Disney's POLYNESIAN VILLAGE RESORT Information & Questions

[Dave006]

Just a quick question on the imminent construction. Will the path to GF (and ultimately MK) still be available in July? I would really like to walk over to GF for our ADR at Citrico’s for our 1st night but want to make sure we can get through that way. Thank you!

It depends on how the demolition and new site developments proceed on the construction site. The new DVC Tower concept designs show integration right to the barrier at the Seven Seas Lagoon (SSL) which would integrate the replacement walkway into the grounds of the new addition during construction.

Note: the Resort Monorail would be likely the primary link during the DVC Tower construction.

Once the construction barriers go up to prevent run-off of onsite contaminants into the SSL water I would expect the walkway to be interrupted.

This is the same thing that happened to the walkway from the Wilderness Lodge, CCV and BRV to Ft. Wilderness right in the area where it passed through what would be the now cancelled Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge (2021).

Dave

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Just a quick question on the imminent construction. Will the path to GF (and ultimately MK) still be available in July? I would really like to walk over to GF for our ADR at Citrico’s for our 1st night but want to make sure we can get through that way. Thank you!

I will say I’m going to be pretty peeved if they don’t add a temporary walkway of some sort, maybe out towards the Floridian Way side or something, although I have my doubts given the physical layout of the area. There are currently some paths and access roads that roughly follow the monorail line that could in theory be used to cobble together a walking path, but seems to me parts of that could get caught up in construction too - that whole area is just so tight….but who knows.

Walking to GF for amenities and using the full running path is an important part of why we choose Poly. Without it I may seek other resort options. Guess we’ll see how it goes.

 

[MFG]

Okay, opinions please! We’ve never done Polynesian and are going for a trip from end of June through the 4th of July. 2 adults 2 kiddos (7,3).

We are currently in a studio. Would it be worthwhile to splurge for club level? Am I crazy and should stay studio since I have little kiddos?

 

[trishadono]

Okay, opinions please! We’ve never done Polynesian and are going for a trip from end of June through the 4th of July. 2 adults 2 kiddos (7,3).

We are currently in a studio. Would it be worthwhile to splurge for club level? Am I crazy and should stay studio since I have little kiddos?

Honestly as much as I love cl Poly is one resort it is not needed. The studios are a nice set up for families. That extra bath makes a huge difference! Also those buildings are close to the TTC for getting and from Epcot.

You’ll have the same pools, beach , tiki lights on the paths at night. You won’t have a lounge but will you need it ? The studios have an actual coffee pot and a toaster . Will that help in the morning? Can one of you grab a mobile order from CC’s?

I often upgrade to cl but my BWI stay next week I chose not too. Sometimes I prefer to have flexibility. I don’t want to have dinner 5-7 every night, Or rushing to be back for desserts instead of being at the parks.

I posted pix of the alcohol at the shop, make a party in the room for after the kids sleep. Studios all have a patio or balcony . Cl rooms 2nd floor do not .

Look at the total cost and decide. In the old days I could upgrade for $150 or less a night with a discount, now it is much higher. Only you can decide. Both are awesome options. I love Poly and can’t wait to my next stay in September.

Dec 2021 we had a std Poly room and did Kona to go a few times. We enjoyed that option. For sept we are doing GV CL. It’s me and DD27. We will have 2 mnsshp parties and enjoy being close to MK for those parties.

 

[trishadono]

Also book the cl ASAP and hold 2 reservations while you decide, rooms book fast at Poly.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Okay, opinions please! We’ve never done Polynesian and are going for a trip from end of June through the 4th of July. 2 adults 2 kiddos (7,3).

We are currently in a studio. Would it be worthwhile to splurge for club level? Am I crazy and should stay studio since I have little kiddos?

My opinion is maybe more emotion influenced than smart financial decision influenced... so just a warning. But hey, it's Disney.

My kids are 11 and 7, but we've been traveling to WDW since the oldest was 3 with usually at least a couple of stops per year at Poly CL so right in the zone of your ages. It was the resort/room type/resort experience that really got us hooked on WDW - just so incredibly convenient for parents with little ones at that age and totally worth it for our particular WDW style. WDW can be a grind with kids depending on your touring habits - CL adds just a bit of convenience to make it more vacation-like and take the edge off of all the running around, IMO.

