Is the Poly worth the $$$$$$$$$$

[jaygatz]

I have only stayed at the WL once, June of '03. IMO, WL was more like a value than a Deluxe. At that time Port Orleans was closed and loads of people were moved to the WL, so, I don't know if that is what caused it or not. What I mean by describing it as a value was the noise level and sheer crowdedness. Every morning, we woke to children running down the hall screaming (really, they did not have to scream to wake us as the walls were so thin that you could hear normal tones emanating from the hall and next door). I thought that maybe we had some bad neighbors on the first few days, but it happened with such regularity that I began to think that it was endemic to the resort. Further, Roaring Forks was atrocious. The selection was awful and the food tasted bad. Whispering Canyon was wonderful and the pool was also a plus. I did not care for the boats to the MK as the stench of diesel was so overwhelming that I had headaches every trip. The smaller boats (are they keel boats?) were good, however. Luckily on our June, 2003 trip we split our stay with six days at the WL, four days at the Swan, six days at the AKL, and then four more days at the Swan. If we had been at the WL the entire time it would have been awful. In fact, I could not believe how much better the vacation got after leaving the WL. I have never stayed at the Poly, but will in just a few weeks and will be able to compare and contrast for you.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Did you ever think of splitting your stay between the 2 resorts?
My friend splits her stay between the Beach Club and the WL each year. Transferring the luggage is very easy as Disney does it for you. We did it between the GF and the Poly last month and had no probklems.

 

[DisneyKidds]

As has been said, these aree two great choices and you can't go wrong with either.

We have stayed at both the WL and the Poly several times. No way in heck, IMHO, is the Poly worth rack. The most we have paid with an AP rate, and most we ever would, has been $229 including tax. For us, any more than that and the WL is the choice.

Even with a good rate, we usually split stays as we love the WL THAT much.

As for some specifics.........

The Themeing of the WL is wonderful. The lobby, the grounds, the pools, the hot tubs, the activities for the kids, the boat ride to the MK.......all wonderful. Whispering Canyon is a fun place, Roaring Forks is ok in a pinch. There's nothing not to like. As for pools, I actually prefer the WL to the Poly, for our family, at this point in time. Our kids are 6, 3 and 1. The zero entry pool at the Poly is very nice, and our 6 yo has decreed that the volcano slide is one of the best at all the resorts, but boy, with a child who can't yet swim that zero entry area is a back breaker for mom and dad. It requires constant supervision of the kids. When our son was two, all he wanted to do was run into the pool. Problem is, the floor is VERY slippery. I had to be there to make sure he didn't crack his head open every time he fell. Then, you have to make sure they don't venture too far into the water. While the Volcano pool at the Poly is very nice, it isn't all that relaxing for mom and dad, although our 6 yo LOVES it. The WL, on the other hand, is all about relaxation. The most relaxing resort on property. The kiddie pool is actually large, as kiddie pools go, and the kids are contained. Very relaxing for mom and dad, and our kids always have a great time. Then there are the hot tubs, oh so relaxing, which are wonderful at the WL and non-existent at the Poly. Of course, in February it is quite possible it could be too cold for swimming, in which case those hot tubs are ven more attractive.

As for transportation, it's hard for me to comment. We always rent a car. The boat from the WL to the MK is great. Other than that we drive everywhere when at the WL. At the Poly, the monorail is neat, if not a little overrated. It's a great experience, but the boat launch to the MK is actually quicker. It's nice to be able to walk to the TTC and hop a monorail to Epcot, but again, it's not the quickest thing to do. From the Poly we generally drive everywhere except the MK as well.

Kona Cafe is great at the Poly, and the Koko Puffs are to die for.

So, here's my recommendation........

If you can get a good Poly rate with a code, split your stay between the Poly and the WL. If not, the WL is not only an incredible value for your money, it is an incredible resort to boot.

 

[Taratink]

thank you Disneykidds for all of your helpful info. I had chosen th WL and then I started to second guess myself. The Poly is really out of our budget but I could squeak it in. My concern with the WL is with the room. We will need the bunkbeds and I am afraid that if we don't get them our trip will be a nightmare. My kids are 3 and 5 and fight constantly. Also, what is the easiest way to get to Epcot from the WL? We will be renting a car.
Tara

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I've stayed at the Poly, not the WL. But IMO, from what I know about WL, and having visted WL, I think WL is probably more fun for kids. There is a lot of stuff to do there.

I stayed at the Poly once. It was not really my thing. I think it's pretty and certainly a great location, but I just like some of the other themes of the other hotels better.

