Why is the Poly so popular?

[Kata]

I am giving some thought to switching my ressie to the Poly because it is so popular but I am wondering what makes it so popular? Also will I enjoy it so much if I can only afford a standard room?
Thanks!!!

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

The indoor and outdoor gardens and fountains are beautiful. Walking along the tiki torch lined pathways at night is magical. The volcano themed pool is great. Sitting on a lounge on the beach looking over at the Magic Kingdom was peacefull (it wasn't a crazy time of the year). And you can watch the fireworks from the beach also (the music isn't piped in but no crowds to battle when it's over). Transportation can't be beat; monorail, boat or bus. Loved the food they served, don't miss Ohana's.

 

[ktink]

I've never stayed at Poly but was booked to this year and changed to POR w/dining and saved but we don't have to worry about our meals now. But POLY is my dream resort. I love the volcano pool. Go to allearnet.com and look at the picture slide show. It's a beautiful resort and the monorail is an added delight. The beach is beautiful and the water parade can be viewed on the beach nightly.. I think that there are no standard rooms at Poly they are either garden or lagoon view. Good luck, wish I was going there myself.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Even though we prefer GF I can see the attraction to the Poly. The grounds are beautiful and it's probably as close to a Hawaiian vacation as we're going to get while the kids are little. It's also a monorail hotel so that helps. Volcano pool is nice, although I think its a little small for a resort that popular.

 

[Beca]

We've stayed at the Poly, and it really didn't "do much" for us. It is a beautiful resort, and a great location...but, I don't care for the theming. But, that is just me (I'm certainly not trying to "trash" anyone's favorite resort). We stayed there in the same trip as we stayed in the FW Cabins. After the Poly, we thought we had "died and gone to heaven" when we got to the cabins....so, I KNOW we are just different from a lot of other people.

Anyway...just make sure the "theming" appeals to you...if the whole "Hawaii thing" is what you like...you will LOVE this resort. If not, it might not do much for you either.



Beca

 

[manhattan]

We love the Poly and it is one of our favorite resort. I think the number one reason is for the size of the room. It's huge compared to all the other rooms. Other things we like: lobby- love looking at the birds and orchids; pool, my kids LOVE it; atmosphere, just walking around in the evening with the tiki torches, its so nice; convenience, love being able to get the boat, monorail or just walking to TTC. But like I said, the size of the room is what keeps us going back.

 

[Tigger113]

I am giving some thought to switching my ressie to the Poly because it is so popular but I am wondering what makes it so popular? Also will I enjoy it so much if I can only afford a standard room?
Thanks!!!

Kata--Which resort are you staying at now??

When I stayed at the Poly I LOVED it. I stayed at a standard room and the rooms were very big. I had a patio, which was really neat because ducks came up to our patio ever morning. It was a lovely start to our morning. Also you don't need to upgrade to a water view room because you can just go to the pool to see the Fireworks and a lights show on the lake (I can't remember the name).

It all just depends on where you are staying now!

 

[Debs Hill]

We are DVC members and usually stay at BWV and OKW...........but on our next trip I would love to 'splurge' some points and stay at the Poly for a couple of nights............would I be disappointed? Which building is everyone's favourite?
Debsxxxxx

 

[stingmom]

here's the differences I noticed when we were there last week, and for some reason, I don't "get" why it's so popular either... (follow the link) It didn't "do" anything for our family of 5.


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=786680

 

[BigOnDis]

We are trying Poly for the first time this year. For us it was wanting to have monorail transportation to MK and the theme we liked best was the Poly. We ate at the Kona Cafe last year and walked around a little after and my son really wants to go to the volcano pool.

For me, having been to Disney numerous times since it opened, I have always seen it as the monorail past through and thought I would love to stay there someday, so this is will be a dream come true for me.

 

[beccasmom]

We stayed at the Poly as part of our Disney cruise. I would've picked the BC, but was overruled. I am not a Poly fan, but know many folks who are. It is probably the only WDW resort that holds no magic for me, but I am in the minority for sure. Please understand I am not bashing the resort.....but IMHO it is overrated. However, I know a few folks who feel the same way about OKW, which I unabashedly adore, so chalk it up to different strokes!!

 

[goodferry]

Well...there's the transportation, the monorail is right there, you can take a boat to the Magic Kingdom and you can walk to the TTC. Then there's the pool. We watched Wishes some nights while swimming, that is sooo cool. The slide is great and the zero entry was nice for the baby. Then there's the pool bar! They make awesome drinks. Then there are the rooms, they seemed so big to me, two queen beds and a daybed, plus a balcony. Then there are the grounds. The landscaping is beautiful and there is truly a tropical feel to the whole place. It is a very relaxing place to stay, and even if we stay other places I think I will always love it best. We had a garden view concierge room, the concierge was awesome, but even if you just get a standard room, it's a beautiful place, you won't be dissappointed!

 

[Kata]

Thanks for the feedback,I think I may just stick with the FQ it seems to have alot of fans also and I did get a great AAA rate.
Thanks!!!!

