Better Resort.. Poly or AKL

[WDWTRAVELLER]

We looking at booking at either the animal Kingdom lodge or poly for this Christmas (if they reopen). not sure what resort is better, we will be staying at Carribean resort for 2 weeks prior to moving to a new resort for our 3rd week there. I know either will be an upgrade but would like to know if anyone perfers one over the other.

we have 2 small children.

any help would be great

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Well, 'better' is really relative. Both are amazing. What are you looking for?

If you plan to spend a lot of time with the kids at the Magic Kingdom, then you can't beat the location of the Poly. If you are going to share your time around the theme parks, then being on the monorail isn't as important.

For us, Animal Kingdom Lodge is always a recommendation. Your kids would likely love the animals. They also have 2 awesome pools they can enjoy. And in our opinion, they have the best food options of any of the resorts at Disney, with Jiko, Boma, Sanaa, and Mara. It also looks amazing at Christmas time (although, to be fair, most of the resorts do!).

But again, these are 2 of the most spectacular resorts at Disney. You have only a great and a better choice - not a bad one! Enjoy!

 

[pixieprincess925]

It really depends on what you're looking for out of a vacation.

Poly has the obvious advantage if you are planning lots of MK days since it's on the monorail/boat circuit. you have to walk outdoors between buildings for food. In December, it can be cold and rainy (40 degrees Fahrenheit at night). However, you can see the MK fireworks from the beach. They have a Christmas tree, but it is not as impressive as the AKL one.

Animal Kingdom lodge has a AWESOME Christmas tree. In the main building (i.e., not DVC Kidani villas), all food and fun is in the same building. Lots of activities for kids and adults alike. Get a room with a Savannah view and you can just sit out and enjoy the animals if you don't feel like going anywhere. Everything is further away and you need to take a bus.

My family would choose Animal Kingdom Lodge. YMMV.

 

[WDWTRAVELLER]

It really depends on what you're looking for out of a vacation.

Poly has the obvious advantage if you are planning lots of MK days since it's on the monorail/boat circuit. you have to walk outdoors between buildings for food. In December, it can be cold and rainy (40 degrees Fahrenheit at night). However, you can see the MK fireworks from the beach. They have a Christmas tree, but it is not as impressive as the AKL one.

Animal Kingdom lodge has a AWESOME Christmas tree. In the main building (i.e., not DVC Kidani villas), all food and fun is in the same building. Lots of activities for kids and adults alike. Get a room with a Savannah view and you can just sit out and enjoy the animals if you don't feel like going anywhere. Everything is further away and you need to take a bus.

My family would choose Animal Kingdom Lodge. YMMV.

thanks for the Reply. Since we are already going to be there for 2 weeks we will not be going to anymore parks. This will be pool time and rest before we head home.

We will look at booking AKL

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

I recommend Animal Kingdom Lodge. Both resorts are very popular and special in their own way. Polynesian offers easier transport to & from Magic Kingdom, but since this will be the 3rd week of your WDW trip, having the quickest transportation to MK won't really be a pressing issue.

Animal Kingdom Lodge will be much more impressive at Christmas, with its huge tree. The Polynesian isn't really a Christmasy resort, and its lobby will be extremely crowded during the holidays, because it's on the monorail line & is very easy for non-resort guests to visit. The Poly is better for warm months, when you can make use of its volcano pool.

Having animals outside your balcony is a unique experience, and you can also go outside to see them closer up. AKL is more peaceful, as well.

 

[pixieprincess925]

This will be pool time and rest before we head home

Yep! I would definitely go with AKL in that case.
Enjoy your trip!!

 

[westie55]

You pay a huge premium at the Poly to be on the monorail near the MK. If you are looking for a calming resort only week, AKL would be my pick. No point in paying Poly prices if you aren't going to MK at all your final week. AKL is unique, has top notch theming, great food, and a WOW lobby.

 

[Sue M]

With 2 small children being close to MK would be advantageous. It’s magical being able to see the Castle from the resort. Watching the fireworks while sitting on the beach, and the Electric Water Parade goes by all the MK resorts.
Being on the monorail makes it easy to resort hop to the other monorail resorts, for dining and to get to MK or Epcot you don’t have to fold up strollers. There is a short walking path that takes you to the TTC for the direct Epcot monorail. So that’s 2 parks you don’t need to fold up strollers for.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

With 2 small children being close to MK would be advantageous. It’s magical being able to see the Castle from the resort. Watching the fireworks while sitting on the beach, and the Electric Water Parade goes by all the MK resorts.
Being on the monorail makes it easy to resort hop to the other monorail resorts, for dining and to get to MK or Epcot you don’t have to fold up strollers. There is a short walking path that takes you to the TTC for the direct Epcot monorail. So that’s 2 parks you don’t need to fold up strollers for.

Yes, but the OP said upthread that they won't be hitting the parks while staying at this resort. It's the 3rd week of their vacation, so they're just going to relax at their resort. Which makes Poly a lot less ideal.

 

[cutigerlady]

We loved staying at AKL when we weren’t going to the parks. My kids didn’t want to leave the resort! The pool was awesome and you can see the animals up close there too! They have fun kids activities besides the pool games. When a cast member saw us searching for hidden mickeys, she gave us a scavenger hunt sheet they had which was lots of fun! The food choices were great (even my picky kid loved it). It was very relaxing! We thought it was worth the extra $ for savanna view and the kids loved finding all the animals on the sheet they left in our room.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I, personally, would book Poly. I know you said you aren't visiting any parks that week and AKL is lovely, but, personally, I would run out of things to do there for an entire week with two small children. The rooms are also much smaller at AKL. I would do Poly not only for the bigger rooms, but you will have access to so many more restaurant options on the monorail and you will also have the beach to run around on plus the path to GF to stroll.

