Nanea Volcano feature pool at Disney's Polynesian Resort closing in August for extended refurb

[tirian]

I understand this on dot but I'll never understand why they use it. Why can't they stnd up to the BoD and say "look, we dumped 60 million into park A this quarter, started and completed this brand new ride and surrounding area".... and have the damn ride done and completed, then go back and show the next quarters figures and show how it boosted sales/tickets/ etc.

This is probably why I'm not in finance for a living.

Because you're not a liar.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Not referring to that - if people want to stay there during construction that's up to them. I'm referring to all the talk about "de-furbs" and how this is going to ruin the Poly. I stayed there in August and as beautiful as it was, the resort felt dated and in need of major TLC -

Out of date it was... Felt like I was walking into an episode of the Brandy Bunch, when they visited Hawaii... LOL...

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I understand this on dot but I'll never understand why they use it. Why can't they stnd up to the BoD and say "look, we dumped 60 million into park A this quarter, started and completed this brand new ride and surrounding area".... and have the damn ride done and completed, then go back and show the next quarters figures and show how it boosted sales/tickets/ etc.

This is probably why I'm not in finance for a living.

Based on this accounting course I'm taking, I'm pretty sure it has to do with a combination of how much cash they have on hand, as well as some people up top who want bonuses. I'm not 100% sure, but that's my guess.

 

[ford91exploder]

Not referring to that - if people want to stay there during construction that's up to them. I'm referring to all the talk about "de-furbs" and how this is going to ruin the Poly. I stayed there in August and as beautiful as it was, the resort felt dated and in need of major TLC -

Agree - the 1970's called and wanted their room decor back , The problem from Poly Fan's standpoint is TDO is removing the iconic features from the Poly and not doing anything in the areas which REALLY need it, ie rooms and amenities.

 

[Polydweller]

Agree - the 1970's called and wanted their room decor back , The problem from Poly Fan's standpoint is TDO is removing the iconic features from the Poly and not doing anything in the areas which REALLY need it, ie rooms and amenities.

Can't agree with you especially on 1970s. Every room except in Tahati and Rapa Nui were refurbished last year and the Poly has refurbished the rooms on a regular schedule of about every 8 years. There have been many changes to the Poly over it's almost 43 years and it doesn't look like it did in the 1970's and yes I saw it then. Although my sig says 23 years that's continuous years trips, we were there irregularly before that so I have seen most of the changes over time.

The real problem for me is that the DVC is disrupting the underlying concept of a Polynesian village community. What they are doing is making what amounts to a second Polynesian village that is disconnected from the other village, think BLT or GFV for example. They are also disrupting the views and the EWP and other things that made the place special. It's the intangible sense of place and experience that they are undermining.

As for the volcano, not a big deal for me. The pool has been changed before and making in bigger and perhaps a hot tub (that one is on again, off again so who knows) would be an improvement.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Agree - the 1970's called and wanted their room decor back , The problem from Poly Fan's standpoint is TDO is removing the iconic features from the Poly and not doing anything in the areas which REALLY need it, ie rooms and amenities.

The room I stayed in last year was brand new and very much updated.

 

[jmuboy]

I looked today for booking Poly for May Or June. Not available. Is it booked or closing for the summer?

I'm guessing the rooms that will become DVC have been blocked off for sometime in 2014 going forward until they reopen as DVC which means inventory is down at the Poly until all this is complete.

 

[John]

Some people may call something "dated" while others may call it a "classic". What is needed here is the continuance of the charm it has (had). A big part of WDW's marketing is based upon nostalgia, we like those comfortable surroundings. They are familiar to us. The same reasons we are greeted with a "welcome home" from CM's when we check in. Poly is a very special place when it comes to WDW. Could it use some TLC? Sure it could but what we fear is that TDO decides to do it on the cheap and we lose the charm, the once familiar place we love. It has been said many times, how many of us no matter where we are right now can close our eyes and smell the place? Can hear the water fall? We have put a man on the moon, cured many diseases that have plagued mankind since the beginning of time yet TDO cant effectively or efficiently refurb the waterfall. It tells me that TDO is doing it for no other reason then doing it on the "cheap". WDW has been a cash cow to Disney and Poly has been a cash cow to WDW. This is truly one of those instances where TDO KNOWS it can go cheap and guest will continue to pony up the dough. Does anyone doubt that after the refurb occupancy will still be off the charts?

