Poly, BC or WL?

[boscov]

How long is the construction going on at GF? Also, isn't there an observation deck at Wilderness Lodge to watch fireworks as well? I think i've seen some video's on You Tube....It really is a tough decision. If we could transplant BC's pool to Poly's location and Wildnerness's price, I think we'd be set haha.

 

[Kimi313]

How long is the construction going on at GF? Also, isn't there an observation deck at Wilderness Lodge to watch fireworks as well? I think i've seen some video's on You Tube....It really is a tough decision. If we could transplant BC's pool to Poly's location and Wildnerness's price, I think we'd be set haha.

I love that idea! If you can do it I will stay there from now on!

 

[billfatora]

WL - Pros - Good theming, good pool, good dining options, great price. Cons - ok transportation, but no monorail or walking distance to park, smaller rooms, but cheaper and we are used to Mods.

Thanks for the help!

Hi "Boscov" (as in the "store" ?) "Reading Area" here....

First off - you (and I) are apparently part of a "minority group" here... we are "males", but are doing the planning... usually it's "the husbands" that just end up telling the ladies, "whatever", as they try to plan things out... and then complain about everything after the fact, after the wives have pulled their hair out trying to guess what their husbands are going to want....

Anyway... we've stayed at all three Resorts, and I must tell you... although my favorite is The Contemporary Resort, of the three listed, my first choice would be The Beach Club (my wife' favorite, and my second favorite). Although I've stayed at The Poly, it's never appealed to me.... And with all that being said, after evaluating your specific situation, I would have to recommend "The Wilderness Lodge" for you, even though it would be The Beach Club, for me. Yes, there is something to be said for not being on the Monorail... and there is something to be said for the "out-of-the-way" location... and the restaurant options also... but with all that being said... you are a "boat ride" away from The Magic Kingdom, the bus service from WL to everywhere else is quite good, the atmosphere and pool are super, and the prices just can't be beat.

You will have "pros and cons" with every choice, and I agree with your evaluation of The Poly. The Beach Club, with it's atmosphere and pool are, without a doubt, fantastic and family-oriented... and the location (in proximity to DHS and EPCOT) can't be beat - just a short walk or a "boat ride" with great bus transportation to everywhere else. Dining - counter service is tough, but there are so many dining options so very close by (EPCOT, DHS, Boardwalk, Swan & Dolphin)....

Bottom-line... The Contemporary Resort - Wing Unit (didn't see that one coming, did ya !). followed by Bay Lake Towers (villa) [an often overlooked option for families that's certainly worth checking into], The Wilderness Lodge, The Beach Club, and The Poly, in one-two-and-three order for your choices....

Be sure to check your pricing, for any potential discounts, for any packages, (does "Boscov's Travel" still do WDW trips outta' LVIA ?) and air fare options (if you are flying). And also, be sure and consider where you will be spending most of your time (sounds like it will probably be MK, but think it through) - as well as if you will need to be doing mid-day (afternoon) naps, or non-park days, or evening plans... and just how much your children can tolerate in one day will mean a lot, and may ultimately aid in your final decision.... Good Luck & Happy Planning !

 

[akclayton]

I haven't stayed at BC or Poly but have stayed at WL a few times. My family loves the WL. We love the boat ride over to MK. You can also take a boat over to FW or CR. From CR, you can take monorail to MK, GF, Poly or TT. From TT you can hop on the EPCOT monorail. The buses that run from WL aren't bad. Most of them only stop at WL so you won't have to worry about stopping at other resorts prior to. We had some that shared WL and CR but WL always got dropped off first. Roaring Forks is nice CS. We also like to take the boat over to FW and eat CS over there as well at Trails End. Good Fried Chicken. The pool at WL is okay. just one slide. It's not too crowded. They have nice hot tubs. If you decide to rent DVC points, I believe DVC are able to pool hop. Atleast, that's what my dad has told me. So, if you rent the DVC, maybe you can hop on a boat over to MK then monorail or boat to Poly if that's the pool you are more interested in. But, I've also read on here that VWL books up fast for the time period you are wanting to visit. The Electric Water Parade is nice to watch. Fireworks can be seen from a certain wing in WL. I've heard of some people seeing fireworks from the beach. I know you can see the fireworks from FW beach and from CR which again, is a boat ride away. If most of your park time will be in MK, I will recommend WL. It's a tough decision but good luck.

