My thoughts on our first Poly stay

[Tikiman]

I totally agree that it is magical to see anything extra in the room and knowing someone took the effort since it is not something they are tasked with doing. Our trip in 2000 and 2001 had just about every day with something special in the room including some free gifts the housekeepers bought for us but than in 2002 until last years trip there has never been anything in the room from housekeeping but we had no problem with that and it did not make our visit any less special. I can see both sides of it. I understand how some say it is just a towel and does not make or break the trip and others who are very disappointed when they never get one. I guess my main point I am trying to make is that it really has nothing to do with the Polynesian as a resort (or any other resort at WDW) and should not be a reflection of the stay but I have no problem with someone reporting that they did not experience any and were disappointed.

I have gotten an email once that said that everything was great at the Polynesian but since they did not get a towel animal even after leaving a large tip that they would not return to the resort. That is the type of thing that drives me crazy but than again lets not turn this wonderful report into a towel animal discussion. I appreciate the effort rileyroosmom took to write such a detailed report and I think it has great information.

Aloha

Steve

 

[Tikiman]

You know I think rileyroosmom makes a good point that I might have missed. When kids experience the special in room surprises they are than looking for what will be new the next time and I am sure they find it harder to understand why they are not there this time. I can see how it can be a bad experience to see the disappointment in kids and it would be hard to explain why there was something before and not now.

 

[DisOrBust]

A good honest report! I totally AGREE about the quick food servce at the deluxes. I also thought CC was bad until I stayed at WL and roaring forks is really BAD. Not to mention the complete lack of quikbites at YBC and BW.

IMHO I "think" WDW recoginized this fact when the designed AKL. The Mara, for us is a perfect quick bite. Many of the items are also on the buffet at BOma's. When you have young kids its difficult to be constantly eating at sit downs when all they want to do is graze!!

All the resorts have pros and cons...its what works for your needs at the time. Personally we loved the Poly but won't be back until my 3yo can handle the dark slide. It would be world war III for her to watch her sisters go without her,lol!!

ALoha! Steve

sue

 

[Lives4Disney]

You know I think rileyroosmom makes a good point that I might have missed. When kids experience the special in room surprises they are than looking for what will be new the next time and I am sure they find it harder to understand why they are not there this time. I can see how it can be a bad experience to see the disappointment in kids and it would be hard to explain why there was something before and not now.

Ya, a LARGE part of why we return to WDW time after time is we love to see the joy on our kids' faces over even little things. It fills my heart!! If they are happy, I am HAPPY! It doesn't take much to put a smile on their faces and the extra LITTLE stuff can make a big difference to them.

Lives4Disney

 

[MOMOFMNM]

being a newbie I am glad that Steve did point this out to me because I almost expected it!! Now I know not too and to be extra suprized if we get some!!! We will be at CR, do any of you have any experience w this resort?
Thanks

 

[POLY1985]

We stayed at Samoa (room 2414) on our honeymoon in 1985. I had requested a "water view" and received it. However, if I had known better I would have taken the 1st floor with a patio or the 3rd floor with a balcony. We got our view but had to stay inside to use it!

We stayed at WL in 2003 and we noticed how early the pool bar closed along with no lifeguards. In prior stays at CBR and ASMo pool bars stayed over until late and there were usually lifeguards on duty. I had read somewhere that since the Value resorts only have pool bars (no inside lounges) that is why they stay open longer. I remember being at ASMo in September and watching Monday night football with my husband at the pool bar while the kids swam.

I also wish the deluxe resorts would have a food court as an alternate eating choice. I refuse to do a sit down breakfast - I'm in too much of a hurry to get to the parks to waste time on food. The little snack bars are too limited.

As for the towel animals, the only place we ever got them was at WL and we had a new one each day of our stay. We had some really elaborate ones made with my sons beannie babies including a pool with a sliding board made out of towels.

I've stayed at every level of the resorts including the campground and they all have their pro's and con's. We will be going back to WL next May because I think it's the most scenic and my family loved it there - but I do miss the food courts.

 

[swilphil]

Being a SAHM who has had to save save and save money for this trip, a towel animal would make our stay feel more special, and personalized you know???? I am a firm believer in going above and beyond and appreciate anyone willing to do the same for me...I won't expect the animals for my trip but it would be magical....IMHO It would just be one more reason to justify not going offsite at the Travelodge!!! and no I am not comparing that to a Disney resort!!! Just saying it is the magic some of us are looking for.

I'm a SAHM also on a limited budget. I hit the Disney Store clearance rack, as well as Target and Walmart, to stock up on Disney souvenirs in the months leading up to our trip. Then when we were at the CR, I told the kids each morning that the "Mickey Fairy" had left them a present. They were more thrilled with that then they would have been with a dog made out of a washcloth.

The CR and Poly cost what they do because of the location and the size of the rooms. They are huge when compared to the values/mods. I'm not bothered by the small food court because we keep lots of food in the room fridge and it's so easy to go over to MK for a hot dog or breakfast at the bakery. They also have small food courts because each resort has two full-service restaurants, which are some of the best on WDW property. I was a little surprised during our CR stay that we shared the bus with the Poly and GF, but we still saved more time in the long run because we walked to MK and monorailed it to Epcot, and that is more fun than a bus anyway.

