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

[johnvree]

I'm not sure where you got your info but the pool didn't CLOSE until the summer 2014. I can't imagine anyone thought it would be finished in 1-2 months. I follow Tikiman and here's what he said when it originally closed:
http://www.tikimanpages.com/poly/news/item/213-pool-closure

I don't know...2 months to replace a pool does not seem that unreasonable. I get it's a very big pool. But a construction crew can do a lot of work in two months.

Just disappointed with what will be more than a year of construction and now two trips I won't be staying at my favorite resort.

 

[TheLittleKatie]

I'm following your trip report from last year and it would be cool to actually see you here! Like seeing a celebrity! We just booked our plane tickets last night and will be at the Poly from 9/22-9/27. Woooo!

That is so sweet!
We have just booked the Poly 9/22 - 10/6 !!
We'll have to get in touch nearer the time and see if we're around the resort for a Lapu Lapu together or something

 

[glohoffman]

OK so I just read a little blurb on Tikimans pages and I am kind of freaking out a little. He mentioned to expect Ohana/Kona kitchen to be closed for an unknown amount of time because permits were pulled for it...anyone have ANY guesses or insight to this??? We are going in September (Labor Day week) and eating breakfast with Stitch is the ONLY thing my 3 year old has asked for since she missed him on our last trip due to rain. Do you think I am pretty safe since construction should be wrapping up by then?

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

OK so I just read a little blurb on Tikimans pages and I am kind of freaking out a little. He mentioned to expect Ohana/Kona kitchen to be closed for an unknown amount of time because permits were pulled for it...anyone have ANY guesses or insight to this??? We are going in September (Labor Day week) and eating breakfast with Stitch is the ONLY thing my 3 year old has asked for since she missed him on our last trip due to rain. Do you think I am pretty safe since construction should be wrapping up by then?

I saw this too a few days ago. I'm booked for Oct 19th and sure hope I can finally try Tonga Toast!

 

[disny_luvr]

I saw this too a few days ago. I'm booked for Oct 19th and sure hope I can finally try Tonga Toast!

If 'Ohana is closed you can get Tonga Toast at Capt. Cook's.

 

[JamieH]

As of right now, I only see info on the pool closing, is that the only construction that's going on? I have a client looking to do a deluxe monorail resort from late February to early March and I don't want to send them there if it will affect their trip. I doubt the pool will be much of an issue and I've never been to the resort so I don't know how much it affects rooms.

 

[whiporee]

I was there a month ago and there is a LOT of construction in areas not connected to the pool. There are fences up all over the east side of the resort, and the beach is truncated because of the pool construction. The walkway to the TTC is torn up and there is a lot of work going on as they convert those buildings.

The west side is better, but if I were you I'd send them to another resort. As of a month ago, the Poly is pretty torn up.

 

[kiki02]

I was there a month ago and there is a LOT of construction in areas not connected to the pool. There are fences up all over the east side of the resort, and the beach is truncated because of the pool construction. The walkway to the TTC is torn up and there is a lot of work going on as they convert those buildings.

The west side is better, but if I were you I'd send them to another resort. As of a month ago, the Poly is pretty torn up.

Just my two cents - i would not anyone, including myself to stay at a hotel under so much construction. You're on vacation for pete's sake. I'm a huge and forever fan of Poly, but (was just there), the work going on is an eyesore, a nuisance and very awful.

 

[BabyFu18]

Since all the construction at the poly for the DVC addition, does anyone know if the EWP is still happening or will continue? Normally when we stayed at the Poly we watched that from the beach in front of the Hawaii Building but with the bungalows there now, I'm guessing that's not a viewing spot any longer. So where do you watch from now? The pool? Or further down the beach past the bungalows?

We are thinking about trying to stay at the poly again in August but I'm just not sure since we'd want to stay CL but it seems like the view will be considerably less desirable now. I know the upper floors will still have a good view, but we really like either a patio or balcony, so it would leave our room choices limited and then of course that's just a request for a balcony and with fewer rooms to choose from in a certain category I'd be afraid that we will either have to give up the chance at a balcony or give up the better view.

Hmm, tough choices, but I thought I'd ask about the EWP and see where people are watching from nowadays.

