Grand Floridian or Polynesian - Which would you choose

PixieFairies · Apr 26, 2015

Hi everyone,
We have booked 14 nights at the Grand Floridian for Oct 2016 in a Theme Park View Outer Building. We are a family of 5, however at the time of travel our kids will be 6 4 & 2. Im a little worried by some reviews that they would not stay there with young kids. And then reviews saying the best resort for kids or as a family is the Polynesian ( im pressuming no construction will be going on Oct 2016 there )

So do you think i should keep my booking, or considering moving my family to the Polynesian instead.

TwizzleMouse · Apr 26, 2015

The GF is fine. I'd stay there or maybe split stay between GF and the Poly.

PixieFairies · Apr 26, 2015

I never thought of a split stay. My husband thinks it means we check in again with all our bags etc, am i right in thinking that our bags are brought over by Disney??

mickeynut1 · Apr 26, 2015

PixieFairies said:
I never thought of a split stay. My husband thinks it means we check in again with all our bags etc, am i right in thinking that our bags are brought over by Disney??

Yes, Disney will transfer your luggage to the second resort. On the morning of the switch, take your bags to bell services (or call them from your room) and tell them which resort you are moving to and they will take care of everything from there. Keep in mind that luggage delivery is usually between 1-3 pm, sometimes later if the resorts are busy. Once your room is ready, you can call bell services and they will bring your luggage to the room or you can get it yourself. With all of that said, I think a split stay is a great idea for such a long trip. We have stayed at both the GF and Poly and while the Poly is our favorite overall, we do love the GF. Both resorts have beautiful grounds, nice pools and great dining options. Both resorts are kid friendly, so I wouldn't worry about that.

PixieFairies · Apr 26, 2015

Thanks, it is such a great idea. We get the best of both worlds. Especially travelling all that way over from Ireland. Now all i need to do is sell it to my husband. We already have the 14 night booked with GF. What resort would you recommend to stay at first. Our dates are from 27th Oct - 10th Nov. When do the christmas decorations go up. I remember last year even though the parks had there christmas decorations up the resort at OKW still had pumpkins outside there restaurants etc. ( i do know that the Gingerbread house wont be up in time ) however just wondering if the tree would be up in the lobby area at least in both resorts.

PixieFairies · Apr 26, 2015

what happens with memory maker, tickets & ddp and magic bands if doing a split stay?

PixieFairies · Apr 26, 2015

just found out that if i decide to do a split stay, then i have to re-purchase another set of 14 night park tickets to get the free dining in the 2nd week. Thats an extra 1900 euros.... not sure if i can split it now.

ARiding · Apr 26, 2015

I prefer the Poly. The setting is nice and its got an interest selection of restaurants there. Not sure the GF is worth the extra money

DisneyHoosier · Apr 26, 2015

I would sell everything I own and live in the smallest Poly hotel room for the rest of my life if I could have Tonga Toast or Pineapple Macadamia Nut Pancakes for breakfast every morning and not gain an ounce.

dkrauss · Apr 26, 2015

PixieFairies said:
just found out that if i decide to do a split stay, then i have to re-purchase another set of 14 night park tickets to get the free dining in the 2nd week. Thats an extra 1900 euros.... not sure if i can split it now.

Don't understand why this would be an issue now? Free Dining hasn't even come out for 2015.............you're more than a year away from the 2016 Free Dining dates (if it happens).

Here's a helpful post I was reading this morning about Free Dining

http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world-free-dining-plan-basics.htm

We're going in December of this year..............but.................we're staying in AoA Little Mermaid room which historically hasn't been apart of Free Dining. :headache:

BTW, I think the Beach Club is much better for children (just my opinion)...........the Stormalong Bay pool is the best on site. Just my 2cents

Best of luck with your trip!!!

Doug :goofy:

Fantasia79 · Apr 26, 2015

You can't go wrong with your decision. With a 14 day stay, a change of scenery may be really nice.

mickey2minnie1 · Apr 26, 2015

Both are great for families! It depends on what theme you like. The GF is stunning and the pool is great. It is open and bright. The Poly is a tropical paradise. They have a brand new kids water playground that your children would love, and the food is awesome!! Trader SAM's is up and running too. Brand new hot tub as well and watch Wishes from the beach. As you can tell, the Poly is our fav.

Go for the theme that will make you relax and have fun.

TJA · Apr 26, 2015

PixieFairies said:
just found out that if i decide to do a split stay, then i have to re-purchase another set of 14 night park tickets to get the free dining in the 2nd week. Thats an extra 1900 euros.... not sure if i can split it now.

