noob GF vs Poly

[chocolateblanco]

Poly vs GF?

Wife wants the poly but it's closed until July and not taking any reservations at all, were going in oct and can get GF for $445 a night so no telling if there will be a poly deal for that time frame.

I assume all this covid stuff will be relaxed to a large degree in 6 months, how easy is it to just go from GF to poly for ohana etc?

Bus ride time from GF to HS and Ak? 20 minutes? 40?

I assume epcot can be gotten to quickly on the monorail.

We've stayed in fiji, turks, hawaii, costa rica, we like the island life and theming, even though we know in reality it's a hotel in Orlando its still cool, plus they have sushi right?

Quality of resort overall, which would you choose with cost being equal? GF or Poly? Let's just do apples to apples standard run of the mill rooms.

We booked pop century for now as a placeholder so we have at least something for now as we plan the actual place we want to stay. I'm leaning heavily to just booking GF now for this deal (non refundable) and just taking monorail to hit up stuff at poly while we're there.

Flight gets to Orlando like 10:40pm, so instead of wasting money on a deluxe on the first day that we won't use i have the idea of either going to pop century first day for magic bands and have them move our luggage the next day to GF while we're at the parks... Might even be better to just get a cheap $60 place close by the first day and Uber to GF in the wee hours of the morning to leave baggage with bell service, get magic bands, and check in later and pick luggage after a break from park. This idea would also leave out savings of taking magical express to pop, so likely a $60 uber X (car seat) on top plus another uber from an off site place to GF at crack of dawn... Probably just easier to do the first idea with pop... Maybe an all star if cheaper.

Any ideas or advice? Thanks

 

[Dug720]

Poly is taking reservations starting July 19. If you are not seeing any availability it is because they are sold out for your length of stay. Very possible in October because of the 50th.

Also currently the Epcot monorail is not running and there is no announced or estimated start up.

I can’t help with room comparison as I have not stayed at the Grand and have no desire to. I do know that the Poly rooms will be brand new and the Grand rooms are reportedly in pretty bad need of an update.

 

[Nabas]

Poly vs GF?

Wife wants the poly but it's closed until July and not taking any reservations at all, were going in oct and can get GF for $445 a night so no telling if there will be a poly deal for that time frame.

I assume all this covid stuff will be relaxed to a large degree in 6 months, how easy is it to just go from GF to poly for ohana etc?

Bus ride time from GF to HS and Ak? 20 minutes? 40?

I assume epcot can be gotten to quickly on the monorail.

We've stayed in fiji, turks, hawaii, costa rica, we like the island life and theming, even though we know in reality it's a hotel in Orlando its still cool, plus they have sushi right?

Quality of resort overall, which would you choose with cost being equal? GF or Poly? Let's just do apples to apples standard run of the mill rooms.

We booked pop century for now as a placeholder so we have at least something for now as we plan the actual place we want to stay. I'm leaning heavily to just booking GF now for this deal (non refundable) and just taking monorail to hit up stuff at poly while we're there.

Flight gets to Orlando like 10:40pm, so instead of wasting money on a deluxe on the first day that we won't use i have the idea of either going to pop century first day for magic bands and have them move our luggage the next day to GF while we're at the parks... Might even be better to just get a cheap $60 place close by the first day and Uber to GF in the wee hours of the morning to leave baggage with bell service, get magic bands, and check in later and pick luggage after a break from park. This idea would also leave out savings of taking magical express to pop, so likely a $60 uber X (car seat) on top plus another uber from an off site place to GF at crack of dawn... Probably just easier to do the first idea with pop... Maybe an all star if cheaper.

