Riv and PIT for light sleepers and Convenience

[Girlstar30]

VGF is a very noisy building in my experience. I wouldn't recommend it for a light sleeper. Wife and I were fine with our tabletop fan running, but a light sleeper would be miserable I'd say.

We were in the big pine key building. No one was ever in the dvc lobby when we were there, we were wondering why they even have one. Kind of felt abandoned in the building. They even told us that bell service was too busy to bring our package that was delivered to the GF lobby. I told her to tell them they can bring it any time and she said no they wouldn't. Never experienced that before.

 

[mistysue]

I fully agree with all this. Loved the lobby, loved the rooms, but I could tell the convenience factor wasn't there. I like baylake and Riviera because they are there own hotel with their own full service lobby. I saw the iPad deal at the PIT, didn't utilize it, but I could tell it was going to be a lot of back and forth at Poly. The Moana splash pad is so cute, but we won't be utilizing that. So all the transportation needs to be used from the main Polynesian correct? I just don't see it being a good fit and I'm glad that people are saying that the RIV sleeping isn't a problem

Correct - they did not add bus stops, a new boat stop, or a monorail stop when they added that building.

We've only been once since PIT opened, but we spent our days there wondering if they added too many rooms for the lack of added transport and food. Even at off times, it took a solid 20 minutes AFTER ordering to get basic food at Captain cooks, often we had to pick a future time for mobile orders, and it was a solid 20-25 minutes after clicking "I'm here" to get anything. So approaching wanting food they are going to scoop out of a vat was a 30 minute investment. (even just getting a side of bacon in the morning)

I know Kona was allowing take out orders, but they were only seating about 2/3 of the place and the walk up on the two days we tried were non-existent for a group >2 and for a group of 2 the lowest we got was 20 minutes, then a full hour to eat if we knew our order as soon as the server came over the first time. In the past we could usually walk up as a group of 4-5, sit, order, eat and be on our way in 45 minutes.

I'm hoping it was just a bad/busy week, but I am a bit concerned it may be a new reality.

 

[Girlstar30]

Correct - they did not add bus stops, a new boat stop, or a monorail stop when they added that building.

We've only been once since PIT opened, but we spent our days there wondering if they added too many rooms for the lack of added transport and food. Even at off times, it took a solid 20 minutes AFTER ordering to get basic food at Captain cooks, often we had to pick a future time for mobile orders, and it was a solid 20-25 minutes after clicking "I'm here" to get anything. So approaching wanting food they are going to scoop out of a vat was a 30 minute investment. (even just getting a side of bacon in the morning)

I know Kona was allowing take out orders, but they were only seating about 2/3 of the place and the walk up on the two days we tried were non-existent for a group >2 and for a group of 2 the lowest we got was 20 minutes, then a full hour to eat if we knew our order as soon as the server came over the first time. In the past we could usually walk up as a group of 4-5, sit, order, eat and be on our way in 45 minutes.

I'm hoping it was just a bad/busy week, but I am a bit concerned it may be a new reality.

We went in mid January and it was slammed. Out of all the hotels we visited, Poly was definitely the most crowded. One member of our party was in a scooter and it was very hard for her to navigate. I was wondering if we just happened to come on a busy day as well, but seems like this is how it is. Didn't eat there, but I wanted to show my family what Ohana looked like but decided against it because of the crowd

 

[RivGirl]

Riv is incredibly quiet! Bring painter’s tape to cover the lights on the fire alarms, though. Have stayed twice, once in 3BR, once in 1BR. Had to cover the lights on the fire alarms in both.

 

[Girlstar30]

Riv is incredibly quiet! Bring painter’s tape to cover the lights on the fire alarms, though. Have stayed twice, once in 3BR, once in 1BR. Had to cover the lights on the fire alarms in both.

Such a relief to hear from so many

 

[mistysue]

We went in mid January and it was slammed. Out of all the hotels we visited, Poly was definitely the most crowded. One member of our party was in a scooter and it was very hard for her to navigate. I was wondering if we just happened to come on a busy day as well, but seems like this is how it is. Didn't eat there, but I wanted to show my family what Ohana looked like but decided against it because of the crowd

The pools were crazy too! I'd heard people complain in the past, but this wasn't just the "difficult to find a chair" thing - even the Oasis pool had barely a seat available and easily 40 people in the water. Last trip we were the only people at that pool for a good hour, we didn't see anyone the entire time. At one point we walked over to the main pool hot tub and counted 17 kids in the water. Waited about a half hour and I didn't count but it wasn't much better. We walked past the new pool and it was wall to wall people. That patch of fake grass was like a minefield of kids playing with hula hoops and sticks for half the day as well.