 

[johnsonet]

There's just something about the Polynesian.
I have stayed at the GF 7 times along with many of Disney's deluxes. I've also stayed on the concierge level several times and I like Ritz Carltons when I'm traveling outside of Orlando
We just had our first stay at the Polynesian last month and I fell in love with it. We were in Tahiti Bldg. which is one of the newer buildings and that may have had a lot to do with it but the main thing is the overall atmosphere of the resort. In addition, I think sitting on the beach at the Polynesian, looking at the Magic Kingdom and watching the occasional monorail glide past and hearing the train at the MK and seeing the different boats out on the lake...all makes for a Magical, Disney experience. All the cast members were really friendly too. I cannot imagine that you would regret staying there. AU CONTRAIRE
FYI, we were in a garden view room

 

[disneyfan67]

Well...there's the transportation, the monorail is right there, you can take a boat to the Magic Kingdom and you can walk to the TTC. Then there's the pool. We watched Wishes some nights while swimming, that is sooo cool. The slide is great and the zero entry was nice for the baby. Then there's the pool bar! They make awesome drinks. Then there are the rooms, they seemed so big to me, two queen beds and a daybed, plus a balcony. Then there are the grounds. The landscaping is beautiful and there is truly a tropical feel to the whole place. It is a very relaxing place to stay, and even if we stay other places I think I will always love it best. We had a garden view concierge room, the concierge was awesome, but even if you just get a standard room, it's a beautiful place, you won't be dissappointed!

I was going to write something along the same lines but you did a fine job and sums it up for me. It just makes a great Disney Vacation even better! I envy the people who get to stay at the Poly for the first time and feel her magic. You come back home and "say, that was the best vacation ever!"

 

[Kata]

Kata--Which resort are you staying at now??

When I stayed at the Poly I LOVED it. I stayed at a standard room and the rooms were very big. I had a patio, which was really neat because ducks came up to our patio ever morning. It was a lovely start to our morning. Also you don't need to upgrade to a water view room because you can just go to the pool to see the Fireworks and a lights show on the lake (I can't remember the name).

It all just depends on where you are staying now!

I currrently have ressies at FQ 3 nights,2 nights AKL conceirge,3 nights BWI
standard,and 6 nights at Royal Pacific,I will be planning on using my FQ nights as my late nights for MVMCP,Fantasmic,and Cirq du Soleil so I guess it is smart to keep that resort stay more economical.Thanks for all the great feedback!!!!

 

[Nik's Mom]

For us, we loved the Poly for the relaxing atmosphere and the great transportation! We stayed in a standard garden view room and were very pleased! You can't go wrong with the Poly!

 

[MECH8T7]

I currrently have ressies at FQ 3 nights,2 nights AKL conceirge,3 nights BWI
standard,and 6 nights at Royal Pacific,I will be planning on using my FQ nights as my late nights for MVMCP,Fantasmic,and Cirq du Soleil so I guess it is smart to keep that resort stay more economical.Thanks for all the great feedback!!!!

Wow, that's a lot of hopping!

We just got back from our first family trip to WDW. It consisted of 5 nights at the Poly followed by 3 nights AKL CL. We had a standard room during our Poly stay. It was fine but, to me, the setting of the resort is what makes it great.

Obviously, I can't speak knowledgeably about the other MK monorail resorts but one of the things I that I thought was the most neat about the Poly is that you just really felt like you were in the heart of WDW 100% of the time; because of the layout of the resort (we were in Tahiti Longhouse), we often got around the resort by walking along the Beach front and you could always see not too far off in the distance Cinderella's castle, Space Mountain, the monorails, etc., etc. ALL of the time...whether walking to the Grand Ceremonial House, to the pools, sitting on the beach, walking to the Poly boat launch to MK, or going back to your room. Sunset point is a point along the beach where you get a great view of the MK and, in particular, Cinderella's Castle; its a great photo spot as the castle is framed by a small grove of palm trees and it appears to be a spot where many couples exchange wedding vows. For first-timers like us, there was also something about staying at one of the original WDW resorts.

The transportation can't be beat. It is the only monorail resort where the ride to the MK is roughly the same time as the ride back to the resort from the MK. With the CR, you have to go all the way around the loop to get to the MK (but you could walk) and, with the GF, the return trip to the resort from the MK requires you to go all the way around the loop. Because of its proximity to the TTC, the Poly is the only resort that you go to and come back from the MK using either the resort monorail or the express monorail. Also, its proximity to the TTC means that you can take just one monorail to get to Epcot. While it shares the boat to and from MK with the GF, the Poly is the second stop on the way over to the MK so its a non-stop boat trip over for Poly guests.

Finally, my impression during our stay was that there was a really relaxing, family feel to the resort which was nice contrast to what was going on at the MK and other parks during our visit the week before Easter. Viewing the Electric Water Pageant and Wishes from the Poly beach was quintessential WDW!

However, I have to admit that my spouse wasn't struck by the "wow" factor. I think she was expecting more from the room itself for the cost of the room (eventhough it was discounted under a general code); I don't think she couldn't shake the sticker shock.

 

[imatoad]

To answer Kata and Stingmoms question, it's just a matter of personal choice. Some people like it and others do not, and the same can be said for any hotel at DW. There just seems to be more of a Poly following than at other resorts, well, at least more people are expressive about it. I never got the attraction of going on a cruise, anywhere, but a lot of people like them, same can be said for Vegas, I've been there and have no desire to go back. I personally love the Poly, and won't stay anywhere else when in DW, but I find the other resorts to be beautiful as well. Kata, try it, at best you'll be hooked, at worst you'll have a great Disney vacation, and decide to try a different resort next time. I've learned to have no expectations, therefore you won't be disappointed.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

You know, I asked this same question when I walked from the TTC to the Aloha dinner show. The hotel reeks of the 70s!!

To each his own!