 

[wdwrich]

Since all the construction at the poly for the DVC addition, does anyone know if the EWP is still happening or will continue? Normally when we stayed at the Poly we watched that from the beach in front of the Hawaii Building but with the bungalows there now, I'm guessing that's not a viewing spot any longer. So where do you watch from now? The pool? Or further down the beach past the bungalows?

We are thinking about trying to stay at the poly again in August but I'm just not sure since we'd want to stay CL but it seems like the view will be considerably less desirable now. I know the upper floors will still have a good view, but we really like either a patio or balcony, so it would leave our room choices limited and then of course that's just a request for a balcony and with fewer rooms to choose from in a certain category I'd be afraid that we will either have to give up the chance at a balcony or give up the better view.

Hmm, tough choices, but I thought I'd ask about the EWP and see where people are watching from nowadays.

The EWP is still happening. I've even seen some advertisements claiming the bungalows provide prime viewing for it, which I'm sure they do.

 

[maiapapaya]

Since all the construction at the poly for the DVC addition, does anyone know if the EWP is still happening or will continue? Normally when we stayed at the Poly we watched that from the beach in front of the Hawaii Building but with the bungalows there now, I'm guessing that's not a viewing spot any longer. So where do you watch from now? The pool? Or further down the beach past the bungalows?

We are thinking about trying to stay at the poly again in August but I'm just not sure since we'd want to stay CL but it seems like the view will be considerably less desirable now. I know the upper floors will still have a good view, but we really like either a patio or balcony, so it would leave our room choices limited and then of course that's just a request for a balcony and with fewer rooms to choose from in a certain category I'd be afraid that we will either have to give up the chance at a balcony or give up the better view.

Hmm, tough choices, but I thought I'd ask about the EWP and see where people are watching from nowadays.

We were at WDW in October - stayed at GF, but visited the Poly. There is still beach open in front of Hawaii that is not blocked by the bungalows (at the lounge end) and to the left of that (if you're facing the lagoon). You can view it from there. There is more beach that is still closed further to the left that will reopen once the pool is done.

With that being said, what we noticed, the EWP is still playing in front of the Poly. But from our view from our room at GF we could see the EWP splitting up. ie. in the past all of the barges would individually light up and then they would all be lit up for the end of the show. Now it appears that once the first half of the barges have lit up they go dark and pull away while the rest of the barges finish the show. Our theory was that with the bungalows out in the lagoon there isn't room anymore for all of the barges to be stretched out together in front of the Poly.

Kind of crappy, but I guess it's better than the EWP not stopping there at all.

 

[BabyFu18]

We were at WDW in October - stayed at GF, but visited the Poly. There is still beach open in front of Hawaii that is not blocked by the bungalows (at the lounge end) and to the left of that (if you're facing the lagoon). You can view it from there. There is more beach that is still closed further to the left that will reopen once the pool is done.

With that being said, what we noticed, the EWP is still playing in front of the Poly. But from our view from our room at GF we could see the EWP splitting up. ie. in the past all of the barges would individually light up and then they would all be lit up for the end of the show. Now it appears that once the first half of the barges have lit up they go dark and pull away while the rest of the barges finish the show. Our theory was that with the bungalows out in the lagoon there isn't room anymore for all of the barges to be stretched out together in front of the Poly.

Kind of crappy, but I guess it's better than the EWP not stopping there at all.

Thanks for the info, interesting about the barges having to split up, just wondering did that happen when the EWP was in front of the GF as well? Or just when it stopped at the Poly? If it's just at the Poly that is kinda sad, but at least it still stops there so that's good.

 

[Kimberle]

Thinking about book the Poly in mid-July. I just want to keep by expectations real. From what I've been reading, the lobby and the quick serve restaurant are done. The main pool should be done Aprilish. The quiet pool will be down for rehab. Anything I'm missing? How about the rooms, are they all done or will be done by July?

I'll probably book a standard view and may flip to Club(standard) if a good deal comes out. I want to stick to standard because those buildings are closest to the main bldg. (per Tiki's site.) Do any have balconies? Are there any covers over the sidewalks between any buildings? (Our trip will be in the summer and it usually rains.)

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

There are not any rain covers, but we have done the "building to building" dash on our previous August trips to keep dry.

