POLY overated. What do you think?

[DVC Sadie]

The Poly (and other deluxe resorts) has changed throughout the years and so has the level of service, especially in conceirge level and not for the better IMO. There are a lot of reasons and speculations of why this has occurred and why WDW made some of those changes.

Conceirge staff would find dining reservations magically on the same day of request, have wonderful breakfast offerings in the lounge and delicious cold and hot hor'dourves in the afternoon. Wine, beer, bottled water and juices were also offered they also had a nice dessert samplings.

OP. I wish you could have stayed at The Polynesian that I loved and remember because she was truly special. Those days are long gone but I am glad that I have memories of all that magic since my first visit in 1971.

 

[asmit4]

I agree with the others who have stated that the Disney Deluxe resorts would not be considered Deluxe in the "real world". However, as stated, you are paying for the location and ease of access to the parks - pure and simple.

If you don't mind riding the busses or taking a slower mode of transportation, there's probably little difference between the Mods and the Deluxes.

We are planning a visit next month and have still not decided where to stay - but have 3 different reservations. I am trying to decide which one by end of today - and then decide whether ot not to split the stay.

The decisions I am making are mostly based on location and ease of access to the parks. I realize that I am paying for convenience - and that's worth quite a bit to me. Disney is operating a high-volume, high-margin business and you're only going to get so much from their resorts.

For me, Disney is not a real vacation. It is absolutely fun and I am thrilled that my daughter has such a ball there. So, for us both to enjoy it, I need to make the park access and egress as easy as I can - and maximize my "by the pool" time. For this, I need resorts that easily connect to parks (without busses).

Frankly, you could put the CSR where the Poly is and connect the monorail through it and I wouldn't know the difference.

It is overrated? That depends on your needs.

This is a very fair post and I 100% agree with everything you said. We also don't view DW as a 'real vacation' either. We love it, and will likely go once a year for a long time from now, but we also book a luxury style trip each year that is more for relaxing and being waited on! I think you are paying for ease of transportation and the theming- which to some- is worth it...it all depends on what you are looking for.

 

[FairyDust2008]

Even though we never stayed at the AKL either, I had the same feeling for it as I did with the Poly when we visited. We took part of one day to visit the AKL and it didn't have that OOMMPH that most talk about on here, at least for me and my family. It was very dark and just not real inviting. The lobby wasn't as impressive as I had thought it would be from all the pictures. The pool was WAY crowded. We did get an upclose look at a giraffe from the viewing area which was neat but when I looked up at the rooms and their balconies, with the little amount of animals out, I would have quickly bored of animal viewing within the 1st initial time of seeing them. The bus drops you off and then you have to hoof it up a little incline which would be hard for some. Mara had GREAT little pizzas and the coucous salad was delish but I didn't see the hype for those zebra domes. They were slimy and just not tasty. I'm a huge SWEET person but these did nothing for me. I'm so glad after all my resort woes and the Poly and AKL being in the mix, that I cancelled and went with the GF. It just suited our family to a tee and with the feeling of disappointment from just visiting Poly & AKL, I was so glad we didn't book our entire vacation there. Plus, the AKL is sooooooooo way out from the MK and really all the magic. I prefer the monorail and being close to the magic. All this being said, we are each entitled to our own opinions and what one likes, another will dislike. That is why it is great that DISNEY offers so many different resorts & theming for everyones tastes! That is another great plus for Disney is the fact that there is something for EVERYONE to go and enjoy the "MAGIC"

 

[CTDis4]

Why do you think you would get flamed? Would you flame me because I think they're worth every dime? a lot of people think this way. Like another poster said "that's why the make vanilla & chocolate".
One of disney's great markerting ideas is that they have so many resort choices. One is bound to meet your ideals. Don't think the deluxes are worth the money, that's totally cool. I've stayed all 3 levels all 3 were worth what I paid for them

I'm not a person who goes one place and then compares it to some place else, so I never really understood the "I can stay at the 4 seasons" arguement. If I wanted to stay at the 4 seasons that's where I would be but the point is you are perfectly legitimate in your feelings. I never understood flames everyone is entitled to their perception.

My opinion exactly and a qoute from my favorite movie to boot! We must be soul mates!

 

[DisFlan]

The Poly is a lovely resort with a great location and we've always enjoyed it. A couple of trips back (we were at the BWV), we took my sis and BIL to 'Ohana's, then walked around the resort to show it off. (These folks are first class world travellers.) My BIL mentioned that it was a little too "1970's" for his taste. Great location, but a bit too "retro" - the buildings and theme seemed out of date to him for a "deluxe" Disney resort.