WL is one I really want to try soon!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

One thing I truly like about this board is reading each opinion and experience. It seems WDW does have a theme to please almost everyone and what is comfortable to some is not at all to another!

As I've shared before I do enjoy the Poly theme - I feel far more relaxed there and my kids did too. You know, they say there is a difference in folks checking at each resort - the ones with the most laid back theme find people are already taking it in at check-in and are less tense.

Anyway, I agree with Disneykidds in that I would not pay rack for the Poly - but I would no longer pay rack for any Disney resort. I play my stays around the seasons and if a code comes along so much the better! I have, in yrs gone by, paid rack every visit but it's been several yrs.

A word to the wise...if your concern about space at the WL is causing stress, then I would try to go with the Poly and request Tokelua, Tahiti or Rapa Nui - all have some of the largest rooms (452 sq ft) of the resorts. If you want sinks outside the bathroom then request one of the latter two. There are lots of wonderful fun things at the Poly for little ones and the convience of the monorail and T&T cannot be beat. Absolutely no car required, I promise!

Feel free to email me privately if I can be of help in any way.
take care and no stress allowed on vacation (or as little as possible
christine
bacibecky@rcn.com

 

[TWOOD]

TaraTink: you can take a bus to Epcot, or drive. If you're feeling adventurous, you can take a boat to CR & then hop the monorail to TTC, & then catch the Epcot monorail, but with 2 little ones that might be too much.
Make sure you request bunks on your ressie & then ask again @ check in - if you're going before President's day during the off season your chances are good. 1 time when we checked in & they said no bunks available - my DD was so bummed that I pleaded with them to keep checking & "magically" a room with bunks was found... Have a wonderful trip!

 

[DisneyKidds]

Yes, these boards are great for getting a variety of opinions.

As for rooms, I have to say the rooms at the Poly are significantly larger. We have had wonderful rooms overlooking the marina and the main pool and they were a pleasure to be in (not that WL rooms aren't). Opening the slider, taking in the breeze and the sounds of the Poly pool, with a partial view of Seven Seas Lagoon.........boy, that room was heaven. Anne makes a good point, too. On that trip our DS was sick, requiring a trip to the ER including x-rays to rule out pneumonia......all while the flu scare and kids dying was going around last year......and I spent a good day and a half in the room with him. I was glad we had such a nice room. But really, how often is that gonna happen (fingers crossed). Oh, and then a huge snowstorm hits NY the day we're supposed to leave...and we were forced (oh, the horrors) to spend and extra night in that wonderful room. Boy, that was some trip. Anyway........

That being said, with kids ages 5, 2, and 1 we have never had a problem in any room, including at the WL. We haven't been in a regular room at the WL, as we always stay in the Villas......but a Villas studio is about the same size as a regular room. The rooms are nice and have plenty of space. Generally, we don't spend much time in the room anyway. What time we have at the resort is spent at the pools or walkng around/doing activities. When we are in the room we are generally getting ready, napping, or sleeping. Howver, there is enough room for the kids to get out some toys and such and occupy themselves. I think you'll be just fine at the WL.

 

[blondemom]

Hi! Funny, this was our same dilemma a few weeks ago. We have always stayed at the Polynesian (I say always, but in reality we've been there three times). This year, I'm not working, and I didn't know if we could cough up the extra dollars. I started searching around for another option. My six-year old son saw a picture of the Wilderness Lodge and loved it. It reminded him of Lincoln Logs! We did a web search, and found some really incredible pictures as well. That made our mind up. Besides, we will also save around $500, which can go toward our food budget.

The Polynesian is my husband's favorite resort. It's truly picture perfect, and you really do feel transported to another place and time. However, I didn't quite feel as though my son (now I have two sons), got anything out of the resort. We did not leave him at the Neverland Club, and he wasn't a swimmer at the time. We were mostly park people, and we never really spent much time enjoying the atmosphere. The restaurants are outstanding, and we did eat there a lot. I just couldn't justify the expense.

I'm looking forward to the Wilderness, and I know that I will be comparing the two. I have an open mind, and hope to eventually visit all the resorts! I would say, if you can manage it, split your stay. You will have the best of both worlds!

 

[MauraAndIainsDad]

I second the other opinions that you should split your stay between the two resorts. We faced the same dilemma in 2002 - couldn't decide between WL and AKL. So we just split the difference and stayed in both! If cost is a consideration, this will cut the differential in half. You can time it so that you could stay at the Poly on the days when you plan to go to MK and Epcot and take advantage of the monorails.