 

[whiporee]

As of right now, I only see info on the pool closing, is that the only construction that's going on? I have a client looking to do a deluxe monorail resort from late February to early March and I don't want to send them there if it will affect their trip. I doubt the pool will be much of an issue and I've never been to the resort so I don't know how much it affects rooms.

I was probably unclear earlier. If you were my travel agent, and you sent me to the Poly with all this construction and didn't give me loads and loads and loads of warnings about it and have me read these threads and really know what i was getting into, I'd find another travel agent. And say bad things about you. Because it ruined my vacation last month -- that's why I'm being so vocal about it here -- I don't want it to happen to anyone else.

Don't take the chance. Send them to the GF or the CR, but the Poly is just too big a risk these days.

 

[ashnjam]

I was probably unclear earlier. If you were my travel agent, and you sent me to the Poly with all this construction and didn't give me loads and loads and loads of warnings about it and have me read these threads and really know what I was getting into, I'd find another travel agent. And say bad things about you. Because it ruined my vacation last month -- that's why I'm being so vocal about it here -- I don't want it to happen to anyone else.

Don't take the chance. Send them to the GF or the CR, but the Poly is just too big a risk these days.

Even though we are aware of the construction I know reading about it and looking at photos is different from actually seeing it in person. I appreciate your post because if we get there and are disappointed we can’t say we weren’t warned. Hoping not to have any issues but are excited and anxious for our trip.

 

[maiapapaya]

Thanks for the info, interesting about the barges having to split up, just wondering did that happen when the EWP was in front of the GF as well? Or just when it stopped at the Poly? If it's just at the Poly that is kinda sad, but at least it still stops there so that's good.

We never noticed. We were pixie dusted with a corner room, so watched the EWP from the balcony that faced the Poly. It was a closer view of the EWP than from the other balcony (yes, 2 balconies!), that faced the MK, when the EWP was stopped at the GF. All I know is it never used to split up at the Poly, but has since the construction. We assumed it was because there isn't enough room for it because of the bungalows

Thinking about book the Poly in mid-July. I just want to keep by expectations real. From what I've been reading, the lobby and the quick serve restaurant are done. The main pool should be done Aprilish. The quiet pool will be down for rehab. Anything I'm missing? How about the rooms, are they all done or will be done by July?

I'll probably book a standard view and may flip to Club(standard) if a good deal comes out. I want to stick to standard because those buildings are closest to the main bldg. (per Tiki's site.) Do any have balconies? Are there any covers over the sidewalks between any buildings? (Our trip will be in the summer and it usually rains.)

All of the rooms have already been refurbed (except for those that they're converting to DVC).

There are balconies on the third floor rooms, so make third floor part of your request if you want one!

There are no covered walkways between the buildings.

 

[dchi]

OK so I just read a little blurb on Tikimans pages and I am kind of freaking out a little. He mentioned to expect Ohana/Kona kitchen to be closed for an unknown amount of time because permits were pulled for it...anyone have ANY guesses or insight to this??? We are going in September (Labor Day week) and eating breakfast with Stitch is the ONLY thing my 3 year old has asked for since she missed him on our last trip due to rain. Do you think I am pretty safe since construction should be wrapping up by then?

Oh, I was hoping to hear more about the possibility of Kona and Ohana closing for a rehab this year as we have ohana reservations for June. In October when we visited the poly, a bartender there told us this would likely happen. Does anyone know when this will happen?

 

[LovemesomeDW]

Really bummed that I just read on Tikiman's page that the quiet pool won't be done until winter 2015. I had a feeling it wouldn't be open for our October trip but was hoping they were just putting the "final touches" on it. If O'hana and Kona are closed too I think I may switch to another resort. Although I really hate to give up the magical deal I got! Decisions, decisions!!

 

[houstonmama]

OK so I just read a little blurb on Tikimans pages and I am kind of freaking out a little. He mentioned to expect Ohana/Kona kitchen to be closed for an unknown amount of time because permits were pulled for it...anyone have ANY guesses or insight to this??? We are going in September (Labor Day week) and eating breakfast with Stitch is the ONLY thing my 3 year old has asked for since she missed him on our last trip due to rain. Do you think I am pretty safe since construction should be wrapping up by then?

I haven't been able to find this info on his site . Does anyone have a link?