Help! CR or Poly? Help me decide.

[Now Mom of 3]

We are taking our first WDW trip this Jan for 10 or 11 nights. DH is running the half marathon. We had decided to stay at a monorail resort for the convienience. DH wanted to have less bus riding and stroller folding. (We will be bringing our own stroller since DS 2.5 will be napping in it. Napping in hotel rooms doesn't work for him) We had decided on the CR wing room for it being the most affordable and for being able to walk to and from the MK. Now what I am reading about the CR rehab has me worried that we will be stuck in a shabby room with worn out beds that will be not good for my back. (if it's too soft I tend to wake up with my back sore)

Help me figure out what I should do. We are doing a package with dining so we can't consider splitting the stay. Am I right in assuming that we will have a better chance at a refurbed room at the Poly by Jan.?
If we stay in a CR garden view room (all standard rooms are booked up) we will have a ten night package with dining with 10 day hoppers plus we will add on one night at the start at a moderate. This way we would have 10 full days in the parks.
If we book the 10 night package at the Poly we would not book the extra night and so one park day would only be a half day either on arrival or check out day. This would cost $82 more than the first choice.

Help! There are pros and cons for each choice. Which should I choose?

 

[rcraw45425]

WE have stayed in both and contrary to what I have seen posted here, in all of our CR stays we have never had a "shabby" room. Maybe I'm not snobby enough I have always found the CR wing rooms spacious and clean. Actually our Poly room (Samoa) seemed shabbier, stained carpet(this was after they" shampooed" it, delaying our checkin till after 5PM), dirty patio with sticky stuff every where. I have never tried it but you are supposed to be able to easily walk to MK from the North wings. There is the added benefit of the TTC next door at the Poly, however. I also saw where Tikiman posted that the Rapa Niu (I think that's it) bldg is supposed to be completely finished now and it's the closest to TTC. Either one would be fine, my family just prefers the CR. ENjoy your trip! I agree about the monorail, with kids it's the greatest!

 

[swilphil]

I stayed in the North Wing room in March, and it wasn't shabby at all. The room is very big and we loved being so close to the MK walkway--could walk there in 10 minutes, which was nice with the stroller. In January, the South Wing should be completely renovated, and I don't know when the North Wing rehab is starting. It sounds like you will be in the North Wing or a rehabbed room in the South Wing. You can't go wrong with either one. Enjoy!

The Poly may have one building finished with its rehab, but given the popularity of the Poly I imagine it will be difficult to get one of those rooms.

 

[SB in KY]

Personally I would go with the CR....we have stayed both places and either choice would be fine....but we find the CR easier....the pool and slide are great for kids...and the one at the Poly always seems so crowded, the rooms are bigger at the CR....we have never done a long stay in the wings but several 1 week trips in the tower and a couple of 1 and 2 nighters in the wings....we have never had a bad room. We have had a couple of tired (not awful....just tired and worn) rooms at the Poly
Some of the CR wing rooms are a tad farther to the main building/monorail/restaurants/services....but still not as far as a lot of the buildings at the Poly

 

[ChasPowl]

We just got back from a week at the CR and had a room in the South Wing. Our room was in fine shape, and the hallways were in good shape also. Half of the South Wing is being worked on, and it looks like it is a ways from being finished. It has been reroofed but there is a fence around the entire construction zone and you can see that the rooms are completely empty. The last day we were there (08/24) they were unloading a truckload of electrical supplies. The CR is very convenient, we used the monorail all the time, it's just a short walk from the wings.

 

[disneyholic family]

We just got back from a week at the CR and had a room in the South Wing. Our room was in fine shape, and the hallways were in good shape also. Half of the South Wing is being worked on, and it looks like it is a ways from being finished. It has been reroofed but there is a fence around the entire construction zone and you can see that the rooms are completely empty. The last day we were there (08/24) they were unloading a truckload of electrical supplies. The CR is very convenient, we used the monorail all the time, it's just a short walk from the wings.

we passed that construction site numerous times last week, on the boat from the WL to the MK...
those rooms are more than empty....they've been completely gutted....absolutely everything is being replaced, including the glass patio doors, internal doors, tiling (that's all we could see as the boat went past)....it is a very very major overhaul of those rooms.....when it's finished, they will essentially be brand new....not just remodelled...