I can see people not liking CR or Poly because of the theming or cost. If people are going to find fault with lack of towel animals, housekeepers who don't smile at you or long lines at the pool slide, I'd bet they'd have even more complaints if they stayed at the mods or values.

 

[swilphil]

being a newbie I am glad that Steve did point this out to me because I almost expected it!! Now I know not too and to be extra suprized if we get some!!! We will be at CR, do any of you have any experience w this resort?
Thanks

If you are staying in the tower, definitely request a castle view. If you are staying in the wing, I'd request a ground floor because it has a patio. The other levels don't. The tower has a fourth floor observation deck that you can go on to watch the fireworks and here the same music they play in the park.

You'll probably take the monorail often. Ask the attendent if you can ride up front. I'm sure your kids will love it there.

The CR arcade is lots of fun, even for very small children.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

Sherri that is an awesome idea...as a matter of fact, I just saw tons of Princess stuff at Big Lots today (I also found 75 cent boxes of Boo Berry Cereal and Fruity Pebbles so I stocked up!!) I think I will do as you suggest and leave them little gifts, that will also eliminate most of the "I want this toy" cenereo at the shops...we will be in the wing so I did request a ground floor room...we are not big eaters so I am planning doing cereals and poptarts in the room...we are flying though so I will have to get milk at the shop there in the resort. I am probably going to pack a bag with non perishables like cereal boxes, etc in a carry on (nothing too big or heavy) we are going only for 5 days this first time...

 

[skiwee1]

I have found (just by walking through and checking out the food courts and staying at some of them) that it seems the Value and Moderate resorts have better selection of food and bigger food courts (counter service) than the Deluxe resorts. Which I do not mind, but I just happen to notice that. I guess they figure if you can afford to stay at a Deluxe you can afford more sit-down meals. Who knows!! I am fine with it though, my kids are not too picky when it comes to eating at disney....only at disney can I get them to try new things!!

Glad that in general you had a nice stay at the Poly...we are headed there next week...Yikes!!!!

I stay at the Poly all the time and think the selection is huge! They had salads, sandwiches, yogurts, bagels, fruit salads, pizza, burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, BBQ chicken sandwiches, a daily special, donuts, muffins, pastries, jello, puddings, ice cream, and MUCH MORE! I don't know what else is left to want! LOL! We only do lunch or quick breakfast if we are hanging out at the pool. Other then that we prefer a nice sit down dinner somewhere. I noticed the CRB food court was huge but not to our liking. It was sort of overkill for us.

 

[susy]

This thread has turned out to be really great. When we go to WDW is just for a few days at a time (DH can't get away from work much), so we pretty much do the parks that are close to the hotel we are at. At the Poly, we just did the MK and Epcot, so did not experience the buses. Last year at the BC, we did MGM and Epcot.

I really did like the Poly, but it just wasn't "fancy" enough for what I want in a deluxe. If you are lookingn for a laid back, tropical atmsophere,however, look no further-this place is definitely that. Watching the EWP and fireworks from the beach whiel the kids are playing is beyond magical.....

Steve-I wonder if you know the whole reason behind the "no hot tub". Can't they put one in over by the the quiet pool?

I think we will definitely come back one day, but not unless it's LVC-DH and I agree on that one.

 

[Tikiman]

Suzy,

Well I remember back when they were showing me the artist rendering of the new pool that is there now and there was mention that a hot tub was going in but that became the one corner of the pool with the bubble jets and that is where the pools heated water comes in so they called it a “warm water area” The area is not nearly as warm as a hot tub so I think someone looking for that would be disappointed. We talked about why there was not one after the new pool opened and the response I got was something along the lines with Disney Management not wanting to design in hot tubs for the new pools (GF and Polynesian at that time) because of the maintenance issue but no more details than that.

I know the new GM there has questioned why they do not have one and considered finding a way to add one but I would not hold my breath about that. I will say that I never saw it as a problem myself because it is warm out even at night when we are there so the pool temp is perfect. Also at every other resort I stayed there and it had a hot tub I have never found a time where I ever wanted to go in and a few times I considered it they were full of people (what I call human soup). I do realize that many love them and that is why I feel it is one of the biggest issues at the Polynesian so maybe someday.

 

[susy]

Mmmmm...so does the new pool at the GF not have a hot tub??? we really liked it over there....

 

[Tikiman]

The new one does not but I believe the other one does.

 

[SeaSpray]

Mmmmm...so does the new pool at the GF not have a hot tub??? we really liked it over there....

There's a fairly large hot tub adjacent to the older "quiet" pool at the Grand Floridian. While I enjoyed it once or twice while we were staying there, I am inclined to feel the way Steve feels; I really don't need a hot tub while on vacation. I only enjoy being in a hot tub for a very short period of time, so the absence of one doesn't matter to me at all.