My opinion of the Poly-flamesuit doned!

[susy]

Well, we stayed at the Poly over Memorial Day weekend and while we really had a great time, I don't know that I would return here. It just did not seem as luxurious as some of the other resorts (including WL). It was very laid back and almost too casual for a resort whose standard rooms were at $354. That being said, we really had a great time, the convenience to the parks was HUGE plus and I especially would recommend it for families with small children. We visited the GF for dinner and that seemed more in line for the $$$. Also, the theming at the Poly may just have been lost on us, being from florida (just as it was at CBR).

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

No flames here.

As a frequent visitor to the POLY and most deluxe WDW resorts. (See Signature) I think your description of the Poly is the reason it has always been and will always be my favorite WDW resort. Very casual, great atmosphere, wonderful location, etc.

I appreciate your candor and your prespective. Isn't it great to have different resorts to choose from! We will be at the GF on July 1 for 7 nights...my DW's favorite!

Thanks for your report!

 

[septbride2002]

No flames here. I loved the Poly but I'm from the midwest - so to be surrounded by palm trees the entire trip was awesome to me. The price is steep and I doubt we will be able to afford to stay there again. I'm glad to hear the rest of your trip was great - next time ya know you prefer the WL over the Poly

~Amanda

 

[VAgal76]

No flames here, susy! My DH didn't like the theming, but I did. I hope he'll give into to me one day and let me stay. What did you think of the rooms - honestly? I don't know if they've made the new rooms available yet, but wondering what you thought of them in their current state. I saw pics of the new rooms and thought they were great, but DH is still not impressed. Geez! We really do have different taste. And all this coming from a man that is looking forward to visiting Hawaii with me in a few years. I better not tell him, he's going to see places like the poly there. Lord forbid he be surrounded by lush tropical plants, sunny beaches, etc.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

No flames here, susy! My DH didn't like the theming, but I did. I hope he'll give into to me one day and let me stay. but DH is still not impressed. Geez! We really do have different taste.

Seems like my DW and your DH have similar tastes and you and I have similar tastes!

Don't get me wrong I love the GF...will be there in 28 days...but I've Loved the Poly since I stayed there as a kid the first week it opened!

 

[susy]

The rooms were just fine and very large. I really liked the location of Samoa, which was so convenient to the the pool areas/boat dock and GCH. Dh and I have already decided that if we return it will be to the LVC.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hi Susy! Another South Floridian here, checking in! I like checking out the Poly for dinner or a drink, but I have never considered staying there...precisiely for the reason you stated. We stayed at OKW recntly, and there was NOTHING wrong with it...but I like staying at WL or AKL and being transported to another place!

I am sure the monorail was a huge convienence, but we will stick to the mods and "lower end" deluxes. More money to spend on booze and food!

 

[mlwear]

Poly..."almost too casual for a resort...". Our first stay there will be in August. What do you mean by casual. Is it a nice way of saying something else? A specific example or comparison would be great.

 

[java]

This is the one hotel that I can't get my DH to go to. We have been to Tahiti and he feels that this hotel would be a let down for us. I think it would be a fun reminder and not a disappointment. But I am trying to warm him to the idea this trip with a dinner at Kona. We'll see.... Maybe after they redo the rooms?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Poly..."almost too casual for a resort...". Our first stay there will be in August. What do you mean by casual. Is it a nice way of saying something else? A specific example or comparison would be great.

I would say "casual" as in Island feel... not "casual" as in---a euphamism.

but that is my opinion.

We watched the fireworks from the beach at Poly--PERFECT view. And I kept thinking..."wish I was staying here....wish I was staying here...wish I was staying here". No way for that wish to come through--but one day we'll be back staying at the Poly.

I've been to Hawaii--still want to go back to the Poly. Though while in Hawaii--me and my sis' kept talking about how the real thing was sooo much better than the Poly. But we were diggin' the Poly this weekend .

 

[Violetx3]

I stayed at the Poly and thought it also thought it had its pros and cons. I think the location is the best of all disney properties and the grounds are gorgeous. My picky dh and I (plus kids) enjoyed it there --loved the beach and pool. We did not feel disappointed. But... I would not stay there again until the new rooms are done. They were in desperate need of rehab, especially for the price. Luckily, I was mentally prepared thanks to the DIS.

Part of what makes this resort casual is that you don't have to go though a giant lobby and long hallways to reach the rooms or pools. Since I am from Chicago, the theme was perfect to me. I wanted the resort to look like Florida. I love the Pacific-Northwest to visit, but I thought the WL wouldn't seem like Florida to me.

 

[Katems]

Susy, were the Samoa rooms redone? I read they were redone in 2002-2003. Were the rooms clean? We head there in August.

