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

[sotoalf]

Hi, wondering if the monorail hours are still modified and if so is there a timeline when they may be back to full operating mode. I saw on earlier posts the monorail was back to normal operating hours, however, the last few posts on here say it is still restricted hours. We will be there 11/15-11/22 so hoping it will be full operating mode.

The monorails have returned to regular operating hours:

Magic Kingdom Resort beam - 7am to 1 hour after park close
Magic Kingdom Express beam - 8:30am to 1 hour following park close
Epcot beam - 8am to 11pm or 1 hour after Magic Kingdom closes (whichever is earliest)

 

[rbork]

Here now at the Poly during the construction. Thank goodness for tikimans info on the construction. I was prepared. I do feel bad for the ppl who are surprised by the amount of construction. I overheard some guests complaints at check in. Lots of construction walls outside. Lots of torn up landscape. GCH really feels crowded during dining times with the entire center closed off. I went over to Wilderness Lodge today and now I don't feel so bad. Their pool and gyser are closed too.
Indeed the construction does take away the Disney experience. But I do feel like it is worth it with the deeply discounted rates. The hotel staff truly makes your stay more enjoyable during the massive construction. They are going the extra mile. We arrived with NO dining ressies at all this week. But I confess, we left the kid's home this trip. So we are flexible and had our dinner at Kona Cafe last night. Found a seat right away, had a server and ordered a martini, sushi and some other light fare. We also have a refurbished room. They are done nicely with new colors and plenty of light sources.
Our stay is enjoyable because I was prepared by tikiman and others here at the Dis.

 

[disneyAndi14]

Thanks everyone for all the updates. We also are very prepared for our November trip. We are fully aware of all the construction so we are going in with eyes wide open.
I check this site daily and Tikiman's site as well. I was more worried about the monorail then the construction and I am happy with the hours they are operating at now. Excited for our trip! Yippee!

 

[RedheadRinger]

Hi, wondering if the monorail hours are still modified and if so is there a timeline when they may be back to full operating mode. I saw on earlier posts the monorail was back to normal operating hours, however, the last few posts on here say it is still restricted hours. We will be there 11/15-11/22 so hoping it will be full operating mode.

Those are my dates too. See you there.

 

[rosiebean]

We are going in a few weeks with eyes wide open! As a group, we don't spend tons of time in the GCH...we spend more time in our room relaxing on the balcony, and I hope our room requests (which would put us on the GF side of the Poly complex) work out. Also as a group going without kids this trip, we won't use the pool.

When the group I'm going with decided on where to stay, we chose the Poly because:

1. We like the theme and the updated rooms...and as it's a short trip, and we won't use much of the overall resort this time.

2. We LOVE the location, with the boat and monorail to the MK and a walk to the monorail to Epcot.

3. We looked into other deluxes with good transportation to parks, as that was one of our main desires for this trip. And after considering CR, GF, WL, BC/YC, we went with Poly because...CR and GF were priced so much higher (even with fall discounts), and as we won't really use the resort amenities (like a pool), the extra cost wasn't worth it. WL just doesn't appeal to us thematically, though it was cheaper. BC/YC (which I LOVE when I'm traveling with kids) was a similar price to Poly...but we liked the Poly theme better, even knowing there would be construction.

4. It was close between BC/YC and Poly...but as we'll spend more time in our room/balcony, we went with Poly because their rooms have been more recently updated. And because Poly offers quick transport to our two favorite parks, MK and Epcot.

So there you have it.

And I can't wait until I'm there again! Was at the poly almost 10 years ago, and I LOVED it (and didn't use the pool or GCH much then either). I am really looking forward to this trip.

 

[lncbodsmom]

If monorail isn't working you can always take the boat to MK. We preferred it when we stayed there- faster!

 

[trishadono]

I don't know if anyone can help me but I have a question on the CL rooms. I have stayed in the Hawaii rooms before & loved them I especially liked the first floor & being able to walk out of your rooms and see the lagoon & the MK. Can you still do this or are the DVC villas in the way? I am planning to go next June but I am not sure if I should stick with the Poly or try the CM. Any thoughts?

Thanks

The villas are now in the way. Many disney fan sites and youtube have videos to show you.

I stayed May '13 then May '14. There was definitely a difference. I was actually given a room lagoon side 1st floor when booked GV this year. I knew this was an option from tikiman so I requested it. I saw some fences but seeing gf and lagoon was worth it.

 

[darthvaderusa]

The villas are now in the way. Many disney fan sites and youtube have videos to show you.

I stayed May '13 then May '14. There was definitely a difference. I was actually given a room lagoon side 1st floor when booked GV this year. I knew this was an option from tikiman so I requested it. I saw some fences but seeing gf and lagoon was worth it.

Thank you very much for your response. This was what I was afraid of.

 

[trishadono]

Thank you very much for your response. This was what I was afraid of.

Sorry! I know other posters used to book 1st floor mkv and now request 3rd floor instead. Its just not the same

However view from the lounge is still awesome

 

[darthvaderusa]

Sorry! I know other posters used to book 1st floor mkv and now request 3rd floor instead. Its just not the same

However view from the lounge is still awesome

Very true

 

[peace_all]

Will do my best to provide an update after staying there this upcoming weekend (either during or when I return next week). Some comments are concerning me a little, however we upgraded to CL, and are going in fully aware, so we will see.

