Polynesian and Contemporary in the 1970's-1980's

[colleen costello]

I can remember thinking the Contemporary was just SOOOO modern. It had these lights in the concourse that were covered with crazy orange pieces of glass to look like modernish "trees' and to this day I miss them. We always dined at the Poly; Coral Isle Cafe was a buffet and the chefs in their tall white hats would carve prime rib or ham for you. At Papeete Bay Verandah they would give all the ladies a flower for their hair. You were supposed to wear it behind one ear if you were single and the other if you were married. I thought that was so neat. I also remember buying lots of shell jewelry they sold at a souvenir shop at the bottom of the steps, where the DVC guy is now.

My Mom's favorite thing was that if you swam underwater, you could hear Hawaiian music playing. We were at the Poly a week ago and they still play the music! We would have nice dinners at Tangaroa Terrace and the walk back to your room, after dark, would be magical. The rooms had funky green wallpaper and I recently found a little soap, wrapped in that same crazy green color, covered with Tikis and labeled "Polynesian Village Resort." Even then the place was wonderful!

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

As a kid I also stayed in the Contemporary and the Polynesian numerous times.

Contemporary Memories:

1. As a kid, sleeping on the little sofa bed.
2. Waiting in the morning to catch the monorail to MK
3. Boat trip to Discovery Island and Hoop Dee Doo Revue
4. Fiesta Fun Center (awesome shooting gallery like in Frontierland)
5. 4th of July fireworks from the restaraunt
6. Tower room view of MK
7. Feeding the ducks in the wing rooms, early morning
8. Butter packets shaped like mickey!

Polyensian Memories:

1. Taking family picture in front of water fountain in lobby
2. Actually being able to swim in the lake
3. Old Luau
4. Kid's Pirate Adventure (don't remember the actual name)

 

[ksc37]

In 1985, my parents and my sister (then 20) and I (then 17) went to WDW without my two older brothers. My dad had reserved a tower room at the contemporary, but they did not have a tower room available when we checked in, so we got a 14th floor one bedroom suite with a view of Bay Lake!

My sister & I (not being world travelers) were VERY impressed with the two large rooms and the extra long balcony (though I think I would still be impressed). We loved the robes with Mickey Mouse on them, the lounge, etc. I remember the Top of the World (it was so fancy!) and being on the monorail gave my sister and I the opportunity to ditch mom & dad and go to ALL of the Disney theme parks (all 2 of them!). They were still building the living seas at Epcot, so when taking the monorail there, you would glide over a big construction site.

We enjoyed front row seats at the Luau (thanks to the concierge service we had being in the suite!).

My sister & I are talking about going back to the Contemporary to celebrate her 40th b-day next year, as it was one of her favorite vacations ever (though I doubt we'll be shelling out the bucks for a suite!).

Thanks for helping me relive happy memories.

 

[whjoyjr]

Our first trip we stayed at what was then called "Lake Buena Vista" at the Howard Johnson's. They had a bus that took up to the TTC, where we either took the ferry or the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom.

We went back a few years later and stayed at the Contemporary. My biggest memory was being able to wake up, dress, and sneak out of the room at 6:00 in the morning and ride in the front of the monorail with the pilot for a few circuits. This was also the summer that Space Moutain was open, and after riding it once, he vowed never to ride it again. Of course, they were hyping it up that you were doing 70mph...

That was also the trip that I knew that the Magic Kingdom was open until midnight ot 1 am. I could just not wait to be able to be there at night.

Today: I can't wait to take my daughters to E-Ride night. My oldest is planning on being the trooper this time around. Let's see if her tiny hinie can cash the checks her mouth has been writing. She wants to do Space Moutain...

 

[Demosthenes]

My favorite memory from "back in the day" is of the “Broadway at the Top Dinner Show.” They used to have a bit where the singers would be out in the audience singing to the crowd. At one point, they would being singing along with a song and suddenly put the microphone in someone's face. Of course, no one ever sang and the silence got quite a laugh. The first time my family saw the show, the performers were singing "New York, New York!" At the very end of the song, during the final chorus line, one of the performers snuck up on my Dad and put the microphone in his face. My dad is a local politician and was blessed with a golden baritone voice; he doesn't shy away from microphones. Without missing a beat, he belted out the final "New York!" It brought down the house. Afterward, the performers came up to me (I was just probably 8) and said, "You kids probably don't realize how neat your dad really is." That is one of my all-time favorite memories of my childhood.

 

[Demosthenes]

Originally posted by BCV23

Originally posted by sotoalf
Where would the different flagged boats go? I had no idea a boat ran from the Polynesian to Ft Wilderness.

I think the boat that ran at night for HdD had a brown flag but boy it was along time ago! I found my oldest Birnbaum book, 1985 and it talks about blue flag boats(CR-DI-FW), green flag (MK-FW-DI), gold flag (Polynesian-FW-PI). but I don't think this is complete. I think from the Polynesian, you could take a blue flag launch to the CR and perhaps a red flag one to MK? Hopefully someone else will remember!

Fun thread!

