Poll: Should the Poly beach be just for paying Poly users?

[huntconn]

No. I don't have any problems with folks that aren't staying at the Poly watching fireworks from the beach. I've never felt that the beach was too crowded. Also, many of those people are paying customers who are eating at 'Ohana, Kona, or the Luau. Now the Volcano pool is another story. The Poly is long overdue for the same wristband system that the Y&BC have. The fact that the Poly management does nothing to stop the poolhopping that goes on is infuriating.

 

[hogwartsdropout]

I voted no. Not once have I seen that beach crowded, and that's including during Hallowishes and Christmas Wishes.

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

I voted no because in all our trips I've never seen the Poly beach crowded around fireworks time. We've been traveling to WDW at least once or twice a year for the past 10 years and always watch the EWP and Wishes from the Poly beach on our first night in WDW after our dinner at Ohana's. We've been at all different times of the year, including Thanksgiving week, summer, Mardi Gras, and everything inbetween. Not even once was the beach crowded at all, and often times we were the only ones out there. Its hard for me to believe that the beach gets as crazy crowded as some claim.

Then theres the question "How do you know that the guests taking up the hammocks/seating aren't paying Poly guests?" There really is no way of knowing unless you ask them or follow them after the fireworks to see where they are staying. There are a lot more paying guests than there are hammocks. There is no way for every guest staying there to get a hammock to watch Wishes from so even if they closed it off to other guests you still wouldn't be guaranteed a hammock, or chair. However, like I said before, I've never seen the beach so crowded that there weren't free chairs, swings, or hammocks. I think for the most part Disney wants guests to be able to explore resorts. Its a terrific way of getting guests to want to stay at nicer resorts.

 

[CaFeeney]

I think it would be such a shame to limit such a special experience to only the Poly guests. My family spends our last night at WDW on the beach watching the EWP and Wishes. There is nothing more relaxing than sitting in my beach chair with a Dole Whip in my hand and watching my daughter play in the sand.

We are DVC members and have stayed at deluxe resorts many times - the mouse gets plenty of our $$$. Honestly, isn't visiting other resorts one of the fun things about going to WDW? Checking out the amenities and potentially staying there in the future? Not everyone has the resources to afford a Poly stay yet they can still come and enjoy a beautiful show.

I would find it terribly sad to have to produce a resort ID just to watch the fireworks. And I agree with others - I have never found the beach to be particularly crowded, just nice folks enjoying the show.

BTW - I would never think of using the pool or other resort guest perks, I just think this is a different circumstance.

 

[Joshua_me]

I voted, "No" only because of the many crowded summer nights we've spent at The Poly, we've found the group of people that gather on the beach to be well-behaved and friendly. It's fun striking up conversations with new folks.

But.

Like so many other things at Disney, I can see how it would have the potential to get out of hand. Hopefully that won't happen.

 

[Polydweller]

First to those discussing public versus non-public areas, every hotel has public and non-public spaces. My hotel certainly does and its really up to hotel managment based on the impact on the hotel's guests and security.

At the Poly the pools are not open to the public neither are the areas immediately adjacent to the guest room patios, basically common sense. There are also CM only areas. If the beach becomes a problem then a change would be made to its status.

 

[catne]

I voted "no" because virtually all guests we've seen at the Poly beach watching fireworks were paying guests at the Poly. They might not be staying at the hotel, but if you just had dinner at the Poly, you're a paying Poly guest. If you just bought a drink at one of the bars there, you're a paying Poly guest. You get the drift...

And in the several occasions we've been on the beach or at the Poly during the fireworks, I've never, ever seen what I would term a "crowd" at the beach. Maybe 10 or 20 people, tops. Usually less.

Now, we're usually there during May, September or January so not the uber-crowded times. Maybe it's an issue on major holidays.

 

[Sue M]

I voted no, we stayed at the Poly and had no problem finding lounges on the beach to watch Wishes. It was Jan however. I imagine busier times would be more crowded.
Maybe they could have public sections of the beach and areas restricted to guests only.

