Is poly A LOT better than AKL???

[Allensfan]

To start, I stayed at AKL last year and really enjoyed it. Felt like an 'upscale' hotel to me and I see why it was in the delux cat. BUT I have read in a few places that AKL is at the LOW end of the delux range.

So with Poly and GF being at the high end of the range, is poly really that much different/better/more up scale? I have walked through GF on the way to dinner and it was very beautiful but I never did get to see the rooms. Being that we are taking an 8 year old, I did not think GF would be a great choice. I was torn the first time around between AKL and Poly and selected AKL. Not for the price really, more because at the time I thought it would fit our needs best. But now that we have decided to return, I feel it is time to try something new. We loved AKL by the way . I should have walked around poly while we were there last time to see what it was like.

I would just hate to spend a lot more to stay there and find that it is not worth the extra money. Does anyone have any advice, tips, or suggestions for me??

You guys are awesome!! Thanks in advance.

Margaret

 

[spiceycat]

Polyn rooms are bigger.

views of the MK!!!!

plus you really feel like you are in Hawaii not Florida.

 

[Allensfan]

I saw that I could get a view of MK but it was $700.00 more for the 5 nights than a garden view which really surprised me

 

[LukenDC]

I have stayed at both Poly and AKL. I prefer the Poly because it is more conveniently located and the rooms are larger. The AKL is a magnificent resort, but it felt too isolated and the rooms are noticeably smaller than the ones at the Poly.

 

[Disneyhappy]

Poly is a favorite in my family. We also love AKL but prefer to stay there when we are planning more down time at the resort versus going to the parks. The polynesian rooms are bigger and newly renovated. The biggest thing over the AKL is the Polynesian's location. Easy access to MK and EPCOT. Also easy access to other restaurants in MK resort area. Not everyone likes the Polynesian atmosphere but we love it! If the Polynesian is some place that you have wanted to stay and it is within your means, I say go for it! The MK view is awesome but if it is not in your budget, book GV and hang out on the beach for a view of the MK when you are not in your room. We take early AM walks on the beach even with a MK view booked. You can also watch the fireworks on the beach. Good luck in your decision!

 

[Allensfan]

This is great advice! It is not that I can not budget another $700.00, it just did not seem like it was worth while. I did not know the rooms are bigger, which will be nice. I love the theme so that does not worry me at all. I just did not want to spend more money to get there and think that AKL was a better hotel for less money.

I thought the pool at Poly was huge, but after reading a lot of posts here...it seems very small. We may be spoiled by the pool at AKL...it was very big!

 

[lovmy2girls]

We recently stayed at both this trip.

Poly is our favorite, but the kids really wanted to stay at the AKL for the animals. So at the beginning of our trip we stayed there for 4 nights while we did Sea World and Discovery Cove. Then we moved over to the Poly for the second part of the trip for Disney.

I have to say the AKL is the 2nd best place we have stayed to date. The grounds are beautiful, and the resort is so "Disney".

But...It was when we got to the Poly, we really felt the Disney magic. It's just us I think, but being on the monorail, watching the fireworks over the castle from the beach, you feel like you are in the middle of it all.

The rooms are bigger which we liked a lot. It just feels better to be able to spread out. We like the theme better too. Its us, we love the plants, the tiki torches at night etc..so the resort is a perfect fit for us. The food at the Poly is our favorite too. We did try Boma, which was very good, but we LOVE LOVE LOVE the Kona Cafe for Breakfast Lunch or Dinner.

I really think it depends on your taste too. Some people think the Poly is old and 70's looking, and hate it. Others like the GF, which to me is just another upscale resort with no theme at all.

 

[lovmy2girls]

I thought the pool at Poly was huge, but after reading a lot of posts here...it seems very small. We may be spoiled by the pool at AKL...it was very big!

This is a complaint of mine too. The pool is much smaller. Just this past trip, we were in the hammocks watching the kids in the sand, and I heard a guys girlfriend come over to him and say "hey we got to go everyone is waiting in the car, we need to go back to the hotel and get dressed for dinner". So they were not staying there at the Poly. If just the people who stay at the Poly would use the pool, I don't think it would be as crowded. I really think it is the location of the Poly that makes it so easy for anyone just to come on over and swim.

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

I thought the pool at Poly was huge, but after reading a lot of posts here...it seems very small. We may be spoiled by the pool at AKL...it was very big![/QUOTE]

Let me start by saying that my heart is at the Poly. I think it is truly a magical place. However, the volcano pool is a bit small. If you have younger children, they'll probably be okay with it. The slide is a lot of fun. My older son however spent a lot of time in the quiet pool because the volcano pool was just too small.
However, I do LOVE this resort! The location, transportation, restaurants, sitting on the beach to watch wishes can't be beat. I personally wouldn't pay the extra to stay MKV. We've always done GV and have gotten some wonderful views of the monorail one time and the beach the other. To see the castle all you have to do is step outside and head to the beach. Not too bad a deal.
Good luck with your decision!

 

[Allensfan]

This information has really been helpful...Thanks everyone...and keep the advice coming

I would be so angry if I heard that people staying in another hotel were at the pool at my hotel making it crowded Maybe other's have a different opinion but I save and go to a lot of trouble to afford these hotels and part of the joy of being at a delux hotel is having all the special things like the pool.

 

[maelstrom]

We just did a split stay between AKL and the Poly. We still like the Poly better.

 

[Gus]

If you get the right GV room, you can see the MK from your balcony. Check out Tikiman's site; he's got the lowdown on everything Poly.

