Poly worth the extra cost?

[NJlauren]

I’m trying to price out approximately a trip in August 2019 using 2018 rates. I know the rates will go up and if I book when rates come out I may be able to get a standard room.

However looking at 2018 rooms at the Poly look significantly more then the price of Epcot resorts. Even in the same room type (unless I’m looking at this wrong)

But to be honest I’m kinda open on the resort right now I keep changing my mind! So is Poly worth the extra cost in your opinion? Why or why not?

ETA kids 5 and 13ish months in Aug 2019

 

[Disneylover99]

It really depends on what kind of cost you're looking at. But yes, I would pay more for the Poly over an Epcot resort. While I absolutely love to be able to walk to Epcot every morning, there's just something magical about the Poly, that I just don't find at the Epcot resorts.

 

[LandonDunes]

I think if you have younger kids and are spending more time in MK, absolutely. If not, I would say look at an Epcot resort.

We are doing a split stay between Poly and BWI in Oct.

 

[Sue M]

MK monorail resorts are always priced more than Epcot resorts. I like both areas but I agree there’s just something a little more magical about a Poly or GF stay. Maybe it’s the fact that you can see MK and The Castle from the resort, and able to watch the MK fireworks from areas in the resort.
Worth it depends on what you value more.
I enjoy the Epcot resorts too, and can watch Illuminations from spots on the bridge crossing over very the canal and I’ve been able to also see from my room once.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Poly is our favorite resort. GF a close second. We spend most of our time at MK and at the resort, and end up watching the fireworks from the resort most nights. If that was not the case, if we were going to spend most time at another park or not spend much time at the resort, I would not want to pay extra for it.

 

[Average Joes]

If you are for sure going in August 2019 you have plenty of time to rent DVC. It would almost certainly beat out any other savings. We are going Mon-Fri in September. It works out to about $305 a night. More on weekends.

I brought my daughter at 14 months to the Poly with a 4.5 year old. It was fantastic access for breaks/naps and she enjoyed the beach especially. Now they have a splash pad. As soon as my wife started to shop in the Parks I would flee back to the Poly.

 

[NJlauren]

If you are for sure going in August 2019 you have plenty of time to rent DVC. It would almost certainly beat out any other savings. We are going Mon-Fri in September. It works out to about $305 a night. More on weekends.

I brought my daughter at 14 months to the Poly with a 4.5 year old. It was fantastic access for breaks/naps and she enjoyed the beach especially. Now they have a splash pad. As soon as my wife started to shop in the Parks I would flee back to the Poly.

This is something I’m thinking about renting points, but it worries me so much...

 

[tnolan]

We try to book the Poly as often as we can, on our yearly trips. It really is worth it; it truly is like a tropical paradise, with all the greenery and the torches replacing street lights in places in the evenings. Very relaxing after a long day in the parks, imho! We struggle a bit with payments during the year, but then when its all done and we get there at last, we agree it was all worth it. We usually have breakfast and dinner at Captain Cook's, and to hear the 12 Days of Christmas in Hawaiian and Little Grass Shack, relaxes me immediately. If you can afford it, I give this resort 2 thumbs up!

 

[Average Joes]

This is something I’m thinking about renting points, but it worries me so much...

Using a middle man like David's helps. I think most see the greatest drawback as having to book so far in advance and being unable to cancel. If you can get over that the savings are fantastic. You almost get what you pay for at the Deluxe. Well maybe not really...

 

[Farro]

We stayed at Polynesian last year over our normal stay at Beach or Yacht Club.

While it was very pretty, great room, clean and no real complaints outside of minor things - we can't wait to go back to Beach/Yacht. After two days at Magic Kingdom (nothing beats the commute to MK - take the boat!) we really started missing the Epcot area. Poly has it's magic, but our apparently the magic is stronger for us over at Beach/Yacht club.

