What don't you love about the POLY?

[Summer2018]

Just having returned one month ago, I found nothing lacking except that the Lava Pool is too crowded. Otherwise, it was PARADISE.

 

[Shanti]

I would like to preface this by saying I am not a negative type poster, and that I love WDW an am a true believer in the "MAGIC". That being said, here goes......... I feel like I need to stay at the Polynesian even though something keeps holding me back. We are AP holders and take 2 to 3 trips a year alternating between Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Beach Club. Every trip I almost book the Polynesian but something stops me an I’m not sure what it is. I know lots of reasons people love it so I would really like to hear some reasons you may not like it or did not enjoy your stay ,to help me make my decision. I should say we are two adults no children and spend an equal amount of time at all four parks with daily pool breaks. Thanks in advance for your information.

Overpriced, crowded lobby & feature pool, uninspiring resort rooms, uncovered walkways between buildings

 

[klacey1]

We didn't care for:

- Having to walk outside to our room building (something we really didn't like at GF either)
- How dark and dusty our room was. Floors were dirty.
- CMs who checked us in were pretty short and not at all friendly (I am aware that can happy at any Disney resort...)
- General hecticness of the Great Ceremonial House

We stayed only two nights and really would only stay again if we were doing another 2-day trip and only going to Epcot and MK, since it is exceptionally convenient to these parks with the walk to the TTC. We much, much preferred BC and CR...would put WL and GF over Poly as well.

 

[PPFlight75]

I would like to preface this by saying I am not a negative type poster, and that I love WDW an am a true believer in the "MAGIC". That being said, here goes......... I feel like I need to stay at the Polynesian even though something keeps holding me back. We are AP holders and take 2 to 3 trips a year alternating between Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Beach Club. Every trip I almost book the Polynesian but something stops me an I’m not sure what it is. I know lots of reasons people love it so I would really like to hear some reasons you may not like it or did not enjoy your stay ,to help me make my decision. I should say we are two adults no children and spend an equal amount of time at all four parks with daily pool breaks. Thanks in advance for your information.

I felt the same as you when we first started going to WDW. We started at BC, then BWI and loved the Epcot area. We visited the Poly and I wanted to try it but something always stopped me (just like you). Finally I had to try it knowing that if I didn't like it we would just go back to the Epcot area next trip. Well! I fell in love with Poly and it is my absolute favorite. It is the vibe/feeling I get when I am there. I just love it and I always feel so relaxed there. I do still love my Epcot resorts but Poly is my #1.
For faults, I guess I would say that having no arcade and the monorail to Epcot are things I don't like. My youngest loves an arcade and I miss walking to Epcot when I am at Poly. Other that that, it's perfect!

 

[BillFromCT]

Thanks for asking this question. I thought I was the only one not getting the Poly warm and fuzzies. After staying at the Poly for the first time last year, I came away with a one and done feeling about it. We had a great room in Rarotonga. So A+ for that. The feature pool was beyond overcrowded. Literally not a single open chair. Housekeeping was mediocre. Every afternoon it was a game of housekeeping Russian Roulette. I shouldn't have to put a special request in to have our room cleaned before 3:00pm. Between 'Ohana breakfast and dinner, and the small mass of people coming to the Aloha shows, I came away not understanding the relaxing vibe others find there. Contrast that with our stay at Wilderness Lodge this year, where the transient foot traffic was non existent. Which is probably why their adding character dining over at Artist Point.

 

[Tinkerbell8956]

I love the Poly...but...
The lobby gets super crowded in the evening with people eating at Ohana.
The walls are super thin and you can hear everything next door and everything in the hallway.
The ferry boats! They are so loud! I was awoken to the ferry boat mic check at 5:30am. All I heard was the cast member yelling “figaro figaro fi-ga-ro!” Into the mic.

 

[buzznina]

Cons; dark, pool area is small and just okay, liked the beach view a lot better before the Bungalows, buses not very good, Capt Cooks and since we have been to Hawaii twice it sort of feels like a bad knockoff.
Pros; Monorail to MK, walking to TTC, view of MK, Kona cafe, we actually like that you walk outside and not always inside was some of the "green mile" hallways other resorts have.

