Poly or Contemporary

[mystery222184]

We are going down sometime around early july. There are 5 people w/ 3 kids ( 17, 15, 11). We have already been to the Poly in 2000. Which resort would you choose?

 

[Parrothd]

My first choice is ALWAYS the Polynesian because:

- bigger rooms
- most rooms have balconies (only the Tower rooms have balconies at the Contemporary)
- better theming
- better pools
- better location (transportation-wise)
- better beaches
- more shade
- better view of fireworks
- more laid-back atmosphere
- great resaurants (so does the Contemporary though)
- dinner-show on-property
- tropical
etc., etc., etc.

That being said, the Contemporary is my (over-all) second choice @ WDW. No other resorts even come close to these two. Whichever you choose, you can't go wrong. Of course, I'd only stay @ the Contemporary if I could get a Tower room.

 

[Kimberle]

We are planning our 2nd trip to CR. That said, I would choose the CR over the Poly. The Poly just never appealed to us. We were planning to go this month, but could only get Poly or AKL. We preferred to change the dates of our trip rather than to compermise on our resort.

We love the CR. We find it bright & quiet, and so close to MK.

 

[MickeyisanNDfan]

I agree with Kimberle, and i can't believe ther is another one of me out there! We have stayed at the Contemporary, both wings and tower, and this past January decided to try the Polynesian for the first time in about 17 years. We just didn't like it. We will be returning to the Contemporary for a week at Thanksgiving. We love everything about the Contemporary, and would stay in wings or tower. We actualy found it easier to walk from the North wing to the food and fun center than take the elevator from the 8th fl.

 

[PamNC]

is for the Poly. Huge rooms, a great relaxing atmosphere, great dining and drinks. We've stayed at both resorts and although the CR has the Disney magic, I think the Poly has it even more.

PamNC

 

[goodferry]

My vote is for the Poly too, especially with the kids, they will love the pool!

 

[Tinks]

We stay at the Poly. I say that now because we tried the CR and won't be going back there! We found the CR to be dirty and not as laid back/relaxing as the Poly. Boy were we disappointed!

The CR is nice and has some nice features (one being the walk to the MK and the restaurants), but it just doesn't compare to the Poly for us. We also have three kids. Keep in mind whichever you choose, I'm sure you'll have fun!

 

[travellady]

I'm doing a split stay between the Poly and the CR week of April 10 so can tell you more after that trip. But, that's an option for you - split your stay between the two if you can't decide.

 

[TJA]

I had the exact same dilemma for next month. I had my heart set on Poly (never stayed at either), but when the AP rates came out, CR was the better deal, so we're staying at CR next month. I did extensive research, read many threads here on the DIS, looked at pictures, weighed the pros and cons. Though I admit I only picked CR because of the rate, I'm very excited to give it a try. People say the restaurants are to die for. I'm especially excited about walking to MK.

Back to your question.....I would choose CR if I were you only because you've already stayed at the Poly. They both have the monorail and great location. Have you asked your kids? Or will that stir up a debate....

 

[ccotis]

I think the CR would be best for you. The CR has a huge arcade, which my 11 year old can't wait to get to, even after being in the parks all day!

 

[sotoalf]

The two resorts are like night and day. Imagine how difficult the choice was in 1973, when these two were the only resorts on property.

The Polynesian is a more relaxed, pseudo-tropical setting. The room sare a bit smaller than at the Contemporary, but so many other things make up for it: the better pools, friendlier staff, ample common areas.

The Contemporary is home to better restaurants (sorry 'Ohana fans) and lounges. it's got myriad transporation options, including a boat to Ft Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge, thus increasing your dining and recreation options; as well as direct monorail access to the MK, a footpath to the MK, and buses to Animal Kingdom and MGM. what' soften not posted on this site is that while the CR shares buses with the GF and Poly, the CR is the first stop, so you're guaranteed a seat.

The decor is tacky bordering on garish, as if designers realized the folly of their ways when the CR was built in the late '60s and tried to compensate for it now.

 

[Parrothd]

Originally posted by sotoalf
......The rooms (at the Polynesian) are a bit smaller than at the Contemporary, but so many other things make up for it......

Though that is a common belief, it's simply not true.

The rooms at the Polynesian are actually larger than the rooms at the Contemporary. Back in the early 70s, the Polynesian was considered "THE PICK" of the two on-property resorts.

The standard Polynesian rooms are ~405 square feet (the absolute largest rooms on Disney property) while the standard Contemporary rooms are closer to 390 square feet (the 5th largest on Disney property.....behind the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Yacht Club & Beach Club).

Hope this clears things up for everyone.