Some random commentary in case helpful:
- The guaranteed Hawaii longhouse location can be a benefit... no longhouse roulette. Hawaii is a conveniently located longhouse within the Poly grounds... steps to both pools, steps to the beach for fireworks or the Electrical Water Pageant. Forget the sunscreen back in the room? No problem, not a long walk. Oh and I don't mind if I grab a beer along the way in the lounge.

- Love having the CL breakfast as an option with little ones. Other food services during the day are going to be more small bites/snacks, but breakfast can absolutely work for most folks as a full meal. No messing with Capt Cooks mobile order, no worrying about where to get a cup of coffee. Breakfast service is one of the areas we really get value with CL, for us at least. If you're a "on the go, all breakfast meals in the parks" kind of family, then this will have less appeal.

- CL offers some basic beer and wine available upon request during the day and out in the lounge for evening service. Back when mine would still nap in the afternoons I definitely didn't mind having a cold brew (and goldfish, at the time) steps away.

- Don't drink? No worries - plenty of other beverages available all day and a coffee/espresso machine that makes a variety of beverages. Quick coffee to go before hitting the monorail? No problem!

- Personally, we prefer two fixed beds vs the villa bed setup. The double bathrooms can certainly be nice but didn't really resonate all that well with us - just so much space devoted to bathrooms. Of course that perspective may change when mine become teens. Lol.

- Also personally, we prefer the Moana themed hotel rooms to the more non-themed Villas. They are nice, no doubt... but to me the hotel rooms are more fun and whimsical. But to be fair - I have absolutely no problem with the Villas and would stay there without hesitation, these are just subtle preferences.

- While there's nothing earth-shattering about what CL concierge CMs can do... you just never know when you might have a small problem or situation that comes up - and having them right there in the building vs having to head back to the Grand Ceremonial House can at times offer a nice level of convenience. Magic Band not working? 3 year old isn't feeling well and you need to cancel your Garden Grill reservation? CMs are right there to help.

- The CL lounge is newly-renovated and (IMHO) is a beautiful space.

- While evening appetizers are not really meant for a meal, there are plenty of times where we've had a bigger lunch out in the parks and afternoon pool time becomes all afternoon/evening pool time and we just grab something light in the lounge. Easy peasy. As the evening goes on, get the kids bathed, PJs, maybe fireworks from the lounge or beach if they can make it, then beer/wine on the balcony/patio (make sure to request a third or first floor room) with DW while the kids go to sleep. Perfect ending to a Disney day, IMHO.

- To be fair, CL isn't all candy canes and lolli-pops... Poly CL is one of the larger CLs by guest count and is rather popular. The ebb and flow of guests during services (especially breakfast) can be real and is a comment you'll hear with relative frequency regarding the Poly CL experience. I could say the same for all of the CLs, but Poly tends to get it more just due to the room count there.

So anyway, TLDR, but maybe it helps. My ultimate conclusion - if you're OK with the splurge then maybe give it a try... if you're sweating the splurge and would rather spend money on other things, then that totally works too. Can't make a wrong choice, so that's good!

 

[MFG]

Honestly as much as I love cl Poly is one resort it is not needed. The studios are a nice set up for families. That extra bath makes a huge difference! Also those buildings are close to the TTC for getting and from Epcot.

You’ll have the same pools, beach , tiki lights on the paths at night. You won’t have a lounge but will you need it ? The studios have an actual coffee pot and a toaster . Will that help in the morning? Can one of you grab a mobile order from CC’s?

I often upgrade to cl but my BWI stay next week I chose not too. Sometimes I prefer to have flexibility. I don’t want to have dinner 5-7 every night, Or rushing to be back for desserts instead of being at the parks.

I posted pix of the alcohol at the shop, make a party in the room for after the kids sleep. Studios all have a patio or balcony . Cl rooms 2nd floor do not .

Look at the total cost and decide. In the old days I could upgrade for $150 or less a night with a discount, now it is much higher. Only you can decide. Both are awesome options. I love Poly and can’t wait to my next stay in September.

