Samoa building at Poly

[decker96]

I will be making our room reservations at the Poly for our trip next Oct. (2005) soon and I'm wondering about people's opinions of Samoa. Going are me, DH, DD8, DS5 and DD2. We wanted a central location to both the resort monorail stop and the TTC, plus to the main longhouse. I thought since Samoa was near the pool and kind of in the middle of the resort it would be a good choice.
My question is, does it get really noisy because it is so close to the pool? We will be coming back for naps in the afternoon and don't plan on staying in the parks really late, except for the one night we go to MNSSHP. Then we will want to sleep in the next morning. Any other suggestions of buildings would be appreciated if you don't think Samoa is a good choice. Thanks!

 

[Tikiman]

I think Samoa is a good choice. Both pools, the GCH and the boat launch to the MK are very close. It is requested a lot and it is not very big so you may want to consider a second or third choice.

Aloha

Steve

 

[decker96]

Thanks, Steve! What would you suggest for a second choice? It definitely has to be non-smoking, by the way.

 

[Tikiman]

The only smoking rooms are all of Niue, The top floor of Tuvalu and half the second floor of Tahiti.

Tokelau is a nice location just on the other side of the east pool with larger rooms and balconies on both upper floors. Also if you get toward the north end you can see the lagoon and in some cases the castle and fireworks.

Fiji is nice and has good views and Rarotonga is not a bad location. I could say good things about all the longhouses but that would be my suggestions.

Aloha

Steve

 

[decker96]

Thanks! Love your website! There's so much great info. on it.

 

[CamColt]

Samoa is my favorite building, with Fiji being a close second.

 

[disneydreamer247]

we just came back from the Poly last week. My mother-in-law was in Samoa and we were in Rarotonga. We would request Rarotonga again on our next trip, whenever that is.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

We have stayed at the POLY too many times to count. Our last three times we were in a GV room, we requested and received the Samoa Building. On all three occasions, we requested Samoa, ground floor, volcano pool side, and received it everytime.

The location is wonderful, great atmosphere, 25 feet to the pool, great view of the pool and limited view of the marina and if you look to your right you can see the lagoon and the GF in some of the rooms, the beach for fireworks viewing is 50 feet away, 100 feet to the GCH, simply put we LOVE this building!

 

[ksc37]

We were in Samoa last week, facing the quiet pool, and it was very quiet. My DH, DS (3) and DS (18 months) had no problem napping, while I sat on the balcony and read. I don't know how noisy the other side gets, but the views are much better on the side facing the Volcano pool.

It is a fabulous location, and we will definitely request it next time.

 

[decker96]

Thanks everyone! I'm really getting excited even if our trip is still a year away! Hopefully time will go by fast!

 

[Michelle GT]

we stayed at Somoa last sept/oct and faced the volcano pool. we came back to the room midday for rest (have dd was 6,ds 5 and ds 4) we found it was nice and quiet.

 

[thatdarncat]

disneydreamer247 -
Just curious, did you have a parking lot view in Rarotonga or was it facing the east. I am just wondering becasue while I requested Tokelau, you never know what you're going to get and I mostly just want a NON-smoking 3rd floor room. So if I end up with Rarotonga, what did you like about it?

EDIT - sorry, i meant, were you facing NORTH, facing the quiet pool?

 

[disneydreamer247]

We were 1st floor facing the quiet pool. It was quiet and very close to the pools and ceremonial hall (food, monorail, etc). There were ducks outside our window every morning. so cute.

 

[thatdarncat]

Thanks so much for the info, I can hardly wait!

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by disneydreamer247
We were 1st floor facing the quiet pool. It was quiet and very close to the pools and ceremonial hall (food, monorail, etc). There were ducks outside our window every morning. so cute.

I've been in Raratonga 3 times and loved it. We always requested monorail view which is technically parking lot view. We have stayed on each end of the longhouse and once in the middle so I've seen it from all vantage points. We also had 3rd each time. We couldn't see the parking lot. Well, maybe if you looked hard enough! The view was wonderful with the flowers, greenery, palms, and monorails going by. Although Samoa is now my current favorite, Raratonga is my second as long as I get that great monorail side. There is nothing better then watching the monorails go by!

 

[kelscross]

We were on the end of Tokelau that faced the lagoon. We couldn't see the castle dead on because of a palm tree but it was okay we just went to the beach or went down a couple doors and there was a viewing deck of the castle from our building. I requested the same building and floor for the trip in Dec. I hope it's on the same side.

I loved the Poly. I loved looking out of the GCH and the pool and our building and seeing the castle all the time. I really thought I had the best of both worlds...an island get away and a reminder that I'm at Disney World.

Sigh...I can't wait until December!

Have fun though!!

 

[Dalpal]

Hi all! I Love the Poly and I have never stayed there!......YET!
We are going to in July05!
I heard that they are going to change the lobby. I was wondering if anyone else knew anything about that?
I think the lobby is beautiful and hope they dont change it too much.
I miss the birds as it is..... They were so much fun to watch as we waited for our PSs at Ohanas, the last time I was there I dont remember seeing any koi fish in the water out front either.
I wish they would bring them back.......and I hope they dont take away the waterfall
Tikiman......do you have any inside info
Betsy

 

[Tikiman]

All information I am told I post (what they allow me too) on my pages. Here is a link to the page with the latest info.

http://www.tikiman2001.homestead.com/poly2_5.html

I don't believe the information about the GCH changes is known by very many. I was surprised when I was told about it and it does not sound like it is happening any time soon. Maybe late next year.

When I find out more I will post it on that page.

I don't ever remember koi in the water but maybe I have to look back on my old (non-digital) photos. I know the birds are over at the AK.

Aloha

Steve

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Did you have a lagoon view or one of the rooms that happen to be able to see part of the lagoon? Just wondering.

We arrive at the Poly 9/27 - 10/2 and have requested Tokelau (last time we stayed there it was Ohau) or Tahiti - it's always hard for me to decide which longhouse to request. I don't like to be where it's toooo quiet or tooo busy. Maybe a pool view in Tokelau?

Oh, Tikiman - your website is fabulous!!! Thank you for all your hard work. As I mentioned in another post, it brought back wonderful memories and so ! changed my res late last night to the Poly. It's really wanted I wanted all along, but could not decide until I saw your website. Thanks much!!

BTW, when we stayed in Ohau we had a dlb sink outside the bathroom, but do not recall the room number. It was on the Tahiti side (no Tahiti then ... 2nd or 3rd floor. Then we stayed in what is now Rapa Nui (then Moorea, I think) - it was a bit too far for me and there were no torches at that end. Have they added torches now by Tahiti and Rapa Nui?

Love everyone's posts!

 

[Tikiman]

BaciBecky,

Yes Tokelau use to be Oahu before the name change in 1999. You are not crazy about the double sinks outside the bathroom in a few rooms in Tokelau. I have never been able to figure out which rooms they were but I am told that they were changed to all be the same at some point. I am still not sure what is true but I do know they were done before Tahiti and Rapa Nui were built to be test rooms for the new layouts that would go into Tahiti and Rapa Nui. Some still say there are a few rooms that are different but most of the staff I speak to tell me that the rooms were changed to all be the same and that is one sink in the bathroom. I wish you could have remembered what room it was.

Actually Rapa Nui use to be Pago Pago. Tahiti was Moorea when I first stayed in it. There are torches all the way to the path at the TTC.

Thanks for sharing your old memories. It brings back memories for me too.

Aloha

Steve