We are currently booked at the Polynesian (club level) for our December trip (9-15). It's me, my husband and our three-year-old son (soon to be 4 by then).
Anyway, we booked the Polynesian for one reason: monorail and the proximity to the Magic Kingdom. But I've been very, very worried about reports I've read here, and elsewhere, about room condition at the Polynesian. Some pictures I see look very nice (but not great) but others do make it look very beat-up and, I gotta' be honest, if we pay $500 a night I'm expecting better than Motel 6 upkeep.
I've never stayed at a Disney World Resort and we haven't visited the "the World" for 15+ years, but the last time I was there, near Christmas too, I said I'd want to stay at Beach and Yacht Club because it looked so lovely. Popping into this thread and reading the rooms were recently renovated makes it VERY tempting and I'm thisclose to switching our reservations.
Swimming probably won't be a big issue since it will be December and we're warm-blooded Southerners (with a backyard pool of our own), so 75 degrees is NOT swimming weather for us.
My fear is that with a young one much of our time will be spent in the Magic Kingdom and we'll regret being away from the monorail. (Did I mention my son, a train freak, is also dying to ride it? Seriously he asks DAILY about the monorail ... and at this point he's only seen it in pictures.) And it's likely Epcot may hold the least appeal for one so young. How long does it take to get from Beach Club to Magic Kingdom and by what means?
We will have a rental car, but I was hoping to use that only occasionally. My son, an early riser, does not nap (and hasn't for YEARS already) but we will definitely need mid-day breaks to (hopefully) prevent overload and cranky explosions and we'll probably be done for the day (sleeping) by 9, at the latest, just about every night. So, umm, "nightlife," is not required. ;-)
So, you guys are the Yacht and Beach Club experts, would we regret switching? I mean, I think Yacht and Beach is much more my husband and I's style (to me the Polynesian looks very Brady Bunch) but, let's face it, this trip is mostly about our son.
All advice appreciated! And, yes, I know it's a (very rare) vacation and I should just relax and enjoy it and I swear I will ... Once I get it all planned and finalized.