BC or Poly? With 3 yo & 18 month old???

[scoutmontana]

Hi,
Need opinions again. We are currently booked at the Contemporary but got a little more in our budget and now we are thinking of moving to the Poly or the BC.

It will be DH, myself, my Mom, 3 yo DD, & 18 mo DS.

DH and I love the BC when we drove around looking at all the resorts last time in Disney. The poly seemed a little dark & dated but I read so many people on here LOVE it. Of course the pool at the BC seems very appealing for my little ones. Then the poly has the monorail! We will have a car so we're not totally dependent on Disney transportation. DH and I feel we will be visiting all the parks, of course MK the most.

Thanks for all your advice!

 

[Lewisc]

If your'e staying more than 7 nights I'd split my stay otherwise go for the POLY. Pool is very good and, given the ages of your kids, you'll probably be going to the MK most.

 

[Tinks]

I vote that you try the Poly. The outdoor decor turned me off form wanting to try it too, but I found the resort to be great with small kids. The pool is wonderful, and the monorail is a must have for us because of our small kids. You'll love it!

 

[Demosthenes]

The Poly hands down. Once you stay there, you'll understand. It's almost like when you stay at the Poly, you "in" on an inside joke with the cast members. Yeah, I know, that doesn't make any sense, but it is somehow true!

 

[mrsR123]

I haven't been to BC, but our stay at the Poly last year was great with DD 8, DS 4 and DS 2 1/2. The zero depth pool was nice, but so was the quiet pool; less splashing for face-wet-hater youngest!

This year we're doing a cabin at FW, and I know I'll miss that monorail service!

 

[AgaintoDisney]

My vote would be for the Poly. With young kids the monorail just can't be beat. Judging by your children's ages I would guess you will be spending alot of time at the MK and nothing like the convenience of the monorail for a trip back to the room for an afternoon nap. I also like the benefit of having a place to pick up a quick meal at Captain Jacks. The BC has Beaches and Cream but they don't have the variety especially at breakfast time. I would save staying at the BC until the kids are older and they will benefit for from SB. The Poly's rooms are also a little larger and that is nice with 3 adults. I have stayed both places and my vote is for the Poly. However, you are already booked at my favorite resort, have you thought about upgrading to a tower room. The view from the balcony whether it is MK or Bay Lake for the nightly water parade can not be bet. Whatever you decide, I know you will have a magical vacation.

 

[ducklite]

Polynesian.

1. No need to fold the stroller to get on the monorail (although many of the side-by-side doubles won't roll on--too wide).

2. Close to the MK.

3. Pool isn't as large and crowded.

4. Easy and quick fast food at Captain Cooks, 24 hours.

5. Significantly larger rooms.

I always had the same impression, that the rooms would be dark and dreary. I was very off in that assumption. We stayed there alst summer, and I fell in love with the palce. I can't wait to stay there again.

Anne

 

[Mainebound]

Originally posted by scoutmontana
It will be DH, myself, my Mom, 3 yo DD, & 18 mo DS.

Scoutmontana,

This is exactly our family group, but with two boys. But we usually get two connecting rooms. I just have to ask, do you all stay in one room? How does it work?

Good luck with your choice. I haven't stayed at either, but I would also guess the Poly woudl be best. The BC/YC/BW area just seems too hectic/busy to me. But then, I live in Maine so take that with a grain of salt!

--Mainebound

 

[DisneyKidds]

We are a family of 4 (myself, DW, DD (4) and DS (23 months)) who were at WDW last month and stayed at both the BC and Poly on our trip. FWIW, here are my thoughts...........................

If time at the pool is important to your kids, then BC is the clear winner. Stormalong Bay is the best pool for young kids. It has an entire section dedicated to small kids, with a sand beach that is part of the pool and a sand bottom. Our DD loves the pool, but it was really great for our DS. We could let him walk around in the sand and run in and out of the water without fear of him falling and hurting himself. The area for young kids to play and swim in is huge. He really loved it. It was great for me as I could sit in the water or on the sand and just watch him with no worries. As for the Poly pool, while it is a zero entry pool (meaning it has a shallow end where you can walk in without going down any steps) it isn't that great for a toddler. Our DS wanted to run in and out of the pool, but it was very slippery and he kept falling. I had to chase behind him and saved him from hitting his head a few times. He had a ball, but it was very stressful for me. The Volcano Pool at the Poly is also rather small.

