Polly or Contemporary

[maxiesmom]

Please help me decide! I turn the big 4-0 next fall, and have decided to celebrate at Disney, like I need an excuse! Anyway, which hotel would you recommend? I have stayed at the Contemporary, and really really liked the convenience of the monorail, not to mention walking to MK. Is the Poly that much better? Is it worth the extra $$$ for the ambiance? I would spend most of my time at MK or EPCOT so these are the hotels that make sense to me. Thanks for the input!

 

[CTCouple]

The Poly is great- terrific service there, however, the CR is remodeling and the new rooms look FANTASTIC. They are going more modern as opposed to that futuristic look they used to have. Check the site for the link.
They should be done by next year.

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

We have stayed at the Polynesian and are staying at the Contemporary this time. We loved the Polynesian -an easy monorail trip to the Magic Kindom and just a walk over to the Transportation Center to catch the monorail to Epcot. I also would like opinions.

 

[cajunfan]

We stayed at the Poly last summer and LOVED it! The transportation there can not be beat! (Easy monorail or boat ride to MK and quick walk to TTC to take monorail to EPCOT). I don't think that you will be disappointed with the Poly. It's setting is very relaxing and serene.

That being said, we are staying at the Contemporary this summer. I may get flamed for this, but I think that I actually like the current looks of the rooms over the refurbished rooms...(do like the TV in the new rooms). Transportation here sounds like a dream too...can't wait to just walk over to MK.

You do not say who will be traveling with you, but that may make a difference too. The kids seem to like the Volcano Pool at the Poly (as do most adults!) I would go with which theming you like best and book it...after all it is YOUR 40th birthday!

Lynn

 

[A Mickeyfan]

We have stayed at both & the Poly wins hands down! To me, the Comtemporary has a cold feeling...too business like for me.

 

[n2mm]

I plan to celebrate my 5-0 THIS fall at the CR. I've had 2 standard rooms reserved for 1 year now and glad I did. Since the renovations of the CR, rooms are hard to come by. Maybe I'll luck out and get upgraded since we have guaranteed non-smoking required on both rooms. A girl can hope. This is MY favorite resort. Though the family would've preferred WL, which was available to us when I booked this, it's my birthday, so I did the choosing. We will have a 6 month old with us, so it will be easier with the stroller, since MK is our main park. Also with a big group the marina is a plus for us, along with the boat to Trails End and WC, 2 of our favorite places to eat. This is one of the hardest resorts to snag a standard room, so if it's the one you want, you may want to reserve ASAP. I booked mine as soon as CM discounted rooms were released last July 2004 and glad I did.

 

[momtobrynncess]

Girlfriend!!! I just turned the big 4-0 last September, spending it in Disney, as we always do. We have always stayed at CR, and absolutely love it!! This year we are trying WL for a change, but CR is our true fav!! I think the photos of the new rooms look fabulous!! I can't wait to see them!!! I've never stayed at Poly, I know it has it's own following, so I can't speak about it. I just know that we love CR, and I know when we go back next year, we are going to love the new rooms. Did you check out allearsnet for the photos? They're dynamite!!

 

[CuteKatCar]

Another vote for the CR. As you can see by my signature, we split a stay between the 2 two years ago. I wasn't a big fan of Poly. While the theming is very pretty, I wasn't crazy about the rooms - dark bathrooms! CR rooms are bigger. The shops are better. My kids love the arcade. It has fun disney hustle and bustle. I think sitting out behind the CR looking out at the Seven Seas Lagoon in early evening is very peaceful. Leaving MK after a Spectro night and turning left and walking home is so worth the money!!

Here's also a good point: The bus stops at the CR FIRST and drops off at the CR FIRST. When we moved over to the Poly and were going to BB one day, the bus showed up full - why it even bothered to stop at the Poly was beyond me (but I guess they never know if anyone is going from CR to Poly by bus and getting off ). Last Nov, when we were staying at CR, the bus stopped at the Poly. We fit maybe ten people and a woman said we were the second full bus to arrive at the Poly - the people waiting were NOT happy (we were either going to AK or MGM - we didn't do a water park last Nov.)

Can you tell I am a CR fan? Trying something different this year - Beach Club and promised my DD that we'd go back to the GF.

Anna

 

[jojo5]

I know I will be to lengthy with this but this is my first time posting anything and I have been going to Disney with my children for 10 years now. My family and I have stayed at every deluxe resort with the exception of the GF and the Boardwalk villas. I told my family that I had a feeling that this trip would be the best ever and I was right. We had a Tower room facing the bay which I thought would be awesome, but when we arrived we had been chosen randomly as family of the day and were upgraded to a Tower magic kingdom view on the 10th floor. The view is amazing! You see the monorail, space mtn., the castle! Fireworks ( you can actually hear Jiminy Cricket talking. The rooms were awesome, the best we have had, big and clean and cool. Great balcony. The day bed is neat, it is a couch and with one quick pull it flips down and is a really cushy bed. My 10 year old loved it. When you walk out of your room you walk to the nearby elevator and in seconds you at the arcade or food court (small but good, especially the desserts) the pool is right out the door with an awesomely long slide, the beach, water activities. Walking to the MK is so great, especially when you have had a long day and want a swim or not to stand in bus and monorail lines. If you can get a tower, try. When I was checking out, they had upgraded the couple next to me at no charge to a tower room. You never know, especially if you call in advance several times before you arrive. I told you this would be lengthy. Have a great Birthday!

 

[swilphil]

I've only stayed at the Contemporary and loved it. Have you seen the new decor at the Poly and CR? They both are big improvements, but the Poly still has orange bed spreads (yuck!). You can look at both on allears. I do like the day bed at the CR too. I think at the Poly it is more like a futon. While the brown/orange and dark wood at the Poly is unappealing to me, I do like the landscaping and pool there better.

 

[Dislifer]

I have also stayed at both. Seeing that you stayed at the Contemporary before, you should give the Polynesian a try. You can't go wrong with either! They just both have a different "feel" to them. I don't think you can say one is better than the other. So, my vote is for you to stay at the Polynesian so you can experience both!