They sent me a survey so I shared notes on how we've been there a good dozen times and never seen anything like this, in hopes they expand something to make this work because it's not ok as-is. I was overhearing a crowd of 1st timer families all complain together last week about how bad it was. On the same days this was going on, in the parks we managed to sleep in until 9, do every single ride in HS with LLMP (meaning there was enough availability to keep booking more), eat sit-down lunch, buy a fancy light saber and leave the park by around 4. Animal Kingdom was similar.

 

[Girlstar30]

The pools were crazy too! I'd heard people complain in the past, but this wasn't just the "difficult to find a chair" thing - even the Oasis pool had barely a seat available and easily 40 people in the water. Last trip we were the only people at that pool for a good hour, we didn't see anyone the entire time. At one point we walked over to the main pool hot tub and counted 17 kids in the water. Waited about a half hour and I didn't count but it wasn't much better. We walked past the new pool and it was wall to wall people. That patch of fake grass was like a minefield of kids playing with hula hoops and sticks for half the day as well.

They sent me a survey so I shared notes on how we've been there a good dozen times and never seen anything like this, in hopes they expand something to make this work because it's not ok as-is. I was overhearing a crowd of 1st timer families all complain together last week about how bad it was. On the same days this was going on, in the parks we managed to sleep in until 9, do every single ride in HS with LLMP (meaning there was enough availability to keep booking more), eat sit-down lunch, buy a fancy light saber and leave the park by around 4. Animal Kingdom was similar.

Do you think this is all a direct result of the new hotel?

 

[muppets3d]

We were in the big pine key building. No one was ever in the dvc lobby when we were there, we were wondering why they even have one. Kind of felt abandoned in the building. They even told us that bell service was too busy to bring our package that was delivered to the GF lobby. I told her to tell them they can bring it any time and she said no they wouldn't. Never experienced that before.

Yeah to put it mildly I was very unimpressed with the cast members and level of service at the Grand Floridian when I stayed there last month. I was staying in the original villas building in a deluxe studio and could hear everything in the halls and in rooms around mine. Like I said, it was not so bad that I could not sleep with my desktop fan going. But a light sleeper would be miserable.

 

[Girlstar30]

Yeah to put it mildly I was very unimpressed with the cast members and level of service at the Grand Floridian when I stayed there last month.

Thank you!! People act like I'm crazy when I say that. I'm sorry but they were so rude and I was so disappointed! I thought it would be my favorite resort. Strike one was when no one was in the lobby the two times i went there, strike two was them refusing to deliver my package, strike 3 was the front desk telling me I better call the bellman by 1030 am if I need help because I need to be OUT by 11, oh and strike 4 was the bellman coming and telling me that he won't be seeing us again so he would need his tip now. Like woowww, I thought this was a 5 star resort?

 

[kanerf]

I carry a small roll of black duct tape in my bag. You can tear off a small piece and cover up appliance lights and the like in the room.

 

[DeeBee3]

Thank you!! People act like I'm crazy when I say that. I'm sorry but they were so rude and I was so disappointed! I thought it would be my favorite resort. Strike one was when no one was in the lobby the two times i went there, strike two was them refusing to deliver my package, strike 3 was the front desk telling me I better call the bellman by 1030 am if I need help because I need to be OUT by 11, oh and strike 4 was the bellman coming and telling me that he won't be seeing us again so he would need his tip now. Like woowww, I thought this was a 5 star resort?

I would email management ASAP - DVC and hotel side.

 

[RuntheMouse]

We love how calm and quiet the RIV is. I feel like it is right sized in all aspects.

The Poly is another story. We stayed in the tower last month and it was chaotic. I really dislike having to trek over to the GCH for quick service and transportation. Such a huge miss. Wailulu Bar & Grill was really nice but we ate at an off time. We walked by it later on and not only were so many people waiting for the restaurant, there was a line for seating at the bar too. Capn’ Cooks isn’t successfully handling the extra guests either. We saw a “fight” over a table right next to us and felt rushed so we could give ours up to someone else. Adding that many rooms with no regard to the infrastructure is a recipe for disaster. It really should have been a self contained property.

We loved the room at the Poly Tower but won’t be adding on there.

