Official Poly construction update thread **updated video page 103(2/17/15)**

[Tinkerbellie16]

Loudest noise today was a lawn mower Construction is NOT impacting our stay. It is impacting some of the 'view' as we walked to TTC but we aren't walking there to admire foliage.

 

[Tikiman]

Even though this is a Poly thread, I just wanted to add something.
GF is not stuffy. Some ppl have the perception that it's stuffy because of the ornate way it looks, but I can assure you..I have stayed there with 2 toddlers, who flushed a brand new sock down the toilet when we were staying in the RPC CL & the toilet clogged & overflowed..I was mortified, but the GF was awesome about it.

This is WDW. Kids are kids & it's expected. The rooms are much larger in any of the resorts around the monorail. Don't rule anything out. Change can be good

The GF room I was in was 403 sqft (smaller than the smallest Polynesian room of 415) and the standard GF room (not including deluxe or suites) is 440 sq ft. More than 40% of the Polynesian rooms are 465 sq ft.

 

[Tikiman]

I have called the Poly direct number and if they were switching me to CRO I will eat my hat. It was strange when the person I originally talked to put the phone down to go and look and see if she could see the sign. When she came back on she said yes she could see it but couldn't leave her post long enough to go see what it said and she switched me to the marina. Why would a CRO person go through all of that?? Steve keeps saying you will only get CRO if you call that number but I seriously do not think that is true

Don't get me wrong I love Steve and what he does for us but on this I think he is incorrect.

I’m just telling you what a front desk manager and every front desk CM I have asked has told me. They said that if someone told me they had a number that called the actual front desk then they are lying to me or they believe it was the front desk. Even to get to the back office (which is possible) you have to be forwarded because those numbers are not public. If front desk managers and staff do not know how things work then a lot of my information must be wrong.

I have heard stories that they try to be very convincing at making you believe they are at the resort.

 

[momtobrynncess]

This is my first post! We stayed at the Poly the first time for our honeymoon in 1974. We've loved it ever since but over the 26 or so times we've been back to Disney, we've stayed at the Yacht or Beach Club more often, especially lately - can't beat that walk to Epcot. But, next May is our 40th anniversary , so without question, we have to be at the Poly for that. I couldn't believe that I got an email pin for 35% off a week or so ago, so I don't have to sweat it out waiting for a discount. We are booked for 9 nights at garden view, Club level.

So, like I said, I really want to celebrate our 40th at the Poly but my husband is a little bummed about all the talk of construction. I think Steve and others have said that they wouldn't be doing everything all at once, right? We aren't big pool people so if the volcano pool is under construction, I figure we can just go sit by the beach on the other side of the resort or by our quiet pool. For once I'm glad I can't justify the money for LV, so anything going on to the right shouldn't bother us. (we always get 3rd floor).

My biggest concern is GCH. But we've been to the poly before when it's been going through renovation - you just don't hang out there as much. It really doesn't seem like they'd be closing Kona Cafe in May and that's the thing I care about most there. It's one of my favorite restaurants on the whole property. Also, we haven't been to Disney in a couple of year and I want to spend a lot of time at MK with all the new Fantasy Land to explore.

Almost 6 months away and I'm so excited already! I'm very glad for this thread so I can keep checking on the latest developments!

Welcome!!!!!

I got the same pin code as well and booked right away. We are a bit concerned as well. Dd10 and I had a long talk last night about all the changes. She has an equal say in where we stay. The resort is a HUGE part of the stay for us, and she (me too) is absolutely IN LOVE with Poly. We were there two months ago, and we did not get to stay there in 2012 after having spent four years in a row there. Going back this past August was really, really special for her, and she said it made her appreciate the resort that much more. I have to say I feel the same way.

When I told her the Volcano Pool as well as parts of the GCH may be down, she was quite upset. A daily swim is a must for us, and a slide is a must for dd10. The quiet pool wasn't quite cutting it for her. I told her that I read here of the possibility of using the pool at GF, and she felt a little better about having that option. She wasn't all that concerned if Ohana and Kona were down, as long as Capt. Cook's was open. Go figure.

We talked about the possibility of staying at either a different resort on the monorail, or possibly YC or BC because of SAB. She LOVES being on the monorail, which I get. For us, the monorail is part of the magic. She's not interested in GF, and we have stayed at CR many, many times. For me, CR would be ok, but we both are in love with the atmosphere at Poly.

So, we will likely tough it out just to be at Poly. I told her we will keep our eyes on what is going on. The bottom line for us is we are Poly people through and through (as another poster said), and we will likely deal with a few inconveniences to be at our favorite resort.

Welcome again!!!

 

[Mousemommy1]

Tikiman/Steve reporting on FB that the pool renovations are said to take 8-12 months.

 

[basketlacey]

Tikiman/Steve reporting on FB that the pool renovations are said to take 8-12 months.

This is what I am afraid of - I don't want to be there without the pool. I can deal with the walls. Did he say when it is expected to start?

 

[samnbilly]

The GF room I was in was 403 sqft (smaller than the smallest Polynesian room of 415) and the standard GF room (not including deluxe or suites) is 440 sq ft. More than 40% of the Polynesian rooms are 465 sq ft.

Just to clarify, I wasn't comparing the sizes of Poly vs GF rooms. I was saying that the rooms on the monorail are some of the larger rooms. I've stayed in BC many times, & those rooms are definitely smaller. CR rooms are big too.

