Construction progress
I think we are over the worst of the construction. Once the pool area closed and was fenced off, that was the worst we should see during this long renovation of the resort. The beach area is very limited on space since the construction fences extend down to the water. Some progress has been made on demolition of the pool area but they have a long way to go.
Some areas since then have reopened, starting with Captain Cook’s moving back to its normal location followed by the Pineapple Lanai last Friday that also opened up some of the back side of the Great Ceremonial House. Access around the resort did not improve much because the resort is still cut in half with the limited hallways of the Great Ceremonial House being used to get from one side to the other.
I get a lot of reviews from people staying at the resort so it gives me a good idea of how things are affecting people. I understand what areas are closed at the resort and based on past renovations I have a good idea of what it is like to be there during this process. You would think with all that information I would be the right person to ask if the resort is worth visiting but many who know me know that I hesitate to give you an answer to questions like that. I am happy to share facts but my opinion can be very different than others.
Even reading reviews people send me show me that I would feel completely different than they would in the same situation. I had a few tell me that I am scaring people away from the resort and it is perfectly fine to stay there. If my description of what is closed and what things look like scare people away then maybe they would not be happy with the way the resort is right now. If they are ok with what they see or hear on my page than maybe they will enjoy staying at the resort right now.
Reviews have definitely been mixed and seem to run from one extreme to another. I either get a message saying that the resort was quiet and peaceful and just as relaxing as ever (that would not be my opinion) or I get people saying that construction was disruptive, everything was walled off and the feeling around the resort was nothing like it normally is. Even reviews of the Cast Members attitudes who work there have been mixed but that is typical even when the resort is functioning normally.
I do know that the resort seems to be at a very low occupancy rate right now and that seems to be creating a very quiet atmosphere around the resort. Some say they like it and others say that it feels like the life was sucked out of the resort.
I have known about most of these renovations for so long that much of this does not come as a surprise to me. With that said there were some things I had very few details about and I had not seen any concept art for it so I was surprised when I saw the final version. I know there are some very nice additions coming to the feel of the resort but some of the things that have been completed will not get much praise from me. It started with the kid’s club renovation. The Neverland Club theme was fun but I was looking forward to something new. Some ideas of it becoming a Hawaiian theme really got me excited. My first thought was something as creative and fun as Aulani’s Aunty’s Beach House would be a perfect fit at the resort. Instead we got something less creative with Club Disney. Not a whole lot of thought put into this one. The best part is that the same experts have decided to put these in every resort.
Now it’s time to get over the kids club and move on to the next thing to reopen. I will skip over the ridiculous version of a temporary bar they put up at the East pool while the main pool bar is closed. Not too long ago Captain Cook’s reopened in its old location. They did a nice job on cleaning it up but nothing to WOW you like when they renovated it back in 2005. I think it looks nice and will hopefully look a little better when the rental furniture is gone and the real tables and chairs are brought in. The menu looks okay but not very well themed to the resort. I still think it is funny that the Tangaroa Terrace at the Disneyland Hotel (Captain Cook’s West Coast version) has a better themed menu to the whole Polynesian theme and the Disneyland Hotel itself is not going for that theme. The look and feel, inside and outside of the Tangaroa Terrace is very imaginative and tropical. I love everything on the menu at Tangaroa Terrace (breakfast, lunch and dinner). I wish the same group that designed that quick service had worked on Captain Cook’s. Nothing says Aloha like Chicken and Waffles.
The same touch screen ordering system now used at a few locations was removed. Some say it was confusing or a bottle neck. I can’t say I see how it was confusing myself and I loved being able to place my own order or even change it if I had to without worrying if someone made any mistakes. If it was wrong I only had myself to blame. Also now you get to line up at one ordering station. That’s not a bottle neck? Can I get a Tonga Toast fast pass loaded on my Magic Band?
On a side note the new posters of the islands in the seating area of the new Captain Cook’s represents the longhouses including a rename or better stated, back to the old name for Tahiti and Rapa Nui. Those two DVC longhouses will go back to their original 1985 name of Moorea and Pago Pago. The poster for Bora Bora will represent the area that will have the bungalows.
