Poly or Wilderness Lodge

[DisneyDillyDally]

Starting to look at booking return to Disney World! Thoughts on which hotel to book? We have stayed at WL before and loved it.

 

[The_Banking_Scot]

Hmm tough choice,

Assuming you are happy with the prices, I think Poly is ahead on convenience to the magic kingdom ( boat/ferry/monorail/wal) and epcot, WL for the interior ambience and the more wilderness environment feel. At the poly you will be able to face directly towards the castle and the fireworks. It is also a nice walk to explore the Grand Floridian.
Have stayed at both in the past and loved both but preferred WL ( found the Poly to be too expensive compared to WL and the addtional transport time from WL did not bother me.

 

[kanerf]

Keep in mind that right now the monorail to MK from Poly is not running as well as the monorail to Epcot, so you will be doing a bus or boat to MK from either Poly or WL. It will be a bus for both to Epcot. At Poly you can walk over to the TTE and take the MK monorail from there.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I think the Wilderness Lodge Resort rooms just completed an update.
And the DVC side is supposed to be updated sometime in 2022… but can not verify the specifics. The DVC building is far enough away from Main Lodge it would not create any annoyances.
I love the Poly but the current construction is not complete.
Hopefully somebody has more info to help with your decision.

 

[CynBeth]

We loved both but would say Poly since you have never stayed there.

 

[Bird003]

Poly. No question

 

[Nabas]

The Monorail station at the Poly will be open by the time you take your vacation, assuming it’s not within the next couple of months.

I’m a big fan of trying a new hotel.

Since you have already stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, my vote is for the Poly.

I have stayed at both several times. Both are equally appealing but in different ways.

Again, try something different. Try the Poly.

 

[badiggio]

WL.For us,everything considered,transportation,boat to Mk, cost,resort,Whispering canyon,it's by far the best value in a deluxe.Again,for US,it's not worth the extra expense to stay at more expensive deluxe resorts for what we'd get in return.

 

[DisneyDillyDally]

Keep in mind that right now the monorail to MK from Poly is not running as well as the monorail to Epcot, so you will be doing a bus or boat to MK from either Poly or WL. It will be a bus for both to Epcot. At Poly you can walk over to the TTE and take the MK monorail from there.

Do you know when Monorail to MK will be back? We are going Feb 2022 - might be back by then?

 

[DisneyDillyDally]

WL.For us,everything considered,transportation,boat to Mk, cost,resort,Whispering canyon,it's by far the best value in a deluxe.Again,for US,it's not worth the extra expense to stay at more expensive deluxe resorts for what we'd get in return.

Thanks. I really love theming at WL. But feeling like maybe we should stay once at Poly.

 

[DisneyDillyDally]

The Monorail station at the Poly will be open by the time you take your vacation, assuming it’s not within the next couple of months.

I’m a big fan of trying a new hotel.

Since you have already stayed at the Wilderness Lodge, my vote is for the Poly.

I have stayed at both several times. Both are equally appealing but in different ways.

Again, try something different. Try the Poly.

Thanks! And thanks for comment about when Monorail will be open again. Yes, I really want to experience the theming at the Poly.

 

[cellomom]

Love both Poly and WL. I vote for the Poly, try something new

 

[Dave006]

I think the Wilderness Lodge Resort rooms just completed an update.

They are freshly updated now.

I love the Poly but the current construction is not complete.

The Poly is working on the Moana theme update that will be done in late July ( currently July 19th scheduled)

Dave

 

[raddisneyfan]

Love WL and have stayed at WL and it's 2 DVC locations. I've stayed at a regular Polynesian room and the studio DVC. Even though I would not do Polynesian DVC again, I would book the regular resort. The issue usually, as others have mentioned, is price...even with a discount, I would have to forego multiple visits in a year and I'm not really willing to do that now am I !

 

[DisneyDillyDally]

Love WL and have stayed at WL and it's 2 DVC locations. I've stayed at a regular Polynesian room and the studio DVC. Even though I would not do Polynesian DVC again, I would book the regular resort. The issue usually, as others have mentioned, is price...even with a discount, I would have to forego multiple visits in a year and I'm not really willing to do that now am I !

Yes the cost is quite a bit higher than WL, what’s wrong with the DVC option at poly? I think I’m willing to pay the higher price one time just to do it.

 

[HairyChest]

Poly. Or a split stay If you think you’ll miss WL a lot.
Polys rooms and convenience are better and you can always visit the wilderness lodge.

 

[cellomom]

Yes the cost is quite a bit higher than WL, what’s wrong with the DVC option at poly? I think I’m willing to pay the higher price one time just to do it.

As others have stated WL and Poly “hotel” side rooms are freshly updated. I am a Poly DVC owner-the DVC side is not freshly updated. This doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the rooms, just may show some wear. The rooms are darker than new or updated DVC villas. Poly DVC studio villas are large (447 Sq ft) with 2 bathrooms (1 toilet in larger bathroom). If you decide that a DVC Poly studio is where you want to stay I would request #1-Tokelau building (if possible 3rd floor Tokelau). Keep in mind a request is not guaranteed, it’s just a request.
Tokelau is near the quiet pool and the closest DVC building to the great ceremonial house. Poly’s Capt. Cook’s is one of my favorite quick services.
Poly’s resort monorail Should be running by the end of the summer.

 

[Cheburashka]

Starting to look at booking return to Disney World! Thoughts on which hotel to book? We have stayed at WL before and loved it.

If the Polynesian is significantly more expensive I would stick with Wilderness Lodge. There are so many Polynesian fans on these boards that one can kind of lose perspective, listening to them go on and on about how wonderful it is. It's a nice resort but no more amazing than any other Disney deluxe. I've stayed at both resorts (all of the deluxes, actually) and they're both lovely. Neither one is objectively better than the other; it's a matter of taste. Unless you're just dying to experience the different theming of the Polynesian, it isn't worth a financial sacrifice to stay there instead of at Wilderness Lodge. If you're just looking for monorail access, stay at the Contemporary Garden Wing for a more reasonable price.

 

[Cabius]

They are both among the best-themed hotels on property. Money being equal, I prefer the Poly, but it really comes down to personal preference and how the themes resonate with you.

 

[Cheburashka]

what’s wrong with the DVC option at poly?

Nothing wrong really except that the DVC rooms at Poly haven't been refreshed in several years and feel a bit stale in regards to their upkeep. We stayed there in July, and while we enjoyed the resort and its theming, I wished the room and building had been in tip-top shape. We actually stayed there twice during the trip due to booking challenges of last summer's reopening: our Poly DVC stays bookended a longer trip. Once we stayed at Tokelau and once at Pago Pago (even though we'd requested Tokelau). Tokelau was better, in terms of condition of the building and the room. Even in Tokelau it felt a bit old, but in Pago Pago the elevator made a weird noise that we noticed every time we passed by, and were glad to not have a room next to it. The plate of the magic band scanner fell off our door, and the room was decently clean but not pristine as one would hope. It was nothing terrible, but particularly as we were doing a split stay with a fresher resort, the unfresh state of the Poly DVC section was noticeable. I personally wouldn't pay to stay there again until there's been a refresh.

The theming is charming, though. It's a pity that when they refresh it, the theming will probably not be as nice. Disney seems to want to take the charm out of all of its guest rooms.