POLY: But, I REALLY WANT a balcony!

[camdensmom]

We booked a lagoon view room and my understanding is that not all rooms have a balcony. We have a 2 year old and the idea of putting him to sleep and having a nice place for my dh and i to talk and relax makes me beyond giddy. At the same time, the thought of having to whisper and tiptoe around our sleeping bundle of joy is annoying.

Any tips on getting a great room? Thanks!

 

[Tam1067]

If having a balcony is the most important thing to you, then have that request noted on your reservation. It should be the first request, as the room assigners will generally try to meet your first request first if you have more than one.

All third floor rooms have a balcony, and all first floor rooms have a patio. The "newer" buildings (Tokelau, Tahiti, and Rapa Nui) have balconies on the second floor. However, all the other buildings do not have balconies on the second floor.

We've stayed at the Polynesian twice (garden view). The first time, I requested Samoa, preferably third or first floor. I got Samoa second floor (hence no balcony). The second time, just in July, I requested Tokelau because I wanted to be guaranteed a balcony and I liked the location. I did not specify a floor because it didn't matter to me--and we ended up with 3rd with a balcony.

Enjoy your stay.

 

[simonkodousek]

I would request the Tahiti building if you want a balcony and a great view.

 

[LJRJR]

I have stayed at the poly twice , one time we had a patio, and the second time we had a balcony. My DH and I really enjoyed sitting outside when the kids finally went to sleep. We stayed at the CR one time and and were on the second floor and had the "fake balcony" which is were the sliding glass door open, but there is no place to step out to, just the balcony railing, and that definatly wasnt as nice. Just make your room request and call them a day or two before you leave to make sure they have it.

 

[boomhauer]

I'd like a patio or balcony as well, but also wanted to be close to GCH, but on the side nearer to the TTC. I requested Samoa or Niue. I didn't want Raratonga as I wanted the feel of being in the middle of the resort and I feared the parking lot view could spoil that.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I'm staying at the Poly soon for my 1st time! And I desperately want a patio or balcony! I usually have zero luck with room requests, so I am fully expecting that dreaded 2nd floor no-balcony room. If I get one at check-in, I am going to beg and beg for a different room!

I am thinking that maybe I should beg for Tokelau, since it appears that building has full balconies/patios, and no chance of a PARKING lot view!

 

[GinnyFavers]

The balconies that do exist, if you get one, are so shallow you'll wonder why you cared. We stayed in a lagoon view room with no balcony, and were happy as can be just sliding open the very big windows and sitting in the chairs provided next to them.

I'd actually far prefer a first floor room with a patio than one of those tiny rickety looking balconies.

Frankly, I think Disney should saw off the ones that exist and be done with it as an issue.

 

[grimley1968]

The balconies that do exist, if you get one, are so shallow you'll wonder why you cared.

This is true. We stayed in Samoa on the 3rd floor, and the "balcony" was nothing more than a railing directly in front of the sliding glass doors. We could open the door and stick our heads out and look around, but there was no place to sit down. It didn't bother us, as we don't spend much time in the resorts anyway, but we still had a great view of the Volcano pool, the lake, etc.

If you really want a nice place to sit, try to request a first floor room. We had a first floor room in Samoa once with the same view as above, but with a really nice patio area. We could literally walk to the Volcano pool from that patio.

 

[Piglets Mommy]

I'd request a first floor room....no balcony. but nice patio to sit and relax on while the kids snoose. And if you get lucky, ypu may be able to walk just a few steps to see the EWP and wishes, while still being able to see the door to your room.

 

[camdensmom]

Thank you so much everyone! I esp. appreciate the tip about the 1st floor.

In thinking about it the 1st floor would be great because my husband or I could easily step outside with my son and get some air and walk around while the other gets ready.

Do all of the buildings have elevators?

 

[grimley1968]

Thank you so much everyone! I esp. appreciate the tip about the 1st floor.

In thinking about it the 1st floor would be great because my husband or I could easily step outside with my son and get some air and walk around while the other gets ready.

Do all of the buildings have elevators?

I do believe all the buildings have elevators, but being one of the oldest resorts on WDW property, some of the elevators are quite slow. They were great for bringing luggage to the upper floors, but we just took the steps if we were just going out for the day.

 

[princessgirl2238]

at christmas we had 7 rooms on the ground floor in fiji and it was wonderful! the patios are nice and big- the adults would hangout on one and the children would go running around on the grass cause it was the building really close to the dinner show. also at night we were able to see the tiki torches lit and sometimes we were able to hear the music.

 

[kkproulx]

Ok, so I read through these and now wonder what I want to do. We have reservations at the Poly with Magic Kingdom view. I "requested" Tahiti Long House third floor. Would a first floor be better? I just thought the Castle we would best be seen from the highest floor. Any comments on this?

