POLY vs SOG

[Brent's Mom]

We are going to WDW for the 1st time in April for 5 days. We have a 2y/o. I have been reading the reviews about both and we are having trouble deciding which would be best. It sounds like SOG has great rooms and is quiet but Poly has "extra" disney items like soap/sunscreen and towels. Can these type of items be purchased at a gift shop? What is disney storytime? Is the character wake-up call worth the extra $ ? If anyone has been to both and can share their experiences, I would appreciate the info.

 

[FirstNo]

We are going to WDW for the 1st time in April for 5 days. We have a 2y/o. I have been reading the reviews about both and we are having trouble deciding which would be best. It sounds like SOG has great rooms and is quiet but Poly has "extra" disney items like soap/sunscreen and towels. Can these type of items be purchased at a gift shop? What is disney storytime? Is the character wake-up call worth the extra $ ? If anyone has been to both and can share their experiences, I would appreciate the info.

If you've never done Disney before and you can afford it, go with the Poly. If money is tight and you want to do Disney, go with SoG.

No, you cannot purchase the Mickey soap/shampoo/lotion in a gift shop. To ME, the character wake up call is not worth the extra $$, but that's because it means nothing to me and I don't use wake up calls.

Only you can decide if it is worth the extra money to stay at a Disney resort for a Disney experience. SoG is not bad; it's just not Disney. SoG is a great place to stay for a quality, deluxe hotel at inexpensive rates (compared to Disney) to do Disney World. At the Poly, you'll be able to go to the MK either by boat or monorail. You can go to Epcot by monorail (after exchaning trains at the T&TC). All else will be by bus (or you can drive). You'll have a nice beach to watch the MK fireworks and the Electrical Pagent on. A nice, themed pool and a Disney experience to remember.

 

[tlev]

I thought SOG was only for armed forces members and their families? Can anyone stay there?

 

[Betsyt82]

"tlev I thought SOG was only for armed forces members and their families? Can anyone stay there?"

You are correct in your thinking.....it is only for the Armed forces.

 

[MAGGIED]

Well I have stayed at the Poly and will be staying at the SOG in April - here is my take on this.... when we arrive in WDW I want a clean room, with a big bed and the ability to get to the parks with as little incovience as possible. Most of our days are spent inside one of the parks and we come back to the room for the occasional swim and to sleep at night. The SOG is beautiful inside - the rooms are huge and the transporation isn't bad. So for our family we chose to spend the $97/night as opposed to over $200 a night and use that money on things like an Illunimations Cruise, a day at Discovery Cove to do the dolphin swim, a day at Sea World, CRT ressies, Chef Mickey, the luau and many others. I guess alot of it depends on how much time you plan on being in the room. Like I said for us - the big room is a definate plus... good luck with your decision.....

 

[akrake]

i assume you are staying at sog........it's a nice hotel & the price is right...but i can not stress more (and some people will think i'm being too picky) but bring your own shampoo & soap (or buy from afess) when you get there bc the stuff you get there is terrible...esp on my hair & baby/young kid skin.
amie

 

[rhiansmom]

Well I have stayed at the Poly and will be staying at the SOG in April - here is my take on this.... when we arrive in WDW I want a clean room, with a big bed and the ability to get to the parks with as little incovience as possible. Most of our days are spent inside one of the parks and we come back to the room for the occasional swim and to sleep at night. The SOG is beautiful inside - the rooms are huge and the transporation isn't bad. So for our family we chose to spend the $97/night as opposed to over $200 a night and use that money on things like an Illunimations Cruise, a day at Discovery Cove to do the dolphin swim, a day at Sea World, CRT ressies, Chef Mickey, the luau and many others. I guess alot of it depends on how much time you plan on being in the room. Like I said for us - the big room is a definate plus... good luck with your decision.....

I have to agree. I am getting the $70 a night room because of husband's rank. I'm totally excited and spending the extra money on other things. Money wise we are totally good becuase my job pays so much more than his so I kind of feel bad about the cheap room but he is doing his service to the country and this is part of the thanks.

We are doing the Illuminations Cruise, My Disney Princess Tea Party, Pirate Cruise, Cooking Adventures, Wonderland Tea Party and many character meals.

Did I say I can't wait???

