Venting About Poly Construction

[bethclayton]

We spent 8 days at the Poly at the end of August. Our room was Hawaii first floor facing the lagoon/bungalows. The roof height of the bungalows actually lines up pretty well with the tree line in the horizon so it didn't affect our view of the castle or the fireworks from our room. The view from the lounge and the offerings were still great, as always. We had a fantastic time and were not negatively in any way by the construction because it was on the opposite side of the building. We would have no reservations about staying there again.

do you mind if i ask what your dates were? we were there 19-26 and there was a ton of construction going on on the lagoon side of the building during our stay.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

To be fair, its no secret that the work has been going on and there is a lot of work being done in the over all project, some completed and some continuing.

AKK

 

[gdrj]

It is unbelievable that there is still construction going on at the Poly.

We have always split our stay between two resorts and always made one of them the Poly. We changed from the Poly to the YC in May of 2013 because of the construction. We then canceled our entire trip in May of 2014 because of the continued construction at the Poly and went to USO instead.

We are planning on going to the Poly this May, and now I have to worry again about construction. We stay in the Hawaii longhouse which is next to the quiet pool. I won't pay $1,000 a night to look at and listen to construction.

How long can it possibly take to replace a swimming pool?! I know it is themed, I know they are working around guests, I know it is a big area. But six months to replace the quiet pool? With that kind of timetable, we should see the new Star Wars land at DHS sometime in the early 2020's.

The short answer...don't go.

OR you could book another longhouse away from the quiet pool. Not sure why you would cancel whole trip and not stay elsewhere but that's your call.

As far as paying a $1000 a night. I think you need a better travel agent

As far as the quiet pool construction, you do know they are clearing the entire area, and starting from scratch? Just taking down all the landscaping and trees took time. We were there in July and heard minimal noise. I'm sure if they brought in wood chippers and lots of chain saws it would have been quicker...but again noiser. Not that there wasn't noise but our 5 day stay in July was not impacted. It had always been listed as a long construction project. I'm sure if they brought in bigger and heavier equipment it could be quicker but it would also be more disruptive.

 

[gdrj]

Don't bother, I just went there for the first time since they built those huts on the water. To me, it was very disappointing. It's not the same place anymore. That beach was probably one of the best places in all of Disney, quiet relaxing, incredible views. Now your just looking at someone's bad idea to cash in on more money.

To bring a different perspective. You are right it is different...better in my opinion. The resort from the new open lobby, to Trader Sams to the larger pool deck and kids pool area all are improvements IMO. As far as the Bungalows I think it enhances the feel of a Polynesian resort, it is different. I understand people have memories and don't like change but not everything was beautiful as the photos below will show (not the people, everything else)

 

[johnvree]

The short answer...don't go.

OR you could book another longhouse away from the quiet pool. Not sure why you would cancel whole trip and not stay elsewhere but that's your call.

As far as paying a $1000 a night. I think you need a better travel agent

As far as the quiet pool construction, you do know they are clearing the entire area, and starting from scratch? Just taking down all the landscaping and trees took time. We were there in July and heard minimal noise. I'm sure if they brought in wood chippers and lots of chain saws it would have been quicker...but again noiser. Not that there wasn't noise but our 5 day stay in July was not impacted. It had always been listed as a long construction project. I'm sure if they brought in bigger and heavier equipment it could be quicker but it would also be more disruptive.

Like the title says, I was just venting. Three years is a long time to rehab a resort and it is not as though these were little projects scattered around the resort. They have been major projects -- revamping the GCH, tearing out and replacing the Volcano pool, adding 20 bungalows, converting three longhouses into DVC units -- and most of this construction went on at the same time. Now the middle of the resort looks like a war zone. The

We like staying in the Hawaii Building. And when we are at the Poly, we spend a lot of time at the resort, usually three nights and the only park we go to while there is MK.

I saw the pictures and can see they have cleared the entire area. All the more reason they should expedite this kind of construction, rather than dragging it over an eight month period. At the end of the day, they are clearing landscaping, replacing a pool and installing a hot tub and a small structure for a bar. That does not have to be an eight month construction project. My guess is that the pace of Disney's construction projects has more to do with spreading costs over multiple fiscal quarters than their concern about working around guests.

I never use a travel agent. I book a room and hope for a code. If anyone knows a better way to secure a discount on a MK view concierge room at the Poly, I'm all ears.

