Poly vs Yacht Club

DaveF

Earning My Ears
Joined
Mar 4, 2018
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We are splurging a bit on the last 3 nights of our upcoming trip and are deciding between reservations we have for the Polynesian and Yacht Club. And, it will be a surprise for my family so I have to make the decision alone.

We’ve never stayed on the monorail and never in the Epcot area, so I’m excited about either option in that regard.
For both, love the idea of walking to/from Studios and Epcot as well as easy monorail/boat access to MK. We are doing those two parks on our last days.

Poly is a bit more money, but is there more of a “wow” factor staying there?

I know opinions can vary, so I was looking for some input from people that have done either. Even something that I wouldn’t have thought of.
 
How exciting. Among my two favorite resorts (Poly is my favorite, YC in the top 3), but they are pretty opposite in many ways.

Want to make sure I'm reading your post correctly... MK and Epcot are on your itinerary for these days?

Also mind if I ask number in your party/ages? (I ask because of room size and sleeping arrangements).
 
We are splurging a bit on the last 3 nights of our upcoming trip and are deciding between reservations we have for the Polynesian and Yacht Club. And, it will be a surprise for my family so I have to make the decision alone.

We’ve never stayed on the monorail and never in the Epcot area, so I’m excited about either option in that regard.
For both, love the idea of walking to/from Studios and Epcot as well as easy monorail/boat access to MK. We are doing those two parks on our last days.

Poly is a bit more money, but is there more of a “wow” factor staying there?

I know opinions can vary, so I was looking for some input from people that have done either. Even something that I wouldn’t have thought of.

Having stayed at both resorts, I would pass on the Poly and go with the YC especially when you can save $$ by doing so. I, personally, don't believe there is more of a wow factor at the Poly vs YC. I like having the rooms in the main building vs. walking outside to constantly get to your room - a plus in my opinion especially when the weather is HOT or raining. Also, the location of the YC and being so close to two parks can't be beat. My family likes having the Boardwalk so close too as it gives us another option of something to do when not in the park...we enjoy walking around and seeing the fireworks, etc.

I'm sure you will get a lot of different answers on this one so Good Luck and enjoy your trip whatever you decide.
 
I would do the Poly. You have the electrical water pageant at night and an easy walk to the TTC for the Epcot monorail and the tropical vibe.
 

I just stayed at Poly for the first time last week and was a little disappointed. The buildings seemed worn and not all that well maintained and getting to Epcot was still a hassle even with being close to the TTC. The grounds are beautiful and the pool area is awesome, but after leaving Epcot and HS many nights we were kind of wishing we had picked an Epcot resort for our trip. I don't want this to come across as the Poly being a bad destination, just disappointing from what I had expected from being there many times as a guest. Either way though I'm sure your family will be thrilled with your choice.
 
If you have strollers, then I’d stay at the Poly and request a building close to the TTC so you’re walking distance to the Epcot monorail. The DVC buildings are closest, but there are some regular rooms that aren’t too far.

If you don’t have strollers or littles, I’d pick Yacht Club. The Poly is awesome and so convenient to the MK and Epcot if you walk to the TTC, but the Yacht Club is so much more peaceful. The Poly gets a lot of foot traffic bc of its restaurants and MK proximity. It just feels chaotic to me and not super restful. But I absolutely loved my stay there, so it’s not enough to keep me away forever ;-) The pools at the Poly rival Storm Along Bay. I love seeing the castle in the background when I swim! The quiet pool at the Poly is also very underrated in my opinion.
 
Though I prefer YC, for a "wow" factor, I would probably go Poly. The theming is amazing and seeing the castle from the beach is quite special. I've stayed at both a few times (Poly more than YC) and I just don't book Poly any more due to the noise. The lobby is a bit chaotic and the noise from the water pageant and fireworks is very hard to avoid (the luau is also quite loud if you are located on that side of the resort. If noise isn't an issue for you, I would do Poly. If you would rather have a more relaxing stay, I would do YC.
 
How exciting. Among my two favorite resorts (Poly is my favorite, YC in the top 3), but they are pretty opposite in many ways.

Want to make sure I'm reading your post correctly... MK and Epcot are on your itinerary for these days?

Also mind if I ask number in your party/ages? (I ask because of room size and sleeping arrangements).

