Polynesian Villas location vs Polynesian Water/Pool room location, help me make a choice

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

I am torn between a Polynesian DVC vs standard pool/water category room. On one hand, I want to be closer to Great Ceremonial Hall and pools with a Polynesian Resort Water/Pool view category room. On the other hand, I HATE the bathroom in the standard rooms. I hate not having a separate toilet or separate sinks. It just feels so un vacation like to me, to cram the whole family into one area to get ready. I despise it. I also hate not having a little table and chair area to eat should we have to eat in the room for some reason (tired child, etc). I know I can pull up the little pull out table under the desk and make a makeshift eating area...I realize this can be done. I also dread being in an unrefurbished room, since when I went back in 2012 I found the Polynesian rooms just ok and greatly lacking in all regards other than size.

Enter DVC rooms, renting through Disney. Love the table and chair area that is already set up for you. Love that even second floors have balconies. Love having more space when in the room and everyone is awake and the beds are put away. Love having 2 bathrooms and a private toilet area in one of them. But the main drawback to me (aside from drawback of just one full true bed, there are 2 adults and 2 kids in our party) is the location and the risk of getting a parking lot view in Pago Pago. I am so torn on which would be the best choice. Can anyone help me make this decision with some input from personal experiences? Does the soda refill machine at the Oasis pool help with the distance to the GCH for something simple like a soda? Are there any other benefits to a DVC room/room location that I might be missing? Thanks!!

 

[trishadono]

I am torn between a Polynesian DVC vs standard pool/water category room. On one hand, I want to be closer to Great Ceremonial Hall and pools with a Polynesian Resort Water/Pool view category room. On the other hand, I HATE the bathroom in the standard rooms. I hate not having a separate toilet or separate sinks. It just feels so un vacation like to me, to cram the whole family into one area to get ready. I despise it. I also hate not having a little table and chair area to eat should we have to eat in the room for some reason (tired child, etc). I know I can pull up the little pull out table under the desk and make a makeshift eating area...I realize this can be done. I also dread being in an unrefurbished room, since when I went back in 2012 I found the Polynesian rooms just ok and greatly lacking in all regards other than size.

Enter DVC rooms, renting through Disney. Love the table and chair area that is already set up for you. Love that even second floors have balconies. Love having more space when in the room and everyone is awake and the beds are put away. Love having 2 bathrooms and a private toilet area in one of them. But the main drawback to me (aside from drawback of just one full true bed, there are 2 adults and 2 kids in our party) is the location and the risk of getting a parking lot view in Pago Pago. I am so torn on which would be the best choice. Can anyone help me make this decision with some input from personal experiences? Does the soda refill machine at the Oasis pool help with the distance to the GCH for something simple like a soda? Are there any other benefits to a DVC room/room location that I might be missing? Thanks!!

I’ve stayed at poly many times and finally got to try the dvc room in Dec 18. I loved it! The extra bath space was great !

Maybe I’m remembering wrong but don’t they have a sofa sleeper and the twin flip down bed under the TV? That actually makes for a nice set up.

Pago has some rooms with less desirable views but would be closer to GCH, we had back side or Moorea. It wasn’t a short walk to anything but the property is so lovely we didn’t mind.

If I had kids I’d do dvc. If all adults it depends. The extra bath was just so nice!

Oh the dvc buildings have a small lobby each floor with seating, it’s kinda nice to have that space to hang while waiting for family.

The regular hotel doesn’t have that nice space.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

I’ve stayed at poly many times and finally got to try the dvc room in Dec 18. I loved it! The extra bath space was great !

Maybe I’m remembering wrong but don’t they have a sofa sleeper and the twin flip down bed under the TV? That actually makes for a nice set up.

Pago has some rooms with less desirable views but would be closer to GCH, we had back side or Moorea. It wasn’t a short walk to anything but the property is so lovely we didn’t mind.

If I had kids I’d do dvc. If all adults it depends. The extra bath was just so nice!

Oh the dvc buildings have a small lobby each floor with seating, it’s kinda nice to have that space to hang while waiting for family.

The regular hotel doesn’t have that nice space.

I would love to see pics of this space. I vaguely remember maybe some space when I stayed in Tokelau before it was DVC? I worry also about being tail end of Moorea too.

