May News and Updates

UPDATED May 18 If you have been following the progress of the changes to the Polynesian since I first posted about it in 2011 you know there have been a lot of changes to the plan and dates. That is typical in large projects like this. We saw how the addition of Disney Vacation Club (DVC) was going to be very large and be on both ends of the resort with a whole new pool added. That original plan was reduced to being a conversion of two existing longhouses and the addition of the bungalows (that were in the original plan). Since the conversion of the two longhouses started the plan changed again (for unknown reasons) to add an additional longhouse to be converted.  Some other amenities will be added to support the DVC addition around the resort that for now have to remain a secret….but there will be more.

Other changes that have been discussed over the last few years are the changes to the Great Ceremonial House. Some of these changes may be driven by the addition of DVC but most of the changes are not. In fact many of these changes coming to the Great Ceremonial House have been planned for over a decade. If you look at my history section you will see that the waterfall has had so many problems over the years. In 2002 the whole thing was basically gutted to have everything that makes it run replaced. Even after this it is often shut off and drained to fix it. Many people have argued that Disney could fix this and not have to remove it. I agree but there are other factors that play into the decision to remove it. Until recently I did not understand all the issues. Many of you who follow my Facebook or my web site understand I did not want to see it go but I believe they made the right decision to remove it. I am sure many will disagree with my but if they have to remove it I think it makes sense to use all that room to make the lobby less congested. The waterfall takes up about 40% of the floor space in the lobby. I think it will be nice to have more room to sit and relax. It can get very crowded in there when people show up for the Spirit of Aloha Show so hopefully this will help with that congestion. 

People say they will miss all the plants also. The reason for the plants having to go have to do with the problems with the skylights. Not only do the skylights have to be replaced because they have leaked for years but they have to be brought up to code. They currently to not limit UV from coming into the building and I was told they have to. When they replace them with panels that will reduce the UV the plants will die without some special lighting system to support their growth. With the money being spent on projects all over the resort I’m sure they decided it was better to remove them.

As of May 16 the upper floor of the Great Ceremonial House was completely walled off and soon the lower floor will be also. They expect to have the whole thing closed off by Memorial Weekend but we will keep checking progress and posting on my Facebook page.

The changes to the Great Ceremonial House will include many areas including things you can’t see in the released concept artwork of the lobby. Changes that I do know of are the redesigning of Captain Cook’s. It will be back and hopefully better than ever but it will be without the self-serve Dole Whips. Before you start printing up “Save the Dole Whip” shirts, There will be a place to get your Dole Whips. Where Wyland Gallery was located (or for some of you who have been going longer than 10 years to the resort, the location for News from Civilization) there will be a Pineapple Lanai where you can go up and order all the same things you can order from Aloha Isle. You can get your Dole Whip or a Dole Whip Float or other Dole products.

We also saw the announcement of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. This will have a themed inside bar area similar to the one out West with a different look. It will not just be a copy of the one at Disneyland. There will be many interactive decorations and animatronics including one you may remember for the Tikiroom Under New Managment. Along with a great themed inside the outdoor seating will be much larger than the one at Disneyland and will stretch toward the new pool deck area. It will also have its own outside bar to serve customers who are outside.

With the addition of Trader Sam’s Tambu Lounge will remain because it is the support bar for ‘Ohana and Kona. I was told ‘Ohana will remain but there is conflicting information about Kona. There will be a restaurant there but it remains to be seen if it will change or not. There will be some changes coming to shopping on the upper floor and Trader Jack’s is scheduled to close June 16 and remain closed the rest of the year. Boutiki will remain open. Wyland gallery will not be back at the resort as some have reported.

Disney Vacation Club has been the big focus, not only for people interested in its progress but Disney has been working hard to get it completed. Many projects that were to start at the beginning of the year were pushed off so they could concentrate on getting DVC completed. It looks like right now they are planning on trying to have the DVC project done by the end of 2014. It is possible by next summer that people can be staying in the DVC part of the resort. Also recently announced, the DVC rooms at the Polynesian will be available to book even if you are not a DVC member. It will be handled just like it is at the other DVC resorts on property.

With DVC and the changes to the Great Ceremonial House getting all the attention online people seem to not be aware that the majority of the resort will be getting changes. They are currently redoing the pathways around the resort but that is minor to what will be coming soon.

