Poly or Beach Club??

[VillainFavs]

I know, I know--I'll get a ton of different answers! But just looking for some opinions. Price is so close it doesn't even factor into the decision.

This would be for a week in August, standard view room at either one. Family is me, DH, and two teenage sons. No transportation of our own--strictly relying on Disney transport. Have stayed previously at Pop, ASSp, ASMo, POFQ (x3), and WL. Don't worry too much about on-site TS restaurants since we don't mind traveling wherever for those. Usually eat breakfast in our room, although might do 1-2 breakfast at a QS at the resort. Will probably have one non-park day. Having a daybed or some other arrangement so the kids don't have to share a bed is a big plus!

So which would you choose? And specifically why?

 

[mindy lou]

We went through the same debate (also for August) and couldn't decide so we are doing a split stay! Hoping it is the best of both worlds!

 

[Rosanne]

We went through the same debate (also for August) and couldn't decide so we are doing a split stay! Hoping it is the best of both worlds!

Precisely the same for us! We are doing 3 days at Poly and 4 at BC. If I had to choose just one it would depend on how the kids felt about Stormalong Bay. If that's a huge deal to them (it was to mine) then I'd go BC. However, it seems the Poly rooms are slightly bigger and I think there are daybeds in all the rooms so you wouldn't have to worry about not getting one so If SAB wasn't a big deal I'd go all Poly.

 

[cruisin5]

I think your teenagers would like the BC/BW area more than the Poly. ESPN, Beaches and Cream ... A 3/4 split say sounds good.

 

[jlnten17]

Split stay for sure! We just did this and it was perfect. If I had to pick one I would pick Poly

 

[maxiesmom]

We did a Poly/Beach Club split stay once. And when we went to the Beach Club we all wished we were still at the Poly. Loved being a boat or monorail ride away from the Magic Kingdom. Loved watching fireworks from the beach. And we also love the Kona Cafe so being able to clean up and go right to dinner was awesome.

 

[VillainFavs]

I can honestly say for us, absolutely zero desire to do a split stay!!! I know many people love it. Just not our thing. I like to unpack and "move in". Don't want to have to pack up halfway through and move. Just too much trouble for us! So I really need to pick one or the other.

I think they'd enjoy Stormalong Bay but I don't think it's a make or break. But what do I know? We may get there and they never want to leave the pool! We're not usually laze around the pool kind of people--more just an hour or so at the end of the day or something like that.

 

[Marthasor]

With two teenage boys, especially, I would choose BC. It is so convenient to walk (or boat) to EP and DHS and enjoy the nighttime activities on the Boardwalk. I find the monorail to be unbelievably unreliable and would rather be able to just walk to so many parks, restaurants and amenities. There is also no shade at the Poly main pool and, in August, that's going to be unbearable IMHO. We last stayed at Poly in August 2015 and no shade at the pool plus the complete chaos that is Capt. Cook's really turned me off to staying at the resort. We still visit as I love the theming and Trader Sam's is a lot of fun, but we always have more comfortable, enjoyable stays at the EP resorts.

 

[mousefan73]

We choose Beach Club after pondering Poly.. but choose BC for the Pool and being within a 5 if fast, 10 if slow minute walk to Epcot. Also there is more to see outside of the resort besides a park, BW, The swan/Dolpfin area, boat to HS. etc....

If MK is your park of choice and your main park then I would pick Poly. Also for BC I almost feel the need for a PH.. Since it's so close we pop in for a bite to eat etc... Also this year, the F&W starts super early in our trip dates so a PH is a no brainer. I woud lOOOOve to try the Poly, but our needs of location, pool etc... are better served with the BC.. Maybe one day.

 

[DLgal]

Beach Club.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I'd vote BC given what you describe but watch out for the daybed thing. I haven't looked at the room/view categories there in awhile so can't remember the deal there, but I read people comment about the lack of daybeds at BC all the time.

 

[MichaelWill&Megan'sMom]

We are doing a poly/BC split this summer. 3 nights in a poly studio followed by 5 nights at BC. We love BC, but wanted a chance to test the waters at the Poly as well!

