Polynesian or Boardwalk Inn?

[Disneyland1084]

For my next trip to WDW, if I stay at a moderate, it will most likely be Port Orleans French Quarter. If I go deluxe, I'm thinking Polynesian or Boardwalk Inn. Which would you choose, and what do you like better? For Poly, the pros for me are the theme, beauty , the rooms look heavenly and the convenience of the monorail. I know I'd enjoy being there on my rest days. The cons(if you even consider this one)- I only "like" that it's close to Magic Kingdom. I don't love MK like I do DL. It's not my favorite park. Boardwalk Inn- I love that it's so close to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The resort looks gorgeous inside and out. And the pool, WOW!!!! Yes, I judge resorts by the looks of their pool(s). I can't think of any cons as I've watched more videos of Poly than BWI.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Boardwalk absolutely.

 

[barbliny]

If you read your post as an outsider - I believe you answered your own question.

The way I read it, is that you prefer BWI. BWI is extremely convenient to the parks you prefer, you described BWI gorgeous inside and out, loved the pool - which you said is one way you judge a resort.

And you didn't use a single exclamation point or capitalized word in your description of the Poly.

 

[Hopefully]

BWI for sure. Best location on property. And I agree with PP. You answered your question

 

[conandrob240]

BWI surely has a great location but not a great pool and really outdated rooms. Poly for sure.

 

[Amanda999]

I was at bwi last week. Had a beautiful newly renovated room. Maybe I was just lucky? (I have no idea if all rooms were recently renovated. Maybe mine was damaged or something so a rarely renovated room.) ceiling was much higher than the ceiling here in my BC room. And the bwi room was about 50% bigger.

 

[Shanti]

I love the Boardwalk's charming rooms the way they are. Incredible detail and a beautiful resort. BWI wins in a waltz over Poly if you prefer Epcot to MK.

 

[OKWNutt]

Absolutely depends on which park you plan to spend the most time at. I have stayed at both and would give Poly the edge. That being said if you want to spend a lot of time eating and drinking at the World Showcase BWI wins out.

 

[arminnie]

I personally DESPISE BWI. I have had so many bad experiences there over the past 20 years.

The hotel is lovely, but the services are sub-par. I usually have a car. The parking is atrocious - very far away. And if one uses valet parking - it is even worse. I cannot tell you how many times I almost missed my return flight because retrieving my car took almost 2 hours. And not at a busy time.

 

[PlainJane]

On the whole, I prefer BWI. I've stayed at BWI once and in the BWV 3 or more times. I've stayed at Poly once. I really enjoy the theme of the BWI/V, it's my favorite on property. I also enjoy the access to Epcot and DHS, and being able to stroll around to the different BW area resorts. I've enjoyed all of my stays here. I will warn you that a BW view on a low floor is LOUD. During a different stay we were facing the courtyard and it was perfect! You could still see the BW, but it was so much quieter. The inner courtyard area over on the BWI side is gorgeous. That's where the quiet pool is located. I love walking around that area.

If I was planning an MK heavy trip, I would pick the Poly. You can walk to the TTC from the Poly, so access to Epcot isn't as difficult as the other monorail resorts. It is a very nice resort. The rooms are huge, but you risk not having a balcony/patio. You can walk to the GF for any dining you wish to do there. Captain Cooks is a great CS option (which BW lacks). I've also enjoyed Kona. There's also a nice boat to MK, which I prefer to using the monorail.

Both are great resorts. If you are going to be at the MK a lot, then I would go with the Poly. If you are going to be at Epcot and/or DHS more then I would pick the BWI.

 

[allsaintsatx]

The Poly pool is pretty incredible too!

 

[dansdad]

BWI is our favorite WDW resort.

 

[toolmanjan]

Never Poly, anywhere but!!

 

[vettegirl]

Stayed at both and BWI all the room. The rooms are so nice and that fantastic location!!

 

[Alabama Minnie]

The POLY has larger rooms and balconies, if you get one, and we prefer the POLY atmosphere. The rooms at BWI are nice, but smaller, with smaller balconies. Our last BWI stay, 9/2016, there was actually a lot of mildew on our balcony.

Usually our stays at BWI have cost less than the POLY. I have to also say that we have stayed in the Swan/Dolphin, in the same Epcot area, several times for LESS than BWI and they both have the same EPCOT/MGM convenience. IMO BWI was not that much better than Swan/Dolphin for more $$.

Our upcoming trip we are doing a split-stay, Swan/Poly, and taking advantage of both locations convenience.

 

[ColoradoMom12]

The rooms at BWI are nice, but smaller, with smaller balconies.

We've never stayed at the Poly, but our room at BWI this summer was huge! It was about like having a room and a half. 2290 near the elevator. The closet was actually larger than any closet in our home. I realize it's not the typical room, but there are extra large standard rooms at BWI. We'll request near the elevator when stay there again!

We loved BWI. It was one of our most enjoyable Disney stays, I think. I would totally love to stay at the Poly too. It's probably my favorite resort to visit and I have dreamed about staying there! I was actually able to book it for the second half of our split stay spring break trip. The price for the studio villa was lower than the standard room so I booked that just a few days ago. I can't wait!

 

[Mousemommy1]

The rooms at BWI were recently renovated, so I'm not sure where the critique of outdated rooms comes from. We are currently at the Poly and absolutely love it, but I'm getting ready to book BWI for our next trip (only because its one of the two we haven't stayed at yet). The walk from the Epcot resorts is awesome, but the Poly is wonderful. Hard choice. I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

 

[Alabama Minnie]

We've never stayed at the Poly, but our room at BWI this summer was huge! It was about like having a room and a half. 2290 near the elevator. The closet was actually larger than any closet in our home. I realize it's not the typical room, but there are extra large standard rooms at BWI. We'll request near the elevator when stay there again!

We loved BWI. It was one of our most enjoyable Disney stays, I think. I would totally love to stay at the Poly too. It's probably my favorite resort to visit and I have dreamed about staying there! I was actually able to book it for the second half of our split stay spring break trip. The price for the studio villa was lower than the standard room so I booked that just a few days ago. I can't wait!

We also have been given that same room at BWI, had a patio, no balcony. It was really big but the other regular rooms we have stay-in at BWI have been a lot smaller than the POLY, even on the club floor. I think there are "bookable" larger club-rooms that cost more and it looked like they had a larger balcony too.

We have also stayed in a POLY studio and they are very nice too but they still are not as large as the POLY regular rooms. They do have that extra shower area.

 

[toodycat]

Neither of those is my absolute favorite, but I would choose the Poly because the transportation is better and there are restaurants on property. If you stay at the BWI, you have to go to the Boardwalk to eat. I like to eat something before I start my day in the parks. Even if you head out to Boardwalk Bakery, it gets pretty busy quickly. The Poly, on the other hand, has many dining options and the grounds are very lush. If the dining thing doesn't bother you, the BWI is definitely the prettier of the two resorts in terms of lobby and room, and the access to Epcot and DHS and the Boardwalk are definite pluses.

 

[raddisneyfan]

Tough one--can't go wrong either way imo. Love BWI, but I don't like the pool--creepy (eeeeekkkkk!). I like the quiet pool and usually request to be near it. Love Poly and the quiet pool and request room near it too; Volcano pool too busy for me. Benefit of being closer to quiet pool is that you are usually closer to TTC to get to EPCOT. Have fun times no matter what you decide!