Is Poly worth it?

[cmac609]

Hi all,

Just wanted to post a question: do you think the poly is worth it? Of course I would LOVE to stay there but it's just so much $$$.

A little background on us: we are planning a trip for next spring. It will be our 2nd time to Disney with kids. Last time was 3 years ago, so this is a once every few years vacation. Our kids ages: 7,5,2,infant.

The main reason we chose Poly was b/c it's on the monorail and close to MK. Since my kids are on the younger side, MK is kind of where it's at for them. We stayed at the Dolphin last time and while it was nice I was really wanting to stay "on-site" this time so we could do the dining plan.

Also, I am thinking of trying to take a break from the parks during the day and I think if we stayed off sight just the time to get back and forth to the hotel would make it not worth it. Since we are going to have our 2 littlest (2 1/2 and 5 mos) with us, I was thinking they will definitely need a break during the day. And obviously, the monorail would be the quickest route to and fro.

My DH is in sticker shock over the cost of the rooms, (and I am too I admit). But is the convenience worth the cost?

Thanks for any input!

First of all, if you can afford it, then I would stay there...it will be worth it. Our first trip to the Poly was 3 years ago when our little ones were (14 months and 3 years old) and it was great especially for convenience. We just got back from our 3rd visit to Poly (boys now 6 and 4) and it still is great. The monorail is great for strollers. Now that our little one is older, naps are only in a stroller and the Monorail is perfect and especially being close to MK. Also a little walk to TTC is great.

We stayed at the Pop once and it was such a pain with the stroller and buses. We had such a hard time with the boys falling asleep on the buses and then having to hold them and try to get them off the buses and in the stroller...it was very hard.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Completely worth it..the location can't be beat, the rooms are nice, the staff is great. The landscaping is gorgeous. I find this resort so relaxing and it is now my favorite.

 

[720L]

If I had kids that age I would stay at the Contemporary. Because: 1: you can walk or ride the monorail to MK, where you will probably be spending the most time. 2: It has a kiddie pool & the slide is ok for your 7 yr old (I wouldn't recommend the Poly slide for your 7 yr old) 3: I like the "Food Court" at CR better than Poly 4: If you stay in the tower you don't have a long walk to food or transportation.

 

[minniem]

(I wouldn't recommend the Poly slide for your 7 yr old)

Is the Poly slide big and scary or something? My 7 yr old is not a great swimmer, but will really want to try the slide and I'm sure my 5 yr old will want to too.

Thanks everyone for all the input! I really appreciate it!

 

[Aliceacc]

My 3 kids LOVED it last year... my kids then were 5, 7, and 10 years old.

We couldn't get the youngest out of the pool!

 

[kaffinito]

It's worth it. When you factor in all of the transportation options, the pool, the atmosphere, the wonderful service from the CM's, and the food options, it definitely worth it. I stayed there over Spring Break on the 4/3 deal and I would pay rack rate (if I had to ) to stay there again.

As for the pool slide, my sort-of-chicken 8 year old went on it several times and loved it. I saw really little kids and bigger kids going on it multiple times. It's a tunnel kind of slide, so the kids seemed to enjoy it. The main pool is very kid friendly.

If price really bothers you though, you could go for the WL that has a boat to MK and to the CR and buses to all other locations, or the CR that has cheaper garden wing rooms and the monorail and walkway to MK.

 

[720L]

(I wouldn't recommend the Poly slide for your 7 yr old)

Is the Poly slide big and scary or something? My 7 yr old is not a great swimmer, but will really want to try the slide and I'm sure my 5 yr old will want to too.

Thanks everyone for all the input! I really appreciate it!

I went down the slide & hated it. It is all enclosed and water went up my nose (but that could be because I went lying down, I don't think many adults are short enough to sit up in it since it's a tunnel slide) My DS8 liked it, my DD10 didn't like it because of it all being in a tunnel. It's quite a long slide too. I also found the pool to be crowded. Another resort I would consider if I were you is AKL. The pool/slide is great for kids your age. The food court is one of my favorites. The buses are great, except I haven't been there since the DVC opened there, and I have heard the buses have gone downhill. Really with kids your age it's all about the buses. There is nothing more frustrating than waiting forever for a bus, packing up the stroller etc, and then having to stand with tired, hot, kids. The AKL buses were never packed. The buses at CR aren't that good, but the walk/monorail to MK and monorail to EPCOT are great.