Dec 2021 we had a std Poly room and did Kona to go a few times. We enjoyed that option. For sept we are doing GV CL. It’s me and DD27. We will have 2 mnsshp parties and enjoy being close to MK for those parties.

This is so so helpful! It would be a huge price jump for this trip and not sure the kids are old enough to appreciate

 

[MFG]

My opinion is maybe more emotion influenced than smart financial decision influenced... so just a warning. But hey, it's Disney.

My kids are 11 and 7, but we've been traveling to WDW since the oldest was 3 with usually at least a couple of stops per year at Poly CL so right in the zone of your ages. It was the resort/room type/resort experience that really got us hooked on WDW - just so incredibly convenient for parents with little ones at that age and totally worth it for our particular WDW style.

Some random commentary in case helpful:
- The guaranteed Hawaii longhouse location can be a benefit... no longhouse roulette. Hawaii is a conveniently located longhouse within the Poly grounds... steps to both pools, steps to the beach for fireworks or the Electrical Water Pageant. Forget the sunscreen back in the room? No problem, not a long walk. Oh and I don't mind if I grab a beer along the way in the lounge.

- Love having the CL breakfast as an option with little ones. Other food services during the day are going to be more small bites/snacks, but breakfast can absolutely work for most folks as a full meal. No messing with Capt Cooks mobile order, no worrying about where to get a cup of coffee. Breakfast service is one of the areas we really get value with CL, for us at least. If you're a "on the go, all breakfast meals in the parks" kind of family, then this will have less appeal.

- CL offers some basic beer and wine available upon request during the day and out in the lounge for evening service. Back when mine would still nap in the afternoons I definitely didn't mind having a cold brew (and goldfish, at the time) steps away.

- Don't drink? No worries - plenty of other beverages available all day and a coffee/espresso machine that makes a variety of beverages. Quick coffee to go before hitting the monorail? No problem!

- Personally, we prefer two fixed beds vs the villa bed setup. The double bathrooms can certainly be nice but didn't really resonate all that well with us - just so much space devoted to bathrooms. Of course that perspective may change when mine become teens. Lol.

- Also personally, we prefer the Moana themed hotel rooms to the more non-themed Villas. They are nice, no doubt... but to me the hotel rooms are more fun and whimsical. But to be fair - I have absolutely no problem with the Villas and would stay there without hesitation, these are just subtle preferences.

- While there's nothing earth-shattering about what CL concierge CMs can do... you just never know when you might have a small problem or situation that comes up - and having them right there in the building vs having to head back to the Grand Ceremonial House can at times offer a nice level of convenience. Magic Band not working? 3 year old isn't feeling well and you need to cancel your Garden Grill reservation? CMs are right there to help.

- The CL lounge is newly-renovated and (IMHO) is a beautiful space.

- While evening appetizers are not really meant for a meal, there are plenty of times where we've had a bigger lunch out in the parks and afternoon pool time becomes all afternoon/evening pool time and we just grab something light in the lounge. Easy peasy. As the evening goes on, get the kids bathed, PJs, maybe fireworks from the lounge or beach if they can make it, then beer/wine on the balcony/patio (make sure to request a third or first floor room) with DW while the kids go to sleep. Perfect ending to a Disney day, IMHO.

- To be fair, CL isn't all candy canes and lolli-pops... Poly CL is one of the larger CLs by guest count and is rather popular. The ebb and flow of guests during services (especially breakfast) can be real and is a comment you'll hear with relative frequency regarding the Poly CL experience. I could say the same for all of the CLs, but Poly tends to get it more just due to the room count there.

So anyway, TLDR, but maybe it helps. My ultimate conclusion - if you're OK with the splurge then maybe give it a try... if you're sweating the splurge and would rather spend money on other things, then that totally works too. Can't make a wrong choice, so that's good!

This is great detail, thanks! I worry since we’ll be handling naps for one as well that the layout of the studio might be better this go round, especially with the $ difference and the picky appetites of 3 year olds haha. But next trip? CL all the way!

 

[xlsm]

It's been awhile since I've been on the thread, but happy to be back! Our June 2021 Poly reservation was moved to Yacht Club due to the closure, but we're now booked for 12/28 - 1/4.
It may be our last big family blow out NYE, since our oldest is graduating high school on Friday, and our youngest graduates next year. Oldest DS is starting out at our local community college so we have one more year of semi-normal before he transfers and our youngest goes off to college, too.

There's a small chance we may switch and go to Disneyland instead, but right now I'm riding high on the promise of tiki drinks by the Oasis pool!

 

[Weekend Brunch]

Honestly as much as I love cl Poly is one resort it is not needed. The studios are a nice set up for families. That extra bath makes a huge difference! Also those buildings are close to the TTC for getting and from Epcot.

You’ll have the same pools, beach , tiki lights on the paths at night. You won’t have a lounge but will you need it ? The studios have an actual coffee pot and a toaster . Will that help in the morning? Can one of you grab a mobile order from CC’s?

I often upgrade to cl but my BWI stay next week I chose not too. Sometimes I prefer to have flexibility. I don’t want to have dinner 5-7 every night, Or rushing to be back for desserts instead of being at the parks.

I posted pix of the alcohol at the shop, make a party in the room for after the kids sleep. Studios all have a patio or balcony . Cl rooms 2nd floor do not .

Look at the total cost and decide. In the old days I could upgrade for $150 or less a night with a discount, now it is much higher. Only you can decide. Both are awesome options. I love Poly and can’t wait to my next stay in September.

Dec 2021 we had a std Poly room and did Kona to go a few times. We enjoyed that option. For sept we are doing GV CL. It’s me and DD27. We will have 2 mnsshp parties and enjoy being close to MK for those parties.

My opinion is maybe more emotion influenced than smart financial decision influenced... so just a warning. But hey, it's Disney.

My kids are 11 and 7, but we've been traveling to WDW since the oldest was 3 with usually at least a couple of stops per year at Poly CL so right in the zone of your ages. It was the resort/room type/resort experience that really got us hooked on WDW - just so incredibly convenient for parents with little ones at that age and totally worth it for our particular WDW style. WDW can be a grind with kids depending on your touring habits - CL adds just a bit of convenience to make it more vacation-like and take the edge off of all the running around, IMO.

Some random commentary in case helpful:
- The guaranteed Hawaii longhouse location can be a benefit... no longhouse roulette. Hawaii is a conveniently located longhouse within the Poly grounds... steps to both pools, steps to the beach for fireworks or the Electrical Water Pageant. Forget the sunscreen back in the room? No problem, not a long walk. Oh and I don't mind if I grab a beer along the way in the lounge.

- Love having the CL breakfast as an option with little ones. Other food services during the day are going to be more small bites/snacks, but breakfast can absolutely work for most folks as a full meal. No messing with Capt Cooks mobile order, no worrying about where to get a cup of coffee. Breakfast service is one of the areas we really get value with CL, for us at least. If you're a "on the go, all breakfast meals in the parks" kind of family, then this will have less appeal.

- CL offers some basic beer and wine available upon request during the day and out in the lounge for evening service. Back when mine would still nap in the afternoons I definitely didn't mind having a cold brew (and goldfish, at the time) steps away.

- Don't drink? No worries - plenty of other beverages available all day and a coffee/espresso machine that makes a variety of beverages. Quick coffee to go before hitting the monorail? No problem!

- Personally, we prefer two fixed beds vs the villa bed setup. The double bathrooms can certainly be nice but didn't really resonate all that well with us - just so much space devoted to bathrooms. Of course that perspective may change when mine become teens. Lol.

- Also personally, we prefer the Moana themed hotel rooms to the more non-themed Villas. They are nice, no doubt... but to me the hotel rooms are more fun and whimsical. But to be fair - I have absolutely no problem with the Villas and would stay there without hesitation, these are just subtle preferences.

- While there's nothing earth-shattering about what CL concierge CMs can do... you just never know when you might have a small problem or situation that comes up - and having them right there in the building vs having to head back to the Grand Ceremonial House can at times offer a nice level of convenience. Magic Band not working? 3 year old isn't feeling well and you need to cancel your Garden Grill reservation? CMs are right there to help.

- The CL lounge is newly-renovated and (IMHO) is a beautiful space.

- While evening appetizers are not really meant for a meal, there are plenty of times where we've had a bigger lunch out in the parks and afternoon pool time becomes all afternoon/evening pool time and we just grab something light in the lounge. Easy peasy. As the evening goes on, get the kids bathed, PJs, maybe fireworks from the lounge or beach if they can make it, then beer/wine on the balcony/patio (make sure to request a third or first floor room) with DW while the kids go to sleep. Perfect ending to a Disney day, IMHO.

- To be fair, CL isn't all candy canes and lolli-pops... Poly CL is one of the larger CLs by guest count and is rather popular. The ebb and flow of guests during services (especially breakfast) can be real and is a comment you'll hear with relative frequency regarding the Poly CL experience. I could say the same for all of the CLs, but Poly tends to get it more just due to the room count there.

So anyway, TLDR, but maybe it helps. My ultimate conclusion - if you're OK with the splurge then maybe give it a try... if you're sweating the splurge and would rather spend money on other things, then that totally works too. Can't make a wrong choice, so that's good!

These 2 posts are the most helpful things I've ever come across for deciding between these 2 options.
Thank you to both of you.

 

[mrsap]

Interactive In-Room TVs Now Available at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort​

The Walt Disney World Resort continually strives to provide a comfortable and convenient in-room experience for Guests. In line with this focus, the resort recently introduced a new, interactive television system with a more personalized and easy-to-use experience that welcomes Guests to the room, offers access to complimentary Disney content, provides connectivity to streaming subscription content, and more.

Additional work to support this new system may be performed in the coming weeks.
This new, interactive television system personalizes the in-room TV experience by welcoming Guests upon arrival. Guests can also enjoy streaming in their room with complimentary Disney content and connectivity for their personal device to stream their subscribed content (Disney+, Hulu, etc.). Standard channels, park hours, resort amenities, and information are also available.

Smart phones, tablets and laptops are supported to stream to the TV. Only content from Chromecast-enabled apps (mirroring is not supported) can be sent to the TV.

As a reminder, Guest credentials and Connect My Device pairings will be cleared upon each check-out. Guests will use their personal devices to log into any subscription services, so information is not stored in the system.

 

[PPFlight75]

Interactive In-Room TVs Now Available at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort​

The Walt Disney World Resort continually strives to provide a comfortable and convenient in-room experience for Guests. In line with this focus, the resort recently introduced a new, interactive television system with a more personalized and easy-to-use experience that welcomes Guests to the room, offers access to complimentary Disney content, provides connectivity to streaming subscription content, and more.

Additional work to support this new system may be performed in the coming weeks.
This new, interactive television system personalizes the in-room TV experience by welcoming Guests upon arrival. Guests can also enjoy streaming in their room with complimentary Disney content and connectivity for their personal device to stream their subscribed content (Disney+, Hulu, etc.). Standard channels, park hours, resort amenities, and information are also available.

Smart phones, tablets and laptops are supported to stream to the TV. Only content from Chromecast-enabled apps (mirroring is not supported) can be sent to the TV.

As a reminder, Guest credentials and Connect My Device pairings will be cleared upon each check-out. Guests will use their personal devices to log into any subscription services, so information is not stored in the system.

This should be good!

Does this mean the Disney music that used to play on the TV will be gone?

 

[fairytale]

Hey Folks. During my recent trip I noticed there was no sound coming through during the MK Fireworks at the tiny beach area towards the old SOA show area. Has anyone any recent experience of this now been fixed, also, having read through a few recent comments I'm now beginning to wonder if access to this beach is now closed due to the pending DVC Tower? Any recent visitor able to confirm?
Thanks guys

 

[Azalea]

Hello! I am new to the board and haven’t been to Disney World in about 30 years so I’m hoping for some advice from those with more knowledge. I have a theme park view room reserved for late April 2023 at the Polynesian. I just saw that a new DVC tower is going to be built at the resort over the next two years. Looking at the map of the resort and tower plans, it looks to me like the buildings with theme park view rooms ( I think Tuvalu and Aotearoa?) are right next to the construction area. Am I correct in thinking these are very close to where the tower will be built and likely to have a lot of construction noise while we are there? I saw there are also club level theme park view rooms in the Hawaii building, which looks a little further from the construction area. Is it far enough removed to expect a significant difference in noise level? I’m trying to decide if club level is worth the extra money to be further from construction, but with never having been there I’m not sure if I‘m picturing things correctly. This is our first vacation for several years and I don’t want to have it ruined by loud machinery noises in our room. Thanks very much!

 

[Nabas]

Hello! I am new to the board and haven’t been to Disney World in about 30 years so I’m hoping for some advice from those with more knowledge. I have a theme park view room reserved for late April 2023 at the Polynesian. I just saw that a new DVC tower is going to be built at the resort over the next two years. Looking at the map of the resort and tower plans, it looks to me like the buildings with theme park view rooms ( I think Tuvalu and Aotearoa?) are right next to the construction area. Am I correct in thinking these are very close to where the tower will be built and likely to have a lot of construction noise while we are there? I saw there are also club level theme park view rooms in the Hawaii building, which looks a little further from the construction area. Is it far enough removed to expect a significant difference in noise level? I’m trying to decide if club level is worth the extra money to be further from construction, but with never having been there I’m not sure if I‘m picturing things correctly. This is our first vacation for several years and I don’t want to have it ruined by loud machinery noises in our room. Thanks very much!

Yes, Tuvalu and Aotearoa are the rooms closest to the construction area. They also are the (non-Club Level) theme park view rooms.

We have stayed at the Poly several times. Hawaii will be farther from the construction than Tuvalu and Aotearoa.

I cannot say much about construction noise at the Poly Tower. Presumably, there will be drilling, hammering, and other loud noises throughout the day.

When we stayed at the Swan last year, we could hear Swan Reserve construction when we were at the Swan/Dolphin Grotto pool, which is located across the street. I'm guessing the Poly will be similar.

 

[Dave006]

Note:. The resort building nearest or directly adjoining the construction area are all west of the GCH:, Aoterao, Fiji, and Tuvalu. The Tonga (Suites) will not be far away. These are all building west of the boat dock area.

As I posted earlier in the thread the construction boundaries will directly abut the Aoterao, Fiji, and Tuvalu buildings. Most noise should be 9 AM - 6 PM whenever possible. But it is a major resort addition with this new Multi-level DVC building and new public spaces.

Dave

 

[Azalea]

Yes, Tuvalu and Aotearoa are the rooms closest to the construction area. They also are the (non-Club Level) theme park view rooms.

We have stayed at the Poly several times. Hawaii will be farther from the construction than Tuvalu and Aotearoa.

I cannot say much about construction noise at the Poly Tower. Presumably, there will be drilling, hammering, and other loud noises throughout the day.

When we stayed at the Swan last year, we could hear Swan Reserve construction when we were at the Swan/Dolphin Grotto pool, which is located across the street. I'm guessing the Poly will be similar.

Thank you for this info!

 

[Azalea]

As I posted earlier in the thread the construction boundaries will directly abut the Aoterao, Fiji, and Tuvalu buildings. Most noise should be 9 AM - 6 PM whenever possible. But it is a major resort addition with this new Multi-level DVC building and new public spaces.

Dave

Much appreciated, this makes me lean more towards club level to get a little further away. Thank you!

 

[MFG]

Coffee question for the studios. Is it all kuerig now? We drink a lot of coffee so if we need to buy extra cups we’ll bring them thanks!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Hi all! Heading to the Poly soon and was hoping someone who's been there recently can help me figure out how early the Monorail will be running to Magic Kingdom. I see the official WDW site says, "The Walt Disney World Monorail System operates from 30 minutes prior to earliest park opening". For the day I'm looking at, MK has 8:30 a.m. early entry and EPCOT has 8 a.m. early entry. So would the resort line start running at 7:30 a.m. based on EPCOT's opening (even though that line doesn't go to EPCOT)? I think I'm overthinking this and totally confusing myself, yikes! Grateful for any help. Thank you!