Questions for those who’ve stayed at Poly Island Tower

[wdwlver]

We actually had lunch at Wailulu in January and loved the whole vibe of it. Was wondering what it’s like staying there, is the walk long to GCH, how crowded is mono/boats/buses now that all those new rooms were added, are food locations super crowded now etc.
Thinking about staying there next trip, but would like to know what it’s really like from those who’ve stayed. Thanks!

 

[FSU Girl]

I loved staying there! It’s my new favorite. I didn’t feel like it was far to the main building, like a five minute walk. It was never crowded feeling like the main building lobby. I never waited for a monorail and didn’t feel like the new building added to the crowds.

 

[OKW Lover]

is the walk long to GCH,

We haven't stayed there yet, but I've done that walk many times. It's probably 10 minutes at a leisurely pace. I think some of the longhouses close to the TTC are just as far away.

 

[RuntheMouse]

We stayed there in January. Loved the rooms, had a great lunch at Wailulu. While the walk to GCH wasn’t bad, I hated that you had to make it.

Capn’ Cooks was a disaster when we went. We had dinner there and were inches away from a fight breaking out over a table and during breakfast, people were hovering over guest eating to try to claim their table when finished. Huge miss to have only added Wailulu and not even have it open for a real breakfast.

No issue with the monorail, we walked right on around 9am.

We enjoyed our stay but aren’t in a hurry to go back. I was hopeful they would have treated the ITP as a standalone, we would have bought there.

 

[Jnaquin4]

Haven't stayed there yet, but currently ready to book. Those that have stayed at both, would you recommend the Island Tower over the original?

 

[elvispursley]

We stayed there in January. Loved the rooms, had a great lunch at Wailulu. While the walk to GCH wasn’t bad, I hated that you had to make it.

Capn’ Cooks was a disaster when we went. We had dinner there and were inches away from a fight breaking out over a table and during breakfast, people were hovering over guest eating to try to claim their table when finished. Huge miss to have only added Wailulu and not even have it open for a real breakfast.

No issue with the monorail, we walked right on around 9am.

We enjoyed our stay but aren’t in a hurry to go back. I was hopeful they would have treated the ITP as a standalone, we would have bought there.

This just pushes me to either book at BLT or VGF. That stuff stresses me out.

 

[NJTOAD]

We stayed there in January. Loved the rooms, had a great lunch at Wailulu. While the walk to GCH wasn’t bad, I hated that you had to make it.

Capn’ Cooks was a disaster when we went. We had dinner there and were inches away from a fight breaking out over a table and during breakfast, people were hovering over guest eating to try to claim their table when finished. Huge miss to have only added Wailulu and not even have it open for a real breakfast.

No issue with the monorail, we walked right on around 9am.

We enjoyed our stay but aren’t in a hurry to go back. I was hopeful they would have treated the ITP as a standalone, we would have bought there.

if DW wants to spend money on a major refurb at the Poly, Capn' Cooks is the place to start, it needs to be much, much bigger in my opinion.

 

[minniebeth]

We actually had lunch at Wailulu in January and loved the whole vibe of it. Was wondering what it’s like staying there, is the walk long to GCH, how crowded is mono/boats/buses now that all those new rooms were added, are food locations super crowded now etc.
Thinking about staying there next trip, but would like to know what it’s really like from those who’ve stayed. Thanks!

We actually had lunch at Wailulu in January and loved the whole vibe of it. Was wondering what it’s like staying there, is the walk long to GCH, how crowded is mono/boats/buses now that all those new rooms were added, are food locations super crowded now etc.
Thinking about staying there next trip, but would like to know what it’s really like from those who’ve stayed. Thanks!

I want to start out by saying, we have been going to the Polynesian for about 28 years now, and it is nostalgically our favorite resort. We've seen all the changes in that time, some for the good, some not so much, but it is still our "ahhh, we're home feel" when we are there. However, we find ourselves staying there less and less. We stayed in the new tower in January and I have such mixed feelings about it. I would stay there again to be fair, as I think they were still working out all the kinks. It is BEAUTIFUL!

It almost feels like a separate resort from the main Polynesian "campus". It has a different feel/vibe and maybe as it gets seasoned, it will feel more incorporated. It really isn't all that far of a walk to the Ceremonial House for everything EXCEPT when you have to do it for everything and you have to do it over and over -or- when you've had a long day out and it just feels a little more than what you have left in the tank. It IS a long walk to and from the TTC if you want to avoid changing monorails from Epcot.

The upside is it's convenient to the boats to MK. The downside to that is that the boats are more crowded with the tower traffic. The upside to that is the new Island Tower is very close to the Grand Floridian buildings and that you can walk from the MK (it's a long walk but it's an option). Example, at the end of the evening in the MK, the boat line is long. You may be waiting for a couple of boats. I walked to the Island Tower faster than people I was originally in line with at the boat dock since it serves both the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian.