 

[DancingBear]

We are going to WDW for the 1st time in April for 5 days. We have a 2y/o. I have been reading the reviews about both and we are having trouble deciding which would be best. It sounds like SOG has great rooms and is quiet but Poly has "extra" disney items like soap/sunscreen and towels. Can these type of items be purchased at a gift shop? What is disney storytime? Is the character wake-up call worth the extra $ ? If anyone has been to both and can share their experiences, I would appreciate the info.

I wouldn't pick the Poly because of the soap or character wake-up calls. Rather, the Poly's plusses are being right on the monorail line for MK (or take the boat), and an easy stroll to the monorail line to Epcot, and its beautiful theming and landscaping. Also, the Poly has extra activities (torch lighting, a ukelele player in the lobby on occasion, etc.).

As the rooms in both resorts are large and comfortable, the SOG's plus is really the money savings. So, are the extras which the Poly offers worth the extra money? Or would you like to use that extra money for something else, as MaggieD suggests?

Only you know whether the Poly's extras are worth it to you. However, keep in mind that the Poly (and thus the monorails) are only an easy stroll away from the SOG, and you don't have to be a guest at the Poly to stroll around the resort, listen to the uke player, watch the Electrical Water Pageant from the Poly beach, catch the boat from the Poly to MK, or eat at O'Hana.

 

[polkadotminnie]

How is the POLY pool and pool area?

 

[4mykids]

We have stayed at SOG numerous times and have never felt it was un-Disney. We have also stayed at BC, BWI, CR, Dolphin, POR, and POFQ. At the SOG, you are on the property. You would be in the largest rooms on the property. There is a Mickey-shaped pool. We went by there last week to buy tickets and it is beautiful since the renovation. Told the kids we were staying at the Contemporary and they were disappointed we were not at the SOG. The entire property, between the two golf courses, is incredible. Great rates; cheaper food; cheaper gift shop, etc...

The soap/shampoo at the Disney resorts is just okay. Sure it is in Mickey packages, but it is Ivory soap. Never used the wake-up call. Don't let those things sway your decision.

IMHO, save the $$$$ for other things on the property!

 

[FirstNo]

I thought SOG was only for armed forces members and their families? Can anyone stay there?

As someone who stayed there while in the military and then worked in their reservations dept. for a little over 3 yrs, no, it's not just for armed forces members.

If you work for, or are retired from, the DoD (Dept. of Defense), you are eligible to stay. There are some other lesser known rules, most of which I can't remember at the moment and were rarely used. But, I believe the SoG website has a listing of who is eligible.

As for overflow, I was told (keep in mind, the rules may have changed) that ANY ONE could use overflow, however only those who are eligible to stay at SoG could get an overflow rate for a Disney owned resort. SoG does a number of other hotels in their overflow (such as the DD hotels, the D&S and a bunch off site) and it wouldn't hurt to check.

 

[FirstNo]

"tlev I thought SOG was only for armed forces members and their families? Can anyone stay there?"

You are correct in your thinking.....it is only for the Armed forces.

Nope, it's not. I just checked the website and it plainly states it is not "only" for the Armed forces the eligibility page. If you click the eligibility requirements, you'll see it's open for a number of different people, depending on the circumstances.

 

[jdmccol]

According to Allearsnet.com the avg SOG room is 480 sq ft, the standard poly room is 409 sq ft. The standard room at AKL is 344 sq ft and deluxe is 381 sq ft.

The price for the SOG rooms are tax free, the other properties at WDW will have an 11.5% tax on top of the room price.

Since it's within walking distance of the Poly for monorail, bus, shops, etc., I know where I will be staying.

 

[Sleepy]

For me, one of the best things about Sog is the fact that it is ALWAYS a flat rate. I don't have to deal with codes. As long as you make ressies ahead of time, the rooms will be available. I have to say SOG is the easiest, most stress free part of my Disney vacations. I never have to say.....I plan to stay at Poly, but if I can't get a code, I will have to stay somewhere else. I know up front that I can budget SOG and I don't have to wait or change my reservation unless my dates change.

As someone else said....my room is a place to relax in mid day if I make that decision and it is a place for me to sleep at night. I don't need fancy decorative soap or shampoos. Don't need hidden Mickey's either. I prefer a bus that is not overly crowded and has soft cushy seats and no Disney bus has that. Just like Disney hotels, SOG has pools (might not be as fabulous, but it serves a function), restaurants and a giftshop. In my opinion, the only thing that is lacking with SOG is a direct link with the monorail....and not even all the Disney hotels have that.

