Ok, Poly lovers why should I spend the $$$$$$

[Taratink]

I have been asking alot of questions about the WL and heard a lot of great things from the WL lovers. Now I need to consider the Poly.Wewill be traveling with a 3 and 5 yr old along with my DH. What makes it worth @ $100 more per night. How can I convince my husband to give up the dough? Is this a good choice for two extremely energetic children? I am also concerned about my picky eaters are there any snack areas or food court areas there? Has anyone gotten any codes for the Poly beginning of Feb?
Aloha,
Tara

 

[PlutoPony]

We stayed at the Poly last month for a week - first time to WDW - and thoroughly enjoyed it. From our experience, I'd say the resort has 3 basic strengths (not necessarily in this order)
1) Location/ ease of transportation - walking onto the monorail to get to MK was just TOO easy - and it only took a few minutes to go either way (helpful when everyone's tired!) Also just walked over to TTC to catch Epcot monorail. Availability of boat to get back and forth was also a nice change. Bus service was fine too. We liked the fact that we had choices in transportation and they all worked well for us!
2)Ambiance/theming - definitely a personal preference kind of thing, but this definitely felt like a relaxing resort to us with the lush vegetation (even after Charley left his calling card).
3) Size of rooms - spacious is the best way to describe this! Again, this may not matter to you, but even though we were there w/ only 1 child, we liked to spread out and sleep in a large queen bed. These are definitely larger rooms than WL.

The volcano pool was a highlight for our DS (9), and he found enough to eat at Capt. Cooks (the convenience food place) when he needed to - and he's the ultimate picky eater...
Don't think you'll go wrong with either - it's a hard decision to make!
Have fun! (and sorry for the long post)
Beth

 

[Taratink]

Thank you for your long post. It was very helpful. I didn't realize that we could walk from the Poly to the TTC to get the monorail to epcot. That is another plus. Was your son comfortable on the pull out/ couch? Is there a need for us to rent a car if we stay at the Poly. Only worry is back and forth from airport.
Thank you
Tara

 

[skiwee1]

I have stayed at both the WL and the Poly. There is NO comparison between the two! The Poly is has a better location. You can walk to the GF, TTC, and a boat that takes just the Poly and the GF to the MK. The view while sitting in the pool is wonderful! Nothing better then sitting there watching the castle and letting your little ones play on the expansive beach. I have a 5 y/o that has been going to the Poly the last 3 years and she likes it so much better then the WL. You can sit at a poolside chair and watch your kids get in the pool or play at the beach and you don't even have to get up to follow them around. They can also play in the fun water fountain that is right there too. The pool is also zero clearance which is perfect for your age kids. The WL has a small kiddie pool and a regular theme pool. At the Poly pool you can enjoy the pool along with the kids instead of hanging out by the kiddie pool at the WL. The rooms are huge, especially compared to the WL. The grounds are beautiful.The couch is not pull out but a twin size daybed with large pillows. My 18 y/o DD slept on it fine. I do like the WL lobby but that is it. I think the Poly is worth even more the $100 more a night. We go there twice a year and wouldn't ever consider staying anywhere else now. Only 26 more days for me!

 

[PlutoPony]

Yes, the Poly is almost adjacent to TTC, so it's an easy walk (especially if your room is on that side of the resort).
In our standard room, we had 2 queen beds and a day bed/couch so our son slept on the 2nd queen (rough life . The day bed looked to be std. twin size and he'd have been fine if he'd been sleeping there.
We did rent a car, and although we used it some next time I probably wouldn't spend the money - unless we had specific plans to go to Kennedy Space Center or something. That said, having a car is another personal preference, but I really don't think you NEED it (want or prefer it maybe). Crowds weren't bad when we were there, which really helped the transportation situation.... Also we just going to "basic" places from the Poly, which is a very centrally located resort - like the 4 parks, DTD, CR, BB which are easy to get to from there....

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

We just got back for the Poly. My DW, DS (12) and me.

This was our first time at the Poly and we loved it. The volcano pool was very fun. It has a tube slide that winds its way through the volcano. I don't know if this is against pool rules but, I did see adults go down with their young children. It could be a little too much for your three year old, if your five year old likes the water he/she should have fun on the slide.

The monorail and boat rides to MK couldn't be better/easier with young children. The walk to the Transportation Center is a very easy walk to get on the monorail for EPCOT/World Showcase. The buses to the other parks/places were quick and convenient.