 

[chasgoose]

Aside from the room size difference, I wouldn't say the Poly is any more luxurious than the AKL. There isn't much difference in service or amenities. The only deluxe hotel where you get a noticeable luxury upgrade is probably the GF (and it's still not that significant). The extra $100 a night you pay at the Poly is solely for location and room size.

 

[skyscanr]

Well we think the poly is well worth it. It so easy to go back to the resort and take a break in the middle of the day . We allways stay at the con level and its very nice and we think worth the money heading back there this month going for 8 days after our cruise (not disney)

 

[LukenDC]

Aside from the room size difference, I wouldn't say the Poly is any more luxurious than the AKL. There isn't much difference in service or amenities.

When I did my spilt Poly-AKL stay in 2005, there was a big difference in the quality of the beds. The beds at the Poly were much more plush and comfortable than the beds at AKL. Don't know if that has changed since then.

 

[sunee]

I'm not sure what the heck "upscale" means, but here goes.

I honestly didn't notice a big difference in room size between the Poly and AKL - but at AKL I get a "deluxe savannah" room, so maybe those are bigger?

The Poly has the monorail and you just can't beat that for MK transportation. Such a time-saver.

The Poly also has views of water and Magic Kingdom. The EWP comes by at night...although it doesn't always play - I think that is because of Wishes; the only time it doesn't play is when Wishes is going on. It is nice to see the MK, even if it is off in the distance...and it is great to see Wishes from the balcony.

I love coming back to the AKL, with its thatched roof (well, it looks like it anyway) and big, beautiful, relaxing lobby. I enjoy checking out all the little stuff around the hotel. Some people don't care for the overall theme, but if you like the place, it is really wonderful and not second to the Poly in any way.

The valet staff is faster at the Poly.

That said, I adore both hotels and am just as happy at AKL as the Poly. The AKL is extraordinarily well-themed, has some animals, a great pool (I prefer that pool to the Poly)...and about the nicest staff on property. And you don't have to go in and out of buildings to reach your room.

For me, it is a toss-up. I'd be super-happy at either.

 

[dolly-dawne]

POLY- POLY -POLY. We love the poly. I dont think it kitchy at all. we enjoy the quiet walks with tiki torches and the kids playing on the beach watching fireworks and stuff. Kids love the zero entry pool and we have never found it to be to crowded. As far as the rooms go at AKL A TYPICAL ROOM IS 344 SQUARE FEET.Accomadating 2-5 people. At the Poly the typical room is 415 square feet and if you stay at either tokelau or tahiti the rooms are 471 square feet. it is really nice to spread out in your room. But my family is of 5.

 

[Allensfan]

wow...all good and compelling reasons to stay at both. I am leaning towards Poly because we have never been there and it would be neat to experience something new. I am worried about the pool issue because our family is one to spend more time at the hotel/pool. My husband is not getting chemo anymore, but breaks are still a big issue for us so the hotel matters more to us than to some who can enjoy a full day and night at the parks.

But I have to tell you, I am one of those people that order something yummy off a menu and then everytime I go back I order the same thing....I guess for me it is 'sure thing'. I felt like that about AKL, I loved it the first time we went so I figured I would 'order' it again and not risk getting stuck in a hotel that we did not like. But I have to branch out!

We always travel in Sept, because of my son's b-day, and we found the crowds light last year....so maybe if we are traveling during a lighter season, the pool will not be as crowded???

 

[TinkerChelle]

Having stayed at both the AKL and Poly, I am a bigger AKL fan. But, I think it really depends on your personal preferences. I love the feel and energy at AKL better than the Poly. I feel that the theme just suits my tastes better. Now having said that, I am always out voted by my family because the nephew loves the Poly and it is important to be close to the MK as he does not travel well (autistic tendencies) and the pool is his favorite because of the theme not because of the size. I think the AKL pool is larger and better use of space. More actual swim area. I am a swimmer not just a soaker!
Our September trip will be our first stay at the Poly since all rooms have been renovated..but I can't imagine that it would be as magical as AKL to me.
IMO, you really can't go wrong with either resort. I am not a huge "view" freak, so I have no realy advice in that area. We are hardly in our room to enjoy the view. Also, WL is a nice deluxe resort. The pool was smaller than AKL but still close to MK. So many options!

 

[AGPrincess]

The AKL and the Poly are the two resorts that divide my family. I myself LOOVE the Polynesian, and although I like the AKL too, it's just not quite as amazing as the Poly.

I mean, you've got the bigger pool at the AKL, but there are two pools at the Poly -- one to escape to if the Volcano slide gets too busy. There is a spa at the AKL, but you've got the one right over at the GF for the Poly. I would easily trade all those hidden jacuzzis around the AKL pool (I'm not sure if they even have jacuzzies at the Poly...but then I really don't know..) for the hammocks at the Poly. Just like I'd trade the animal activities(which admittedly there are a lot of) for bracelet leis.

The AKL, like somebody else commented, feels a little isolated, a little far from the action. You can't really go outside like you can at the Poly. And the Poly's location is amazing. The MK and the TTC are right there. You can watch Wishes on the beach. There are hammocks everywhere. Lush tropical flowers...Stop me while you can. ...lol

I'd say the shops at the Poly are better than Zawadi, and though the Mara might have more selection, Captain Cook's is more central and just as good.

Don't get me wrong. I like the AKL too. But if forced to choose, I'd go for the Poly.

Sorry. Didn't mean to make it so long, it's just this is an ongoing debate in my family