Grand Floridian, Poly or Contemporary?

[Daniela Rodriguez]

If money was no issue, which Resort would you stay at and why? Grand Floridian, Poly or Contemporary?

 

[HatboxGhoul]

If money wasn't an issue a split stay with all three. But that's not really answering the question. Poly would be my go to every time between them if I could only pick one. The atmosphere is just so much better to me, the GF is to stuffy and Contemporary is just unappealing to me. GF feels like I'm always under dressed and the people who stay there seem like they think they're so much better than other people.

 

[DisTXMom]

The Poly is great and I think their pool trumps the others.

We stayed at the GF and I truly expected it to be a stuffy hotel filled with stuffy people. We were staying there because Poly was under construction. We didn't end up feeling that way at all. Yes, the environment has an upscale feel to it, but it was filled with normal happy people enjoying their Disney vacation! We ended up loving it and have stayed there since.

 

[mickeynut1]

If money was no issue, which Resort would you stay at and why? Grand Floridian, Poly or Contemporary?

We've never stayed at the CR, but we love the Poly and GF. The Poly is our favorite, but the GF runs a close second. The GF is a great resort, but we love the Poly for the beautiful tropical atmosphere, nice pool with a distant view of the castle, Captain Cooks for quick CS meals/snacks, and the beach for watching the fireworks.

 

[caliope]

If money was not a concern, I'd do a split stay at CR Tower CL (heard it's great) and Poly CL TPV. We love the pool and atmosphere at Poly but the walkability of CR to MK is very, very appealing too.

We have a similar, short trip planned for August, though we're not doing CL at CR and we are CL GV at Poly. Can't wait!

ETA: We've stayed at GF and that's lovely too. But with a young DS and at this stage of our lives, we like the other two resorts better.

 

[TJA]

For me, it would depend on the season. I'd stay at GF during spring (Easter) and winter (Christmas/MVMCP). Poly during the summer (tropical theme/July 4). CR during the fall (MNSSHP).

And if you want specific room types:

At GF: RPC (main building Club Level)
At Poly: LV or TPV Club Level
At CR: Tower Club Level

 

[Rory_Chapman]

If money wasn't an issue a split stay with all three. But that's not really answering the question. Poly would be my go to every time between them if I could only pick one. The atmosphere is just so much better to me, the GF is to stuffy and Contemporary is just unappealing to me. GF feels like I'm always under dressed and the people who stay there seem like they think they're so much better than other people.

Having stayed 2 nights at GF and 3 at Poly, I'd definitely say Poly is my personal choice between the two, but I'd just push back a little on the "stuffiness" of the GF. No matter where you come from, what you look like, or anything else, the CM's at the GF welcome you like no other resort I've stayed at. They know it's expensive to stay there, and they know some people (myself included) splurged to just get a room for 2-3 nights. I honestly can't say I felt judged or side-eyed by any other guests at the GF. I saw kids running around making noise, the pool area is amazingly themed for kids, and people were eating in the GF Cafe with park attire and no one seemed offended by it. Granted, I'd say the food and atmosphere at the Poly blows the GF out of the water to me personally. So if you're splurging, hit up the Poly.

 

[Tulles]

Stayed for a short sTaylor at CR when our youngest was in a stroller and it was fantastic to walk back to the room with her asleep in it.

Staying 1 night at GF next visit to try it.

But the Polynesian us my dream resort. And if money was no problem I'd do a week in a bungalow.

 

[Daniela Rose]

We're staying at the contemporary in a theme park tower. We'll be with our daughters, 2 and 4, so being able to walk to MK is priceless. Also they'll be in bed and sleeping while we watch hallowishes from our balcony.

 

[lborne]

Depends on the mood you are in. Poly for that tropical feel, GF for a touch of class, and CR if you are still a kid and get excited seeing the monorail zip through the inside of the resort!!!! DW thinks CR is too much like a typical convention hotel.

 

[danikoski]

Mine would depend on who I'm with...I have visited GF and CR, but not Poly, however, my personal choice would be Poly CL TPV with balcony. However, if I was doing the trip with my mom, it'd be GF TPV, probably CL. If I had little ones with me, I'd pick CR CL TPV due to the walk.

However, my personal favorite MK resort, and my family's so far, is WL. And if money wasn't an option, I'd seriously consider one of the new cabins or a grand villa.

 

[Dawn K]

I have stayed at both Poly and GF....it it's a tough call. IMO, nothing beats the GF lobby...it is just amazing and so nice when you come off the monorail and walk inside. It's not stuffy at all and the service there is by far the best. However, the Poly has the better pool and view of MK. The rooms, from the ones I stayed in, are both really nice.

