CR or Poly?

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

If I had a tower room I would whole heartedly agree with your reasoning, however the only room available with my code was a garden wing room which makes me feel that if I have to walk outside to get to my room ANYWAY then why not Poly? The only way I may be able to get a tower room is when the AP rates come out.

I agree with you 100% on this one. The drawl for CR is the tower MK view. I dont think I would stay there otherwise either. I didnt book CL because I was worried we would not get a MK view. I had a view of bay lake from WL last trip and it did nothing for me. I actually never even felt like I was in Florida more like a lake up north somewhere. I need to see the palm trees!!!

 

[lemondog]

You could do Wilderness or Animal Kingdom Lodge cheaper. I understand wanting the monorail, but it is possible to do deluxe for a bit less money.

Well, we have 5 in a room, so those were not an option unless we were willing to pay BIG bucks for the larger rooms.

 

[boomhauer]

Well, we have 5 in a room, so those were not an option unless we were willing to pay BIG bucks for the larger rooms.

Yeah, that stinks about those 2. We have 5, but 2 of my kids are 1 year old twind, so they can stay in cribs. In a couple of years, those 2 resorts will be out of the question.

 

[spaceace510]

If you can get the Tower room, either view really--i like both, keep the CR. If you still have the garden room, I would switch to Poly. I love CR, but the garden rooms do nothing for me. Just be warned that when staying at Poly, some things are really spread out, and when it's raining you will get wet. I was walking back to my room from the lobby, during a t-storm and when i once got back, my pants were soaked up to my knees, and my shoes were filled with water. And I was in Fiji, and I was fairly close too. That is the only thing I have against Poly, too spread out...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Just be warned that when staying at Poly, some things are really spread out, and when it's raining you will get wet. I was walking back to my room from the lobby, during a t-storm and when i once got back, my pants were soaked up to my knees, and my shoes were filled with water. And I was in Fiji, and I was fairly close too. That is the only thing I have against Poly, too spread out...

That's a great point when comparing the South Garden Wing and the Longhouses at the Polynesian. At least with the South Garden Wing you know where you are staying, where as at the Polynesian you don't know which Longhouse your in until check-in unless you happen to be staying Club Level or in a suite.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

We love POLY and I can not understand why people would want to stay at CR We went there to eat and it looks like such an unappealing hotel.....so much concrete, don't like that the monorail goes right through it, I feel like I'm in a subway tunnel. The POLY is just so relaxing and beautiful. But this is just my opinion!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

For the life of me, I can't understand the appeal of staying in a garden wing.

Some guests may like the quiet of the South Garden Wing, because what if they don't want to hear any of the noises from the 4th floor if they were to stay in the Tower.

 

[boomhauer]

Not sure if this will help OP, but it's interesting reading. According to the Passporter guide book, more people were disappointed by their stay at CR than any other Disney Resort - Including the Values. 16% was the number who were disappointed. Only 2% were disappointed with the Polynesian.

For the record, only 1% were disappointed with Wilderness Lodge and 0% were disappointed with Animal Kingdom Lodge.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Not sure if this will help OP, but it's interesting reading. According to the Passporter guide book, more people were disappointed by their stay at CR than any other Disney Resort - Including the Values. 16% was the number who were disappointed. Only 2% were disappointed with the Polynesian.

For the record, only 1% were disappointed with Wilderness Lodge and 0% were disappointed with Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Personally I don't see 16% being that high a number, besides I would guess that number was from guests who purchased that book only. So those are numbers from just one source when your not including other WDW travel books.

In the 2007 Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World on page 135 they were was a paragraph written how a lot of their readers had experienced bad service at the Polynesian over the years from front desk service, valet service and housekeeping. While my family and I did not experience any of that when we stayed there last December, it does show how another WDW travel book mentioned their readers had various problems at the Polynesian. However I would not put to much stock into what a few readers thought of the Polynesian based on one book, just like with the small number of guests who did not like the Contemporary in the Passporter book.

 

[sotoalf]

I swear I can never stay set on a resort for more than a week (if I even make it that long ) I was originally booked at Poly, downgraded, then got a code and upgraded to CR, but now I just can't decide . What should I do?