 

[Newsies]

Honestly, I would go with the DVC studio. We were in Moorea last Thanksgiving and we thought the fact that it was so far away from GCH would kill us, but we ended up loving how close we were to the TTC monorail instead. We got on and off there instead of the Poly monorail every time we went to MK/Epcot/another monorail resort and it was a dream. GCH was definitely a hike, but I honestly preferred the trade-off for not being crammed into a regular Poly room.

If you can request a longhouse, request Tokelau-- still by the Oasis pool, but a little closer to the GCH than Pago Pago/Moorea. Hope I helped at all!

Maybe I’m remembering wrong but don’t they have a sofa sleeper and the twin flip down bed under the TV? That actually makes for a nice set up.

You remember correctly! It's a nice set-up, but we do miss having a dresser to unpack our clothes in. We bring a hanging storage cubby for the closet to try and unpack as much as we can.

 

[Luxurious_Lumiere]

After staying in a standard room at the Poly, we told ourselves we would never stay at the resort again unless we were able to rent a DVC room. It is insane what they charge for those rooms, and they are so so basic. They are very large sure, but for 700 a night or much more, you should have some kind of wow factor when you enter, with nice amenities that have been kept up well. The DVC rooms feel newer, and while the layout takes away some open floor space, I think the space is very well utilized.

Is DVC farther away from GCH? Sure. But think of how nice the grounds are to walk through. Plus as some have noted above, you are closer to the TTC monorail, so it's a trade off. Could you get a parking lot view? Yes. But at least you are guaranteed a balcony/patio. I stayed in Aotearoa and magically got a second floor balcony....but the monorail was about 20 ft outside the window and it was so covered with leaves and brush that it was always too full of bugs to use.

The DVC rooms are just nicer, period. And they justify the price you pay to be at the poly.

 

[trishadono]

I would love to see pics of this space. I vaguely remember maybe some space when I stayed in Tokelau before it was DVC? I worry also about being tail end of Moorea too.

Location was fine for oasis pool and to get to ttc. Overall I liked it.

 

[Newsies]

I would love to see pics of this space. I vaguely remember maybe some space when I stayed in Tokelau before it was DVC? I worry also about being tail end of Moorea too.

I have a few from our Nov 18 trip, from Moorea:











Sorry I don't have a photo of the second bathroom or the bed. Second bathroom had toilet, sink, and shower/tub!


We were in Moorea, closer to the middle of the longhouse on the third floor. While we were further away from the GCH, we were extremely close to the TTC, so we got on/off the monorail there and the walk to our room was a breeze.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

Honestly, I would go with the DVC studio. We were in Moorea last Thanksgiving and we thought the fact that it was so far away from GCH would kill us, but we ended up loving how close we were to the TTC monorail instead. We got on and off there instead of the Poly monorail every time we went to MK/Epcot/another monorail resort and it was a dream. GCH was definitely a hike, but I honestly preferred the trade-off for not being crammed into a regular Poly room.

If you can request a longhouse, request Tokelau-- still by the Oasis pool, but a little closer to the GCH than Pago Pago/Moorea. Hope I helped at all!



You remember correctly! It's a nice set-up, but we do miss having a dresser to unpack our clothes in. We bring a hanging storage cubby for the closet to try and unpack as much as we can.

I would be THRILLED with Tokelau, as I stayed there before I knew a lot about the Poly and before it was DVC. I just know I may not get what I ask for!

 

[trishadono]

This may be better z

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

After staying in a standard room at the Poly, we told ourselves we would never stay at the resort again unless we were able to rent a DVC room. It is insane what they charge for those rooms, and they are so so basic. They are very large sure, but for 700 a night or much more, you should have some kind of wow factor when you enter, with nice amenities that have been kept up well. The DVC rooms feel newer, and while the layout takes away some open floor space, I think the space is very well utilized.

Is DVC farther away from GCH? Sure. But think of how nice the grounds are to walk through. Plus as some have noted above, you are closer to the TTC monorail, so it's a trade off. Could you get a parking lot view? Yes. But at least you are guaranteed a balcony/patio. I stayed in Aotearoa and magically got a second floor balcony....but the monorail was about 20 ft outside the window and it was so covered with leaves and brush that it was always too full of bugs to use.

The DVC rooms are just nicer, period. And they justify the price you pay to be at the poly.

This is my thought. When we stayed in 2012 it was before Tokelau was DVC. The room felt dark and was dusty, to me. I know they refurb the soft goods of the regular rooms but I sort of dread a few aspects about the room itself still (other than the size and location). When we stayed at the GF last year, we got off at TTC to walk to Captain Cooks (then back to the GF at the end of the night). My daughter LOVED seeing in the DVC rooms that people had their curtains open. She loved the look of them, and it stuck in my mind, that it would be so much nicer at the POLY with a truly refreshed room. Hence my debate!

