Recent Polynesian Villa Stay

[MeghanP]

I stayed at the Poly in a Tokelau Villa in April this year and was really NOT all that impressed! Am I alone in feeling that this did not live up to my expectations?! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE WDW and we had a GREAT time, but speaking solely about perceived value..I'm disappointed.

My biggest issue is that the room smelled TERRIBLE when we returned from the parks in the evening. It was a damp, musty, swampy smell, which whatever, we're in FL..but it wasn't outside and wasn't in the building, it was specifically in the room. Housekeeping was great and the room was kept very clean. Another complaint is that the lighting was terrible, very dark and I didn't think the location of the switches made much sense. The bathrooms were great and the size of the room was great. It was just me and my daughter so we had plenty of space and the pulldown bed is super cute, she was able to have her own little space. Overall the room was nice enough and the furnishings were nice enough, but not up to the standard I expected from a freshly renovated deluxe resort. And did they not touch the elevators?! They're small, which is fine, there are only 3 floors..but the elevators in the whole resort look like they're untouched. I hadn't stayed at the Poly since the mid 90's, and I know the lobby doesn't have the "wow" factor that some of the other deluxe's do, but I'm really missing the fountain. It's a nice lobby, but there's just nothing really impressive about it. The pool on the other hand, super impressive and a highlight of our stay!

Last year we stayed at the Contemporary, I chose Poly this year specifically for the pool and wasn't disappointed. But I found the interior of the rooms at the Contemporary to be bigger and more luxurious. and the option to walk to MK really can't be beat. I still don't understand why you can't walk to GF and then from GF to Poly. It's not an unreasonably far walk and I'd absolutely do that at the end of the night rather than stand for 30-60 mins on the monorail line. The end of the night monorail line really made me rethink future stays at monorail resorts, or sacrifice pool and theming to stay within walking distance at BLT or Contemporary.

Despite the complaints I really did enjoy our stay at the Poly and had a great time. Although there were a few annoyances, I love the resort overall and would stay there again. Maybe I just expected more from the renovation and the room rate. Anyone else have a similar experience?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There are a number of DVC threads that would agree with you. Many non-Poly DVC owners have said that having tried the villas, they won't buy add-on contracts there.

As far as this:

but not up to the standard I expected from a freshly renovated deluxe resort

Poly Villas are not a Deluxe Resort. They're a DVC timeshare. DVC furnishings and appointments are not the same as get put into Deluxe resorts, even rooms at resorts that share both a resort and DVC ownership. They're built and intended for a different audience.

But I found the interior of the rooms at the Contemporary to be bigger and more luxurious

Again, this is the difference between a deluxe resort and a DVC resort. The timeshare properties are not necessarily a standard of "luxurious." They're timeshare units.

Right now, Disney still owns about 30% of the Poly DVC timeshares, and thus are booking them via standard cash bookings, which I think creates expectations that they will be like "regular" Poly rooms, just with a different layout. That expectation is a bit off, just as it is comparing Contemporary to Bay Lake Tower, or BWI to BWV.

 

[MeghanP]

Ahhh, that makes sense. I'd never stayed at DVC. While I knew the difference before booking, I didn't think it through that there would be those differences. You're right, when you book through Disney you assume it will be the same as the rest of the resort, and since they've just been renovated the expectation is that they'll be even more luxurious!

I have to say, the location of the villas being so close in walking distance to the TTC is a really nice feature, the option to easily go to MK or Epcot via monorail is valuable. But being someone who's recently thought about buying DVC within the next few years, I may be a bit more hesitant after this stay. Why do they seem to always create these situations where you feel like you're sacrificing one thing for another?! I know you can't have it all, and improvements will eventually be made...but so frustrating!

Thanks for the perspective! Now to sift through the DVC forum and research regular resort Poly rooms!

 

[TeamSy]

I totally understand your disappointment! Especially since, when paying cash, I don't think a villa stay vs room price is all that drastically different. My expectations would be high as well. I will say though, I find the villas at GF to be far more luxurious than a room there! Because of our experience with the villas at GF I was second guessing myself for a while if we should book a villa vs the regular room we currently have booked at Poly, but we ended up staying with the regular room only because the deal we got was cheaper.