 

[CuteKatCar]

Another vote for CR here. We've stayed there 3 times. Split our stay last year between CR and Poly. Prefer CR. Here's why.

We are a family of 4. Mom, dad and two girls 8 and 11. The CR has much more room IN the room. There's a long dresser with table-type top. I put all of our food-stuff there - soda, cereal boxes, snacks, fanny packs when we returned, etc. And they have long oval table - all four of us ate at it. At the Poly, there's an Armoire for the tv and a small round table. So I had to put my snacks and misc. items on that table.

The bathroom set up is so much better at CR. The toilet is separate from shower (and there's a sink in there). So, two people can be brushing their teeth at two different sinks.

The arcade is great fabulous - have them save their money - you go thru a lot of it!!

I have to say that the pool is better at the Poly.

The shops are definitely better at CR!!

The Poly is quiet and laid back, while the CR is fun and full of people - Chef Mickey's is there - the arcade is next to Food and Fun Center so there's always people around.

You can 't beat walking to MK.

Whichever one you choose, you'll love staying on the monorail!!

Cutekatcar

 

[ColoradoDis]

We've stayed at the CR once and loved it - can't beat the tower room with a MK view and as others have said - the access to the shops and restaurants are great. Also, the CR was one of my dream vacation spots since I first rode the Monorail in 1972. That said, we're splitting our May stay between the two, mostly because of this board and all the great things that the Poly lovers post. I believe that you'll have fun - wherever you stay.

 

[steveanddonna]

I'm with parrothd for all the same reasons mentioned. Check out Tikimans website on the Poly for pix, info etc. with a definite Poly bias. The real question is...which is more your style? Coming from a major urban area, we love the laidback atmosphere of the Poly for vacation - no interest in staying at an urban-style tower like the Contemporary while at Disney. You can't go wrong either way - you're on the monorail, you have a view of MK, you're at Disney World!

Have to disagree with the restaurant comment, though - we've been thoroughly disappointed in CG twice (sushi was excellent but service was beyond poor, food was mediocre. We love Citrico's at GF, though & think CG lounge is a great place for drinks and appetizers - another reason the Poly is perfect, being right between GF & CR)

 

[sotoalf]

I respectfully disagree with Parothd: the Contemporary room are NOT, repeat NOT, smaller than the YC/BC or GF rooms. I've stayed in standard rooms at all three recently; the YC and BC area bit smaller than the GF, while the GFdefinitely is a close third behind the CR (425 square ft) and Poly (407 sq ft). In fact, I was surprised that the "flagship" resort had rooms about the same size as YC and BC's (this is not, by the way, a dig at the GF, an outstanding resort in every other respect).

The Polynesian most definitely was the trendy resort at which to stay through the mid '80s, but room size had nothing to do with it. For one, there simply weren't many hotels to cmpare the Polynesian to, with the exception of the Disney Inn, CR, and Village hotels. Secondly, hotel room sizes have smply shurnk in the last 20 years.

I will grant that room furniture (long dressers, huge balconies like at the Poly) might create the illusion of size.

 

[steveanddonna]

you're correct, sotoalf. The Contemporary has the largest standard rooms at WDW according to Birnbaum's guides. I'm still a Poly fan, though. As we ladies know, size isn't everything!

 

[Parrothd]

You must be quoting the size of a deluxe (Tower) room. I'm simply trying to compare apples to apples here - standard-size rooms.

Here is a "copy & paste" direct-from-the-horse's-mouth you might say.

"Deluxe Room Square Footage:

The following figures are for each Resort's standard size room, and are ranked by smallest to largest.

Animal Kingdom Lodge: 344 sq. ft.
Wilderness Lodge: 344 sq. ft.
BoardWalk Inn: 385 sq. ft.
Contemporary: 394 sq. ft.
Beach Club: 400 sq. ft.
Yacht Club: 400 sq. ft.
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: 403 sq. ft.
Polynesian Resort: 407 sq. ft."

Hope this clears things up a bit.

 

[travellady]

When I was doing my research, one of the reasons I decided against the Yacht/Beach club rooms was smaller size- both rooms and daybed - than either the CR or Poly. One of the information sources I looked at was allearsnet.com.

Here's a snippet of text from that site:
"The average room at the Yacht Club is 380 sq. ft."

I realize this isn't appreciably smaller than CR or Poly but still less. Also the Poly and CR won (split stay) because of the monorail and CR gameroom. My 10 year old DS is a gameaholic

Both CR and Poly were 400+ sq ft - mentioned in several sites.

 

[sotoalf]

Wow, that's that then. Like at the theme parks, Disney has mastered the art of trompe l'oeil - fooling your eye. Those angular designs and gaudy colors at the CR definitely make it look bigger.