Just Back Grand Floridian vs. Polynesian

[AliciaS]

I prefer the Poly rooms with the fridge, small counter, and drawers over separate from the dresser in the main part of the room. That way cups and snacks and such aren't out in the open so much. This also means the dresser drawers are full size. I remember being very disappointed by that during our GF stay.

Also, I think that since my house is done in 1780-1890 styles I prefer the tropical feel of the Poly to escape. I would say it's the closest we will ever get to Hawaii, but with these prices maybe we should look into the real deal in a couple years!

 

[Aurora0427]

Interesting- would everyone prefer the grand with younger kids? I just booked our third consecutive Poly stay for the summer because my kids (will be 9 and 6) LOVE the pool. Every year I get quotes for both and choose Poly. (Mostly because I am torn and since Poly is cheaper and the kids like it, I go with Poly) now you all have me considering a switch.

Our 5 year old loves the GF. We've stayed at GF and Poly, and she only talks about the GF. It's so much fun!!!! The service at the GF just can't be beat. They really go the extra mile to make your trip special. I personally think the management is better at the GF, which trickles down throughout the resort.

 

[maryj11]

Just got back from a December trip to the world. I stayed at the Portofino Bay hotel at Universal (best hotel at universal and well worth it no question) and then a split stay at the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian.
Polynesian was the first resort I stayed in and it had my heart. I tried the Grand on another trip and loved it as well but I kept thinking about the Polynesian, I couldn't decide what was better. Well now I finally got to compare them head to head
The Grand Floridian wins bar none.
The Polynesian definitely is beautiful, has trader sams, the tiki torches at night and has the easy walk to the TTC.
The problem is the beds are springy and alittle hard, the room service was only served until midnight and didn't have much that I liked.
The Grand on the other hand has luxorious beds that are plush, room service 24hours with fantastic food options, beautiful bright rooms with beautiful views even in the regular garden views, the lobby and the smell leaves a luxorious and awesome impression and it has that Disney magic feeling that I didn't get originally when I just went there for breakfast. Even my brother who didn't care to stay at the Grand after just visiting and only wanted to stay at the Polynesian kept saying wow throughout the stay. He said "this place is definitely worth more then the Polynesian". If you only visit the Grand and don't go to the pool area and beach you may think its nice but stuffy. Once you go outside and see the rooms and pool and beach, itll leave an amazing relaxing impression.

Polynesian is special to me and still a favorite but if I had the option between the two I would pick the Grand and wouldn't ponder if I made the right choice.

I have stayed at both the Poly and Grand. We happen to get a great rate on the GF last year and I was not sure I really wanted to stay there but we decided to go ahead. Wow I ended up loving the GF and it is now my favorite! I just love the lobby and the smell in there, so beautiful. I agree the beds are so comfy and the room was bright and comfortable. We were upgraded from garden view to lagoon view and loved the view. It was a short walk getting around the resort which made things more enjoyable. I actually loved everything about the GF except the food court was a little small with not many choices but that would not stop me from staying there again .

 

[Little E]

We stayed at the Poly with our two elementary aged boys several years ago before the latest refurb. We loved the proximity to MK and Epcot, and the boys loved the pool area and overall theming of the resort. We only ate at the QS for breakfast, but the food was good and it was easy to get in and get out before a RD day in a park. We had a great experience, but I wouldn't opt to stay there again. I did not like how the lobby smelled. The fragrance gave me a nagging headache and made me feel nauseous, although I have noticed in subsequent post refurb trips when we visited the lobby, the smell was gone. I also did not like how dark the lobby was.

My DH and I did a no kid long weekend trip in the fall of 2016 and we fell in love with the GF. *sigh* The lobby is gorgeous (and smells amazing!!) and the pool and pool bars were awesome! We ate at Citricos and I had the best filet mignon I've ever had in my life there! The QS Gasperilla Grill was down for a refurb when we were there, but our room was amazing and the overall experience was hands down the best resort experience we've had. We felt like it had the same proximity to MK and Epcot as the Poly.

Unfortunately, our awesome experience will make our week long family trip in June, 2017 tough. The only reason we could swing the GF was because it was just the two of us for three days. It's definitely not in our budget to stay at the GF for a week with the four of us. We are staying at POFQ, and I'm sure it will be fine, but I know it will not compare to our stay at the GF.

Don't get me wrong, any trip to WDW is awesome, and we are super excited to be going this summer. We are looking forward to trying a new resort, but I know that any WDW resort from now on will be compared to the GF.

 

[Stacey Faria]

Been to both resorts, won a trip back in 2005 and chose the Grand Floridian, have stayed at the Poly 7 times I think. The Poly is hands down the kids and mine favorite. I was not at all impressed with the Grand. We love everything about the Poly, the Hawaiian vibe, location with being able to walk to the TTC and having the monorail, we love the food, and the pool. I never feel its too crowded for us. That being said we are biased to anything Hawaii and Stitch related! When we walk into the Poly for the first time on our holiday I feel like its home. Went back to Disney this past Dec for the first time since 2013, we stayed off site for the first time ever and we ended up visiting the Poly three times! I learned a valuable lesson this past vacation, I was astounded at the pricing for the Poly ( I have never paid rack rates) and discounts were tiny for it this year so I chose to stay off site, that being said what we learned that the Poly is actually part of the holiday for us! I dont think I realized until this past vacay that for us its not just being at Disney its being at Disney and staying at the Poly that makes it a complete holiday for us. So that being said our favorite resort! Kids started staying there at the ages of 4 and 6 and still love it as much at 14 and 17! The poly for us hands down!!

