What don't you like about the Polynesian.

[DarthVader]

If you've been following my recent (and not too recent threads) I was debating about the CR vs. the Poly. I've since booked the Contemporary yet my wife still wants the Poly - go figure. She's happy with both and she's not been too pushy in trying to get her way so don't take what I'm about to ask the wrong way. I'm not looking for "ammunition"

I've seen complaints about the contemporary resort such as noise levels thanks to CM, and the monorail, or how it has a look/feel for a generic hotel as opposed to the other Disney World resorts that are much more heavily themed. What (if any) are the downsides of the polynesian?

If I do opt to change my reservation to the Polynesian I want to do so as an educated consumer, and such I want as much info as I can get (good and bad) . I am expecting construction to be largely finished by the time I get there in April 2016 (but you never know).

Thanks for any information, and I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer on the Poly, I think its a great resort and aside from my wife wanting to stay there, I'm personally getting pulled (tempted) to change my reservation.

Thanks
~Mike

 

[Tuvalu]

My screen name is Tuvalu and my avatar is the view from my favorite room in Tuvalu ~ so my answer to "What Don't You Like About The Polynesian" is




NOTHING.

 

[Tuvalu]

Upon further reflection, there is one thing I don't like about the Poly...the bungalows...they have ruined the pristine lagoon views...but they are here to stay and I will adjust .

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Price. No indoor / covered pathways between buildings. Price. It can be kind of dark in the rooms (same is true for WL and DAKL). Price.

 

[grim-grinning_toast]

Construction at the Polynesian is largely finished, I don't think you'll even notice it if you step onto the resort today!

But, I'll try to give my best answer since I am an intense lover of the Poly. It's a very good idea to look at the pros and cons, though!!

- There is no longer a beautiful lobby. It's very ordinary now, and if you're a big fan of theming, this can be a definite downer.
- The beach is significantly smaller than it used to be.
- Trader Sams is always packed so if you're looking at that as a plus for the reservation, you probably won't be able to enjoy it often.
- You can't serve yourself dole whips.
- Some of the buildings are a decent trek away from the monorail/main lobby.
- Captain Cooks is definitely not even on the top 10 of decent quick service venues.
- The bungalows have altered the view of the Seven Seas Lagoon.


...but honestly....

Those things don't even matter because this is probably one of the most unique and fun and beautiful hotels on property. It smells tropical, everyone is nice, sometimes they hand out free cookies in the lobby, the new pool is absolutely incredible, the rooms have really nice views, and you feel a little bit embarrassed/cooler-than-you-were-ten-minutes-ago every time you say 'Aloha!' to someone.

 

[Tuvalu]

It can be kind of dark in the rooms

Since the refurbishment in 2013, the room interior is much brighter now. The closed-in dark feeling no longer exists.

 

[DarthVader]

Price. No indoor / covered pathways between buildings. Price. It can be kind of dark in the rooms (same is true for WL and DAKL). Price.

I'm noticing a theme with your response

Yet, while I agree with your on the price, the contemporary, particularly the park view is much more money. During my booking, I had no option to select lake view and honestly by spending so much money on the resort, I figured go all in and get the park view anyways.

 

[P_Radden]

My screen name is Tuvalu and my avatar is the view from my favorite room in Tuvalu ~ so my answer to "What Don't You Like About The Polynesian" is




NOTHING.

I've never stayed at Poly, but do have 3 nights booked there as part of a trip for next March. Do you feel like you get your money worth staying there? I mean, for us, it was a tough choice between Poly and some of the moderates like POFQ and BC. I'm really looking forward to staying at Poly in March, but I cant help but wonder if it is really as good as people make it out to be, and if it's really worth the price premium. Any thoughts or advice are appreciated!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

To the OP, "Poly lovers" are going to have some pretty unique criticisms of the Poly because many of them are obsessed with how it used to be and abhor change in all its forms.

- There is no longer a beautiful lobby. It's very ordinary now, and if you're a big fan of theming, this can be a definite downer.

The new lobby is vastly superior to the old lobby in every conceivable way, other than nostalgia for what once was. The old lobby felt very much like a 1970s lobby that hadn't been updated since. It smelled musty and the skylights were stained brown. The new one is sleek and modern.

- The beach is significantly smaller than it used to be.

The very notion of a WDW "beach" is amusing to me. I don't see the appeal of sitting in nasty sand looking at nasty water that I can't go in.

- Trader Sams is always packed so if you're looking at that as a plus for the reservation, you probably won't be able to enjoy it often.

Very true.

- You can't serve yourself dole whips.

That's a negative? The only place outside of the MK where you can get a Dole Whip is a negative because it's not self-serve?

- Some of the buildings are a decent trek away from the monorail/main lobby.

True.

- Captain Cooks is definitely not even on the top 10 of decent quick service venues.

Quick service in WDW overall, or at WDW resorts? It's one of the very few that has a "themed" menu (along with The Mara at AKL).

I've never stayed at Poly, but do have 3 nights booked there as part of a trip for next March. Do you feel like you get your money worth staying there? I mean, for us, it was a tough choice between Poly and some of the moderates like POFQ and BC. I'm really looking forward to staying at Poly in March, but I cant help but wonder if it is really as good as people make it out to be, and if it's really worth the price premium. Any thoughts or advice are appreciated!

Beach Club isn't a moderate. I don't think the Poly is worth the premium for a couple. If you want elaborate theming, you'd be served equally well at Animal Kingdom or Wilderness Lodge. The additional premium you're paying for the Poly is for the monorail, which is really more of an asset if you're traveling with children and spending the vast majority of your time at MK.