 

[Mousemommy1]

This is what I am afraid of - I don't want to be there without the pool. I can deal with the walls. Did he say when it is expected to start?

I guess the sources were saying March....

 

[CT Disney]

Tikiman/Steve reporting on FB that the pool renovations are said to take 8-12 months.

I wonder how the folks with GF reservations are feeling about this. I'm assuming their themed pools will be pretty crowded for the next year or so with the Poly people using those facilities.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I wonder how the folks with GF reservations are feeling about this. I'm assuming their themed pools will be pretty crowded for the next year or so with the Poly people using those facilities.

I have a GF reservation, but I am not worried. GF has two good sized pools, and I am going at the end of August, which tends to be slower anyway. As long as I have a pool to go to, I'm happy.

What I didn't want was to make a Poly reservation and have to end up at the GF anyway...so I just booked GF.

 

[hollygolitely93]

Here now in Tokelau. Green fences are up along the beach toward Tahiti and near the path to the TTC - that's it for construction that we notice which is barely anything!

Great! We go in two weeks and wanted Tokelau...do you suggest we ask for a certain side or anything? We would like decent views but noise is more of the concern (napping toddler).

 

[Tikiman]

Just to clarify, I wasn't comparing the sizes of Poly vs GF rooms. I was saying that the rooms on the monorail are some of the larger rooms. I've stayed in BC many times, & those rooms are definitely smaller. CR rooms are big too.

Good point. Yes the rooms at those deluxes are much bigger than rooms at all the other deluxe resorts with WL and AKL being the smallest.

 

[SlightlyocdDisneyfan]

You can get Poly reservations for a lot less than that with the discounts, Personally I don't have a problem taking a launch to another resort to use the pool the pool is only a tiny part of our vacation. I stayed at CR twice an would not recommend it. Too sterile, too much concrete and reminds me of an airport.

Another thought about using the GF pool while staying at the Poly... we were just there, staying at Tuvalu, and the walk to GF is surprisingly close. If you happen to be in a longhouse on that side of the Poly, your walk to the GF pool wouldn't be too long (definitely not worth taking a boat).

 

[karriealex]

no not that night (Monday before Thanksgiving) are eating at Kona for breakfast our last morning! ....thought anyone could go out to the beach we are all staying on property at different resorts.

If it is super crowded often they will check resort keys and if you are not staying there you are asked to leave. There actually is a sign to the effect that the pool and beach are for resort guests of the Polynesian only. I don't think you will have a problem and you could always say you were going to Kona afterward as you often don't need an actual ADR for that. I am not a big one for getting upset over people coming to the beach to watch Wishes. My buggaboo is the pool.

 

[karriealex]

Another thought about using the GF pool while staying at the Poly... we were just there, staying at Tuvalu, and the walk to GF is surprisingly close. If you happen to be in a longhouse on that side of the Poly, your walk to the GF pool wouldn't be too long (definitely not worth taking a boat).

I have to agree with this.

 

[karriealex]

I wonder how the folks with GF reservations are feeling about this. I'm assuming their themed pools will be pretty crowded for the next year or so with the Poly people using those facilities.

Probably the same way the Poly people felt when the GF pool was down for many months.

 

[karriealex]

I’m just telling you what a front desk manager and every front desk CM I have asked has told me. They said that if someone told me they had a number that called the actual front desk then they are lying to me or they believe it was the front desk. Even to get to the back office (which is possible) you have to be forwarded because those numbers are not public. If front desk managers and staff do not know how things work then a lot of my information must be wrong.

I have heard stories that they try to be very convincing at making you believe they are at the resort.

Steve I know you keep telling us this but there have been just too many instances that I have called and things done and people getting on the phone in seconds for this to be true, If they are at CRO they are not going to waste the time that woman did with me just for appearances. They are far too busy to play games like that.

 

[Tikiman]

Steve I know you keep telling us this but there have been just too many instances that I have called and things done and people getting on the phone in seconds for this to be true, If they are at CRO they are not going to waste the time that woman did with me just for appearances. They are far too busy to play games like that.

I have no proof who you spoke to I only have the information that came from me being at the Polynesian and talking to the people that work at the front desk and in the offices behind the front desk. There is no possibility that all those people lied to me about this information so the only other explanation that supports my information being incorrect is they are all misinformed including the manager.

You must consider that you cannot see who you were speaking with or what they did when they got off the phone. They could have called someone at Polynesian Recreation or even forwarded you to someone there. That is very possible but having a phone number that calls the front desk I am told is not possible. I will have to stick with the information that I am given from people that work there.

 

[mommy2mrb]

If it is super crowded often they will check resort keys and if you are not staying there you are asked to leave. There actually is a sign to the effect that the pool and beach are for resort guests of the Polynesian only. I don't think you will have a problem and you could always say you were going to Kona afterward as you often don't need an actual ADR for that. I am not a big one for getting upset over people coming to the beach to watch Wishes. My buggaboo is the pool.

thanks for the info! I hear you about the pools, if you want to use that specific pool you'd better cough up the $$$ to stay at that resort! never knew the beach was just for resort guests, since I've read that a number of people like to go watch Wishes from the beach and then head back to their resorts.

 

[PolyAddict]

Just called about Luau Beach for May 2014. They said it would be open for the vow renewal. Now i am debating staying Poly club again. We have YC club booked but really want to stay where renewal will be. I am driving myself crazy! Someone look into a crystal ball and tell me what im in for May 17-23 2014???!