PHOTOS - Sight-line test balloons up over Disney's Polynesian Resort

[Tom]

none of the "sight line" balloons is taller than the existing buildings, so that probably means "no tower"

Did you see them in person? It's hard to tell, since none of the photos show the balloons and longhouses in the same shots. But I tend to agree, just by looking at them, that the balloons aren't any higher than the peak of the wooden trusses on the existing guest buildings.

They're probably just seeing how it will look from GF and the wedding pavilion, since they've already butchered that scenario once.

 

[Tim Lohr]

Did you see them in person? It's hard to tell, since none of the photos show the balloons and longhouses in the same shots. But I tend to agree, just by looking at them, that the balloons aren't any higher than the peak of the wooden trusses on the existing guest buildings.

They're probably just seeing how it will look from GF and the wedding pavilion, since they've already butchered that scenario once.

I wasn't there in person I'm just estimating from the photos. In the third pic the, luau building is a little over 1 story tall and the balloon is maybe 4 times higher than that. The poly hotels are have 3 stories of rooms and then another 2 stories for the pointed roofs so the balloons look to be on par with what's already there

 

[Hoop Raeb]

Been saying they could squeeze in a DVC at Poly for years. The yellow balloon near the luau says they're thinking the same thing.

 

[Mike730]

Did I miss something? I fear these pieces of info may have been overlooked by many and I'd like to bring them to light!
Perhaps others can shed some light on this as well.

WdwFanboys posted this to their site on the 17th (7/17/12)...

"... Disney is still planning a major refurbishment to the Polynesian Resort. With construction expected to begin before the end of the year, it is anticipated that every room will be renovated. It looks like this will be piecemeal but it will certainly be an accelerated process all things considered. Look for more updates as they become available."

And Tikiman also contributed some info in the GF thread about refurbishments.

Work on the hot tub and new rooms will start the end of this year and into next. Doing the rooms will mean whole longhouses are walled off for a month or two at a time. Club level will be unavailable (other than suites) January and February and maybe part of march. The GCH will be redone in stages and I am guessing that might start next year. I hear some major work on the volcano pool might happen next year and close it for months. The first phase of DVC will start at some point maybe 2014 or 2015.

I can only hope these plans are legitimate and continue to go through as planned...

 

[wdwmagic]

Well Tikiman is the man when it comes to the Poly, so I would take his word on what is happening.

 

[Mike730]

Well Tikiman is the man when it comes to the Poly, so I would take his word on what is happening.

Thats what I was thinking, so when I saw that no one responded I was quite surprised.

 

[Crush Dude!]

And like Steve said Tikiman's word can be taken as Gospel when it comes to the Poly!

Over the next few years expect full room renovations, a complete transformation of the Grand Ceremonial and DVC to become part of the poly and become the most expensive DVC so far!

 

[cspencer96]

For some reason, I don't think Poly could become THE most expensive, as it isn't the Grand Floridian and doesn't have the same hype and hasn't been marketed as a 'flagship' - granted, it is an amazing resort and the location is spectacular, so you never know, but I think maybe second most or third most. Bay Lake actually has Poly beat in the location and convenience department, in my opinion. But I am biased since that's our home, and the Contemporary has been my favorite resort since I was three.

 

[Crush Dude!]

For some reason, I don't think Poly could become THE most expensive, as it isn't the Grand Floridian and doesn't have the same hype and hasn't been marketed as a 'flagship' - granted, it is an amazing resort and the location is spectacular, so you never know, but I think maybe second most or third most. Bay Lake actually has Poly beat in the location and convenience department, in my opinion. But I am biased since that's our home, and the Contemporary has been my favorite resort since I was three.

They get more expensive everytime, just wait and see in 3 to 4 tears

 

[The Empress Lilly]

They get more expensive everytime, just wait and see in 3 to 4 tears

I love the Freudian typo in a sentence that began with Disney getting more expensive all the time.

 

[Tom]

Did I miss something? I fear these pieces of info may have been overlooked by many and I'd like to bring them to light!
Perhaps others can shed some light on this as well.

WdwFanboys posted this to their site on the 17th (7/17/12)...

And Tikiman also contributed some info in the GF thread about refurbishments.

I can only hope these plans are legitimate and continue to go through as planned...

The room refurb info is quite true. Oddly, Tonga isn't part of the work (except for abatement and the lounge remodel). Is this because they don't want to invest too much in a building that will be torn down to make way for a displaced Luau Cove? Hmmmm.

 

[Mike730]

The room refurb info is quite true. Oddly, Tonga isn't part of the work (except for abatement and the lounge remodel). Is this because they don't want to invest too much in a building that will be torn down to make way for a displaced Luau Cove? Hmmmm.

Thats odd... And I would have never guess that scenario, but it certainly makes sense, especially if the rumors about a brand new GCH ever come to fruition.

 

[Tom]

Thats odd... And I would have never guess that scenario, but it certainly makes sense, especially if the rumors about a brand new GCH ever come to fruition.

I honestly have no insight as to the future of the Tonga building, or the Luau Cove, or DVC. I was just thinking out loud, given that buildings 2-8 are going to have abatement work AND total gut/refurbs of all the soft goods in all the guest rooms, while Building 1 (Tonga) will only receive abatement work and a remodel of the lounge. Just seems strange.

Tonga has a tiny footprint, and wouldn't really benefit the GCH in any way....but the existing Luau Cove would fit perfectly in that spot, with room to spare/grow. And the theory has always been that the DVC longhouse would have to go where the Luau is now, meaning it would likely be torn down or moved. And given that the sight line balloons were seen near the Luau, it only makes sense that the DVC building would go there.

