Polynesian Resort

[imatoad]

Well all, I've been coming to the Disboards for some time now, and feel it's time to take a break. Lately there seems to be more badmouthing of everything in general, and while opinions are one thing, being obnoxious is another. No offense to teentoddlermom, but yours is the straw that broke my back. Feel free to retort, but it will fall on deaf ears, as I won't be back here for a while.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

We've been to the POLY too many times to count. You will love the location and atmosphere! Great experience to really "soak" in Disney!

My first...and still my favorite...the POLY!

 

[Melrosgirl]

We are planning a trip to Disney for mid-June with 3 kids (10, 8 & 6). Planning on staying at the Polynesian due to access to monorail. Does anyone have any experience with this resort? Is it worth the money for the location?

Just back from Poly. Garden view room, Rapa Nui room with view of fireworks (3rd floor). Nice resort. I doubt we'll stay there again as we like the Beach Club better. Was a little disappointed in the whole resort. Disappointed may not be the right word, but it just wasn't as magical as I was hoping. Monorail access is great if you have a stroller. Rapa Nui was great for access to TTC. (5 minute walk)

The pool was very crowded. Hard to enjoy and impossible to swim in with so many people.

Overall a nice resort. The servers at the Kona Cafe need a lesson in being friendly (one waiter asked us if we were "ready or not" to order - it was quite rude). He seemed ticked that we didn't spit out our order right away to him.

The housekeeping was not good. 3 days in a row we had no Kleenex. The box was totally empty. 3 days and it was never refilled. Not enough to complain about, but for paying $300 a night, this is housekeeping 101. Hard to believe it was missed 3 days in a row.

Overall a nice resort though.

 

[DisneyFans4]

I'm so sorry you didn't have a good visit. I've read many posts about problems at the pool. Do you know if those that were there were even Poly guests? Seems like the big problems I'm hearing about is people from outside Disney or even other resorts, besides DVC members who I believe are permitted to do this, are just walking in and using the pool. It's just too easy to walk into the Poly and then walk out the back and use their pool.
I know during my visits I had overheard people saying they weren't even Poly guests and then those who actually would come and save the limited about of tables and then leave to come back later just to hold it.
It's ashame to hear this is still continuing, unless the resort was just very crowded during your stay.

 

[Bartoli]

Melrosgrl-

Now I am starting to get worried about the Poly. I have built it up in my head to be a magical place. Was there a particular time of the day that the pool was most crowded? Was the pool o.k. for kids but too crowded for adults? Because I have experienced that at every public pool in the summer. My kids love to swim and I really want them to enjoy the pool.

One of the major reasons for my wanting to stay at the Poly is because of the monorail access and the ease of getting to and from MK and Epcot with 3 school aged children. Did you find it helpful and quick?

 

[MPLsDad]

MPLsDad - - - You asked what was included with concierge service. One of the best parts is all the pre-planning. A concierge staff member will check with you about 90 - 120 days prior to your arrival and take care of making all your PS for you. They also helped us a lot with planning a small birthday celebration for our son the day that we arrived. They made our PS for the Crystal Palace and then they also made sure that the Crystal Palace knew that it was our son's birthday. All we had to do was show up.

Here's a link to what else is part of concierge:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=8460752#post8460752

One of the biggest reasons we like to stay concierge is because of the view from that building. We get a lagoon view and can see the castle from our room. You really can't get that view from any of the buildings other than the concierge building. We're right there on the beach and can watch the fireworks and the electric water pageant from our room.

Once you're there the concierge staff pampers you. Last year they were able to get us reservations for an illuminations cruise the week before we arrived. (I may have been able to do that myself but can't be on the phone constantly trying.) The cruise was a surprise for our boys and the concierge staff had a lot of fun keeping it a surprise for us. When we returned from the cruise there was a message on our voice mail for our boys telling them that the staff hoped that they had enjoyed their "surprise un-birthday cruise."

I guess it's all in what you're looking for! It's just something that we like to be able to pamper ourselves with occassionally.

Some day I will do this - for now, the joy in going to Disney is planning. I'm O/C about it!!!! I guess my wife should pay me for concierge services! LOL! We stayed two times (once at Dolphin and once at Disneyland Hotel) with great views and never really used/saw them because we're always out so early and back so late! Our 10th anniversary is coming - maybe a splurge for that. Thanks for the info and helpful link. That's why these boards are the best!

 

[Melrosgirl]

Yes the monorail was def. helpful. Quick? Well there were times it took 20 minutes to get from MK to the TTC (that's just two stops away). We called it the monoMule, lol. I don't mind sitting on the air conditioned monorail though. Sure beats the bus!

The pool - yeah I saw some people reserving the "cabana" things. You know those tent things that go over the lounge chairs in the sand? I was at the pool for 4 hours on Saturday. From 11 a.m to 3 p.m. I noticed that the cabana thing and two lounge chairs were "reserved" with shoes on them for the entire 4 hours. Not once did I see anyone sit on them. Not once. Obviously those people weren't swimming non stop for 4 hours or at the bar for 4 hours. They reserved them in the morning and went to the MK or something. I had a good chair otherwise I would have stolen it. Yeah that's right. I said it. I would have moved their stuff.

The days I was at the pool I was there late morning 'til mid afternoon. Once noon hit, the pool would fill up which I expect anywhere, of course. There were just a lot of people there. Kids could def. swim. Adults could swim also,but not laps. More like get in and move around for a few feet, lol.

No one was checking room keys or anything. At one point they ran out of clean towels (they were replenished within 20 minutes though).

 

[skiwee1]

Yes the monorail was def. helpful. Quick? Well there were times it took 20 minutes to get from MK to the TTC (that's just two stops away). We called it the monoMule, lol. I don't mind sitting on the air conditioned monorail though. Sure beats the bus!

