What's so great about the Polynesian?

[ziggylu]

Seems to be really loved by everyone.

We stayed at AKL during our recent stay and really enjoyed our time there.

Will probably go back again next year so just wondering what makes the Polynesian so special that maybe we should consider staying there next time around?

 

[Got Quattro?]

Location..location...location...is one things.

the other is the 100% toatal themeing the resort has. No other resort makes you actually think you are at that location.

But when i am at the poly....i feal I am in hawaii.....AKL...i feal i am at an african themed hotel.

 

[0hmyheck]

I also saw location! A deluxe resort on the monorail line, close to Epcot, quick to MK, lagoon with the ELP each nite and watching Wishes from the beach. What is there not to like about the poly?

 

[Marty Joe]

During your next WDW vacation, drop by for dinner at Kona or 'Ohana (both are great), watch the Electrical Light Parade and fireworks from the beach. Don't forget to stop by the Tambu Lounge for a Mai Tai on your way to the beach. Notice how peaceful it is. Notice how lush and tropical it is... I think you will be impressed and relaxed at the same, and that is hard to do at Disney.

 

[blondemom]

While it is not my favorite resort - I'm a Wilderness Lodge girl - the Polynesian is a very nice resort. The room size is spacious and luxurious. It is wonderful for families with all the extra space. The pool is fantastic. It's truly one of a kind. Our family really enjoys Kona Cafe, we are not too keen on 'ohana these days, but other people really love it. You do feel swept away in the tropical feeling and the quietness of the resort. The electrical parade (don't remember the "real" name) can be watched from the beach. The castle changes colors right before your eyes. The fireworks are awesome. It is really a great place. From where we stayed, Tokelau, we were equal walking distance to the Ticket and Transportation Center and a ride to Epcot, or to the Great Ceremonial House to swing on by to Magic Kingdom. The location is perfect.

You are sure to get mixed responses. There is a resort for every family and it is a lot of fun trying them all out to see what works best for yours!

Good luck.

 

[feenie]

DH and I enjoyed our stay at the Poly, The rooms were really nice and a great size, being on the monorail was very handy and the theme was great.
That being said we both agreed that we would probably not stay there again.
We are used to the size of the POFQ, and the overwhelming size and long walk to our room from the main building after a long day was a bit of a drawback for us. I'm sure it had everything to do with location, but there were still buildings BEYOND us, so it could have been even more of a hike. (I had blisters because I am stupid, so that probably made the walk that much worse for me But I have learned my lesson... PRE-Moleskin!)
We didn't have a bad time, but we have other places we would rather stay at.

 

[ziggylu]

So it's pretty quiet then? It's just the two of us and we'd prefer a more quiet atmosphere...we thought the AKL was pretty quiet as some sort of reference. The TA I worked with tried to talk me out of AKL and into the Beach Club...I was set on AKL for this trip though but we did go over to the Beach Club, Yacht Club and Boardwalk...seemed really busy and not as quiet as AKL so while we liked the location don't know if we'd stay there.

The AKL rooms were small...are they bigger at the Polynesian? Also the lighting in the room at AKL was TERRIBLE. is that typical for all the resorts? Even during the day the lighting was terrible and the lights themselves were so poorly placed adn so dim that using them during daylight hours didn't help at all.

Also we found it impossible to get a king at AKL...is that typical at most of hte resorts. Since I assume most bookings are for more than two people are there substantially less king rooms available than most hotels?

We thought the buses ran really efficiently from AKL...we never waited long at all and appreciated that we could get from point A to Point B without having a stop in between...how bout Polynesian getting to places other than MK and Epcot?

Thanks for the input!

 

[LowesChevy]

We are big Poly fans and have stayed there many times over the past 25 years or so. After this past rehab in 2006 the new rooms are noticably darker than before. The bedspreads are a deep red and the wood furniture is darker. The old rooms had teal colored bed spreads and lighter curtains. It is still beautiful and we love the rooms and being on the lagoon side, the sun did not brighten up the room during the day much. As long as the curtains were all the way open during the day the room is bright, but not as bright as the Beach or Yacht Club.

The Poly only has king beds in its suites, which are crazy expensive. The rest of the rooms have two queens and a day bed. We find the rooms more luxurious and larger than the Beach or Yacht's concierge rooms. The Poly rooms have double sinks or a single sink depending on the longhouse in the bathroom, whereas the Beach & Yacht have them separated with sinks outside. The sinks outside is nice when you have three or more people like a family so more people can get ready at once.

