We're back! My opinion on Poly concierge

tinkfan

DIS Veteran
Joined
Mar 14, 2002
Messages
679
Finally got a chance to post about our stay at the Poly.
This was our 3rd resort on this trip. OKW, AKl concierge and Poly last. I posted live about our AKL 6th floor room and how we loved it.
Tuesday July 1st we transferred over to the Poly. We decided to have our luggage transferred even though we had a car because it was easier. When we arrived at the Poly, bell services checked to see if our room was ready and it was not, but he gave us the room #. We decided to self park over near the Tahiti bldg. This is our 2nd stay at the Poly with the first being in Hawaii concierge.
I loved that Tahiti had a parking lot close by.
We went up to 2nd floor to check in. We then went up to the 3rd floor to check out the lounge area. At this time of day it was empty. There were cookies and a few snacks out for the kids. We checked out the 2 lagoon view rooms set up with tables and chairs and thought it all looked adequate. There was ice tea and lemonade in one room and bottled water in another. We noticed our room #3025 was just 2 doors down from these rooms. The maid was in there cleaning.
We were shocked at the evening offerings time. The place was packed. And the way it was set up for serving, the line blocked the servers access to their kitchen area and they had a hard time moving through the crowd. We took our stuff to our room since it was just a few doors down. I had a nice chat with Chef Dick, who seemed slightly frustrated at the set-up, but was trying to make the best of it. He said he is hoping they are giving him more room back in Hawaii. The food offerings were good each night, it was just the crowds of people that made it unpleasant. I also prefer the wine selection at the AKL.
Here is my Big Complaint! Breakfast the first morning there were people out there in the PJ's with robes and bare feet! Even kids lounging in the chairs in their pajamas. I understand that people want to be comfortable, but this is still a hotel, not home! I spoke with one of the servers, a lovely lady Ivette. I asked her if it was too much to ask if guests wore shoes while in the food area. She told me that they have been told not to say anything about it to guests. I was shocked since I heard them more than once over at the AKL ask guest to return to their room for shoes. She said they had too many guests complain and that they felt that since they were paying big $$ , they could do whatever they wanted. We continued to see this occur everyday morning and evening. Also thre seemed to be a lot of unsupervised children coming up from lower floors on their own. I understand this was a holiday week, but that doesn't excuse some of these people.
Okay, my final opinion. I loved the room we had. I didn't mind the location of Tahiti, yes it was a walk to the GCh and main pool, but not unbearable. The access to TTC was great. You can take the express monorail there to MK or the ferry which we did. Also easy to hop to Epcot. I think this would be the perfect bldg for non-concierge guest. I was not thrilled with the concierge set-up, but I think they did try the best they could. We did recieve the chocolate bar the day we checked in, but nothing for being return guests like we did at AKL. I do feel they should address the dress code acceptable for the concierge lounge. We recieved a phone message every evening with the forecast and a reminder that the bldg was for exclusive use of concierge guests. They must have some issues with people bringing in outsiders. It would be simple for them to add to the message that shirts and shoes are required in the lounge. I tried several times to speak to a concierge staff member about this, but each time they had a guest they were dealing with. The food offerings are good , but I prefer the AKL by far especially for breakfast. The Poly does have small bottles of water and sodas out for the taking which is more convienent than having to ask for them. We may try Poly concierge again after they are back in Hawaii. Btw, we saw a glimpse of Hawaii, they had all the floor torn up on the bottom level, lots of work going on there. Hope they reopen on schedule. Let me know if there are any questions. I have pictures on Ofoto, but not sure how to add a link. Not sure if this will work. http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.j...735903&collid=39873725903&page=1&sort_order=0
 
Hi tinkfan,

Your link to the photos does work ~ thanx!

The AKL photos of the savanna... were these taken from the 6th floor concierge room?

I also noticed the sunrise safari photos... thanx for sharing,

>>^..^<<
 
Thank you for posting your Polynesian Conceirge experience. I'm wishing now that I hadn't booked it and just opted for a regular room. I convinced dh to try a deluxe hotel and then with the Canadian at Par upgrading us to Conceirge. If the lounge is as you described this will be our last Conceirge experience. :( Thanks for the 'heads up' I am planning to add a grocery stop to our limo and take advantage of the refridgerator in room.
 
Welcome back tinkfan!

Thank you for posting about your Poly Conciege experience. I am on my way there in two weeks and of course am so anxious for any info.

I just looked at your wonderful pictures. Your link works fine. Your family looks as if you were having a great time!:) I love the view of Tahiti from the lagoon. I am seeing myself on that beach watching the fireworks.....

Sounds like crowd managment is the biggest problem, and of course manners of other guests. It does seem that it should be possible for a tasteful "shoes and shirt required" sign.

