Polynesian opinion

[kstelzner]

Hi all..... I so appreciate this forum! Thanks. I have a ? about our resort stay. We are planning on a land/sea package. I just want to make sure I'm booking the right resort for us. It'll be me, DH and DD1 (4 years) and DD2 (1 year). I know the Polynesian is good if you want to see the fireworks. It also has a good pool, right? Well, we don't care about seeing fireworks. In fact, we just recently stayed at the Disneyland Hotel in CA and the kids awoke in a terror b/c of the loud bangs.... they go to bed early especially after a long day with cat naps in the stroller. The pool is of interest and especially one with a kiddie pool. Does the Poly have this? Also, another bennie would be transportation convenience. We'd probably be concentrating on DisneyWorld and Epcot. We don't care about the beach... heard about nasty bacteria in the water and wouldn't take a chance.... I'm such a germ-ophobic. Should we be considering another hotel?

 

[kcashner]

The Poly re-did the pool a few years ago. The volcano is great! Every WDW resort I've ever seen has an appropriate kiddie pool area, and the Poly is no exception.

For transportation, the Poly is right on the monorail. You can't beat that. I trust when you say you will be concentrating on Disneyworld, you mean The Magic Kingdom??? If so, you hop on the resort monorail and it goes to Magic Kingdom. You can also take the monorail to Epcot.

I don't see anything wrong with the Poly. Since we joined DVC, I really like the vacation club resorts, but the Poly is one of the deluxe resorts.

One thought...the kids might really like Animal Kingdom Lodge. Good pool for little ones, but the transportation is not nearly as convenient. Still, there was NOTHING to compare to the giraffe very near to our balcony in the morning--DD woke me with,"Mom, you have to get up RIGHT NOW." They were not quite as close as they look in the commercials, but they were darned close! We even went to the savannah overlook in our robes because we didn't want to miss the dawn stuff there.

 

[lzj21428]

We have stayed at the Poly for every stay at WDW. We will be there in a week + for our land portion of our land/sea. I don't think that the fireworks are that loud. If you're in your room and everything is closed up, I don't think you would hardly hear them.

As for the pool, there isn't a kiddie pool per se, but it has a very shallow area that would be good for the little ones. I think it's called a zero entry. They can just walk right in. I think the pool is really nice and my kids love it, although they are older and can go into the deeper areas and down the slide.

The beach is nice for lazing around in the chairs and hammocks, but you are correct about the water. They don't allow swimming in the lake.

Transportation is great. Just hop on the monorail to go to the Magic Kingdom and a short walk to the TTC to get on the monorail to Epcot. For other parks, the bus service is pretty good and you can catch the bus right out front of the Poly.

I hope I've helped somewhat. have a great trip.

 

[kecall]

The Poly is wonderful! As the others have described the pool, it is very nice with small children because of it's zero-entry. It is one pool rather than a separate "kiddie" pool, but plenty of room for all! Just beautiful!!

The monorail is wonderful to be able to easily hop on and get around. The food there is great too! Try O'hana for a fun family-style dinner!

karen

 

[AFMom]

The pool is wonderful! It is a zero entry pool - kinda like a beach entry would be - sloping from nothing very gradually to deeper water - it really is perfect for a 1 yo to sit and splash in! There is also a fountain play area right next to the pool that even my older (6 &7 yo old) sons liked. The volcano slide is a lot of fun! The transportation can't be beat, you'll really love it there!

 

[Bo'sMom]

The pool is wonderful! It is a zero entry pool - kinda like a beach entry would be - sloping from nothing very gradually to deeper water - it really is perfect for a 1 yo to sit and splash in! There is also a fountain play area right next to the pool that even my older (6 &7 yo old) sons liked. The volcano slide is a lot of fun! The transportation can't be beat, you'll really love it there!

What is also nice, is you can sit right out on the beach and watch the electric water parade go by.

