Help me convince - Poly or contemporary

[Ladybugx87]

So I posted before On a similar topic and need more help- my friend and I are running princess half next year. We're bringing our hubbies and kids (me - 2 girls, 7&3, her - 2 boys, 5&1). We've decided we want to stay at poly or contemporary for ease of monorail. I have slight preference to Poly. My family loved Aulani.

Now I need help- beyond monorail what are the other benefits and perks that drive cost up? What might not be obvious to us newbies?

I really like idea of Ohana onsite for morning we leave. I like the various pools. Everything says this is the best option. We can all afford it. It's just a 'what makes it worth it'



Thanks.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

So I posted before On a similar topic and need more help- my friend and I are running princess half next year. We're bringing our hubbies and kids (me - 2 girls, 7&3, her - 2 boys, 5&1). We've decided we want to stay at poly or contemporary for ease of monorail. I have slight preference to Poly. My family loved Aulani.

Now I need help- beyond monorail what are the other benefits and perks that drive cost up? What might not be obvious to us newbies?

I really like idea of Ohana onsite for morning we leave. I like the various pools. Everything says this is the best option. We can all afford it. It's just a 'what makes it worth it'



Thanks.

\\

Poly is on our 'must do' list, as we haven't stayed there; however, we have stayed at Contemporary. We loved it! The biggest selling point of the Contemporary is being able to walk to the Magic Kingdom. We knew exactly what time we would be able to get to the MK (10 min walk) and it was helpful for PPO breakfasts and Early Morning Magic - we didn't have to worry about being late to MK. We are also Chef Mickey fans (although I know not many people are). Whatever you pick, I think you've chosen wonderful resorts. We are also big Beach Club fans, but with little ones, Stormalong Bay can be a bit daunting. Have fun!

 

[Regan117]

CR has always been superior to Poly IMO, but you are going to get wildly different opinions on this. We've stayed at Poly several times, and won't be back. CR is my favorite resort on property. Before I stayed there, I never thought I would like it. But it's just superior - better service, friendlier CMs, better rooms, cleaner facilities, better food. It has nothing to do with walking to MK.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

I have to say we love both the Poly and the CR for different reasons. To me the Poly wins out. We love the Hawaii theme - we absolutely love Ohana and Kona (we eat at both places every time we are at Disney) - we love the pools - we love the shops. I love the relaxation of the Poly. When you leave the hectic park - there is nothing like sitting on the beach at night - it is beautiful. We also love watching the MK fireworks or the water pageant on the beach at the Poly.

That being said we do love to be able to walk to MK from the CR - we walk all the time. We do also love The Wave - we eat there every time we are in Disney. We love the one building of the CR - it is quicker to get to the Monorail when needed. The pool is nothing special at the CR - that really needs to be updated.

So if I had to pick it would be the Poly - our house is split - since some of our kids love the walk to MK. You can't do wrong with either hotel - they are both gems. Enjoy and let us know what you pick.

 

[Babsy]

Both Poly and CR are great! They are tied equally as our favourite hotels (along with the GF).

Some advantages of each:

Poly:
great tropical theme
walking to TTC gives direct monorail access to Epcot as well as to the MK
boat ride to the MK
walk to the GF
large comfortable rooms
two great pools
splash pad for children
great restaurants, including O'Hanas and Kona
see the MK and castle from the resort


CR
walk to the MK in 10 mins *****
walk to resort buses at MK in 5 - 10 mins
boat to FW (Hoop Dee Doo Revue) and WL
monorail to TTC to monorail to Epcot
monorail access to GF and the POLY and MK
Tower rooms have everything under one roof
Tower rooms all have balconies
large comfortable rooms
great views from most rooms (except the standard view rooms in the GW)
Garden Wing is connected to the tower by a covered walkway (5 min walk)
Garden wing rooms can be a good value
Great restaurants, including Chef Mickey's and California Grille and the Wave


Which resort we choose varies by the trip. We love all the monorail resorts. They have the easiest access to the theme park where easy access is difficult and most important if you plan to visit the MK frequently - especially true with children and even more so again with strollers.

Main points for CR:
The ability to walk to the MK is wonderful. The views form the tower rooms are amazing!
Everything under one roof or immediately adjacent is super convenient.

