I Take It all Back

Ok, ok, I take it all back. Every gripe and complaint, every attempt to steer my clients away from spending their vacation here, every nasty remark. My latest visit to the tropical paradise know as Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort changed my mind.

After a stay next-door at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the Polynesian was next in my line-up of six resorts planned on this whirlwind stay at Walt Disney World Resort. I really needed to drop off my brand spanking new and oh-so-precious MacBook Pro laptop (I couldn’t possibly leave it in the car!), all the while snickering to myself that I must be crazy to even attempt check-in before the suggested afternoon time frame.

But wait, was my room actually ready at 8 A.M. in the morning? Could check-in be this smooth, cast members so jovial and welcoming, and an escort to the Hawaii concierge building be so easy? My last go-round here I was simply pointed to the concierge building for check-in by a not-to-be-bothered and surly cast member. Thank goodness I knew the way. Could this possibly be the same concierge club staff, the same people who on my last visit prefaced a rejection of my request for a nicer room view with “Oh, you’re only media”? This time there was nothing but welcoming smiles and people who actually remembered my name! Did I somehow, unbeknownst to me, wander into a Ritz Carlton?

My stay here continued with warm fuzzies, smiles, and greetings everywhere I went. My parents found a staff ready to jump through hoops in an attempt to assign them the Rarotonga building, closest to the Great Ceremonial House, because of my stepfather’s walking issues. Now they could simply zip over to the monorail with ease. A helping hand didn’t stop there…a cast member driving a delivery cart offered my mother a ride when she saw her strolling over for a visit to my room. Grounds here were immaculate, the beach combed and gorgeous, and the food in concierge a treat. I even enjoyed my dreaded second-floor guest room, one without a balcony (I’ve got this thing for balconies). I just opened my giant-sized sliding glass door, pulled up a chair to the railed opening, and had my own indoor-outdoor makeshift balcony with a nice November air filling the room.

Alright, I do have one complaint and it’s something really out of the resort’s control. The concierge lounge here has way too many campers. You know who I’m talking about. Those irritating people who plunk down in a chair and call it their own for the evening. In fact a whole convention of campers seemed to be in-house during my stay. What is it about this place that invites these take-control and take-over kind of guests? Maybe the great hospitality encourages it. Who knows?

Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Disney Vacations and President/Founder at Glass Slipper Concierge®, an Earmarked Platinum travel agency specializing in selling luxury Disney vacations. She has been cited numerous times in such notable publications as the New York Times, AFAR, New York Post, Travel Weekly, and Forbes Traveler, as an expert on Disney Destinations, and has appeared on two Travel Channel specials, Disney Splurge! and Disney Royalty. Cara also serves as a continuing member on the Disney EarMarked Travel Advisory Council, made of 25 travel agency owners at the Platinum and Diamond Level representing the voice of Authorized Disney Vacation Planners.