Which bldg is best at the Poly?

[asmarykay]

We are AKL refugees - going in Sept and have been moved to the Poly. We are excited, but I wonder which bldg is the best to stay in. We have garden view. Samoa looks like the location is right - right between both pools and reasonably close to the Great Ceremonial House. Have all the rooms at the Poly been updated? Anyone stay at this bldg lately?

Thanks for your help!

 

[ruzer28]

They are all good and bad in different ways. The first time I stayed at the Poly, I was at Rapa Nui. I loved it because it has its own extremely convenient parking lot, and it was the closest longhouse to the TTC. It was a longer walk to the Great Ceremonial House and the pools than it would have been from some of the other longhouses, so that was the drawback. Next month, I chose Samoa. Like you, I think the central location looks great, and it looks really convenient being so close to both pools. I've read on this board, though, that the proximity to the pools also comes with a lot of noise. Rapa Nui was nice and quiet. I don't think you can really go wrong with any of them, you just need to figure out what you want to be closest to. I don't know if you've checked out tikiman's website, but he has a lot of information on each longhouse, along with pros and cons.

 

[Marty Joe]

Hi asmarykay,

Sorry to here that you're being relocated. I believe that you will be pleased with the Polynesian. Our "longhouse" of choice is Samoa/volcano pool side. I would post some pictures from the balcony but I'm at work now (taking a Poly break). You can't go wrong with any location at the Poly, but Samoa is between both pools, 90 seconds to the GCH, not too far to the TTC, and not too far to the boat dock. I am a very lite sleeper and the pool noise has not bothered me. The Poly is not very spread out, so the farthest possible walk would be around 5 or 6 minutes (to the TTC) and it is a very pleasant walk. Have a good time!.

 

[grannyminnie]

We were in Samoa earlier this year and loved the location! Convenient and beautiful...the volcano pool side has an added bonus of having a lagoon view as well. And that's beautiful too.
We were on third floor, so I don't know if the first floor would have that added lagoon view that we had. It was just so nice and relaxing to look out and see the water and the GF!

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

We love the Rarotonga or the Niue. They're both close to everything and have lovely views.

Have a great trip!

 

[stalkingmickey]

We were also moved from AKL to Poly for our trip in Sept. I have been looking at tikiman's site and it was great. I wish disney had sites like this for their own hotels. We also think Samoa is a good choice.

 

[Marty Joe]

OK, I'm home... some Poly pix from 3 weeks ago...

These are from Samoa, RM# 3605

Notice the lagoon view of the Grand Floridian and the Electrical Light Parade. I could have taken a better night picture, but I was working on a Mai Tai as well! Let us know what you think of the Polynesian...

 

[rcraw45425]

OK, I'm home... some Poly pix from 3 weeks ago...

These are from Samoa, RM# 3605

Notice the lagoon view of the Grand Floridian and the Electrical Light Parade. I could have taken a better night picture, but I was working on a Mai Tai as well! Let us know what you think of the Polynesian...

Marty Joe, I think that's the same room we had! Is it across from the elevator? We loved our view from there, but stayed there while rehab was going on, do you have any room pictures?

 

[Marty Joe]

rcraw,
I do have a couple of room pictures but they do not do the room justice. Room 3605 was not directly across from the elevator but close. To see some great shots of the rooms and anything else Polynesian, google "Tikiman" or PM me and I will tell ya! I hope you can get back to the Poly and check the room out for yourself...

 

[CrzyGmer789X2]

My family is planning another trip in 2009, and so far (my sig has the 5 resorts we're deciding between) we are leaning towards Poly, and our top 3 choices (in order) would be Samoa, Rarotonga, & Niue.

 

[rcraw45425]

Our Poly stay was back in '04, they had just started the rehab of the longhouses close to the TTC. It seems like our room was maybe the 2nd or third down from the elevator. I remember the rooms were a little dark, and we had bad housekeeping issues, I had requested (thanks to Tikiman ) third floor, volcano pool side. We moved over from WL that morning (never listen to guest services, they told us to come on over early and we could get our room since we were already onsite, right). We checked in there around 11, they told us to check back at 1. Went to DTD for lunch and called them until 2:30, then drove back over, no room. CHeck in time arrived, no room. By 4:30 the manager went over there to see why our assigned room was still showing "dirty", found that they had shampooed the carpet! They did cover our dinner at 'Ohana, but we were almost late for the MNSSHP!

 

[asmarykay]

Thanks to all of you for all of the great information! Only 35 days until I will be at the Poly!

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Oh, these photos are getting me excited!

In September, I am going on my 23rd trip to Disney, and this will be my first time ever at the Polynesian!! I am sooo hoping for a decent garden view room - I looked at tikiman's site, and it seems that Rapa Nui has the potential for the worst views (parking lot). No matter what resort I stay at, I have had very little luck in the past with room views - I always get the boonies or parking lot. When we check into the Polynesian, I think I will beg for anything but Rapa Nui - I just don't want another parking lot view for the zillionth boring time, just something normal for once!

We also are going to beg for patio or full balcony - I am so scared of getting one of those no-balcony 2nd floor rooms!

But either way - I know we will love the Poly!!!

 

[Marty Joe]

HugsForEeyore,

When you make your reservation, tell the CRO about your request. When I do it, I tell them Samoa/volcano pool side - balcony or patio. It is just a request, but they do try to accommodate when they can. Some people also fax in a request 4 or 5 days out. This may or may not help, but it does not hurt. I normally fax too, but I did not this last time and I still got my request.

Something I've noticed on the DIS (about the Poly) is that a few family's were disappointed with the resort. I feel (IMHO) that they read about how beautiful, how friendly, how great, the best, never stay anywhere else, the best time EVER, etc., and when they get there, they were let down because they expected Utopia. The Polynesian is all of those thing to me, but it is just a Disney Resort, with Disney flaws, and Disney prices just like the AllStars and the Grand Floridian and eveyplace else Disney. So please don't get too fired up. It will be hard for the Polynesian to live up to all the hype. Then again, I could be full of beans, which would not be the first time!