 

[DarthVader]

Do you feel like you get your money worth staying there?

Worth is so subjective, but I look forward to Tulavu's response. For me being on the monorail is a big plus. That provides us great access to MK and Epcot. My wife's biggest gripe about staying on property is the buses.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Yet, while I agree with your on the price, the contemporary, particularly the park view is much more money. During my booking, I had no option to select lake view and honestly by spending so much money on the resort, I figured go all in and get the park view anyways.

I don't love Park View at the Contemporary since it's really more parking LOT view. CR's value is in the Garden Wing rooms which are very hard to book. If you can stay at the Poly for cheaper, I don't think it's really much of a contest at all.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Worth is so subjective, but I look forward to Tulavu's response. For me being on the monorail is a big plus. That provides us great access to MK and Epcot. My wife's biggest gripe about staying on property is the buses.

Contemporary to Epcot on the monorail is no faster than a bus from most other resorts. It's actually slower in many cases. The best "Epcot access" resort would be the Poly, since you can walk right to the TTC and not have to take one monorail there and then transfer to a second.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Since the refurbishment in 2013, the room interior is much brighter now. The closed-in dark feeling no longer exists.

Good to know. That's the same effect I feel happened with the lobby rehab.

 

[P_Radden]

The very notion of a WDW "beach" is amusing to me. I don't see the appeal of sitting in nasty sand looking at nasty water that I can't go in.

Funny you mention this, although I've never set foot on that beach, I've thought the same thing.

Beach Club isn't a moderate. I don't think the Poly is worth the premium for a couple. If you want elaborate theming, you'd be served equally well at Animal Kingdom or Wilderness Lodge. The additional premium you're paying for the Poly is for the monorail, which is really more of an asset if you're traveling with children and spending the vast majority of your time at MK.

Thanks for the advice

 

[Tuvalu]

I've never stayed at Poly, but do have 3 nights booked there as part of a trip for next March. Do you feel like you get your money worth staying there? I mean, for us, it was a tough choice between Poly and some of the moderates like POFQ and BC. I'm really looking forward to staying at Poly in March, but I cant help but wonder if it is really as good as people make it out to be, and if it's really worth the price premium. Any thoughts or advice are appreciated!

For me and my family, the resort is a huge part of our vacation experience. We are not park commandos. We enjoy lounging by the pool, strolling through the grounds, having a drink on our balcony and watching the world go by. The Poly transports us to a tropical paradise for much less than traveling to Hawaii or other island locale. And then we get the bonus of having MK a short monorail ride away! So for us, the Poly is worth the premium. For folks who use their room only to sleep and shower, probably not...though let's just say they *should* stay deluxe because the mattresses are SO much better and more comfy than those in mods or values; plus the towels are bigger and fluffier and the TP is double-ply!!

We have been blessed to stay at all levels of resorts and there is a noticeable difference in staying deluxe. My counsel to anyone with a split stay at resorts of different levels is to do the deluxe last, because you won't want to downgrade afterwards .

It's easy to have high expectations when a certain place has been praised by others, only to be let down when you experience it. Just because I love the Poly doesn't mean you will. Go in with a positive attitude, focus on the things there that you enjoy, don't try to compare it's value with someplace else...experience the Poly with fresh eyes and you just might come away with a new favorite place to stay.

 

[grim-grinning_toast]

The new lobby is vastly superior to the old lobby in every conceivable way, other than nostalgia for what once was. The old lobby felt very much like a 1970s lobby that hadn't been updated since. It smelled musty and the skylights were stained brown. The new one is sleek and modern.

SO! (I know you're right, but I loved the waterfall. I think the new one looks comically small).


The very notion of a WDW "beach" is amusing to me. I don't see the appeal of sitting in nasty sand looking at nasty water that I can't go in.

...but the hammocks....



That's a negative? The only place outside of the MK where you can get a Dole Whip is a negative because it's not self-serve?

Well, it's disappointing if you've stayed there before and enjoyed the self-serve. I was mostly making that point because I don't know if the OP or his wife had previously indulged in swirls and swirls of dole whip!



Quick service in WDW overall, or at WDW resorts? It's one of the very few that has a "themed" menu (along with The Mara at AKL).

Quick service at WDW resorts. I know it's themed, but for some reason I'm remembering mostly flatbreads.


Edit - I obviously don't know how to respond to one liners like you did! I apologize if this is very confusing to read, hahaha.

 

[DarthVader]

I don't love Park View at the Contemporary since it's really more parking LOT view. CR's value is in the Garden Wing rooms which are very hard to book. If you can stay at the Poly for cheaper, I don't think it's really much of a contest at all.

I think for my kids seeing the fireworks off the distance will be cool - especially if I'm lucky enough to snag a high floor room.

Contemporary to Epcot on the monorail is no faster than a bus from most other resorts. It's actually slower in many cases. The best "Epcot access" resort would be the Poly, since you can walk right to the TTC and not have to take one monorail there and then transfer to a second.

No doubt, but its the experience that makes it worthwhile. Crushed in a bus with tired kids is one thing, and for some reason having them on the monorail (packed or not) is a lot different.

 

[Hockey89]

Price. No indoor / covered pathways between buildings. Price. It can be kind of dark in the rooms (same is true for WL and DAKL). Price.

So price?

 

[TXDisney]

I like it bc of it's decoration. Feels tropical as well as still inside the magic of disney. But most of all it's location. Head on view of MK. Closest resort when heading to Epcot along the monorail. Pricing I think is excessive. Think they should be more the price of the contemporary.

 

[Minthorne]

I don't like the area between the GCH and the main pool. It used to be tropical and now it is pedestrian