 

[kandb]

We stayed at the GF 7 years ago for the first time. We stayed at the Poly this past August for the first time. Both resorts are nice, however the Grand is definitely a more luxurious resort. The Poly is more laid back. We liked the Poly and the rooms were a large size, however we had a bad housekeeping issue when we arrived (there was dried blood on the toilet seat in 2 spots). The cups in the rooms (mugs) also had a few with some dried food in them, so it gave us a bad impression of the hotel. Also, the room seemed a bit tired (maybe it's due for a refurb?). We had just come from the BC, and the rooms there were new and fresh. We are going back this August and are staying in the YC and the GF.

 

[HairyChest]

Beach Club is next on my bucket list. Its just hard to tear myself away from the monorail resorts. It feels like the pinnacle of the Disney magic when I stay at those resorts.

 

[DG-12]

Beach Club is next on my bucket list. Its just hard to tear myself away from the monorail resorts. It feels like the pinnacle of the Disney magic when I stay at those resorts.

We did a split stay at GF/YC and loved both resorts. I am sure BC will be amazing as well.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Thank you for the comparison! We stayed at the GF in April and absolutely loved everything about it (and that's with going into it thinking we'd hate it!). We are staying at the Poly this year, which is our dream resort, so I can't wait to see how we like it!

 

[act1980]

I'm booked to stay at the Poly but seriously considering changing to the GF. Does anyone have any opinions on which pool is better? We'll be taking our 4 month old daughter so I'm hoping one of the pools is quieter and perhaps more suitable for playing with her in the water.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I'm booked to stay at the Poly but seriously considering changing to the GF. Does anyone have any opinions on which pool is better? We'll be taking our 4 month old daughter so I'm hoping one of the pools is quieter and perhaps more suitable for playing with her in the water.

I don't know that either pool is suitable for playing with a 4-month old. Most swim diapers don't go that small.

 

[act1980]

I don't know that either pool is suitable for playing with a 4-month old. Most swim diapers don't go that small.

They do in the UK

 

[_auroraborealis_]

They do in the UK

Even so, the zero-entry areas tend to be highly trafficked. "Quieter" doesn't mean "have to self." At the Poly, the zero entry areas are the busiest section of the pools, and at Oasis, there are fountain-type plumes in the zero-entry area.

 

[DG-12]

I'm booked to stay at the Poly but seriously considering changing to the GF. Does anyone have any opinions on which pool is better? We'll be taking our 4 month old daughter so I'm hoping one of the pools is quieter and perhaps more suitable for playing with her in the water.

I have to say I think the GF pool is just quieter in general. It's smaller, the area is more compact. We have used the zero entry there with our kids from two up. The volcano pool area is just busy, all the time.

 

[rosiebean]

We've stayed at Poly twice and are staying at GF in late August. Poly always had my heart, which was why I splurged my first trip there an spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day there years ago. I loved it. And I always said that GF just felt too 'stuffy' for me. It was beautiful, but it didn't draw me like Poly did.

Still, in staying at Poly again two years ago and visiting several times for meals, I found myself...not getting less enchanted with Poly, but being open to trying other places. I've found Poly very busy at all times of the day, and depending on my needs for each trip, I'm either OK with the activity or would rather a place that's more relaxing. Thus, when planning our August trip, I enthusiastically went along with my extended family's wishes and chose GF despite my feeling that it's 'stuffy'. See, in August, with the heat, we'll be spending afternoons at our hotel pool. And having been to Poly (twice) and YC/BC (three times due to need to be close to Epcot), I knew their pools get busy a lot. Fellow DisBoarders said they found GF and its pools are really quieter and calmer, and almost everyone I know who has stayed at GF thinking 'it's stuffy' initially comes back with nothing but great things to say about it. So even though GF isn't my 'dream' resort (it's my mom's dream and my nieces, and they'll be on this trip), I'm really looking forward to staying there this summer. Who knows, it might become my favorite .

 

[act1980]

I have to say I think the GF pool is just quieter in general. It's smaller, the area is more compact. We have used the zero entry there with our kids from two up. The volcano pool area is just busy, all the time.

Good to know and thats what I assumed. Thank you

 

[act1980]

We've stayed at Poly twice and are staying at GF in late August. Poly always had my heart, which was why I splurged my first trip there an spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day there years ago. I loved it. And I always said that GF just felt too 'stuffy' for me. It was beautiful, but it didn't draw me like Poly did.

Still, in staying at Poly again two years ago and visiting several times for meals, I found myself...not getting less enchanted with Poly, but being open to trying other places. I've found Poly very busy at all times of the day, and depending on my needs for each trip, I'm either OK with the activity or would rather a place that's more relaxing. Thus, when planning our August trip, I enthusiastically went along with my extended family's wishes and chose GF despite my feeling that it's 'stuffy'. See, in August, with the heat, we'll be spending afternoons at our hotel pool. And having been to Poly (twice) and YC/BC (three times due to need to be close to Epcot), I knew their pools get busy a lot. Fellow DisBoarders said they found GF and its pools are really quieter and calmer, and almost everyone I know who has stayed at GF thinking 'it's stuffy' initially comes back with nothing but great things to say about it. So even though GF isn't my 'dream' resort (it's my mom's dream and my nieces, and they'll be on this trip), I'm really looking forward to staying there this summer. Who knows, it might become my favorite .

Have a lovely time

 

[Missymoe4]

I agree. Although I love all the MK resorts, the GF cannot be beat. I realize that atmosphere is a major contributor for the Poly, but the Grand's is hard to forget. It's a calm atmosphere and some of the nicest, kindest most-Disneyfied people stay there. It's quite an experience.

 

[act1980]

I agree. Although I love all the MK resorts, the GF cannot be beat. I realize that atmosphere is a major contributor for the Poly, but the Grand's is hard to forget. It's a calm atmosphere and some of the nicest, kindest most-Disneyfied people stay there. It's quite an experience.

Sounds amazing! I can't wait to get there now!