 

[Tam1067]

Ok, so I read through these and now wonder what I want to do. We have reservations at the Poly with Magic Kingdom view. I "requested" Tahiti Long House third floor. Would a first floor be better? I just thought the Castle we would best be seen from the highest floor. Any comments on this?

My advice is don't stress about it! You might even end up with second floor or even in another building besides Tahiti. Remember that you are not guaranteed anything beyond the view you have paid for.

Also, we were in Tokelau on the 3rd floor. The balcony was large enough to fit two chairs and a table comfortably. It was absolutely fine.

One of the dangers of these boards is reading all the different opinions and suggestions, which though helpful, can be too much.

 

[Poly Pal]

To the OP,

Beware of the misinformation some people have posted in this thread. The balconies at the Polynesian all have room for 2 chairs and a small end table and are essentially the same size as the first floor patios. The second floor of the original longhouses do not have a balcony. Rather there is a railing right up against the slider. (So the person saying that they stayed in Samoa on the third floor was actually staying on the second floor - all of the third floor rooms have real balconies) Just look at the photos of the resort you will find here and on many other sites (the best of which we are not allowed to name here) and you'll see the truth for yourself. SeaSpray just posted alot of photos from her great anniversary trip to the Polynesian from 2 weeks ago.

As for slow elevators, that has not been our experience. The longest trip is just up or down two floors, so if we were to do a speed comparison, we might be talking about a few seconds difference.

We did exactly what you plan to do when our kids were little. Put them down for a nap and then sat on the patio or balcony to read, write postcards, have a nice drink and ejoy the surroundings, etc.

Have a wonderful stay at the Polynesian!

 

[Cool-Beans]

Niue doesn't have an elevator. I think it is the only one, though.

The view gets better the higher up you go. There are bonuses to patios, of course! But the views are better higher up.

My favorite lagoon view (of Hawaii, Tahiti and Tuvalu) is Tuvalu, 3rd floor. There is nothing between you and the water except a few palmy plants - and you have to look down to see them. When you look out, no palm trees obstructing your vision, no people going by...just water. Ahhhhh.

I think the balconies are a fine size. They aren't porches, they're balconies. Always been good enough for me, anyway.

 

[Jalva22]

This is true. We stayed in Samoa on the 3rd floor, and the "balcony" was nothing more than a railing directly in front of the sliding glass doors. We could open the door and stick our heads out and look around, but there was no place to sit down. It didn't bother us, as we don't spend much time in the resorts anyway, but we still had a great view of the Volcano pool, the lake, etc.

If you really want a nice place to sit, try to request a first floor room. We had a first floor room in Samoa once with the same view as above, but with a really nice patio area. We could literally walk to the Volcano pool from that patio.

Strange, we were in Samoa 3rd floor (room 3601) facing the volcano pool. We had a large balcony with a round table and two chairs, as did every 3rd floor room on that side of the building. Here's a pic of ours (I hope, never linked to a picture before):

 

[grimley1968]

Strange, we were in Samoa 3rd floor (room 3601) facing the volcano pool. We had a large balcony with a round table and two chairs, as did every 3rd floor room on that side of the building. Here's a pic of ours (I hope, never linked to a picture before):

This was 2 years ago that I stayed there. The rooms weren't refurbished in that part of the building yet. They may have found a way to build actual balconies when they completed the refurb there.

Still, though, the 1st floor patios are roomier than even that balcony. The only drawback to the patios, IMHO, is that it's easier to have your stuff stolen if you leave anything out on them, as opposed to upper-floor balconies.

 

[grimley1968]

Ok, so I read through these and now wonder what I want to do. We have reservations at the Poly with Magic Kingdom view. I "requested" Tahiti Long House third floor. Would a first floor be better? I just thought the Castle we would best be seen from the highest floor. Any comments on this?

I doubt many first floor rooms would be considered a Magic Kingdom view. There is usually some kind of tree/bush obstruction blocking at least part of the view on the first floor, and maybe even the second floor in some cases. They try to keep the trees trimmed somewhat, but they have to maintain something of a lush look to the place. I'd say if the view of the castle is important to you, keep the third floor request. I'm not saying there aren't some 1st floor rooms with unobstructed views of MK, but they're definitely in the minority compared to 3rd floor rooms.

 

[Jalva22]

This was 2 years ago that I stayed there. The rooms weren't refurbished in that part of the building yet. They may have found a way to build actual balconies when they completed the refurb there.

Still, though, the 1st floor patios are roomier than even that balcony. The only drawback to the patios, IMHO, is that it's easier to have your stuff stolen if you leave anything out on them, as opposed to upper-floor balconies.

The balcony shot in my post above was taken in June 2005, pre-refurb.