PHOTOS - Disney reveals new lobby design and Trader Sam's lounge for the Polynesian

[Over the Horizon]

I think they made a mistake when they ordered the sign for the name change. They accidentally ordered "Disney's Polynesian Village Resort," but they meant to order "Disney's Embassy Suites Resort." But it would cost too much to send the new sign back. So, we get the Poly name with an Embassy Suites lobby.

If only. The last Embassy Suites I stayed at had a really massive multi-story waterfall and pond in the center lobby.

 

[prberk]

I've never stayed at an Embassy Suites, so searched web images for some pictures to compare. My search results are showing far nicer fountains than what is depicted by Disney for the new Poly lobby. (BTW, Embassy Suites, I love the whale tail fin fountains in Anchorage, Alaska!)

If only. The last Embassy Suites I stayed at had a really massive multi-story waterfall and pond in the center lobby.

Now that would be funny if it were not so true.

I really hope that they (Disney, but also maybe even Embassy Suites directors) actually read this thread.

 

[psherman42]

Here are most of the pictures from yesterday.

 

[prberk]

Thanks, @psherman42 .

 

[crispy]

If only. The last Embassy Suites I stayed at had a really massive multi-story waterfall and pond in the center lobby.

Which begs the question: If Embassy Suites can build a massive, multi-story waterfall and pond in a mid-priced hotel, why can't Disney either refurbish or replace the fountain at the Poly especially while charging upwards of $500 per night for a room?

BTW, if I was staying at the Poly right now, I would be highly ticked off to walk in and be greeted with ugly construction walls. Surely, they could do something to make it look better during the destruction, I mean, the err, construction phase.

 

[NMBC1993]

Apples and Oranges, this is being done by DVC and has nothing to do with funds for theme park operations. Each division is their own entity with different budgets and operations within The Walt Disney Company.

It's easy to see who gets the bigger weekly allowance

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

Which begs the question: If Embassy Suites can build a massive, multi-story waterfall and pond in a mid-priced hotel, why can't Disney either refurbish or replace the fountain at the Poly especially while charging upwards of $500 per night for a room?

BTW, if I was staying at the Poly right now, I would be highly ticked off to walk in and be greeted with ugly construction walls. Surely, they could do something to make it look better during the destruction, I mean, the err, construction phase.

Of course it would be impossible today, that I could be surprised by a change of that magnitude, but if it would happen I would even refuse to check in at all!
I would insist on a transfer to a different resort, for example the Yacht Club. I would never accept to pay the full and insanely overpriced room rate for a halfa$$ed resort.
It says a lot about TDO, in a really bad way,that they didn't even show enough decency to lower the room rate during these massive changes.

 

[Kman101]

They just don't care. They have decided they want it gone, they see it as a problem and nothing will change that. If they truly cared about guest satisfaction, they'd figure out a way to keep it, refurb it, shrink it a bit but still have it. Maybe they have something else planned we don't know about. I know it's hard to realize this but they simply DON'T care. They have the mentality that people may complain initially but they'll still turn up and still pay that high price. And they're right, unfortunately.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

They just don't care. They have decided they want it gone, they see it as a problem and nothing will change that. If they truly cared about guest satisfaction, they'd figure out a way to keep it, refurb it, shrink it a bit but still have it. Maybe they have something else planned we don't know about. I know it's hard to realize this but they simply DON'T care. They have the mentality that people may complain initially but they'll still turn up and still pay that high price. And they're right, unfortunately.

Well at least in our case they are or better will be wrong. We have already decided that the Poly without it's rainforest lobby is dead for us, no more stays there. Perhaps we will not even dine there any more. And we are really deadly serious about this. Perhaps we even will boycott Disney resorts in general and only stay at the Dolphin or Swan in the future, we will see.

 

[kev24135]

Of course it would be impossible today, that I could be surprised by a change of that magnitude, but if it would happen I would even refuse to check in at all!
I would insist on a transfer to a different resort, for example the Yacht Club. I would never accept to pay the full and insanely overpriced room rate for a halfa$$ed resort.
It says a lot about TDO, in a really bad way,that they didn't even show enough decency to lower the room rate during these massive changes.

I think the reason that they are not lowering the price is because they do not actually want a lot people staying at the resort during the work...well at least that's what happened for me, no way in hell i'm paying that premium price for a resort that is being ripped up right now.

 

[note2001]

Well at least in our case they are or better will be wrong. We have already decided that the Poly without it's rainforest lobby is dead for us, no more stays there. Perhaps we will not even dine there any more. And we are really deadly serious about this. Perhaps we even will boycott Disney resorts in general and only stay at the Dolphin or Swan in the future, we will see.

I'm considering cancelling our breakfast reservations at O'hana's due to the construction. In my view, vacation is meant to be as relaxing as possible, and O'hana's has been a part of that in the past. Construction however raises my stress levels, and knowing what is/was behind the curtains will just make me sad. Wish there was an outside entrance so we don't have to go by it.

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

I'm considering cancelling our breakfast reservations at O'hana's due to the construction. In my view, vacation is meant to be as relaxing as possible, and O'hana's has been a part of that in the past. Construction however raises my stress levels, and knowing what is/was behind the curtains will just make me sad. Wish there was an outside entrance so we don't have to go by it.

If you cancel tell them why. Otherwise they believe you changed your plans due to some other stuff.

 

[Tigger1988]

If you cancel tell them why. Otherwise they believe you changed your plans due to some other stuff.

I assure you the person answering phones couldn't give 2 mouse poops about why you're cancelling.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Those photos are just heart breaking.

But thank you for posting them for us, @psherman42

 

[wdwmagic]

PHOTOS - Great Ceremonial House water feature walled off for demolition at the Polynesian Resort

 

[CDavid]

PHOTOS - Grand Ceremonial House water feature walled off for demolition at the Polynesian Resort

And another piece of Walt Disney World's history and legacy dies.

 

[ptaylor]

I was in the Poly lobby this past weekend and wow, it is depressing in there. It is dark, gloomy, walls at every turn. The Cast moral is very low. Everyone there just seems down.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

If I may quote Charlton Heston:

"We finally really did it.

[screaming]

You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! G*d damn you all to h*ll!"

 

[Gabe1]

Knew this was coming but the sadness still hit when I saw this post this morning. It is usually easier to take when something bigger and grander is forthcoming but I still have the gnawing feeling it will be more generic.

There were lots of construction walls last month but this is so much worse, so dark and gloomy. They need to add lights, it is just too dark.

At this point I wish they would just shutter the resort, work at it with vigor and pull the band-aid off already.

 

[tikiman]

PHOTOS - Grand Ceremonial House water feature walled off for demolition at the Polynesian Resort

Can you edit that to say Great Ceremonial House?