Polynesian Pool Photos Never Show Crowds?

[Poly Pal]

Many of the recent threads about the Polynesian talk about how crowded the Volcano Pool is. But when I look at the photos of the pool that people post, the pool never looks crowded. Even when we've stayed Peak Season we've always found chairs or a table by the pool to sit at. I've never heard the lifeguards close the pool to additional guests because the pool has reached capacity either.

Anybody else have a different experience?

BTW, the most crowded pool we've been to has been the Grotto Pool at the Swan / Dolphin when we stayed there in April '06. There we had to hunt for a chair and it was like staking out a parking spot at the mall at Christmas!

 

[Marty Joe]

Poly Pal,
We were at the Poly the week before the 4th of July and the volcano pool was not that bad. We always found lounge chairs to sit on. That was not the case for wishes. You had to mark your territory early. The only real issue (for me) is the pool bar doesn't make Mai Tai's as good as the Tambu Lounge. I will go through my pix an see if I took some shots of the pool.

 

[chamonix]

I don't have any photos of it, but I can assure you we have been at the pool when there was not a single chair anywhere to be had, and the pool can be so full of people that you really can't swim around without bumping into people. In fact, I've seen it this way many times. The chair thing is annoying, but usually if you wait a short while someone will leave. I assume it will be crowded when we are there next week! Of course, it's not all the time, just in the afternoons when it's hot and folks are taking a break to swim, etc. Early morning and late evening the pool can be completely empty. I do have pictures of that, lol.

 

[disneyfan67]

I don't have any photos of it, but I can assure you we have been at the pool when there was not a single chair anywhere to be had, and the pool can be so full of people that you really can't swim around without bumping into people. In fact, I've seen it this way many times. The chair thing is annoying, but usually if you wait a short while someone will leave. I assume it will be crowded when we are there next week! Of course, it's not all the time, just in the afternoons when it's hot and folks are taking a break to swim, etc. Early morning and late evening the pool can be completely empty. I do have pictures of that, lol.

Well, I'm sure I'll be doing my share of bumping into everyone next week as well. In fact this time next week, I'll be getting things together at the PBH and hop on over to the Poly. Checking into the Poly always gives me a great feeling and when I first enter my room, the feeling of "I'm home" comes over me.

As for the Volcano pool, I think Disney and the Poly management didn't count on the pool being as popular as it is when it was designed and built. It gets crowded during the day and to the point of being unusable. It does seem kind of small for the size of the resort.

 

[gardenia]

I took my best pictures of the volcano pool as we walked to Kona Cafe for breakfast at 8:00am, and of course it looked BEAUTIFUL, and completely empty.

Later in the day, it's usually so crowded that we move to the quiet pool.

 

[chamonix]

As for the Volcano pool, I think Disney and the Poly management didn't count on the pool being as popular as it is when it was designed and built. It gets crowded during the day and to the point of being unusable. It does seem kind of small for the size of the resort.

I agree! The zero entry makes it seem much smaller too since half of the pool is only a few inches to a foot deep, so not really usable for anyone over toddler size. I really think the pool should be larger for a resort the size of the Polynesian. Oh, and when you add in all the folks who just pop over from the Magic Kingdom to swim (or other resorts, lol) it's really really too small.

 

[huntconn]

The Volcano pool does get crowded during mid afternoon. But I've never seen all of the lounge chairs taken up. Sometimes we have to wait a little while for a table though. I kind of like how crowded the pool gets to be honest. There's always plenty of other kids for my children to befriend and play with and plenty of other young (and old) parents for us to talk to. I'm not going to be "doing laps" so the the fact that I could not swim from one end to the other without bumping into someone never bothers me. The awesome theming makes it so popular. Thankfully, that popularity is what keeps the quiet pool so "quiet". This makes for 2 totally different experiences which I think is pretty cool actually.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

As for the Volcano pool, I think Disney and the Poly management didn't count on the pool being as popular as it is when it was designed and built. It gets crowded during the day and to the point of being unusable. It does seem kind of small for the size of the resort.

I really think the pool should be larger for a resort the size of the Polynesian. Oh, and when you add in all the folks who just pop over from the Magic Kingdom to swim (or other resorts, lol) it's really really too small.

It's because of those reasons I think WDW should consider checking KTTW cards when entering the Volcano pool the way it is done at SAB, because from what I have read it seems to be the 2nd most popular Resort pool. I also think it should be taken of the list of Resorts where DVC members can pool hopp to for the reasons I already quoted, so it would be just like SAB and the pool at the AKL. However I don't think that will happen for a long time.

 

[Tink415]

I think you don't see many pictures of crowded pools because they don't make as 'nice' a picture.. Lots of pools have been crowded but the only pool I've never been able to find even a single chair at was PO-FQ the day after Easter one year. We put our towels on the concrete pool deck and a chair opened up shortly after.

 

[SeaSpray]

The Volcano pool does get crowded during mid afternoon. But I've never seen all of the lounge chairs taken up. Sometimes we have to wait a little while for a table though. I kind of like how crowded the pool gets to be honest. There's always plenty of other kids for my children to befriend and play with and plenty of other young (and old) parents for us to talk to. I'm not going to be "doing laps" so the the fact that I could not swim from one end to the other without bumping into someone never bothers me. The awesome theming makes it so popular. Thankfully, that popularity is what keeps the quiet pool so "quiet". This makes for 2 totally different experiences which I think is pretty cool actually.

I definitely agree that the Volcano pool is on the small side, and I wish it was bigger, however I feel the same way that you do. Every time I'm there, I seem to get lost in the theme of the resort, the view of the castle from the pool, I love the zero-depth entry, and I'm really just enjoying being on vacation and being at the best (In my opinion. lol) resort on Disney property, and getting to spend some time with my DH (and DSs when they're with us) away from everyday life.

I hope nobody takes my comments as an arguement, because I do think the pool is too small. Just for me personally, it really doesn't bother me.