 

[muppets3d]

Thank you!! People act like I'm crazy when I say that. I'm sorry but they were so rude and I was so disappointed! I thought it would be my favorite resort. Strike one was when no one was in the lobby the two times i went there, strike two was them refusing to deliver my package, strike 3 was the front desk telling me I better call the bellman by 1030 am if I need help because I need to be OUT by 11, oh and strike 4 was the bellman coming and telling me that he won't be seeing us again so he would need his tip now. Like woowww, I thought this was a 5 star resort?

When was your stay? I was there the week of MLK.

 

[Girlstar30]

I would email management ASAP - DVC and hotel side.

I didn't even think about it, but I should, it was so unacceptable. Like i told her i can't pick up that package it's too heavy and she's like well bring someone else like whatttt lol. I wish I remembered her name. I mentioned it to my guide and he said that upset him, but no follow through and I think there should be especially considering the price.

 

[Girlstar30]

When was your stay? I was there the week of MLK.

That very weekend before and day! January 18-20 MLK day. Glad I'm not the only one that witnessed all that rudeness, I was starting to feel like maybe it was just us getting this treatment for whatever reason!

 

[Girlstar30]

We love how calm and quiet the RIV is. I feel like it is right sized in all aspects.

The Poly is another story. We stayed in the tower last month and it was chaotic. I really dislike having to trek over to the GCH for quick service and transportation. Such a huge miss. Wailulu Bar & Grill was really nice but we ate at an off time. We walked by it later on and not only were so many people waiting for the restaurant, there was a line for seating at the bar too. Capn’ Cooks isn’t successfully handling the extra guests either. We saw a “fight” over a table right next to us and felt rushed so we could give ours up to someone else. Adding that many rooms with no regard to the infrastructure is a recipe for disaster. It really should have been a self contained property.

We loved the room at the Poly Tower but won’t be adding on there.

Geez i think I'm going to wait to try to stay there for a couple of years. When I was there, there were a lot of "influencers" checking out the rooms. We watched them filming and narrarating everything, even taking out pull down Murphy bed and laying on it, much to the chagrin of the guides lolll. Big cameras and all, it was a little distracting to take it all in

 

[maui22]

We have stayed at Island Tower TPV once and PVB longhouse LV a few times. PVB longhouse had significantly more noise in our experience. In PVB Moorea, we have encountered the ferry horns. We find PVB to be quieter than many resorts, but those ferry horns (in some rooms but we have also stayed in ones that are not loud) can be loud. (It seems random, even rooms closer to GCH we have heard loud horns with the doors close. Another room closer to TTC ferries was quiet. For that reason, I assumed it's dependent on the workers who worked on the room/sliding doors for each room).

Our experience at Island Tower (even with me sleeping next to the sliding door), was far quieter. The sliding glass door of Island Tower seemed sturdier than the longhouse we were in the two days prior to checking into Island Tower.

 

[Girlstar30]

We have stayed at Island Tower TPV once and PVB longhouse LV a few times. PVB longhouse had significantly more noise in our experience. In PVB Moorea, we have encountered the ferry horns. We find PVB to be quieter than many resorts, but those ferry horns (in some rooms but we have also stayed in ones that are not loud) can be loud. (It seems random, even rooms closer to GCH we have heard loud horns with the doors close. Another room closer to TTC ferries was quiet. For that reason, I assumed it's dependent on the workers who worked on the room/sliding doors for each room).

Our experience at Island Tower (even with me sleeping next to the sliding door), was far quieter. The sliding glass door of Island Tower seemed sturdier than the longhouse we were in the two days prior to checking into Island Tower.

I think I'm going to wait a couple of years and then stay at towers, they are of course beautiful

 

[kgou]

We stayed at VGF in the original DVC building (1BD) in Dec and had no sound issues. Our room was incredibly quiet.

I've noted the tips here about duct tape / painter's tape for the various glowing lights. Wasn't an issue for us in the 1BD at VGF but the brightness bothered me in the BVR studio and BWV studio that we've stayed in. Noting this trick for next time!

Passing along a tip of my own about the curtains. If you don't bring curtain clips with you, you can use hangers from the closet and gently use those, being careful of the fabric, to clip the curtains together. We did that at VGF and wow, the room was dark as could be.

 

[muppets3d]

That very weekend before and day! January 18-20 MLK day. Glad I'm not the only one that witnessed all that rudeness, I was starting to feel like maybe it was just us getting this treatment for whatever reason!

We checked in on the same day as you, but stayed the full week. It did get better as the week went on, we spent a lot of time at the front desk talking to resort management. But we are considering selling our VGF points because of the experience. We have another VGF trip booked and if it's no better we will be selling them.