 

[rentayenta]

If someone not staying at the Poly wants to make the effort to go to the beach then I say go for it.

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

I think at very busy times like 4th of July, they should limit access, but other than that--no. It's part of the grounds. Don't even get me started on the Volcano pool though. If they can keep non-paying guests out of the BC/YC pool, why won't they do it at the Poly where the pool is much smaller!?

 

[kaffinito]

I voted no. Even during Spring Break the beach is not crowded. Why not let people who want to see the fireworks from there go see them? It is a large beach after all.

 

[disneydave2003]

I agree guests should be permitted to explore any Disney resort, but I would argue the Poly beach is an extension of the Volcano pool area. Obviously any guest can check out the GCH, dine at O'Hana's or shop, but allowing everyone access to the beach may infringe on paying guests ability enjoy the pool area.

I agree.

 

[WDW08]

Agree with pp re: 'paying Poly guest'. Every trip we plan a dinner at 'Ohana and after dinner, we go down to the beach and watch Wishes. I too have never seen it crowded at all. It's so beautiful.......I wouldn't want any Disney fan to miss it

 

[Donna3271]

I agree.

Anch' io. (me too). We spend a fortune staying club level (but my kids INSIST on seeing it from the beach!!!). I agree that the beach should be included in the pool area, and therefore for guests only. Just MHO.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Anch' io. (me too). We spend a fortune staying club level (but my kids INSIST on seeing it from the beach!!!). I agree that the beach should be included in the pool area, and therefore for guests only. Just MHO.

Last year, we did ClubLevel with a lagoon view...oh my goodness! Gorgeous view...sat on our balcony every night to watch the fireworks and EWP. This year, we did Club Level Garden view because they changed the categories and the same category we had last year would have been very expensive.


So this year, we'll watch from the lounge...desserts and adult beverages in hand.

 

[LAS321]

We plan to watch the fireworks from the beach at the Poly for the first time this year....the only reason we're doing it is because we're eating at 'Ohana and wouldn't make it back to the MK for Wishes. I think that it's hard to limit the beach area for Poly guests only since many people eat dinner at the various restaurants there....we ate a Citricos last year and went out on the deck at the GF to watch....should that be off limits, too?? Where do you draw the line?

 

[aurorae]

At the real Hawaii hotels (we were just on the Big Island) large resorts that are on public beaches (they have to allow the public access to the water) have their own chairs and such at the beach that are just for their guests. But anyone can walk on the beach, and sit on the sand.

Maybe the Poly should be like the real Hawaii?

 

[Polydweller]

At the real Hawaii hotels (we were just on the Big Island) large resorts that are on public beaches (they have to allow the public access to the water) have their own chairs and such at the beach that are just for their guests. But anyone can walk on the beach, and sit on the sand.

Maybe the Poly should be like the real Hawaii?

Except that all of Disneyworld is Disney's private property. So it could never be like the real Hawaii. Disney can determine what will be done and what will be public any place in WDW.

And, the Seven Seas Lagoon is actually a man-made lake. It was created when MK was constructed and the sand was used to cover the utilidors and to raise the land around MK. So its more Disney operated and owned than most lakes.

 

[nurse.darcy]

"Wow, I can afford the Poly and shouldn't be bothered by "common folk", ". Sorry but that is how that sounded. Personally, I have stayed deluxe many times and value a few. I personally don't care what any of you do as long as you are kind, courteous and gracious. A smile and a polite hello goes a long way. Don't leave your towels or trash laying around and make sure that if an "apparent" guest of the hotel walks up looking for a spot, offer it to them. If its a senior citizen or differently abled than you, get up and give up your spot.

There was a time when the world didnt need "entitlement" to feel special. That came from within. Maybe we should go back to that.

Nuff said. . .just my two cents. . .

 

[cluvsdisney]

I voted yes. Location is part of the price of staying at the Poly and I think they should be the ones to enjoy the view from the beach. I know this would be never be enforced so I like Debbie's suggestion on page 2 for Poly guests to have a priority viewing area on the beach.