Polynesian Resort beach closed to resort guests only for Jul 3 and 4?

menamechris

menamechris

Well-Known Member
gtapcyates said:
We have been going to the Poly Beach for over 20 years now, on the 4th and sometimes on the 3rd (since they started doing it on the 3rd as well). Never have seen any type of enforcement on the beach. Yes, Parking is VERY strict, you have to have a room or a confirmed dining reservation that they look up, Otherwise no parking. Tonight we went in and had reservations at kona Cafe. The car in front of us did not have any reservation, and we heard the guard explain to just park in the MK log (using the not so secret road into it) and then walk over.

In fact the past few years, the Poly has even setup a extra Food/Beverage location on the beach that serves hot Dogs, Aloha pork sandwiches, chips, drinks etc. They expect the influx of guests and welcome it. After I saw this post earlier tonight I asked a Food/Beverage manager that was at the outside stand about restricting it, and she said they would never do it, so I would take that as not happening tomorrow either.

George
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Thanks for the update, George. I think it's smart on their part. Like you said, they have to make an insane amount of extra money on food and beverage sales. I am sure some guests are surprised at the crowd on the 3rd and 4th, but you ARE staying at the busiest vacation resort in the world...
 
KevinYee

KevinYee

Well-Known Member
I checked with the concierge myself in person last night. He was more candid than I expected he would be onstage.

The policy is that the beach is for hotel guests only. However, there will be no enforcement, just like there hasn't been for decades, UNLESS the beach gets too crowded. In that event, then yes, they do indeed have a plan to sweep the beach looking for hotel keycards, and will issue wristbands to those with keys and escort out those who don't have keys.

The rain last night saw to lowered crowds, I'm sure, as did the rumors. On the 4th we may yet see wristbands (or we may not?)
 
backinaction

backinaction

Well-Known Member
I can almost guarantee that they didn't kick people off the beaches. The logistics of that would make it impossible. I cant see how having too many people there would hurt Disney. Other then guest complaints, there would be no reason for them to do it. I think that people traveling to Disney around the 4th of July know what they are in for. It's the most popular tourist destination in the world and its also one of the biggest holidays in terms of crowd numbers. It's no secret. Even with all the guest complaints, the amount of extra money Disney makes off these people not staying in the hotels is enough for them to look the other way.
 
menamechris

menamechris

Well-Known Member
backinaction said:
I can almost guarantee that they didn't kick people off the beaches. The logistics of that would make it impossible. I cant see how having too many people there would hurt Disney. Other then guest complaints, there would be no reason for them to do it. I think that people traveling to Disney around the 4th of July know what they are in for. It's the most popular tourist destination in the world and its also one of the biggest holidays in terms of crowd numbers. It's no secret. Even with all the guest complaints, the amount of extra money Disney makes off these people not staying in the hotels is enough for them to look the other way.
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I agree. I think they just have their "We reserve the right to...." clause. Which is standard policy with anything Disney.
 
KevinYee

KevinYee

Well-Known Member
I had the same thought about logistics yesterday, which is why I went despite the rumors. Even if they wanted to keep people off, there are too many people.

Ever been to Las Vegas on New Year's Eve? There's this moment at maybe 10:00 (?) when the crowd reaches a tipping point, and just spills into the streets. Mind you, there are cars there. Suddenly the strip becomes a pedestrian zone.

The scale is different, but something like that would probably happen at Poly beach, too.
 
KevinYee

KevinYee

Well-Known Member
I was there on the 3rd - no crackdown (but also rain). On the 4th, I went to the assault on Normandy Illuminations July 4 tag. On the big holidays, I'm always at Epcot. Just for the sheer percussive experience if nothing else!
 
tikiman

tikiman

Well-Known Member
The morning of the 3rd I was emailing with someone that works at the resort and they told me they were all being told to be ready to hand out wrist bands on the 3rd and 4th. I asked for more info about if it was just for the pool (something they have been doing since last year off and on) or for the beach also. They told me they were going to hand them out and be checking as people left the lobby. Then it did not happen on the 3rd. I was in contact with some guests yesterday and they said so far they were not doing it on the 4th but it was early in the day. They did say they saw the beach in front of Hawaii roped off and that was the last report I heard last night.

Then I saw Kevin’s posting after talking with the CM. I had just posted a report on my site about it so it to give people a heads up. I got a lot of emails telling me how happy guests were that they were going to enforce the rules.

As far as them never doing this, we use to go on the 4th every year to the Polynesian. Two years they have asked for resort ID randomly checking around the pool and beach. One year they were giving wrist bands (I think 2001 but don’t remember for sure) but it was not consistent enough. I even did a live report where I watched a golf cart with security drive around and stop and check people. We even had them ask for resort ID getting on the resort monorail back to the resort.
 
jt04

jt04

Well-Known Member
KevinYee said:
I was there on the 3rd - no crackdown (but also rain). On the 4th, I went to the assault on Normandy Illuminations July 4 tag. On the big holidays, I'm always at Epcot. Just for the sheer percussive experience if nothing else!
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Heh.

I am hearing the crowds were pretty amazing. Some seem to think this means management has failed.

Small crowds = TDO failure
Large crowds = TDO failure

Just happy I live on this side of the 'looking glass'.
 
TimeTrip

TimeTrip

Well-Known Member
jt04 said:
Heh.

I am hearing the crowds were pretty amazing. Some seem to think this means management has failed.

Small crowds = TDO failure
Large crowds = TDO failure

Just happy I live on this side of the 'looking glass'.
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I didn't find the crowds at Epcot to be "pretty amazing". It didn't feel much more crowded than a usual summer day. When I showed up at around 6:30, we could park as far forward as we wanted if we could find a spot. Discover wasn't filled out completely, Explore was completely empty, and under half of Imagine had cars parked there. From looking at the cones when leaving the parking lot, that didn't change.
 
Brava Centauri

Brava Centauri

Member
I can confirm that they at least enforce this rule on New Year's Eve. NYE 2010 was apparently when they started to enforce it, and my friends and I were turned away from entering the beach by a CM. She said only resort guests were being given access to the "special events" on the beach--which were just food and toy carts in addition to the DJ. When my CM friend questioned this, she was told an email had gone out. My friend confirmed that at least she did not receive it. We were directed to watch from the TTC, where we were squeezed with a couple hundred others they apparently turned away. When we went for the 4th in 2010, there was no such enforcement or announcement or anyone walking around checking for room keys. There was plenty of room on the beach.

So I guess they decide whether or not to limit access based on what they expect the crowds to be. On one hand it makes sense, but on another, you'd think Disney would see it as just another way to make more $$ because we certainly gave a lot of cash to the bar!
 
olinecoach61

olinecoach61

Well-Known Member
Brava Centauri said:
I can confirm that they at least enforce this rule on New Year's Eve. NYE 2010 was apparently when they started to enforce it, and my friends and I were turned away from entering the beach by a CM. She said only resort guests were being given access to the "special events" on the beach--which were just food and toy carts in addition to the DJ. When my CM friend questioned this, she was told an email had gone out. My friend confirmed that at least she did not receive it. We were directed to watch from the TTC, where we were squeezed with a couple hundred others they apparently turned away. When we went for the 4th in 2010, there was no such enforcement or announcement or anyone walking around checking for room keys. There was plenty of room on the beach.

So I guess they decide whether or not to limit access based on what they expect the crowds to be. On one hand it makes sense, but on another, you'd think Disney would see it as just another way to make more $$ because we certainly gave a lot of cash to the bar!
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Interesting, I think Disney has to weigh the fast cash vs the happiness of resort guests, never an easy choice.
 

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