 

[maxiesmom]

Like the title says, I was just venting. Three years is a long time to rehab a resort and it is not as though these were little projects scattered around the resort. They have been major projects -- revamping the GCH, tearing out and replacing the Volcano pool, adding 20 bungalows, converting three longhouses into DVC units -- and most of this construction went on at the same time. Now the middle of the resort looks like a war zone. The

We like staying in the Hawaii Building. And when we are at the Poly, we spend a lot of time at the resort, usually three nights and the only park we go to while there is MK.

I saw the pictures and can see they have cleared the entire area. All the more reason they should expedite this kind of construction, rather than dragging it over an eight month period. At the end of the day, they are clearing landscaping, replacing a pool and installing a hot tub and a small structure for a bar. That does not have to be an eight month construction project. My guess is that the pace of Disney's construction projects has more to do with spreading costs over multiple fiscal quarters than their concern about working around guests.

I never use a travel agent. I book a room and hope for a code. If anyone knows a better way to secure a discount on a MK view concierge room at the Poly, I'm all ears.

Or maybe it has to do with having at least one fully functioning pool area open at a time.

 

[gdrj]

Like the title says, I was just venting. Three years is a long time to rehab a resort and it is not as though these were little projects scattered around the resort. They have been major projects -- revamping the GCH, tearing out and replacing the Volcano pool, adding 20 bungalows, converting three longhouses into DVC units -- and most of this construction went on at the same time. Now the middle of the resort looks like a war zone. The

We like staying in the Hawaii Building. And when we are at the Poly, we spend a lot of time at the resort, usually three nights and the only park we go to while there is MK.

I saw the pictures and can see they have cleared the entire area. All the more reason they should expedite this kind of construction, rather than dragging it over an eight month period. At the end of the day, they are clearing landscaping, replacing a pool and installing a hot tub and a small structure for a bar. That does not have to be an eight month construction project. My guess is that the pace of Disney's construction projects has more to do with spreading costs over multiple fiscal quarters than their concern about working around guests.

I never use a travel agent. I book a room and hope for a code. If anyone knows a better way to secure a discount on a MK view concierge room at the Poly, I'm all ears.

I understand venting, i doubt the construction project over multiple quarters is the reason but it is all conjecture. If they started it 6 AM and worked until 8PM like many construction projects do during extended day light I'm sure it would speed it up. I'm sure being the size Disney is some things are slowed down just due to decision process and too many cooks in the kitchen but like others have said, the timeline has been out there. In fact with the delayed start of the quiet pool, I'm sure it will drag longer than any of us want.

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

do you mind if i ask what your dates were? we were there 19-26 and there was a ton of construction going on the lagoon side of the building during our stay.

We were there from the 21st to 29th. We saw the scissor trucks a couple of times down near the entrance which had some work being done on it, but we never saw them near our room. I should point out that we usually were in the parks by 9pm and then back by 4 - 5pm each day so if they were doing work during that timeframe, it didn't affect us. We did see and hear construction at the East pool site a few times on our way to the buses, but we didn't notice it in our room. We never had any problems or obstructions when we watched the electrical parade and fireworks at night from our room. This was one of our best stays in the Hawaii building and we can't wait to go back.

 

[bethclayton]

We were there from the 21st to 29th. We saw the scissor trucks a couple of times down near the entrance which had some work being done on it, but we never saw them near our room. I should point out that we usually were in the parks by 9pm and then back by 4 - 5pm each day so if they were doing work during that timeframe, it didn't affect us. We did see and hear construction at the East pool site a few times on our way to the buses, but we didn't notice it in our room. We never had any problems or obstructions when we watched the electrical parade and fireworks at night from our room. This was one of our best stays in the Hawaii building and we can't wait to go back.

well that makes sense because it was from 9-5 every day!

 

[Kaitysmom]

I was VERY disappointed in Poly Club Level - the level of service was not there IMO. We stayed there a month ago and I was stunned - not in a good way. The food offerings were mediocre and the CL staff that we met were not of the level I've seen in the past. Maybe my expectations were too high but given the price we paid, nearly $900 per night TPV, I think my expectations were justified. I splurged and have never paid this rate before - I usually have a code or discount. I don't know if things have gone downhill over the past few years with all of the CLs but my experience at Beach Club and Boardwalk CL was so much better.

