Polynesian rehab schedule?

[cindyfan]

Sorry it this has been asked too many times......
But I just can't seem to find a link to get the info.......

Looking to find out........
How much of the Poly rehab is done? What buildings are done and which are not?

Will it all be complete by October??

Thanks for all the info!!!!!!!!

 

[Tikiman]

Done: Fiji, TUvalu, Aotearoa, Samoa

June 2003 Hawaii (thru October 17th)
September 2003 Niue and Tonga

No schedule for Rarotonga as of yet.

No need for rehab: Tahiti, Rapa Nui and Tokelau

 

[BCV23]

I was making a ressie through WDTC today and was told that Hawaii "should" be done by the end of August. I was surprised at that. He also told me that they weren't gutting Hawaii. Wonder if this info is right? He seemed to be a very thorough CM though. I've had him before and he's very helpful.

Also told me that they aren't adding any accessible rooms to Hawaii. I was very, very sad to hear that!

 

[Tikiman]

Well I am in contact with concierge at the Polynesian about every week and this was the latest info. There were even some very good Polynesian CM’s that did not know the dates changed to October 17th and then they looked into it and said I was correct. As far as gutting the rooms, just like all the older longhouses that have to have the foundations fixed to remove the gap that collects moisture they have to gut all the ground level rooms (as in the photo below) They are also doing something to the lounge area. The roof was off the other week. All rooms will also have new temperature control systems and all the materials in the rooms will be replaced.

I think many of the CM’s at WDTC are great but do not always have accurate info but they have a lot of resorts to keep track of.

 

[BCV23]

Then I'm sure you're more up to date than he was. I agree that they have so many resorts to keep track of. Just wanted to post what I'd heard today. Also thought it was strange that they weren't doing more extensive repairs because we were in 108 last October and while it was fresh in decor there was a VERY soft spot in the floor! Have you heard anything about accessible rooms being added? I hope his info is wrong about that too!

 

[goofy4tink]

OMG!!! That's the room I'll probably get Just kidding.

 

[Tikiman]

He is correct about that. I think it is unfortunate. They will not be making any changes to the structure so the room design will not be changed. This is also why they will not be adding balconies to the second floors. It would be too much work on the structure.

I have a question for you. I was told before that the rooms with the roll-in showers were in Tokelau and I know they are in Rapa Nui. Now someone just called and asked and they told them there were no rooms for the disabled in Tokelau. Do you know if that is true?

Aloha

Steve

 

[BCV23]

Mahalo for the answer. Very sad.

We have only stayed in accessible rooms in Rapa Nui (of course it was Pago Pago when we first stayed there). However we were shown an accessible room in Tokelau when our daughter was getting old enough to need one and we knew we would want one for the next trip. Unfortunately I can't remember if it was a rollin shower or just a reconfigurated bathroom with tub with bars. But so there is at least one room in Tokelau. As I remember it was facing the quiet pool and just a door or two south of the little lobby on the first floor.

 

[cindyfan]

Anyone with pictures of the new rooms???
How are they different?

 

[Tikiman]

Mahalo BCV23



cindyfan

The rooms are not any different, just new stuff. The only thing that even looks different is the carpet in the hallways is different and I believe that on some or all the longhouses worked on they put in automatic doors. I know they did in Samoa.

Here is a photo someone sent me of the new rooms in Aotearoa.

The daybed looks different in the photo because they had the cover off of it but they look the same. I know this does not show much of the room but trust me, the rooms look the same.

Aloha

Steve

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by Tikiman
Done: Fiji, TUvalu, Aotearoa, Samoa

June 2003 Hawaii (thru October 17th)
September 2003 Niue and Tonga

No schedule for Rarotonga as of yet.

No need for rehab: Tahiti, Rapa Nui and Tokelau

Don't know how accurate my info is but during our May trip I spoke with the maintenance supervisor. He said that Raratonga is going down in January for rehab. We were talking about the elevator breaking and that is when he said this. Hopefully it will still be up for my October trip.