 

[720L]

We stayed in the Tahiti building at Poly. We walked to the TTC to go to the monorail & the buses because: we were closer to the TTC to get to the monorail & the bus stop at the Poly was crowded and the buses seemed to take forever. If I had younger kids this would have been quite a walk for them. Then when you get to TTC, you have to wait for the bus to come. Not many (if any?) benches for the kids to wait on. Bus stop at Poly is covered, but a small area. So you may be waiting in the sun. At AKL, the bus stop is totally covered, so even if there aren't benches available, you are in the shade. People complain that AKL is "so far away from everything". But when you factor in the waiting at other resorts bus stops, and most other resorts have more than 1 stop to make within the resort or to a diff resort, it isn't much of a difference.

Staying in the Tahiti building, it was quite a walk to get food or go to the pool. A walk I wouldn't want to make with younger kids/strollers etc.

 

[swald91]

Yes! The Poly is worth it-for the convenience for some alone. I love the whole theme-it's like visiting the island of Hawaii w/o actually going there. The Contemporary also looks nice & it's a bit cheaper than the Poly-depends if you would like that theme better. We never stayed at the Poly when our kids were little like yours so I bet anyone with little ones will say the same about the convenience.

 

[IloveDisney77]

We stayed at the Poly back in February under the 4/3 offer that they were running. Every single resort was available the week we decided to go but we decided on the Poly. It was the best decision we could have made. We loved it and everything about. I've provided some comments below on why the Poly made sense to us:

-Proximity to MK. We have a daughter who was 3.5 years at the time and knew we would spend the most time there.
-Ease of access to MK and Epcot. We requested the Tahaiti longhouse which is less than a 5 minute walk to the TTC. From there, you could jump on the monorail to MK, Epcot and catch buses to DHS and AK. Also, as previous posters mentioned, you can take the shuttle boats between MK and GF and the Poly. We did that one night after the fireworks because the monorail line was long...however you do have to break down your stroller. Also, this is important, you can either take the monorail from the TTC or Poly over to MK. They go in different directions along the lake. Also works in the revere so if your leaving MK and there is a huge line for the resorts(which happened to us)...head over to TTC side and jump on that one...Line was much much shorter. Also, if you are in a longhouse near the TTC, you can always take the Paddle Wheel ferry from MK over to the TTC...my daughter enjoyed that as well (don't have to break down your stoller) If you go over to the TTC first thing in the morning to head over to one of those parks, the buses were empty and based on our experience we walked right on each time with zero waiting. There were always people waiting at the Poly bus stops so we never used it. It appears others had issues with buses at TTC, but it worked out perfectly well for us. Needless to say, from MK to Poly there are a ton of options to get back quickly or more leisurely dependent on what you want to do.
-Room size- the Poly has the biggest, or second biggest (can't remember), rooms. With 2 queen beds, a day bed, table and chairs, lanai and decent size bathroom, we never felt cramped.
-Our daughter was 3.5 years at the time and we knew we would have to come back for naps, downtime, and to go to the pool. It was so nice to either- jump on the monorail w/o having to break down the stroller and getting back to the resort in under 10 to 15 minutes. It allowed us to come and go as we pleased and not feel as we were missing anything as you could look across the bay and see the castle.
-Fireworks...some nights we didn't feel like crowds (or we had been at another park) so we would walk out of our rooms, jump in a hammock or sit on the beach and watch the fireworks (direct on view just like in the park but you are a ways away) followed by the electrical parade.
-Resort feel. The other two MK area resorts are nice but don't have the "vacation feel" that the Poly has. Strictly personal preference but we just like the lush landscaping, the beach and the pool at Poly better. My daughter loved the slide and went down it many times. I went down first and waited at the bottom to catch her.
-Restaurants and shopping on site- With 3 good TS restaurants to pick from and 1 so-so CS restaurant to pick from it is nice to have choices.
-Walking trail along lake to GF...nice to walk...
-Neverland Club on site- My wife and I went out to dinner a couple of nights by ourselves and used the Neverland Club and the Simbas Clubhouse at AKV (also saw Cubs den at WL)...Without a doubt, Neverland Club was the best of the three...It was nice to put our DD4 there, monorail it over to GF for dinner at Citrico, Listen to the Jazz in the lobby for a while, walk back, get our daughter and still be able to enjoy the fireworks from the beach back at the Poly.
-Distances...you can walk from one end of Poly to the other in about 10 minutes. From Tahiti to the pool it is less than 5 minutes, at a leisurely walk, especially since you walk along the beach looking at the GF, Contempory and MK...seems like it took a lot less than that though to be honest! Quiet pool was about 3 to 4 minutes and to the ceremonial hall (main lobby)5 to 6 minutes. We were concerned about distances as well since a number of people complained about this when we were deciding where to stay but once we wer there our family found this to not be an issue. Oviously only you can decide if the "distance" is long or not.