I just told my 6 year old son that I was writing a note to someone who just got back from the "Hawaii Hotel", I asked him if there was anything HE wanted to ask. So he would like to know "Were the treats good for kids?" He has heard about there being cookies and candy in the lounge. Cant imagine where he heard that!:p

Again thanks for posting!
 

I'm glad you had a good trip. We will be at the Poly LVC in Sept and are a little nervous. Do you have any idea when the Concierge is moving back to Hawaii? Do you think we should try to move our vacation back a few weeks so we could defintely be in Hawaii?
 
Wonderful pictures, Tina! Thanks for sharing. Your kids are cuties, and it looks like you had a wonderful trip!:cool:
 
Tammydel-
Yes, crowd management and rude guests was the biggest problem. One night they even ran out of desserts and had to put the cookies back out. (btw, desserts were outstanding so that is probably why!)
Tell your 6yr old that they had buckets of candy out for the kids. I think they were M&M's, runts and gummy worms. They also had some kind of trail mix. During the evening offerings they had the uncrustable pb&J. Cookies were out all afternoon.

Please remember too that we were there over July 4th, which is the busiest time during the summer. Those going in late summer or fall I wouldn't worry at all.

Cassie-
Yes, the pictures of the AKL were taken from our 6th floor concierge room. As you can see the savannah area is not that large, but we saw quite a few animals out there, especially at night.
 
Great pictures, thank you for sharing and giving us a great trop report. I should be ashamed of myself, I always come back from my trip and just lazy to type about my trip. again thanks for all you put into the report:D
 
TinkFan- I would love to read your review about AKL concierge - but I can't find it (Search has been disabled, and I scrolled back thru 12 pgs of posts, nothing jumped out at me) Do you remember what the subject line was? I agree with you about Poly concierg- We stayed there last Oct. (and Have a ressie for Christmas this year), and loved it - except for the rudeness shown by some of the other guests! We had those in jammies and barefeet for breakfast, barefeet and wet swimsuits at dinner; as well as children grabbing food, then putting it back in the buffet, people cutting in line, etc..... I might consider changing to AKL if that is much better. Thanks! Jill
 
nasmith,

I found tinkfan's AKL concierge review. Look for the date of June 30, 2003 and tinkfan in the post originator column and you should find it.
 
Thanks for the report. I wish I could see the photos. I am glad you had a good time eventhough there seems to be a larg amount of rude guests staying concierge lately.

Aloha

Steve
 
I think what bothered me most about the rude guests at the Poly was the fact that the staff was told not to address it.
I am in the process of writing a letter to let them know how I feel about this. Not only is this rude, but it seems that it would be some kind of health code violation also.
Like I mentioned before on 2 ocassions I heared the staff in the AKL concierge lounge very politely ask the guest to return to their room for shoes. I did not see anyone there show up in their swimsuit with no shirt like at the poly. Maybe the tropical setting of the Poly just makes people more relaxed and casual??

I think both hotels offer a wonderful concierge experience. There are positives/negatives to both and it will be tough to choose between the 2 in the future.
 
Hi Tinkfan,

Thanks for your post.

We will be arriving on 7/28 for a 7 night stay. Did you notice any times that were better than others for the breakfast and evening offerings? Does it help to arrive at the lounge early or late or was it always packed? Do they offer anything other than PB&J for the kids (My 4 yr old. won't eat peanut butter)?
 
We just got back from nine spectacular days at the Polynesian Concierge.

The lounge was crowded at dinner time but we really didnt mind it. Many times we chatted in line with other guests. We were also there over 4th of July and never once ran into anyone in the lounge with no shirt on. That would have bothered me a little. No shoes is NO big deal for me. Their feet are on the floor and not up near the food so I could really care less if they came up there that way but that is me. All the guests I encountered were very nice and there was no line cutting or any rudeness and we went up there at all times during breakfast and hordourves (sp) and dessert and cordial time.

They only had uncrustables for the kids but you could try asking if they could get something else for your little one.

This was a very special trip for us as it was our 20th Anniversary and we renewed our vows while we were there and everything was spectacular as far as I was concerned, from the room, to the staff, the lounge, the housekeeping, the view. We couldnt have asked for a more wonderful vacation. In fact we had such a wonderful time we are planning a trip for our anniversary next year!! I am also writting a letter to the concierge manager to tell him what a spectacular time we had.
 
the link to your pics doesn't work for me??
It sends me to the homepage...I even joined..and still no luck...

glad to here you had a fantastic trip!
 
I can't view the photos either. I signed up, too, but could not view any albums, nor would I know how to find yours. Would really like to see your pics! Sounds like you had a great time!
 
It says the photos are not available. :(
 














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