Poly first floor rooms - snakes?

[Cinderella]

Many years ago, on these boards, i read a couple of things about snake encounters at the poly - and it scared me off staying in the ground floor rooms.

I am staying in December in a lagoon view room, and would much rather have a ground floor, as opposed to a room with no balcony, but I'm terrified of snakes. Is this a huge problem - the snake thing, or just an isolated incidence? i would love a ground floor room if there were no snakes, and feel that i have more chance of not being put on a second floor if i leave my requests as open as possible (i need a balcony or patio as i smoke, but never in the room).

Also, I have studied Tikiman's site and so far as i can see, only Tuvalu or Tahiti have lagoon view rooms, which is great - as I would love to be in one of those buildings. Am i correct?

 

[Mermaid02]

I have the same fear.... second floor rooms only for me. Although I haven't admitted that to my family.

 

[CaipiraBob]

Many years ago, on these boards, i read a couple of things about snake encounters at the poly - and it scared me off staying in the ground floor rooms.

Wow! I mean, Disney goes for an authenticity at the Polynesian and all that, but this is taking the magic too far...

That being said, we go all the time and have never, NEVER seen a snake at the Polynesian. At least in the Hawaii building. We couldn't book space there this time for a last minute trip so we'll see. Usually our biggest peeve if whether or not the maid cleaned anything. Nose smudges on the windows and all that. The day I need a snake-charmer we'll start staying at the Contemporary.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think I will take the Poly off of my list of resorts-to-stay-at!

Next thing you know, they will be telling me there are bears at the Wilderness Lodge!

 

[DisneyGeek2000]

Next thing you know, they will be telling me there are bears at the Wilderness Lodge!

(WL) - Someone saw snakes there too....rabbits, deer... Ducks sometimes swim in the pool with you. Animal control is very good at keeping the dangerous stuff away.

 

[disneyfan67]

Wow! I mean, Disney goes for an authenticity at the Polynesian and all that, but this is taking the magic too far...

That being said, we go all the time and have never, NEVER seen a snake at the Polynesian. At least in the Hawaii building. We couldn't book space there this time for a last minute trip so we'll see. Usually our biggest peeve if whether or not the maid cleaned anything. Nose smudges on the windows and all that. The day I need a snake-charmer we'll start staying at the Contemporary.

If Disney follows the theme of Hawaii to the letter, then they would have no snakes. Hawaii is one of the few States if not the only the State that doesn't have poisonous snakes living in it. You would think that a warm, humid climate like Hawaii would have a ton of poisonous snakes but they don't.

The best thing to do if you're frightened of snakes is to book a room on the 3rd floor. You get a balcony unlike the 2nd floor and it's safer from a theft standpoint because of the height off the ground. You just can't walk into a room with a open patio door from the 3rd floor and it's amazing how many people forget to lock their patio door. I've been to the Poly 3 times and have never seen any snakes but have seen people leave their patio door open with valuables in plain sight. I never have heard of anything being stolen while I was there but no place would advertise that out loud. 3rd floor is your best best bet, IMO.

 

[BCV23]

We've stayed there over 30 times, always on the first floor and have yet to see a snake. Not doubting that someone saw one sometime somewhere on property. It is FL afterall. But I agree that WDW does a good job of keeping dangerous critters away from guests. And a snake would be as likely at any other resort as at the Polynesian.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We had a first floor lagoon view at GF for one week last summer before we were able to move to a different building, third floor. I was always careful to check the patio completely before sitting down with the kids. I have a snake phobia also and just didn't want to take any chances.

 

[LiteBrite]

I have never stayed at the Poly, but I have camped at Fort Wilderness many times. FW is surrounded by woods, and I'm sure there are snakes in there (as another poster said, it is Florida, after all), but I have never laid eyes on one of them. I think it's even more unlikely that you'd encounter one at the Poly. You have an isolated chance of seeing a snake at WDW almost anywhere you go, but I wouldn't worry about it. The snakes are more afraid of you than you are of them, and the chances of you actually encountering one are *very very* small.

 

[CaptainNemo]

Snakes are cold blooded creatures and you would be more likely to encounter one in the warmer months. In December it is much too cold for snakes to be active and will probably be hiding under a rock waiting for spring.

 

[krbq]

If you request a lagoon view smoking room at the Poly, your choices are Tuvalu 3rd floor or Tahiti 2nd floor. Both have balconies. We stayed in Tuvalu 3rd floor in October and the room didn't smell of smoke. And we've never seen any snakes at any of the resorts at WDW (but I'm always on the lookout when near vegetation).

 

[Cinderella]

Thanks all. I'm glad I'm not the only one who's scared. Disneyfan67 - thanks for that post on no snakes in Hawaii - I'm going there next year, and feel a lot better knowing about there being no snakes. Hopefully there's no big spiders either.

KRBQ - thanks for those room request suggestions. I guess fewer people will request smoking optional rooms, so hopefully i will be in with a chance. I love Tahiti, but Tuvalu looks great too - so if i get either of those, I will be v happy.