Yes, Epcot and MK are our last 2 full days during this part of our trip. We would have already done AK, HS and part days at Epcot and MK while staying at POFQ for the first part of our week.

It's me, my wife and two daughters 13/17.
 
Maybe I should have mentioned this too…

On check-in day (when I will surprise the family) we already have a part day/evening at HS and it would be super easy to find a reason to walk to the resort area to “check out” Christmas decorations and then actually “check IN”.
Advantage = Yacht Club

Our next day is full Epcot with EMH until 11:30 pm. Fairly easy regardless of either resort.
Advantage = ??

Our final day is full MK with EMH until midnight. Easier late night travel back to Poly, would mean crowded bus or Minnie van/lyft to YC.
Advantage = Poly
 
Yes, Epcot and MK are our last 2 full days during this part of our trip. We would have already done AK, HS and part days at Epcot and MK while staying at POFQ for the first part of our week.

It's me, my wife and two daughters 13/17.

Cool, thanks.

Poly rooms are larger than YC and in some ways are more "livable" with four people. But the new YC rooms (which I really like) use space very well and are passable. Just not as big as Poly.

Poly's bathrooms: Shower/tub, sinks, and toilet are all in one space with a door separating the room and bathroom area.
YC's bathrooms: Shower and toilet are in one space with a door, sinks are outside of that space (with a sliding door that can close the space off from the room). So, someone can be drying their hair while someone else has some privacy.

I mention this because the fact that the toilet is in the one bathroom area at Poly is sometimes a consideration (read, gripe) for some. Depends on how you travel / if that matters to you though.

I agree with @DisneyWishes14 in that Poly has more of a "wow" factor, for us. I never tire of walking in that lobby, smelling the wonderful scent. Some people feel the lobby is noisy and chaotic (esp in the evenings with Ohana being such a big draw) which I get, but to me it's exciting. Then when you walk out the 'back' door and have the castle in site and have the buzz/happiness of the Lava Pool and other things around the Grand Ceremonial House, it all combines to create a wonderful and unique place. Looking out over the 7 Seas Lagoon towards GF, MK, and CR never gets old to me. It's pure 1971 "vacation kingdom" Disney and is one of our absolute favorite places in all of WDW.

YC is a bit more refined and sophisticated. More sleek, more stylish, more subdued. Less wow factor, although a room facing Crescent Lake is mighty nice (will depend on your view category of course). Storm Along Bay (SAB) is better suited for teenagers, to some extent. If swimming / a lot of resort pool time is on your agenda, then I'd weigh this somewhat heavily. One negative with Poly is the Lava Pool can sometimes be crowded to the point of being annoying at peak times, although the Oasis Pool helps a bit (and is really nice). SAB is probably the biggest "wow factor" element of YC to us.

Your park plan (MK & Epcot) tends to make me think Poly more than YC. Monorail and boat access to MK; short walk to the TTC for Epcot access. We hit Epcot a lot when staying at Poly. Sure, not quite as easy as the walk-able access from YC, but it's the next best thing. An Epcot arrival via monorail is kind of a ride in and of itself with the great views of the park.

Other Poly highlights include things like nightly Electrical Water Pageant viewing and nightly MK fireworks viewing from the beach with audio piped in. Your plans may make both of these non-factors though. My kids are younger so we're sometimes back at the resort vs in the parks around fireworks time, so that's how we get our fireworks fix in. Might not be a consideration given your ages and if you're park commandos.

YC was the last deluxe for us to try and I had pretty much always dismissed it when planning previously - just never really called to me. We stayed there for the first time earlier this year and have already been back once since then. It's a warm and inviting resort.

If you're finicky about hotel rooms, Poly's resort rooms were last renovated 2013ish which is getting a bit long in hotel years (you may see it in overall fit/finish in some rooms). YC rooms were totally re-done last year and are very sleek/nice (I like it, but some object to the hardwood flooring).

Sorry - long post. Like any WDW resort, there are pros and cons. Locational advantages and disadvantages. Different room view categories will give you different experiences.

Since I really like both, but for different reasons - my advice above is sort of a mixed bag!

The good thing is, I don't think you can make a "bad" choice given what you describe. Best of luck in your planning, whatever you decide.
 