 

[johnvree]

I was VERY disappointed in Poly Club Level - the level of service was not there IMO. We stayed there a month ago and I was stunned - not in a good way. The food offerings were mediocre and the CL staff that we met were not of the level I've seen in the past. Maybe my expectations were too high but given the price we paid, nearly $900 per night TPV, I think my expectations were justified. I splurged and have never paid this rate before - I usually have a code or discount. I don't know if things have gone downhill over the past few years with all of the CLs but my experience at Beach Club and Boardwalk CL was so much better.

Sad to hear, but consistent with the Dis Unplugged's review on their 7 in 7. They found the Poly not to be a good as some of the other concierge levels.
For me, I pay for the location and the lounge. I know I am getting the longhouse I want. And the lounge is important to us because we always make the Poly the second resort of our stay. Usually we'll do four or five nights in another resort and then three nights at the Poly and the only park we'll have left is MK. So we spend a lot of time at the resort and being able to hang out in the lounge is nice.

 

[kam23]

Had lunch at the Poly on Sept 1. Lots of construction and the lava pool was CROWDED!! Three rows of lounge chairs stretched across the back of the pool deck near the beach. The lounge chairs were so close that they were practically touching. I have reservation for May and will be changing them.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

I think one of the reasons the CL at the Poly is getting a lot of negative reviews is that Disney knows people will still book it, no matter how bad it gets. I have seen/read some of the offerings for the breakfast time period and it looks a lot like what you would get at Country Inns and Suites. I have also read numerous times where the CL is better at some of the other resorts. I will never pay for CL as I just can't seem to get an extra $200 a night worth of food out of it. But if I was going to, it would'nt be at the Poly.

 

[SeaSpray]

We've stayed CL at the Polynesian many times, the most recent 2 weeks ago.

Here are my pictures and comments about the resort and the Hawaii building.


http://brownfamilyvacations.com/html/WDW2015.htm

 

[Jennygt]

Had lunch at the Poly on Sept 1. Lots of construction and the lava pool was CROWDED!! Three rows of lounge chairs stretched across the back of the pool deck near the beach. The lounge chairs were so close that they were practically touching. I have reservation for May and will be changing them.

May I ask what time of day this was?

 

[Lisaloo]

We stayed at AKL in July and went to the Poly for Ohana. It was a construction zone.

 

[johnvree]

Had lunch at the Poly on Sept 1. Lots of construction and the lava pool was CROWDED!! Three rows of lounge chairs stretched across the back of the pool deck near the beach. The lounge chairs were so close that they were practically touching. I have reservation for May and will be changing them.

I made a reservation for May in the hope that, somehow, they will figure out a way to complete a construction project on time. I have reservations for the Portofino Hotel at Universal for the same week. I'll decide when I get to the cancellation deadline. If the quiet pool is not done, we'll be going to Universal again, though we may make a day trip to MK.

 

[Lisaloo]

We've stayed CL at the Polynesian many times, the most recent 2 weeks ago.

Here are my pictures and comments about the resort and the Hawaii building.


http://brownfamilyvacations.com/html/WDW2015.htm

Loved your pics! Irv is awesome.

 

[SeaSpray]

Loved your pics! Irv is awesome.

Thanks!!

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm always worried that on the first floor - kids will be stomping above me - is that an issue or did you hear anything?

Our favorite stay was at the Poly on the ground floor. WE had requested Tokelau, connecting rooms and a balcony. Well you know that is a lot of requests, and we knew there was a good chance that not all of them could be accommodated. My DS and DDIl arrived before the rest of us and they discussed the rooms with a CM who told DS tha there were no connecting rooms with a balcony available, and offered the patio. SHe also said that she could upgrade one room to CL if he wanted. He thanked her, but turned down the complimentary upgrade because we did want both room together. I have to say that the patios were wonderful and the best use of space ever! The grounds at the Poly are plush and they are effective at allowing privacy for first floor rooms. We did not hear any noise from above, and we were notbothered by foot traffic going by. Our family used the patio as an extra room, allowing folks to rest quietly in the room while othes were relaxing outside. We enjoyed mornng coffee and afternoon snacks. It really was lovely.

I do not knowingly stay in a resort that is undergoing construction. I know a lot of people are not impacted by it, but we would out the hard way that our family is impacted and that we don't like it. I would never cancel a trip because a favorite resort is undergoing changes, but would use tha as a reason to try another.