I'd never really thought about it before that moment, but I had to admit that he was partly right. We'd been looking at the Poly with the same eyes as we'd first seen it in the late 70's. Nostalgia tends to cover a number of flaws - and maybe the Poly's "pseudo-Polynesian" theme is wearing a little thin. It IS a lovely resort, but it's not for everyone.

DisFlan

 

[kaysmommie]

I don't think the Poly is overated but maybe a bit overpriced. We stayed at Poly twice and loved it there but on our last trip the room they gave us was filthy. We did switch and that room was slightly better but the housekeeping was just not up to par our entire stay. I love the theme at Poly and the pool ,Monorail, restaurants, and watching wishes from the beach. I think the rooms are quite nice although like I said they need a thorough cleaning. We would stay there again but not at rack rate.

 

[disneymagic12]

The Polynesian will always have a place very close to my heart. It is the Disney hotel of my childhood, before they built the Grand Floridian and we started staying there and before they built the Wilderness Lodge and we started staying THERE.

The volcano pool has ALWAYS been cold, since I can remember - and that's at least 20 years, maybe a few more. When my brother and I were young we always swam in the other pool because we FROZE in the volcano pool (and we don't freeze easily, we were practically fish).

There have been one or two recent Diseny stays (and by recent, I mean the last ten years) where we have stayed at Poly concierge and LOVED it. But we don't expect that much from concierge - we were thrilled with the round-the-clock snacks! So we were pleased.

Don't recall what the sheets were like last time we stayed there... so I can't comment on that.


All this being said - I am an EXTREMELY easy person to please. I have no problems with the Poly - unless they have gotten rid of the giant hula-ing Minnie Mouse in the Gift Shop... THAT would be tragic.

 

[huntconn]

marvel,
We love the Poly Concierge! We fell in love with it several years ago and now cannot imagine staying anywhere else. Sorry you did not have the same experience. Glad that you enjoy the WL so much...it's a great resort as well.

 

[BillyFeat]

I don't believe the Poly is over rated. I do believe it is over priced. JMHO

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

We stayed Poly concierge in May and I just have to say that with all the hype on DIS we were disappointed in quite a few things about this resort. In fact we found the WL to be a better experience overall. Don't get me wrong with the following commentary, we loved WDW and our entire stay, and I am sure I will get flamed to death, but I think it is good to warn newbie's etc what they truly should expect. We loved our stay at WDW but would not stay at the Poly again unless it was with some type of truly magical discount code.

Firstly the staff. From my experience they really do not understand the term concierge. We asked various questions of the Poly concierge staff and found only 1 that truly was interested in finding the answer to our query. This was the most disappointing. They had to be prompted each time to find out about anything they didn't know, and refused to even use their internet access at their desks unless asked to do so. It was very disappointing. Oh, just saying Aloha doesn't make you helpful.

The room was large but nothing special in terms of ammenities, although the linen was the worst of any hotel we stayed in during 6 weeks of travelling the US. Truly the worst sheets we have ever slept in, they were like cardboard. Surely someone else has experienced this?

Finally, the pool. It was cold. Yes, so cold we swam in the quiet pool along with many many people as it was much warmer. And we are well experienced with hotel pools. The WL pool was fine, we did a split stay, but the famous Poly pool was only swimmable between 2 and 6 pm if it was a warm day. I didn't even think it was possible for a deluxe to have such a cold pool.

I tend to not post negatively in all my time on DIS but had to get these small points off my chest, as there don't seem to be that many realistic reviews of the Poly.

I think to each their own. Everyone's different and it's wonderful that Disney has so many options.

I love the Poly and try to stay there everytime we go. To us, it's home. We love everything about it and can't think of one negative thing to really say about it.

I would love it if everyone hated the Poly...that way I wouldn't have a hard time getting ressies!

Personally, I think CSR is overrated....again, to each their own.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Personally, I think CSR is overrated....again, to each their own.

OMG be careful! I love CSR but its not my favorite and whenever I post that I prefer CBR and POR I generally get the CSR Guns pointed my way!

I agree, many resorts, many people, many opinions.

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

OMG be careful! I love CSR but its not my favorite and whenever I post that I prefer CBR and POR I generally get the CSR Guns pointed my way!

I agree, many resorts, many people, many opinions.

UGH, you can have it! I detest that resort. Whenever I read a thread about it, I'm always scratching my head going "What IS it about CSR that you like?"

I could care less if someone loves or hates the Poly. Doesn't really matter to me!

Tell ya what, you can have CSR and I'll take the Poly.