If you've made a reservation, keep it.

 

[disneydreamin247]

Not sure if this will help OP, but it's interesting reading. According to the Passporter guide book, more people were disappointed by their stay at CR than any other Disney Resort - Including the Values. 16% was the number who were disappointed. Only 2% were disappointed with the Polynesian.

For the record, only 1% were disappointed with Wilderness Lodge and 0% were disappointed with Animal Kingdom Lodge.

I read that also! I found it quite interesting. I was thinking a number of those disappointed may be people who booked a garden wing room not realizing it would be a separate building.

 

[boomhauer]

I read that also! I found it quite interesting. I was thinking a number of those disappointed may be people who booked a garden wing room not realizing it would be a separate building.

That's possible.

I think a lot of people book the CR because it's famous being the 1st Disney World hotel, and it looks cool seeing the monorail go through it. Then they get there and realize it's not a resort experience like the Polynesian. That would be it for me. I see the Poly as a resort experience. CR is just a hotel. We go there every year for Chef Mickey's and it seems so cold and uninviting in the lobby. There are SO many resort choices at WDW. So many different themes. Tropics, Pacific Northwest, Africa, Sea Side Resorts, Mexico, Caribbean, etc. Then you have the CR - A hotel. I just don't see it.

 

[boomhauer]

Personally I don't see 16% being that high a number, besides I would guess that number was from guests who purchased that book only. So those are numbers from just one source when your not including other WDW travel books.

In the 2007 Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World on page 135 they were was a paragraph written how a lot of their readers had experienced bad service at the Polynesian over the years from front desk service, valet service and housekeeping. While my family and I did not experience any of that when we stayed there last December, it does show how another WDW travel book mentioned their readers had various problems at the Polynesian. However I would not put to much stock into what a few readers thought of the Polynesian based on one book, just like with the small number of guests who did not like the Contemporary in the Passporter book.

I think it's a pretty high number, especially considering the price you're paying and the comparison with other Disney Resorts. Disappointment chart:

All Stars - 11%
AKL - 0%
Boardwalk - 3%
Caribbean Beach - 2%
Contemporary - 16%
Coronado Springs - 3%
Fort Wilderness - 3%
Grand Floridian - 5%
Old Key West - 0%
Polynesian - 2%
Pop Century - 8%
Port Orleans - 9%
Saratoga Springs - 5%
Wilderness Lodge - 1%
Yacht and Beach Club - 4%

In addition, CR also had the lowest percentage of all the deluxes for people who said they "loved it":

AKL - 70%
Boardwalk - 72%
Contemporary- 50%
Grand Floridian - 80%
Old Key West - 85%
Polynesian - 62%
Saratoga Springs - 67%
Wilderness Lodge - 79%

I'd say those numbers are pretty telling. Sure, it's only one book, but it's readers opinions. Why would they be that different from any other Disney guidebook? If you want to look at other guidebooks, it's pretty similar.

Fodor's top 5 Disney Resorts:

Boardwalk
Wilderness Lodge
Grand Floridian
Yacht and Beach Club
All Star Movies

Ingersoll Guide top 4 Disney Resorts:

Wilderness Lodge
Yacht and Beach Club
Swan
Grand Floridian

Frommers:

Wilderness Lodge
Yacht and Beach Club
Port Orleans
All Star Resorts

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I think it's a pretty high number, especially considering the price you're paying and the comparison with other Disney Resorts. Disappointment chart:

All Stars - 11%
AKL - 0%
Boardwalk - 3%
Caribbean Beach - 2%
Contemporary - 16%
Coronado Springs - 3%
Fort Wilderness - 3%
Grand Floridian - 5%
Old Key West - 0%
Polynesian - 2%
Pop Century - 8%
Port Orleans - 9%
Saratoga Springs - 5%
Wilderness Lodge - 1%
Yacht and Beach Club - 4%

In addition, CR also had the lowest percentage of all the deluxes for people who said they "loved it":

AKL - 70%
Boardwalk - 72%
Contemporary- 50%
Grand Floridian - 80%
Old Key West - 85%
Polynesian - 62%
Saratoga Springs - 67%
Wilderness Lodge - 79%

I'd say those numbers are pretty telling. Sure, it's only one book, but it's readers opinions. Why would they be that different from any other Disney guidebook?

