Poly or Pop??? Help choosing!! Update: Choice made! #40

[J'aime Paris]

Planning on booking an October trip for 5 nights.
The difference between booking the Poly versus Pop is about $1200

I'm torn between which resort to choose!

If we choose Poly, we would probably do 1 night MNSSHP. No other experiences.

If we choose Pop, we would do 2 nights MNSSHP. Also would try to get the dessert party at MK for better fireworks viewing. And would book an Illuminations cruise. And would book an Eat to the Beat meal experience at Epcot. And possibly Victoria and Alberts (if we can fit it in)

I'm torn between the convenience and amenities of the Poly versus the extra experiences we would do if we stay at Pop!!

What would you pick??

 

[rstevens333]

I've done Pop recently. The new rooms are really nice, but it's no deluxe.

Until the Skyliner is up, Poly has a massive advantage in the transportation department. Boat and monorail to MK, walk to TTC and monorail to Epcot. And that's not including the lobby, which no offense to Pop is about 100x better. (and Pop is WAY louder to walk around.)

Poly gets you all kinds of "free" fireworks and the water pageant right outside your door. Not to mention an easier ride home after the Halloween party.

But then again, if I were rolling solo and simply wanting to blast away in the parks 12 hours a day, $1200 is a lot of dole whip.*



*Which, weirdly enough, is available only at these two resorts!

 

[Disneyhenry]

I had the same struggle between AKL and Sports. We are staying 12 nights, but the kids want 1 day Universal and MNSSHP, it was hard, if I choose AKL we will relax a bit and enjoy the resort, if we choose Sports we will be going non stop lol. I ended up choosing Sports, making one of our better trips! We go every year our next trip will be more relaxing.
So do you want to relax a bit and enjoy the trip or go nonstop?
Have fun!

 

[TyphoonLegume]

If you travel to WDW 'frequently'... and know that in the [near] future, you could return to stay at the Polynesian one day... than I'm casting my vote for Pop Century with more experiences!

 

[Sue M]

I’d choose Poly. Watch the MK fireworks on the beach! This is just me, but I wouldn’t need to go to mnsshp more than once. And Pop rooms are really small.
We did this last Dec because I was just going with a friend and we each had our own rooms. We had never been to WDW to see all the Christmas decorations, and since we were having our own rooms Pop was our choice.

The new rooms were nice. For 1 person! I wouldn’t want to have more than 2 in the room. It would be pretty squishy.
Our room was a 15 ( and I’m being generous) walk to main hall or bus. In perspective it’s a 30min + RT Trip just to go get mug refill.
Bus service was awful. 30 min waits were the norm. We were there 10 days.

 

[Shanti]

That's a choice between two extremes: a value resort or one of the most expensive deluxes. Why not compromise & stay at a less-expensive deluxe like AKL or WL? That way you can really be comfortable in a way you won't be at Pop, will enjoy a beautiful resort with good dining options, and at the same time will have spending money left over that you wouldn't have with the Poly stay. Imo the fireworks dessert party is the best use of that extra money, btw.

 

[22Tink]

I would do Pop and more extra experiences! We just got back from a 10 night stay at Pop and the refurbed rooms are pretty nice.

 

[Disneylover99]

I love Pop and I love the Poly! Tough choice for me.
If you choose the Poly are you just planning to hang out and relax?

 

[JAMIESMITH]

That's a choice between two extremes: a value resort or one of the most expensive deluxes. Why not compromise & stay at a less-expensive deluxe like AKL or WL? That way you can really be comfortable in a way you won't be at Pop, will enjoy a beautiful resort with good dining options, and at the same time will have spending money left over that you wouldn't have with the Poly stay. Imo the fireworks dessert party is the best use of that extra money, btw.

Yep! Two opposite ends of the spectrum. I would choose The Polynesian if these are the only two in consideration, but AKL is nice and WL is on my bucket list.

 

[Sue M]

That's a choice between two extremes: a value resort or one of the most expensive deluxes. Why not compromise & stay at a less-expensive deluxe like AKL or WL? That way you can really be comfortable in a way you won't be at Pop, will enjoy a beautiful resort with good dining options, and at the same time will have spending money left over that you wouldn't have with the Poly stay. Imo the fireworks dessert party is the best use of that extra money, btw.

Good idea. Or, pick a moderate. POR is our fav.

 

[mickeynut1]

I’d choose Poly. Watch the MK fireworks on the beach! This is just me, but I wouldn’t need to go to mnsshp more than once.

