Hawaii vs. Tahiti at Polynesian

[captainkidd]

We currently have a theme park view room booked at Tahiti. I wanted Tahiti as we'd be guaranteed a balcony along with one of the larger rooms. However, now I'm reading that the view from these rooms overlooks an island, plus it's a bit of a hike from the pools and GCH.

Hawaii, theme park view, would be about $2,000 more for 8 nights. Is it worth it? Is the view that much better? The rooms in Hawaii are smaller and I don't care much for Club Level. I just want a really nice view of the Magic Kingdom and lagoon.

 

[tahitifan]

The Tahiti longhouse is only 5 mins away from the GCH.If you want a good breakdown of the longhouses go to TikimanPages.

 

[WDW Vet]

Both Tahiti and Hawaii face the same view and in between and in front of them like a ula is Sunset Point. There are a few small islands in Seven seas lagoon but it will not affect the view. If you are guaranteed a balcony and a view of the Magic Kindom, that is what you want.

Now when you check in see what room they have blocked for you. Ask all your questions about the view, balcony and any possible obstuctions. Ask what else may be available. The only thing Disney will guarantee is connecting rooms for a family that requires two rooms so anything else is really first come first served.

 

[worldfanatic]

For me, a guaranteed balcony is a MUST.

 

[disneyrcks]

We stayed in Tahiti in August and our view of the MK was fine. The island did not block anything and while it is a little further from the GCH it is so close to the TTC. The walk to GCH is not bad at all in any way. The only problem we had that people in other buildings didn't seem to have was a crazy amount of spiders and webs on our balcony. They staff were great and sprayed for us right away but those creepy spiders rebuilt immediately lol! It made it very hard for me to enjoy the water pagent or fireworks from the balcony (I am sooooo scared of spiders) but we walked to the beach and enjoyed everything from there! As far as the spiders, it could have just been the time of year.

 

[dave&di]

We stayed in Tahiti last September, and we loved it. Yes there is an island but it doesn't get in the way, we had the castle in front of us and Space mountain further to the right.

The TTC was just round the corner so we never went for the resort transport. The pool is about 7 mins away, thats not far in my opinion.

The MK ferryboat is next to Tahiti, personally I enjoyed watching these loading up and unloading.

We also had a spider web that kept appearing every morning on the balcony, I would get rid of it, then it would re-appear! I never actually saw a spider though so that's ok!

 

[captainkidd]

Spider webs at the Poly are common. We've had them in Tokelau a couple of times.

It seemed to me that the view from Tahiti would be more of Space Mountain and the Contemporary. However, they now have both Lagoon View and Theme Park View rooms at Tahiti, and we booked and paid for a Theme Park View, so my hope would be we'd have an unobstructed view of the castle.

 

[captainkidd]

For me, a guaranteed balcony is a MUST.

That's the thing about Hawaii that I don't like. If you're on the 2nd floor, no balcony. Plus, the rooms are slightly smaller. And with 5 people, including 2 little kids that like to run around, that extra space is great.

 

[CleveRocks]

We currently have a theme park view room booked at Tahiti. I wanted Tahiti as we'd be guaranteed a balcony along with one of the larger rooms. However, now I'm reading that the view from these rooms overlooks an island, plus it's a bit of a hike from the pools and GCH.

Hawaii, theme park view, would be about $2,000 more for 8 nights. Is it worth it? Is the view that much better? The rooms in Hawaii are smaller and I don't care much for Club Level. I just want a really nice view of the Magic Kingdom and lagoon.

I was fine with paying extra for theme park view as opposed to garden view. But there is no way on Earth I'd pay an extra $2000 to have a 2-minute shorter walk or for the possibility of a slightly better view.

I liked Tahiti because of its close proximity to the Transportation & Ticket Center. It was a short walk to a direrct monorail to Epcot. And after a long day at Animal Kingdom or Disney's Hollywood Studios, it was noce to have the choice of taking whichever bus came first, the one for Contemporary/Poly/Grand Floridian or the one for the TTC. From our room in Tahiti, the walk to the TTC bus stops was about the same as the walk to the Poly bus stop. Yes, it was a 5-minute leisurely walk from our room to Capt. Cook's, but that's OK, it was a pretty walk along the beach.

There are three islands in Seven Seas Lagoon. The largest and most central island "blocks" the view from Hawaii just as much as from Tahiti. From Tahiti, you have a totally unobstructed view of Space Mountain. But the room category "theme park view" guarantees an unobstructed view of Cinderella Castle. And you definitely get that. I cherish my memories and photos of my view from Tahiti, 3rd floor.

I loved my room in Tahiti, 3rd floor, but it can be argued that the best theme park views are from Tuvalu, as there is no grass or beach between your room and the lagoon.

And just to make sure you realize this, you don't have a room booked in Tahiti. You have a theme park view room. This means you will get a room in Tahiti OR Tuvalu OR Aotearoa. You can't possibly have booked Tahiti. You may have requested it, but such requests are in no way guaranteed.