I have mentioned the pool area getting redesigned but I don’t think people realize the size of this project. While the pool itself will remain the shape and size that it is, the area around the pool and all the way up to the Great Ceremonial House backdoors will be transformed into something new. I am talking a complete gutting of the area with a larger pool deck area, new plants and an infinity hot tub similar to the one at Aulani. The hot tub is something people have been asking to have added for years. The Polynesian never had a hot tub and when the Volcano pool was added in 2001 Disney was not adding in hot tubs because of the maintnance problems they have associated with them. That is why the Grand Floridian pool that was designed at the same time did not have one either. It looks like there were enough complaints to have one added now. It will be located where the kids wet play area is now and will have great views of the lagoon.

The volcano that was added in 2001 will be reduced in size and re-themed to something different. The marina rental will move out toward the edge of the marina (possibly replacing the Premium Cabana) to make way for an expanded pool deck and a patio for Trader Sam’s. There will be a large kids wet play area with slides and things to climb on over near where the Captain Cook’s patio was and stretching down toward the pool. As I announced on my Facebook page on May 13, new letters going out to guests staying during the pool closure announce that guests will be given a free visit to Blizzard Beach while the main pool is closed. Not too long ago internal documents said that access to the Grand Floridian pool would be allowed while the Nanea pool was closed. This is what was done in the past when the main pool was closed. It was decided that they would not allow Polynesian guests to use the Grand Floridian pool because they felt the Grand Floridian pool is going to be crowded already with the addition of DVC and the length of time the Polynesian pool will be closed will cause a problem for Grand Floridian guests. Notification will be going out to guests who are staying after the pool closes and the letter reads like what you see below.

Another large part of the project will change the stream that you see when you exit the Great Ceremonial House. It will be removed and that whole area will become a new grassy themed area for torch lighting, hula lessons and night time movies. I even hear a fire pit might be part of that area but that seems strange since they just built the one on the beach. Maybe there is a reason they are trying to get guests off the beach area. Maybe they are going to limit access to the beach to be resort guests only. The pool area will be access by Magic Band or room key only but details as to how much of an area will be gated is still unknown. I guess we will know in a year when it is all done.

Comments about the less that spectacular water feature shown in the concept art show that people are not wowed by what they see when they walk in like they were with the waterfall. While I agree and I mentioned that I think the more usable space is a good idea, I feel better knowing that Disney is going to be adding other things to WOW you when you arrive. You can see they have started to block off the left side of the entrance to the Great Ceremonial House. This is the beginning of the end of the fountain and waterfall outside the resort but they have bigger plans for the front of the resort. Not only will the entrance up to the building get wider but two new water features that I am told will be impressive will be placed on either side of the new entry.

Other changes in progress are the redesign of the Neverland Club.As of June 16 it will be accepting reservations. The sign has alread changes but the only details I have read were from an announcement DIsney made today that said’ “Club Disney, the newly re-imagined Children’s Activity Center at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, is now available for Guest reservations beginning June 16. Club Disney is inspired by classic Disney Little Golden Books and features dress up, crafts, and storytelling in a supervised atmosphere. Guests may call 407-WDW-DINE to book”

As I have mentioned before, the Polynesian resort is almost always the place they test out new things (Club level, computer systems, touch screen ordering to name a few). The New Club Disney is being launched at the Polynesian resort first and all resorts will have their kids clubs changed over to the “Club Disney” theme. As with all the new projects I will wait to see how it looks when it is done but I think they made a mistake not theming it to the resort as was once discussed.

Once all these projects are all done around next March or April…..it’s not over. I don’t know if this was a last minute decision or this is to replace the fact that they scratched adding another pool (that was in the original concept for the Disney Vacation Club addition) but they will start work on the East Pool (aka quiet pool) after the Nanea Pool reopens. It will get a redesign of the area and a permanent bar will be added to support the east pool area. More details later.

So basically the whole resort is getting a makeover and not just the few areas we knew about early on.

One last thing. As of today (May 15) it was reported by Polynesian staff that the laundry is back open at the resort.

 

Update as of May 16. Samoa and Niue longhouses are expected to close sometime before the work to the Nanea pool starts. The west rooms (facing the pool) will close while construction takes place. This means those rooms may not reopen until next March along with the new pool area.