Beach Club or Polynesian

[GinnyBear's_mom]

Another vote for the split stay if possible! My kids request split stays, they love exploring the different food options and pools at each resort.

 

[Earningmywings]

If those are the only two resorts you're considering, and spend all day in the parks, I'd choose the Poly.
BUT
Our favorite at that age was a split stay- always AKL Jambo and either BC, Poly, or BLT for the 2nd resort. AKL is amazing! So helpful with little ones because someone could take antsy kids outside to see the animals or to a viewing area while getting ready or when you have an hour to check out all it has to offer. We love being able to let the kids run outside at the resort.

We do love AKL, have stayed there a couple of times. It’s just the busses are so much longer to get to the parks. For some reason the bus rides make my kids go crazy, that’s the main reason we are looking at Poly and BCV really, to avoid busses as much possible.

 

[Earningmywings]

Another vote for the split stay if possible! My kids request split stays, they love exploring the different food options and pools at each resort.

Split stay does sound like it could be fun for the kids to explore multiple places and pools. We stayed at BW in 2020 and the advantage of being so close to the parks has spoiled us.

 

[E2ME2]

We’re the same. We use packing cubes and other means to separate clothes for one segment from clothes for the other and also separate out pajamas and such that will be used at both places. Also, we won’t stay fewer than 3 nights at any one resort, and if we can’t afford 1 BR at both, we prefer to start at a studio and end at a 1 BR so we can go home with clean clothes!

Kindred Spirits -
Since retirement, we have been booking longer stays, with multiple resorts/room changes.
We also pack the front-end with Studios, and save the 1-BR ressies to the end for the same reason, and we typically stay no fewer than 4 nights at a stretch, as I am also a packer/un-packer/organizer within each room. This will, however, be the 1st year that we max out the 30-Day consecutive stay on one ressie at SSR. Then it's a room change for 7 more SSR nights, followed by 9 nights at AKV

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would either do a split stay or stay at the poly the whole time

That’s what I would do.

 

[eandt]

Split stay does sound like it could be fun for the kids to explore multiple places and pools. We stayed at BW in 2020 and the advantage of being so close to the parks has spoiled us.

We have done a split stay on all 3 of our DVC trips so far (since we sometimes travel last minute) and all were enjoyable. Most recent was a 1/2/4 at AK, BWV, BCV. We liked the boardwalk area so much we are considering a small add on there. We have also spent a great deal of time on our DVC trips at Polynesian which we absolutely love as well. Another vote here for a split stay.

 

[StoweFoSho]

Another vote for the Poly with access to MK and EPCOT. You should be able to get to the EPCOT line monorail and be fine for rope drop. One feature that no one has mentioned is the Extended Evening Theme Park Hours on Mondays and Wednesdays. The lines are so short and it's so fun! The Poly will beat BC with that because you're not going to want to catch any buses from MK to BC at midnight or 1am in the morning!

I love the Poly and own there, but one caveat for an unpacker is that there's not really anywhere to unpack your things to in the Poly Studio unless you're hanging something. There are two drawers under the bed and some drawers and cubbies in the bathroom. A lot of people suggest bringing one of those accordion closet organizers that are cheap so that you have some additional space for unpacking. I'm fine with living out of a suitcase under the bed, but I did notice that the Poly was low on unpacking storage.

 

[Kona Kouple]

We vote Poly but it’s such a tough decision because Beach club is amazing! Having the Monorail loop at your finger tips adds a whole new level of fun and adventure. Fireworks at Poly are memories that stay with you forever!

 

[Lva5]

We are big fans of split stays especially in this scenario.

There are definitely pros and cons to each resort: overall we like BCV better because the rooms and buildings at Poly are definitely showing their age. Once the refurb is done at Poly they will probably be tied, but Storm Along Bay at BCV is hard to beat.

 

[Kona Kouple]

We are big fans of split stays especially in this scenario.

There are definitely pros and cons to each resort: overall we like BCV better because the rooms and buildings at Poly are definitely showing their age. Once the refurb is done at Poly they will probably be tied, but Storm Along Bay at BCV is hard to beat.

Totally agree about storm along bay. Luckily there are great food options at both resorts so you are in a win-win situation.

 

[Elephantay]

Also, you said you dont spend much time at the pool, but I found SAB to be a nightmare at that age. You need to walk with your kids everytime they want to go on the slide because they actually need to leave the pool area and go to the public, open walkway for the slide. Once my kid was almost run down by some people on a surrey bike, and I saw some poor woman looking everywhere for her son, who had taken a turn towards epcot when he left the pool area. I wouldnt do that pool until your kids are older and could go unsupervised- its not going to be relaxing for you!

 

[Lva5]

Also, you said you dont spend much time at the pool, but I found SAB to be a nightmare at that age. You need to walk with your kids everytime they want to go on the slide because they actually need to leave the pool area and go to the public, open walkway for the slide. Once my kid was almost run down by some people on a surrey bike, and I saw some poor woman looking everywhere for her son, who had taken a turn towards epcot when he left the pool area. I wouldnt do that pool until your kids are older and could go unsupervised- its not going to be relaxing for you!

Their children are 7 and 9... certainly old enough to walk across a walkway and get in line for a slide?

Last time we were there our oldest was that age and we got seats near the end of the slide... she survived.

 

[Elephantay]

That's a little snarky...
As always, it depends on your child and parenting style, and I shared our families experiences.
If you are able to get seats near the slide that could make a difference, but personally, at those young ages I didnt feel comfortable letting the kids out of my sight for several minutes at WDW.
You can't see your kids when they leave the pool area, and they are crossing a walkway/road. there were many surrey bikes and an occasional maintenance vehicle, so you dont want an excited kid just running across. Also, depending on how long the wait for the slide is, they could be gone for awhile so without checking you'll be assuming your kid is there and fine, but again I told of a mom whose kid headed towards Epcot- he had gotten confused with all of the people going in both directions and it was terrifying for the family.

 

[Earningmywings]

Ok so finally decision has been made! The trip has morphed from our family of 4 to the in-laws and brother in laws family also coming. Since it will be my in-laws first time during what is likely Food and Wine, we decided on the Beach Club so they can just walk to Epcot. Before they decided to go I was going to pick Poly. Thanks so much everyone for the advice. We know it will be a great trip no matter where we stay, this is our 7th trip to WDW in 6 years.