Help! Poly or GF???

[shellypaige]

Hi everyone! Looking for some advice.... We're traveling Mid November 3 adults 2 children (ages 4 & 5) and an infant. We're looking to stay at a monorail resort and will spend most of our time at MK. We'll just get one room (2 queens, day bed & crib) but I'm trying to figure out which is a better stay for us. Suggestions please!!!!
Thanks

 

[mickeynut1]

Hi everyone! Looking for some advice.... We're traveling Mid November 3 adults 2 children (ages 4 & 5) and an infant. We're looking to stay at a monorail resort and will spend most of our time at MK. We'll just get one room (2 queens, day bed & crib) but I'm trying to figure out which is a better stay for us. Suggestions please!!!!
Thanks

We've stayed at both and while we do love the GF, the Poly is our favorite. We love the tropical atmosphere, the beach for watching the fireworks, the pool, and Captain Cooks. With that said, you really can't go wrong with either one, but my choice would be the Poly.

 

[Maxie86]

I agree with mickeynut. I have stayed many times at both and love both of them. For your trip with the ages of your kids, the Poly wins. The rooms are slightly bigger at the Poly and it has the best transportation. The TTC is a short walk from the Poly to get the monorail to Epcot. From the Grand you would have to monorail to the TTC, get off, go down a ramp and up another ramp to get the Epcot monorail...repeat coming back when everyone is tired and cranky.

Hi mickeynut.

 

[DiscoMinnieMouse]

Poly. Always, the Poly.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Poly without a doubt.... Not a fan of GF, just seemed to sterile and snooty to us...

Poly has that laid back, friendly atmosphere... Especially at night when the torches are lit, breeze coming across the Seven Seas... Disney is in the air and the castle is in view in the distance... doesn't get much better than that. !!

 

[trishadono]

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=rg0ihZg6aHs&desktop_uri=/watch?v=rg0ihZg6aHs


This is a nice video of new Alice in Wonderland play area at the GF.

Something else to consider is that GF has a hot tub and newly refurbished pool.

Do one one rest with kids in afternoon? Where would the other parent like to hang out? Beach at Poly, or maybe soaking in the hot tub at GF?

We have stayed at both when my ds and dd were in grade school and they enjoyed both, it's DISNEY. Pick where the parents will be happy and then the kids will be happy.

 

[mirage0306]

I don't think you can go wrong with either--it's a matter of which resort appeals to you more. I would personally choose the Poly.

 

[jimmysmom74]

Poly all the way with small kids. More food choices and convenient for monorail(MK or Epcot), boat, and TTC. Lots of options at the end of the night when you don't want to wait to get back to your resort. GF is not as kid orientated, in my opinion. Maybe a little snooty, as others have said.

 

[jcjen519]

both are great and i really think it is a matter of taste. I would go with polynesian.

 

[Jabali]

Stayed at both multiple times, will chose the poly 100% of the time though!!

 

[shellypaige]

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[mikat]

I agree with mickeynut. I have stayed many times at both and love both of them. For your trip with the ages of your kids, the Poly wins. The rooms are slightly bigger at the Poly and it has the best transportation. The TTC is a short walk from the Poly to get the monorail to Epcot. From the Grand you would have to monorail to the TTC, get off, go down a ramp and up another ramp to get the Epcot monorail...repeat coming back when everyone is tired and cranky.

I can't stress enough how useful this info is about the Poly. We stayed at the Poly on our very first trip with younger kids, stayed in Tokelau, and loved walking to the TTC to head to EPCOT - so convenient! Also, our kids loved the volcano pool.

 

[Marthasor]

Poly all the way with small kids. More food choices and convenient for monorail(MK or Epcot), boat, and TTC. Lots of options at the end of the night when you don't want to wait to get back to your resort. GF is not as kid orientated, in my opinion. Maybe a little snooty, as others have said.

