RUMOR! Major Poly Re-Furb...Sounds like Bus Driver Stuff to Me

[WaltD4Me]

I've read this rumor in a couple places now about a major Poly refurb due to asbestos? Didn't Poly just get a major re-furb a few years ago? This rumor even says the whole resort might shut down for a time while the main house is done. Sounds like bus driver stuff to me, but who knows?

=======================================
As the Art of Animation Resort opens look for some of the other resorts that offer 5 person rooms to stop making those rooms available. I'm not sure why they would want to force all larger families to AoA when they can offer different experiences and different price points at resorts like Port Orleans French Quarter. But that's what hotel managers were told at a recent meeting.

Another function of the Art of Animation coming online, is that the extra capacity will allow Disney to close down parts of the Polynesian hotel for a long needed upgrade. Apparently construction in the 70s still used Asbestos and Disney needs to address this. Due the way the Poly was constructed, they won't be able to refurbish in place and instead will be erecting all new buildings.

The plan was to do this over time, but the whole resort might close down while they work on the main building with Ohana's and check-in. Look for Disney to shift as many existing reservations as they can to DVC properties like OKW and Saratoga Springs which are always under booked.
=============================================

 

[LMO429]

It would be interesting to see what happens at the Poly. I heard from a cast member friend that the issues at the poly were mold not asbestos..but mold is probably very common in all Florida hotels due to the weather.

I find it hard to believe they would close an entire resort on the monorail line..but hey if the bus driver said it its probably true

 

[Reddog1134]

Sounds kind of fishy to me, too.

I think if the asbestos at Poly part was true, they would build a temporary check-in location instead of shutting down the whole resort.

 

[pigletto]

Doesn't sound remotely plausible.

 

[monkeyknuckler]

Is the OP the only one without a B.S. detector?

 

[safetymom]

I read that on Disney Gossip, not sure what to think. They also mentioned making a new entrance at DHS.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I read that on Disney Gossip, not sure what to think. They also mentioned making a new entrance at DHS.

I read it on Chip & Co. first, but then I saw it on Disney Gossip. I checked to see if the original post date was April 1st. I don't know what to make of it either. Doesn't sound plausible to me at all, but it wouldn't be the first thing I heard that I thought would never happen and then it did.

I think it's hilarious to think people who book at the Poly would move to SSR or OKW. Personally I love OKW, but wouldn't take it as a trade out for the Poly.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I do absolutely think, from reading the resorts board, that Poly is the resort in most need of a refurb.

That being said, I don't think AoA opening has anything to do with it. It's not really reasonable to think the Poly regulars will be staying at AoA.

 

[LMO429]

I read that on Disney Gossip, not sure what to think. They also mentioned making a new entrance at DHS.

im curious about the entrance...are they making a new location for the entrance or redoing the current one?

 

[SoScary'09]

Thanks for the rumor tip, but I can't bring myself to believe this.

 

[WaltD4Me]

im curious about the entrance...are they making a new location for the entrance or redoing the current one?

Here is what Disney Gossip is saying about the DHS enterance.

If you're used to entering Disney's Hollywood Studios via the 'back door' off Buena Vista Drive, get ready for a change. Disney will shortly add an off ramp from Osceola Parkway to the World Drive located main entrance. Only buses will then use the 'back door'. (I'm guessing it will remain an exit too, but that wasn't discussed.)

I think this is a good thing logistically for most guests arriving by car; but it will make the EPCOT resorts slightly less desirable as they won't be right across the street from DHS anymore (still available via footpath or boat however). It will make the All Stars, Art of Animation, and Pop Century much more desirable in terms of their short hop from Osceola Pkwy to both DAK and DHS.

I hope Disney takes this opportunity to move the DHS entrance plaza about 300-500 yards away from the DHS backstage road. That would finally allow for an expansion of that side of the park (think Star Wars land or Cars Land). Right now, the toll plaza is the only barrier there, all the other sides of the park are hemmed in by parking lots or roads

 

[OKW Lover]

If there were truly an asbestos problem at the Poly, then there would be the same issue at the Contemporary. They were built at the same time using the same modular construction techniques at the same location.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

If there were truly an asbestos problem at the Poly, then there would be the same issue at the Contemporary. They were built at the same time using the same modular construction techniques at the same location.

Yeah, but with all the foliage, isn't Poly a lot moister than CR?

 

[OKW Lover]

Yeah, but with all the foliage, isn't Poly a lot moister than CR?

Perhaps it is, but I don't know what that would have to do with asbestos used during construction. Its not like it was outside exposed to the elements.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

This is interesting about the Poly. I am not sure I believe it yet though. I'm excited to see how things will change once the Fantasyland expansion is closer.

 

[Sammie]

If this is true about new buildings I can assure you part of it will be DVC.

 

[doconeill]

As far as I understand (I am by no means an expert), you don't need to do asbestos remediation unless you are doing demolition in/of a building containing it in any form, or if other work which could release loose fibers if the asbestos is considered friable.

They just refurbed a lot of the rooms 5 years ago, didn't they?

As for the new DHS entrance, the first thing I though of when I saw that in this thread was that if they rerouted the entrance road, they could finally do a major expansion... As part of an old speculation thread, I had said that they'd need to (and easily could) route the road around and then have the room to build out behind LMA/Backlot....they could probably expand by about a third without having to cross the canal...

 

[bkoehl]

Yes I think the last big refurb of the rooms was 07/08 ish?