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Some people may call something "dated" while others may call it a "classic". What is needed here is the continuance of the charm it has (had). A big part of WDW's marketing is based upon nostalgia, we like those comfortable surroundings. They are familiar to us. The same reasons we are greeted with a "welcome home" from CM's when we check in. Poly is a very special place when it comes to WDW. Could it use some TLC? Sure it could but what we fear is that TDO decides to do it on the cheap and we lose the charm, the once familiar place we love. It has been said many times, how many of us no matter where we are right now can close our eyes and smell the place? Can hear the water fall? We have put a man on the moon, cured many diseases that have plagued mankind since the beginning of time yet TDO cant effectively or efficiently refurb the waterfall. It tells me that TDO is doing it for no other reason then doing it on the "cheap". WDW has been a cash cow to Disney and Poly has been a cash cow to WDW. This is truly one of those instances where TDO KNOWS it can go cheap and guest will continue to pony up the dough. Does anyone doubt that after the refurb occupancy will still be off the charts?

If they keep raising room rates as they've been doing they will find he selves prices out of the market. There's a reason why so many people are booking at AoA and not the Poly. Sure, if asked, I'm positive 99% of the people at AoA would love to stay at Poly but it all comes down to the almighty dollar.

An interesting thing is happening this summer, I'm curious to see how it affects room rates at wdw. With Universals new Cabana Bay resort opening up at rates similar to Disney moderates, but rooms more like the deluxe, plus more amenities than currently offered at disney deluxe, I'm curious to see how this will affect the deluxe hotels. I have a strong feeling we will see a lot deeper discounts for the deluxe to bring their rates down to "affordable" when rooms sit empty night after night.

Would love @ParentsOf4 input on how Cabana Bay will affect the deluxe resorts. Granted it's only...3400? Rooms, but that's still a lot of money disney will be missing out on.

Personally speaking, there's a good chance I'll be booking at CB before I book back at the Poly. With all the construction, the ridiculous prices, the ever stupid rapid fill drink thing which will totally not work for my drinking habits... No thanks. I'll take the lazy river over beachside view of DVC bungalows.

 

[John]

If they keep raising room rates as they've been doing they will find he selves prices out of the market. There's a reason why so many people are booking at AoA and not the Poly. Sure, if asked, I'm positive 99% of the people at AoA would love to stay at Poly but it all comes down to the almighty dollar.

An interesting thing is happening this summer, I'm curious to see how it affects room rates at wdw. With Universals new Cabana Bay resort opening up at rates similar to Disney moderates, but rooms more like the deluxe, plus more amenities than currently offered at disney deluxe, I'm curious to see how this will affect the deluxe hotels. I have a strong feeling we will see a lot deeper discounts for the deluxe to bring their rates down to "affordable" when rooms sit empty night after night.

Would love @ParentsOf4 input on how Cabana Bay will affect the deluxe resorts. Granted it's only...3400? Rooms, but that's still a lot of money disney will be missing out on.

Personally speaking, there's a good chance I'll be booking at CB before I book back at the Poly. With all the construction, the ridiculous prices, the ever stupid rapid fill drink thing which will totally not work for my drinking habits... No thanks. I'll take the lazy river over beachside view of DVC bungalows.

Couldn't agree more, IMO I have seen with my own two eyes how the price points have effected the occupancy rates. Its said that the parks were jammed this weekend. What I would like to know is how the resorts are doing? If you didn't see what I had posted I was at CBR two weeks ago and it was a ghost town.

edit: that said I think Poly is in a unique situation. I think that this resort that will be one of the last resorts to feel the pinch as far as occupancy is concerned. Its going to take some time for TDO to cycle out the nostalgia guest.

 

[ford91exploder]

Couldn't agree more, IMO I have seen with my own two eyes how the price points have effected the occupancy rates. Its said that the parks were jammed this weekend. What I would like to know is how the resorts are doing? If you didn't see what I had posted I was at CBR two weeks ago and it was a ghost town.

edit: that said I think Poly is in a unique situation. I think that this resort that will be one of the last resorts to feel the pinch as far as occupancy is concerned. Its going to take some time for TDO to cycle out the nostalgia guest.

Depends on how much damage the current 'de-furb' does to the Poly, The great thing about the 'net is instant distribution of information of information and pictures and sound, The bad thing is the same from the PoV of governments and corporate america.

If the 'de-furb' is as bad as many of us Poly fans fear the pictures will go viral in days and Disney will see MANY cancellations as it will not be 'The Poly' anymore.

 

[ford91exploder]

Some people may call something "dated" while others may call it a "classic". What is needed here is the continuance of the charm it has (had). A big part of WDW's marketing is based upon nostalgia, we like those comfortable surroundings. They are familiar to us. The same reasons we are greeted with a "welcome home" from CM's when we check in. Poly is a very special place when it comes to WDW. Could it use some TLC? Sure it could but what we fear is that TDO decides to do it on the cheap and we lose the charm, the once familiar place we love. It has been said many times, how many of us no matter where we are right now can close our eyes and smell the place? Can hear the water fall? We have put a man on the moon, cured many diseases that have plagued mankind since the beginning of time yet TDO cant effectively or efficiently refurb the waterfall. It tells me that TDO is doing it for no other reason then doing it on the "cheap". WDW has been a cash cow to Disney and Poly has been a cash cow to WDW. This is truly one of those instances where TDO KNOWS it can go cheap and guest will continue to pony up the dough. Does anyone doubt that after the refurb occupancy will still be off the charts?