 

[ColoradoMom12]

Poly CL in a TPV room! We've never stayed at the Poly but would love to. We stay at the CR because it's the lowest priced of the monorail resorts and love walking to the MK, but even the time we stayed club level, it didn't impress us the way GF and Poly do. I stayed at GF a number of years ago and found it a beautiful resort with amazing CMs. I didn't experience it as stuffy at all, but it was a number of years ago. Maybe things have changed. We also love watching fireworks from the dock at the GF and sometimes have dinner there, watch the fireworks after, and take a taxi back to our resort. They're also amazing from a TPV room at the CR. We would love to watch the fireworks from the beach (or our room!) at the Poly.

 

[Aurora0427]

We love the GF, and so does our 6 year old. She's stayed twice. It's definitely upscale, and we like that, but it's not stuffy at all. Everyone is dressed causally and the service is fantastic. It's just a special place, and the most magical resort on property during the holidays.

We liked the Poly when we stayed there in 2013, and we are going back in August for a long stay. We thought we'd try the Hawaiian vibe during summer!

We've only stayed garden wing at the CR. To be fair, we were there when they were rehabbing the quick service restaurant, so we weren't fans of the dining. It doesn't have as many options as the GF or Poly, but we do enjoy The Wave. We had an awesome king bed room with a patio and a great view.

I think if I had to pick one, and money wasn't an issue, I'd pick theme park view club in the main building at the GF during December!

 

[Aurora0427]

Having stayed 2 nights at GF and 3 at Poly, I'd definitely say Poly is my personal choice between the two, but I'd just push back a little on the "stuffiness" of the GF. No matter where you come from, what you look like, or anything else, the CM's at the GF welcome you like no other resort I've stayed at. They know it's expensive to stay there, and they know some people (myself included) splurged to just get a room for 2-3 nights. I honestly can't say I felt judged or side-eyed by any other guests at the GF. I saw kids running around making noise, the pool area is amazingly themed for kids, and people were eating in the GF Cafe with park attire and no one seemed offended by it. Granted, I'd say the food and atmosphere at the Poly blows the GF out of the water to me personally. So if you're splurging, hit up the Poly.

We are actually defecting to the Polynesian this August because we think the food options are better!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

If money is realy no object, a CR Club Level Tower Club/14th Floor suite. That's been my best experience among the three by far.

But if you want to dial it down to a more normal realm of resort room categories, a Poly CL TPV room gets my vote. Poly, and Poly CL, is the best all around combination of ALL factors for my money.

 

[houstonmama]

1. GF RPC without question...best stay we've had
2. Poly CL
3. CR CL but I would try my hardest NOT to stay there, we really dislike this resort

 

[geekbri]

I haven't stayed at the CR yet but I have done both poly and GF. I don't find one "better" than the other but they are different.

GF - Narcoossee's has some of the best food in all of wdw in my opinion. I love the big open Victoria feel of GF and the inhouse band in the main lobby is awesome. MK being the first stop on the monorail is awesome if you do park hopper. We usually pop over at night if we have the energy. I don't find it stuffy at all. I would say it does seem quieter. As a couple without kids yet we really appreciate that feel sometimes! We find everybody friendly and fun at the GF.

Poly - the quick service food options here as well as koana cafe for breakfast make the food here better in general to me. We love being able to walk to the TTC and take the monorail to Epcot. As far as transportation goes I think poly might be the best overall of any resort. If you have one specific park you like there may be better options (Like boardwalk for Epcot, DHS, etc). The theming at poly is amazing, although I would counter saying GFs is too, but that most people just prefer the Polynesian type of theme.

I love them both, but maybe favor the GF ever so slightly. Honestly it'd so slight that my excitement levels are usually over the moon to stay at either.

 

[im4pacers1]

I love the convenience of walking to and from the MK from CR. If you have a heavy MK trip planned, CR wins out.

 

[sharadoc]

We're staying at the contemporary in a theme park tower. We'll be with our daughters, 2 and 4, so being able to walk to MK is priceless. Also they'll be in bed and sleeping while we watch hallowishes from our balcony.

This is why we would choose Contemporary. The Theme Park View is amazing, mornings are so cool - you hear the train start, the ferry boats, the activity at MK all slowly unraveling. We would sit on the balcony and just take it all in.

Everything is easy to get to since the resort is vertical. Stores, good variety of restaurants, great pool and snack bar. The monorail through the building is very cool, plus there's a small boat that goes to Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge. Walking to MK is by far the greatest advantage.

Nighttime watching Fireworks and just looking at the Magic Kingdom at night - you can see so much from a Theme Park View room.

My dream would be a theme park view suite at the Contemporary.