Any ideas or advice? Thanks

Responding to some of your questions:

1. The Poly is available for booking in October. If your travel dates are flexible, try searching for different dates. Since you mentioned staying at a Value Resort on your first night to save, also try some of the nights at the Poly if your dates are flexible. You could always do a spilt stay.
2. No one knows when COVID restrictions will end.
3. You can walk from the GF to Ohana, or take the Monorail.
4. Once you are on the bus, the bus ride to DHS and DAK is about 20 minutes. Depending on the timing, you could end up waiting for a bus longer than the actual travel time, but 15-20 minutes is typical.
5. The Kona Cafe at the Poly serves sushi.
6. The Monorail to Epcot is closed. A reopening date has not been announced.
7. The Poly typically is less expensive than the GF. As you seem to be attracted to its theming, you should try for that, if your dates are available.

 

[kylenne]

Good points made, I would just add that assuming transportation is normal in October (and I don’t see why it wouldn’t by Oct with a new attraction opening), the Poly has GF beat by a country mile. The only thing GF has over Poly is the walk to MK is shorter and it’s a faster monorail ride there. But it’s much faster getting the Epcot monorail from Poly since you can just walk to the TTC and get it direct. From GF you will have to take the resort line halfway around and transfer there.

There’s also the resort launch that goes between MK -> GF -> Poly if you don’t feel like walking between the resorts for whatever reason.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

I’d pick the Poly over GF any day. We always stay in Tokelau and you can walk to ttc from there

 

[Marthasor]

Both resorts have pros and cons. I prefer GF, overall, as (in normal times), it has more dining options, plus you now have the path to MK which is really convenient. If you really love the island theming, however, I would probably keep checking on Poly. Again, in normal times, it would offer you the walking path to TTC to catch the EP monorail, which is a big plus. I just find the food options at Poly to be very limited and the QS always feels very crowded. I highly doubt you will find Poly for the price you have been quoted for GF, however.

 

[1GoldenSun]

I'd go ahead and get the reservation at the GF and then look into modifying it later if you can and it makes sense to.

Oh, wait, it's nonrefundable?

 

[Eastern]

I agree you won't find Poly for GF outer building prices, esp since the refresh. GF main tower is usually the most expensive choice but CL isn't currently operating.

 

[Brett Wyman]

Good thing about the Poly and GF is they are walkable no matter which you chose you basically have the amenities of both available to you.

OP make sure you check for Poly Villas units as well. Although its true the rest of the year is booked up everywhere at WDW.

Don't forget October 1st is the official 50 years date so that week is extra tough to get rooms right now. Did you try later October?

 

[chasgeese]

If the Poly is available, I would probably do that over GF. Here’s how I see things breaking down in the three most important categories.

Transportation: Buses are pretty much the same from both. If Epcot monorail is still closed, GF has a slight advantage as you can also walk to MK (you can walk from Poly, but it’s a hike and probably more time consuming than monorail/boat. If Epcot monorail is open, Poly gets a huge bump as it’s an easy walk to the TTC (where you switch from the resort line monorail to the Epcot line) whereas from GF you have to monorail over and transfer.

Rooms: Unless you absolutely hate Moana, Poly wins this by a mile. Poly’s rooms will have just been redone and are bright fresh and modern. GF’s rooms haven’t been renovated in awhile and they are starting to show it (not to mention they already looked pretty dated immediately after their last reno).

Dining: This is the main area where GF has the Poly beat. While QS options are a tie (unless you are a picky eater than GF wins), GF just has a lot more to offer than the Poly. Even if all it’s restaurants were open, for sit down dining the Poly only has Kona Cafe (which is in a weird setting off the busy lobby) and O’Hana (I know I’m an outlier here, but I don’t like it. It’s loud, overpriced, and the food just is not that good. That said, this isn’t really a dealbreaker for the Poly, since it’s easy enough to get to the GF via a short walk or one stop on the monorail.

 

[Shellyred8]

Poly vs GF?

Wife wants the poly but it's closed until July and not taking any reservations at all, were going in oct and can get GF for $445 a night so no telling if there will be a poly deal for that time frame.

I assume all this covid stuff will be relaxed to a large degree in 6 months, how easy is it to just go from GF to poly for ohana etc?