One last thing that most people noticed missing from Captain Cook’s was the Dole Whip dispenser. If you have been reading my site for the last year or two you would know that the machine was going to be gone from Captain Cook’s and given its own location. The Pineapple Lanai is where Dole Whips can be purchased and it opened last Friday. It is located where the old Wyland Gallery (or for you long time 
visitors News from Polynesian…..or you really long time visitors News from Civilization). They paved paradise and put up a parking lot….I mean they took down the walls of the gallery and put in a patio. You can see some photos and info on my Pineapple Lanai page under my Dining section but basically they have a walk up window to order Dole Whip products. The good news is you can now get your souvenir mug or cup at this location. The bad news is no dispensing yourself. This would not be a big deal except they put it in the smallest cup on property. Even the cup shown on the sign is larger than what they serve it in. Many believe they stopped offering the Dole Whip with the self-serve because of people taking so much. Well I think that was the least of their concerns because the stuff does not cost them that much. There was problems with people dispensing a lot at one time and causing the machine to freeze up. Now they have control over this and the machines are somewhere that is easier to service. Don’t expect the rumor of the interior ordering window to come true. The area on the back side of the Pineapple Lanai will be used as a DVC sales area. The late night stop to get your Dole Whip will no longer be available. They will open at noon and close no later than an hour past fireworks. Sooner if there is not much of a crowd looking for Dole Whips.
I try not to gripe too much about the changes because I see enough people complain all the time about how they are ruining the resort and I don’t want to be “that guy” but this seating area for the Pineapple Lanai is about as unimaginative as you can get. While I understand that the real tables and chairs are soon to be arriving and the pool deck tables and chairs will go away, they could not have made this place any more dark or boring. I am the last one to call the Polynesian dark or dated but this better not be an example of how much the Designers put into the rest of the renovations. I know there is some amazing stuff that we should be seeing unveiled next year but so far I am not seeing much thought being put into some of the “New” stuff. Give the guy or girl who designed the scrim to cover the construction fence a promotion. He/ she did a better job with that than the guy/ girl who designed the Pineapple Lanai section.
The old Trader Jack’s reopened and Samoa Snacks closed to be renovated. The new store is now called Moana Merchantile. Maybe the name is trying to bank on the new Disney movie coming out called Moana and they are waiting to put in some stuff themed to that movie but if not, this was 
another example of not having any creativity in the design. The look is clean and simple but not fun at all. The most themed thing in the thatched roof over the new coolers for drinks (put there because of Samoa Snacks not being open). Even that corner where the refrigerators are was very boring in its look and feel other than the roof. The decorations were lacking any real thought and it was sad to see the last of the character displays gone. Most of the shops at the Polynesian had some Disney characters in a tropical setting like Mickey playing the ukulele or Huey, Dewey and Louie surfing. Trader Jacks was the last of the displays with Mickey dressed like King Kamehameha. There was also a cool hut outside that reminded me of Adventureland.
The theme of the resort and its makeover is supposed to be Adventureland so anyone who says it feels like Aulani is a little off. Even the Imagineers will tell you that not much of the look of the Polynesian is based on anything at Aulani and vice versa. Aulani is 100% Hawaiian themed and while the Polynesian has many things named after Hawaiian things (Kona, ‘Ohana, Captain Cook’s, Moana, etc.) there is very little in the design that is Hawaiian. Even the supposed design of the longhouses being after Hawaiian longhouses, they look nothing like a Hawaiian longhouse. Their roof line is also much more Tahitian than Hawaiian.
While Trader Jack’s was maybe not in my top 10 of things I liked at the Polynesian, I am sorry that the now store has taken a step backwards in look and feel. Let’s hope the rest of the changes have more imagination involved. Maybe we are the ones that are supposed to use our imaginations and pretend it looks amazing.
The majority of the lobby still has a long way to go. At some point the temporary check in desk will be up inside the Great Ceremonial House. It will be where the kids craft and activity area was inside the entrance to the left that is closed off right now. Once it is up they will close off the other side of the lobby where the check in desk is now and start construction on that. The area that use to be the waterfall is coming along but still has a lot of work, the hole is filled in and the seating areas around the main supports are starting to take form. I can’t say I am impressed with what they decided to replace the waterfall with but it will give them more room for people to hang out in the lobby. Unfortunately there will not be anythin
g special to look at when you are hanging out there. I think I am starting to agree that the lobby will feel more like an airport terminal than a tropical resort. There are still plans for for big water features outside the entrance to the Great Ceremonial House that hopefully will become the new picture spot and give you a warm welcome to the resort. The bus lanes and areas around it are coming along but behind schedule. It should look improved once they are done. I still have faith that the entrance along with the pool area and Gathering Place will be nice additions to the resort.
