Should the Polynesian be changed???

[Tikiman]

I told my self I would not get into the discussion of the Polynesian being dark or out of date but I feel I can voice my opinion with those of you here that I have become friends with and you won’t get upset.

I always hear how the Polynesian is old and needs to be brighter and more up to date. I understand many of you are coming from the feel the YC and GF give you when you stay there. Well the Polynesian does not have the same theme of the YC or the GF (as we all know). I have also had some people who have been to Hawaii say it does not look like the hotels of Hawaii. This is true but lets think about what it is supposed to represent. Just like the pavilions of World Showcase, the Polynesian was supposed to represent the culture of a certain era of the islands of Polynesia (all the islands not just Hawaiian culture). To make the Polynesian bright and up to date would be like taking the Japanese pavilion and making it look like modern day Tokyo. You would be surprised to learn how much investigation went into the details of the Polynesian. Imaginers actually traveled to many of the islands and looked into native customs to get an idea of how to make the Polynesian. I have actually researched all the islands that the longhouses are named after and from Rapanui (Easter Island) to Aotearoa (now called New Zealand) to Hawaii (where I have visited many times) you will find traditional dwellings and hotels that have many of the same colors, fabrics and architecture as the Polynesian. To change the Polynesian or make it brighter would be a disaster to me and not true to the theme. I wish everyone could enjoy all the details about the Polynesian the way I do but since that will not happen, Disney has made other resorts with different themes. Some of us will always appreciate the detail Disney used on the Polynesian and others will just see the Polynesian as having a great location, transportation and food. Everyone’s opinion in here is important and this is just my opinion. Thank you to everyone who has made this a great place to post our opinions. We all make the DIS a great place.

Aloha

Steve

 

[josierac]

I believe that the rooms can be a little better decorated. I like the grounds and the hotel in general.

Having been to Hawaii and having looked at many hotels, some chains and some totally hawaiian this is my opinion

 

[Guapy]

Tikiman is completely right. I believe the Polynesian is the best resort on property, and I really don't find anything wrong with it. And to tell you the truth, the darkness of the resort is cool.

 

[ead79]

I think they have done a great job giving the GCH a "facelift." I find it to be incredibly relaxing and tropical in there. In my room I would've preferred a little more color in the bedroom area, but I loved the bathroom decor. Maybe a little more green in the bedroom would be more to my taste. However, I like the idea of having the Poly be authentic, and maybe they don't use as much green as I would. Overall, I find it to be a great resort that really makes you feel like you've escaped the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

 

[Kaye]

NOOOO! We love it just the way it is, including the smell. It feels like home to us.

 

[daannzzz]

I agree with Tikiman, though I do think a few tropical colors could be added to the rooms and more colors could be used on the exteriors other than orange. I though the room was only slightly dark but I love it there. It would be kind of boring if the rooms at all the Disney hotels were painted white inside!

 

[eeyore0062]

I think the Poly is perfect just the way it is!!! When we speak of tropical colors, I think what comes to mind is tropical as in the Caribbean, and CBR does that theming well. The Polynesian is tropical, as in the South Seas, which is more bamboo... rustic colors, if you will...browns, dark greens, etc. I am not partial to dark colors either (that is why WL and AKL don't appeal to me), but to have the Poly any other way would be to change the theming entirely. If we don't like dark colors or the theming, then we have the choice to stay elsewhere, and leave those resorts for those who do like them. JMHO!

 

[Ricola]

I wouldn't change it. It's not for everyone, but we love it. What a fabulous, friendly place to visit!

 

[CamColt]

I agree with Kaye..."NOOOOOOOO!". The Poly is perfect to me.

And I still dont get what people mean when they say its dark there. The only darkness I noticed was at night and that added to the tropical, romantic atmosphere. IMO, thats the way it should be.

