I am trying to justify $355 p/n at Polynesian. UPDATE on pg. 3 Even more confused!

[skiwee1]

I think the Poly is worth and I hav paid it. I just don't think there is another resort that comes close to the Poly. The place is heaven and worth every penny!

 

[johnsonet]

With tax, I paid $355 per night for a garden view at Polynesian during pEAK sEASON (Easter week). I've stayed at the GF about 7 times and concierge at several of the resorts and I think Polynesian is THE BEST!! The view, the MK resort area, the view of Cinderella Castle!! It's expensive but if you can afford it, it is WONDERFUL!!

 

[*Fantasia*]

I called CRO, Poly only has two days available during our stay. She was able to find a AAA discount. From $355 down to $318..still a lot! I guess my $318 plus tax is $354. Same thing!

Then the CRO also mentioned OKW Studio for $260 and SSR for $260. She also mentioned AKL Std Savannah for $288 and BW Studio $300.

Do you think it's worth it to just try a different resort? What I actually wanted was to be near MK and easy access to Epcot. I thought by being on the monorail would be the best thing. Should I consider those other resorts I mentioned? Any thoughts on this one? Thanks for any of your shared insights!

 

[skiwee1]

I called CRO, Poly only has two days available during our stay. She was able to find a AAA discount. From $355 down to $318..still a lot! I guess my $318 plus tax is $354. Same thing!

Then the CRO also mentioned OKW Studio for $260 and SSR for $260. She also mentioned AKL Std Savannah for $288 and BW Studio $300.

Do you think it's worth it to just try a different resort? What I actually wanted was to be near MK and easy access to Epcot. I thought by being on the monorail would be the best thing. Should I consider those other resorts I mentioned? Any thoughts on this one? Thanks for any of your shared insights!

I say if you want to try the Poly so badly then go for it. You will be filled with regrets if you decide not to try it. You will love it!

 

[wide awake]

I haven't stayed at the Poly, and never will at $355 per night...yes, I could pay for it, but having seen pictures I couldn't justify it. We'll do POP for our first trip...want the whole Disney experience, but after that it will be SOG...if I want the Pacific Island feeling I'll GO there...not have the knockoff at WDW. It is just like WL...Hello!!!!! Old Faithfull Inn is $144/night during the busy season...why would I pay a ridiculous price to stay at WL ? I adore a wonderful place to stay, great surroundings, and fabulous service...but I refuse to pay for an imitation of the real thing. We'll be at DLH in October...it is the 50th anniversary, the DLH is the first hotel built at DL...but I would never dream of staying at the GC...if I want that feeling I'll stay at Yosemite at the Awahnee (sp ?).

 

[TammiMcMan]

I noticed in your OP that you are moving around to 3 different resorts. That seems like an awful lot of relocating in such a short period of time. I didn't see if you mentioned the rates that you were getting at Pop and POFQ, but have you considered maybe just doing the Poly and Pop, or even the BW studio and Pop? You mentioned being close to the MK and Epcot, so either the Poly or BW would fit the bill. Actually, I think the BW might even be more convenient because you're only a 10 minute walk from both MGM and Epcot. You can ask around, but when we stayed at the YC, I thought the bus transportation to the MK was so much better than trying to get from the monorail area over to MGM or Epcot.

I would check with CRO again on the dates and availability and try for starting your vacation at the Pop. Spend 4 or 5 nights there and then switch to whichever resort you decide for the remaining 4 or 5 nights. I think that I would rather move up from a value to a deluxe during the stay as opposed to downsizing. Just gives you something else to look forward to during your vacation.

It's a tough decision, but I'm sure you'll do what's best for your family. I don't think you'd be disappointed with any resort choice that you make. They all offer something special.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Did you check on a price for the CR wing room? Just curious. I'd stay there in a heartbeat. The CR gets slammed sometimes but it has a lot to offer if you can get past the cement and the room decor.

 

[Tigger Woods]

Have you visited the DVC Rent/Trade board? You can get a Beach club studio for 14 points per night June 21-24. Points are going for about 10 each. That's $420 for 3 nights. A 1 bedroom villa would be $900 for your dates. (There are no taxes or fees.) I have rented points before and it's a great deal.

 

[swilphil]

I called CRO, Poly only has two days available during our stay. She was able to find a AAA discount. From $355 down to $318..still a lot! I guess my $318 plus tax is $354. Same thing!

Then the CRO also mentioned OKW Studio for $260 and SSR for $260. She also mentioned AKL Std Savannah for $288 and BW Studio $300.

Do you think it's worth it to just try a different resort? What I actually wanted was to be near MK and easy access to Epcot. I thought by being on the monorail would be the best thing. Should I consider those other resorts I mentioned? Any thoughts on this one? Thanks for any of your shared insights!

Since being close to Epcot and MK is a priority, you should try the Boardwalk or rent points for even less money for a Sun.-Thurs. stay. You will be able to walk to Epcot in minutes, take the boat or walk to MGM, and take the bus to MK. I found bus service from the Epcot area resorts to be greatly improved, especially to MK. If the bus happens to be going to all the Epcot area resorts on your way back, you can get off at the Swan and walk over to the Boardwalk in just a few minutes.

We love the Epcot area resorts. The Boardwalk has a lot of fun things for the kids in the evenings if you leave the parks early. There's also a mini golf course right there.

 

[t.craig]

How many vacations do you take a year? Splurge a little!

 

[epcotfan]

I called CRO, Poly only has two days available during our stay. She was able to find a AAA discount. From $355 down to $318..still a lot! I guess my $318 plus tax is $354. Same thing!

Then the CRO also mentioned OKW Studio for $260 and SSR for $260. She also mentioned AKL Std Savannah for $288 and BW Studio $300.