Bus ride time from GF to HS and Ak? 20 minutes? 40?

I assume epcot can be gotten to quickly on the monorail.

We've stayed in fiji, turks, hawaii, costa rica, we like the island life and theming, even though we know in reality it's a hotel in Orlando its still cool, plus they have sushi right?

Quality of resort overall, which would you choose with cost being equal? GF or Poly? Let's just do apples to apples standard run of the mill rooms.

We booked pop century for now as a placeholder so we have at least something for now as we plan the actual place we want to stay. I'm leaning heavily to just booking GF now for this deal (non refundable) and just taking monorail to hit up stuff at poly while we're there.

Flight gets to Orlando like 10:40pm, so instead of wasting money on a deluxe on the first day that we won't use i have the idea of either going to pop century first day for magic bands and have them move our luggage the next day to GF while we're at the parks... Might even be better to just get a cheap $60 place close by the first day and Uber to GF in the wee hours of the morning to leave baggage with bell service, get magic bands, and check in later and pick luggage after a break from park. This idea would also leave out savings of taking magical express to pop, so likely a $60 uber X (car seat) on top plus another uber from an off site place to GF at crack of dawn... Probably just easier to do the first idea with pop... Maybe an all star if cheaper.

Any ideas or advice? Thanks

In regards to your arrival time, I would vote for getting a room at one of the WDW Value resorts and taking DME to the resort from the airport that night. Then have Disney move your luggage the next day to GF and you go hit the parks!

 

[Eastern]

Any ideas or advice? Thanks

I have stayed at POP or another cheaper resort the first night before transferring to deluxe the next day. The difference is usually several hundred dollars so I think it's worth it when you have a late day arrival.

 

[chocolateblanco]

thanks for all the info and replies guys, lagoon view king room at GF booked. $529 with taxes a night, first night will be pop then have them move the luggage to GF the next morning. Planning all this is crazy involved.

 

[Nabas]

thanks for all the info and replies guys, lagoon view king room at GF booked. $529 with taxes a night, first night will be pop then have them move the luggage to GF the next morning. Planning all this is crazy involved.

You'll be able to walk from the Grand Floridian to the Polynesian. We've done the walk a few times.

At a couple of points, it's a bit confusing.

Also, avoid the walk on hot days. There's not a lot of shade.

 

[chocolateblanco]

You'll be able to walk from the Grand Floridian to the Polynesian. We've done the walk a few times.

At a couple of points, it's a bit confusing.

Also, avoid the walk on hot days. There's not a lot of shade.

I'm guessing it's still hot Halloween week?

 

[Nabas]

I'm guessing it's still hot Halloween week?

Weather is pretty good at the end of October.

We went for Halloween in 2019 and I recall weather being in the low 80s.

 

[kimmar067]

Poly vs GF?

Wife wants the poly but it's closed until July and not taking any reservations at all, were going in oct and can get GF for $445 a night so no telling if there will be a poly deal for that time frame.

....wait....WHAT??? $445/nt for the GF???!??!?! And you're THINKING about it? Um, no-brainer if you ask me....

 

[kimmar067]

thanks for all the info and replies guys, lagoon view king room at GF booked. $529 with taxes a night, first night will be pop then have them move the luggage to GF the next morning. Planning all this is crazy involved.

...Holy moley - that's an AWESOME rate! Kewl beans!

 

[kimmar067]

I'm guessing it's still hot Halloween week?

yes.
...but not unbearable and less humidity.

 

[chocolateblanco]

....wait....WHAT??? $445/nt for the GF???!??!?! And you're THINKING about it? Um, no-brainer if you ask me....

...Holy moley - that's an AWESOME rate! Kewl beans!

Was thinking poly might have a good deal, but then again if you sleep on this it might not be there so a bird in the hand.... it's the hotwire hot rate for that week, comes up as 4.5* in the disney bonnet creek area, with $757 crossed out and says $445. I grabbed the Lagoon view king for $455