 

[MagicallyDelicious]

If there is one thing that I think the WL has over the BC, is its lobby. I've never been too impressed with the lobby at the YC/BC. It doesn't seem like much thought was placed into its design, unlike the WL's, or the Polynesian's even.

There's just something about walking into the WL that makes you feel like you've gone somewhere. Ditto for the AKL.

 

[iloveeeyore]

We have stayed at Poly and WL...not BC, but I will chime in.

First, here is why we have not stayed at BC. First of all, we have family who live at the Jersey Shore, and our home away from home is at the REAL beach and boardwalk. The whole theme of the area doesn't really appeal to us, because it feels too much like real life, and when we visit Disney, we want to feel transplanted. Of course different people can have the opposite response to this. My cousin absolutely loves the BC/YC for the very reason we dislike it; it makes her feel at home. If the theme of the place appeals to you, that is great! That's why Disney offers so many different themes, there's something for everyone. We are also very off-put by the way you have to enter the theme slide by walking across the boardwalk; it doesn't seem that safe to us, and we'd be worried about that with young children (our kids are teens, now, so it's no longer a factor for us). Finally, we are BIG MK fans, we usually spend almost 1/2 our park time each trip at MK. The bus system from MK to BC and back is a bit of a hassle, because the BC shares buses with all other Epcot resorts at certain times of year. I need to be able to have quick and easy access to MK. We only visit HS once during each trip, so easy access to that park is not a significant benefit for us. We actually don't care about the poor CS options, we think the Marketplace and Hurricane Hannah's would more than meet our needs for CS for the amount of time we actually spend at the resort. We usually just grab-and-go for breakfast, lunch is usually in a park, and we do TS for dinner.

Poly - This is our absolute favorite resort. Yes, it is the most expensive of the ones you're considering, but there is a reason for this. The theme is our favorite, we love the restaurants and the pool (the slide is the best, and they do check resort IDs during busy times, now), we love being able to see and hear the MK from most of the common areas of the resort, including the beach and pool, the restaurants are some of our favorites on property, the grounds are breathtaking, we love watching the EWP, and because of it's walking distance to the TTC (and direct Epcot monorail), we consider it the most conveniently located resort on property (tied with CR). Seriously, though it is not considered an Epcot resort, we consider the trip from the Poly to Epcot (Future World) so convenient and pleasant, that it might as well be an Epcot resort. The rooms were completely renovated in 2007, and we don't think of them as dated at all. The GCH has some structural issues (leaking sky lights for example) and needs a rehab, if not a complete redo, and this will probably be done starting 2013...but the decor is not dated. The Poly is also the smallest deluxe resort on property, with only 853 guest rooms (I know a PP called it "big" perhaps he/she meant "spread out?"). We have stayed there and have never considered it spread out...the walk from one end to the other is only about 11-12 minutes. We had a longer walk from our room at WL to the bus stop than we have ever had at the Poly.

WL - We stayed here once and really enjoyed it. I would absolutely recommend this resort for anyone looking for a deluxe resort without paying ridiculous prices. We would also love to return during the holiday times. The pool was pretty lame, but we loved the views and the hot tubs (especially the big one over by the villas), we loved Roaring Fork and Artist Point, but did not care for WCC. We enjoyed our balcony and view of the pool area, bay lake and the nightly EWP (we paid for courtyard view). The room was just OK. The kids liked the bunk beds option, the decor was meh, but we really loved the light fixtures and some of the furniture. The bus transportation was excellent! We did not have good experiences with the boat transportation to the MK; we experienced very long lines and long waits. The bus to MK, on the other hand, was outstanding. After our first day, we only used the bus to MK. We never waited more than 5 minutes, and the ride was under 5 minutes. Buses to the other parks were also very good in our experience. The only bus problems we had was with DTD, but this was a WDW problem that seems to have been resolved over the past year.

Bottom line: we would choose BC for a World Showcase-centered trip (like some day when we go for Food and Wine Fest), and WL for trips where the budget doesn't meet up to the cost of the Poly, or a holiday-time trip where the decorations, fireplace and hot tubs matter. All other times we'd choose the Poly.