 

[Biffy]

Both are undergoing refirbishment. Rooms in CR are BOLD - all primary colors geometric shapes. It drove me crazy to be in the room after a while. I love everything else about the CR except the rooms. The good news is that they are redoing all the rooms in beige more minimalist colors however it won't be done before you go. POLY is also outdated and getting a face lift decor wise but at least it is more serene. You really feel as if you are in the tropics which makes it more relaxing. ALthough the lobby of the PR smells of chlorine from the fountains, I would still choose the POLY at this point over the CR. I have been to Disney 28 times staying in all resorts except SS and SOG. Have a great time!

 

[candleonwater]

We haven't stayed at the Poly yet (October), but having stayed at CR (Tower room)... I won't stay there again, at least not until I've tried every resort. I just wasn't impressed with it, not compared to the Beach Club or AKL.

 

[bellarella]

I have to disagree with the comment about CRs pools -- they aren't good for *young* children. That is one of the reasons we chose Poly. They have a zero entry pool which is fabulous for young children. They can play at the very edge of the pool and gradually get deeper. Also, I think the transportation options at Poly are much better because you can easily get to the TTC by walking which gives you a dirrect link to the Epcot Monorail, the direct monorail to MK and the main boat to MK. Then there are still all the resort options for transportation. Also the being right on the beach of seven seas lagoon is nice. We bought my DD a little bucket and she had a great time playing in the sand and DH and I relaxed in a hammock and got ready to watch Wishes.

Plus for me, CR does nothing for me as a hotel -- it feels rather generic. I will stay there over a non monorail resort, but as a cost cutting option only.

 

[candleonwater]

Thanks for mentioning the pools, I had forgotten how much my daughter hated the pool at CR. Is the pool at the Poly that much better? She's apprehensive of the slide, but I figure she'll get over that. I understand there's no hot tub at the Poly?

 

[rcraw45425]

nope no hot tub

 

[cruiserkaren]

We're staying at CR, after much debate between it and Poly. Just figured the proximity to MK was worth it for us. We're not going to Epcot, so that wasn't a factor. As far as the pool at CR, it does stink that it's not zero entry but my DD2 is used to swimming at my parents house (which is obviously not zero entry, I wish! LOL). Anyway, we are bringing her swim jacket with us. I think I read CR has them, but we figured it'd be better using the one she is familiar/used to. It's small and won't take up much room. Maybe that would help as far as the pool goes? We're staying in a wing room too. Hopefully we won't be disappointed.

 

[iloveeeyore]

Poly all the way, especially if it is only $82 difference. The only advantage we see of the CR over Poly is the lower price, and if it's not all that different, go with Poly.

The Poly has the monorail AS WELL AS direct access to the TTC; I just can't stress how convenient this is to all parts of WDW besides MK. We walked to CR a few times from MK, and to tell you the truth, I'd rather sit on the monorail or the boat back to the Poly than walk on my tired feet back to CR; after a long day in the parks, it just doesn't seem all that close.

Either way, you can't go wrong. What a dilemma to have!

 

[lmhall2000]

Stayed at Poly last trip and will be at CR in 2 weeks...I'll let you know when we return! But the new rooms at the CR are really different than the old ones...search the boards or look on the CR thread and see them...by the time you go you might luck up and get a newly renovated room!
Tara

 

[Now Mom of 3]

Thanks so much for all the input! Keep it coming.

Imhall2000, I'd love to hear what you think of the CR after you get back. Have a great time!

 

[metivier]

If you will be focused on what parks to go to based on DS at 2.5, then most of your time will be spent at MK. If most of your time will be at MK, then I would pick the CR hands down. The walk to/from the MK cannot be beat! With the Poly, you are dependent upon the monorail.

 

[Now Mom of 3]

Thanks everyone for you input! I was going to take my time deciding, but turns out, I had to pick quick. We booked our flights last night to lock in a decent rate. Way to risky to wait with gas prices soaring. I had to pick the resort cause if affects which day we fly out. (Poly 10 nights, or 1 night mod and CR 10 nights) I went with my original pick, the CR. After reading many of your posts, I was reasured that my first choice was best for this trip. Thanks again! You guys are great!

 

[mom22boys]

Imhall2000 and cuiserkaren, how were your trips to CR? Just like the OP I am debating between CR and Poly for our November 2006 trip. I am kind of leaning towards CR, so I would love to hear about your trips!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We decided to go with CR for the marathon also. DH is running in the marathon and the convenience of being able to walk over to MK to see him run there and then monorail over to Epcot was too good to pass. I'm not crazy over the theming (previously have only stayed at GF and Poly) but it's only for four nights and it's really important to DH that the kids and I see him run up Main St. so that settled it for us. We won't have to depend on any other transportation except our feet to get to MK!

Maybe we'll see you there - we're also booked in a garden wing room.