 

[G8RFAN]

We also stayed there for the first time over the Memorial Day weekend. The green marble in the bathroom was beautiful, but other than that there is very little "posh" in the room or the hotel. However, we never view WDW hotels as posh. I don't think they even attempt to pretend that they are a Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons or Bellagio. We loved the pool. The theme through the restaurants. The gas tiki torches. The beach. Could I get some of it at the Mai Kai in Ft. Laud? Sure, but it won't have the monorails or the light parade. I would definitely stay there again, although we were able to get the room with the AP discount and I would probably make that a condition for another stay.

 

[SeaSpray]

Hi suzy

I can definitely understand why a tropical theme might not appeal to you, since you live in Florida. Being from the northeast, I LOVED CBR and when we were staying at the Grand Floridian (which we also loved), we had a couple of meals at the Polynesian, and fell in love with the feel of the place. DH, DSs, and I unanimously decided to stay there!

I think theming has a lot to do with the resorts and whether a person will prefer them over other ones.

Since I grew up at the NJ shore, I find the Boardwalk totally uninteresting to me. lol I know that's because I grew up with, and still visit every year, the same theme that the Boardwalk tries to convey, yet I can understand why some other people would love it.

Thanks for your reports, glad you had a great trip!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We stayed at the Poly back in 2002 because we wanted a deluxe on the monorail and it was the only resort open with my DH's airline employee discount. We had a conceirge room. I was not looking forward to it at all. But its funny, we loved it! I can't explain it, but we did. But we all have a different opinion. No flames here! We ate at the Kona while we were there. It was OK but give me Chef Mickeys over that anyday. Some people will say I'm crazy for saying that.

 

[imatoad]

Ya know Susy, I love the Poly, and won't stay anywhere else. however, not only will I not flame you, but I will commend you on an honest, and polite opinion, based on a first hand experience. What I don't like, is when people give opinions on something, without any personal experience, or do it in a very maligning manner. As for your stay, hey, chalk it up to experience, and that you know you don't want to stay at the Poly, check one off your list. Mostly, I'm glad you had a great trip either way.

 

[susy]

Here's an example of casual:

I felt perfectly comfortable going from my room to the pool and back again in nothing but a towel wrapped around my swimsuit (no shoes) and my Ds went back and forth just in his swimsuit (no shoes). Being casual did have its benefits, though. There were also more little kids here than I even saw at the values. Lots of crying (okay, so it is Disney). My DS (7) actually noticed it more than we did and complained that there was too much crying at Disney. If you want quiet and romance, I would ask for a remote room and spend your time at the quiet pool. We acutally saw a couple two days at the quiet pool (deep end side)-shallow end, still lots of kids. These people were relaxing and had their champagne glasses out-really cute.

 

[DisneyMim]

No flames here either. All the reasons you gave are all the reasons I LOVE the Poly. I live in NE and can never get enough of the tropical feeling. I think that's why my two favs are Poly and OKW. Different strokes. That's why Disney has so many different types of resorts. If we all loved the same ones none of us would ever get a room!!

 

[mlwear]

Here's an example of casual:

I felt perfectly comfortable going from my room to the pool and back again in nothing but a towel wrapped around my swimsuit (no shoes) and my Ds went back and forth just in his swimsuit (no shoes). Being casual did have its benefits, though. There were also more little kids here than I even saw at the values. Lots of crying (okay, so it is Disney). My DS (7) actually noticed it more than we did and complained that there was too much crying at Disney. If you want quiet and romance, I would ask for a remote room and spend your time at the quiet pool. We acutally saw a couple two days at the quiet pool (deep end side)-shallow end, still lots of kids. These people were relaxing and had their champagne glasses out-really cute.

Thanks thats what I was trying to find out. I, too, appreciate your politely put opinion. I just kind of want to know what to expect. Honestly, if it were just DH and myself, that might be a little too casual for me. But, with two boys, I think it will be nice to relax and just go with the flow (sometimes hard for me to do), but I won't have to nag them about typical stuff that kids do. I hope that is coming out right. My boys are very well mannered and polite and that isn't something you just take on and off, but a lot of times I ffind myself expecting them to be little adults. I know DH and I will have a great time, but this vacation is planned mostly for them. They are old enough to remember this and I want to be really fun and special. And it is their first trip to Disney.

One other ? -- how are the beds? Comfy, somewhat or might as well sleep on the floor? Or a scale from 1-10. I like a soft bed, personally.

 

[mommykds]

Susy, no flames here either.

The theme or atmosphere at the Poly was "lost" on us too. Just wasn't our cup of tea.