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

I have a few from our Nov 18 trip, from Moorea:


We were in Moorea, closer to the middle of the longhouse on the third floor. While we were further away from the GCH, we were extremely close to the TTC, so we got on/off the monorail there and the walk to our room was a breeze.

This is a good point that I keep forgetting about. Thanks! How was the comfort of the pull down or sofa bed and what were the ages of the people who slept in them? I want to make sure my older child would be comfortable.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

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These two pics, was that left and right side of the entire lobby? Or two different lobbies two different longhouses?

 

[Luxurious_Lumiere]

@Childs1stTime2Disney Yes the standard rooms are in need of a massive overhaul imo. For what they charge, you could go get a truly incredible room at the 4 Seasons. And I should say, there is nothing inherently awful about the standard rooms. But for 700 a night they simply don't cut it. We walked in and just thought...."this is it??"

Then we toured a DVC room b/c they offered us additional fast passes for sitting through their pitch. And we walked in and thought "ugh. Now THIS is what we should be getting for 700 a night!"

I absolutely love the grounds and amenities of the Poly. In that sense, its one of my fav resorts to visit. But a stay there is incredibly expensive. And I'm of the mind that if you pay a premium, you should get a premium experience in return. The standard rooms simply do not justify their price tag in this regard, especially knowing that there are beautifully appointed rooms just a couple longhouses over!

 

[trishadono]

These two pics, was that left and right side of the entire lobby? Or two different lobbies two different longhouses?

That was each floor of Moorea. View left and view right . They were same space.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

That was each floor of Moorea. View left and view right . They were same space.

So every floor has this seating area? In all the DVC buildings? That's nice!

 

[trishadono]

So every floor has this seating area? In all the DVC buildings? That's nice!

Yep. When I stayed prior to dvc it was that way in the those 3 newer buildings. I really like it.

 

[Newsies]

This is a good point that I keep forgetting about. Thanks! How was the comfort of the pull down or sofa bed and what were the ages of the people who slept in them? I want to make sure my older child would be comfortable.

My 18 year old sister (pictured sitting on the pull-down bed in that photo, actually!) slept on the pull-down. She loves the pull-down and INSISTS she sleeps on it every year. I (22YO) sleep on the sofa bed, and I'm fine with it. It isn't the best mattress in the world, but it's fine for me.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

My 18 year old sister (pictured sitting on the pull-down bed in that photo, actually!) slept on the pull-down. She loves the pull-down and INSISTS she sleeps on it every year. I (22YO) sleep on the sofa bed, and I'm fine with it. It isn't the best mattress in the world, but it's fine for me.

Ok thanks. Then it should be good for my kids.

 

[Little E]

So sorry to hijack the thread a little bit, but I was so excited to see these pics! We are going over spring break of 2020, and originally I booked a standard BC room. We stayed in a standard room at the Poly in 2013, and it we thought it was *ok*. Not our fav resort, but it was fine. We were excited about staying in the EP/HS area in 2020, as we have never done that, but I have two teen boys, and my oldest is a shower hog. I kept thinking about having that extra shower in the Poly studio and not having to holler at him as I'm trying to get everyone out the door for RD in the morning. After much agony and debate, I booked a studio at Poly. These pics now have me really excited!

I'm wondering about the coffee situation. I see in the pics that it looks like a regular coffeemaker in the kitchenette area. Is it the kind that takes a pod that Disney mousekeeping provides, or can I bring filters and ground coffee from home? We are getting the DDP, so we'll have mugs...where is the closest place to run and get coffee early in the morning if I decide I don't want to fuss with the coffeemaker? Do I have to go all the way to Captain Cook's or is there someplace closer to the DVC area?

Thanks so much!!

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

I'm wondering about the coffee situation. I see in the pics that it looks like a regular coffeemaker in the kitchenette area. Is it the kind that takes a pod that Disney mousekeeping provides, or can I bring filters and ground coffee from home? We are getting the DDP, so we'll have mugs...where is the closest place to run and get coffee early in the morning if I decide I don't want to fuss with the coffeemaker? Do I have to go all the way to Captain Cook's or is there someplace closer to the DVC area?

Thanks so much!!

I had asked similar, re the Oasis pool refill area for drinks, but I think it got lost in my word jumble!!