THIS -

Unfortunately I believe you are correct

 

[ford91exploder]

Can't agree with you especially on 1970s. Every room except in Tahati and Rapa Nui were refurbished last year and the Poly has refurbished the rooms on a regular schedule of about every 8 years. There have been many changes to the Poly over it's almost 43 years and it doesn't look like it did in the 1970's and yes I saw it then. Although my sig says 23 years that's continuous years trips, we were there irregularly before that so I have seen most of the changes over time.

The real problem for me is that the DVC is disrupting the underlying concept of a Polynesian village community. What they are doing is making what amounts to a second Polynesian village that is disconnected from the other village, think BLT or GFV for example. They are also disrupting the views and the EWP and other things that made the place special. It's the intangible sense of place and experience that they are undermining.

As for the volcano, not a big deal for me. The pool has been changed before and making in bigger and perhaps a hot tub (that one is on again, off again so who knows) would be an improvement.

Why is everyone so LITERAL!, Of course the rooms have been refurbed, but the color scheme is still vintage 1970's, It's the waterfall inside that bothers me most, I personally LIKE the volcano but it could change but the waterfall creates the atmosphere for the GCH

If you REALLY want to see a place where the 70's are calling the Holiday Inn in Centre-ville, Montreal the rooms are a time capsule from the 1970's

 

[Absimilliard]

If you REALLY want to see a place where the 70's are calling the Holiday Inn in Centre-ville, Montreal the rooms are a time capsule from the 1970's

Montreal and Quebec in general is having a tough time in the hotel business. The Holiday Inn on Sherbrooke Street in Montreal has been sold to a US company that specialise in student housing. The famed Loews Le Concorde in Quebec City (the one with the rotating rooftop restaurant) closed earlier this month. It was sold and will be converted to senior housing.

What hurt our hotels? Like you said, the 70's are screaming at many properties! The owners never refurbed the properties. The second aspect is that the employees just cost so much. The collective agreements are really heavy and take away any profit. So, there is little incentive for owners to reinvest and they just got their losses and sell to non hotel operators.

 

[ford91exploder]

Montreal and Quebec in general is having a tough time in the hotel business. The Holiday Inn on Sherbrooke Street in Montreal has been sold to a US company that specialise in student housing. The famed Loews Le Concorde in Quebec City (the one with the rotating rooftop restaurant) closed earlier this month. It was sold and will be converted to senior housing.

What hurt our hotels? Like you said, the 70's are screaming at many properties! The owners never refurbed the properties. The second aspect is that the employees just cost so much. The collective agreements are really heavy and take away any profit. So, there is little incentive for owners to reinvest and they just got their losses and sell to non hotel operators.

It's too bad about the Le Concorde that restaurant had amazing views of Montreal, Not too surprised about the Holiday Inn, McGill is hoovering up properties for student housing up and down Rue Sherbrooke.

 

[brea]

Why don't we just wait and see what they do with the refurbs before jumping off a cliff.

You're right no need to jump off a cliff however when you consider that they just raised the rates this year, it's doubtful that they're going to lower them after the construction is over. Chances are that they're going to raise them yet again which brings us back to the comments about similar priced rooms, square footage and amenities. At least you get the convenience of the monorail and closeness to everything.... wait the monorail is closed for how long during our stay?!?!?

I'm a poly fan, my wife wants to stay no where else but we're actively discussing where else we can stay on our next trip which is now being pushed out further and further. We have a friend there now staying at AOA and shes waiting for a report back to see how it was (big step going from staying no where else to considering AOA if you ask me)

It's stuff like this which is the reason people want to jump off the cliff. I agree with you on the wait and see part but it's hard to ignore these things given the money being put out.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

