Is is worth it to stay in the Poly, CR or GF just for the monorail?

[*Fantasia*]

I agree. We stay at the GF and have visited a number of other resort gift shops. Nobody else seems to have the variety and selection as the Contemporay. We make a trip over there to shop, even if we're not dining there.

That's what we do. We come to CR to window shop. They do have lots of varieties and selections. To me it's almost like shopping at DTD.

 

[Snurk71]

Except for the thousand other people and too many stores to cram in. Much more relaxed at the CR.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Except for the thousand other people and too many stores to cram in. Much more relaxed at the CR.

Most definitely!

 

[disneysnob]

Definitely...Monorail Resorts ALL THE WAY!!!!!!

 

[Cinderella]

Have stayed at the poly before and loved the convenience of the monorail. I have also stayed at non-monorail resorts with young kids and had an equally great time. Stay with where seems most comfortable for you. If you feel that the extra money it would cost to stay at a monorail resort would be better spent, then stay elsewhere. Whatever decision you make, you will have a great time.

 

[leighe]

Thanks everyone for your great comments. I am thinking more and more that it is worth it for the convenience. We will be at the MK for 3 days: two days for the park itself and another day for the MVMCP. The only other parks we are going to are the AK and to Epcot for 1 day each. We will be attending a few character meals that will be in the MK vicinity too.

I also was rationalizing it because the parks close early those days in December so I would rather be a 10 minute walk from the CR hotel to minimize travel and maximize park time. Its going to cost another 800-1000.00 just to do this... I think its worth extra money but not sure if its worth $800-1000.00 extra ya know? I mean I can do the same vacation at the POFQ for half the cost of the Poly or the CR. I am very torn.

While I love the monorail resorts it would only be worth an extra $800-$1000 if I didn't have to scrimp on any of my other vacation perks - shopping and dining for example. If spending the extra on the resort meant I had to cut out restaurants or other activities I really wanted to experience I'd definitely be looking into WL, AKL, the Swolphin, or a moderate.

It is a hard decision! I get myself so worked up over what resort to choose and we don't even have any kids yet - I can't imagine how I'll feel when I'm trying to figure out what will be easiest/best for kids.

 

[SpecialK]

Another thing to consider --I'd love to try a moderate but there's no way we can sleep in double beds. We're staying at the CR next trip. Bigger room, bigger beds, inside hallways and monorail access make it worth it for us.

 

[CharlesTD]

In a short answer NO. I can't see spending that much money on a room that you are hardly ever in just to be on the monorail line. I would put that money towards a downpayment on DVC and then not worry about any trips and accomodations for years to come.

 

[MECH8T7]

We went through the same thing for our visit in March 2005 and we decided to go with a monorail resort (the Poly) with no regrets. We were fortunate enough to have a discount code apply, so it made the decision easier.

When you are deciding what to do, one thing to keep in mind is that it may be quite a trek to the monorail from your resort room depending on which monorail resort you pick and where you stay within the resort. The Poly is a bit of a sprawling resort and our room was on the third floor of the Tahiti building, which we asked for because of its proximity to the TTC. We were probably a 10 to 15 minute walk (longer if DS6 and DD4 were on foot) from the monorail platform at both the TTC and the Poly station at the Grand Ceremonial House. I know that both GF and CR have "wings" off the main building as well. In other words, it may not be the case that you hop off the monorail and are only a couple of minutes away from your room. However, it can get pretty crazy trying to get out of the MK at closing time or after the fireworks and, at the times that we stayed until after fireworks, there were no line-ups on the "resorts" monorail. Of course, with the CR, you can walk.

Good luck with your decision. Any interest in doing a split stay where you only spend a couple of nights at a monorail resort and the balance at POFQ?

 

[applechips]

In a short answer NO. I can't see spending that much money on a room that you are hardly ever in just to be on the monorail line. I would put that money towards a downpayment on DVC and then not worry about any trips and accomodations for years to come.

CharlesTD--- This is something I didn't even think of. So what do DVC properties cost these days? My friend said her cost around 10K when she got it several years ago.

 

[CharlesTD]

CharlesTD--- This is something I didn't even think of. So what do DVC properties cost these days? My friend said her cost around 10K when she got it several years ago.

We paid 14K Canadian in 01 for 150 points we now have added on 2 times since then.

 

[PortieOwner]

It seemed like last week they had only one resort monorail train running on the whole loop. That meant it could be a pretty long wait for the next monorail. In fact it was so slow that when we left the GF after breakfast rather than do the monorail back to the MK and then the bus to CSR we did the bus to MGM and then transferred directly onto a bus to CSR.

Portie

 

[Stitches]

I wouldn't stay there "just" for the monorail. The cheapest room rate for a monorail resort is a minimum of $100 more per night than a moderate. That's alot of money if you are only doing it for the monorail. You could take a taxi everywhere and save money!

 

[RWF]

Well, if you don't want to stay at a moderate and always take busses, I recommend the WL. We stayed there in May with our DSS (2 and 5) and thought the boat transportation to the MK was efficient and relaxing. On the MK boat, you do not have to fold up the stroller, although you must fold up strollers on the smaller boat that goes between CR, FW and WL. Anyway, we never waited more than 5-10 minutes for a boat and usually lucked out and arrived just as a boat was docking. And waiting for a boat is more fun than waiting for a bus because you have a beautiful view of the water and the resort. Choosing between boat and monorail transportation, I would take the boat. The monorail wait lines were often long, and the monorail always felt hot, stuffy and overcrowded. The boats, on the other hand, offered a refreshing cool breeze and we always had a seat. By the way, the WL is less expensive than the monorail resorts, and not that much more than the moderates. We will be staying at the WL in January with the BRP and the difference between standard rooms at WL and POFQ is only $120 for three nights.

 

[eclectics]

I was at the Poly in early September. It was my first experience at a Monorail resort. I had the feeling that they were holding back on the number of resort trains running, but of course I didn't have a earlier stay to compare it with. Not that we had to wait an hour or anything but a awful lot of people seemed to be "backed up" waiting and a lot of times we had to stand. I did not notice it as much on the epcot run. I wouldn't really consider it a "issue" but it would have been nicer with a little less wait for trains. Not a biggie and I would stay at the Poly again in a heartbeat!

 

[Planogirl]

We stayed at the Polynesian when DS was a baby and a toddler and it was wonderful! It was so nice to hop on monorails from Epcot and MK and relax with DS rather than wait in a line for a crowded bus. It was also great to be able to go back for a nap or whatever so easily. You haven't lived until you've stood up on a bus holding a cranky toddler! We did have plenty of monorails running at that time though.

Another thing is that DS just loved the monorails and considered them an attraction in their own right. He would crane his neck to see them whenever we were out and about in the resort and would be delighted whenever one passed by.

These resorts are wonderful to stay at if you can. The beaches, the boats, the fireworks, the restaurants and so on all add to a very nice experience IMO.