In a nutshell....though I think I'm way past that, while the Poly is expensive, it was a truly magical stay and we loved every minute of it...so much so that we bought into DVC at BLT...Hopefully the magic will continue there as well! Important thing though...at the end of the day, it is all about family and making your own magical memories. Those memories can be made wherever you stay and irregardless of how much you spend. That is the beauty of Disney and WDW

 

[highlander96]

I'll let you know if it's worth it after my trip. We have stayed at the moderate resorts, Downtown Disney hotels, off-site, etc. We always love finding a good deal. This year the poly seemed less expensive than usual so we are trying it out. Can't wait and will let you know.

Michelle

 

[grimley1968]

I'll let you know if it's worth it after my trip. We have stayed at the moderate resorts, Downtown Disney hotels, off-site, etc. We always love finding a good deal. This year the poly seemed less expensive than usual so we are trying it out. Can't wait and will let you know.

Michelle

You must have lucked out with the 4/3 package this year, which is truly an awesome discount. I can't go during that package's time window, and the pricing I've seen other than that package seems to me higher than ever, ruling out the Poly for us this year.

 

[mmmears]

Hi all,

Just wanted to post a question: do you think the poly is worth it? Of course I would LOVE to stay there but it's just so much $$$.

A little background on us: we are planning a trip for next spring. It will be our 2nd time to Disney with kids. Last time was 3 years ago, so this is a once every few years vacation. Our kids ages: 7,5,2,infant.

The main reason we chose Poly was b/c it's on the monorail and close to MK. Since my kids are on the younger side, MK is kind of where it's at for them. We stayed at the Dolphin last time and while it was nice I was really wanting to stay "on-site" this time so we could do the dining plan.

Also, I am thinking of trying to take a break from the parks during the day and I think if we stayed off sight just the time to get back and forth to the hotel would make it not worth it. Since we are going to have our 2 littlest (2 1/2 and 5 mos) with us, I was thinking they will definitely need a break during the day. And obviously, the monorail would be the quickest route to and fro.

My DH is in sticker shock over the cost of the rooms, (and I am too I admit). But is the convenience worth the cost?

Thanks for any input!

IMO it's worth it if you can get a discount. We stayed there this past Spring and had a wonderful time. The boat launch to the MK was really fast, as was the monorail. (nice thing about the monorail is that you can just wheel a stroller right onto it, leaving sleeping kids sleeping). And the Poly is SO convenient if you want to go back to the room midday for a nap and a swim.

We stayed with the 4/3 deal, and even then it was pricey. But I really liked the resort, the tropical gardens, and the views of the castle from the pool and the beach. We felt like we were right in the middle of all the Disney magic.

If it's too pricey, check out the WL. The rooms aren't as large (the Poly rooms are HUGE), and there is no monorail, but it does have boat transportation to the MK and it is less expensive than the three monorail resorts.

 

[katepass72]

Have you checked into the rates for the Contemporary? We love the Poly too but were surprised that CR had much better rates. The kids loved the pool at the CR and we spent most of our time in the MK. To be able to WALK to the MK instead of taking the monorail was priceless - short walk, and it was great to not have to wait on any transportation.

Off the subject, but last time we went we rented strollers from Orlando Stroller Rental - I would highly recommend it especially if you stay at the CR for the walk back and forth to the MK.

Of course w/ 4 kids you probably have a garage full of strollers (I just have 2 little ones and I am somewhat of a stroller addict!). Have a great time wherever you decide to stay!

 

[katepass72]

Totally agree with poster 720L - my 6 year old was terrified with the Poly slide (enclosed) but loved the CR slide. If it were just my husband and I, I would stay at Poly - more romantic scenery, etc.. With kids, I have to give CR the edge. Plus I do agree with the QS dining - better at the CR. Either way, though, both resorts are beautiful and rooms are equally big - you're bound to have a great time whichever resort you pick!

 

[skywaywaver]

For our trip add-on, we were greatly divided between the Poly and Wilderness Lodge. We love both but the price difference was almost $100 a night. But then you have the monorail/walk to TTC factor. We ended up going for the Poly.
So, in our case, yes, it was worth it, since we only intend to see Epcot and MK when we stay there. But, if we could not afford it for some reason, we would have been just as happy at WL.
Also, Disney is also just about the only place we vacation any more. We splurge on our trips because it is something we wait a long time for. A hotel is an easy way to splurge since we are not big eaters and lord knows we don't need more souvenirs!