 

[Tikiman]

I would put my money on January. The typical schedule for the Polynesian seems to do things in June-September and January. I would have guessed January for Rarotonga but no one has told me anything yet. Thanks for the info. I will post it when it becomes official.

You may want to consider skipping Rarotonga to stay in before the rehab. I have been getting very bad reports back form those who have stayed in the longhouse. They have had housekeeping issues and they say the building is in need of rehab.
Maybe shoot for Samoa. It is non-smoking now and is in just as good a location as Rarotonga.

Aloha

Steve

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by Tikiman
I would put my money on January. The typical schedule for the Polynesian seems to do things in June-September and January. I would have guessed January for Rarotonga but no one has told me anything yet. Thanks for the info. I will post it when it becomes official.

You may want to consider skipping Rarotonga to stay in before the rehab. I have been getting very bad reports back form those who have stayed in the longhouse. They have had housekeeping issues and they say the building is in need of rehab.
Maybe shoot for Samoa. It is non-smoking now and is in just as good a location as Rarotonga.

Aloha

Steve

I was just at the Raratonga last month for two weeks. We really didn't notice any problems with the building. The rooms were very clean and really didn't look bad at all. Housekeeping was wonderful. They did a fantastic job and always left extras including lots of towel animals. The only thing that was noticed, and this by my 4 y/o, was that one of the bedspreads had a two inch tear in it. I didn't even notice that until she brought it to my attention. We love that building as it is so close to the GCH and we love the monorail view too. I have been checking out Samoa just in case Raratonga goes down before October but have noticed a few things on our last couple of trips about that building. For one, the side facing the volcano pool has blinding sun all day and really affects the patio floors since they have no cover over them at all. There are no balconies on the second floor, which I'm sure your know, that really makes that bottom floor so stark and open to weather. It is rains, which happens a bit, you cannot sit outside and enjoy the patio. We do ask for a 3rd floor room as we love our balcony, but I'm afraid we would be stuck in a patio room and that would be awful. Well, awful as you can get for staying at the Poly in the middle of WDW! LOL! The elevator does need a rehab for sure as it broke our last day there and we had to use the stairs. Luckily they got it up and running quickly so it wasn't that bad. Other then that we really enjoyed that building and saw nothing out of the ordinary as far as needing a rehab. If we did get Samoa then I would ask for a 3rd floor facing the quiet pool for more privacy and less sun. Keep us posted! Thanks!

 

[Tikiman]

Thanks for the info Terry. I am the last one to say bad things about the buildings at the Polynesian but out of all the reports I get the most negative ones are about Rarotonga. I believe there are many rooms in Rarotonga that are just fine but it will be the last of the original longhouses that has not had the rehab so I try to steer people away from it until it does. Remember the sun issue with Samoa changes at different times of the year. I walk the grounds of the Polynesian every summer to check things out and Rarotonga’s east pool side seemed to have quite a bit of sun when I was there and Samoa seemed very nicely shaded so it all depends on the time of year. As far as rain the above overhang protects even the ground level. I know because every storm I sit on the patio and watch the rain and I am completely dry. It takes a lot of wind for the water to ever even reach the tile on the patio.

I know Rarotonga will not be done in October or even started but it sounds like the beginning of next year they will start work on it. Tokelau is another good location.

I like your comment about as bad as it can get being at the Polynesian in the middle of WDW

Aloha

Steve

 

[LadyLt]

Originally posted by Tikiman
I
You may want to consider skipping Rarotonga to stay in before the rehab. I have been getting very bad reports back form those who have stayed in the longhouse. They have had housekeeping issues and they say the building is in need of rehab.
Maybe shoot for Samoa. It is non-smoking now and is in just as good a location as Rarotonga.

