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

[dobbsjd]

Hi Pixarmom! What CL "view" did you guys book for your short April stay? Tikiman's site is saying GV is being moved to face the construction Lagoon side. We are Poly veterans & have a GV CL room booked for mid May. Construction view is NOT what I want to be looking at & the (sour) CM at CR assured me at booking no changes were made to room designation related to construction. I think she may have been fibbing a little bit.... Thanks in advance for your help!!

We stayed Poly CL earlier this week, and it's tough to describe. At times (like when we first drove in, when we walked into the lounge or walking to TTC) it was completely obvious and a little distracting. At other times, it wasn't noticeable. When actually sitting in the lounge, for example, we started to forget about it. And we could not see it from the pool. It was great for a short stay and because we're relatively frequent guests with APs. But for a once-a-year Disney vacation (or less frequent), I'd choose another resort.

Our 14-year-old loves Poly so much that he refuses to acknowledge the construction and would stay there in January if he could! But it will be too much for us then, so we'll split our stay between GF/BWI instead of Poly/BWI.

The CM who took us back to Hawaii didn't report on the timetable for the construction - just that it would start soon. He said the volcano pool was only undergoing a refurb, but that the volcano would remain, but that's entirely contrary to other reports, so I told our kids not to get too excited about that statement! The waterfall was in place on Tuesday evening (4/1/14)

I'll post photos as soon as I upload them to photobucket!

 

[Sue M]

Pixarmom great photos! Can't wait for 2 weeks in August even if the pool is closed. I guess I can live with being shuttled to GF. I requested Fiji or Aotearoa to be away from construction. I love Tokelau but not for this trip.

 

[pixarmom]

Hi Pixarmom! What CL "view" did you guys book for your short April stay? Tikiman's site is saying GV is being moved to face the construction Lagoon side. We are Poly veterans & have a GV CL room booked for mid May. Construction view is NOT what I want to be looking at & the (sour) CM at CR assured me at booking no changes were made to room designation related to construction. I think she may have been fibbing a little bit.... Thanks in advance for your help!!

We booked garden view club level, and requested a balcony. That's exactly what we received - yay! I read that some of the GV guests were "upgraded" to the lagoon/construction side, but we were not. Our GV was entirely covered in tree branches, which was fine for our short stay. I've been spoiled by my "3rd floor, facing volcano pool" garden views in Samoa! As much as I enjoy those, I really appreciated the convenience of staying in Hawaii and the club lounge!

Pixarmom great photos! Can't wait for 2 weeks in August even if the pool is closed. I guess I can live with being shuttled to GF. I requested Fiji or Aotearoa to be away from construction. I love Tokelau but not for this trip.

Hi Sue!!! We were shuttled from BWI to BC last year while the Luna Park pool was down, and vice versa in a previous year when the jib slide was down, so I know it can be fun to participate in authorized "pool hopping!" Would love to hear what you think of the GF pools - we're staying there in January and looking forward to it!

 

[Sue M]

We booked garden view club level, and requested a balcony. That's exactly what we received - yay! I read that some of the GV guests were "upgraded" to the lagoon/construction side, but we were not. Our GV was entirely covered in tree branches, which was fine for our short stay. I've been spoiled by my "3rd floor, facing volcano pool" garden views in Samoa! As much as I enjoy those, I really appreciated the convenience of staying in Hawaii and the club lounge!



Hi Sue!!! We were shuttled from BWI to BC last year while the Luna Park pool was down, and vice versa in a previous year when the jib slide was down, so I know it can be fun to participate in authorized "pool hopping!" Would love to hear what you think of the GF pools - we're staying there in January and looking forward to it!

We stayed at GF/YC split last August. Loved the pools. Beach pool was our fav. Good slide. And enjoyed being able to look out at lagoon.
For little ones the Alice in Wonderland slips area is so cute. Hot tub is by Courtyard pool, and our room overlooked the pool. The afternoon pool party is by the courtyard pool. Loved GF. Try to catch the parasol parade!