 

[KCanuck]

For years the Poly just didn’t appeal to me. We decided to try it last year and now it is our favourite. Some of the complaints here are legitimate to some degree, but overall it’s wonderful. We spend a lot of time in the parks so maybe we didn’t notice some of the overcrowding issues at the pools and the lobby that people have mentioned. If your room isn’t on the lagoon side you don’t hear the boats.

 

[monorailsilver]

Thanks so much for taking the time for all your detailed responses. I don’t think I’m going to do it LOL

We did a split in August. We stayed at the BC first because my dh and kid stayed have never been and he last time I was 1990. I fell in love with SAB and my park aching feet felt so much better when I rubbed them in the sand. I was so worried, would I not like, well love my Poly again. So when we moved it was during a mid day break. My DS and I went for a short swim in the lava pool. It was crowded and then the rain came and we had to get out. After the rain we went to the oasis pool. Ok I went as they were slowly coming out. I was swimming in the middle of all the longhouses and said, yep, this place and me are still in love!

It is “dark” but I love it that way.

 

[Jeff O]

I would like to preface this by saying I am not a negative type poster, and that I love WDW an am a true believer in the "MAGIC". That being said, here goes......... I feel like I need to stay at the Polynesian even though something keeps holding me back. We are AP holders and take 2 to 3 trips a year alternating between Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Beach Club. Every trip I almost book the Polynesian but something stops me an I’m not sure what it is. I know lots of reasons people love it so I would really like to hear some reasons you may not like it or did not enjoy your stay ,to help me make my decision. I should say we are two adults no children and spend an equal amount of time at all four parks with daily pool breaks. Thanks in advance for your information.

Honestly (and I'm not trying to be funny) the thing I don't like about the Poly is the current price per night to stay. The resort has gotten so expensive, that it's very hard for us to stay there. It's still one of my favorites on property. The theme is great, Kona Café has great food (Tonga Toast), and the rooms are spacious and beautiful. The pool area is wonderful and the monorail ride to the Magic Kingdom is always fun too. If you stay there, try to go to the Luau one evening. It really is a great part of the experience!

Jeff
Twitter.com/MouseMadePlace

 

[cleopenn]

We’ve stayed twice. It’s got a lot going for it, but some of the negatives for me:
- it’s always so busy and loud. There are so many guests that are not staying at the Poly that come to eat, shop, take a break in the lobby and look around. It’s not a big resort and it does get overwhelmed sometimes. This is the biggest negative IMHO. None of the peacefulness of WL or AKL.

....

agreed. It was a zoo during our stay. The amount of people (and strollers) in the main building made it stressful to navigate.

The only thing we don't love about the Poly is that the second floor rooms do not have balconies. My DH and I love sitting out on the balcony with cocktails so we are a little nervous about ending up without one but we have always gotten our room requests so not a big deal so far! Also, we felt there was a little longer of a wait for buses than we have experienced at other resorts. But not enough to keep us away as we're going back in January! It's really worth a try!

We also like an outdoor space and were disappointed to get a second floor room. We asked to be moved but no luck.

We visited in October last year and felt it was a high volume, quick turnover hotel. The lobby was fine but when you get into the actual room buildings you can see the wear and tear from so many quests all the time. It just feels like there's never enough time between quests for the rooms to really be cleaned or the hallways properly taken care of. ...... We are going back to GF this year. I can justify the expense more for their quality over Poly.

During our visit, the differed maintenance in the club level building was shameful. The GF is where we will stay next trip.

I too love the Poly, especially the CL and we stay there often. To give a few things that I don't like about the Poly - One thing is that all other Deluxe resorts have at least one restaurant that you can get reservations at the last minute - not the Poly. I wish they would leave some ADRs for guests.......

I forgot to mention this too. When we last stayed, i tried to walk up at Kona at around 7:45 on a few mornings. The were booked. Our last day, I bit the bullet and made an ADR the night before. They really should leave some space for guests that are staying at the resort to walk up.

I agree 100% These comments made me chuckle because when I mentioned the same some time back, the literal pick forks came out to silence me At that price point, poly guests should be accommodated better. At any other resort in the eastern hemisphere (and maybe the world) resort guests paying a similar nightly rate expect to be able to dine on-site with minimal wait times.

 

[Tonyz]

Don't... love?