Do you think it's worth it to just try a different resort? What I actually wanted was to be near MK and easy access to Epcot. I thought by being on the monorail would be the best thing. Should I consider those other resorts I mentioned? Any thoughts on this one? Thanks for any of your shared insights!

I stayed at OKW a few years ago. We had a studio room and while it was nice, the resort was not for us. I love the decor and theming but found it to be very spread out-especially if you don't have a car. I also felt like I was staying in someone's gated neighborhood. At that time the bus waits averaged between 30 and 40 minutes. OKW has two queen beds in studios whereas SSR and BW Studios have a pull out sofa and 1 queen.
I would stick with your original plans for easy access to Epcot and MK.

 

[pixiepower1971]

I have been in your place trying to decide where to stay and how much to spend. My almost 9 year old made an observation the other day while I was mulling the numbers of a few upcoming trips.

She looked at the price of the Poly for 1 night vs the price of Pop for a night and told me that we could stay at Pop for 4 nights and still have $$ left over for what we would pay at the Poly. I told her she was correct but that you have to look at what is available at each resort. After I told her all this, I was heavily on the Poly side trying to sway her, she told me that all that was nice but if we stayed at the value resort we got to go more often every year, for more days. And for the length of our stay that was coming up, if we stayed at Pop instead of Poly wouldn't the difference be the cost of our annual passes that we need to renew in June?

Needless to say I was stunned that my daughter actually listened to my lessons to her on the value of a dollar and spending your $$ wisely.

Its even more amzing that she taught me in those few minutes that it really didn't matter where we stay as long as we are together and that the kids really don't care where we stay...they have fun anywhere. And when Mommy is happy and has more money in her pocket to spend in the park or to throw in a surprise trip now and then...it makes the value resorts an even bigger value.

I can't say that we won't stay at a deluxe or moderate but I can tell you that when she pointed out that the difference was the cost of our annual passes...my mind was made up!

Pop Century here we come!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Cindy, your daughter is wise beyond her years!!

 

[*Fantasia*]

Great suggestions! And thanks for sharing!

Cindy, your daughter is wise beyond her years!!

I agree. I hope someday soon my kids can be like you daughter, then this way making decision won't be so hard on me.

I think if I want to stay at CR, I want to stay in the Tower. But the themeing is very lacking.

Is it correct that by taking the boat to Epcot/MGM from any Epcot resorts that it takes about about half hour to get there. And by taking the bus, you share the bus with all the resorts there? And if you want to use the monorail, you have to walk all the way to the front of Epcot. So how long is the walk to Epcot and to MGM?

I don't know if I want to rent points from DVC member unless you know someone from here who I can trust.

I don't mind ending my stay with the value or moderate. This is surely not a let down for me. I have POFQ at the end of my stay and I am looking forward to staying there and have a great time. At least if I don't like the Poly, I know I have POP and POFQ to look forward to.

I know that would be a lot of moving in short period of time (8 nights), but we have done it before plenty of times, and I guess we just got used to it. And since we usually rent a car, moving is not so much of a hassle for us.

I know there's nothing like staying in the "real thing." I have been to Hawaii a couple of times and I am just wondering how the Poly compares to Hawaii.

If there's a musty smell or damp smell, I can just ask the front desk to move us to a different room right?

Thanks so much, you guys have been wonderful!

 

[epcotfan]

Is it correct that by taking the boat to Epcot/MGM from any Epcot resorts that it takes about about half hour to get there. And by taking the bus, you share the bus with all the resorts there? And if you want to use the monorail, you have to walk all the way to the front of Epcot. So how long is the walk to Epcot and to MGM?

Yes the boat takes about 30 minutes from Epcot to MGM with all the stops.
The buses are generally shared at the Epcot Resorts. The only time the bus made 5 stops was when we went to Downtown Disney.
If you walk from the Boardwalk to MGM it takes about 15 or 20 minutes.
I did this by myself last summer and I was a little scared since there weren't that many people around. I walked from MGM to Epcot and shopped at the Boardwalk and still beat the boat.
I wouldn't advise walking all the way through Epcot just to use the monorail. It is a really long walk. Take the bus to the Magic Kingdom instead.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thanks ecpotfan for your quick response. Thanks for the infos.

 

[scousemouse67]

Analysis Is Paralysis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just Make A Decision

 

[TammiMcMan]

Is it correct that by taking the boat to Epcot/MGM from any Epcot resorts that it takes about about half hour to get there. And by taking the bus, you share the bus with all the resorts there? And if you want to use the monorail, you have to walk all the way to the front of Epcot. So how long is the walk to Epcot and to MGM?

It took 30 minutes to do the whole boat circuit, MGM to resorts to Epcot. We stayed at the YC in December and that was almost a 20 minute walk to MGM and only 5 to Epcot. Boardwalk seems to be more in the middle of both, so I would guess that it's probably a 10 minute walk to either park.

I'm sure the bus transportation is subject to change seasonally, but when we were there a few months ago, only the YC & BC shared the MK bus and when we went to Downtown Disney, we also stopped at the Swan/Dolphin. So no, at that time it wasn't shared by all 5 of the resorts. Getting to the MK was faster by bus from the YC. You don't want to walk all the way to the Epcot entrance just to get on the monorail. I thought it was actually more convenient than trying to get from the monorail resorts over to the Epcot area.

Tammi

 

[*Fantasia*]

Analysis Is Paralysis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just Make A Decision

I'm trying!!! Really!!! Hard!!! I'll let you guys know later...

 

[epcotfan]

Thanks ecpotfan for your quick response. Thanks for the infos.

No problem