Pool Update
As of July 28, the Nanea (Volcano) pool closed to be renovated. It is a good sign that the pool closed on time but it will still be closed for a long period of time. The expected completion is in March but many expect it will be more like sometime in April 2015 that it reopens. The area that will soon be fenced off will be from the back of the Great Ceremonial House and run to part of the beach. Access to the boat launch will still be available from the west side of the Great Ceremonial House.
While the pool is closed there will be use of the East pool at the resort and guests are being offered transportation and access to Blizzard Beach Water Park. At first the offer was going to be for one day admission but I verified from a few sources at Disney that guests will be allowed access to Blizzard Beach for the length of their stay at the Polynesian Resort. There will also be complimentary towel rental and if you have a resort mug you will be allowed to use it at Blizzard Beach. There will be special transportation to the water park and once you are there you will use your resort I.D. to obtain access into the park.
The East pool had a temporary bar set up for guests but I have to say I am not impressed with the effort there. They supposedly have another bar on order but I was told it is no bigger or better than what they are using now. Also there are bigger portable bars they could have used but for some reason decided not to. Last time the main pool closed they set up a much better temporary bar but it seems that the food and beverage manager chose this as the solution this time.
As for the misinformation going around that guests can use the Grand Floridian pool, I have confirmed many times including yesterday that Polynesian guests are not allowed to use the Grand Floridian pool. They will be checking I.D. at the Grand Floridian pool and Polynesian guests will not be allowed to use the pool. I realize that people have called the resort but let’s start with something I am sure many of you have heard me say before. The resort phone number goes to a call center. The people you speak to are not at the Polynesian resort and do not have the current information that those at the resort have. It is not their fault because they only tell you what they are told and often it seems they are not told current information.
I am sure the next question is what are they doing to the pool? As with everything the original details change as the project progresses. Also I get more details from time to time. We saw the area outside the back of the Great Ceremonial House close and the stream getting removed. We also saw the side wall of what was Wyland Gallery removed. That part of the Great Ceremonial House will be where the walk up order window for the Pineapple Lanai will be. It will serve Dole whips. It’s ironic to me that something like the Tiki Room and the Polynesian resort are sponsored or sell products from Dole considering Sanford Dole helped overthrow the Hawaiian monarchy, but I won’t turn this into a Hawaiian history lesson. The area outside the Great Ceremonial House will be the location for the new activity area 
called the Gathering Place. This is where there will be entertainment, torch lighting, hula lessons and movies at night. Originally the campfire was going to be moved there also but I am told they will keep the one at the beach. We know that the pool will be gated and only Polynesian Resort guests can access the pool area. There was speculation that the beach would be on the other side of that gate also but the latest details seem to indicate the beach will be accessible outside the gate. The pool deck is expanding towards the Great Ceremonial House and it will expand out toward the water taking up more of the beach north of the zero entry end of the pool. No more going from the pool to lounge 
in the sand. That was one of my favorite things to do. The pool deck area will have a fence around it with one side of the Barefoot Bar being outside the fence to take orders to those not in the pool area. The pool and the slide will remain the same with the volcano structure becoming a smaller rock formation. This will allow better viewing from the new pool deck area that will be between the Great Ceremonial House and the pool. The marina rental building will move to allow for more seating on that side of the pool. There will also be a new kid’s wet play area over towards the Great Ceremonial House side of the pool. Where the one kids wet play area is now will be replaced with an infinity hot tub. No word on what will happen with the cabanas at the pool. Once the pool is completed the East pool will close to be renovated and a permanent bar and grill will go in.
For more updates on construction you can check out my past articles or visit this page.
http://www.tikimanpages.com/poly/the-resort/dvc/item/191-disney-vacation-club
I was hoping to have my article about my visit to Oceanic Arts and all the things they did for Disney parts and resorts but I want to take my time and I wanted to get the pool information out as soon as I could.