So many more options for eating over near Epcot. More to do at night. Can wander into Epcot each night if you want, visit all the bars/restaurants at Epcot and all the hotels, including Swan/Dolphin.
We also think the pool is better and just the overall vibe.

We did not dislike Poly, at all, just not our favorite.

 

[SarahC97]

We stayed at the Poly this year for the first time and we'll never go back. I thought the beds were horrible and it took them forever to get our room ready (6pm). For the price, I expected a bit more. Location is great but personally I think you'd be better off at an Epcot resort for comfort.

 

[wishinon3stars]

We stayed at Polynesian last year over our normal stay at Beach or Yacht Club.

While it was very pretty, great room, clean and no real complaints outside of minor things - we can't wait to go back to Beach/Yacht. After two days at Magic Kingdom (nothing beats the commute to MK - take the boat!) we really started missing the Epcot area. Poly has it's magic, but our apparently the magic is stronger for us over at Beach/Yacht club.

So many more options for eating over near Epcot. More to do at night. Can wander into Epcot each night if you want, visit all the bars/restaurants at Epcot and all the hotels, including Swan/Dolphin.
We also think the pool is better and just the overall vibe.

We did not dislike Poly, at all, just not our favorite.

We love being able to walk to and from Epcot. But we are just two adults and usually have no kids with us.
We are staying at the Poly in a week because we are going with my DD, her DH and DGS. We will be spending more time in MK this trip.
While I am looking forward to staying somewhere else and at the Poly, my home will always be the beach club for its proximity to Epcot and Hollywood studios.

I would love to do a split stay on our trips but I can’t get my husband to agree to do it. One of these days, I may just have to book one and not tell him

 

[NJlauren]

We love being able to walk to and from Epcot. But we are just two adults and usually have no kids with us.
We are staying at the Poly in a week because we are going with my DD, her DH and DGS. We will be spending more time in MK this trip.
While I am looking forward to staying somewhere else and at the Poly, my home will always be the beach club for its proximity to Epcot and Hollywood studios.

I would love to do a split stay on our trips but I can’t get my husband to agree to do it. One of these days, I may just have to book one and not tell him

A split stay is something I’m thinking about.....but baby and all may be a pain at this stage

 

[wishinon3stars]

A split stay is something I’m thinking about.....but baby and all may be a pain at this stage

I would never get my husband to agree if we had little ones with us. Heck it’s only the two of us and the minute I bring up a split stay he starts complaining about how much of a pain it would be to pack and move.

 

[TyphoonLegume]

No. No it's not.

But let's be real here... no Disney Resort is remotely worth the rack rate!

Are you planning on spending the majority of your time at the Magic Kingdom?
With dates in August, are you more likely to take midday breaks from the Magic Kingdom?
While taking those midday breaks... are pool amenities, such as 2 zero-entry pools and a splash pad important to you?
Are you planning on spending evenings at your resort to enjoy fireworks from the beach and the Electric Water Pageant?

For such purposes, it's so easy to justify the cost of the Polynesian! But deciding its 'worth' can be more difficult!

I always like to go in with the idea of having 'X' amount to spend a night... and what I could 'get' for it. For someone like me... it's maybe 'less resort' and 'more dinning'... but I'm not the one trying to lug 2 tired children from the MK on a packed bus on a near daily basis or struggling to find a decent counter service to quickly feed the kids!

Does the difference in Epcot Resort pricing potentially allow for a Car Rental to ease travel burdens? Or perhaps a few Character Dinning meals or similar extra cost experiences to 'better' your vacation? There's certainly no harm/foul if a 'better' vacation for you is simply staying at the Polynesian of course! It is for many!

The new room decor of the Y&BC... with summer afternoons at Stormalong Bay, evening strolls on the Boardwalk... and a little bit extra in the daily budget for more 'magic'... would have my heart.

But...

There's just something about the Polynesian... and IF you can financially swing it, without sacrifice... I say go for it. Don't over think it... don't try and justify it... be realistic that you are paying too much for it... and simply enjoy it!