If easy access to the MK is most important to you the Poly is the place. You can use the monorial or the boats to get to the MK and the access is great.

Other than that, it all comes down to personal preference. In addition to the great pool, at the BC you have easy access to Epcot, MGM Studios, and the Boardwalk. While the rooms at the Poly are larger than those at the BC, the gerneral decor of the resort is a little dark and dated. All things considered, we lean more to the BC.

It is really hard to go wrong with either. Personally, if the trip were long enough I'd split your stay. We did that on our last trip (7 nights BC/1 night Poly) and the trip before (5 nights WL/3 nights BC)...hmmmm, and the trip before that (2 nights CSR/7 nights WL), and it worked out well each time.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Nice Decision to have!

While both are wonderul resorts and either would be great, my vote is for the Poly.

All previously posted replys are very insightful and useful.

The age of your children will probably warrant frequent visits to the MK and the Monorail will be convenient AND entertaining for them!

Have a great time!

 

[corvair]

the boat to MK was so easy and fast...we never waited for a boat... it was a very quick and fun boat ride....love the poly...but never stayed at BC..amy

 

[Uncle Scar]

I'd say the Polyesian also.

Great access to transporation (monorail, boat, bus). Just a quick hop to and from MK, which is great for an afternoon break from the parks during hot/peak times.

Great atmosphere and pool. Water parade at night. Ohana for a character breakfast.

It gets my vote.

 

[twinmomto3boys]

We have stayed at both resorts (Poly 2; BC 1) and my vote also goes to the Poly. The easy access to the MK is wonderful. It's also quite easy to get to Epcot. We missed the Poly on our last trip, so now we are planning to stay there next time.

 

[dclwdwlover]

Stayed @ Poly 2x & will be staying @ BC for the 1st time this year. I also like the idea of splitting it, but with 2 young children, it becomes a hassle when it's actually time to do it.
I have travelled to WDW with my kids - now 22, 19, 17 & 12 - since my oldest was a baby practically yearly - sometimes 2x/yr. & here's my thoughts:
The easy mode of transp. w/the monorail picking you up right in front of the Poly is terrific & the best way to go vs. the boat, your car, walking to the monorail, etc.
I doubt if you'll spend all that much time at the pool as you're paying a lot of money to be in WDW & you could do a pool/beach elsewhere. I'm sure you'll go 1-2x/day, but not for hours & hours. So, I figure if you're staying on the grounds it must be for the on-site perks & that includes ease of transp.
The BC would be great for stroller walks, but the kids are young for EPCOT so you prob. won't do that too much & that brings you back to the ease of the monorail transp. @ Poly.
My kids (& I) loved the pool & slide at Poly. Would love to stay there again, but we're trying to hit every hotel.
In addition to MK for the kids, I would imagine you'd spend a decent amount of time @ MGM, too, so again, ease of transp. would be the biggest factor in making a decision to me.
The Poly. is a very nice hotel, but then again, I love them all!

 

[DeeP]

I have also been going to WDW with my kids since they were babies and they are now 19 & 21 and we have stayed at both resorts many times with the kids at different ages and my vote would be like almost everyone else and be for the Poly.
Not only is having the monorail and not having to fold the stroller a big convenience, you will also be close to not only MK, where I am sure you will spend a lot of time, but also very close to many restaurants that offer character meals, which is also a big thing with little ones. You will also be a short way from Fort Wilderness which has many things that little ones love, i.e pony rides, carriage rides, petting zoo, nightly campfire & movie w/Chip & Dale, and a great and very reasonably priced buffet. FW is a very nice place to slow down and relax away from the parks.
I do agree that the pool at BC has a very nice, large, dedicated children's play area but the Poly has the beach to play in the sand, which most little ones love also, and the zero depth entry pool is great. Having the kids wear water shoes will help with any slipping.
Have a great trip!