Last edited:
Sorry - long post. Like any WDW resort, there are pros and cons. Locational advantages and disadvantages. Different room view categories will give you different experiences.

Don't be sorry, I really appreciate the time it took to reply in such detail.

Less wow factor, although a room facing Crescent Lake is mighty nice (will depend on your view category of course).

We have a "water view" so that should be nice.

Thank you again for your reply, I appreciate it.
 
Cool, thanks.

Poly rooms are larger than YC and in some ways are more "livable" with four people. But the new YC rooms (which I really like) use space very well and are passable. Just not as big as Poly.

Poly's bathrooms: Shower/tub, sinks, and toilet are all in one space with a door separating the room and bathroom area.
YC's bathrooms: Shower and toilet are in one space with a door, sinks are outside of that space (with a sliding door that can close the space off from the room). So, someone can be drying their hair while someone else has some privacy.

I mention this because the fact that the toilet is in the one bathroom area at Poly is sometimes a consideration (read, gripe) for some. Depends on how you travel / if that matters to you though.

I agree with @DisneyWishes14 in that Poly has more of a "wow" factor, for us. I never tire of walking in that lobby, smelling the wonderful scent. Some people feel the lobby is noisy and chaotic (esp in the evenings with Ohana being such a big draw) which I get, but to me it's exciting. Then when you walk out the 'back' door and have the castle in site and have the buzz/happiness of the Lava Pool and other things around the Grand Ceremonial House, it all combines to create a wonderful and unique place. Looking out over the 7 Seas Lagoon towards GF, MK, and CR never gets old to me. It's pure 1971 "vacation kingdom" Disney and is one of our absolute favorite places in all of WDW.

YC is a bit more refined and sophisticated. More sleek, more stylish, more subdued. Less wow factor, although a room facing Crescent Lake is mighty nice (will depend on your view category of course). Storm Along Bay (SAB) is better suited for teenagers, to some extent. If swimming / a lot of resort pool time is on your agenda, then I'd weigh this somewhat heavily. One negative with Poly is the Lava Pool can sometimes be crowded to the point of being annoying at peak times, although the Oasis Pool helps a bit (and is really nice). SAB is probably the biggest "wow factor" element of YC to us.

Your park plan (MK & Epcot) tends to make me think Poly more than YC. Monorail and boat access to MK; short walk to the TTC for Epcot access. We hit Epcot a lot when staying at Poly. Sure, not quite as easy as the walk-able access from YC, but it's the next best thing. An Epcot arrival via monorail is kind of a ride in and of itself with the great views of the park.

Other Poly highlights include things like nightly Electrical Water Pageant viewing and nightly MK fireworks viewing from the beach with audio piped in. Your plans may make both of these non-factors though. My kids are younger so we're sometimes back at the resort vs in the parks around fireworks time, so that's how we get our fireworks fix in. Might not be a consideration given your ages and if you're park commandos.

YC was the last deluxe for us to try and I had pretty much always dismissed it when planning previously - just never really called to me. We stayed there for the first time earlier this year and have already been back once since then. It's a warm and inviting resort.

If you're finicky about hotel rooms, Poly's resort rooms were last renovated 2013ish which is getting a bit long in hotel years (you may see it in overall fit/finish in some rooms). YC rooms were totally re-done last year and are very sleek/nice (I like it, but some object to the hardwood flooring).

Sorry - long post. Like any WDW resort, there are pros and cons. Locational advantages and disadvantages. Different room view categories will give you different experiences.

Since I really like both, but for different reasons - my advice above is sort of a mixed bag!

The good thing is, I don't think you can make a "bad" choice given what you describe. Best of luck in your planning, whatever you decide.

Like, totally agree!!!! (Been playing teenager mutant Ninja Turtles with grandsons all night.)

OP: Ages of those in your group would matter a lot to me. If there are younger children, especially in strollers, I would stay at the Poly. If teenagers/older kids and adults I would lean towards the YC.
However, I have to say, I feel that seeing the castle from your resort is the ultimate "Wow!" at WDW. The Poly has a magical atmosphere for many people.

Enjoy whichever you choose!
 
