Polyneisan rehab info

[Tikiman]

Here is what is new. There have been rumors floating around with some good and some bad info about the rehab (adding the new rooms) to Hawaii concierge longhouse. Here is the official answer.
They are stating that Hawaii will be closed from September 17th – October 11th with still a chance that these dates will change or the construction will go over schedule. They are not going to move the concierge but instead have NO concierge available during those dates except in Tonga but no lounge in Hawaii available. People are being moved to other resort concierge.
They have been doing some trimming and removing of trees and bushes from the lagoon views of Hawaii longhouse to improve some of the partly blocked views.
Also, Captain Cook’s will start the expansion into the old stores in September and the intension is to finish before the Christmas holiday season. I guess there is a new menu that has been seen by some of the staff and it looks greatly improved from the old Captain Cook’s. They are increasing the amount of tables and getting a full kitchen so food does not have to be brought from the upstairs kitchen. There is a rumor Kona will only serve breakfast and dinner after the new CC’s opens.
Aotearoa was supposed have started work to redesign the rooms but it looks like work has not started yet. At this rate I think there is little chance they will have all the longhouses done by July 2006 as reported by others.
That is all for now.
Aloha
Steve

 

[gduvall]

Are they remodeling the standard view rooms also at this time(garden view), if so have they started on any of them and will some be done by Christmas time.

 

[Tikiman]

I am not sure what you are asking. Hawaii longhouse will be done during those dates (garden and lagoon view) and other longhouses will start on different dates throughout the next two years, one building at a time.

Hawaii should be done before Christmas time but I mentioned the Christmas season as when they should be done with Captain Cook’s. I have no idea what other longhouses will be done by then since they have no firm dates for the other buildings that they are reporting.

 

[gduvall]

That did answer my question, I didn't know if Disney was starting the remodel by just doing the concierge level rooms first or what.

 

[MinnieSummer]

I'm confused again. I thought they just completed refurbishing the longhouses. Is this another refurbishment or a continuance of the last one? I know they were remodeling the main building but somehow I missed the longhouses. Wait, I remember seeing pictures of the Contemporary and Poly sample rooms for future refurbs, is that what this is?

 

[Tikiman]

They were planning on doing Aotearoa longhouse but it looks like they still have not started. At the beginning of the year Rapa Nui was going to be started in January (but was not) and Tahiti was going to be in April (and was not) and even Hawaii was going to be started in June (and was not) so that is why I say that the schedule changes often. With them half way through this year and still don’t have a single longhouse started I would say there is very little chance they will be done next summer. It sounds like they are planning on doing much of the work in the GCH and longhouses after the summer crowds.

 

[Tikiman]

They finished with the work on the foundations, replacing the carpets and room furnishings with the old look. This is now to replace everything and give it the new look. They needed to do the work before to fix things that were worn and do some work to the buildings. They had been working on the new design since last year in the test rooms and now that the design is finished and approved they are going to update the rooms to the new design. Tahiti, Rapa Nui and Tokelau only had some soft rehabs and did not have the work done over the last few years. Tahiti is also in need of repair from some damage done during the hurricanes. That is why they were going to start with those longhouses to get the new room design. So yes you are correct that they just did rehab to the original longhouses. The new design will look like the photos that have been shown of the new rooms.

 

[MamaKate]

Did you think the whole rehab will be complete by Thanksgiving 2006??

We were planning on staying here before our cruise, but I don't want to be there during renovations.

Nov. 2006 is a long time away, so hopefully they will be done by then.

I saw the picture and it looks great. I would love to stay in one of the new rooms!!!

,
Katie

 

[SeaSpray]

Thanks for the info, Steve

I'm especially glad to hear about the trimming of trees in front of the Hawaii lagoon view rooms. I'll be there in a week and a half!

 

[chamonix]

Thanks for the update Steve.

Of course, I am very sad and frustrated because I just made ressies for Oct 10th-16th in concierge. We looked at other resorts because we knew this rehab was in the works, but there isn't any availability for those dates anywhere else either. Where are they going to move us? If they had pulled the other concierge rooms so they would have them available for guests to be moved, I wish they would have pulled the Poly concierge rooms from availability as well. That only makes sense. But I have stopped thinking it's about that, LOL.

I'm sad for the friends who were coming with us this trip--it will be their first time and I really wanted the Poly concierge magic for them. Oh well. I wonder when they will get around to notifying me? We have two LVC rooms booked! (actually we arrive even earlier, but they only had availability in concierge for those dates. Oct7-10 we are booked in a regular lagoon room at the Poly.)

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

Good Morning Steve,

What are they changing/replacing at the Hawaii building? Any idea if the flat screen tv's are included during the close down?

 

[Tikiman]

Did you think the whole rehab will be complete by Thanksgiving 2006??

We were planning on staying here before our cruise, but I don't want to be there during renovations.

Nov. 2006 is a long time away, so hopefully they will be done by then.

I saw the picture and it looks great. I would love to stay in one of the new rooms!!!

,
Katie

Lets just say when they did the same thing (redesigning the whole room) in 1996 they were not done with all the buildings until 1998.

7thdwarf,

They are making the rooms look like the test room photos.

 

[grimley1968]

I just want to say thanks, Tikiman. Very useful info!

 

[BCV23]

Thanks very much for the update, Tikiman.

I'm hoping that this schedule for Hawaii holds firm ....if not even earlier for your dates chamonix.

Aloha!

 

[Bride In The Attic]

Hi Steve -

Will Captain Cook's remain open during their rehab?

As always you rock!

 

[scanne]

OK Steve,

I have a question that solely relies on your personal experience and preference.

Some info for you first:
I requested Aotearoa because I "thought" that it would be complete by July. We're going July 25th. Now my understanding is that there won't be any "newly" refurbed rooms ready yet.

So my question to you is:

Should we stick with our Aotearoa request or request Tahiti? I know that these are only requests and that there are no guarantees. I'm just curious which building you like better and why. BTW, I have two small children and will be using the monorail most often.

Thank you. Your opinion is sincerely valued.

Mahalo!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

thanks for the info Tikiman
very interesting

 

[lmhall2000]

Aloha, Steve!! You're a gem to update us Poly can't get enough details planners! Along the same lines as Scanne...I have a question...

I've booked a Standard view room for 9/12/05....I mainly booked Poly due to the chance of having all "new" bedding and carpet...my son and now daughter have severe asthma and are touched off by the chemicals they use to "superclean" a room as well as remnants of smoke and even perfume left from other guests. I was hoping there would be atleast a few rooms completed in a standard view by September...does it look like that is a no?

If so, any recommendations on which longhouse you think would have the best chance of being a "clean" room or free from elements that affect an asthmatic? I know that you have had issues with asthma and may have an idea of any longhouses better than others.

Thanks!
Tara

 

[Sammie]

I was told the delay in going forward after Tonga Suites was finished was due to a delay in the furniture being delivered. They are "hoping" that the furniture will arrive by the end of June. After it arrives the plan at this time, always subject to change, is to begin with Niue, since it is the smallest building.

 

[imatoad]

Hmmm, now I"m concerned, we are booked in Aotearoa in Oct., and I'm wondering if the place is going to be in the middle of rehab when we're there. I know it needs to be done, but I really don't want to deal with that, and think maybe I should request a different building.