Zoom lens view from our room of Space Mountain:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f7/CleveRocks/disney4015.jpg

Forward view from our room, normal lens:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f7/CleveRocks/disney2073.jpg

View to the left:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f7/CleveRocks/disney2075.jpg

View to the right:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f7/CleveRocks/disney2079.jpg

View of Wishes (sorry for the fuzzy shot ... no tripod):
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f7/CleveRocks/disney1104.jpg

BONUS: Zoom lens shot of Mickey and Minnie after a wedding ceremony on the peninsula:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f7/CleveRocks/disney5165.jpg

 

[dave&di]

I was fine with paying extra for theme park view as opposed to garden view. But there is no way on Earth I'd pay an extra $2000 to have a 2-minute shorter walk or for the possibility of a slightly better view.

I liked Tahiti because of its close proximity to the Transportation & Ticket Center. It was a short walk to a direrct monorail to Epcot. And after a long day at Animal Kingdom or Disney's Hollywood Studios, it was noce to have the choice of taking whichever bus came first, the one for Contemporary/Poly/Grand Floridian or the one for the TTC. From our room in Tahiti, the walk to the TTC bus stops was about the same as the walk to the Poly bus stop. Yes, it was a 5-minute leisurely walk from our room to Capt. Cook's, but that's OK, it was a pretty walk along the beach.

There are three islands in Seven Seas Lagoon. The largest and most central island "blocks" the view from Hawaii just as much as from Tahiti. From Tahiti, you have a totally unobstructed view of Space Mountain. But the room category "theme park view" guarantees an unobstructed view of Cinderella Castle. And you definitely get that. I cherish my memories and photos of my view from Tahiti, 3rd floor.

I loved my room in Tahiti, 3rd floor, but it can be argued that the best theme park views are from Tuvalu, as there is no grass or beach between your room and the lagoon.

And just to make sure you realize this, you don't have a room booked in Tahiti. You have a theme park view room. This means you will get a room in Tahiti OR Tuvalu OR Aotearoa. You can't possibly have booked Tahiti. You may have requested it, but such requests are in no way guaranteed.Zoom lens view from our room of Space Mountain:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f7/CleveRocks/disney4015.jpg

Forward view from our room, normal lens:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f7/CleveRocks/disney2073.jpg

View to the left:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f7/CleveRocks/disney2075.jpg

View to the right:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f7/CleveRocks/disney2079.jpg

View of Wishes (sorry for the fuzzy shot ... no tripod):
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f7/CleveRocks/disney1104.jpg

BONUS: Zoom lens shot of Mickey and Minnie after a wedding ceremony on the peninsula:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f7/CleveRocks/disney5165.jpg

True, when we booked our 2010 vacation at the Poly we were told we couldn't book a building, we turned up at the front desk to check in and asked for 'Tahiti' 3rd flr, theme park view, we got Rapa Nui, 2nd flr, garden view!!! I wasn't happy! We were told to keep checking back to see if anything opens up, 2 days later we got what we wanted!

Love your photos CleveRocks, we were further towards the Ferryboat dock but had pretty similar views. Love your pics of GF, we stayed there in '08 and back again '12!!!

 

[captainkidd]

True, when we booked our 2010 vacation at the Poly we were told we couldn't book a building, we turned up at the front desk to check in and asked for 'Tahiti' 3rd flr, theme park view, we got Rapa Nui, 2nd flr, garden view!!! I wasn't happy! We were told to keep checking back to see if anything opens up, 2 days later we got what we wanted!

Love your photos CleveRocks, we were further towards the Ferryboat dock but had pretty similar views. Love your pics of GF, we stayed there in '08 and back again '12!!!

Did you pay for a theme park view?

 

[dave&di]

Did you pay for a theme park view?

When we booked we were only given the Garden View option, but yes we payed for the upgrade! But worth it!

 

[tikiman]

Is the view from Hawaii $2000 better? Well it depends on how much you value $2000. Now it is true that the view from Hawaii looks over an island but the foliage on that end of the island is shorter and does not block the castle but it is not like the castle is blocked very much by the islands in the Tahiti rooms. Here are views from ground level of both.

Hawaii view

Tahiti view

Now with that said dave&di is right. You can’t book a longhouse but you can request one. With a standard TPV room booked you could end up in Aotearoa, or Tuvalu also and they don’t have balconies on the second floors and are the same size rooms as Hawaii (which are still some of the largest on property).

Let’s look at it this way. You could spend the extra $2000 to get a slightly better view of the castle, a better locations at the resort as far as being right next to the pools, boat and close to the GCH but the other added advantage is the lounge. I wrote this up one time to show how much you can save staying club level. Also having the lounge to retreat to after the parks is nice. It also gives you a place to hang out if a storm comes in instead of just being trapped in your room.

I also suggest with kids having a patio is the best thing. We love being able to walk to the beach from the room and you have more room on a patio than a balcony as well as the grassy area to run around.