 

[Aurora0427]

We stayed at the Polynesian in May 2013 in a freshly renovated room. I'm super picky, and the room was nicer than the villa you described, so I'm betting the resort rooms are nicer. That being said, I still wasn't a huge fan of the decor. I prefer the GF room decor- the rooms feel brighter than the Poly.


I read your post about the monorail- we always took the boats back to the GF & the Poly from the MK. Much quicker than the monorail.

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

I stayed a few nights in a Poly studio in January. It was okay. I liked that it was close to TTC. I prefer other DVC's though that have bigger room options (since we are DVC). I did like it better than the GFV but way less than I enjoy BLT. BLT is very modern and I just prefer the feel of it. It's definitely not the same feel as staying at the main hotel in the Poly.

My top choice for DVC is still the Epcot resorts though overall unless we're doing a ton of MK time.

 

[Sue M]

I stayed at the Poly in a Tokelau Villa in April this year and was really NOT all that impressed! Am I alone in feeling that this did not live up to my expectations?! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE WDW and we had a GREAT time, but speaking solely about perceived value..I'm disappointed.

My biggest issue is that the room smelled TERRIBLE when we returned from the parks in the evening. It was a damp, musty, swampy smell, which whatever, we're in FL..but it wasn't outside and wasn't in the building, it was specifically in the room. Housekeeping was great and the room was kept very clean. Another complaint is that the lighting was terrible, very dark and I didn't think the location of the switches made much sense. The bathrooms were great and the size of the room was great. It was just me and my daughter so we had plenty of space and the pulldown bed is super cute, she was able to have her own little space. Overall the room was nice enough and the furnishings were nice enough, but not up to the standard I expected from a freshly renovated deluxe resort. And did they not touch the elevators?! They're small, which is fine, there are only 3 floors..but the elevators in the whole resort look like they're untouched. I hadn't stayed at the Poly since the mid 90's, and I know the lobby doesn't have the "wow" factor that some of the other deluxe's do, but I'm really missing the fountain. It's a nice lobby, but there's just nothing really impressive about it. The pool on the other hand, super impressive and a highlight of our stay!

Last year we stayed at the Contemporary, I chose Poly this year specifically for the pool and wasn't disappointed. But I found the interior of the rooms at the Contemporary to be bigger and more luxurious. and the option to walk to MK really can't be beat. I still don't understand why you can't walk to GF and then from GF to Poly. It's not an unreasonably far walk and I'd absolutely do that at the end of the night rather than stand for 30-60 mins on the monorail line. The end of the night monorail line really made me rethink future stays at monorail resorts, or sacrifice pool and theming to stay within walking distance at BLT or Contemporary.

Despite the complaints I really did enjoy our stay at the Poly and had a great time. Although there were a few annoyances, I love the resort overall and would stay there again. Maybe I just expected more from the renovation and the room rate. Anyone else have a similar experience?

We love Tokelau, but haven't stayed in that longhouse since it became DVC. I've heard the Poly DVC has had lots of plumbing issues. I would have asked for a different room.

You can't walk to MK because of the canal. That's where they park the barges for Electric Water Parade. Would have to be a pretty high bridge to cross the canal.

That is one of my pet peeves about the monorail at closing. Most of the people are using the Resort monorail to get to the TTC, instead of the Express Monorail to TTC. It would be nice if they limited the resort monorail at park closing to resort guests. Or use the larger boats for park closing. When monorail was having altered hours they put on the boats used for the Pirate Cruise.

I'm not sure the CR rooms are larger, the DVC rooms are configured differently with the extra bathroom.

 

[Hopefully]

I think your expectations were too high. And as stated, DVC is not as "Deluxe" as deluxe rooms. If you had researched more you might have understood that.
We own DVC and we love it. But it is a different vacation expectation. Lots of Deluxe Hotel folks are disappointed, but as I said, we love it. I like NOT having daily housekeeping, I like the space, I like the feeling of "home" etc.

 

[Tikiman]

There are a number of DVC threads that would agree with you. Many non-Poly DVC owners have said that having tried the villas, they won't buy add-on contracts there.

As far as this:


Poly Villas are not a Deluxe Resort. They're a DVC timeshare. DVC furnishings and appointments are not the same as get put into Deluxe resorts, even rooms at resorts that share both a resort and DVC ownership. They're built and intended for a different audience.


Again, this is the difference between a deluxe resort and a DVC resort. The timeshare properties are not necessarily a standard of "luxurious." They're timeshare units.

