Polynesian resort, please say it isn't so!!!!?!!!!

[Disney Padawan]

I'm trying not to take ratings so seriously, I understand that anyone can have a bad day, the CM or the guest. Especially when it comes to people complaining about certain things like food, not everyone has the same tastes. However, when complaints arise over and over, about similar things and in the same resort, then that's when I raise an eyebrow. I'm really glad you guys are posting all your experiences with the Poly, Disney needs to hear them. I'm not letting it affect my desicion to stay there just yet, just hoping to read more recent trip reports on this thread. I plan to go next Spring and that still sometime away. I hope the employee situation gets resolved much sooner than that, everyone wants a stress free vacation.

 

[Disney Padawan]

BTW, if anyone knows the current wage for Resort employees and how many days/hours they're required to work, please post. Thanks.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I also didn't like the way the lounge was handled. I'm paying extra for the service and here are guests that somehow got access to the building and are bringing bags to stock up on food and I can see these guests leaving the building with them. I think someone should be posted at the entryway to make sure it is the concierge guests that are coming into the lounge.

Just curious- how could you tell they weren't concierge guests?

That being said, housekeeping there is abysmal. We came back from MK for a swim in the pool and a quick nap at 2:00 and our room had not yet been cleaned. We decided to swim first and at 3:30 our room had still not been cleaned. We laid down for 45 minutes (with no DND sign) then returned to the MK. When we returned from MK at 11:00 p.m. our room had still not been cleaned! Nor had any of the room service trays in the hallway been picked up (that had been sitting there when we originally left for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. that day!) From that point on, my husband called the front desk every day and told them he expected our room to be cleaned in a reasonable amount of time (after explaining the situation) and told them he expected room service trays to be picked up since the hallway smelled. Housekeeping became somewhat better with a phone call every day to remind them, but he shouldn't have had to do that.

A handy hint for the future- at pretty much any hotel, you can call the front desk or housekeeping and let them know what time you'd ike service. So, for example, if you're planning to leave for the parks at 8am, you could call and request that the room be done between 8-12. I'm guessing in your case that they saw the DND while you were down for a nap, and figure that it meant you didn't want service that day.

If I were to stay at the Poly I would pick "Rapa Nui" or specially "Tahiti." I really don't mind the 5/10 minute walk to the GCH. I was wondering if anyone has experienced exessive noise while staying at any of these areas?

My loudest room ever was in Rapa Nui. I could hear the ferry bells all during my afternoon nap, and then around 7am, something in the nearby CM equipment room started beeping LOUDLY, and kept it up for around an hour!


Slightly OT- I keep seeing posts qouting the rate at $400- if you're planning to stay there, why not get an AP and pay only $230-$250/nt? After two nights, the savings has paid for your AP.

 

[Disney Padawan]

My loudest room ever was in Rapa Nui. I could hear the ferry bells all during my afternoon nap, and then around 7am, something in the nearby CM equipment room started beeping LOUDLY, and kept it up for around an hour!


Slightly OT- I keep seeing posts qouting the rate at $400- if you're planning to stay there, why not get an AP and pay only $230-$250/nt? After two nights, the savings has paid for your AP.

WDW Poly Princess I have a question. Do you remember what room number you we're staying at in Rapa Nui?

 

[monorailsilver]

Well I had my 1st less then desirable stay there in July 2005.

We were annoyed at the life guard for telling me that my ds who was barely 2 couldn't swim with swimmies & a tube with me or my dh standing next to him basically holding the tube. That is how he felt comfortable in the pool. There were no signs that said otherwise so I was ticked & walked soaking wet in my 2 month preggo state to the front desk & b@@@@ed to the manager who said there was nothing she could do.

Our initial room was in Rapi Nui which I normally like because it is close to the TTC but all we heard was hammering & sawing & we couldn't use one of the doors because they were remodeling half of it & I really think they should of closed the whole longhouse down.

Our next room was better since it was a garden view but it was the 3rd floor overlooking the quiet pool & we could see the MK's fireworks so that was pretty cool.

But the amount of critters in the room was less then desirable. I am so glad my dh found the 2 unwelcomed guests in the closet before I could. Yes I know it is Florida & there are bugs but in all the years & nights I have spent there I have never seen any.