 

[NJlauren]

I would never get my husband to agree if we had little ones with us. Heck it’s only the two of us and the minute I bring up a split stay he starts complaining about how much of a pain it would be to pack and move.

Trust me I know! This past trip unintentionaly we stayed in 3 hotels! We had to add a day at the start and end of the trip due to weather bad moved twice.... it wasn’t that bad but one night and you don’t need to unpack much!

 

[NJlauren]

No. No it's not.

But let's be real here... no Disney Resort is remotely worth the rack rate!

Are you planning on spending the majority of your time at the Magic Kingdom?
With dates in August, are you more likely to take midday breaks from the Magic Kingdom?
While taking those midday breaks... are pool amenities, such as 2 zero-entry pools and a splash pad important to you?
Are you planning on spending evenings at your resort to enjoy fireworks from the beach and the Electric Water Pageant?

For such purposes, it's so easy to justify the cost of the Polynesian! But deciding its 'worth' can be more difficult!

I always like to go in with the idea of having 'X' amount to spend a night... and what I could 'get' for it. For someone like me... it's maybe 'less resort' and 'more dinning'... but I'm not the one trying to lug 2 tired children from the MK on a packed bus on a near daily basis or struggling to find a decent counter service to quickly feed the kids!

Does the difference in Epcot Resort pricing potentially allow for a Car Rental to ease travel burdens? Or perhaps a few Character Dinning meals or similar extra cost experiences to 'better' your vacation? There's certainly no harm/foul if a 'better' vacation for you is simply staying at the Polynesian of course! It is for many!

The new room decor of the Y&BC... with summer afternoons at Stormalong Bay, evening strolls on the Boardwalk... and a little bit extra in the daily budget for more 'magic'... would have my heart.

But...

There's just something about the Polynesian... and IF you can financially swing it, without sacrifice... I say go for it. Don't over think it... don't try and justify it... be realistic that you are paying too much for it... and simply enjoy it!

Probably take some mid day breaks, half park days, but probably no full resort days, I usually at the minimum hit a park for at least a little something everyday. But then again I haven’t been in August heat in forever, let along August with kids!

Probably about half the days at MK 3 and then 3 or 4 days split in the other parks, that’s not to say we won’t do a half day MK and end at Epcot or something similar.

We love beach club, we just stayed there but was thinking a different hotel may be fun, and while we loved stormalong bay, I’m just not sure with a 13 month old and a 5 year old it would make the most sense.

I am really torn!

 

[SarahC97]

Probably take some mid day breaks, half park days, but probably no full resort days, I usually at the minimum hit a park for at least a little something everyday. But then again I haven’t been in August heat in forever, let along August with kids!

Probably about half the days at MK 3 and then 3 or 4 days split in the other parks, that’s not to say we won’t do a half day MK and end at Epcot or something similar.

We love beach club, we just stayed there but was thinking a different hotel may be fun, and while we loved stormalong bay, I’m just not sure with a 13 month old and a 5 year old it would make the most sense.

I am really torn!

What about the Contemporary or Bay Lake Tower? You can't beat the location -- 10 minute walk to MK!

 

[NJlauren]

What about the Contemporary or Bay Lake Tower? You can't beat the location -- 10 minute walk to MK!

We did the contemporary in 2015 and my husband isn’t a fan, he thought the pool was blah, and the resort wasn’t anything special. He doesn’t hate and will go back, but thinking he would rather an Epcot resort or Poly this time.

 

[SarahC97]

We did the contemporary in 2015 and my husband isn’t a fan, he thought the pool was blah, and the resort wasn’t anything special. He doesn’t hate and will go back, but thinking he would rather an Epcot resort or Poly this time.

Ahh, gotcha! The vibe at the Poly really is fantastic, but as I said, we were a bit disappointed in it. We're trying BLT this August.