Because one book does not tell the whole story about what a Resort has to offer based on a survey. If people went by what the Passporter books numbers say isn't it kind of like on here when someone mentions they had a bad experience at a specific WDW Resort, then a few others say they had a bad experience as well. So I don't think anyone would make a decision about where they want to stay based on one survery or a few people posting about having a bad experience. Remember last year when there were a lot of threads saying how bad the Polynesian was, however I did not let those bad experiences effect my families decision to stay there. I am not saying the facts you posted are wrong, I am just saying one book no matter how the numbers are does not tell the whole story of how the Resort is.

 

[tami82]

"I think a lot of people book the CR because it's famous being the 1st Disney World hotel, and it looks cool seeing the monorail go through it. Then they get there and realize it's not a resort experience like the Polynesian. That would be it for me. I see the Poly as a resort experience. CR is just a hotel. We go there every year for Chef Mickey's and it seems so cold and uninviting in the lobby. There are SO many resort choices at WDW. So many different themes. Tropics, Pacific Northwest, Africa, Sea Side Resorts, Mexico, Caribbean, etc. Then you have the CR - A hotel. I just don't see it."

I dont think some people can afford the Poly that is part of the reason they may choose CR. That is "IT". I admit I would rather stay in a deluxe with monorail service and if my only option is to stay at CR than so be it. Sure I'd love to go to Poly but unless there is a discount my reservation is staying the way it is. Everyone has their own priorities.

 

[boomhauer]

"I think a lot of people book the CR because it's famous being the 1st Disney World hotel, and it looks cool seeing the monorail go through it. Then they get there and realize it's not a resort experience like the Polynesian. That would be it for me. I see the Poly as a resort experience. CR is just a hotel. We go there every year for Chef Mickey's and it seems so cold and uninviting in the lobby. There are SO many resort choices at WDW. So many different themes. Tropics, Pacific Northwest, Africa, Sea Side Resorts, Mexico, Caribbean, etc. Then you have the CR - A hotel. I just don't see it."

I dont think some people can afford the Poly that is part of the reason they may choose CR. That is "IT". I admit I would rather stay in a deluxe with monorail service and if my only option is to stay at CR than so be it. Sure I'd love to go to Poly but unless there is a discount my reservation is staying the way it is. Everyone has their own priorities.

No doubt, that has a lot to do with it as well. I can't afford the Polynesian either. That's why I choose WL.

 

[spaceace510]

I really don't see why everyone is (for lack of a better word) hating on CR. The design and all that fits its name. It has "contemporary" design styles, and all that other stuff, hence the name Disney's Contemporary Resort. And the same for the Poly, it has the whole island and pacific theming thing going on, hence its name Disney's Polynesian Resort. I could say the same about all of the other Disney resorts. So you should expect the design and all that to fit the name. So you won't see all the exotic things at CR that you will at Poly. It all depends on what you are looking for. CR has its charms and so does Poly. And, I heard this on one of my 2 Disney podcast, "where ever you go, go in with little or no expectations, then no matter what happens you can't be disappointed."

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I just think everyone is different you know what I mean. For example me:

Loves AKL but hated hated hated WL. My husband just the opposite.

Beach club not so thrilled with but loved BW just across the lake.

Loved CSR but not crazy over CBR.

Dolphin nice just lacked disney perks and we were surrounded by conventioners.

You cant go by those numbers IMO. I listened to everyone about WL, I wanted to love it, it just didnt happen for me. I have come to the conclusion that only you can make that choice.

Now the rooms at CR look fabulous to me and I cant wait to try it out. Cant beat the view or location either. However I have no interest if I cant have a MK view room. To each his own.

 

[KatMark]

For what it is worth, we prefer the Polynesian over the CR.

 

[wdhinn89]

Really did not like Poly at all. It was very dark and mousekeeping was not very good. We would rather stay at a moderate before we stayed there again. GF was fantastic. Loved it but could not get a water view for our trip in Oct. My family loves water views, so CR here we come. Kids have always wanted to stay there. I have to say I love the new look of the rooms. Did not like the old decorating style at all.