 

[pixiemama91]

We really loved the Poly when we stayed there. The only dowside is not having covered hallways to the lobby since they are separate. Its not a deal breaker but we tend to go in August when it is hot and that can be nice. The pool was always crowded but I think that happens at all the resorts. But overall it is one of our favorites and we will definitely stay there again.

I have never stayed at AKL but have visited and it is beautiful. I want to stay here at some point but only having the busses as transportation always stops me from booking.

 

[ajgardner]

It really is a very personal choice. My family is not partial to the outside type buildings, we much prefer the large, indoor, hotel type buildings. Wilderness Lodge is our favorite, followed by Animal Kingdom. We definitely enjoyed our stay at Poly and we would stay there again for sure, but it wasn’t our favorite. At Christmas, I would absolutely choose one of the lodges, they must be decorated gorgeously! But again, it comes down to personal preference.
ETA: With two small children, the animals at AKL would be a unique experience!

 

[mickeynut1]

I, personally, would book Poly. I know you said you aren't visiting any parks that week and AKL is lovely, but, personally, I would run out of things to do there for an entire week with two small children. The rooms are also much smaller at AKL. I would do Poly not only for the bigger rooms, but you will have access to so many more restaurant options on the monorail and you will also have the beach to run around on plus the path to GF to stroll.

I agree. I love AKL and it is beautiful at Christmas, but I think the Poly has a lot more to offer for a week long resort only stay. Not only are there more restaurant options as stated above, but you have the monorail to go to the GF & CR to just get out away from the resort if you want. The WL is also close by to visit for dining, shopping, or just walking around for a change of scenery. AKL is an amazing resort, but I agree with the above poster that I'd run out of things to do for a week. Have a great trip .

 

[Sue M]

Yes, but the OP said upthread that they won't be hitting the parks while staying at this resort. It's the 3rd week of their vacation, so they're just going to relax at their resort. Which makes Poly a lot less ideal.

Well, even if you take out the fact that it has good park transportation I feel there’s still a lot in Poly‘s favour. Easy to get to dining on monorail, watching Electric Water Parade and Fireworks from the beach, and there’s something magical just seeing the Castle from the resort.

 

[epcotobsessed]

I would (and always do) do a split stay. Two weeks is more than enough time to make more than it worth it (we do split stays on a 1 week trip). Best of both worlds. I would start at AKL, the on the move day I would take an Uber/cab (or a Disney bus if the rumors about Uber being banned are true - hop on the first park bus that comes, then transfer to a Poly bus at the park depot) in the morning, drop bags at the Poly, head to MK and return once you get the text alert that your room is ready.

 

[Denise W]

I would (and always do) do a split stay. Two weeks is more than enough time to make more than it worth it (we do split stays on a 1 week trip). Best of both worlds. I would start at AKL, the on the move day I would take an Uber/cab (or a Disney bus if the rumors about Uber being banned are true - hop on the first park bus that comes, then transfer to a Poly bus at the park depot) in the morning, drop bags at the Poly, head to MK and return once you get the text alert that your room is ready.

Did you read all the posts? She will be there 3 weeks, first two weeks at Caribbean beach while touring the parks, and then a third week for resort only. I don’t believe she wants to split the third week into two resorts!
Denise

 

[epcotobsessed]

I did misunderstand some of that but, like I said, we do split stays with a 1 week stay so this would still be my preference. If it's not anyone else's, great.

 

[Bowen Family]

Lots of great advice in this thread but I am firmly in the AKL camp! I remember Pete Werner once describing AKL as the only WDW resort that you could pick up and drop anywhere in the world and you would still have a relaxing and fun vacation on the grounds alone (it was something like that, anyways).

As for the Poly’s connection to the MK monorail loop, I’d factor in the Xmas crowds going resort hopping to see the lobbies and trees. You can of course still do this from AKL if you want to, just add in the extra shuttle to MK and hop on the monorail from there. Also, Dis Springs is awesome at Xmas (any time, really!), and neither Poly or AKL offer any real proximity advantage there.

Finally, as others have said, the AKL Jambo House lobby is stunning for the holidays. Here’s a shot I took last year.

 

[Lehuaann]

I see you’re already doing a split stay at CBR, otherwise I would’ve recommended a split between these two...

We stayed at both during Christmas week. Checked out of AKL on Christmas Eve and into Poly.

AKL has my heart. In addition to being an amazing getaway resort year around, at Christmas, the resort is enchanting. From the massive tree/garlands to the BGM, the resort is top-notch. The week(s) preceding Christmas, there are carolers in the lobby every other night, as they alternate between Jambo and Kidani. On the alternative nights, meet and greets take place. We were able to see Minnie dressed up in her holiday outfit. The bus service is also great, zero issues at all.

Poly obviously has the MK views, location, and monorail, but I’m not a fan of the lobby or it’s traffic, especially during the holidays. The decor is beautiful, but, imo, nowhere equivalentent to AKL. We also do not spend as much time in the lobby like we do at AKL because of room proximity and crowds, so I don’t know what they offer as far as Christmas entertainment. I know you would get to hear my HI family’s beloved Pidgin 12 days of Christmas on loop, which is entertainment in itself . Seriously, we do love the Poly, but for Christmas, we mostly moved there due to the monorail/location to MK on Christmas Eve/Day. Otherwise, we would’ve just stayed at AKL.

HTH