The pool - yeah I saw some people reserving the "cabana" things. You know those tent things that go over the lounge chairs in the sand? I was at the pool for 4 hours on Saturday. From 11 a.m to 3 p.m. I noticed that the cabana thing and two lounge chairs were "reserved" with shoes on them for the entire 4 hours. Not once did I see anyone sit on them. Not once. Obviously those people weren't swimming non stop for 4 hours or at the bar for 4 hours. They reserved them in the morning and went to the MK or something. I had a good chair otherwise I would have stolen it. Yeah that's right. I said it. I would have moved their stuff.

The days I was at the pool I was there late morning 'til mid afternoon. Once noon hit, the pool would fill up which I expect anywhere, of course. There were just a lot of people there. Kids could def. swim. Adults could swim also,but not laps. More like get in and move around for a few feet, lol.

No one was checking room keys or anything. At one point they ran out of clean towels (they were replenished within 20 minutes though).

The pool is too shallow to swim laps anyway. The quite pool is deeper and perfect for laps. I always see adults there swimming laps. I hope you weren't expecting to do laps or were disappointed that you couldn't. It just isn't feasible to do it any of the themed pools.

 

[Melrosgirl]

I don't care about doing laps; I was just trying to give an example. I'm happy sitting by the pool and reading. I can do laps at home!

 

[DisneyFans4]

Having the monorail there is great, no question about that. The pool is small IMO. The volcano slide area is small and what is bad planning is the whirlpool jets for the adults to enjoy is at the same end so if you sit in the corner and your trying to enjoy that you get all the splashes from the kids coming down from the slide so it gets very crowded and of course that's the end all the kids want to be at. The lifeguard also sits at that end for obvious reasons. If you get there first thing when the pool opens it's your best chance to enjoy the pool but around midday and early afternoon forget it, then your next best chance is at night and even then it can be crowded. My experience to get the best enjoyment was going first thing in the morning and staying until noon.

 

[Bartoli]

Yes the monorail was def. helpful. Quick? Well there were times it took 20 minutes to get from MK to the TTC (that's just two stops away). We called it the monoMule, lol. I don't mind sitting on the air conditioned monorail though. Sure beats the bus!

The pool - yeah I saw some people reserving the "cabana" things. You know those tent things that go over the lounge chairs in the sand? I was at the pool for 4 hours on Saturday. From 11 a.m to 3 p.m. I noticed that the cabana thing and two lounge chairs were "reserved" with shoes on them for the entire 4 hours. Not once did I see anyone sit on them. Not once. Obviously those people weren't swimming non stop for 4 hours or at the bar for 4 hours. They reserved them in the morning and went to the MK or something. I had a good chair otherwise I would have stolen it. Yeah that's right. I said it. I would have moved their stuff.

The days I was at the pool I was there late morning 'til mid afternoon. Once noon hit, the pool would fill up which I expect anywhere, of course. There were just a lot of people there. Kids could def. swim. Adults could swim also,but not laps. More like get in and move around for a few feet, lol.

No one was checking room keys or anything. At one point they ran out of clean towels (they were replenished within 20 minutes though).

I definitely would have moved their stuff. We are going mid-June and if I see someone doing that, I will definitely move their things. That is so rude and usually there are signs everywhere that tell you that you can't save chairs. I wish hotel staff would be more diligent at enforcing that rule because it really is a source of frustration for hotel guests. Oh well, I have no problem moving their stuff. Nonetheless, I will not let anything, not chair hogging guests, cranky kids, poor service or an insane husband ruin my Disney trip!! It will be great because I will be away from the daily grind.

 

[MPLsDad]

I was at the pool for 4 hours on Saturday. From 11 a.m to 3 p.m. I noticed that the cabana thing and two lounge chairs were "reserved" with shoes on them for the entire 4 hours. Not once did I see anyone sit on them. Not once. Obviously those people weren't swimming non stop for 4 hours or at the bar for 4 hours. They reserved them in the morning and went to the MK or something. I had a good chair otherwise I would have stolen it. Yeah that's right. I said it. I would have moved their stuff.

After half an hour, I would not only move the stuff, but I would bring it to the front desk and turn it in to the lost and found. Perhaps if I was feeling particularly salty, I would tuckd a note into the stuff reminding the owner how rude it is to reserve seats they weren't using!

BTW, if we are just going to use the pool, we try to find a wall or something other than the tables and chairs to leave our stuff on. It may be a good idea for Disney to put cubbies at the pools for this purpose. I should get a patent on that one, eh?

 

[DisneyFans4]

After half an hour, I would not only move the stuff, but I would bring it to the front desk and turn it in to the lost and found.



I like that one!! It keeps you safe too because then this way they don't know who did it...I'll have to remember that.
But again, that shouldn't be the guests' responsibility and they should have staff monitoring the pool area.

 

[MPLsDad]

After half an hour, I would not only move the stuff, but I would bring it to the front desk and turn it in to the lost and found.



I like that one!! It keeps you safe too because then this way they don't know who did it...I'll have to remember that.
But again, that shouldn't be the guests' responsibility and they should have staff monitoring the pool area.

I couldn't agree more about not being the guests' responsibility, but the reality is - wait a second - isn't WDW all about fantasy???Arrrgh!

 

[SeaSpray]

BTW, if we are just going to use the pool, we try to find a wall or something other than the tables and chairs to leave our stuff on. It may be a good idea for Disney to put cubbies at the pools for this purpose. I should get a patent on that one, eh?

I do this all the time. If I'm at the pool, I'm IN the water and don't care about a table or chair anyway. I just find a dry spot to put my towel and whatever stuff I may have with me, and get into the water. This works well on cruise ships too, where the chair-hogging is probably worse than the resorts!

The cubbies are a good idea!