This is a tough question because it all depends on what you will be doing during that portion of your trip! Last year we were at the Contemporary for a couple weeks before moving to the Yacht Club at the end of our stay. For the YC portion of our trip we moved there because that is when we wanted to do all the EPCOT eating and drinking around the world and ALSO because we had a few resort only days and that has the best pool in all of Disney property hands down! The best part? We went in December when many people found it too chilly and often my family was 1 of only 3 or 4 in the pool and it was like have a private oasis all to ourselves, even on Christmas day!!

Our Contemporary portion of the stay was for everything else, we always drive to AK no matter where we stay so for us it was just a matter of the Studios and the bus was more than adequate and also the Magic Kingdom, which made the monorail superb! We also did the Highway in the Sky progressive dinner and it was awesome just taking the elevator down to the Wave and at the end of the night back up to the Atrium Club. All the resorts have their own things that make them desirable!! We leave in a couple weeks and this year we are doing the Grand and the Poly and the Fort. The Fort is mainly because we are buying an RV and we wanted to check it out, the Grand was because we are once again doing Highway in the Sky and the Contemporary was sold out when we booked....the Poly is because we added on an extra week and the RPC didn't have all the days we added on. So it's a mix of here and there but everything has a reason! LOL
 
I agree with @DisneyWishes14 in that Poly has more of a "wow" factor, for us. I never tire of walking in that lobby, smelling the wonderful scent. Some people feel the lobby is noisy and chaotic (esp in the evenings with Ohana being such a big draw) which I get, but to me it's exciting. Then when you walk out the 'back' door and have the castle in site and have the buzz/happiness of the Lava Pool and other things around the Grand Ceremonial House, it all combines to create a wonderful and unique place. Looking out over the 7 Seas Lagoon towards GF, MK, and CR never gets old to me. It's pure 1971 "vacation kingdom" Disney and is one of our absolute favorite places in all of WDW.

My thoughts exactly! Haven't stayed at YC but have visited many times and the Poly has more of a "wow" factor to me. I, too, love walking through the lobby. As stated above, it does get loud/chaotic sometimes, but that's Disney, IMO. I find everything about the Poly to be great, but seeing the castle everyday is just magical and is hard to beat ;).

However, I have to say, I feel that seeing the castle from your resort is the ultimate "Wow!" at WDW. The Poly has a magical atmosphere for many people.

I agree! :)
 
I must be crazy, now I have another scenario…

Forget Poly:
Save $500+ overall
We’ll still visit one day for breakfast.

Stay at Yacht for 2 nights instead of 3:
We can walk to end HS night and then start/finish a full long day at Epcot the next day.

Stay at Wilderness Lodge on final night:
Gets us a boat ride home following long, late MK final day at midnight.
I’m assuming the boats run then for late EMH?
It’s a resort we were going to visit anyway to see decorations and maybe eat at Geyser.

That would mean an additional pack-up-and-move-resorts-day, but that shouldn’t be too bad.

We leave in 14 days, no pressure at all!
 
I must be crazy, now I have another scenario…

Forget Poly:
Save $500+ overall
We’ll still visit one day for breakfast.

Stay at Yacht for 2 nights instead of 3:
We can walk to end HS night and then start/finish a full long day at Epcot the next day.

Stay at Wilderness Lodge on final night:
Gets us a boat ride home following long, late MK final day at midnight.
I’m assuming the boats run then for late EMH?
It’s a resort we were going to visit anyway to see decorations and maybe eat at Geyser.

That would mean an additional pack-up-and-move-resorts-day, but that shouldn’t be too bad.

We leave in 14 days, no pressure at all!

I would stick with all 3 nights at one, simply because that 1 day of moving resorts is going to be equal to the saving you will have on the last day and I find the boat often crowded and a long wait.

As far as end of the night bus service, we always make it a point to be at the absolute back of any park right at closing and since they are technically open an hour after that with their shops, we take our time browsing and walking to the front of the park sloooowly and enjoying every minute of our time together in the near empty parks. We get spectacular photos as all the crowds run for the buses and boats and monorails and by the time we reach the front, it's a trickle of people left and we always walk right on to the bus and monorail but the boat still has a longish line.
 
I just stayed at Poly and its not the hotel for me. I found the rooms feeling a little dated and I hate having to walk outside to get to my hotel room so I won't be staying there again. I would go with the Yacht Club. It's a really nice resort, the food options there are great and you can walk to two parks, which is a huge plus. The pool there is also really nice.
 


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