I don't understand the question.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

I love the Poly. This summer we were offsite and had breakfast at Ohana. We had a view of the pool and the palm trees. We also went one night to watch fireworks. It was so lovely with the tiki lights, the Mk in the distance, I didnt want to leave. I am most happy to be near the MK for our trip in October- 30 days! I guess the one thing I dont love would be the cost.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

I agree 100% These comments made me chuckle because when I mentioned the same some time back, the literal pick forks came out to silence me At that price point, poly guests should be accommodated better. At any other resort in the eastern hemisphere (and maybe the world) resort guests paying a similar nightly rate expect to be able to dine on-site with minimal wait times.

I know it is hard to understand why they don't do it. Agreed!!!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

True what everyone says about lobby being so busy and chaotic. But that really has never bothered me (except on 4th of July!). The one thing I mark it down for is that the sink is inside the bathroom with the toilet and shower. With multiple people getting ready, I really like having the sink separate.

 

[squeezle]

Two words, Lapu Lapu. Okay, that was one word twice, but you get the picture.

 

[rubyfalls]

We've stayed at Poly twice, most recently at the end of August. My biggest complaints are:
- Chaos in GCH whenever it's time to check in for the Spirit of Aloha show or if 'Ohana is running late (which it always is).
- Captain Cooks is too small. It seemed every time we went by the line was out the door, into the hallway.
- Lackluster housekeeping (our first stay, the housekeeper did not shut our room's door all the way, and our room was directly across from the building entrance.)

Both of our stays at Poly have been because of discounts and deals. I wouldn't hestitate to stay again. We do like to try different resorts, so next trip we are thinking an Epcot resort.

 

[sndral]

I thought I would love the Poly - but it was a one and done for me for the following reasons:
I had 2 rooms garden view booked, only request was that rooms have a balcony or patio, rooms did NOT need to be connected. Ended up w/ 2nd floor no balcony rooms - no where to move us. And as a bonus our rooms looked at a parking lot - which I hate, don't call it garden if you see parked cars!
Crowded lobby - OMG, that place is a madhouse! At places like AKL, GF and even YC, I occasionally sit awhile in the lobby and enjoy the 'general splendor' which is simply not possible at the Poly.
Mismanaged food service - IME, Ohana runs late, as in really late, and then can be rushed when they finally seat you. Captain Cooks was ok when I was there - sounds like it's gotten crowded since. Kona was a horrible service experience the one time I had an ADR there - plus it's refined sugar/carb overloaded menu, so not to my taste and of course it's open to the general madness of the lobby so the ambient noise is quite high from the crowds in the lobby.
Monorails - trying to go to the MK or another monorail resort via monorail when the luau lets out is nuts. Trying to get back from MK at the end of the night is crazy as the monorails are swamped with people heading to the parking lot at the TTC.
Shared buses.
Dark, dated rooms.
Those bungalows (which weren't there when I stayed) have diminished the view from the Poly - they look like trailers on stilts to me, so I kind of whence when I see them lined up along the shore.
Fortunately, for each of those who, like me, are not Poly fans there are legions of loyal Poly devotees. The grounds are beautiful, the food at Captain Cooks is good for QS, I love the boat ride to the MK, the rooms are nice and large, some people want hustle and bustle like that which exists in the Poly's lobby, etc..
No resort is perfect and whether a particular one fits a group is such an individual feeling. I'm glad I stayed there, because I know now it's just not the place for me, I'm far happier next door at the GF or elsewhere. It's worth a try, maybe as part of a split stay if you are a frequent WDW guest, just so you know whether it's a good fit for you, IMO.

 

[Karebear]

I have stayed 2x at the Poly for one week each time. The main pool is too small for the size of the resort and thus very crowded. Also, the bus to AK and HS wasn’t that great....we experienced long waits. Maybe we had bad bus karma there but we experienced it on both trips.

 

[Chelley00]

I'm one of those people who won't stay at the Poly again. We loved the room size and you cannot beat walking around the grounds late at night with the tiki torches glowing. So pretty

But

There are people EVERYWHERE. Coming to eat, for the luau, to watch fireworks on the beach, to just walk around. We could never find a place to park, never get a hammock, get through the lobby. It just seemed like madness all the time. Now we are just some of those people who go to eat and then leave