Clamman73
Well-Known Member
Current one is of me in '77 in front of the waterfall standing on the old green tile. Changed b/c I hope they'll give it a second thought about the waterfall; it's a real connection to long ago family visits.
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PHOTOS - Disney reveals new lobby design and Trader Sam's lounge for the Polynesian
- Thread starter wdwmagic
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Current one is of me in '77 in front of the waterfall standing on the old green tile. Changed b/c I hope they'll give it a second thought about the waterfall; it's a real connection to long ago family visits.
flynnibus
Premium Member
No..
It's a heavily themed, decorated, and immersive tiki bar. Then think about the effects that are in the Tiki Room show.. and imagine the bar reacting to you sitting in the bar and what you are drinking. There are gag effects mixed around the place.. including even 'shrinking' you, etc.
It's bar + tiki room + disney special effects
tikiman
Well-Known Member
michael.fumc
Well-Known Member
Great site, I learned a lot.
note2001
Well-Known Member
IMHO, as a kid, it was far more fun than the current slide too starting with ducking under the water to get through the waterfall to the stairs (that water hit hard!) But then, I was so small I couldn't see over the staircase railing, so everything was more fun.
My bet is Disney's going to try to convert the pool to one with an infinity edge. The volcano that's there now is just too rainforest cafe-ish to go nicely with it.
michael.fumc
Well-Known Member
Have we seen how they want the view of the lagoon to be with the new pool, they could do something really awesome there
kap91
Well-Known Member
Exactly I don't even like bars but I was dragged into Trader Sam's at DL and didn't want to leave!
Bairstow
Well-Known Member
That's a pity. They're supposedly more common on the west coast, where Trader Vic's still survives.
kkocka
Active Member
The Tonga Room has a reputation of turning into a lame DJing club a times. They have a good drink selection but people are often advised to stick to the classics and avoid the newer cocktail selection. That is, if you're a tiki purist.
Edit: Watching the video of their "mai tai" is absolutely horrid! I guarantee you will not be drinking a digusting concoction anything like that at Sam's...it was embarrassingly wrong.
Edit: Watching the video of their "mai tai" is absolutely horrid! I guarantee you will not be drinking a digusting concoction anything like that at Sam's...it was embarrassingly wrong.
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I spent some time at Aulani in February and will post some lobby pictures in a bit.
Bottom line is the Poly and Aulani are two completely different resorts and totally different designs. Other than being tropical, they really don't share any design characteristics. Aulani was pretty, but no replacement for The Polynesian.
kkocka
Active Member
Right. Aulani was designed specifically to not reflect the kitschy and campy tiki craze that swept America back in the 40's-60's. Aulani reflects traditional Hawaiian culture, with respect to the people and heritage. People often think that tiki = Hawaiian, but should remember that its mostly the Caribbean, South Seas, etc etc. Tiki is an American creation. There are certainly similar characteristics between Aulani and the Poly, but are by no means supposed to be on equal ground.
Last we heard it should find a home where the now-defunct Moana Mickey's Arcade is.
kkocka - exactly. Aulani is supposed to represent Hawaii, Hawaiian culture, and Hawaiian design. The Polynesian Village is totally different.
Turns out I didn't take as many pictures of the lobby as I thought I did. I did spend a good amount of time sitting in the open lobby, relaxing while starting off toward the Pacific Ocean. There was water flowing all around the lobby, though nothing close to the Polynesian lobby's water feature. THAT is a unique part of Disney that is soon lost.
Aulani lobby ceiling:
Grounds facing the Pacific Ocean
External lobby area and water:
Pool and lazy river, with the pool mountain:
Another view toward the Pacific, with the pool "mountain" in the middle:
Aulani was really nice, but so incredibly different than the feel and theme of the Polynesian. Again, they aren't stand-ins for each other. Aulani isn't the Hawaiian version of the Polynesian Village. If anything, Aulani felt more like the Disney version of the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Aulani wasn't tacky. It was as close of a genuine representation of Hawaiian culture as you can get in an Oahu resort.