The time before that we went into our room & I went to use the bathroom & had to come back out because there was still pee in the toilet (gross at the thought that the previous guest did not have the decency to flush the toilet after they were done. There were dirty used towels all over the bathroom too. Needless to say we were moved to another room.

I am giving the Poly one more chance when we go next August. It is my most favorite resort so it better be good this time.

As for noise, I don't think I have heard much in any of the rooms other then the construction noise while in Rapi Nui in 2005.

 

[Disney Padawan]

Well I had my 1st less then desirable stay there in July 2005.

We were annoyed at the life guard for telling me that my ds who was barely 2 couldn't swim with swimmies & a tube with me or my dh standing next to him basically holding the tube. That is how he felt comfortable in the pool. There were no signs that said otherwise so I was ticked & walked soaking wet in my 2 month preggo state to the front desk & b@@@@ed to the manager who said there was nothing she could do.

Our initial room was in Rapi Nui which I normally like because it is close to the TTC but all we heard was hammering & sawing & we couldn't use one of the doors because they were remodeling half of it & I really think they should of closed the whole longhouse down.

Our next room was better since it was a garden view but it was the 3rd floor overlooking the quiet pool & we could see the MK's fireworks so that was pretty cool.

But the amount of critters in the room was less then desirable. I am so glad my dh found the 2 unwelcomed guests in the closet before I could. Yes I know it is Florida & there are bugs but in all the years & nights I have spent there I have never seen any.

The time before that we went into our room & I went to use the bathroom & had to come back out because there was still pee in the toilet (gross at the thought that the previous guest did not have the decency to flush the toilet after they were done. There were dirty used towels all over the bathroom too. Needless to say we were moved to another room.

I am giving the Poly one more chance when we go next August. It is my most favorite resort so it better be good this time.

As for noise, I don't think I have heard much in any of the rooms other then the construction noise while in Rapi Nui in 2005.

Hope you have a great trip! Please post your experience with the Poly here when you get back, OK?

I was wondering if anyone else has had an experience with an unwelcomed "critter" at this or any other Disney Resort?

 

[stitchrulz]

We've only stayed at the Poly once in Sept. 2005 and had a great time. We stayed in Tokelau 2nd floor over the quiet pool. It was quiet, and we had great mousekeeping (we did tip daily). We even had towel animals in the room when we first arrived which was very cool. Having read many posts on this subject, it does seem that Tokelau has the least mousekeeping related issues. We loved the 'Ohana character breakfast, but the dinner quality seems to have gone downhill quite a bit. And, we've done those on many trips, not just when we stayed there.

I'm really torn concerning our upcoming Poly stay. I was taking all the reviews in stride, but with all the AKL folks getting moved . . . I know the AKL situation is supposed to be finished by Sept. 1, and we arrive Sept. 9, so I'm keeping an eye on it. I just don't want to spend all the extra $$ on the hotel (we can stay at SOG) and have it be a bad experience. We go in Sept. specifically because of the lower crowds (resorts & parks). My DH would NOT have a magical trip during peak times, let me tell you!

Thanks so much to everyone for their posts! I'll keep reading . . .

 

[Disney Padawan]

Thanks so much to everyone for their posts! I'll keep reading . . .

Ditto.

 

[CanadianGuy]

AKL Construction issues aside... Disney is experiencing the best year it's had in a few years.. So resorts are going to be busy right thru October at the current booking rates.

How this will affect crowds in the parks is anyone's guess, but expect a significant number of guests at most of the monorail resorts thru October currently.

The AKL issue is barely a blip on the radar when you consider 'regular bookings' are SO high. Poly has been at or near 100% capacity since early May!

Knox

 

[Disney Padawan]

AKL Construction issues aside... Disney is experiencing the best year it's had in a few years.. So resorts are going to be busy right thru October at the current booking rates.

How this will affect crowds in the parks is anyone's guess, but expect a significant number of guests at most of the monorail resorts thru October currently.

The AKL issue is barely a blip on the radar when you consider 'regular bookings' are SO high. Poly has been at or near 100% capacity since early May!

Knox

Probably then, one of the reasons things are the way they are, 100% capacity, not enough help.

 

[Disney Padawan]

I'm really torn concerning our upcoming Poly stay.