 

[caliope]

We've stayed at both in the last six months. Honestly, it's a toss up for us. We love the Poly and we really enjoyed our BC stay too. Our DS is much younger but he's happy in both pools; he did love the SAB slide but he wouldn't complain about going back to the Poly slide either. We find plenty to do in the resorts and surrounding areas. We did like the walk ability of BC versus relying on monorail/boat at Poly, but that's not a deal breaker.

To choose between the two for an upcoming trip, I'd personally focus on which parks I'd go to more often at night...the rationale being, I'm tired at night, so when I'm done for the day, how close/far from my room am I? If you'll spend more evenings at MK, then go Poly. If more evenings will be in Epcot/HS, go BC. I think the food options are equal. We don't do QS so that's a non-factor for us. Rooms are slightly bigger at Poly and all rooms have the day bed; I believe some BC rooms do not (ours did).

Whichever you decide, I hope you have a great trip!!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

We've stayed at both in the last six months. Honestly, it's a toss up for us. We love the Poly and we really enjoyed our BC stay too. Our DS is much younger but he's happy in both pools; he did love the SAB slide but he wouldn't complain about going back to the Poly slide either. We find plenty to do in the resorts and surrounding areas. We did like the walk ability of BC versus relying on monorail/boat at Poly, but that's not a deal breaker.

To choose between the two for an upcoming trip, I'd personally focus on which parks I'd go to more often at night...the rationale being, I'm tired at night, so when I'm done for the day, how close/far from my room am I? If you'll spend more evenings at MK, then go Poly. If more evenings will be in Epcot/HS, go BC. I think the food options are equal. We don't do QS so that's a non-factor for us. Rooms are slightly bigger at Poly and all rooms have the day bed; I believe some BC rooms do not (ours did).

Whichever you decide, I hope you have a great trip!!

I think this is excellent, well-written, and well-thought out advice on this topic.

 

[Branflakes]

Beach club. Or Yacht Club. Split stays stress me out.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

I could not decide, so I booked us 3 nights at the BC to do EP and HS and then 5 nights Poly to relax and do MK.

 

[HairyChest]

poly. bigger rooms, monorail, walkway to ttc to epcot, view of the castle across the lagoon, trader sams, walkway to the grand Floridian, tiki torch lit walkways at night, just the feel of the resort is classic Disney magic.

 

[mickeynut1]

I know, I know--I'll get a ton of different answers! But just looking for some opinions. Price is so close it doesn't even factor into the decision.

This would be for a week in August, standard view room at either one. Family is me, DH, and two teenage sons. No transportation of our own--strictly relying on Disney transport. Have stayed previously at Pop, ASSp, ASMo, POFQ (x3), and WL. Don't worry too much about on-site TS restaurants since we don't mind traveling wherever for those. Usually eat breakfast in our room, although might do 1-2 breakfast at a QS at the resort. Will probably have one non-park day. Having a daybed or some other arrangement so the kids don't have to share a bed is a big plus!

So which would you choose? And specifically why?

We've stayed at both and my choice would be the Poly. We did enjoy our BC stay, but we find CS to be very limited at the Epcot resorts and that's a deal breaker for us. Also, as others have posted, the rooms at the Poly are quite a bit larger and all rooms come with a daybed. As far as the pools, I'm glad we got to try SAB, but we weren't wow'd by it and actually prefer the Poly pool to SAB (especially with being able to see the castle from the pool/beach) .

poly. bigger rooms, monorail, walkway to ttc to epcot, view of the castle across the lagoon, trader sams, walkway to the grand Floridian, tiki torch lit walkways at night, just the feel of the resort is classic Disney magic.

 

[Gigi@Disney]

We've done a split stay, too! These resorts are sheer perfection so it's worth it to do both.

Start at the Poly for the Mk proximity. It's magical.

And then enjoy the BC with the lovely and relaxing water park, Boardwalk and the incredible Epcot International* gateway access. We requested a longhouse by the pool at the Poly-heaven. We requested a room at the BC closest to Epcot and it was lovely!!!

 

[senadler]

We just did a split stay as well, 4 nights at each. While my DS6 was much happier with the BC pool, my DS12 liked them both, and probably preferred the Poly. I personally love the atmosphere at the Poly and would pick that every time if I could only pick one. Much more relaxed, Capt Cooks is far better for counter service, and we end up doing more mornings at the MK than any other park. The good news is I don't think there is a wrong answer, both resorts are great!