Need Help! First Time Staying Deluxe!

[nfrank]

Do you know which park or parks you will spend the most time in? If MK, I agree that somewhere on the monorail or WL might be best. I have stayed at BLT, Poly and WL, but my favorite location is the Epcot area. BC and YC have SAB, which is the best pool on WDW property...so much fun. I love walking to both Epcot and DHS. I've stayed at BC quite a few times and absolutely love it. BW is also nice, but I prefer BC for SAB. My trip in May will be at the Dolphin, after staying at the Swan last June. Still get the Epcot location, but at the price of a moderate resort. Swan/Dolphin also have a very nice pool and pool bars.

Honestly, I really love both MK and Epcot. I don't know that I could pick one over the other. I'm just kind of "Meh" about HS and AK.

 

[nfrank]

I hope you still get the chance to visit WDW after you go abroad!

My husband and I honeymooned the exact time you are planning on going just this last year (2012). We stayed July 22-29. The crowds weren't terrible, but yes there are less crowded times.

As for the resort, we stayed at the contemporary and really did not like it. While it is a beautiful resort in a modern way, the staff was not up to Disney standards and the elevators were broken half the stay. We just had a lot of issues, outlined in my TR below if interested in reading more about them.

We did visit the Poly while on our honeymoon as it was originally between the Poly and the CR. DH chose CR because he felt Poly looked outdated. One step into the Poly and we knew that this was the resort we should have stayed at. The staff was so friendly and it was just beautiful there! It was like going to another world! We are staying at the Poly in December and I cannot wait to actually stay there!

Have a great trip!

Sorry about your vacation at the CR! That was terrible!

That said.... you and your DH are both SO ADORABLE! Seriously! You look like very happy big kids at heart. I hope you have a great time at the Poly when you visit next! I'm thinking that I may very well do the Poly at this point.... or at least a split stay (half at the Poly and half somewhere else).

 

[nfrank]

Are you doing a pkg with dining or opposed to a split stay? You could to BC for Epcot/DHS days then move to the Poly for MK and another day at Epcot if you want! You could go to AK from whichever

Hmmmmmmmmmmm..... I THINK YOU MAY HAVE SOLVED MY CONUNDRUM! But is a 5 - 8 night stay worth the split stay? I doubt I'd be doing dining.... but it is possible. (Probably not, though. I did it last October, and even with just "Room Plus Dine" it seemed like WAAAAAAAAAAAY too much food!)

 

[patty57]

I forgot to include that I had also stayed at the Grand Floridian a long time ago. I'm going to just come out and recommend BC. It's my favorite for the location and SAB. You can't go wrong wherever you stay, and you'll be happy with your choice. My personal favorite is BC.

 

[nfrank]

I forgot to include that I had also stayed at the Grand Floridian a long time ago. I'm going to just come out and recommend BC. It's my favorite for the location and SAB. You can't go wrong wherever you stay, and you'll be happy with your choice. My personal favorite is BC.

Honestly, from the pictures, the pros, and what people have said.... I think I'd really love the BC. But I'm still having a hard time choosing between it and the Poly. Would I be completely crazy to do a split stay to try each? We'll be there between 6 - 8 nights (depending on if we drive vs. if we fly).

 

[Poohsmommi]

<deleted my me> I posted this in the wrong place. Sorry.

 

[nickymaria]

I think you would be more than fine with a split stay! It all depends on how you feel about packing up and moving. If it's no big deal, then definitely do it. (We did BLT & BWV last year - loved both) But for some people packing and moving takes a day so they don't like to do it. What I did is pack up the night before, head out the next morning, drop your bags at Guest Services for the transfer, and head to whatever park. Then, in the afternoon, I would go to the new hotel and check in, unpack, change for dinner/pool/whatever. I found it took very little out of my vacation and I really loved being able to do both the MK and EP locations - I arrange my ADRs around which resorts we were close too which was fun (and at BC you can walk into Epcot for dinner too!). If you're worried about not having your bags if your room isn't ready then keep a small backpack with you with your swimsuits, or put them in a smaller carry-on that you can pull easily from Guest Services if need be. I also did a split stay in October at AoA and WL and everything went very smoothly. It's really quite easy.

 

[nfrank]

I think you would be more than fine with a split stay! It all depends on how you feel about packing up and moving. If it's no big deal, then definitely do it. (We did BLT & BWV last year - loved both) But for some people packing and moving takes a day so they don't like to do it. What I did is pack up the night before, head out the next morning, drop your bags at Guest Services for the transfer, and head to whatever park. Then, in the afternoon, I would go to the new hotel and check in, unpack, change for dinner/pool/whatever. I found it took very little out of my vacation and I really loved being able to do both the MK and EP locations - I arrange my ADRs around which resorts we were close too which was fun (and at BC you can walk into Epcot for dinner too!). If you're worried about not having your bags if your room isn't ready then keep a small backpack with you with your swimsuits, or put them in a smaller carry-on that you can pull easily from Guest Services if need be. I also did a split stay in October at AoA and WL and everything went very smoothly. It's really quite easy.

I think a lot of it will depend on whether we drive or fly. If we drive, we can always pack different suitcases for different hotels. But if we fly, we will probably have to live out of the suitcase at the first resort if we do not want to have to spend much time packing.

 

[mmmears]

Honestly, from the pictures, the pros, and what people have said.... I think I'd really love the BC. But I'm still having a hard time choosing between it and the Poly. Would I be completely crazy to do a split stay to try each? We'll be there between 6 - 8 nights (depending on if we drive vs. if we fly).

No it's not crazy. We do split stays every trip. It's better if you can stay at least 4 night at each resort, but for my family a split-stay is much more fun than a week or two at just one resort.

Having stayed at the BC and the Poly (both on split-stays) I will add that they are very different resorts -- I am happy at either one -- but if you split you get to experience 2 instead of one.

 

[toodycat]

We love the Grand Floridian---beautiful theming, gorgeous lobby, great transportation options, perfect views of the fireworks and many awesome restaurant choices. If we can't stay there, we usually stay at AKL which has nearly all the good points of the GF minus the transportation and view of the fireworks. Both properties have lovely pools and great CMs.

We've stayed at the Poly twice and tried to love it, but other than the large rooms, view of the fireworks and excellent transport, we weren't impressed. The lobby is small, the dining is meh, and I get really tired of hearing the drumming from "spirit of Aloha" every night.

 

[goopysolelady]

UGH! I keep looking at your Poly pictures and they keep tempting me! LOL

Hmmmmmmmmmmm..... I THINK YOU MAY HAVE SOLVED MY CONUNDRUM! But is a 5 - 8 night stay worth the split stay? I doubt I'd be doing dining.... but it is possible. (Probably not, though. I did it last October, and even with just "Room Plus Dine" it seemed like WAAAAAAAAAAAY too much food!)

Go for it! Split stays are great; AND, staying at the Poly will give you a chance to try this for breakfast...

Pineapple Macadama Pancakes (and/or Tonga Toast)! You also MUST try the Hawaiian potato chips....yummmmm!