Poly 2nd floor rooms, what's the deal?

[Kate-n-sam]

We are seriously considering a stay at the Poly for our next trip, Fall 03...I have noticed that most/all? of the rooms on the 2nd floor are lacking a balcony, which to me is a VERY important feature and the main reason we pay for a deluxe room. Hubby and I like to put the little ones to bed and sit on the balcony in the evening, enjoy a drink and people watch without disturbing the kids. Are these room of a different price? Just doesn't seem fair to me that the folks staying on 3rd floor get a nice big balcony whilst those who are unlucky enough to be put on the second floor get a slider to nowhere. Anyway, I'll stop complaing now.

Are 3rd or 1st floor rooms gauranteed? If I was put in a second floor room is it difficult to be relocated? Have you ever requested something other than 2nd floor and been put there anyway? This may not be important to some, but to us it would definately take away from our vacation....Should I just stick to the WL?

Not to get too far of topic, but also curious if any other deluxes have this same thing with the non-balcony? Correct me if I'm wrong, but BC and CR wings also have this 'problem', no? Any others?

Thanks!

 

[COACHSTING]

The rooms are the same price, but you can make your request known ahead of time. Keep in mind that the third floor rooms are smoking rooms. My wife was defiant that if she smelled smoke, she would vacate a third floor room. Luckily, I could detect the slight odor just as we entered the room and the wife could not smell it.

The patios on the first floor are nice as well. We had a balcony and requsted it. It is good to sit out and enjoy the sites with the slider closed behind you. Feel free to e-mail me if you have more specific questions.

 

[DisneyMim]

I've always wondered about this too and asked on our last vacation. We had a second floor room in concierge, no balconey. We had asked for a first floor room, but did not get our request. We also did not want a third floor room as it is smoking optional and I am very sensitive to smoke. WELL, the CM 's answer to my question about the balconey was that when Walt Disney first planned the resort he wanted to make it as real as possible. In Hawaii a second floor balconey is considered bad luck. Disney quickly learned from their mistake, they soon realized that people wanted a balconey so they did add them in the newer buildings. This explanation makes sense to me as the newer buildings DO have balconies. I also asked if they planned on adding balconies to the second floor when they do the Hawaii building over next year and the CM said that they don't think so due to building structure, etc. We were very disappointed when we were given a second floor room, but as it turned out we didn't miss the balconey at all. If you really want a balconey I would make that request known, some buildings do have them on all floors. If you are staying in concierge ask for a first floor or a third floor if you do not mind some possible smoke smell. In an aside, my family went up to the third floor hall and told me that it had a very bad smoke smell. I was happy we were not there as I get migraines from smoke. Disney does it's best to accomodate guests. Good Luck and Have a Wonderful Vacation!!

 

[erikthewise]

The 3rd floor is smoking optional only in the concierge building (ordinarily Hawaii, but it will be Tahiti during a few months of 2003 while Hawaii is refurbished). Also Tonga has suites which may be smoking optional. I believe that all other longhouses are either entirely smoking or entirely nonsmoking.

Most of the longhouses do not have second floor balconies due to authenticity issues concerning Polynesian architecture. Some of the newer longhouses (Tokelau, Tahiti, Rapa Nui) do have second floor balconies. For more imformation than you ever dreamed possible, check out http://tikiman2001.homestead.com/

Since a balcony is so important to you be sure to make it clear when you make your reservation. (It's not important to everyone.) They won't guarantee it but will make every attempt to meet your request. If you want a guaranteed balcony you'll just have to stay elsewhere. (Yacht Club?)

BTW first floor rooms don't have balconies either!

 

[Disneydenise]

We stay at the Poly every time we go to DW and we have never gotten a room without a balcony. I would request it when you are making your reservations or call CRO and note it on the ressie. It is more difficult to get a first floor room but if you would like that I would request it. I think they try to give those rooms to folks with younger children. I think you will be happy with your choice of resorts. I would also not go with your heart set on getting every little request, it makes things not so magical when you try to hyper plan a vacation. The Poly is a lovely resort and has many magical moment waiting for you to discover.

 

[CDizney]

I just came back from the Poly on 10/27/02 for ten nights and I stayed in the Tokelau longhouse. I noticed that for most of the other longhouses I looked at while on the grounds that the first floor rooms have patios, the second floor rooms have no balcony, and the third floor rooms have balconies. So either ask for a 1st of third floor to assure yourself of one of the other.