Pool at Poly is such a let down!

[bbarba]

I read the pool bar as the bar that goes along with the pool. Or - a bar for this enjoying the pool, which should in fact be resort guests.

I understand that everyone wants access to everything, but there are something's that should be exclusive to paid resort guests. If Disney wants me to pay a lot of my semi hard earned money, there needs to be things that only I can access (besides my hotel room). Disney provides certain wdw perks (180+10, 60 fp+, emh), but they also realize that you choose to stay there and they are giving those guests a little something.

 

[JasonMouse]

... he hoped that staying at the "deluxe" resorts didn't also mean dealing with snobby people who think they are above everyone else.

All, I did not write that well, forgive me. My point is I felt like like a second class citizen here. They physically split the bar in two like something out of a sci-fi apocalypse movie. One side for guests and the other side for non-guests. I think WL did it better, left it all open, and maybe AKL did too? The "terrace" is actually about 1/4 mile walk all the way around the pool because it's permanently blocked off now for some reason. I don't mind grabbing a drink and walking around, but it's the fence that just totally needs to go or more space given to those visiting and not interested in swimming.

 

[kiki02]

I agree JMOuse - I don't even want to type what it feels like (backdoor/ front door renting) to me. And what an eyesore.... Wondering what Walt would think - ah well, Poly not the same, many agree.

 

[huntconn]

This whole argument over the barefoot pool bar being "separated by class" is silly. It was obviously not Disney's intention. I'm pretty certain that their intention was to still allow people that weren't at the pool still use the pool bar. I actually think that was a mistake because it looks dopey as heck. Anyone who is not at the pool can just walk up to the new Tiki Terrace, Trader Sam's or go upstairs to the Tambu Lounge for a drink. Anyway, if you want snobbery, go over to the Grand Floridian! LOL jk

 

[aaarcher86]

I'd rather have the fences to keep out pool hoppers, honestly.

 

[thisismyusername]

All, I did not write that well, forgive me. My point is I felt like like a second class citizen here. They physically split the bar in two like something out of a sci-fi apocalypse movie. One side for guests and the other side for non-guests. I think WL did it better, left it all open, and maybe AKL did too? The "terrace" is actually about 1/4 mile walk all the way around the pool because it's permanently blocked off now for some reason. I don't mind grabbing a drink and walking around, but it's the fence that just totally needs to go or more space given to those visiting and not interested in swimming.

Mmmmm..... I was just there this weekend, and that's not blocked any longer. Otherwise, there wouldn't be any way for people getting off the ferry to access the GCH.

 

[kiki02]

This. It just looks dopey .

 

[kiki02]

All pools seem to have the rows of lounge chairs. SAB, WL, AKL, GF, POR, etc. I wish they all had more umbrellas. Not nearly enough shade ESP in August.

AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, NOVEMBER , FEBRUARY, Good Lord it is Florida --- 342 days of sunshine....

 

[kiki02]

Having stayed at US Hard Rock, I like the pool and pool bars at the resorts to be just for resort guests...not an upper class guest vs undesirable thing but I am paying lots of $$ to stay at whatever resort so I don't want to be overcrowded. Is that the problem, OP? You weren't a resort guest and could not get into fenced area?

I was a resort guest and I like none of it. Just saying.

 

[Allison]

I have no problem with it. How I feel about myself isn't affected by a pool fence.

 

[Tigger's ally]

I haven't actually seen the fence, but I have always enjoyed visiting other pool bars. My wife likes to shop and I like to be outdoors. Hence, I tell her where I will be, she enjoys herself whilst I enjoy myself. Having drinks outside at most places limits you to the pool bar.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

They get this right at SAB. If they took pool hopping as seriously at the Poly as they do at the Yacht/Beach Club, this would not be a problem. I know it has to cost more money to staff the pools to prevent this, but the Poly is not cheap!!!

 

[huntconn]

I think one of the other disappointing things about the new fence is that it is just not that attractive. So much of the Poly is so amazingly themed, it feels and looks like they just "went cheap" for much of the fence. I was hoping that the fence would be all volcanic rock or something like that. It turned out very generic looking I think and hurts the overall theming of the pool. The volcanic rock portions do look cool though.

 

[buzzrelly]

Does anyone have a pic of the area so we call all see what the OP is referring to?

 

[Marionnette]

Does anyone have a pic of the area so we call all see what the OP is referring to?

I found this one on another website:

 

[darrengs]

Does anyone have a pic of the area so we call all see what the OP is referring to?

The OP has a pic in the original post.

 

[maxiesmom]

this might help a little. Makes me want to book the Poly asap!!

 

[buzznina]

After watching the video, I love the kids water area and the hot tub, but my goodness what a horrible job of having some shaded areas around the pool. I did not see many tables with umbrellas and half of them were in the back on the zero entry side of the pool. You know they are going to be scooped up first thing in the morning.
From my understanding the fences are not being put up to stop pool hoppers, but to prevent guests from swimming at the main pool after closing for safety reasons.

 

[AliceIn]

The OP's point, as they clarified above, was wanting to sit at the pool bar and have a drink, as they have done in the past, but now can't because the fence includes most of the seating for the bar. A lot of people do that--go to a different resort and sit at the pool bar. Don't believe any "snobbery" was intended--in fact I believe the point was the opposite, given the feeling like "second class" comment. I know other people that like to do that--it's not that they're trying to pool hop or take advantage of amenities meant for guests at that resort; they just like to sit outside in the pool atmosphere and have a drink--especially somewhere like the Poly with its tropical vibe. It's unfortunate that the fencing in of the pool caused this problem. I haven't been out to the Poly pool since it was under construction last time we were there, so I'm not sure what it looks like but it does sound like an odd choice to fence in most of the bar and seating area. From what I understand that's rather unusual?

I can see the OP's point. Stormalong Bay is fenced in and the pool area is highly enforced, however, Hurricane Hanna's pool bar has plenty of seating outside the fence. It's much more welcoming to those who might be visiting the resort and would like to observe the pool and it's environs. The BC/YC did a good job in making the pool both welcoming to non-resort guests while still keeping the pool exclusive to resort guests. The Poly is a much older resort, and likely didn't have enough space to work with when they did the redesign of the pool area.

 

[AquaDame]

Eh, I appreciate they at least tried. If you're swimming at the pool you aren't going to want to "leave" and go get a drink outside the fence, but they still wanted people not staying there to be able to get a drink if they wanted. Maybe they have a lot of people who hang out there while waiting for the watercraft or something. If you either completely surround the bar or separate the pool bar from the pool you're going to upset someone - plus that area between the bar and pool/rocks would REALLY be constrained! Maybe they were worried people would be tempted to use the rocks to jump over the fence? This should be a reasonable compromise, but I admit dividing it down the middle seems a bit "judgement of Solomon"... I still think it was their best option.