 

[kstelzner]

You guys are so helpful! Thanks. Well, we committed today... put down our credit card. Ouch, but so excited at the same time. But now I'm flip flopping on the resort. Should we stick with the Polynesian or go with Beach Club? I just saw some pics online and the Polynesian looks like something out of the 70s. But sometimes it's hard to tell from a picture. The "beach" decor of the beach club looks like our taste (being from San Diego), but I can't find any pictures of the pool there.

 

[mmouse37]

The pool at the Beach Club is huge...it actually runs in front both the Beach Club and the Yacht Club....I have some pics. The Poly is my favorite resort and Beach Club is my second fav....love them both!!!

http://community.webshots.com/photo/144275914/145462498gKXYMb

http://community.webshots.com/photo/144275914/145462531mGlKIg

http://community.webshots.com/photo/144275914/145462557QVBZqv

http://community.webshots.com/photo/144275914/145462585dsRDYj

http://community.webshots.com/photo/144275914/145462610kSKezM

http://community.webshots.com/photo/144275914/145462634QKRtaR

The pool area at the Yacht/Beach is called Stormalong Bay and has many features....it has a sandy bottom, has a whirpool area, meanders like a lazy river under many foot bridges, and the slide is very cool....an old Pirate Ship!!

MJ

 

[kecall]

Should we stick with the Polynesian or go with Beach Club? I just saw some pics online and the Polynesian looks like something out of the 70s. But sometimes it's hard to tell from a picture. The "beach" decor of the beach club looks like our taste (being from San Diego), but I can't find any pictures of the pool there.

Both resorts are awesome! Both pools are fantastic!! You really can't go wrong with either choice....

Some deciding factors might be:

If you have small children, then staying right on the monorail is worth its weight in GOLD! The Poly can't be beat for that convenience!! It is soo nice to be able to easily walk from your room to the monorail....especially nice if you want to hop on from, say Magic Kingdom, during the day and head back to your room for a break...then hop back on and in minutes you are back in the middle of the park!

The Poly's decor is not so much 70's as it is very tropical...it feels like "thatched-roof huts", palm trees, polynesian music....very much like you are on a tropical island.... For EVERYTHING and ANYTHING about the Polynesian, go to this site: http://tikiman2001.homestead.com/index.html


The Beach Club has a more "American Beach" feel....lots of crisp white, peach....much more like you are "at the shore".... The pool is enormous! If you plan on spending most of your time at Epcot, then the ability to walk over from this resort is nice.

You will have a wonderful experience with either resort you go to....

karen

 

[lezammer]

kstelzner,
I had to laugh after I read your post because I said that very same thing to my husband earlier this evening! I have been trying to plan our trip and tonight DH asked me if I went ahead and booked anything. I said that the Poly seems to be the best choice for us (with 2 kids under 2, we GOTTA HAVE that monorail), but that I didn't book it b/c I couldn't get past the 70's looking rooms. Hawaii 5-O anyone??? He started laughing at me and told me that it shouldn't be a big deal b/c it's only for 5 days, and we're not gonna spend that much time in our room, yadda yadda yadda. But it still bothers me, so much so that once we came home from wherever we were, I started looking up Yacht/Beach Club & Boardwalk. But I really want that monorail, so I may look into Contemporary (also 70's looking, but more Saturday Night Fever than Hawaii 5-O) and Grand Floridian (ouch), but thanks for making me feel like I am not alone!
Keep us and especially me posted as to your final choice! Good luck!!
Lezammer

 

[PiperG]

The "beach" decor of the beach club looks like our taste (being from San Diego), but I can't find any pictures of the pool there.

I was born and raised in San Diego (only in MN for the past 8 years).

I can guarantee you the Poly is paradise, and you won't feel like you are in the '70s. We have been to Hawaii, and I would liken your stay to being in that type of a tropical paradise. The pool is great. The transportation (monorail) is great. The food options are great for little ones. The Beach is great And, the rooms are HUGE. Some of the biggest in WDW. You will love it.

We are trying the Ft. Wilderness cabins in Oct. We are excited about trying something new, but I will definitely miss the Poly.