Don't be just yet, be like me and wait for more recent trip reports. The latest comments that people post here will give us a better indication of the situation over there. Sorry, I should've replied to this earlier.

 

[fla4fun]

As far as "unwelcome critters" go, that can happen anywhere in Florida. I've actually never seen one in any of my Disney rooms, but I have seen a few in the common areas and lobbies of the various resorts over the years (usually, already dead). But really, in all honesty, Disney does a good job of restraining the bug population. Living here you learn that cleanliness doesn't have a whole lot to do with whether bugs get in. You learn never to leave a door or window open (always use a screen) and to always seal any food like chips or cookies.

And, just in case you didn't know, those big ugly palmetto bugs can FLY!

 

[chrismom3]

Just came back from 10 days at the Poly (this is our 4th year in a row at the Poly). With the exception of a "few minor" things, it was a wonderful experience there. Firsts the negatives:

- On our 3rd day, mousekeeping hadn't serviced our room yet at 3:30 when we needed to shower for dinner. I called them and they brought us towels in 10 minutes and asked if I wanted my room cleaned by a certain time. I said 12:00 would be nice and it was cleaned by then every day (I came back to check a few times when at the pool).
-I did experience a "rude" or not very pleasant woman at concierge in the lobby. I know you can have a bad day - but not when you work at Disney!
- I did notice 1 time about the garbage pickup. They were removing alot of garbage bags by Capt cooks and it tipped over. The guy really tried to pick everything up but left behind some french fries and a cup on the ground. I probably would never have noticed this if I didn't read a comment about this on the Dis boards and the fact I was sitting right there. On a good note - the birds quickly swooped down and picked up the fries for him.

The positives:

-You can't beat the monorail. I've stayed many times at other hotels where there is just bus service and as much as I've loved the hotels, the bus service is just not as convenient as the monorail.
-Great pool - you can hear Hawaiian music underwater.
-Never heard room noise except for fireworks and pool noise at night (we've always stayed in Samoa across from the Volcano Pool).
- Never had a "critter" of any sort in my room
-You can view "wishes" from the beach, dock, pool, marina, Ohanas with piped in music
- Relaxed, comfortable feel to the hotel. Because we like the monorail so much, we've tried all the monorail hotels. The GF is nice but doesn't feel as comfortable as the Poly and the we don't like the pool at the Contemporary because it doesn't have much shade.

Hope this helps.

 

[Disney Padawan]

chrismom3 thanks for your trip report.

Sorry about the CM with the bad mood, we're all human and this does happen from time to time. Overall, it seems like your trip went quite well. I liked how detailed you wrote, I'm looking foward to reading more.

 

[stitchrulz]

Don't be just yet, be like me and wait for more recent trip reports. The latest comments that people post here will give us a better indication of the situation over there. Sorry, I should've replied to this earlier.

Thanks! I'm with you -- keeping an open mind to hear from some recent visits. Keep 'em coming!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

WDW Poly Princess I have a question. Do you remember what room number you we're staying at in Rapa Nui?

Not sure of the room number, but I was on the top floor, at the end of the hall, away from the elevator. Hope that helps!

 

[Disney Padawan]

Not sure of the room number, but I was on the top floor, at the end of the hall, away from the elevator. Hope that helps!

It does, once I download a map, Thanks.

 

[brooksfan5]

You are going to hear bad reviews on every resort, theme park and restaurant if you want to look for them. Some people are never happy! That doesn't mean that service sometimes is not what you want. However, over all, I would say in the 7 times we have been to Disney since Jan 2004, we have been very pleased. I would guess 98% of everything we have done there has been very positive and enjoyable. Not many vacations rank that high.
My nephew and his family just got back from Orlando. Their first trip. His first comment was that he enjoyed Sea World and Universal, but that they just didn't have what Disney has. He put it as, "they take it to another level".
The more money people spend on a vacation the more they expect people to kiss their butts. The parks and restaurants are the same for everyone. No matter where you stay. But staying in a luxury resort doesn't mean everyone staying there will behave the way you want them to. Even rich people's kids run in halls and jump on beds.
Stay where you want to stay and relax. You are on vacation!
Some people wouldn't be happy if you hung em' with a new rope!