware that boats large enough to be required to have horns are also required by Florida internal waterway regulations to use the horns whenever there is more than one boat in the same, general area and the number of blasts (one, two, or three) tells other boats the direction a boat will be going.

Good to understand that it wasn't optional. I've spent plenty of time near harbors (and on real ferries) and had just assumed that the Disney ferry was blowing its horn to simulate a harbor ferry since Bay Lake seemed so placid relatively speaking.

 

[mousestruck]

I can see how the loud horns could be an annoyance. Sorry for your bad experience. We're staying in a lake view this summer with two teens, so in my case, the horns may be an advantage... could help to get them out of bed when I'm trying to rally the troops for rope drop!

 

[Kimly]

Sound machines do wonders! I downloaded a Free app, the first time we stayed at Old Key West for the first time, because everyone walkimg outside was keeping me up. I now can't sleep without one. We have stayed three times in a Poly Studio, twice with a lake view and as long as I have the sound machine on we all sleep wonderfully. We can't even hear an horns, or if we do it is not noticeable.

 

[gdrj]

I can appreciate those who are not fans of the boat horns. We actually don't mind the horns at Poly even at the Boardwalk, my wife says she enjoys the sounds. I think it is important for anyone who is going to stay at a Resort to find out the +'s and -'s of a hotel.

 

[jerseygal]

We have stayed in Tokelau and Hawaii. Is it only the Moorea building that it seems to bother.

We stayed in Tokeleau this past October and we weren't bothered by the ferry boat horns. Originally I wanted to stay in Moorea, but I am a light sleeper and was very concerned about the noise. Will request Tokealeau again this May.

 

[pangyal]

The Lakeview noise level is unreal. I found it telling that Poly was the only resort where we found medical grade earplugs in the gift shop, lol.

That being said...unbelievably, we booked the same Lakeview studio for December. The siren call of the fireworks from our balcony is just too strong. We can't sleep with noise machines either. The earplugs they sell at Poly are amazing and seem to be a good solution, though!

 

[tidefan]

My only Poly "dislike" is the lack of cover during rain. GFV, BLT, and WLV have covered walkways to the main building, but the Poly does not. Even at SSR and OKW this is minimized for us because we tend to drive and can park right in front of the units.

Other than that, we really like the units at the Poly. We are here now at Tokelau and the new pool couldn't be more convenient. I do wish they'd leave the drink station open later than 8pm, but that's still better than not having one there.

 

[freediverdude]

You can kind of limit your exposure to the elements by walking through Rarotonga. From Moorea you can walk through Tokelau and then through Rarotonga- nice little Tikiman tip!

 

[DenLo]

. . .

Other than that, we really like the units at the Poly. We are here now at Tokelau and the new pool couldn't be more convenient. I do wish they'd leave the drink station open later than 8pm, but that's still better than not having one there.

Perhaps the drink station at the Oasis pool will remain open longer. We can always hope anyway.