 

[disneydee6]

My family has stayed in BC and loved every stay there. We love it because of its closeness to Epcot and short boat ride to DHS. However, if your family is going to be spending a good portion of your trip at MK, you are going to want to book a resort close to MK. We love Epcot, and love the walk to the boardwalk for CS (and drinks lol). BC is a beautiful resort, and the pool is a lot of fun. But if you are going to frequent MK, then this resort may not be for you, because a bus ride there and back can be more stressful and longer than the ease of a simpler monorail or boat ride back to your resort. No matter where you pick you are sure to have a lovely trip.

 

[MagicallyDelicious]

The theme is our favorite, we love the restaurants and the pool (the slide is the best, and they do check resort IDs during busy times, now), we love being able to see and hear the MK from most of the common areas of the resort, including the beach and pool, the restaurants are some of our favorites on property, the grounds are breathtaking, we love watching the EWP, and because of it's walking distance to the TTC (and direct Epcot monorail), we consider it the most conveniently located resort on property (tied with CR).

I thought I was the only nut that loved to hear the MK train while staying at the Polynesian! It's one of my favorite things!

 

[TJA]

We've also stayed at all 3 of the resorts you listed. Tough choice, but a good problem to have because all 3 are awesome in their own way.

With the ages of your kids, I really think you'd appreciate walking or monorail to parks. My girls are now age 8 and their favorite park is Epcot and has been Epcot for a few years now. They love the kidcot stations and now we also do the passport. They also enjoy Soarin and all the various buildings that have things to do in them. So obviously my pick for you is the BC. I really can't say enough about how much we LOVED our stays at the BC when our kids were age 1, 2, 3, etc. Those ages are SO precious at the sandy-bottom pool. Even at age 6, my girls still loved that portion of the pool to build castles, etc. I think that was around the age they started to venture in the other sections of the pool area too, and you can't see them from the sandy-bottom area so you might need to switch seating areas a couple times.

Then at night, we'd put the kids in the stroller and walk into Epcot for a nice meal in a country, do some kitcot stations and various other things, watch Illuminations and simply walk right back to BC. It's amazing.....

Actually, we enjoy the Marketplace CS at the BC. The choices are indeed limited, but what they have has always been very good.

As far as getting to MK, one thing we always enjoyed doing when the kids were younger was go into Epcot in the morning, do a few things, then hop on the monorail over to MK. It's especially handy when you have a stroller. If your 1 year old is sleeping, just push the stroller right on the monorail and go to MK. Do the same thing in reverse to get back to BC if you want. It's definitely not the quickest route, but we personally find it very relaxing.

Poly is also great, but the whole BC experience with the pool is great when you have kids that young....

WL is gorgeous and the boat to MK was very good, but the rooms might be a touch small for adding a crib in the room. And many times you may need to fold your stroller to load the boat....not quite as convenient as rolling right on the monorail or walking to a park.

 

[auprincess]

I haven't stayed at BC; and I'm sure lots of people would disagree, but I didn't really like the decor when we went to Cape May for dinner. And the pool looks awesome, but just too much with my young kids (6, 3, 1).

I have stayed at Poly and WL; I loved both ~ if I had to choose it would probably be the Poly because of the monorail. It was so nice to just walk the double stroller on and not have to take everything out and fold it up.

 

[ktlm]

We've stayed multiple times at the Poly and WL. We have not stayed at BC, but we have visited there, and used the transporation there, and as set out below that is why we have not stayed there. Our preferences would be:

1. Poly- Reasons: Room size and transportation. Because the Poly is walking distance to the TTC, the transporation can not be beat. You can get an express monorail to either MK or Epcot from the TTC. The only time we ever used the resort line in the times we stayed there was when we went to GF. My only con for the Poly, other than its price, is that the grounds are very dark, so I wasn't comfortable running around by myself at night. We have never had any issues with the bus service to DHS or AK from there. The waits haven't been long, nor have we had drivers come through and open their doors and say they were full and weren't taking anyone else. The prices are too high, so we generally don't stay here unless we get a discount of some sort.

2. WL- Reasons- Closeness to MK. The boat to MK is a nice ride, and there usually isn't muc of a wait. It is nice to have everything in one building. The atmosphere is great. We have never had any issues with the buses here either. The room is smaller, but the trade off, is that the price is lower than the Poly. We have always been perfectly happy at the WL, and would not hestigate to stay there again. It is a beautiful place.