Main points for Poly:
great pools and splash area
incredible theme



Enjoy whichever you choose!!!!

 

[ErinsMommy]

CR has always been superior to Poly IMO, but you are going to get wildly different opinions on this. We've stayed at Poly several times, and won't be back. CR is my favorite resort on property. Before I stayed there, I never thought I would like it. But it's just superior - better service, friendlier CMs, better rooms, cleaner facilities, better food. It has nothing to do with walking to MK.

I can't compare much to Poly but we've stayed at CR our last 4 trips and disagree with this sooo much - the last time we had a total clueless front desk check in person that didn't know whether we were in the chef Mickey side or side closer to castle and called over a manager that was sadly just as clueless. 10 minutes later they finally figured it out. Elevators are very slow, noise levels from chef Mickeys quite loud, and other than the monorail going through lacks a Disney feel. Just my thoughts but with all that said the walk to MK and TPV rooms are incredible

 

[Regan117]

I can't compare much to Poly but we've stayed at CR our last 4 trips and disagree with this sooo much - the last time we had a total clueless front desk check in person that didn't know whether we were in the chef Mickey side or side closer to castle and called over a manager that was sadly just as clueless. 10 minutes later they finally figured it out. Elevators are very slow, noise levels from chef Mickeys quite loud, and other than the monorail going through lacks a Disney feel. Just ,y thoughts

Perhaps we feel differently because we stay club level and don't deal with the same people, and we also don't have Chef Mickey's noise in Tower... But my husband and I did a split stay with CR/Poly in February to give Poly one final try, and we literally CRIED every time we passed CR. Poly just didn't compare. The beds alone were awful...I couldn't sleep at all. The CR beds are heaven. Poly staff was rude and unfriendly. Club food was terrible and no variety.

 

[amberpi]

Even with Chef Mickey's, I find places at CR that are relaxing and not so chaotic/loud like the Poly is. I LOVE Trader Sam's and Tambu, but god, they're LOUD. The Outer Rim is so quiet! The pool at CR wins for me, because again, much less crowded/loud. I'm not sensitive to noise in general, but I do like to relax a bit on vacation, so CR wins out for me and its my second favorite themeing after the Swolphin. You'll have a great time at either, but that 10 minute to walk at the MK with your little ones would be pretty valuable to me if I were in your position.

 

[Regan117]

Even with Chef Mickey's, I find places at CR that are relaxing and not so chaotic/loud like the Poly is. I LOVE Trader Sam's and Tambu, but god, they're LOUD. The Outer Rim is so quiet! The pool at CR wins for me, because again, much less crowded/loud. I'm not sensitive to noise in general, but I do like to relax a bit on vacation, so CR wins out for me and its my second favorite themeing after the Swolphin. You'll have a great time at either, but that 10 minute to walk at the MK with your little ones would be pretty valuable to me if I were in your position.

I agree with this. Everywhere at Poly is always so inundated with people. The pool at CR is so quiet.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Perhaps we feel differently because we stay club level and don't deal with the same people, and we also don't have Chef Mickey's noise in Tower... But my husband and I did a split stay with CR/Poly in February to give Poly one final try, and we literally CRIED every time we passed CR. Poly just didn't compare. The beds alone were awful...I couldn't sleep at all. The CR beds are heaven.

So funny as I hated the CR beds. Lol. We don't get the.chef mickeys noise in our room but as soon as we head to the elevstors - wow. Sound is not kind in the a-frame building. Hope we love the Poly as that's our home away from home in Sept.

 

[Regan117]

So funny as I hated the CR beds. Lol. We don't get the.chef mickeys noise in our room but as soon as we head to the elevstors - wow. Sound is not kind in the a-frame building. Hope we love the Poly as that's our home away from home in Sept.

Wow, the beds were so amazing and so many pillows - best sleep we ever had at Disney. But we were in Tower Club, so we weren't in the open atrium of the A-frame building, so we didn't even hear it in the lounge or elevators. We were above it, in the enclosed 14th floor.