 

[katiebee]

Thanks to all of you for the info and pictures in this thread! I posted yesterday requesting info about Poly so we could decide if we should split our trip or not and all of the info in this thread really helps us to make a decision!

 

[Masonmj84]

Does anyone have an idea of when the construction on the water feature will begin?

We're going to be there in a few weeks and if they're going to put construction walls around the water feature before we get there, I wish they'd just do it already.

Keeping my hopes up to see it one more time only to put the walls up at the last minute is just cruel.

 

[dizzyinwdw]

I would be grateful for any input. I was thinking of switching from VWL to Poly-CL to surprise my mother for her birthday. We just got back from Disney and while we were at MK she wistfully referred to our past Poly stay ( we were at AKV this time). I am looking at the last weekend of August for 2-3 nights. However it seems the pool area will be closed and all other construction will probably be in full swing. I will have my 2 boys aged 8&4 with me plus Mom, so the closed pool is a huge concern. Should I consider Poly or keep WL? My mother really isn't into the WL theme or CR, so maybe GF as another option? I wouldn't be able to swing RPC at GF; is Poly-CL worth the construction ( we've only stayed non-CL there) or maybe GF is a better choice? TIA.

 

[maiapapaya]

I would be grateful for any input. I was thinking of switching from VWL to Poly-CL to surprise my mother for her birthday. We just got back from Disney and while we were at MK she wistfully referred to our past Poly stay ( we were at AKV this time). I am looking at the last weekend of August for 2-3 nights. However it seems the pool area will be closed and all other construction will probably be in full swing. I will have my 2 boys aged 8&4 with me plus Mom, so the closed pool is a huge concern. Should I consider Poly or keep WL? My mother really isn't into the WL theme or CR, so maybe GF as another option? I wouldn't be able to swing RPC at GF; is Poly-CL worth the construction ( we've only stayed non-CL there) or maybe GF is a better choice? TIA.

We have made a fall stay at the Poly our family vacation for the last five years, however we ended up changing our reservation for this fall. While we did't mind the construction that had started with our visit last year, the idea of construction walls and the mess & noise associated with pool construction right in the centre of the resort was too much for us, when we could be staying at a resort with no construction for the same price. We have changed to GF. The rooms there are currently undergoing a refurb and I believe they should all be done by August (here's a link to some pics http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=50728384&postcount=2974 ) While we have stayed CL in the past at Poly we did not book CL at GF. We have enjoyed having the lounge with the Poly CL, but right now it has a view of all of the DVC construction (the site may not be such an eyesore by August since they are almost finished erecting the shells of the villas). Another thought about Poly CL. When we booked our BB last fall the only room category that was available at the Poly was CL GV. We were suspicious that Disney thinks people may not book what were previously desirable rooms in the LV & TPV CL categories with the construction. They have changed many of those rooms to GV now and we were concerned that they are trying to fill those rooms by offering GV CL discounts, therefore possibly making Hawaii as close to capacity as they can. Just our theory, but the lounge isn't too enjoyable when it's packed with people. Just my 2 cents, but if your mother is having fond memories of your last Poly trip it definitely isn't going to be the same this August

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

Give it to me straight. Thinking about the Poly in January for Marathon weekend. Is the resort still going to be a mess?

We stayed at WL last week and in our travels around the resort, we saw how awful the construction was at the Poly. Will the bulk of the work be done by Jan, with exception of DVC stuff??

 

[Sue M]

We have made a fall stay at the Poly our family vacation for the last five years, however we ended up changing our reservation for this fall. While we did't mind the construction that had started with our visit last year, the idea of construction walls and the mess & noise associated with pool construction right in the centre of the resort was too much for us, when we could be staying at a resort with no construction for the same price. We have changed to GF. The rooms there are currently undergoing a refurb and I believe they should all be done by August (here's a link to some pics http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=50728384&postcount=2974 ) While we have stayed CL in the past at Poly we did not book CL at GF. We have enjoyed having the lounge with the Poly CL, but right now it has a view of all of the DVC construction (the site may not be such an eyesore by August since they are almost finished erecting the shells of the villas). Another thought about Poly CL. When we booked our BB last fall the only room category that was available at the Poly was CL GV. We were suspicious that Disney thinks people may not book what were previously desirable rooms in the LV & TPV CL categories with the construction. They have changed many of those rooms to GV now and we were concerned that they are trying to fill those rooms by offering GV CL discounts, therefore possibly making Hawaii as close to capacity as they can. Just our theory, but the lounge isn't too enjoyable when it's packed with people. Just my 2 cents, but if your mother is having fond memories of your last Poly trip it definitely isn't going to be the same this August

