A lot has been said on this topic.
Here is my go at it.
I am a DVC member and this was my first stay at the Poly and my first Disney Concierge expereince.
I was overall very happy with Poly concierge and both my friend, who I shared a room with, and I are anxious to go back with our husbands and share the experience with them.
I am sure the service is better in Hawaii - there is a better staff to guest ratio there. I am sure the lounge is better in Hawaii, right now it is a temporay set up in a space not well designed for traffic flow. The location issue I would debate - only because was had a FABULOUS view and were very close to TTC, but it was a longer walk to central resort areas (ie.GCH and volcano pool)
We did in fact have a run in with a smelly room. I have to admit that I was lucky enough not to experience it. My friend checked in before me, discovered the smelly room problem and had our room changed all before I got there. That is the short version. The new room was 2020 and was lovely. I'll have to ask her the BAD Room #.
Food at the lounge was very good and plentiful. Staff was working hard to keep trays full. Did not see rude guests or people hoarding food. One night I went to get a glass of wine and it was gone, I had some Bailey's instead - I can't really call that a hardship. There was usually room in the common area lounge in the couches for afternoon/evening snacking. The kids like having a cookie, watching TV and relaxing oun the little chairs.
We ate in the rooms set up with tables each morning. We orginized the kids (4 of them) around a table and then an adult (My friend or I) would collect food for the group. This was easier and more pleasant for all than keeping track of kids in the food line. The food again was good and plentiful. An interesting note - there were some things available but not out, you had to know to ask, containers of milk and yogurt were two items the staff happily brought for our young children. So yes there were times it was busy and the area did not handle crowd flow well, but we found with some patience, you could still relax in the lounge. I imagine real plates and glasses would have been nice, but this being a big "kid" trip the plastic was o.k. for us.
*Little note* I knew I had to bring my hubby when I saw the New York Times was available in the lounge! That is a big isssue for him!
Housekeeping was generally good. The room was very clean and we recieved a towel animal the second day. Turn down was nice with the kids (*more on this later!). We did have to ask quite a few times and wait a long time to get bed rails. We had even asked for them ahead of time through concierge planning. One night turn down service came at I time I felt was unreasonably late, almost 10 pm, we turned her away as the kids were already in bed. Another time we came back to the room for the baby's nap and they were cleaning, no one's fault, just poor timing. We waited in the lounge. But again, the room wa clean and well maintained, oh, and we did get the beautiful chocolate bar at the begining and a card at the end of our stay.
The concierge staff was helpful but often busy.They made us a few PS and helped me order flowers home for my mom's Birthday. There were some instances when we had to press little to get some questions answered or assistance. Generally I would say the staff was helpful, maybe not always as anxious to help as would be expected.
As a first timer at the Poly, I have to say I liked it there so much more than I expected. Kids LOVED the pool. Kona was great (one dinner and one breakfast). Seeing the EWP from the beach by the pool was great. (I know in Hawaii you can see it).
THE BEST FOR LAST - Watching the fireworks over the castle each night from bed.
The first night, my son (6) actually thanked me. My daughter, who is usaully to afaid of the noise to enjoy the fireworks, got to see them - without the BIG noise. It was the best.
Oh, the turn down service note- after the Poly we went to All Star Sports for two nights before BCV. Yes, big ajustment, but my son REALLY wanted to stay at the football hotel. So, who knew how hard the adjustment would be for him! The first night there I was turning down the bedspread, he said "Mommy why do you have to? Don't the have housekeepers here?" We had to have a little talk! Then at BCV he apointed himself in charge of turndown each night! It was really sweet.
COMING SOON _ BCV and ASSp!
Here is my go at it.
I am a DVC member and this was my first stay at the Poly and my first Disney Concierge expereince.
I was overall very happy with Poly concierge and both my friend, who I shared a room with, and I are anxious to go back with our husbands and share the experience with them.
I am sure the service is better in Hawaii - there is a better staff to guest ratio there. I am sure the lounge is better in Hawaii, right now it is a temporay set up in a space not well designed for traffic flow. The location issue I would debate - only because was had a FABULOUS view and were very close to TTC, but it was a longer walk to central resort areas (ie.GCH and volcano pool)
We did in fact have a run in with a smelly room. I have to admit that I was lucky enough not to experience it. My friend checked in before me, discovered the smelly room problem and had our room changed all before I got there. That is the short version. The new room was 2020 and was lovely. I'll have to ask her the BAD Room #.
Food at the lounge was very good and plentiful. Staff was working hard to keep trays full. Did not see rude guests or people hoarding food. One night I went to get a glass of wine and it was gone, I had some Bailey's instead - I can't really call that a hardship. There was usually room in the common area lounge in the couches for afternoon/evening snacking. The kids like having a cookie, watching TV and relaxing oun the little chairs.
We ate in the rooms set up with tables each morning. We orginized the kids (4 of them) around a table and then an adult (My friend or I) would collect food for the group. This was easier and more pleasant for all than keeping track of kids in the food line. The food again was good and plentiful. An interesting note - there were some things available but not out, you had to know to ask, containers of milk and yogurt were two items the staff happily brought for our young children. So yes there were times it was busy and the area did not handle crowd flow well, but we found with some patience, you could still relax in the lounge. I imagine real plates and glasses would have been nice, but this being a big "kid" trip the plastic was o.k. for us.
*Little note* I knew I had to bring my hubby when I saw the New York Times was available in the lounge! That is a big isssue for him!
Housekeeping was generally good. The room was very clean and we recieved a towel animal the second day. Turn down was nice with the kids (*more on this later!). We did have to ask quite a few times and wait a long time to get bed rails. We had even asked for them ahead of time through concierge planning. One night turn down service came at I time I felt was unreasonably late, almost 10 pm, we turned her away as the kids were already in bed. Another time we came back to the room for the baby's nap and they were cleaning, no one's fault, just poor timing. We waited in the lounge. But again, the room wa clean and well maintained, oh, and we did get the beautiful chocolate bar at the begining and a card at the end of our stay.
The concierge staff was helpful but often busy.They made us a few PS and helped me order flowers home for my mom's Birthday. There were some instances when we had to press little to get some questions answered or assistance. Generally I would say the staff was helpful, maybe not always as anxious to help as would be expected.
As a first timer at the Poly, I have to say I liked it there so much more than I expected. Kids LOVED the pool. Kona was great (one dinner and one breakfast). Seeing the EWP from the beach by the pool was great. (I know in Hawaii you can see it).
THE BEST FOR LAST - Watching the fireworks over the castle each night from bed.
The first night, my son (6) actually thanked me. My daughter, who is usaully to afaid of the noise to enjoy the fireworks, got to see them - without the BIG noise. It was the best.Oh, the turn down service note- after the Poly we went to All Star Sports for two nights before BCV. Yes, big ajustment, but my son REALLY wanted to stay at the football hotel. So, who knew how hard the adjustment would be for him! The first night there I was turning down the bedspread, he said "Mommy why do you have to? Don't the have housekeepers here?" We had to have a little talk! Then at BCV he apointed himself in charge of turndown each night! It was really sweet.
COMING SOON _ BCV and ASSp!