Also, IMHO, we didn't find the WL boat access to MK a very useful perk - too slow. And we never take Disney buses anymore for the same reason. I guess we're too impatient to wait! We always drive our own car or rent one for the duration of our stay.

 

[DisneyKidds]

I'll go ahead and reiterate my previous recommendation to split the stay. We haven't had a trip the past several years where we haven't split stays. The fact that you'll have a car makes it even easier. Pack up the night before, in the am check out and have your bags put into the car, drive to the new resort and check in, and voila....your done. If you are lucky your room might even be ready. It really pretty simple, and not having Disney transfer the bags takes away the uncertainty as to when they'll arrive at your new resort.

The transfer is easy, the additional cost is cut down, and you get two vacations in one.

If you are at the WL the whole time you'll love it....so don't second guess that. But if you really want to see what the Poly is like, splitting the stay is a great option.

As for the WL boat to the MK, we really like it. Never takes more than a half hour, max.....and often only 15 to 20 minutes. Our kids are young and the boat ride is an event in and of itself. It's a nice ride, and to be honest........it often takes longer to get to the MK from the Contemporary or Poly via monorail. Different strokes for different folks, as they say.

 

[dopeys biggest fan]

I just got back from WDW with DH and we had a terrible experience with the Poly!! When we arrived we were givin a room that had water damage from the hurricane and the rug was pulled half way up and the entire place smelled of mold! we called the front desk and it took them 1 hour to get a bell hop to us to take us to another room that was not lagoon view which we paid for!!! We were told we had to stay there for 2 days and then switch to a different room do to how crowded the hotel was. We finally received a lagoon view room in Tuvalu 3 days before we checked out!! I did not feel that the rooms were worth the money. the decor is very dated and bland and it looks like just another hotel room. We moved from the Poly to the WL and fell in love!!! the rooms were much more cozy and fit the theme of the resort! Are room was ready for us at 11:30 am even though check in wasn't until 3pm! Everyone was very friendly and our bed was turned down for us everynight!!! I will NEVER stay at the Poly agian, it was a huge dissappointment!! But me and DH are already planning our next trip to the WL!

 

[ducklite]

This is a simple question. If you want to stay there, and can do so without breaking the budget, then do it. If it will stretch the budget, then wait for another trip.

We've stayed at both, and I much prefer the Polynesian. My rooms have never smelled musty, they've always been remarkably clean, the rooms are very spacious, and the views can't be beat. At the WL our room felt a little cramped, although it was clean, and the view? There wasn't one. Would I go back, sure, if it fit into my budget and the Polynesian didn't.

"Worth" is much too subjective of a word. What's worth it to me is not worth it to others, and vice versa. I don't think driving a luxury sports car is worth it. My brother disagrees. However he doesn't think that eating at fine restaurants is worth it. I disagree. To each their own

Anne

 

[Tikiman]

I think you have seen a good mix of opinions here and I am sure either resort you stay at will be great. I do believe the Polynesian has the best transportation but WL is not bad either. I would rent a car if I were staying at the WL.

As for dopeys biggest fan’s experience that is horrible and it should have been handled better. Not that it was the fault of the Polynesian for the storm damage and I know they have been running on low staff during that time since many of the CMs had major damage to their own homes. Also the repair to the rooms is done by an outside contractor so it takes longer to get things fixed. This is upper resort managements decision and again not the fault of the Polynesian.

As far as moldy smell well we have argued this many times and most people I speak with or even my own experience I have never smelled anything at the Polynesian but sometimes the air conditioner and moist air or Florida can have a smell but this is not a smell coming from mold. Also for the few that seem to think the rooms are dated at the Polynesian, it is ok to have that opinion since everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but if we go by the facts the rooms were just redone in the last few years so any wear is from guest abuse not age and the look was the new decore they came up with in the mid 90’s and not what the resort looked like in the 70’s or 80’s. Also it is supposed to look like older Polynesia not modern Hawaii so I am not sure what people expect to see. If you had a pirate theme you would have an old sailing ship used in the theme not a new cruise ship. That is just my facts with my opinion thrown in.

Aloha

Steve

 

[lmhall2000]

(for our family, that is)....we have made several choices in our family...no cable/satellite (felt the extra $$$ would be better remembered on an extra weekend vacation a year)....always keep a car 10+ years...buy nice clothing only at sale prices (60% off or better) and pay more for better windows to cut down on utility bills...those are just a few...but it gives you an idea of what we value....more quality for our buck....

That said...I would say stay at the Polynesian if you can get it for $175 a night or less...that's the cut-off for us...if you can't it would be better to try another resort for $125 a night and use the extra $50 a night savings to make some fun memories....we buy a sericel (artwork) from each visit that we hang in the toy room and always reflects that trip. When the kids are grown they'll each get to pick one to take with them.

