Polynesian or Contemporary?

Kooks and Bay Bay

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Joined
Mar 12, 2024
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I've stayed at both.
I'm currently booked at POLY in a resort view.
I could switch to CR Garden Wing water view and save $194 (which is then split between 2 people).
Worth switching to save?
Which would you personally take if given the option?
 
I think I'd only switch if it was a super short stay? I really have no desire to stay at the contemporary so I'd only do it if I was saving that much for a one night stay or maybe a two night stay. Any longer and it wouldn't be worth the savings to me.
 
Is it a savings of $194 per NIGHT? If so, I’d switch to CR. If it’s that savings for the whole stay, I’d do Poly. It’s a draw for walkability—CR is an easy walk to MK but have to use monorail to TTC to Epcot. Poly is an easy walk to the TTC.
 
I would stay at Poly and it's not even a question. Literally the only thing CR has over it is a quicker/easier walk to MK. But Poly is superior in every other way.
 
The Garden Wing water view can be very nice. You might be able to catch the water pageant or other boats throughout the day. Whether or not the general Poly vibes are worth a little extra money is up to you!
 
I've stayed at both.
I'm currently booked at POLY in a resort view.
I could switch to CR Garden Wing water view and save $194 (which is then split between 2 people).
Worth switching to save?
Which would you personally take if given the option?
We've never stayed at CR it never interested us, however been to the Poly numerous times and would always choose it...as long as we can afford it 😄😄😄
 
Poly over CR, especially if hitting Epcot as you can walk to TTC and catch one mono from Poly versus CR where you take two monorails to Epcot.
 
That’s a tough call. If you have young kids and are able to walk easily then contemporary is a win for ease of park entry and exit. The poly is beautiful but taking the monorail can take a lot of time during heavy crowds and closing time.
 
I haven’t stayed in the garden wing but my parents have and they said it’s very quiet which I’d personally love. When I stayed in a regular room at Poly I found it very noisy. At Contemporary, If you have a stroller the elevators can be annoying to get to the 4th floor for the monorail they seem to take forever to get to the first floor. The walk to MK is really nice though. The pools are a lot less themed so if that’s important for you go with Poly. It’s always nice saving money though
 
We have stayed at both places and we love the Ploy just for its atmosphere alone but also just love walking to the MK from the Contemporary. We are DVC members and the building and rooms at the Contemporary is great but still lacks Disney excitement if you can understand that
 
I love poly but some trips I do CR and have done the GW. Works for trips when we have a party night at MK or busy park trips. Some last minute trips poly also not available. Cr is better than mods at least!

However if budget allows poly over cr.
 
To me, and having stayed multiple times at both, the time of year dictates which place I'd choose. During the "warm season" when temps are hotter than a furnace and rainfall is abundant, I'll pick Contemporary every single time. Why? Because at the resort, I don't have to go out in the elements to eat, drink, shop, get on the monorail, etc. That means a lot, at least to me.

Now during the late fall into spring, I'll go Poly for sure.
 
That’s a tough call. If you have young kids and are able to walk easily then contemporary is a win for ease of park entry and exit. The poly is beautiful but taking the monorail can take a lot of time during heavy crowds and closing time.

Walking is always going to be the best way to get home at the end of the night but the Poly/GF have the resort launch as the alternative to the monorail with generally far fewer people in line and unless you just missed the boat it doesn't take very long even with the stop at GF first. tbqh in all my monorail resort stays I've never had issues getting home on it at the end of the night though.

To me, and having stayed multiple times at both, the time of year dictates which place I'd choose. During the "warm season" when temps are hotter than a furnace and rainfall is abundant, I'll pick Contemporary every single time. Why? Because at the resort, I don't have to go out in the elements to eat, drink, shop, get on the monorail, etc. That means a lot, at least to me.

Now during the late fall into spring, I'll go Poly for sure.
OP is comparing a garden wing room to Poly which means they'll have to go outside for everything anyway. The walkway is covered at least for rain but they'll have to deal with temps to get to food/transportation regardless. This is a wash to me tbh
 
Walking is always going to be the best way to get home at the end of the night but the Poly/GF have the resort launch as the alternative to the monorail with generally far fewer people in line and unless you just missed the boat it doesn't take very long even with the stop at GF first. tbqh in all my monorail resort stays I've never had issues getting home on it at the end of the night though.


OP is comparing a garden wing room to Poly which means they'll have to go outside for everything anyway. The walkway is covered at least for rain but they'll have to deal with temps to get to food/transportation regardless. This is a wash to me tbh
Yeah, I see that now. Great point!
 
Everyone is so different. I've stayed at both and I much prefer CR. The last time we stayed in the Garden Wing and were surprised how much we liked it. (We had always been in the main tower building before.) I love being able to walk to and from MK!
 
Its a total of $194 (4 nights).

I'm still torn.

Cons for CR:
-sharing bus
-shower leaks
-beds are connected together
Cons for POLY:
-crowded
-not as fast to get to MK

Pros for CR:
-more quiet both in the room and out
-covered walkways
-walk to MK
-food
Pros for POLY
-theme
-buses
-food

Its hard to overlook the bus sharing at CR
Its hard to overlook the crowds at POLY
 
Its a total of $194 (4 nights).

I'm still torn.

Cons for CR:
-sharing bus
-shower leaks
-beds are connected together
Cons for POLY:
-crowded
-not as fast to get to MK

Pros for CR:
-more quiet both in the room and out
-covered walkways
-walk to MK
-food
Pros for POLY
-theme
-buses
-food

Its hard to overlook the bus sharing at CR
Its hard to overlook the crowds at POLY
Polly shares buses with Grand Floridian too, just FYI
 












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