I happened to find a near mint condition, first edition Official Guide just two weeks ago in a used bookstore. It is a real walk down memory lane to. It talks about the Gold, Green, and Blue flagged boats that traversed the waters of WDW. The Gold flagged watercraft went from the Polynesian to Discovery Island, to Fort Wilderness. The Blue flagged boat went from the Contemporary to Discovery Island, to Fort Wilderness. The Green flagged boat went from the Magic Kingdom to Discovery Island, to Fort Wilderness. There was also a large paddle wheeler that what was known as the “World Cruise” from the Magic Kingdom to Discovery Island and, during operating hours for River Country, to Fort Wilderness. The “World Cruise” was narrated and passed by all of the existing resorts and also by the sites of planned resorts (The Venetian, the Asian, and the Persian). The cruise cost $4, but included admission to Discovery Island.

 

[sotoalf]

Originally posted by Demosthenes
I happened to find a near mint condition, first edition Official Guide just two weeks ago in a used bookstore. It is a real walk down memory lane to. It talks about the Gold, Green, and Blue flagged boats that traversed the waters of WDW. The Gold flagged watercraft went from the Polynesian to Discovery Island, to Fort Wilderness. The Blue flagged boat went from the Contemporary to Discovery Island, to Fort Wilderness. The Green flagged boat went from the Magic Kingdom to Discovery Island, to Fort Wilderness. There was also a large paddle wheeler that what was known as the “World Cruise” from the Magic Kingdom to Discovery Island and, during operating hours for River Country, to Fort Wilderness. The “World Cruise” was narrated and passed by all of the existing resorts and also by the sites of planned resorts (The Venetian, the Asian, and the Persian). The cruise cost $4, but included admission to Discovery Island.

That's incredible! In what year was this guide published?

 

[zippeedee]

I love this thread! In 1976 I was a senior in high school and took my first trip with friends, no parents. We stayed off site for the first four nights (the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Inn across from the airport -ick!). We could only afford to spend two nights at the Contemporary, at a whopping $89 per night. We were in the North wing and had a perfect view of the Castle. I will NEVER forget that amazing view. We had also never seen a bathroom quite that big anywhere. I think we spent more time exploring the bathroom than the hotel! We brought one dressy outfit each, to wear to dinner at Top of The World. We saw Frankie Avalon perform, and I remember him having video screens with footage of sharks (yes, it sounds like a bad dream but I swear it's true).
We were so inexperienced. The waitress at TOTW gave one of my friends the wine cork and she put it in her purse, she thought it was a souvenier! We all got a good laugh when we later found out that she was supposed to check it to make sure the wine was good!
We were also so clueless we would walk all the way to the monorail station to go to MK, we didn't know you could just walk on the path. Of course, we also were convinced that you could not get from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland or back by walking, you had to take the skyway. I'd like back all the hours we wasted in that line! Thanks for bringing this thread back. So many happy memories!

 

[Wilma Flintstone]

I have been away from the boards for awhile, but this post brought me back to life again!!
My family and I stayed at the Polynesian Hotel in 1978 in a "Tonga" first-floor room right in front of that above-posted penninsula. Things I remember: the flower behind my right ear (I'm available); the smell of the Poly lobby (agree totally with Julianne and Traci-lyn); the weird coconut-infused shrimp dinner at Papeete Bay Veranda; the motor launch you took from Poly's dock to Discovery Island (which was a quiet walk-through aviary with a wrecked boat on its southern shore); shopping at the Disney Village Marketplace (again--quiet and unassuming); the exciting (but totally uninviting, to me at least) Contemporary and its fabulous nighttime view from the lounge; and the wonderful added treat of watching the Electrical Water Pageant from our very own beach.
I have strived to incorporate some of my memories into my daily life, via photos, Poly tiki glasses (that weighed a ton), and even the SCENT of that LOBBY!! A store called Garden Botanika had a soap and bath line with buttermilk that had that scent and I finally found a candle that reminds me of the Poly lobby:
Joya Candle's Ivy and Cassis
(www.joyacandle.com)
Thanks to all for contributing these wonderful memories. You really have made my day! --Wilma

 

[sotoalf]

Originally posted by zippeedee

We were also so clueless we would walk all the way to the monorail station to go to MK, we didn't know you could just walk on the path.

Too funny! So even in the '70s you could walk from the Contemporary to the MK? I didn't know. I thought that path opened in the early 1990's

 

[Demosthenes]

Originally posted by sotoalf
That's incredible! In what year was this guide published?

The copyright is for 1982, but the book says 1983 in bold blue letters on the cover.

 

[BCV23]

Originally posted by Demosthenes
The copyright is for 1982, but the book says 1983 in bold blue letters on the cover.

Very cool! Thanks for the detail.

Wilma, thanks for the link. We all miss that smell as I don't think housekeeping uses whatever product used to produce it.

sotoalf, I don't think that path was there either until the bus drop off was added to the MK. Remember years ago how the resort buses dropped folks off at the TTC? So zippeedee wasn't clueless at all...at least if I remember correctly!

 

[castleview]

For me, it was being able to ride the monorail over to the Polynesian to go swimming and then head back "home" to the Contemporary!