3. BC- I do not think we will ever stay here. The pro- you can walk to Epcot and DHS. There are 2 big cons that prevent us from staying here. First, is the transportation to the other parks-- everytime we have visited BC and taken a bus from there to MK or AK, or taken a bus from MK or AK to BC, the transporation has been awful. The waits are ridiculously long. The buses are always ridiculously crowded. We have had to wait for several buses before getting on a bus to or from BC before. People use the BC buses, back and forth not just for BC, but to get to the International Gateway at Epcot, so you get people using it from multiple resorts which really increases the crowds. WDW doesn't seem to increase the bus service to BC due to this fact. The other con is that BC may not be the best choice for people with allergies. They pipe a fairly strong smell into the lobby. As a result, every time I walk into the lobby I start sneezing and get all congested. The only other place in WDW that ever does that to me, is the shop in Norway in Epcot- that perfume they have in there that a lot of people love, makes me totally sick. A lot of people love the beach club smell. It doesn't smell bad to me, but I'm very allergic to it.

 

[boscov]

Wow, I have to say I never thought I'd get such a large response. Everyone made such a compelling argument for all 3 hotels, but I think I'm leaning towards Poly and BC now. So, not to drag this post out even longer, but has anyone heard anything about construction at Poly in 2013? I know there has been some talk on Tikiman's site regarding different ideas, but is there any actual info out there?

 

[mmmears]

Wow, I have to say I never thought I'd get such a large response. Everyone made such a compelling argument for all 3 hotels, but I think I'm leaning towards Poly and BC now. So, not to drag this post out even longer, but has anyone heard anything about construction at Poly in 2013? I know there has been some talk on Tikiman's site regarding different ideas, but is there any actual info out there?

You could do a Poly/BC split!

There are rumors, but they are just rumors and nobody is saying anything at all concrete. So if you are worried, you can always plan for Poly but have a back-up just in case something big does happen that could make you want to switch. Check out the Poly thread, too. And the BC thread since you are also interested in YC/BC. There are great photos and lots of information on those 2 threads. My family has tried both several times and we like them both...

 

[jlaneme]

In my opinion, there is something completely magical about staying at an "original" Disney resort - the theming is amazing and walking around at night with soft music and seeing the fireworks from the beach is completely Disney. Yes, it's got that retro feel but I love that. I've heard rumors of the refurb in 2013 and I think it will happen evenually but for now it's just rumors. That being said, given the opportunity, I would stay there in a heartbeat. The Beach Club looks beautiful but doesn't scream "Disney". I love the fact that I can hop on the Monorail to Epcot or Magic Kingdom and enjoy some great restaurants at one of the other close resorts. Either way, you're going to a fantastic Disney resort - it will be Magical no matter what!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I am beginning to plan our next trip and am having trouble making my decisions...we normally stay at POR, but want to change it up next time. It will be me, DW, DD (6) and DD (1). Here are some things we like about these resorts:
Poly - Pros - great theming, big rooms, great dining options and good transportation(never stayed on a monorail resort). Cons - Smaller pool (are there still a lot of pool hoppers here?), pricier than the others, outdated (?).
BC - Pros - Good theming, good sized rooms, amazing pool, good transportation. Cons - not a lot of great dining options (basically no counter service) except for going to Epcot or the boardwalk, we spend more time in MK, but didn't get to do enough at Epcot last year.
WL - Pros - Good theming, good pool, good dining options, great price. Cons - ok transportation, but no monorail or walking distance to park, smaller rooms, but cheaper and we are used to Mods.

Thanks for the help!

I've stayed at all 3. I would choose the Poly especially given your children's ages.

You list the pool at BC as a pro but with your kids ages, it is a con. You can not pick one spot and see the pool. I know you'd need to be with the 1 year old, but in the case your 6 year old wants to get in the pool while you sit on a chair with your 1 year old, it's easy to see the whole pool at the Poly. And I've never found it too crowded. It feels as crowded as all the pools (including BC).

As for the Poly - it's got the largest rooms, it has the best transportation including the monorail to both MK and Epcot and in my opinion, has the best dining options. BC has the poorest dining options (with a poor excuse for a quick service spot) and WL quick service was not that good. At the Poly, you can easily get on the monorail and eat at GF and Contemporary as well.