Same for me

That's a choice between two extremes: a value resort or one of the most expensive deluxes. Why not compromise & stay at a less-expensive deluxe like AKL or WL? That way you can really be comfortable in a way you won't be at Pop, will enjoy a beautiful resort with good dining options, and at the same time will have spending money left over that you wouldn't have with the Poly stay.

Yep! Two opposite ends of the spectrum. I would choose The Polynesian if these are the only two in consideration, but AKL is nice and WL is on my bucket list.

I agree that both WL and AKL would be great choices to save over the Poly but still in the deluxe category .

 

[gillep]

I really didn't like POP, so between these two choices I would book The Poly if it is in the budget, but I also wouldn't do more than one MNSSHP, and then I would book the HEA dessert party instead of a second Halloween party. To be honest though, The Poly isn't my favorite Deluxe resort, so I would likely go with something in the Epcot area, WL, or AKL instead or even a moderate like POR.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Planning on booking an October trip for 5 nights.
The difference between booking the Poly versus Pop is about $1200

I'm torn between which resort to choose!

If we choose Poly, we would probably do 1 night MNSSHP. No other experiences.

If we choose Pop, we would do 2 nights MNSSHP. Also would try to get the dessert party at MK for better fireworks viewing. And would book an Illuminations cruise. And would book an Eat to the Beat meal experience at Epcot. And possibly Victoria and Alberts (if we can fit it in)

I'm torn between the convenience and amenities of the Poly versus the extra experiences we would do if we stay at Pop!!

What would you pick??

Only because I like getting the best value for my $$, I would choose POP and all those great extras!

Poly is convenient only for the MK. Not so much for even Epcot, monorail transfers can take a while....and that is even if the monorail is running, not broken or delayed, which happens OFTEN. Then ou will miss out on all that great stuff and still be taking a bus places!! Go for POP. Poly convenience is too unpredictable.

 

[JennyDrake]

Can you tell us more about your traveling party and ages? Have any/all been to WDW recently? When do you plan to visit again?

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Planning on booking an October trip for 5 nights.
The difference between booking the Poly versus Pop is about $1200

I'm torn between which resort to choose!

If we choose Poly, we would probably do 1 night MNSSHP. No other experiences.

If we choose Pop, we would do 2 nights MNSSHP. Also would try to get the dessert party at MK for better fireworks viewing. And would book an Illuminations cruise. And would book an Eat to the Beat meal experience at Epcot. And possibly Victoria and Alberts (if we can fit it in)

I'm torn between the convenience and amenities of the Poly versus the extra experiences we would do if we stay at Pop!!

What would you pick??

Will you use the resort facilities (hang out at the pool mid day) or do you just need a bed to sleep in?

That’s what I take into consideration when I book a resort at wdw.

If you are using the resort only as a place to sleep then I would stay at Pop and use the money you save for better experiences.

Or you can do a split stay. Three or four nights at Pop with the last night(s) at Poly.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

5 nights will involve a lot of action and running around. I agree with Ciao Mickey that unless you’ll be staying at the resort for an extended period of time and using the amenities, it’s not worth it to stay at the deluxe.

I would do POP and do the illuminations cruise, MNSSHP, And have nice meal at V&A.

 

[Tiki_Sara]

I’d do a value with more spending money any day. Doesn’t sound like you’re planning to spend much time at the resort anyway so save your money for other things

 

[Haley R]

I vote for pop. We just stayed in March and I loved the new rooms! We just booked a return trip for October because we liked it that much. $1200 is a big difference and I would much rather have the special add ons like two Halloween parties.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Pop for sure! All of those experiences sound like so much fun! Wow! 2 MNSSHP, V&A, Dessert party, illuminations cruise etc. That's awesome. Pop is one of my fave value resorts. With newly reno'd rooms right now, its even better. With a 5 night trip, you'll be running around a lot and not at the resort much probably. So i think pop will be a good pick.

 

[J'aime Paris]

Thank you for all the great replies!!! I read them each several times.

A lot of great view points....that is exactly what I was looking for!

We are headed to WDW Oct 17-22, and both the 17th and 22nd are really just travel days. That doesn't leave us with many days in between due to DD's college schedule. It would be my DD (turning 20 while there), myself and my parents. All in good physical shape.

Poly is one of our favorite resorts, so I'm leaning toward that. Plus my DD does like some pool time to work on her tan!
But, I need to be conscientious of a budget for my parents.

Pop has the refurbished rooms, and we would get 2 rooms to spread out a bit. (We did have bus issues here on a previous stay)
We would have plenty of funds left over to do the special experiences I mentioned in my previous post.

Either way, we will have a great time! I think I will email these responses to DD and let her decide. It's her bday trip after all...