Here is what I wrote about club level. Maybe this will help you decide one way or the other.

http://www.tikimanpages.com/tiki/planning-quick/quick-concierge-or-standard

 

[dave&di]

Hi tikiman! I love your website, you've answered my e-mails on several occassions! It was your site that made us decide on the Poly last year! :wave:

 

[tikiman]

Hi tikiman! I love your website, you've answered my e-mails on several occassions! It was your site that made us decide on the Poly last year! :wave:

That's great. I am glad I could help.

Aloha

Steve

 

[captainkidd]

Hey Steve - Trust me, I'm on your site almost everyday looking at the pics.:lol:
I can honestly say, if the rooms in Hawaii were the same size as the newer 3 building, I'd go for it. But I LOVE the little extra space you get, plus the 2nd sink.
I requested (and will hopefully get) Tahiti. I stayed in Aoetera in January, and had the only theme park view room in the building (1221). It was great, but at night, the luau got irritating.

It's a tough call. I LOVE going to the GCH for a drink at night, or just to relax. It'd be nice to be close. But honestly, the walk from Tahiti isn't that bad. It's only about 30 seconds more than Tokelau, and we've stayed there twice without any issues.

Those pics are helpful Steve. It appears if we get an upper floor room, which is on our request for Tahiti, we'll see more of the castle. Here's to hoping we get our request!

 

[dave&di]

Hey Steve - Trust me, I'm on your site almost everyday looking at the pics.:lol:
I can honestly say, if the rooms in Hawaii were the same size as the newer 3 building, I'd go for it. But I LOVE the little extra space you get, plus the 2nd sink.
I requested (and will hopefully get) Tahiti. I stayed in Aoetera in January, and had the only theme park view room in the building (1221). It was great, but at night, the luau got irritating.

It's a tough call. I LOVE going to the GCH for a drink at night, or just to relax. It'd be nice to be close. But honestly, the walk from Tahiti isn't that bad. It's only about 30 seconds more than Tokelau, and we've stayed there twice without any issues.

Those pics are helpful Steve. It appears if we get an upper floor room, which is on our request for Tahiti, we'll see more of the castle. Here's to hoping we get our request!

I think your'e right to stick with Tahiti, but I'm biased! I never felt anywhere was too far away, the walk to the Ceremonial house is pleasant and not a bind. Plus theres no 'traffic' going past your building, although we did have a dad and his son playing ball on the beach the same time every day! but apart from that, nothing.

The double sink situation is certainly a bonus, it's a luxury we don't have at home.

I hope you get it, i'd be p*ssed if I didn't. I have the same situation with our booking at GF next year, we want Theme Park view but can only book Lagoon, so we will turn up on the day and see what happens. Good luck.

 

[tikiman]

Oh you mean you had the only TPV in Aotearoa on the first floor. So you didn’t like the patio? Yeah the luau can get noise. Some like it because it adds to the atmosphere but I guess it could get annoying 5 days a week.

The only thing I worry about Tahiti is it has had some maintenance issues and I would hate for you to get the wrong room. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tahiti. I stayed in it twice and it was the building I stayed in on my first visit. Your right that the walk is not long if you know what way to go. I can’t tell you how many people I have had to give directions through the resort. I think I should work there as a guide. HAHA.

Just a suggestion, if you want to save a few bucks I find that most of the lagoon view rooms in Tahiti have just as good a view of the castle as the TPV rooms for less, especially the ones on the 1st floor. I have stood on each patio and I found all those rooms had a great view except the few next to the middle entrance on the east end.

 

[DougK]

We were once assigned the Theme Park view room in Aortearoa (yes we paid for Theme Park view it was not an "upgrade"). You CAN see the castle but you can only see about 1/8 of the lagoon, it was not worth the money. We complained and were moved thank goodness. I think they should re-classify that room.

 

[captainkidd]

Oh you mean you had the only TPV in Aotearoa on the first floor. So you didn’t like the patio? Yeah the luau can get noise. Some like it because it adds to the atmosphere but I guess it could get annoying 5 days a week.

The only thing I worry about Tahiti is it has had some maintenance issues and I would hate for you to get the wrong room. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tahiti. I stayed in it twice and it was the building I stayed in on my first visit. Your right that the walk is not long if you know what way to go. I can’t tell you how many people I have had to give directions through the resort. I think I should work there as a guide. HAHA.

Just a suggestion, if you want to save a few bucks I find that most of the lagoon view rooms in Tahiti have just as good a view of the castle as the TPV rooms for less, especially the ones on the 1st floor. I have stood on each patio and I found all those rooms had a great view except the few next to the middle entrance on the east end.

Yup - Pretty sure it was 1221. View was beautiful, but couldn't see the castle all that well. The patio was OK, but I prefer to be higher up. Better view I find.

I read about the maintenance issues on your site. Did they ever install the sliding glass doors to the rooms? If not, what types of doors do they have leading to the balcony?

Yeah, I thought about booking Lagoon View. It would save about $300 over 8 nights, but I didn't want to take any chances. At least this way, if we don't have an unobstructed view, we can rightly complain about it.:animwink: