I got a call from my Disney friend who was out in Florida to pack up Lucky the Dinosaur to ship to Hong Kong Disney. He wanted to see if I would come on out and spend a few days in Disney World. I had to pay for the trip but the idea was to spend some time with my friend while he was not working. I thought it would be a good chance to get to see the new room design at the Polynesian since they were about to open up the new rooms. This would be my first “research” trip without the family.
August 12
I went from the airport right to the Polynesian for dinner at Kona. Since just a few days before this I was not planning on even being there it was sort of like it was not real. It took me a while to realize I was really there.I am sure some of you who live on the east coast it is not a big deal to shoot over to Disney World but coming from California it is.
After one of the best meals I have had at Kona we headed over to the Magic Kingdom since it was going to be open until 1 AM. Well the extra magic hour was fun but sort of a waist. The lines were still long (tried to get on Space Mountain twice) and we only got on Splash Mountain the whole time we were in there. It was still nice to be there and just walking around.
We headed back to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and we were way down one of the arms in a savannah view room. Nice view but long walk and small room. It was laid out just like the Grand Californian room but there was little room past the beds and furniture. It was room 3317.
August 13
On Saturday I spend all of the morning around the resort and after that I had enough of the Animal Kingdom Lodge. This was my second stay there and my second time I hung out at the resort for a significant amount of time. I can spend a whole day at the Polynesian and not go to a park and never get bored but I had enough after a few hours at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The pool was how I remembered it and I relaxed a while until about 10:00 when the place got mobbed. Eight people next to me shared a lounge chair since none were left. The life guards were rude and yelled at everyone who did the slightest thing or if someone just had a question. For the rest of the day the place never got any less crowded until dinner time. One other thing I did not like about the Animal Kingdom Lodge pool was the zero entry spot (that we love to sit in and stay cool) was about half as wide as the Polynesian pool so it got very congested.
I ate at The Mara. The food was good and the place is laid out well. That was the only place I have not tried before. The water slide is great for little kids but other than that is a joke. The standard room was a foot shorter in length and 2 foot 2 inches narrower with a 3 inch shorter ceiling and this is based on the smaller Polynesian room. I will get more into the dimensions of the Polynesian room later. I have all the measurements. This was part of my goal during this trip to research for my site and the Unofficial Guide book to get accurate room sizes since Disney’s own web site was incorrect.
The busses to and from parks for the Animal Kingdom Lodge took forever just like my last stay and I just don’t like the feeling of being all the way out there. I am sure some like it because of that. I just don’t feel like I am at Disney World yet when I am there and that was the comment from my friend also.
I stayed around the resort most of the day and than we went into MGM. It was very hot most of the trip but I myself never got rained on while I was there. MGM Studios was not too crowded but we waited forever for the bus again. We ate at Boma that night. I can’t see going to WDW and not going to Boma or Jiko. Someone ordered room service and they were making the plate up right at Boma.
I love the theme but it is not enough to get me to consider it one of my favorites. The food is some of the best in Disney World so I will always visit to eat. We ate at Boma. I Have been to Boma and Jiko before. It was great as usual and I hate buffets. The concierge at Animal Kingdom Lodge is excellent also and I am told can be added on even in a standard room.
Remember this is just my opinion and there were many there that were loving the resort, I just like the feel of the resorts that are a little more in the middle of other things and have access to other resorts or parks.
By the way Disney room square footage is way off. I discussed this with someone there and they were not surprised there is no accurate info out there.
The square footage of the Animal Kingdom Lodge standard size savannah view room I was in measures out to be 339 sq-ft
The original longhouse rooms at the Polynesian are 415 sq-ft
The newer construction longhouses in 1978 and 1985 rooms are 476 sq-ft
August 14
So Sunday was finally here and it was like the day before Christmas but I was still hoping my request at the Polynesian (yes first time I have requested a building) was honored and I was placed in Rapa Nui. Rapa Nui was closed before to have the new rooms added and now the 2nd floor was open.
We got there very early and the room was ready. I went to the building and the first floor looked like the new design in the halls but the doors were closed and blocked off. No walls around the building but the floors were closed. You could only get to the room using the stairs. I opened up the room (2125) and it was the old design. The room was is great shape, no smell and even had a towel animal in the bathroom and on the table. Since this was Rapa Nui there was a balcony on the 2nd floor and double sinks in the bathroom. Very nice view and the parking lot is right next to the building so you can park very close to the room. I also took measurements with a tape measure and a laser measure to get the room size like I did for the Animal Kingdom Lodge room. The room was about 4 feet longer than an original longhouse room. The width was the same and the bathroom although laid out different with the double sink was the same exact dimensions. The only other differences were that the shower head was 6 foot from bottom of head to bath floor and a normal shower head (concierge room was 5’ 8” and was a detachable massage shower head) and the ceiling fan was over the table instead of between the beds like in the original rooms. The dimensions are what I used to draw the floor plans for the rooms on my page.
I went over to concierge lounge to visit some friends and when I was there I asked about switching over to a concierge room. They said I could and it would be ready in a few hours (about 3:00). We went to the pool and hung out for a while and talked with different Cast Members. We later checked into the room. It was Lagoon view room 1518. It was the room at the very end of Hawaii and it was very nice.
We had a choice of another room but I wanted to try this room. It was a reverse of the room we usually stay in so it seemed different. The view was good and you could see the castle. Someone mentioned the bushes over in the middle being tall and could not see over them. Well when I was last there in August 2004 there were no issues but thanks to the Florida weather these things have grown like crazy and are taller than me in spots. You could see the castle if you were tall and standing but not if you were sitting on your patio. They mentioned this should be taken care of at some point by landscaping dept. so let’s hope they cut these back. Also I went and checked out the view from Tuvalu and the view looks just like my photo from the rooms on the ground level towards luau cove but as you get a little more than half way over towards the marina the trees on the island block 90% of the castle just as freediverdude mentioned on the forums a while back. I took photos at different points down the building. I also took photos of some of the cool sitting areas in Tuvalu (upper floor overlooking the marina) and sitting areas in Fiji.
I checked out the progress of the buildings and Fiji is going to be next as planned. The two upper floors were already closed off with things being removed and half the 1st floor was being torn up. Also in Aotearoa the test stuff is still in the hall and the test rooms are being torn up. They did have tikis on two of the doors in Aotearoa. Parts of Tuvalu were abandon also and it was scheduled to be started this month also.
The halls looked like they were in good shape as did the rooms but the elevators need a facelift. I walked the resort and than at one point I was given access to the new rooms in Rapa Nui. I got go inside 3 of the rooms. They look very much like the test room photos with different carpet and a very light tan on the walls accented in dark woods. The TVs were in as well as the new dresser and desk area. There were a few chairs in the room, two beds and the fold out futon style day bed that will be almost as big as a queen when folded out but takes up less space when folded. One of the chairs had an autumn and I don’t know what the other chairs were for. There was a large Wyland picture on the wall in the bedroom and some artwork in the bathroom and the nook where the coffee maker and refrigerator are. That area is designed like the one in the Honeymoon suite but looks different in the rooms. It all looks awesome and I think will be the best room in Disney World when it’s done.
One of the rooms I went into was a handicap accessible room but there must be more than one design because this did not have the roll in shower. It had the toilet right near the doorway to the bathroom (I assume so it is closer and easier to get to) and the shower had grab rails all around it and near the toilet. The new shower had an arched curtail rail to give more room. The marble floor and counter were the same but looked new so either they are going to change them or they are staying the same. I believe they are going to stay since they had already painted around the whole bathroom and the new mirrors were added. I almost did not notice they were the same because everything else made it look different. Another thing they are waiting to get are new lights that are brighter. I guess someone who checks out rooms that are accessible tested the lighting and it was not bright enough so they are getting brighter lights. The halls were very nice with the new lighting, carpet and wall treatment. The slate patios look nice with new furniture (very upscale) I also got photos of the bedspreads that were folded up because I guess they are replacing all the beds with some new design bed. I heard something about the new bedding and I believe our room in Hawaii already had one because I have never been in such a comfortable bed at the Polynesian. I have even been in the Westin Heavenly bed and liked this even better. I also was told by Magical Vacations that they were told that the Polynesian was receiving new bedding, that includes pillow-mattresses, and brand new ecology pillows that keep you cool in the summer, and warm in the winter.
Well it was a short and unexpected trip but it was nice to get out there and see the resort and enjoy a little of Disney.
Aloha
Steve
