Contemporary or Polynesian

[yogiyb]

This will be my family's first visit to WDW. 3 kids, (boy - 5, twin girls -4), 1 picky husband. We are going in April 2007 at the beginning of the Regular season. We have narrowed it down to either the standard room - Atrium Club at the Contemporary or Lagoon View - King Kamehameha Club at the Polynesian.

We really want to be able to see the fireworks from the resort as the kids will probably be winding down so opportunies and locations to see Magic Kingdom are important.

Looking to hear from the experts here. Pros/cons of both? Alternative suggestions? You're talking to a WDW neophyte so I'm open to all tips and tricks. Please share the knowledge..I'm ready to hear it.

 

[Frankiesmom]

Well your best views of the fireworks and the castle will be from the lagoon view at the POLY-and conceirge at the POLY is wonderful! We love the POLY and watching wishes from your own balcony and the castle changing colors all nite is amazing! I can't comment on the contemporary-we have been for meals;but we have no compulsion to stay there. Hope this helps-you can't go wrong at the POLY and the pool for the kids will keep them busy and happy. The snacks in the lounge at the POLY are so yummy!

 

[LukenDC]

I would select the Poly, which is located directly across the lagoon from the Magic Kingdom. From the beach you would have a dead center view of the Castle and fireworks.

I much prefer the Poly over the Contemporary in large part due to the lush landscaping. The Contemporary has minimal landscaping and it's concrete overkill. I also do not care for the fact that the Magic Kingdom view rooms at Contemporary overlook the resort's parking lot. Nearly all of the rooms at the Poly have a beautiful view of the lagoon or gardens.

 

[BCV23]

Another vote for the Polynesian. Hawaii (the building where all club level rooms are located except for the suites) has a wonderful location and the views of the MK, Wishes and the Electrical Water Pageant are pure magic from laggon view rooms there.

The Atrium Club is supposed to be very nice as well although we've not stayed there. You are much closer to the MK but the view is sideways and across that parking lot.

Transportation to Epcot is easier from the Polynesian as well. A short walk to the TTC and hop the monorail. At the CR, you must change monorails and especially for the return trip, it would be more time consuming.

I also agree about the pools and especially the landscaping. The Polynesian is just so relaxing. The CR is full of energy so if you like that kind of atmosphere better, it might be the place for you.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Poly

 

[BCV23]

Oh, and yogiyb....welcome to the DIS!

 

[MareSINY]

I'll be staying at the Poly for the first time this December, but I have stayed at the CR twice with an MK view. I LOVE the CR, the view from our balcony was amazing. Yes, when we looked down we saw the parking lot, but when we looked straight across we saw the lagoon and to the right was the MK. You can't get closer to the MK unless you stay in Cindy's castle. LOL It's truly magical sitting out on the balcony at night after the kids have gone to bed and just looking out on the view. I didn't even mind watching the traffic below, I'm also a city girl born and raised, so maybe that has something to do with it. LOL

I'm looking forward to trying to Poly, but I don't think I'll ever tire of staying at the CR either. No matter which resort you pick you'll have a great time, it really is a magical place.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

Look no further than the Polynesian.

 

[MEM]

Look no further than the Polynesian.

Absolutely! There is no contest, IMHO.

 

[mandy200587]

Stay Poly Lagoon view 3rd floor. We have yet to not have a good view of the fireworks and the water pageant.

 

[Marty Joe]

Another vote for the Poly!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Just so there is no sweep for the Polynesian I would vote for the Contemporary. How can you beat having Chef Mickey's, Concourse Steakhouse & California Grill right in the hotel. Plus you can walk to the Maigc Kingdom in 10 minutes or less & depening if you have a MK view, you can see Wishes every night from your room.

 

[triplefigs]

I have to vote for the CR MK view. We stayed at the Poly and had a dead center MK view room (LV). The CR view wins hands down. We loved the tower at the CR, the view, the convenience of the monorail. My BBG triplets are 6, and they thought it was great. Click on the trip report and picture link in my signature for some spectacular shots of the fireworks from our balcony and our view of Seven Seas Lagoon. It was pure magic.

 

[Tikiman]

You can't do any better than the Contemporary!!!

 

[Sk8Leigh]

Another vote for the CR MK view!

 

[JMD]

Poly all the way....

 

[jaycns]

We stayed at both the Poly and the Contemp. this past September. Hands down our family would chose the Contemporary! Now, the Poly. was beautiful. The pool was neat. The grounds were well kept...BUT...all of that was true for the Contemporary as well as the pool being nice and warm. I had a hot tub to soak in at nights end. The Food and Fun Center had a children's "Artist of the Day" contest every night that my boys loved coloring pages for. The Contemp. has the best arcade I have ever seen (or that any child has ever dreamed of). The hustle and bustle of being "in the middle" of it all is amazing...as is the flip side of the quiet solitude on beach looking out at the lagoon. Watching the fireworks from the fire escape at the Contemp. is one of my favorite memories.

If I had to chose, I like the new rooms better at the Contemp. then at the Poly.

The Contemp. has a walking path to MK that takes less then 10 minutes (it's a lifesaver when the lines for the monorail are long).

All of that said...I don't think you could go wrong with either resort. They are both beautiful and you would be at Disney either way!

 

[Demosthenes]

These are the two best hotels on property IMHO. I like the theme of the Poly, but nothing evokes that "Disney" feeling quite like the Contemporary. This hotel is what Walt envisioned as the flagship, and especially after the recent renovation, it is really great to stay at. The Atrium Club lounge is much nicer than the Poly lounge, and the service is the best at CR concierge. The pool is better themed with zero entry at the Poly, but there is no hot tub (CR has two). The convenience of the Atrium Club rooms cannot be beat. You are always just an elevator and an escalator away from the monorail. At the Poly, you will have to walk outside to the GCH to get to the monorail (not much fun late at night or during bad weather). The only reason I would consider the Poly over the CR is because you cannot guarantee a MK view in the Atrium Club. You have a better chance of getting a view of Bay Lake (there are three fewer rooms on the MK side than the bay lake side).

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I love both, but I also vote for the POLY!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I haven't yet stayed at the CR. Both have pros and cons.

If you want concierge, the CR doesn't let you choose view but at the Poly you will pay a lot for the lagoon view. At Poly you may get a 2nd floor room and then not have a balcony.

At CR you can walk to MK. How cool is that? At Poly you can boat or monorail to MK AND walk to TTC for the direct Epcot monorail.

From what I've read the rooms at CR have very little storage (drawers) if you like to unpack rather than live out of a suitcase. At the Poly the bathrooms have the sink in the same room at the rest of the bath at the CR the potty is behind a door.

I would look at photos of both rooms/resorts and pick the one that apeals to you most.