 

[BCV23]

We, too, love the Poly as it is...so much attention to detail. I did prefer the bedspreads many years ago. In some rooms they were coral or salmon, in others a light green. They brightened the rooms without being garish. I think you can see those spreads in some of Tikiman's historical pictures. By the way, we returned from the Poly on Thursday and the GCH fountain is beautiful from the first floor. They were putting finishing touches on the top. I thought the grounds in general were unusually beautiful and that is saying something as they are always so lovely.

 

[fireplug]

Do I think they should change it. No. Could they tweak it a little , maybe.
We stayed at the Poly once and really liked the exotic feel to it. But when you are only there three days. it is difficult to find your way around. Especially at night . I would like to see a little better marking and lighting of the buildings or paths.
I hope this doesn't offend the Poly fans out there.


Steve

 

[PlutoPal]

I love the Poly's decor and atmosphere! I don't think they need to do much but they could do something with the rooms however.

 

[ContempoSMT]

i feel it could use a little bit of a makeover. The rooms needa little more decor and it jsut needs a little upgrade. Still love it tho.

 

[loki]

100% tikiman,

let me start off by saying 1 I have never stayed at the poly, (read NOT YET) I will eventually when my bank account will let me . Obviously these rooms go through a LOT, as it is probably one of Disney's most popular resorts. So saying that repairs and refurbs are needed, but to change the poly would be a HUGE mistake, we have used the Neverland club and walked around the paths in the Poly and the resort, ESPECIALLY at night looks INCREDIBLE. The tiki torches that light the walk ways add a little special feeling to the place I say if its broke fix it, but leave the feeling of the resort.


just my 2 cents

 

[Laurabearz]

When we walked thru the Poly both my husband I felt like we were tranplanted to another place... and another time....

Now 5 months later we are staying there..... and we cant wait! Rock on Tikiman!!!

 

[Tess]

If it ain't broken, don't fix it!

 

[Tinkbell]

Originally posted by Tikiman


I have actually researched all the islands that the longhouses are named after and from Rapanui (Easter Island) to Aotearoa (now called New Zealand) to Hawaii (where I have visited many times) you will find traditional dwellings and hotels that have many of the same colors, fabrics and architecture as the Polynesian.

Who could argue with that? I think anyone interested in the Polynesian should check out your website. If they don't like what they see, then they should not stay there.

I haven't stayed at the Polynesian yet, but I would like to give it a try. I have tried all the other MK resorts. Some say WL is "too dark" but I love it.

 

[Disneydenise]

I wouldn't change a thing in the Poly but I guess if they were going to do anything I would ask that they put a sink outside the Shower room. I know it would be too difficult. As far as the darkness of the resort rooms. I find them restful and wonderful. I did love the little vanity they use to have in some of the rooms years ago it made it easier to get hair and makeup done while the rest of my family was rushing in and out of the shower but I solved that problem by packing a makeup mirror and an extention cord an setting it up on the table in the room.
The Poly is my favorite resort and I doubt if I will ever feel differrently. I got the best souvineer from my first stay there. She is turning 18 and going to college this fall so... They can just never make an improvement to the place for me, including the smell.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I went to Hawaii around New Years 1990. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency. It was a very nice hotel, but you could tell it was just another sterile chain--without the open lobby it could have been in Detroit. Keep the Poly just like it is.
Robin M.
Poly 6/2000
BWV 6/2001
Poly 12/2001
BWV/Poly/VWL 7/2002

 

[Tikiman]

That is exactly my point Robin M. Many of the hotels and resorts in Hawaii now are not reflective of the Polynesian culture. This is because everyone wants the same elegant resort in every city. Not one that gives you the feel of the area of the world you are staying. Only a few resorts in the islands still have that traditional look and feel and those are the best. Some of the rooms in Tahiti (the real Tahiti) are nothing but huts next to a beach with not TV and just bamboo walls and it cost $300 a night or more. That to me is the best way to go. As far as adding some bright colors to the Polynesian, all I can say is next you will want to use some pastel colors on the inside of the Tiki room. That will be the day I stop going to WDW.

Aloha

Steve