Oh...yikes that's not good. Makes sense, though, as you'd need to book the package to get FD (I assume, not sure of your exact deal in Ireland).

Hmmm, I'm not sure what I'd do in your case. 14 nights is a long time to stay at one resort. Can you book the package for 7 nights, and then a room-only deal for the next 7 nights at a different resort? Still get the 14 day tickets so you'd be covered for your whole trip. Then you'd have FD on 7 nights and just a room discount on your next 7 nights (and pay for your dining). Just a thought....

Sue M · Apr 26, 2015

PixieFairies said:
just found out that if i decide to do a split stay, then i have to re-purchase another set of 14 night park tickets to get the free dining in the 2nd week. Thats an extra 1900 euros.... not sure if i can split it now.

You have free dining for 14 nights? Free dining is difficult to do with split stay. You could book the free dining at first resort for 7 days, but purchase 14 day ticket ( I think you can get 14 day tickets? We can't) then just take the room only promo on second resort, and no dining plan.

It's sounding easier just to stay put at GF. ESP having 3 kids to pack up.
We stayed 14 nights at GF last summer, it was wonderful. My kids are adults, but I saw plenty of young ones around, and didn't feel it wasn't kid friendly at all. They have a super cute Alive in Wonderland splash pad for kids, pool party, campfire and movies on the beach. Watch Wishes and Electric Water Parade from your balcony with a TPV room!!

Some people (usually the ones who haven't stayed there) decide GF is too stuffy. But it's not. It's a fantastic resort. I'd stay put. And you can walk or hop on the boat over to Poly, to walk around, and grab some meals there. We love O'hana & Kona Cafe. And there's the Pinapple Lanai to get a Dole Whip!
Also enjoy GF dining. 1900 is fun for breakfast or dinner. GF Cafe is very good & Narcoossees is a fav.

5stljayhawks · Apr 26, 2015

I did split with art of animation and poly garden view with concierge level - Did that level for drinks for wife and I, food all day long. breakfast/snacks in morning as well fresh fruit. Dont count on them getting ressie for you in like that week, very hard to come by. get ADR and fast pass well in advance on 1 day possible.

We had five in a room, a wee tight, but worth it, and really enjoyed the poly with our 3 kids 9-7-5. The pool was fun, and access to monorail was nice. Never walked to MK, just hoped on MR. That is closest I will probably get to Hawaii. I would got concg over park view any day. Also if you want a great park view, you can watch fireworks from concg room and have your drinks/late night snack or you can go to the lake beach OR book a dinner at California grill - contemporary around sunset/fireworks time, well worth the price tag, was like $150-200 for wife and I(date night) What did we do with the kids you ask???? We dropped them off at the neverland kid center at the poly. Disney daycare, well worth it, they didnt want to go back to the room.

kiki02 · Apr 26, 2015

DisneyHoosier said:
I would sell everything I own and live in the smallest Poly hotel room for the rest of my life if I could have Tonga Toast or Pineapple Macadamia Nut Pancakes for breakfast every morning and not gain an ounce.

Ha! I literally did LOL at this.

Amanda999 · Apr 26, 2015

Check the poly construction thread - I believe the quiet pool will be a construction zone until December??

With free dining I'd just stay at GF. You can monorail over to visit poly. Can't use the pool, but you have a lovely pool with slide at GF. And no construction (I think?). (But know that I'm not a huge split stay fan - I hate packing up in middle of a trip.)

tcherjen · Apr 26, 2015

Have only visited the GF, numerous times. They have always made my youngest feel very welcome. She wants to stay there for her birthday trip. I think it is a beautiful resort.

soar2014 · Apr 26, 2015

I've just never been attracted to GF. Even if it was free. It's sterile to me. POLY feels warm and exotic, lotta story there.

PixieFairies · Apr 26, 2015

Im going to give them a ring tomorrow and see if they can do the split stay and how much would it cost etc.
If not then i'll stay put and add a 3 night disney dream cruise on to the holiday at the end.

Grand Floridian or Polynesian - Which would you choose

The McSweeney Family

Mouseketeer

The McSweeney Family

DIS Veteran

The McSweeney Family

The McSweeney Family

The McSweeney Family

Earning My Ears

Earning My Ears

Goofy Fan from Jersey

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Rock Chawk Jayhawk

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Looking at sanity in the rear view mirror

The McSweeney Family

Share this page