News Round Up

[Andrew015]

The Polynesian lobby walls are down and the waterfall is gone for good

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2014/12/photos-new-lobby-at-disneys-polynesian-village-resort-unveiled/

I think I'd prefer that the construction walls remained up. At least I could pretend that the beautiful masterpiece of a tropical waterfall still remained hidden behind the walls. There's no argument strong enough to defend this as being anything other than a true and utter disappointment in every possible sense of the word.

 

[rteetz]

I think I'd prefer that the construction walls remained up. At least I could pretend that the beautiful masterpiece of a tropical waterfall still remained hidden behind the walls. There's no argument strong enough to defend this as being anything other than a true and utter disappointment in every possible sense of the word.

While its not a great replacement based on what has been said its what they had to do. The old waterfall was in great need of repair and I think also had asbestos or something like that and it needed to be removed. I get that but I think disney still could've done better.

 

[jcnewton]

I think I'd prefer that the construction walls remained up. At least I could pretend that the beautiful masterpiece of a tropical waterfall still remained hidden behind the walls. There's no argument strong enough to defend this as being anything other than a true and utter disappointment in every possible sense of the word.

This. I remember seeing the fountain for the first time and thinking the Poly was a special place. For me, the character of the lobby is all but gone.

 

[Cais]

I actually really like the new lobby. For the maybe twenty or thirty times I went through that lobby I don't remember ever actually seeing the waterfall. It's just a bundle of green that got in the way of me getting to dole whips, or ohana. The new lobby feels much more open and not as trapped as the old one made me feel.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I like the new one better, too. It is authentic and beautiful while providing a lot more open space. The fake indoor waterfall was cool in it's day, but was a gimmick. I think this will be better and will come to be loved. Maybe they will put another or bigger waterfall outdoors, that would be more appropriate.

 

[rteetz]

I like the new one better, too. It is authentic and beautiful while providing a lot more open space. The fake indoor waterfall was cool in it's day, but was a gimmick. I think this will be better and will come to be loved. Maybe they will put another or bigger waterfall outdoors, that would be more appropriate.

If they did a new waterfall outside I think that would be great as well but I think the plans don't have that in it. I do like the more open feel but I wish the fountain was a little more prominent it's just a bit too small.

 

[phillipsjp2003]

Where I do think the pictures of the new lobby look nice, I have to say I loved the water feature. The Polynesian was always one of my favorite places to visit and for me the water feature was a key part. I guess it has gone the way of Mr. Toad, Main Street Bakery, and many other parts of Disney history that I will remember fondly.

 

[rteetz]

Most WDW locations will accept contactless payments by Dec. 24th
This includes Apple Pay, Google wallet, etc.

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2014/12/contactless-payment-available-at-wdw.html

 

[rteetz]

Sanaa lounge will be relocated during the holidays to accommodate more guests

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2014/12/animal-kingdom-lodge-news-sanaa-lounge.html

 

[Andrew015]

While its not a great replacement based on what has been said its what they had to do. The old waterfall was in great need of repair and I think also had asbestos or something like that and it needed to be removed. I get that but I think disney still could've done better.

Quite a few rumors were circulating as to why the original was removed, but Tikiman has dispelled most of them as being just that... rumors. He claims that Asbestos is NOT the reason why it was removed. I'm hoping he shares with us the true reason, but apparently, he has been asked to guard the real reason closely.

 

[rteetz]

Quite a few rumors were circulating as to why the original was removed, but Tikiman has dispelled most of them as being just that... rumors. He claims that Asbestos is NOT the reason why it was removed. I'm hoping he shares with us the true reason, but apparently, he has been asked to guard the real reason closely.

Yes I follow Tikiman a lot and he said here were multiple reasons and he hasn't said much about them other than people need to move on and get used to the new stuff. I don't think its bad just a little small.

 

[rteetz]

Frozen Fun is now open at Disneyland resort

http://micechat.com/90350-frozen-fun-disneyland-2/

 

[Andrew015]

I don't think its bad just a little small.

No, it's not "Bad". But it looks no different than say a Marriot. This is Disney... shouldn't we expect to be "blown away" with the Imagineering and theming??? Compared to what was previously there (and such an iconic piece of the resort at that), they've done an incredible disservice to the Poly. And by looking at some of the other changes that have occurred around the resort - the Dolewhip stand that is essentially a plain, concrete pad with cheap patio furniture and the 2nd floor gift shop that was once Polynesian themed and is now bland, just to name a few, the trend is starting to become concerning. Tikiman keeps telling us that "good things are coming", but I'm yet to see one positive change that I feel is better than what we previously had before.