For me, I prefer the Polynesian's south-seas, more tropical feel. At least, I did. For someone who only stopped at the Polynesian for dinner and drinks, I never usually ventured far from the Grand Ceremonial House. I probably won't waste time on the Polynesian next time I am at WDW.
Turns out I didn't take as many pictures of the lobby as I thought I did. I did spend a good amount of time sitting in the open lobby, relaxing while starting off toward the Pacific Ocean. There was water flowing all around the lobby, though nothing close to the Polynesian lobby's water feature. THAT is a unique part of Disney that is soon lost.
Aulani lobby ceiling:
Grounds facing the Pacific Ocean
External lobby area and water:
Pool and lazy river, with the pool mountain:
Another view toward the Pacific, with the pool "mountain" in the middle:
Aulani was really nice, but so incredibly different than the feel and theme of the Polynesian. Again, they aren't stand-ins for each other. Aulani isn't the Hawaiian version of the Polynesian Village. If anything, Aulani felt more like the Disney version of the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Aulani wasn't tacky. It was as close of a genuine representation of Hawaiian culture as you can get in an Oahu resort.
For me, I prefer the Polynesian's south-seas, more tropical feel. At least, I did. For someone who only stopped at the Polynesian for dinner and drinks, I never usually ventured far from the Grand Ceremonial House. I probably won't waste time on the Polynesian next time I am at WDW.
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Stevek
Well-Known Member
Not really. Take your standard Tiki Bar and add Disney quality theming and some fun interactive elements.
Communicore
Well-Known Member
It's a fun bar, although all I had was a Bud Light. Then again, it was just a spur of the moment thing, driving back from the IE I had a whim to check it out and there I was. Several people ordered the "effects" drinks and it was a production each time. It's just very dim but that is part of the theming.
Soarin' Over Pgh
Well-Known Member
I think that while they are destroying the most beautiful part of the GCH, they should rip out the volcano pool, fill in the Lagoon to make it a nice shiny new parking lot and take out the foliage- especially all that tall bamboo- because it could one day destroy sightlines of the parking lot in front of the MK.
Take out the castle too, it's an eyesore.
I'm really kinda sick over this whole thing and it's not even like I live and breathe the Polynesian, but it is absolutely depressing what they are planning to do to this exotic, high end (prices, anyhow) resort. More $$$, less quality. The Disney difference.
Take out the castle too, it's an eyesore.
I'm really kinda sick over this whole thing and it's not even like I live and breathe the Polynesian, but it is absolutely depressing what they are planning to do to this exotic, high end (prices, anyhow) resort. More $$$, less quality. The Disney difference.
Stevek
Well-Known Member
I generally drink beer at most bars but couldn't help ordering one of the "fun" drinks so I could get the special Tiki glasses/mugs. I have only 3 in my collection so far...a bit pricey once you pay the upcharge for the glass. Yes, it's a big dark in there and it's not very big inside but it's a lot of fun. It's also great to sit outside when the 2 Hawaiian singers are outside playing.
Soarin' Over Pgh
Well-Known Member
There's a local bar here called the Tiki Lounge. I guess I can go there to get my Poly fix.
Cesar R M
Well-Known Member
I think that while they are destroying the most beautiful part of the GCH, they should rip out the volcano pool, fill in the Lagoon to make it a nice shiny new parking lot and take out the foliage- especially all that tall bamboo- because it could one day destroy sightlines of the parking lot in front of the MK.
Take out the castle too, it's an eyesore.
I'm really kinda sick over this whole thing and it's not even like I live and breathe the Polynesian, but it is absolutely depressing what they are planning to do to this exotic, high end (prices, anyhow) resort. More $$$, less quality. The Disney difference.
there was the entrance like that.. all full of green to a tourist spot and resort area in my town.. it was razed to increase the size of the road.. the place now looks like your generic every day "road to place X with plants".
so know the feeling regarding the removal of green life.