Poly Crowd...

[RaymOOOnd]

We're currently here at BLT and having a wonderful vacation. I've been intrigued by Poly and have been considering a small add-on for some time, as our current points come up a couple of points short of the length of trip we'd ideally like to take each year. However, as is often said on here, there is obviously no substitute for seeing the resort with ones own eyes.

We thought we'd meander over to the Poly for a drink in one of the two lounges around 3:30p. Silly us! Every seating area on the main two floors, including the bar, was filled with people who seemed not to be actively drinking or socializing but rather sort of just being there. Even the walkways were full of people seated on the little hallway overhangs staring at their cell phones, and the bar (grotto something-or-other) had a long line extending around the corner awaiting the opening at 4pm (...). I'm just surprised since every other resort I've seen (including other monorail resorts) have nice, relaxing, wide-open lounges in the mid-afternoon (as they should be...?). Just surprised and glad I know to look instead at VGF or VWL for our little add-on.

My venting aside, was this unusual? Or is the Poly simply always basically as crowded as the Magic Kingdom?

 

[OKgirl]

This was our experience as well. We stayed at the Poly Hotel about 5 years ago and the Lobby was always so loud and crowded that there was nowhere to sit and not much room to find a spot to stand. The shops were just as crowded and the main pool was even worse. In contrast, VGF or VWL have wonderful lounges and a lot of seating in the lobby. Bars are never full either! When Poly DVC was introduced, we knew it would be popular but weren't interested in the least. We can walk over from VGF if we want to eat there! I'm a VWL lover too for the theme but have learned to really appreciate monorail access so we haven't bought there. (We might if the price is right though!)

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

It's a busy place and always has been.

But I think you also hit the mad surge to be the hitchhiking ghost tiki mug at Trader Sams. Trader SAMs is very popular but the lines for that were extra ordinary.

 

[pangyal]

You probably also got caught in the crowd waiting for their delayed tables at Ohana, lol.

 

[disneynutz]

Each resort has a different feel and flow. The Poly has always seemed busy in the main building, maybe because the monorail is close, or the resorts attracts people who like to sit around the main building. In addition to checking out the lobby and grounds, I would stay in a room for a couple of nights prior to buying a new resort.

Bill

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

It could be people lining up to take the DVC tour!

 

[pepperandchips]

It's a busy place and always has been.

But I think you also hit the mad surge to be the hitchhiking ghost tiki mug at Trader Sams. Trader SAMs is very popular but the lines for that were extra ordinary.

This poster is correct, people have been lining up hours in advance to buy a special limited release souvenir tiki mug. I'm not sure about the other folks just "hanging out" but it's possible they were family members of some of the folks waiting in line? As another previous poster mentioned, Ohana does attract a large crowd waiting on tables and they are bumping dinner ever earlier to accommodate more diners with additional reservations. If you wait around the Tambu lounge area at the right time you can see a special little presentation/song when Ohana opens. (Then you can swoop in to one of the newly vacated seats and order up some fun tropical cocktails and delicious small plates from Tambu).

We are staying at the Poly Villas in March and I can't wait to be closer to the action in the Poly lobby. It's always been on my wish list and DVC has brought a Polynesian stay within my reach.

 

[lisaviolet]

Love the crowds. Love the comings and goings.

And yes it has always been that way.

 

[lisaviolet]

We are staying at the Poly Villas in March and I can't wait to be closer to the action in the Poly lobby. It's always been on my wish list and DVC has brought a Polynesian stay within my reach.

Have fun!

Me too pepper and chips. Had my first stay in May and it was a dream come true to have the ability to stay there. And I'm about to have a pretty well two week stay over Christmas and New Year's.

 

[DenLo]

I think part of the of the problem with the crowds in the upper lobby at the Poly is that so many arrive without ADRs or are early for their ADR and are killing time in the lobby. It seems like a lot of people are always hanging around for 'Ohanas especially. But even Kona Cafe can have people waiting to dine.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The crowds for the Hitchhiking Tiki Mug at TS last weekend were bananas.

During the morning and evening, there is significant crowd waiting for mostly Ohana.

Poly is a destination resort. A lot of people end up at the Poly who aren't staying there based on Ohana and Trader Sam's, Spirit of Aloha, and using the beach for fireworks. The DVC longhouses are actually fairly quiet, and we've had good experience with the pools this week. The gates have helped there.

 

[freediverdude]

Also apparently the Gasparilla quick service over at Grand Floridian is closed for refurb right now, so there may be higher crowds than usual in the Captain Cooks area for the next couple months.

 

[dizfan]

Those crowds were caused by the limited number of Hitchhiking Ghost jugs sold at Trader Sam's each day. They sold out earlier this week. Extremely popular mug. We transfer to PVB tomorrow and we're hoping to get one for our collection, but now we don't need to worry. Hoping the mug selling out who'll make the patio much more relaxing.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

Those mugs are on eBay from multiple sellers, and are quite pricey!

 

[Dawn68PA]

We thought we'd meander over to the Poly for a drink in one of the two lounges around 3:30p. Silly us! Every seating area on the main two floors, including the bar, was filled with people who seemed not to be actively drinking or socializing but rather sort of just being there. Even the walkways were full of people seated on the little hallway overhangs staring at their cell phones, and the bar (grotto something-or-other) had a long line extending around the corner awaiting the opening at 4pm (...). I'm just surprised since every other resort I've seen (including other monorail resorts) have nice, relaxing, wide-open lounges in the mid-afternoon (as they should be...?). Just surprised and glad I know to look instead at VGF or VWL for our little add-on.

My venting aside, was this unusual? Or is the Poly simply always basically as crowded as the Magic Kingdom?

For this exact reason we will never stay at the Poly again. We are bar fly's some nights and this resort totally killed that for us.