More additions to Disney's Polynesian Resort confirmed, including a hot tub and new Pineapple Lenai

[Bocabear]

Photo update as of Saturday, May 21. The grass area behind the Polynesian Resort Village lobby was always difficult to keep green and growing, so it has been replaced by the same synthetic grass as in the Magic Kingdom hub fireworks viewing area.

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Didn't this area used to have beautiful landscaping and a stream that led to the pool? It was lush and beautiful before, and now it is ugly and charmless....and no doubt lower maintenance as well...Bravo TDO for value engineering another lovely detail out of existance.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Didn't this area used to have beautiful landscaping and a stream that led to the pool? It was lush and beautiful before, and now it is ugly and charmless....and no doubt lower maintenance as well...Bravo TDO for value engineering another lovely detail out of existance.

You're thinking of the WL lobby. I don't remember the Poly having a stream to the pool. Could be wrong, though, as memory is a funny thing.

 

[ABQ]

Didn't this area used to have beautiful landscaping and a stream that led to the pool? It was lush and beautiful before, and now it is ugly and charmless....and no doubt lower maintenance as well...Bravo TDO for value engineering another lovely detail out of existance.

You're thinking of the WL lobby. I don't remember the Poly having a stream to the pool. Could be wrong, though, as memory is a funny thing.

Actually, I think @Bocabear may be correct. Stolen from @tikiman 's web site:
Gathering Place
So what is the Gathering Place? From 1971 until 2001 it was nothing but plants and some paths. When the Nanea pool was redesigned into the Volcano pool in 2001 the paths changed and a stream and bridge were added to the area. This stream was removed when work on the Lava pool started at the end of July 2014. The area where the stream was located would become what they called the Gathering Place. The original intent was to have it be a grass area for activities like hula lessons and entertainment. It would also be the location for the Torch Lighting Ceremony and the night time movies which are currently happening in this area now. In the original plans they also had a new fire pit right outside the back of the Great Ceremonial House but in the end they did not move it to that area. You can still see it in the concept art.

The original grass put in did not survive very well and had been replaced a couple of times. Some people seem to have the feeling it was not meant to walk across but it was always meant to see foot traffic. Unfortunately it did not hold up well. In April 2016 they have removed the grass and put in the same type of artificial grass they have in the new hubs inside the Magic Kingdom that will be able to handle the traffic. Reports from guests say they have started to set up the movies on the grass area even before they replaced the grass with the artificial turf.
To me the stream was something that had not really been around long and while it was nice visually, it was not a functional area. Now people can enjoy the area without worry of damaging the lawn or getting muddy from the saturated grass.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Actually, I think @Bocabear may be correct. Stolen from @tikiman 's web site:
Gathering Place
So what is the Gathering Place? From 1971 until 2001 it was nothing but plants and some paths. When the Nanea pool was redesigned into the Volcano pool in 2001 the paths changed and a stream and bridge were added to the area. This stream was removed when work on the Lava pool started at the end of July 2014. The area where the stream was located would become what they called the Gathering Place. The original intent was to have it be a grass area for activities like hula lessons and entertainment. It would also be the location for the Torch Lighting Ceremony and the night time movies which are currently happening in this area now. In the original plans they also had a new fire pit right outside the back of the Great Ceremonial House but in the end they did not move it to that area. You can still see it in the concept art.

The original grass put in did not survive very well and had been replaced a couple of times. Some people seem to have the feeling it was not meant to walk across but it was always meant to see foot traffic. Unfortunately it did not hold up well. In April 2016 they have removed the grass and put in the same type of artificial grass they have in the new hubs inside the Magic Kingdom that will be able to handle the traffic. Reports from guests say they have started to set up the movies on the grass area even before they replaced the grass with the artificial turf.
To me the stream was something that had not really been around long and while it was nice visually, it was not a functional area. Now people can enjoy the area without worry of damaging the lawn or getting muddy from the saturated grass.

So they're actually reverting it to what it was when it first opened. Of course, some have to complain about everything. The Poly purists should be happy.

 

[chiefs11]

So they're actually reverting it to what it was when it first opened. Of course, some have to complain about everything. The Poly purists should be happy.

Next they should revert the lobby water feature to what it was when it opened

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Next they should revert the lobby water feature to what it was when it opened

I totally disagree. I like the new lobby much better. JMHO.

 

[ford91exploder]

Next they should revert the lobby water feature to what it was when it opened

Ah yes TikiShrug standing atop the pile of petrified horse manure is such an improvement over the original waterfall, NOT!