 

[ErinsMommy]

Even with Chef Mickey's, I find places at CR that are relaxing and not so chaotic/loud like the Poly is. I LOVE Trader Sam's and Tambu, but god, they're LOUD. The Outer Rim is so quiet! The pool at CR wins for me, because again, much less crowded/loud. I'm not sensitive to noise in general, but I do like to relax a bit on vacation, so CR wins out for me and its my second favorite themeing after the Swolphin. You'll have a great time at either, but that 10 minute to walk at the MK with your little ones would be pretty valuable to me if I were in your position.

You don't find the 4th floor at CR chaotic? The constant buzz from chef Mickeys got tiring for us

 

[ErinsMommy]

Wow, the beds were so amazing and so many pillows - best sleep we ever had at Disney. But we were in Tower Club, so we weren't in the open atrium of the A-frame building, so we didn't even hear it in the lounge or elevators. We were above it, in the enclosed 14th floor.

It's DHs hope that once we experience club at Poly we'll try club at CR. I'm not as sold as he is

 

[Regan117]

It's DHs hope that once we experience club at Poly we'll try club at CR. I'm not as sold as he is

We've done both Tower Club and Atrium Club at CR a few times. Tower is better, because it's SO QUIET. But we enjoyed both. I thought the food was fantastic.

 

[ErinsMommy]

We've done both Tower Club and Atrium Club at CR a few times. Tower is better, because it's SO QUIET. But we enjoyed both. I thought the food was fantastic.

Atrium your not necessarily on the club floor correct? Whereas Tower you are?

 

[Regan117]

Atrium your not necessarily on the club floor correct? Whereas Tower you are?

No, CR has two club levels. Atrium club is all club level and so is Tower Club. Tower is more expensive, and the floor is mostly comprised of suites, so there's a lot fewer people staying on one floor. It's super quiet, lounge is almost always empty, and the food is fantastic.

 

[ErinsMommy]

No, CR has two club levels. Atrium club is all club level and so is Tower Club. Tower is more expensive, and the floor is mostly comprised of suites, so there's a lot fewer people staying on one floor. It's super quiet, lounge is almost always empty, and the food is fantastic.

Sorry by club floor I meant the floor with the lounge

 

[Regan117]

Sorry by club floor I meant the floor with the lounge

There are two club floors. Atrium Club is the 12th floor - all of the rooms are club level, and there is a lounge on the 12th floor. Tower Club is the 14th floor - all of the rooms are club level, and it has its own club lounge. Atrium Club guests cannot use the lounge on the 14th floor, and vice-versa.

 

[amberpi]

You don't find the 4th floor at CR chaotic? The constant buzz from chef Mickeys got tiring for us

I don't find myself on the 4th for more than a hot second or to go Outer Rim which is honestly pretty quiet. Every time I've done the Atrium I've had a high floor, either CL or 10, which I've weirdly been assigned a number of times. I don't care for walking between the buildings so I don't do the wings. I love the balconies that high up to enjoy a cocktail or 2 late at night.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

@Regan117 You're bringing a gun to a knife fight bringing Tower Club into this discussion!

OP - You've been given some good opinions and solid pros/cons above. @Babsy's rundown is excellent.

I've stayed at Poly quite a bit and CR several times as well - I love both, but in different ways and for different reasons. My kids have been 2-6 in my travels so in the same general zone as your crew.

Do you mind if I ask the length of your trip? For longer stays I prefer Poly, for shorter stays I prefer CR.

One main reason at my point in life is the pool. My kids get a TON of enjoyment out of the Poly splash pad area and the zero entry pools. We are heavy resort people, so this is a big factor in the way we tour and our resort decission making. We spend hours and hours at the Pool/Splash Pad area.

CR's pool has a nice, large pool deck, is rarely very crowded, and has a beautiful setting on the shores of Bay Lake. But a very dinky kids splash area and no zero entry pool. We enjoy it, but just not as much as Poly.

Admittedly you're going during a time where weather could be hit/miss for full pool enjoyment, but we've been 2-3 times that week and tend to have more pool-weather days than not.

My other favorite feature of Poly is walkability to TTC to go to Epcot. We tend to hit Epcot quite a bit when we stay at Poly because it's so easy - even impromptu outings. It's still easy from CR, but just an added step/time coming/going having to transfer monorails.

Lots of pros/cons here, in my opinion!