There are FAR more food options at GF - Poly has 3 (1 QS and 2 TS) and GF has 5 (1 QS and 4 TS). Honestly, you can't go wrong with either one. Do you have boys or girls? With young girls, I would pick GF. Boys - Poly. My DS is now 5 and we have stayed at Poly twice with him (will be back again on Wed.!) and 3 times at GF. As much as I love Poly for older children, the GF was better for us when he was younger as, once we got back to the resort in the afternoon to rest, he could nap or we could swim and then we could clean up and eat at a nice variety of TS restaurants at GF without having to get on the monorail or bus again. 'Ohana is impossible to get in to and we didn't want to eat at Kona or Cap't Cook's every night. GF TS reservations are much easier to get. And now with the splash area open at GF, it just adds another activity for young children to do. I never found GF snooty at all!

 

[mmmears]

We've stayed at both and loved both. The room at the Poly felt much larger to me (not sure if it really is, or it has to do with the layout)... that may make a difference. If your kids love sand play and the beach then the Poly is better. It's also more conveniently located since you can walk to the TTC (love that!). The theming/rooms are really different -- I would say go with whichever one appeals to you more.

 

[clapton]

Having stayed at both I would pick the GF. Like the restaurants better at GF, and the resort is beautiful! Not really a Poly fan.

 

[TwinkleKS]

Disclaimer: I have never stayed at the Poly.

The last trip we stayed at GF and the trip before at CR. At CR we were in a "regular" room. At GF we were in a "regular" room but in the club level building. The regular rooms at GF were a lot smaller square footage wise than the CR. At least comparing the two that we stayed in. There were five of us, three preschool age, DH, and me. At GF we had to keep the strollers on the balcony and the duffle bags / suitcases stacked up on each other in the closet.

That isn't to say that we didn't like the kids pool area, the food, etc. at GF. I guess my suggestion would be to do your research on room size and make sure that you are okay with that as well as the other options.

 

[Gary M]

We have stayed at both and are not fans of the Poly. We didn't find the GF snooty at all. Last Dec. we stayed in CL at the GF and thought it was great. This was our 10th stay at GF and first in CL. One stay at Poly, a few years ago, let us know it wasn't what we are looking for.

If I remember correctly, the Poly's bathroom had the shower/tub, stool and sinks in one room. The GF had the sinks separated from the shower/tub and stool. Rooms at the GF have balconies or patios, except for a few rooms that I'll call mini-suites or turret rooms. The Poly has some floors that don't have balconies in certain buildings.

You might look at pictures of both resorts and see which appeals to you the most.

 

[BlueSkies]

My vote is for the GF...lovely resort..spacious rooms (although this can be said about both resorts!!??) ...separate sink and shower areas...a very nice water launch ride back and forth from the MK...and for younger children there is the new Alice themed splash area...

Really you cant go wrong with either resort...depends on which theming that you prefer...

But...lol...if you do like to spend a good amount of time at the resort..there is no other resort that has an orchestra or a pianist playing each evening the way they do at the GF...

Off Topic...Hi MickeyNut mmmears and Maxie!!

 

[sonofanarchy]

Stayed at both. GF gets my vote. A few reasons:

-Poly is going through renovations right now with rooms, and that could cause some noise/mess. GF Villas should be done soon.

-GF feels like a resort worthy of the price tag (almost). The Poly, while nicely landscaped, I found very dirty in places.

-Rooms are a bit larger at the Poly, but nicer at the GF.

-Housekeeping is far better at the GF.

-The beach is awesome at the Poly, but you can always go over their even if staying at the GF. GF's pools are nicer and less crowded.

I will say, Poly is more convenient to Epcot since you can walk to the TTC, where as at the GF, you have to take monorail to TTC and transfer, or make a long walk to the TTC.

 

[chasgoose]

Personally I would probably base this on which hotel room I would rather spend time in. Amenities wise the resorts are similar (with the GF being a bit more plush/having better service).

As far as the "snootiness" of the GF goes, it's still a Disney resort and thus far less snooty than almost any resort that charges that much. Also, it's not like the Poly is getting a drastically different clientele, both resorts are astronomically expensive and most people who can afford the Poly could afford the slight premium for the GF (unless they are reaaaallllly stretching their budget for the Poly).

I don't know about you, but spending too much time on this board can make you question not staying at the Poly because there is such a pro Poly contingent here. If you want GF but feel like you are missing out on the Poly because everyone here promotes it so much (a feeling I have had) I would stick to your guns and stay at the GF. If you are really having trouble deciding and like both equally then I would recommend staying at the Poly solely because it is slightly cheaper than the GF and every little bit helps.