HTH!
Tara

 

[PamNC]

We prefer the Poly to WL - have stayed at both. I do think the Poly is worth the extra $$$. We went this past February and got an AP rate of $199 per night..not bad. WL is usually offered at about $40-$50 less per night with an AP rate.

Why do we prefer the Poly? TONS of reasons. First, let me say that WL is a beautiful resort...best lobby in all of Disney. However, we were disappointed with it. The rooms are small and dark, the pool is small, the transporation (boat) is sloooowww. We felt far removed! The Poly is worth the extra $$ to me because of the following:

One Word - MONORAIL!!

Relaxing atmosphere

big rooms

Great CM's (we found the CMs at WL to be sub-par)

The Poly truly has the original Disney "magic" and "spirit" - I think this is where Walt would stay if he were alive today

Great Pool - zero entry

Fantastic Beach Area - can view the fireworks almost "straight on"

Convenient to the TTC - easy access to Epcot via monorail


At $50 less a night - we wouldn't dare choose WL over Poly!!!!

PamNC

 

[disneyvoice]

We recently returned from our first trip to the Poly and fell in love with it; I know we will return.

However, last night I was playing around on the WDW website checking out rack rates at the various resorts out of curiosity for the dates of our December trip and my fiance and I almost fell over when we saw that rack rate for lagoon view during the first two weeks of December was almost $500 a night!!!

I love the Poly but there is no way I would EVER pay rack rate to stay there. Our AP rate was either $280 or $290 a night (can't remember now) for lagoon view for our September trip. To my fiance and I, that was reasonable. If I couldn't have gotten the AP rate I probably would have paid the AAA rate which I think was $100 more a night.

I think the rates at the WDW resorts are all relative. We keep in mind that we are talking about a Delux resort at DISNEY, not the Plaza Hotel. I think that anyone who expects anything else is going to be disappointed.

It's funny though because I have no problem staying at the ASMo for $55 a night, but I would be concerned about staying in a hotel outside of WDW that cheap. Any of the hotels in our area that are that inexpensive are very scary dumps that I would never even think about staying at.

 

[ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

Yes.

 

[turnlisa]

I have never stayed at the WL but agree with all the posters about the Poly. We are originally from Northern Michigan so going somewhere that is themed like the great outdoors doesn't really appeal to us! My dad was a lumberjack for crying out loud! We did eat at Whispering Canyons and the lobby is magnificent but it didn't thrill me enough to stay there.

There are lots of plusses about the Poly. The monorail is a huge factor but I think the biggest , for us, is the view! When we walked into our room, parted the curtains and viewed the castle across the lagoon, I almost cried! My kids love it there -- again from Michigan so anything tropical in November is a welcome break! Unlike a lot of people, we have had nothing but great service from the CMs and lots of attention. By the second day, all the staff knew that if you see a little one running through the hall his mother wasn't far behind!

I think you need to do what is best for you. If you can't squeeze it into your budget, try WL. At least you can give it a shot. You're at Disney so that in itself is magical! If you can afford it, the Poly is truly magical -- we couldn't imagine staying anywhere else!

 

[Susiesnowflake]

I must respond to Tikiman’s comments about the moldy smell at the Polynesian. For you and those that “have never smelled anything at the Polynesian”, you should feel very fortunate. However, having never experienced the odor, it is not accurate or fair to make the statement that “this is not a smell coming from mold.” I had one of those musty/moldy smelling rooms in Tahiti. The smell was overpowering, and my respiratory system was immediately affected. Only after I had been out of the room for many, many hours did my symptoms begin to fade. This was not an odor that was evident in the hallways, in other areas of the resort, or the room I had had in Tahiti the year before. This was also not an odor that I had experienced in any other air conditioned Florida home, resort, or building. The odor was obviously musty & moldy smelling. The Polynesian provided some sort of air filtering machine. Guests cannot be present when it runs. After requesting it for 3 days, air quality/smell was improving.

I do not share this story to discourage anyone’s stay at the Polynesian. The Polynesian is infact my favorite resort, and I would not hesitate to recommend it. I love everything about the resort…. the theming, the beautiful & lush foliage and grounds, the many meandering paths and walkways, the faintly piped in music, the lit tiki torches, the aloha’s and smiles received, the nighttime views of the GF, MK, and CR, room décor and size, my refillable mug, the ease of walking to the monorail and TTC, sharing Krispie Kreme donuts with the Poly guard and hearing “welcome home” each time we return…..My list goes on.