 

[bluwater]

Wow, I cannot imagine detesting any of the WDW Resorts -ANY of them.

We even enjoyed our stay at ASMu.

I do want to know what's up with the cold pool at Poly? is this the normal temp of the pool? If we go in late July, will it be an issue?

 

[DaisyD]

Wow, I cannot imagine detesting any of the WDW Resorts -ANY of them.

We even enjoyed our stay at ASMu.

I do want to know what's up with the cold pool at Poly? is this the normal temp of the pool? If we go in late July, will it be an issue?

The Poly pool water is no colder then any of the other resort pools. What can make it feel cooler is the breeze that comes off the lake of where the pool is situated on. After over 15 stays at the Poly and numerous stays at other various WDW resorts I can honestly say the temps of the pools are the same. I've been to the Poly in May, June, Sept, and October. The Poly is a wonderful resort.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I think it is a fine hotel. Well themed, biggish rooms (big for Disney, anyway), decent pools, pretty grounds...and the Boutiki, my favorite hotel gift shop. And it is on the monorail. Can't beat that.

But, hell, yeah I think it is overrated. The place gets so much hype on the DIS that people go in thinking it'll be wonderful and a dream come true and all. It's just a hotel.

When you stay in a Disney hotel, you get a theme and a location near the parks. You don't get rooms as big as you would offsite and you get the same kind of service.

 

[stemikger]

Originally posted by eliza61
Why do you think you would get flamed? Would you flame me because I think they're worth every dime? a lot of people think this way. Like another poster said "that's why the make vanilla & chocolate".
One of disney's great markerting ideas is that they have so many resort choices. One is bound to meet your ideals. Don't think the deluxes are worth the money, that's totally cool. I've stayed all 3 levels all 3 were worth what I paid for them

I'm not a person who goes one place and then compares it to some place else, so I never really understood the "I can stay at the 4 seasons" arguement. If I wanted to stay at the 4 seasons that's where I would be but the point is you are perfectly legitimate in your feelings. I never understood flames everyone is entitled to their perception.

I was just covering myself. Lately, I have been getting flamed by the most basic things. You are an open-minded person, but lately I have been running into some (trying to be nice) close-minded flame blowers that seem like they take pleasure in being mean.

I guess my skin is a little thin (or burnt) so I was just getting ready.

I personally respect all opinions, I just don't know why I have been running into people who don't. Maybe it's the way I'm coming off. Who knows?

I personally think the Poly is great, but I just love Pop Century as much and I can't imagine paying so much more for what I view as basically the same vacation. I do like going to Ohanas for dinner.

 

[Jaymie]

My experience was just the opposite of OP. I loved the Poly, but thought the WL was way overated. No major problems, just wouldn't stay at WL again. I would go back to the Poly anytime (if the finances allowed it).

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I think alot of the deluxes get the hype and then dont live up to it. I really think this is why there are so many choices. We loved some places and hated others but that doesnt make it a bad choice just not right for your family.

We loved AKL, BWV, and YC

Not so crazy about WL, BC ( yes the sister of YC) and Dolphin

Really in the end it is just a matter of taste. Belive me I got flamed when I said I didnt like WL or BC. I prefer YC over BC and AKL over WL. Just the opposite of most people on the boards.

This year we are returning to my first hotel as a child CR and we cant wait. This place genrally gets knocked as a convention resort but I still want to try out each deluxe to see what I like best.

So no flames for OP just be happy Disney has alot of choices!!!

 

[eliza61]

I was just covering myself. Lately, I have been getting flamed by the most basic things. You are an open-minded person, but lately I have been running into some (trying to be nice) close-minded flame blowers that seem like they take pleasure in being mean.

I guess my skin is a little thin (or burnt) so I was just getting ready.

I personally respect all opinions, I just don't know why I have been running into people who don't. Maybe it's the way I'm coming off. Who knows?

I personally think the Poly is great, but I just love Pop Century as much and I can't imagine paying so much more for what I view as basically the same vacation. I do like going to Ohanas for dinner.

That stinks, stemikger. How dull the world would be if every one liked the same thing. Feel free to bounce your vents off my noggin.

Keep having magical vacations.
E

 

[kaffinito]

I don't know whether or not the Poly is overrated. For me it just goes back to a childhood love. I remember the two resorts we saw when I was a kid, CR and the Poly, and I hated the CR. It was too big and empty for me, but I loved the way the Poly looked.

I had a chance to get a value for most of our stay in Sept. and then go to Poly for the last three nights and I took it! So now I get to see and experience the Poly for myself and I can hardly wait. Soon I will find out if I like it or not, and I am looking forward to our stay