Allison

 

[Disney Fool]

Speaking of the Disney Village Marketplace (oh, how I agree, so calm and inviting), does any one remember the symbol for it was two birds in flight? Also, not only the boats had colored flags, but the buses did, too. I distinctly remember the buses were flagged different colors, and some had a white stripe on them; then they were discontinued. They either ran out of colors, or it got too confusing! Do you remember also, the old "Food and Fun" cards which included meals with appetizers and dessert? And, they had multiple choices of things to do. Ah, those were the days. Isn't it odd that with only the Magic Kingdom and 2 hotels, and only the Polynesian Luau, Broadway at the Top, and the Hoop-De-Doo Revue, there was still plenty to do and see, and life was good? You truly felt relaxed when you returned home from the World.

 

[Chicago526]

I stayed in 1983, and my favorite thing was the kick-butt arcade room at the CR! It had a shooting range and everything! One whole wall of just pin-ball! All the arcade clasics of the time, Pac-Man, Poll Position, Centiped, you name it-they had it! My parents pulled my brothers and I out of school for a whole week, and every night when we got back from the park, before they would let us go to the arcade, we had to do all our homework for that day. It was fun, because normally my parents didn't give us money for stuff like that, but they'd give each of us a couple of dollars every day for games. Of course, it DID get us kids out of the room for at least an hour....wink-wink, nudge-nudge!

 

[zippeedee]

Originally posted by sotoalf
Too funny! So even in the '70s you could walk from the Contemporary to the MK? I didn't know. I thought that path opened in the early 1990's

Ok, maybe we weren't so clueless after all. Once I saw it I assumed it was always there. Thanks!

 

[sotoalf]

Originally posted by Disney Fool
Speaking of the Disney Village Marketplace (oh, how I agree, so calm and inviting), does any one remember the symbol for it was two birds in flight? Also, not only the boats had colored flags, but the buses did, too. I distinctly remember the buses were flagged different colors, and some had a white stripe on them; then they were discontinued. They either ran out of colors, or it got too confusing! Do you remember also, the old "Food and Fun" cards which included meals with appetizers and dessert? And, they had multiple choices of things to do. Ah, those were the days. Isn't it odd that with only the Magic Kingdom and 2 hotels, and only the Polynesian Luau, Broadway at the Top, and the Hoop-De-Doo Revue, there was still plenty to do and see, and life was good? You truly felt relaxed when you returned home from the World.

Disney did alway with flagged buses in 1993. It was not only getting too confusing, but there were also way too many hotels. Flags and colours work only when they're only 5 or 6 hotels on property.

WDW used to be so much quieter in the early days. You basically went to the two parks, the Village Marketplace, or relaxed at your hotel. And there was A LOT more going on at the Contemporary and Polynesian then.

Does anyone know how difficult it was to book a Disney resort in the 70s and '80s? My mother told me once that you had to call as far away as two years in advance!

 

[whjoyjr]

Originally posted by sotoalf
Does anyone know how difficult it was to book a Disney resort in the 70s and '80s? My mother told me once that you had to call as far away as two years in advance!

Yep. The general rule was to call 1 year prior to your desired stay. I do not remember, but I do not think that they took ressies any farther thhan 1 year...

 

[Wenda]

I will always have a spot in my heart for the Poly. I stayed there in 1973 with my best friend for our first vacation without family. We got a package deal thru the old Eastern Airlines and it included the hotel, luau and a ticket book and the plane fare. It was in the summer and the MK was open until 1am. Then we went swimming and were very impressed with the water fall in the pool. We got ribs from the Barefoot Bar and I was very disappointed when I stayed there years later and they only served drinks there. We bought extra E tickets and rode the HM right at midnight. The park was great at night with no kids and no lines. We also enjoyed swimming at the beach there and returned there each evening to watch the Electrical Water Pagent and then back to the park after the first Electrical Parade. The park would seem to empty out then and we stayed for the second parade. I had forgotten about the CM's having to open the Monorail doors for us. We were so very impressed with the monorail and loved riding it thru the CR. I have stayed at the Poly several times since but I am never thrilled with the changes because I always think of it the way it was that first time.

 

[Wilma Flintstone]

Yes, Wenda, I agree totally with you about how it used to be. That's why I so enjoyed getting back into the DIS Boards to remember back when the Magic Kingdom was a playground for kids during the day and at night it would thin out for us "cool" young people to walk around with the piped-in music playing softly and the rides so easy to get on to. When you walked past the Luau onto the beach, you would keep going with only the monorail train as your sometime companion. There was no wedding pavilion or Grand Floridian, just sand, water and palm. I remember that the Atlanta Rhythm Section (a real popular band in the mid to late 70s) was playing at "Grad Night" in the MK and were staying at the Poly. My brother and I assumed they were band members (long hair, I guess) and talked with them for awhile. We asked if it was possible to get in that night and my brother (a professional photographer) even offered to take photos for free for this privilege. The band said even their girlfriends/wives could not get admittance to Grad Night. That's how it was back then. Things were softer, quieter, sweeter then. Each time I return to the Poly, I try to find one thing that has somewhat remained the same as what's in my memories, and that seems to be just enough!