Right now, Disney still owns about 30% of the Poly DVC timeshares, and thus are booking them via standard cash bookings, which I think creates expectations that they will be like "regular" Poly rooms, just with a different layout. That expectation is a bit off, just as it is comparing Contemporary to Bay Lake Tower, or BWI to BWV.

I would say that the furniture and items used in the DVC studios is much better quality than what they put in the rooms when they renovated them in 2013. There is much more detail in the studios. Things like the flooring in the entry of the studio and a better quality carpet and sturdier furniture as well as a larger TV is what impressed me about the studio over the regular rooms. Details like the recessed ceiling and lighting as well as the artwork I felt made the studio a much nicer room than the regular hotel room. I’m not sure who said a DVC studio is not considered a Deluxe level room or what would make the studios any less deluxe than the other rooms. Personally I see them as better than the regular rooms.

Thanks to MeghanP for her report and observations. Sounds like you enjoyed the resort. I totally agree that the elevators have remained the same inside since the mid 90’s renovation and I can’t understand why they can’t fix them up a little. I can understand that it would not be easy to replace them with larger ones but throw a coat of paint on them or something. They are horrible and embarrassing to see in all the longhouses that were gutted over the last 4 years.

 

[PetePanMan]

Deluxe rooms (non dvc) are nicer than dvc rooms. How so?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Deluxe rooms (non dvc) are nicer than dvc rooms. How so?

They tend to be better maintained, to be honest. That's largely been true at the other DVC resorts. The combo of daily housekeeping + separate maintenance budget seem to keep things in better shape.

 

[Tikiman]

I see the same maintenance issues in the regular rooms as I have been seeing in the DVC longhouses.

I see better amenities in the DVC rooms than in the Hotel rooms. Things like the quality of the end tables and closets seemed much better in the DVC rooms. Even the patio furniture in the DVC rooms is better quality. Look at the tile work used in the bathrooms in the DVC rooms compared to the bathrooms of the standard room. The bed in the DVC room sits on a nice frame instead of a plywood platform in the standard hotel room.

I just don’t see how the DVC rooms are any less Deluxe than the regular rooms.

 

[jhammond3966]

Interesting perspective. our last stay was in a BLT 1 BR, and while the extra space was nice and I thought the lobby was like a nice hotel, the rooms were like a nice hotel (certainly not high end hotel nice, but still a nice room), it just felt like any other nice city hotel I have stayed in, there was nothing special, unique, or even "Disney" about it. Maybe I travel too much for work or have been in too many nice hotels that they all just kinda end up with he same clean modern vibe that they are not unique anymore. I too loved that walk to MK, and nobody is or can argue with that as a plus. But that walk was offset by the walk/Contemporary Monorail/transfer to Epcot monorail inconvenience. I assume the bus to anywhere else is a wash with other resorts. I had no real complaints about BLT other than sadness about a complete lack of theming and Disney feel. It was just a nice, convenient hotel, with a pool. We decided to stay at Poly for our trip this fall to go back to a resort that was an actual "resort" (meaning on site dining, more than regular hotel amenities, actual resort feel/theming, etc). I am excited to have restaurants we eat at anyhow at the resort we are staying at, an actual themed resort, the themed pool (vs BLT's anywhere USA pool with slide), evening and daytime resort activities (hula lessons, torch lighting ceremony, campfire on beach, a beach, etc).

I am not expecting a modern, city style nice hotel feel. I am expecting a 60's Polynesia vibe. And the feeling of actually being at a resort again. Sounds like you got that, but were underwhelmed with the rooms, I get that. A musty damp smell would turn me and probably anyone else off to any Disney resort. The great thing is there are so many different resorts that there is a vibe and size and feel that fits everyone.

 

[jhammond3966]

Ps that walk is so nice at the end of the night.... Walking right past all those families with cranky kids that are just starting a 30-60+ minute journey back to their resort. We will be in room, cleaned up and in bed before many of those people even got to their room. BLT/Contempo has such a huge advantage for that reason. Same for mornings.

Has anyone stayed at Poly (DVC or not) the week before thanksgiving? How long is the line for the small resort boat and resort monorail line? I am assuming peak times in April or Summer those lines would still be long.