The transportation to MGM and AK is hit or miss. We usually drive to AK because we really only want to hit a few rides right at the opening so it speeds up the process. The bus at the Poly usually shares either with the GF and the Contemporary. So it picks up for MGM at the Poly and then picks up people at the GF or Contemporary. It is kinda slow, especially if there is someone with a wheelchair as it need to be loaded with the ramp.

Even though the busses can be slow, this past time we did not wait longer than 15-20 minutes for any bus. It is also nice having to only take the bus to two parks in the mornings rather than three or four to get to all of the parks.
We generally spend most of our time at MK and Epcot and only hit MGM and AK for 1 day each, so overall the bus transport is okay.

I hope this helps you out-have fun

 

[SteveS]

the other is the 100% toatal themeing the resort has. No other resort makes you actually think you are at that location.

That is only a matter of opinion. Are you telling me that AKL and WL is less than 100% themeing? I don't think so.

If you like the Poly then that is fine. Personally I don't.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Aside from everything already said, it is a WDW original! How wonderful is that?

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Location location location. I travel in an ECV and I can get to both MK and EPCOT and so also boardwalk area and MGM all without a car or a bus. I also love the Smell of the place and the general atmosphere.

 

[ADP]

We love the lit torches around the resort at night. The view from the volcano pool (the beach, the lagoon, and Cindy's Castle).

 

[goofybabe]

The music,the food particularly tonga toast,tropical plants, the atmosphere very laid back,Just everything imaginable for a magical vacation!

 

[Got Quattro?]

That is only a matter of opinion. Are you telling me that AKL and WL is less than 100% themeing? I don't think so.

If you like the Poly then that is fine. Personally I don't.

Again...if you would have included the entire quote....it makes you feal like you are at that location more than just at a themed resort.

WL which is my favorite by the way,and AKL...you still know...you are in cenmtral florida. They dont have palm trees inthe northern lodges, and the dont have floirda plametos in an african savanha.

the florida vegetation blends with the poly better.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

We actually split our visits between the 2 resorts. This trip, we stay at AKL, next trip, at Poly. IMO, both resorts are fantastic and one is no better or worse than the other. However, they both have their own individual good points. The monorail and large rooms are huge selling points for the Poly, but the room prices, balcony views, and restaurants/bars are better at AKL. As far as theming, they both get 2 thumbs up from our family and we get the same laid back feeling regardless of which one we're at.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Location location location. I travel in an ECV and I can get to both MK and EPCOT and so also boardwalk area and MGM all without a car or a bus. I also love the Smell of the place and the general atmosphere.

oh the smell! It is wonderful! Every once in a while I catch a whiff of that Poly smell some place else, and I am suddenly transported to WDW!

 

[CoolPool]

I vote with Laugh O Grams. Both are fantastic.

I'd add that AK is our favorite park too so the swift transport there is a plus for AKL. The Poly has the best overall location bar none.

 

[pepe of ohio]

While it is not my favorite resort - I'm a Wilderness Lodge girl - the Polynesian is a very nice resort. The room size is spacious and luxurious. It is wonderful for families with all the extra space. The pool is fantastic. It's truly one of a kind. Our family really enjoys Kona Cafe, we are not too keen on 'ohana these days, but other people really love it. You do feel swept away in the tropical feeling and the quietness of the resort. The electrical parade (don't remember the "real" name) can be watched from the beach. The castle changes colors right before your eyes. The fireworks are awesome. It is really a great place. From where we stayed, Tokelau, we were equal walking distance to the Ticket and Transportation Center and a ride to Epcot, or to the Great Ceremonial House to swing on by to Magic Kingdom. The location is perfect.

You are sure to get mixed responses. There is a resort for every family and it is a lot of fun trying them all out to see what works best for yours!



Good luck.

The Poly is a great location, monorail, great pool many ways to the MK but only if you get a room facing the MK, with out that its just another room, but alot larger. We have stayed here alot before but the ends don't justify the means anymore. Price is just too high for our liking, especially without the good view. We're WL fans now for the last 5 or so stays. Nothing wrong with the Poly other than the price but we can take that savings and stay longer at WL, another great pool, great themeing, all under one roof but its just the two of us and room is no problem.

 

[cara loves the poly]

That is only a matter of opinion. Are you telling me that AKL and WL is less than 100% themeing? I don't think so.

If you like the Poly then that is fine. Personally I don't.

What the poster was saying is that even when you walk out of the hotel (on the property) it still has the Hawaii feel. When staying at the other beautiful hotels, it feels like a themed "hotel". The Polynesian is not under one roof and the surroundings encompass the overall feel of the Polynesian.

 

[frdeb1999]

We absolutely love the Poly! The location is fantastic, transportation, view, theming, resturants...and overall a very relaxing atmosphere. Do we like others equally....somewhat...but have been a fan of Poly since our first stay!