Well lets sum it up. The Poly was so far a dated though still very charming resort with a very special atmosphere of tropics and escapism. It's mousekeeping is however infamous and abysmal for years now, even by the VERY low WDW standards (the AKL and even the YC have problems here too) and that was one of the reasons why we didn't return in the last years. Another reason: The AC is the loudest on WDW property (we stayed at the Fiji, it was far louder than any value resort AC). We didn't feel inclined in paying nearly Waldorf Astoria prices for rooms with an Econolodge housekeeping. The last years we stayed at different Disney resorts and only visited the Poly, not only for the famous Tonga Toast (and the Dole Whip of course) at Captain Cooks but also for just sitting around in the lobby, listening to the BGM and watching the waterfalls, inhaling the atmosphere of the lobby. When we stayed at the Poly we enjoyed the Volcano Pool, although not entirely convincing, it was not only special but VERY Polynesian and VERY Tiki!
No let's look at the future "Polynesian". The lobby will be without any waterfalls (yes they must be extremely difficult to maintain and of course expensive), without ANYTHING special and there will be a Captain Cooks (and I hope Tonga Toast) but it will not feature any more Dole Whip and you know why, because you could get more than in the parks because it featured self service. I am quite sure WDW was facing bankruptcy because some guests managed to get more soft serve ice cream in their cup than was expected. *sarcasm-off*
When you go through some boring, barren, everydays lobby and enter the garden you will see some kind of pool with...well what? A volcano? Is anyone here so naive that he believes there will still be a volcano at the pool after the defurbishing (thanks for that term, it defines present TDO policy perfectly). No you will see some everydays pool, perhaps like the one at the WL or even worse, at the CR.
So what exactly are they charging the insane and ever increasing prices for?
I will NEVER return to the Poly for staying there and even if someday I should have become a millionaire i will never again pay these OUTRAGEOUS prices for a resort that has been stripped of everything that made it special.
I hope that other guests will also realize, that they get a far better hotel for a far better price in a still very good location near the parks with a far better room service and CLEAN guest rooms, and the two remaining EMH at Dolphin and Swan and TDO will finally see the occupancy for the so-called Poly go into free fall. I hope at least because after the defurb the Poly is dead. Period.

 

[Andrew C]

Well lets sum it up. The Poly was so far a dated though still very charming resort with a very special atmosphere of tropics and escapism. It's mousekeeping is however infamous and abysmal for years now, even by the VERY low WDW standards (the AKL and even the YC have problems here too) and that was one of the reasons why we didn't return in the last years. Another reason: The AC is the loudest on WDW property (we stayed at the Fiji, it was far louder than any value resort AC). We didn't feel inclined in paying nearly Waldorf Astoria prices for rooms with an Econolodge housekeeping. The last years we stayed at different Disney resorts and only visited the Poly, not only for the famous Tonga Toast (and the Dole Whip of course) at Captain Cooks but also for just sitting around in the lobby, listening to the BGM and watching the waterfalls, inhaling the atmosphere of the lobby. When we stayed at the Poly we enjoyed the Volcano Pool, although not entirely convincing, it was not only special but VERY Polynesian and VERY Tiki!
No let's look at the future "Polynesian". The lobby will be without any waterfalls (yes they must be extremely difficult to maintain and of course expensive), without ANYTHING special and there will be a Captain Cooks (and I hope Tonga Toast) but it will not feature any more Dole Whip and you know why, because you could get more than in the parks because it featured self service. I am quite sure WDW was facing bankruptcy because some guests managed to get more soft serve ice cream in their cup than was expected. *sarcasm-off*
When you go through some boring, barren, everydays lobby and enter the garden you will see some kind of pool with...well what? A volcano? Is anyone here so naive that he believes there will still be a volcano at the pool after the defurbishing (thanks for that term, it defines present TDO policy perfectly). No you will see some everydays pool, perhaps like the one at the WL or even worse, at the CR.
So what exactly are they charging the insane and ever increasing prices for?
I will NEVER return to the Poly for staying there and even if someday I should have become a millionaire i will never again pay these OUTRAGEOUS prices for a resort that has been stripped of everything that made it special.
I hope that other guests will also realize, that they get a far better hotel for a far better price in a still very good location near the parks with a far better room service and CLEAN guest rooms, and the two remaining EMH at Dolphin and Swan and TDO will finally see the occupancy for the so-called Poly go into free fall. I hope at least because after the defurb the Poly is dead. Period.

Tell us how you really feel.

 

[surfsupdon]

Even when we stayed at the Poly a few years ago, it was a one-and-done stay for us.

The only AMAZING thing was our view. Seven Seas Lagoon with MK in back from Tahiti was beautiful.

As far as we are concerned, Yacht Club and BoardWalk beat Poly in every other possible way. My opinion.

Hopefully this new Poly will be done in a way that we will try the Resort out again. But I am not sure that it will.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Even when we stayed at the Poly a few years ago, it was a one-and-done stay for us.

The only AMAZING thing was our view. Seven Seas Lagoon with MK in back from Tahiti was beautiful.

As far as we are concerned, Yacht Club and BoardWalk beat Poly in every other possible way. My opinion.

Hopefully this new Poly will be done in a way that we will try the Resort out again. But I am not sure that it will.

My stay was a one-and-done only because of the obscene amount of money it costs. Next time, cheaper hotel, add more days to total trip, go to Universal for a few days. :/