 

[LJD2143]

YES!!! - The Poly is worth it - for the following reasons:

1 - Location, location, location!

2 - Time is Money! For the cost of the Poly, you get to spend the MAXimum amount of time either in a Park or at your Resort, and very little time en route. Every moment that you spend in a bus or car decreases your time enjoying the amenities of WDW!

3 - Atmosphere!

4 - Dining Options!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Like all things, it depends on the situation!

For me right now, its not worth it. I have only two kids so a huge room is not critical. My kids are also of the age where I am shelling out the big bucks (15K for braces), camp expenses, college just around the corner, etc. So I am really trying to economize these days.

Now in 2008, the Poly was worth it. And I didn't even get a discount. My mom had just died, we were set to stay at OKW for two weeks on points and then one day when I was really blue, I decided that we would fly in a couple of days early and stay at the Poly. I was willing to even shell out the bucks for concierge or a nice view, neither of which were available. So I paid $400 for a garden view room. I must say, when we arrived, got our leis and headed to our room, for the first time in awhile, we were all very happy. So money well spent and it was worth it.

I agree that if you can get a discount that helps make it worth it!

For the OP with four kids, I can well imagine that large of a room would be nice. And once her kids are older, even a Poly room won't be large enough so she might as well enjoy it now while she can fit into one!

I will also add that to me, the Poly is worth it in some instances for the ambiance, room size, location and the beach with the view of Wishes. But not for the transportation. For me, the monorail (now this is just me so nobody yell at me please) is the most overrated form of transporation at WDW. It gets crowded, the lines get long and its smells weird. And since my kids are older, we do more at AK and DHS than MK. So the shared busses to those parks are a major detriment (same thing at the Epcot resorts). The monorail to Epcot is nice, especially if you can walk over to the TTC. But for sheer convenience to the MK, esp if I had little kids, the CR would be my pick if that was my main criteria. And it has huge rooms too.

 

[robinb]

"Is it worth it?" is such a subjective question. If you have the money, sure it's worth it. If you and your DH are having sticker shock, then no it's not. One thing to understand about the DIS is there are plenty of people here who are more than happy to help you spend your money . Only YOU know if you can afford something or not.

I'm sure you have found out that your family of 6 is limited to where you can stay on Disney property. You can either book a Deluxe resort which sleeps 5 plus an infant or you can book two rooms at a cheaper resort or you can book a Disney Vacation Club villa or you can book a Fort Wilderness Cabin. The Cabin is the least convenient of the options and the DVC resort is probably the most expensive. Of course, staying off-site will save you a fortune and can be just as "magical" as staying on Disney property. There are lots of options for suites and condos and houses available to suit your needs. Check over on the Orlando Board if you want their take on where you should look into staying.

For what it's worth, I don't think that I would base your decision on how convenient it is for a single adult to go back to the resort with just the smaller kids. My DD was able to do more and stay out longer when she was little and being pushed in a stroller than when she had to walk everywhere. Your older kids will likely get tired before the younger ones do and you will probably choose to go "home" as a family.

 

[Amy&Dan]

"Is it worth it?" is such a subjective question. If you have the money, sure it's worth it. If you and your DH are having sticker shock, then no it's not. One thing to understand about the DIS is there are plenty of people here who are more than happy to help you spend your money . Only YOU know if you can afford something or not.

I'm sure you have found out that your family of 6 is limited to where you can stay on Disney property. You can either book a Deluxe resort which sleeps 5 plus an infant or you can book two rooms at a cheaper resort or you can book a Disney Vacation Club villa or you can book a Fort Wilderness Cabin. The Cabin is the least convenient of the options and the DVC resort is probably the most expensive. Of course, staying off-site will save you a fortune and can be just as "magical" as staying on Disney property. There are lots of options for suites and condos and houses available to suit your needs. Check over on the Orlando Board if you want their take on where you should look into staying.

For what it's worth, I don't think that I would base your decision on how convenient it is for a single adult to go back to the resort with just the smaller kids. My DD was able to do more and stay out longer when she was little and being pushed in a stroller than when she had to walk everywhere. Your older kids will likely get tired before the younger ones do and you will probably choose to go "home" as a family.

Robin, you make such excellent points! That bolded statement made me laugh and it so true!