Aloha

Steve

I want to make a comment here and I may get flamed for it. But people need to realize that Somoa is a very small building. There are only 54 rooms in the entire building. So many people are requesting that building that it is not possible for everyone to get it.

I work the front desk of the Polynesian. I am so tired of having guests scream at me, curse me, cry tears, or demand a manager when they do not get that building. All of those have happened in the last two months.

A request is a request, it is NOT guaranteed. Cast members will try to meet as many requests if possible. But you may not get what you want each time. Other people are requesting the same things.

 

[Tikiman]

There is no reason you should get flamed. You are correct and any person should know by now that you cannot pick were you stay or what room number you get. You can request but this is in no way a guarantee or a reservation for that building or room. I am sorry if my suggestions have caused you problems. I just try to give an honest opinion to those who ask. I have considered not posting anymore and not renewing my web page and if this is causing the staff more harm than good maybe it is time.

There are not many bad spots at the Polynesian so I myself believe a request is not necessary.

Again I am sorry to make your job more difficult.

Aloha

Steve

 

[LadyLt]

Originally posted by Tikiman
There is no reason you should get flamed. You are correct and any person should know by now that you cannot pick were you stay or what room number you get. You can request but this is in no way a guarantee or a reservation for that building or room. I am sorry if my suggestions have caused you problems. I just try to give an honest opinion to those who ask. I have considered not posting anymore and not renewing my web page and if this is causing the staff more harm than good maybe it is time.

There are not many bad spots at the Polynesian so I myself believe a request is not necessary.

Again I am sorry to make your job more difficult.

Aloha

Steve

NO, NO, NO!!! Your site is the one of the best I have ever seen. I learned a LOT about the Polynesian Resort from your site just after I was hired. As time goes on, I have learned a lot more from experience. But your site is fantastic!!

I just want people on this board to realize that they can request something, but not to expect it. I have read many, many posts where the poster thinks that because they requested something that they are automatically going to get it.

Somoa is a nice building. But I also love the views from Fiji. And Tokelua is a good choice for being halfway in the complex. Like you said, I don't think there is really a bad building in the Polynesian, though I don't care that much for Rapa Nui.

I experience this every day at the Polynesian. But I know that other cast members experience it at other resorts. I just want more people to realize that they can't have everything they request and to ask them not to throw fits if they don't get their way.

 

[Tikiman]

I agree with all you have said but I am starting to realize the monster I helped create. The more information I give everyone the more they want and now they are armed with demands they put on you and the rest. That is not a good thing. I think it may have been better before when everything at the Polynesian was a surprise when you got there instead of knowing almost every inch of the place from all my photos.

I can remember how excited I was to visit the first time and see it all. Maybe I am taking away the surprise and just building up everyones expectations. That is no help to anyone. The web pages are due to expire next month anyway. I think it is time to let them go. I have seen how bad some guests can treat the staff there. I don’t want to be contributing to that behavior. I am sure you are not the only one there dealing with this abuse.

I think many believe there is one magical spot at the Polynesian because the most asked question is which room is the best at the Polynesian. In my opinion….ALL OF THEM!!!

 

[Mike_in_FL]

I think many believe there is one magical spot at the Polynesian because the most asked question is which room is the best at the Polynesian. In my opinion….ALL OF THEM!!!

The best room (IMHO of course) at the Polynesian? The concierge lounge in Hawaii!!! I like your answer too though...

44 days and counting until we get to check out Tahiti

Aloha!
Mike

PS I will be sorry to see your site disappear, if you choose to remove it. We loved reading the history, and it is really whetting our appetites for our upcoming vacation. I thought that we were pretty seasoned Poly veterans, but I bow to the master!!

 

[Mike_in_FL]

Tikiman,

If you indeed think that your site is causing guests to have unreasonable expectations and to be rude to CMs, maybe you could just remove that information that talks about those things. For the record, I don't think your site is doing it at all. Rude people are an unfortunate fact of life, and they would be rude with or without your website.

Mike