 

[Tim_4]

none of the "sight line" balloons is taller than the existing buildings, so that probably means "no tower"

Wrong. Sight lines don't need to be high. It's about the angle. Flying a balloon at a low height will accurately predict the sight line for a building much taller, provided the angle is correct. It just has to be high enough to clear the trees or whatever other obstruction there might be.

 

[Tom]

Wrong. Sight lines don't need to be high. It's about the angle. Flying a balloon at a low height will accurately predict the sight line for a building much taller, provided the angle is correct. It just has to be high enough to clear the trees or whatever other obstruction there might be.

I will agree with your geometry and lesson here, but it is my understanding that "sight line" balloons are actually flown to the literal height of the structure being represented, at that specific point. That way, you can go anywhere on property and see what the actual high point will look like from all the various vantage points.

Your theory works when doing point to point surveying, and you only view something from a specified location. But in this case, they need to see what the high point will look like from everywhere.

 

[Tim Lohr]

Wrong. Sight lines don't need to be high. It's about the angle. Flying a balloon at a low height will accurately predict the sight line for a building much taller, provided the angle is correct. It just has to be high enough to clear the trees or whatever other obstruction there might be.

awwwwwweeeee you're just making that up

 

[Tom]

awwwwwweeeee you're just making that up

You're right....the balloons were orange and yellow.

 

[tikiman]

Tonga rooms were redone last year. I was in the building days after they finished and have been putting photos on my site of the new room design in Tonga. The new rooms for the rest of the resort will look similar and they are planning to start putting them into longhouses the end of this year. Hawaii (club level) is already blocked out for January to the first few days of March for the new room design to go into that building.

Tonga was not in the plans to get taken down but some stuff at the Polynesian will, including Luau Cove. The lounge for Tonga was to be redesigned when the new rooms were put in. I did not hear why it was not but I believe it is still in the plans at some point.

The GCH will not be torn down as they speculated would happen last year but they will gut it and do it in phases to keep it open for access to the monorail platform. The center water feature looks like it will be a casualty of the new design. DVC will be going in more of the resort than just where the sight balloons were seen.

The reason I was told that they believe the DVC will be the most expensive at the Polynesian is because it will open after the GF and I guess they believe that prices will go up. Also they have a unique plan for some of the DVC rooms never seen at Disney and because of this they will demand a high price but even Disney folks Im sure are speculating until the actual prices come out.
Some of the rooms will be much more unique than anything at the GF or BLT and as far as BLT being more convenient that maybe the case for access to the MK but not for Epcot. The Polynesian really has any other resort beat for overall transportation but that is a whole other discussion. Also the Polynesian since it has opened (with the Contemporary being the original flag ship resort) was always more popular (based on Disney numbers) and had been the test bed for just about everything from new technology to being the first concierge (club level) and still has the most repeat guests out of any Disney resort. Whit that said there are so many great things about each resort and I love to visit the Contemporary every time I am there. I will be staying at the Contemporary for the first time this September and I am looking forward to it.

By the way, I get my info from those who know what is happening and not just from the bus driver or the valet but even then we all know Disney can change plans last minute and change dates even up to the day something is planned to happen. This is what I know of the plan right now....well as much as I can share.

 

[Tom]

Tonga rooms were redone last year. I was in the building days after they finished and have been putting photos on my site of the new room design in Tonga. The new rooms for the rest of the resort will look similar and they are planning to start putting them into longhouses the end of this year. Hawaii (club level) is already blocked out for January to the first few days of March for the new room design to go into that building.

Tonga was not in the plans to get taken down but some stuff at the Polynesian will, including Luau Cove. The lounge for Tonga was to be redesigned when the new rooms were put in. I did not hear why it was not but I believe it is still in the plans at some point.

The GCH will not be torn down as they speculated would happen last year but they will gut it and do it in phases to keep it open for access to the monorail platform. The center water feature looks like it will be a casualty of the new design. DVC will be going in more of the resort than just where the sight balloons were seen.

The reason I was told that they believe the DVC will be the most expensive at the Polynesian is because it will open after the GF and I guess they believe that prices will go up. Also they have a unique plan for some of the DVC rooms never seen at Disney and because of this they will demand a high price but even Disney folks Im sure are speculating until the actual prices come out.
Some of the rooms will be much more unique than anything at the GF or BLT and as far as BLT being more convenient that maybe the case for access to the MK but not for Epcot. The Polynesian really has any other resort beat for overall transportation but that is a whole other discussion. Also the Polynesian since it has opened (with the Contemporary being the original flag ship resort) was always more popular (based on Disney numbers) and had been the test bed for just about everything from new technology to being the first concierge (club level) and still has the most repeat guests out of any Disney resort. Whit that said there are so many great things about each resort and I love to visit the Contemporary every time I am there. I will be staying at the Contemporary for the first time this September and I am looking forward to it.

By the way, I get my info from those who know what is happening and not just from the bus driver or the valet but even then we all know Disney can change plans last minute and change dates even up to the day something is planned to happen. This is what I know of the plan right now....well as much as I can share.

Alrighty, well the previous refurb of Tonga would explain the lack of work in there this time. Tonga's lounge will be down for about a month this fall. They'll abate the rest of that building at the same time, so all of Tonga will be closed for about a month.

 

[COProgressFan]

The center water feature looks like it will be a casualty of the new design.

While I completely agree that the GCH could benefit from an overhaul, it saddens me that the center water and garden feature may disappear. That is classic WDW/Poly 1971, and is such a central component of the lobby and the Poly's identity.

There are 40 years worth of lots of people's memories of the Poly tied to the volcano/waterfall/flowers and birds (remember those?) of that lobby and it would be a shame to see it go.