 

[rteetz]

No, it's not "Bad". But it looks no different than say a Marriot. This is Disney... shouldn't we expect to be "blown away" with the Imagineering and theming??? Compared to what was previously there (and such an iconic piece of the resort at that), they've done an incredible disservice to the Poly. And by looking at some of the other changes that have occurred around the resort - the Dolewhip stand that is essentially a plain, concrete pad with cheap patio furniture and the 2nd floor gift shop that was once Polynesian themed and is now bland, just to name a few, the trend is starting to become concerning. Tikiman keeps telling us that "good things are coming", but I'm yet to see one positive change that I feel is better than what we previously had before.

I agree but this just represents disney overall today. It's generic you can buy the same stuf in an MK shop that you can at a AK one or a BC one, it's all the same. NFL for example was a nice addition but nothing there wows or makes me want to wait in a 90 minute line. I think the biggest thing left at the poly is the pool and that's just going to be a rock formation. The bungalows look nice as well but I'll never be able to afford to stay in the, based on what tikiman has said they will cost. When was the last time disney did something that wowed? Im hoping avatar does but there are doubts there as well.

 

[rteetz]

Kongstruction update

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2014/12/king-kong-construction-update-quiet.html

 

[Figmentforever24]

I agree but this just represents disney overall today. It's generic you can buy the same stuf in an MK shop that you can at a AK one or a BC one, it's all the same. NFL for example was a nice addition but nothing there wows or makes me want to wait in a 90 minute line. I think the biggest thing left at the poly is the pool and that's just going to be a rock formation. The bungalows look nice as well but I'll never be able to afford to stay in the, based on what tikiman has said they will cost. When was the last time disney did something that wowed? Im hoping avatar does but there are doubts there as well.

Depends what your looking for in New Fantasyland. The land was built for capacity issues and anything beyond that is simple rumor. The land has a circular feel to it so guest can enter one side and leave the other...no bottlenecks no stops. To put some major dark rides there would have only made that area of the park worse and would have destroyed everything the land was made for. This is why Little Mermaid is an omnimover and the Seven Dwarf Mine Train is so fast and has such high capacity. It is all about pumping guest through. So your right nothing worth standing in line for 90 minutes for....but was that the point? Also the waterfall in the Poly...I really don't care why they did it...they really didn't need to do it. The new look isn't horrible, but there are at least three resorts off property with huge waterfalls in the lobby....they don't have problems.

 

[Reddog1134]

Quite a few rumors were circulating as to why the original was removed, but Tikiman has dispelled most of them as being just that... rumors. He claims that Asbestos is NOT the reason why it was removed. I'm hoping he shares with us the true reason, but apparently, he has been asked to guard the real reason closely.

I thought Tikiman had said one of the reasons was the broken filtration system. Apparently the fountain used the same water as the features outside the building. The filtration system wasn't filtering the water properly and had the potential to release harmful bacteria into the lobby.

Also the waterfall in the Poly...I really don't care why they did it...they really didn't need to do it. The new look isn't horrible, but there are at least three resorts off property with huge waterfalls in the lobby....they don't have problems.

As it is with most things (especially when it comes to Disney) it came down to money. From what Tikiman said, it sounded like they could have fixed the filtration system and rebuilt the waterfall, but it would cost too much money because of how the the system was imbedded in the foundation of the building.

 

[mom2rtk]

As it is with most things (especially when it comes to Disney) it came down to money. From what Tikiman said, it sounded like they could have fixed the filtration system and rebuilt the waterfall, but it would cost too much money because of how the the system was imbedded in the foundation of the building.

I'm having Yeti Deja Vu.

 

[rteetz]

Depends what your looking for in New Fantasyland. The land was built for capacity issues and anything beyond that is simple rumor. The land has a circular feel to it so guest can enter one side and leave the other...no bottlenecks no stops. To put some major dark rides there would have only made that area of the park worse and would have destroyed everything the land was made for. This is why Little Mermaid is an omnimover and the Seven Dwarf Mine Train is so fast and has such high capacity. It is all about pumping guest through. So your right nothing worth standing in line for 90 minutes for....but was that the point? Also the waterfall in the Poly...I really don't care why they did it...they really didn't need to do it. The new look isn't horrible, but there are at least three resorts off property with huge waterfalls in the lobby....they don't have problems.

Money is an issue with everything for disney. They look to spend as little as possible. the mine train was cut twice until the final track layout. They kept making it shorter. I'm not opposed to high capacity attractions I think NFL is beautifully themed but the attractions still could've been better. With the new lobby I like the new open feel but the fountain just doesn't look all that great. As someone else said on a different board its just the good ceremonial house not the great ceremonial house.

 

[rteetz]

MK Watercraft Service change for Dec. 30th and 31st.

Due to the firework shows during these nights the watercraft service will stop between 11 PM and 12:30 AM. There will be additional bus service during this time.

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