We experienced the resort twice at the end of August (dining at Kona cafe and 'Ohana" and were aware of what we were getting into. Despite stair closures, and the check-in desk being moved, we are looking forward to trying the Kona Island for morning coffee before hitting the parks, as well as Pineapple Lanai. IMHO despite the pool closure, it is in a better spot then it was back in August, with more places being open to enjoy.

 

[kiki02]

Ok, but for what? The room? Just to say you've stayed there? Everything that has always made the Poly amazing is torn down or being shuttered behind construction walls. Don't get me wrong, that resort is home for us, but I don't understand this at all. Is the mystique of the resort so great that people are willing to pay $300 plus per night, even with no amenities and ugly construction plus the noise, just to be part of the club?

I would say shame on WDW for still charging what they do for what patrons are given, but I guess there are still a line of people willing to accept a lesser experience at an obscene rate, so more power to you I guess.

I agree. Shame on them.

 

[Poohsmommi]

Hi - is the construction affecting the CL rooms? We are going in February, if that makes a difference. Thanks

 

[tim123]

We were just at the Poly at the end of August and I'm in complete agreement with trishadono.

Planning right now for a February return, can't wait to see how much further along the refurb is then!

Kona Cafe reopened yesterday! #progress

(I can almost taste the pressed pot coffee now... lol. *sigh*)

I think you mean Kona Island…Kona Cafe was never closed except for one or two breakfast days for crane work on the skylight..Just sayin .

 

[tim123]

I don't know if anyone can help me but I have a question on the CL rooms. I have stayed in the Hawaii rooms before & loved them I especially liked the first floor & being able to walk out of your rooms and see the lagoon & the MK. Can you still do this or are the DVC villas in the way? I am planning to go next June but I am not sure if I should stick with the Poly or try the CM. Any thoughts?

Thanks

About 3/4 of Hawaii facing north are not affected by the huts….as you get closer east they are in the view….third floor is fine as its above the huts.

 

[tim123]

Here now at the Poly during the construction. Thank goodness for tikimans info on the construction. I was prepared. I do feel bad for the ppl who are surprised by the amount of construction. I overheard some guests complaints at check in. Lots of construction walls outside. Lots of torn up landscape. GCH really feels crowded during dining times with the entire center closed off. I went over to Wilderness Lodge today and now I don't feel so bad. Their pool and gyser are closed too.
Indeed the construction does take away the Disney experience. But I do feel like it is worth it with the deeply discounted rates. The hotel staff truly makes your stay more enjoyable during the massive construction. They are going the extra mile. We arrived with NO dining ressies at all this week. But I confess, we left the kid's home this trip. So we are flexible and had our dinner at Kona Cafe last night. Found a seat right away, had a server and ordered a martini, sushi and some other light fare. We also have a refurbished room. They are done nicely with new colors and plenty of light sources.
Our stay is enjoyable because I was prepared by tikiman and others here at the Dis.

And what 'deeply' discounted rates do you speak of? Who pays rack anyway? So you got 30%? Did you get 35%…? I wouldn't call them deeply discounted rates..those are standard offers year round by booking ahead.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

I think you mean Kona Island…Kona Cafe was never closed except for one or two breakfast days for crane work on the skylight..Just sayin .

You are right & I stand corrected. Kona Island.

in my rush to provide a positive I mis typed

(I knew what I meant..... lol)

 

[tim123]

The villas are now in the way. Many disney fan sites and youtube have videos to show you.

I stayed May '13 then May '14. There was definitely a difference. I was actually given a room lagoon side 1st floor when booked GV this year. I knew this was an option from tikiman so I requested it. I saw some fences but seeing gf and lagoon was worth it.

The villas are NOT in the way from the MAJORITY of the views in Hawaaii. Only from the very end where sunset point once stood…they came around the corner with three more then they should have. But it is mis leading to suggest the villas 'are in the way of Hawaaii..Most of then are not…thats a fact. Now Tokelo and Tahiti….thats a different story… They hacked the view completely.

 

[tim123]

Thank you very much for your response. This was what I was afraid of.

I take many photos for tikiman…I can show you a photo of Hawaii facing towards it and out to the view without a single sign of the bungalows…If I knew how to post pictures here I would. It is a misnomer to say the view from Hawaii is ruined because that is not the case.

 

[tim123]

Hi - is the construction affecting the CL rooms? We are going in February, if that makes a difference. Thanks

Hopefully Tikiman will post one or two pics he has of my shots showing point of view angles of Hawaaii facing the building from the water and out to the view…
You can still see everything, fireworks, castle etc with NO I repeat No obstruction of the huts unless you are at the very east end in the last one or two rooms….They have not destroyed the view from Hawaiii…Yes sunset point is gone. Yes there are bungalows now….When the fence comes down, the boardwalk dressed up and the area planted I think it behoves us to embrace the change for the past is gone and there is nothing we can do about it…I have some faith they will really make the new ugly hack job they did…beautiful again..it just won't be the historical same..but nothing is…remember when there was no Grand Floridian? Change is inevitable and ALL things impermanent.