Captain Cook's has food for all ages. My picky son even found enough to like/eat at Ohana. We also did the "Spirit of Aloha" and we all would highly recomend it. It is family style all you can eat and again my son found enough to get his fill there as well.

It is nice to relax in one of the lounges by the lake and we did watch the fireworks at MK from the shoreline one night as well. You don't get the music or narration like you would at the park but you also don't get the mad rush out to get back to the resort.

The rooms are large and the Polynesian theme was beautiful. I would highly recomend the Poly and will some day return.

 

[robinb]

I love the Polynesian, but it is not worth the extra $100 per night to me. While I may be a "resort snob", I am also a cheap one!

I think you're experiencing what I call "resort creep", where you start out with one resort and then end up booking a much more expesive resort since it's "just" X dollars more per night. You said in an earlier post that you have a limit of $200 and the Polynesian is not likely to drop below your limit.

I think you will be perfectly happy at the WL. Your 5 year old will love the bunk beds, your 3 year old will love the kiddie pool and both kids will enjoy the stream through the lobby and the boat to the MK. If you feel the need to ride the monorail you can take it to/from Epoct and take the bus back to the WL from the TTC.

Think of it this way ... you can feed your entire family for that $100 per day and still stay in a great resort. Or, you can stay at the Polynesian.

 

[Peter Pirate]

NOTHING makes it worth an extra $100 per night IMO. We've stayed there twice and it IS agreat Resort but not worth the add'l money when WL or (in our case) AKL is available at considerably less.

Yes, the Poly has the Monorail and a great view of the MK. Yes, the Poly has beautiful rooms and a wonderful ambiance. Yes, the Poly IS a great Resort (maybe Disney's best).

But no, IMO, it is not worth the extra bucks. An extra $100.00 a day goes a long way in fine dining at CG, V&A's, Jiko, AP, etc, plus any other goodies that will become oh so more affordable with the extra money.

Again, JMO!

 

[skiwee1]

Everyone keeps saying that the extra $100 could go to more things. That is correct if money is an issue. If money is not then by all means go for the Poly! I think the place is easily worth that and more but money is NOT an issue for us.

 

[Jen D]

I think you're experiencing what I call "resort creep", where you start out with one resort and then end up booking a much more expesive resort since it's "just" X dollars more per night. You said in an earlier post that you have a limit of $200 and the Polynesian is not likely to drop below your limit.

Heh. I love this term. This happened to me on the first WDW trip I booked. I booked a great discounted room at Port Orleans and was happy to get it! Then I started hanging out on the Dis, and before I knew it I had upgraded to the WL, and then the GF, and was spending over twice as much.... I finally chilled out and rented DVC points.

We are staying at the Poly this time because it is a special occasion trip for us and my dh and dd both really want to stay there. But as excited as I am about it, the cheapskate in me feels the extra cost is really too high. I'm outnumbered on this one though!

I've never stayed at them, but it seems to me that the best bang-fer-yer bucks rooms at WDW can be found at WL and AKL. If you get a code room with a standard view, at either resort, you are paying the same as rack rate at a moderate and you have a resort with all the deluxe amentities.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[BambiTamby]

"resort creep"? That's a new one!
But, it makes sense!

Book the Poly and don't look back!

I don't consider myself a resort "snob", but I DO thank my lucky stars that I'm not "cheap"! LOL!

Good luck in your decision!
You'll be at WDW and that's really all that matters!

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Only $100 a night ?

But you gotta include tax - 11.5%. It's now 111.50 an night more.

Hmmmmmmm ................

And how many nights ? 5 , 10 , or more ?? If only nine nights you are talking an extra grand to stay at the Poly. Personally, I'd take a room at the AKL for half the price of the Poly and still enjoy WDW just as much. I can say that through actual experience to - we've stayed at both this year, and are booked to stay at AKL in another month.

Or to put another item in perspective - for one nights difference you can buy an water park annual pass good for both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. Seems to me that would beat the volcano pool six ways to sunday .

 

[tinkerb]

I am such an example of going with "resort creep" ......... we had a room at POFQ for $121 a night, then the AP rates came out that allowed us to change to the Poly for our trip...I am so excited to pay $100 more to stay there...I haven't been there since 1971 and now on this trip its just me and my DD (23) and DS (21) who are both in school, we never get enough time to spend together so its worth every extra dollar.......and plus.........who knows exactly when our next trip together will be......for me its precious........