 

[dis-happy]

If the only thing holding you back from staying at SOG is the Disney soap and shampoo, I'm sure someone from the DIS (including me) would be happy to send you some extra and you can put it in the rooms for the kids. However, I draw the line at calling your room and trying to sound like Mickey.

 

[Lord Fantasius]

Hi...Just returned from a quick visit to WDW last week and even though I stayed at some of the moderates, I visited SoG to get my tickets and look around the place for a possible future visit next year (due to my wife's rank, the cost of a room at SoG was about the same as what I got with my AAA discount at the moderates so I tried them instead.)

SoG definitely looks beautiful after the renovations and the rooms are huge (by Disney-standards at least). Bring your own soap and shampoo if that's a big concern for you, my wife and I do as the stuff given at most hotels are throw-away to begin with (we don't even collect it to bring it back home anymore); but admittedly it is a cute souvenir for your bathroom at home.

Honestly, I don't know why the CM's try to scare people away from walking between SoG and the Poly (even being told it's "way too far to walk so you need to take a bus") as it's barely the length of a fairway to the corner of the Poly and then about half that distance to the monorail entrance. Though I am a brisk walker, it should really take about 15 - 20 minutes at a nice casual pace...and you'll get some fresh air at the same time. Though yes, the opening in hedge around the Poly from the street does make it feel like you're entering a forbidden back door of the Kingdom!

The biggest drawback to staying at SoG if you don't have a rental car is getting between there and an "official" Disney hotel. To get between SoG and any Disney resort requires that you take a bus to any of the theme parks' offsite bus loading area, walk to the Disney bus loading area, and then load onto one of these buses. Since SoG's buses do not run as frequently to the parks as Disney buses, it might take you awhile to make your connection.

If you decide to go the Magic Kingdom via bus, it's double-worse since you are dropped off at the TTC, then you have to take the monorail (or ferry) to the MK, as opposed to the Disney resort bus that pulls up to the front of the MK. In this case it is actually quicker to walk to the Poly's monorail station and then take it to the MK. (Truthfully, however, getting between any two resorts on Disney property is a major hassle and really needs to be addressed by Disney if they want anyone to enjoy another resort's restuarants, etc. Right now it's a logistics nightmare to really enjoy more than one other resort during a day if you don't have your own transportation.)

But be that as it may, I'm sure you will LOVE SoG if you decide to stay there. Yes, I did stay at the Poly quite often while growing up, but now that I have the option to stay at SoG, might decide there instead next year!

Cheers, and thanks again for your husband's (and your's) commitment to serving our country!!!

-R

 

[bdcp]

We walked between SOG and Poly several times and no one ever tried to talk us out of it. It's an easy walk and SOG is well worth the stay. The rooms are very comfortable and a real bargain. My DH is an O-6 and we're paying $114 this fall for a poolside room. For the size we can't beat the cost. We looked at staying at the Poly and GF and just couldn't justify the cost. We get all the Disney we need in the parks.

 

[rhiansmom]

If the only thing holding you back from staying at SOG is the Disney soap and shampoo, I'm sure someone from the DIS (including me) would be happy to send you some extra and you can put it in the rooms for the kids. However, I draw the line at calling your room and trying to sound like Mickey.

What if I get on 2 knees and beg??? For the sake of a five year old??? Please???????

 

[rhiansmom]

Honestly, I don't know why the CM's try to scare people away from walking between SoG and the Poly (even being told it's "way too far to walk so you need to take a bus") as it's barely the length of a fairway to the corner of the Poly and then about half that distance to the monorail entrance. Though I am a brisk walker, it should really take about 15 - 20 minutes at a nice casual pace...and you'll get some fresh air at the same time. Though yes, the opening in hedge around the Poly from the street does make it feel like you're entering a forbidden back door of the Kingdom!

-R

Can you tell me what you think the best way to get to the Grand Flordian would be? DD is doing many activities there and having a jump ahead on the bus/monorail/walking schedule will be great!

 

[Lord Fantasius]

Hi rhiansmom, by far, the quickest way to the GF is to walk from SoG to Poly's monorail station (about 15 - 20 min's) and then it's the next stop on the line (the resort monorail goes clockwise so that the GF will be next after the Poly). The entire trip door-to-door shouldn't take more than a half hour or 40 min's unless the line at Poly's is way backed up.

Truthfully, yes, the bellhop at the CSR where I was staying my first night honestly told me the walk from the Poly to the SoG was fairly long and that he wouldn't recommend it...guess he thought I would need help from my room to my car as well. Go figure!

-R