The area south east of the pool where the Gathering Place is reported to be going is coming along also with most of that area cleared out including the remainder of the bridge and stream. With the expansion of the pool area the Marina Rental building will be relocated and there are permits that suggest some of the docks will be rearranged. Disney announced that boat rental and fishing excursions will not be available from September 15-19.
As much as they seem to be making great progress on finishing things at the resort and the worst seems to be over, don’t expect walls to be coming down all over the resort until next year. The pool will remain closed until next March or April and the expected completion target for the Great Ceremonial House went from being mid December to possibly not being completed until February or March. Next summer will not be totally construction free either. After the main pool reopens in March or April the East pool will close to be redone. No expected dates are given for the East pool to be completed.
The main pool being closed does not seem to be making the East pool overcrowded. Reports say that the East pool has been almost empty most of the time. Part of that might be because the resort at times has been at 30% occupancy and the other reason might be that people are using the option to go to Blizzard Beach. Some guests have reported that they are being told they can go use the Grand Floridian pool and I checked into this a little. The official policy is that Polynesian guests cannot use the Grand Floridian pool. I asked why they are being told this and the response was that some Cast Members are tired of people getting upset with them so they are just telling them to go use the GF pool…….No comment. As for the 30% occupancy I don’t know if that is 30% of the rooms that are left available after 43% of the rooms were taken for DVC or if that is 30% of the total amount of rooms at the Polynesian. For more detail on what is happening at the pool you can check out my old article.
http://www.tikimanpages.com/poly/news/item/213-pool-closure
It should not be too much longer until the front of the resort starts to look a little better. The old sign is down and the new water feature sign should be unveiled soon. I like the new sign and think it will add more to your approach to the resort than the old one but I hope it is true that they reuse the old Oceanic Arts carved sign somewhere at the resort as I heard was the plan.
With some of the lackluster projects being unveiled lately, they better hit it out of the park with what they do for Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. If this does not live up to the standards of the one out West then you are going to see a lot of angry people. I think they have some nice surprises up their sleeve for this one and I think there are going to be a few more projects that we have not mentioned that will still 
happen at the resort. Some will be DVC only but others will be for the benefit of all resort guests. Some of the information out there says that they will do something with the old Tangaroa Terrace space that was being used for Cast Members. I think it is a great location and they are missing a great opportunity to use that space for something better. Disney Vacation Club, it looks as if they hope to release half the rooms to the resort to book by March 2015. The rest of the rooms should be released later in 2015. Disney at this point does not plan on making a preview room for people to see before the real rooms are open to see. They feel that the Polynesian will sell with no problems so why spend the money making a preview room. I personally will not buy into one until I see it in person. I also have a lot of people waiting to see what my opinion is before they consider buying and I will not give my opinion until I see the final product.
I am not going to make any friends at Disney for some of my comments but I have to be honest with my readers. Even though I don’t make money off having people visit my site I still feel like I owe them good information and honest reporting. You would hope that Disney felt they owed their customers a good product also. I am happy to report when Disney does something good also but I don’t concern myself with what they think of me because I already know Disney would love it if my site would go away. It would be nice if they appreciated the hard work I have done to give people information about their resort (since they don’t supply it themselves) and when I first found out how much they hate me having my website I almost gave it all up but I had contacted many past Polynesian staff (some very high up at Disney) and told them I never intended in upsetting Disney and I want to not only help the guests but the staff, and they all told me to keep doing what I am doing. I wish the great people that use to know how to run that resort had not moved on but let’s hope some people with the right motivation come along and get this place back in shape. I am going to have to check in with a different name after some of these remarks.
I really don’t like to be so negative. The Polynesian will be very different when they are done and I think it will still be one of Walt DIsney Worlds best Hotels. In the past the Polynesian has gone through just as big or bigger expansions and renovations and it still remained a favorite place to stay on Disney property.
There are some parts of the resort that remain unaffected. While I still believe that the longhouses over near the East pool provide a convenient location to the pool, Great Ceremonial House and transportation options, the longhouses over on the west side are out of the construction. Even the Spirit of Aloha show is unaffected and can still be enjoyed. Also the food options at the Polynesian in my opinion are still some of the best in Walt Disney World. Kona may have more of a direct view of the construction but it is still one of my favorite places and ‘Ohana has had some mixed rev
iews on the new menu and service but some have told me that they had a great time recently at ‘Ohana. As for the Kona Island being closed, people keep asking me if sushi is still available. Sushi has not been made over at Kona Island for a while now. You were able to order it there (just like anything else on the Kona menu) but it is made inside Kona Café. No word on when Kona Island will reopen.