Captain Cooks is DEFINITELY more crowded and there are DEFINITELY not enough tables at peak meal times.
Wailulu is very good~ I agree it needs a sit down breakfast option with real cooked food. The cast members are AWESOME at the bar in the morning but the pastries and coffee options are sad and overpriced.
Lunch and dinner there are very good as well as the bar, no complaints there except it would be nice if they gave resort guests actually staying there priority over people visiting to check out the resort. (Which is fine, just give people who are staying there an advantage~ and that goes for Trader Sam's too imo).

I wish they added in a little convenience store in the lobby of the Island Tower with drinks, food, snacks and essentials.
The pool is nice and the fitness center is beautiful and large.

This is just my opinion, but the Island Tower has been such a big project and all the focus is on that, that the Polynesian resort as a whole is getting somewhat overlooked. I'm sure the amount of upkeep is a monumental task, but the common areas in the rest of the resort need some love (such as the public bathrooms, pool areas, etc.). It is such a high traffic resort from visitors in addition to resort guests, that it is definitely wearing without the upkeep in my opinion.

We've stayed 4 times in the past 18 months, and have seen this each time, so not a one off.
I do love the Polynesian so, but for as expensive as it is now, it makes me sad to see it so different from what we know and love. We will continue to stay occasionally, and like I said, I would try the Island Tower again, but will continue to book different resorts as well where we still feel a valued guest rather than part of the hype.

For anyone interested in staying, I say try it! Just set expectations and plan around the pros and cons!
Hope that helps~

 

[Dave006]

Thanks for your feedback on your visit to the Island Tower at the Polynesian Resort.

It almost feels like a separate resort from the main Polynesian "campus". It has a different feel/vibe and maybe as it gets seasoned, it will feel more incorporated. It really isn't all that far of a walk to the Ceremonial House for everything EXCEPT when you have to do it for everything and you have to do it over and over -or- when you've had a long day out and it just feels a little more than what you have left in the tank. It IS a long walk to and from the TTC if you want to avoid changing monorails from Epcot.

Have you ever stayed at BLT over at the Contemporary? It has a very similar situation with everything be located in main towers. BLT has no option of walking to TTC to catch a direct Monorail to Epcot. On the counter view, it is a quick walk to MK but not very scenic.

Captain Cooks is DEFINITELY more crowded and there are DEFINITELY not enough tables at peak meal times.
Wailulu is very good~ I agree it needs a sit down breakfast option with real cooked food. The cast members are AWESOME at the bar in the morning but the pastries and coffee options are sad and overpriced.
Lunch and dinner there are very good as well as the bar, no complaints there except it would be nice if they gave resort guests actually staying there priority over people visiting to check out the resort. (Which is fine, just give people who are staying there an advantage~ and that goes for Trader Sam's too imo).

It will be interesting to see if Wailulu will see a table service breakfast in the future. I think it will all depend on how the 2 existing table service options in the GCH are able to handle the guest demand. I think that is why Wailulu does not offer a TS breakfast option today.

I wish they added in a little convenience store in the lobby of the Island Tower with drinks, food, snacks and essentials.
The pool is nice and the fitness center is beautiful and large.

That would be an interesting option but Disney has not gone that way at BLT, VGF, BCV but they have a this option at AKL Kidani, which makes sense based on it's distance to Jumbo House.

Dave

 

[OKW Lover]

Thinking about staying there next trip, but would like to know what it’s really like from those who’ve stayed.

We just finished a 2-night stay in a one bedroom theme park room. We were on the 4th floor and enjoyed watching the fireworks each night from our balcony. Also caught the electric water pageant one night.

Didn't find the walk to either the GF or the Poly main building to be onerous. Even my wife who is dealing with recovery from a knee replacement did it with minimal complaint.

The unit itself is beautiful. Some odd quirks but all the resorts have that.

Those that have stayed at both, would you recommend the Island Tower over the original?

I fell in love with the original Poly back in the late 70's. Yes, I'm old. When DVC started in 1991 I didn't buy in at the time because I thought I'd much prefer staying at the Poly. But after staying at OKW with some friends I decided to buy in May 1995. Since becoming a member I've stayed at all the DVC resorts except for Riveria.

With that background, yes I'd recommend the Island Tower over the regular Poly units. OTOH, if you are considering one of the over-water bungalows I'd go with that first.

It almost feels like a separate resort from the main Polynesian "campus".

Agree. It's a short walk away but feels like part of the transition from the Poly to the Grand.

I wish they added in a little convenience store in the lobby of the Island Tower with drinks, food, snacks and essentials.

That would be awesome.

 

[Land Down Under]

We just finished a 2-night stay in a one bedroom theme park room. We were on the 4th floor and enjoyed watching the fireworks each night from our balcony. Also caught the electric water pageant one night.

Do you happen to remeber your room number?

 

[OKW Lover]

Do you happen to remeber your room number?

We were in 8442. It's a theme park view 1BR unit on the 4th floor.