Tikiman has been silenced.

[jtowntoflorida]

I work for a large multinational corporation that is a bigger than Disney but much less in the public eye (we're not an entertainment company) and even we have a social media team that monitors what is said about our company online. There is no way that someone in Disney's corporate office doesn't monitor the largest Disney fan site.

 

[Gillyrose779]

I'm not sure how people thought promoting websites would rile Disney's feathers- how does that affect Disney?

Anyhoo- I know the following sounds like speculating which Tikiman just posted not to do- SORRY- not trying to but can't help it- human nature to be curious.

Once I look at the situation with my "business mind" I can see how Disney could be annoyed with the whole pool update situation- not saying this is why this whole thing happened- just saying, from a business standpoint, I could see an annoyance.

Anyone who has been a part of a business start up or store opening probably knows you like to do a "soft opening" to get the bugs out. In regards to the pool- by Tikiman and his followers posting pics and even showing the pool "being open" it is not allowing Disney to do a Soft Opening. Disney has not announced the pool is open yet b/c, to them, it is not open in the sense that they are wanting a large number of visitors. Like most businesses they are probably hoping the visitor numbers stay low until they are comfortable. When they are comfortable they will announce an official opening. If the CMs are saying the pool isn't opened until mid-April it is not b/c they are misinformed- Disney is just wanting to control the numbers.

Anyhoo- please don't hate me- just trying to have an open mind and possibly give another point of view.

 

[Sue M]

The web site does warn guests about the construction when you go to book the Poly. It is not being kept from guests. There have been posts from many people who were not bothered by the construction. If someone chooses to stay there during construction and are happy, that isn't a bad thing. Maybe there are some guests who would rather experience the Poly, even during construction, than stay somewhere else. Not sure how shutting it down would help the guest experience.

Having WDW state there will be construction and actually seeing pics of construction on Tikimans site are 2 different things. I don't agree with shutting resort down, but I think they should be offering sig. Discounts there.
We were supposed to stay last August, but after hearing about main pool shut down and the huge amount of construction with bungalows I jumped ship to GF. This August with main pool open, and bungalows done I feel I can live with East Pool construction.

 

[CMNJ]

I find the timing interesting as tikiman's site has been around so long and had information readily avail during the current construction that is wrapping up-one would think that the "worst" should be behind the resort already and that a great fan site would bolster the newly refurbished resort's popularity. This makes me wonder if the upcoming east pool construction is going to be as disruptive as the previous construction (the GCH renovation, lava pool, and DVC construction). Perhaps Disney doesn't want up to date info/photos out there as they attempt to book future cash reservations and sell DVC contracts? Checking again today on both DVC member and disney website there is NO mention of the upcoming east pool construction that is starting shortly. It is only AFTER guests book a Poly room or villa that they find out (by getting a letter in the mail). Tikiman was alerting people about this impending construction weeks ago-just my 2 cents lol

 

[Sammie]

Having WDW state there will be construction and actually seeing pics of construction on Tikimans site are 2 different things. I don't agree with shutting resort down, but I think they should be offering sig. Discounts there.
We were supposed to stay last August, but after hearing about main pool shut down and the huge amount of construction with bungalows I jumped ship to GF. This August with main pool open, and bungalows done I feel I can live with East Pool construction.

However it is a can of worms. I know it is hard to do but as Gillyrose779 said you have to try and see it from the company perspective. If you do give a discount at the Polynesian you set a precedence to always give discounts for construction. At what point is construction worthy of a discount. If they offered it at the Polynesian every project regardless of how small due to what happened at the Polynesian would feel it should be offered to them. There truly is no way to win on that one.

As to future construction projects, Disney would rather tell someone information they are sure is true and not likely to change then to tell them info that might happen. If you tell a guest that a pool is going to close for a certain time period and they book another resort and for some unforeseen reason that project is delayed that guest is upset they changed their plans. Again another no win situation.

 

[Sue M]

However it is a can of worms. I know it is hard to do but as Gillyrose779 said you have to try and see it from the company perspective. If you do give a discount at the Polynesian you set a precedence to always give discounts for construction. At what point is construction worthy of a discount. If they offered it at the Polynesian every project regardless of how small due to what happened at the Polynesian would feel it should be offered to them. There truly is no way to win on that one.

As to future construction projects, Disney would rather tell someone information they are sure is true and not likely to change then to tell them info that might happen. If you tell a guest that a pool is going to close for a certain time period and they book another resort and for some unforeseen reason that project is delayed that guest is upset they changed their plans. Again another no win situation.

I can see your point, but.......Tikiman says unofficial web site, and I take it as such. Not as the gospel truth. Most times he's spot on. We all know plans change. He is just giving his opinion on how he thinks things will go. I've found it useful, but am in no way upset if plans change. I'm glad I rebooked a different resort last summer, and I'm looking forward to our stay at Poly this summer.

IMO, if half the resort is torn up, I think they should offer a discount. This was an extreme case. I don't agree that every small refurb should get a discount. I think they can draw a line, major construction of outside common areas, that will have an impact on all resort guests, yes.
I do agree, people are funny, and some very unreasonable, who think they should get compensated for insignificant, ridiculous things. When I was standing in line at guest relations one day, I couldn't believe some of the ridiculous things people were complaining about.

Bottom line, I agree it is a can of worms, and you can't please everyone.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I believe photographs are still getting posted. He will not say anything about dates for completion of anything, though.

 

[MouseMum]

I believe photographs are still getting posted. He will not say anything about dates for completion of anything, though.

There's a marked difference in his posts, that's for sure. Too bad.

 

[zebsterama]

Obviously I'm sooooo super late to this news ... pretty sad IMO.

This man has done such an incredible service to the Disney corporation, and this is how he gets repaid.

Can anyone here even fathom how many hours, effort, time, and money he's spent promoting the love he has for that resort and Disney? How much his information has contributed to revenue generation? How many trips to the Poly he's inspired?

To those that say 'think of it from Disney's perspective', I say no.

Leaking information? Leaking information? Seriously? He's hyped up that resort like no one else on the planet. If anything, if all they care about is money, they should be erecting a monument in his image in the lobby!

Disney once again, wants their cake and eat it too. Clearly he's been muzzled, and clearly Disney once again has shown its true colours. Walt's dream yet again, has been changed for the worse.

My upcoming trip is paid for, there's no turning back now -- but yet again here's something else that will sour my experience, and my belief in the Disney brand. But as long as I/we fork it out - I guess it's all good. I feel horrible for Steve.

Thank you - rant over.