 

[rcraw45425]

This is interesting as we usually stay in a standard Poly room (three stays since last September). I was able to book a studio for Independence Day weekend for around $350 a night with AP rate, couldn't touch that price with any of the other deluxe resorts for four adults (our girls are over 18). I could get OKW for about $100 less per night but the location of the Poly for the Independence Day fireworks cannot be beaten. I'm most looking forward to two showers as we will have at least one of our daughters with us and bathrooms are important! Can anyone tell me how comfortable the sofa bed is to sleep on? Looks like our 19 year old daughter will be with us, but our older one has her own plans.

 

[Lisann]

Deluxe Villas have always been touted as a step up from the Deluxe Resort Rooms. Disney's website puts them ahead in price and description. I've never thought any different. Am I wrong? I agree with Tikiman's observations.

 

[Shanti]

I stayed at the Poly in a Tokelau Villa in April this year and was really NOT all that impressed! Am I alone in feeling that this did not live up to my expectations?! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE WDW and we had a GREAT time, but speaking solely about perceived value..I'm disappointed.

My biggest issue is that the room smelled TERRIBLE when we returned from the parks in the evening. It was a damp, musty, swampy smell, which whatever, we're in FL..but it wasn't outside and wasn't in the building, it was specifically in the room. Housekeeping was great and the room was kept very clean. Another complaint is that the lighting was terrible, very dark and I didn't think the location of the switches made much sense. The bathrooms were great and the size of the room was great. It was just me and my daughter so we had plenty of space and the pulldown bed is super cute, she was able to have her own little space. Overall the room was nice enough and the furnishings were nice enough, but not up to the standard I expected from a freshly renovated deluxe resort. And did they not touch the elevators?! They're small, which is fine, there are only 3 floors..but the elevators in the whole resort look like they're untouched. I hadn't stayed at the Poly since the mid 90's, and I know the lobby doesn't have the "wow" factor that some of the other deluxe's do, but I'm really missing the fountain. It's a nice lobby, but there's just nothing really impressive about it. The pool on the other hand, super impressive and a highlight of our stay!

Last year we stayed at the Contemporary, I chose Poly this year specifically for the pool and wasn't disappointed. But I found the interior of the rooms at the Contemporary to be bigger and more luxurious. and the option to walk to MK really can't be beat. I still don't understand why you can't walk to GF and then from GF to Poly. It's not an unreasonably far walk and I'd absolutely do that at the end of the night rather than stand for 30-60 mins on the monorail line. The end of the night monorail line really made me rethink future stays at monorail resorts, or sacrifice pool and theming to stay within walking distance at BLT or Contemporary.

Despite the complaints I really did enjoy our stay at the Poly and had a great time. Although there were a few annoyances, I love the resort overall and would stay there again. Maybe I just expected more from the renovation and the room rate. Anyone else have a similar experience?

We stayed at a Poly Villa studio last year (I think the same building, even) and loved it. It was an extremely nice room, much nicer than the room in the Yacht Club deluxe resort we stayed in for the second part of our stay. The DVC rooms are supposed to be deluxe-level rooms, though with a homier feel due to them being timeshares. If I had had your experience, I would have complained at the front desk about the room smelling bad.

Agree with you that Contemporary is awesome- we loved being in walking distance to MK. The monorail can't even compare to that, although we like the monorail & enjoy watching it travel through the atrium. The room was lovely and spacious, and we liked how the resort was stacked high rather than spread way out like other Disney resorts. If we could pick only one resort to stay at for the rest of our WDW trips, the Contemporary would be our choice.

 

[Tink415]

IMO, at this time, everything in the Poly DVC rooms is much nicer than the regular Poly rooms, and, they have a better color scheme. I think of the Poly as "casual luxury", its not fancy. For sure the DVC rooms aren't updated as often as regular rooms, but for now, the Poly DVC rooms are newer. We just stayed in Tokelau, and while the room had some issues, there weren't any bad odors. We loved the studio!

 

[clapton]

We stayed in a Poly villa for the first time this past April and while I enjoyed it and found the villa spacious I wasn't wowed like I was with the GF villa. Overall I am not a Poly fan, don't much like the Hawaiian theme. I did really enjoy the pool area and the location of being close to the TTC though, very convenient. We own at BLT and VGF and I find for my taste the VGF is my favorite.

 

[jhammond3966]

We want to try VGF next. I think that will likely become my wife's favorite. Those studios at VGF go so fast. I can definitely understand people who love VGF.