Some other good news is that the fresh flower leis you will see being made inside the lobby are available to purchase when you are at the resort or visiting the lobby. Make sure you go and check it out next time you are walking through the Great Ceremonial House.
Before I make my final judgment I just need to wait and see how it all looks when it is completed. If it does not get any better when they complete everything than I won’t sit around here and complain forever or go on forums and post 50 times a day about how Disney ruined the Polynesian, I just won’t purchase DVC and I will find another place to spend my vacations.
Disney Vacation Club progress
Progress is being made at the longhouses being converted for Disney Vacation Club. The rooms will have a different layout than the old rooms did. The bathroom areas will be much larger with a separate shower and tub. I would not worry too much about the rest of the room being cramped. These rooms are 465 sq-ft studios. In comparison the Studios at the Grand Floridian Disney Vacation Club are 379 
sq-ft and the next largest studio is at Old Key West with it being 390 sq-ft. The progress to Tahiti and Rapa Nui (now called Moorea and Pago Pago) is farther along than the rooms at Tokelau. I assume that Tokelau will be part of the rooms that will be released to the resort later. I am told there are also some surprise amenities that will be available at the Polynesian Village that will be exclusive to Disney Vacation Club. For more photos of the progress of the Disney Vacation Club part of the resort you can visit my Flickr album.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/68472970@N00/sets/72157637650176246/
Monorail hours
For a while now the monorail has been running at reduced hours but because of some events coming up they will be running a different schedule in September. The following schedule will be in place from September 1 -26 2014 • Magic Kingdom Resort beam – 8:30am to 11pm (midnight on special event nights) • Magic Kingdom Express beam – 9:30am to 1 hour following the Magic Kingdom fireworks • Epcot beam – 9am to 11pm September 5 and 6 will have a 2am close of the Magic Kingdom Resort and Express beams to accommodate Night of Joy guests. Watercraft and bus services will be made available outside of the operating hours.
New Hawaiian films
There are a few Hawaiian inspired movies that will be coming out from Disney. I mentioned “Moana” a few articles ago and it still looks like it is a few years out with its release being March 2018. A description given on a Moana blog described the movie as,
“Moana Waialiki, the lead character, princess, and only daughter of a chief comes from a long line of navigators. She’s very passionate about exploring the sea and when her family needs her she embarks on a heroic journey. This film not only includes tiki heads, but also spirits and gods from real mythology”
The other movie that we should see by next summer is a short called “Lava” that will open with a new Pixar film called “Inside Out”. The Disney Insider describes it as,
“Depicted as a musical love story, Lava tells the tale of a volcano, Uku, who is looking for love among the ocean waters surrounding the Hawaiian islands. As you can see in the image above, Uku is perhaps the most lovable mountain ever put on film. He’s also a wonderful example of the power of modern animation technique, as the film depicts tropical flora and fauna with an incredible level of realism. At a recent screening, director James Murphy told us about finding the original inspiration for Lava while honeymooning in Hawaii some twenty years ago. He was so taken with Hawaiian culture that he took up playing the ukulele and eventually wrote the song that would be the basis for Lava’s narrative. Ukulele in hand, James gave us an impromptu performance of the song, which we can attest will most definitely stay stuck in your head for days after you hear it. When the film hits theatres in front of Pixar’s upcoming feature, Inside Out, James’ song will be performed by Hawaiian recording artists Kuana Torres Kahele and Napua Greig.”
Mahalo
Thanks to all of you who “Liked” my Facebook page. I never thought I would reach 10,000 likes. I still remember getting excited when I had 100 people checking out my Facebook or even a few hits to my web site. Now my web site is getting 2-3 million hits a month. I guess that shows you how many people are interested in a hotel. I appreciate all the help from so many of you who visit my pages. I hope to keep continuing to document the growth, changes and history of the resort for a little while longer. Next year my Disney Vacation Club section should grow as well as updating details about the rest of the resort as projects get completed. I have been lucky to have those of you who send me photos to put in my Flickr album or to share on my pages so we can let everyone see how things are progressing. I will be updating the floor plans for the new DVC rooms once that information is available. I go through my pages and do updates to photos and info all the time so keep checking the pages.
Thanks to Tim Tracy and MouseSteps.com for some of the photos used.