I guess I'll find out in August how crowded the CL is. We only booked our first night CL. Staying 14 nights. I wanted a special treat for my youngest daughter, who has to leave the next day to get back home. We will have been in other parts of Florida 2 weeks before wdw. I hope it works out!

 

[dizzyinwdw]

Wow those refurb GF rooms look fabulous! With the poly construction I am leaning towards GF this summer after seeing the Picts. Thanks for the information!

 

[pixarmom]

Give it to me straight. Thinking about the Poly in January for Marathon weekend. Is the resort still going to be a mess?

We stayed at WL last week and in our travels around the resort, we saw how awful the construction was at the Poly. Will the bulk of the work be done by Jan, with exception of DVC stuff??

We stayed at Poly early this month, but it was a short stay and we were fine because the GCH and volcano pool area were basically untouched. But based on the reports I've read, the volcano pool area will be under construction for marathon weekend. Because the volcano pool is such a central part of the resort, we've decided to do a GF/BWI split for marathon weekend instead of the Poly/BWI split that we'd usually book. Gives us a chance to try GF and avoid what looks to be significant Poly construction in January. The lagoon construction didn't bother us all that much - construction in the middle of the resort around the volcano pool is a dealbreaker.

 

[horse11]

I have been checking this site to keep updated about the construction. We are haveing a family photo session here in a month. Could some one please reassure me that there are still pretty areas to take pictures? Can we still take them on the beach but just closer to the the Wedding Chapel? Any one have suggestions on particular areas in the Poly that we should take photos? Please some one inform us before it is to late to switch to a different location.

 

[dansdad]

Can we still take them on the beach but just closer to the the Wedding Chapel?

FYI, Tikiman has reported on his website that they are now enforcing the rule that only guests of the Poly can access the beach.

 

[Sue M]

We stayed at Poly early this month, but it was a short stay and we were fine because the GCH and volcano pool area were basically untouched. But based on the reports I've read, the volcano pool area will be under construction for marathon weekend. Because the volcano pool is such a central part of the resort, we've decided to do a GF/BWI split for marathon weekend instead of the Poly/BWI split that we'd usually book. Gives us a chance to try GF and avoid what looks to be significant Poly construction in January. The lagoon construction didn't bother us all that much - construction in the middle of the resort around the volcano pool is a dealbreaker.

You'll love the GF pools. Both are nice, but we preferred the beach pool.

 

[Nechville]

FYI, Tikiman has reported on his website that they are now enforcing the rule that only guests of the Poly can access the beach.

If you are using Disney Fine Art/Event photography, I was told you'll be allowed on the beach. Now if the beach will be usable/desirable for pictures, I'm not sure.

 

[horse11]

I have been checking this site to keep updated about the construction. We are haveing a family photo session here in a month. Could some one please reassure me that there are still pretty areas to take pictures? Can we still take them on the beach but just closer to the the Wedding Chapel? Any one have suggestions on particular areas in the Poly that we should take photos? Please some one inform us before it is to late to switch to a different location.

Oh come on guys some one is bound to have a answer. Pretty Please

 

[Sue M]

Oh come on guys some one is bound to have a answer. Pretty Please

I think you'll have pretty good pics by the wedding chapel. It's not near construction. The Poly construction is by Sunset point, and extending out toward TTC direction.

 

[blackmamba10000]

Any news on the waterfall in the GCH? Have they started removing it yet? This is the thing I'm dreading most about the construction.

 

[rteetz]

Any news on the waterfall in the GCH? Have they started removing it yet? This is the thing I'm dreading most about the construction.

Nope still there no walls saw a picture on twitter today