As for the Poly being outdated, I do not think that at all. I travel regularly for work (and for pleasure too) and the resort is just beautiful with great theming! I'm in an updated hotel as I write this and it is more worn than the Poly - for sure! (Not too mention next to a massive highway in Dallas). Anyway, just wanted to let you know that it is not outdated at all and I completely don't understand where that came from

I will agree though, Poly is the priciest!

 

[chimo2u]

I've stayed at all 3. I would choose the Poly especially given your children's ages.

You list the pool at BC as a pro but with your kids ages, it is a con. You can not pick one spot and see the pool. I know you'd need to be with the 1 year old, but in the case your 6 year old wants to get in the pool while you sit on a chair with your 1 year old, it's easy to see the whole pool at the Poly. And I've never found it too crowded. It feels as crowded as all the pools (including BC).

As for the Poly - it's got the largest rooms, it has the best transportation including the monorail to both MK and Epcot and in my opinion, has the best dining options. BC has the poorest dining options (with a poor excuse for a quick service spot) and WL quick service was not that good. At the Poly, you can easily get on the monorail and eat at GF and Contemporary as well.

As for the Poly being outdated, I do not think that at all. I travel regularly for work (and for pleasure too) and the resort is just beautiful with great theming! I'm in an updated hotel as I write this and it is more worn than the Poly - for sure! (Not too mention next to a massive highway in Dallas). Anyway, just wanted to let you know that it is not outdated at all and I completely don't understand where that came from

I will agree though, Poly is the priciest!

Thank you for this Tinkerbelle16 I needed to read that! am so looking forward to our First POLY stay Sept 28-Oct 4

 

[TJA]

So you've narrowed it down to Poly and BC. I agree with the above poster to check out the Poly FAQ thread as people normally keep it updated with info. The size of the room is larger than BC room, and you get some awesome garden views from some Poly rooms. If your family is more interested in the entire MK feel, then go with Poly because you really can't beat how close you are to MK and being able to watch Wishes right from the beach and pool.

Having said that, if you go with Poly this time, you really should try BC next time. Don't make the mistake of waiting too long and your young kids missing out on the awesome pool there. Your kids are at ideal ages because the 1 yr old can sit in the sandy pool area and play for hours while big sister builds a castle and plays in the water. If big sister wants to swim in the other sections of the pool, simply switch chairs to a different spot. The 1 yr old most likely won't care where she is sitting! Good luck with your decision and have fun!

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Since you have it narrowed to BC and Poly....I will chime in. I have stayed at YC and Poly.

For your kids ages, you must consider the "tired" factor. The one year old will be napping while the 6 yr old will be go-go-go until hitting the "wall." If one parent wants to retreat to the resort or if you all want to retreat for some rest and quality pool time daily, transportation ease is a godsend. Poly is so easy for daily retreats. Remember at BC/YC that there is NO transportation to the front of the park--futureworld....So every retreat back to your resort(or morning RD for rides) is a long walk from futureworld.

Both will be to bed early. At Poly, you can have the little ones in pjs while you all watch the EWP and the MK fireworks from the beach and it is an easy walk back to your room to slip them into bed. Also, staying at Poly, you can keep the little one in a stroller while gliding on and off the monorail from/to MK and Epcot which will be your most visited parks. This is huge. I agree with a PP that the bus from BC/YC to MK is especially a hassle. Crowded and sharing with several resorts makes for a more frustrating ride coupled with a folded stroller =

The pool set up at SAB sounds great but in reality is not relaxing. As Tinkerbellie16 mentioned, the slides are across a public walkway and there is no one area to sit and watch any of your kids from area to area. This also means if you and one child are in one area and the other parent and child are in another, you can't see each other. Also, there are deeper waters and whirlpool like areas that are more dangerous thus keeping you as parents on edge with little ones who aren't great swimmers. At Poly, the volcano pool, kids water jet area, and beach are all set up great to be able to see from each area which is great for communication and relaxing. My kids loved playing in the sand at Poly but they never played in the sand at SAB---it was too crowded.

We also found the lack of real CS at YC/BC an issue for us. CCs at Poly is awesome for our family and has more choices for both breakfast and lunch/dinner. Hurricane Hannah's at SAB was OK for a burger and fries but other than that.....meh.

Good luck!