Polynesian pool Vs. Wilderness Lodge pool...

[diseverestfan]

I know that both of these resorts have pools that people often say are too small for the size of the resort. But is one pool bigger than the other and is the slide at one better than the other? The pool experience is very important to our family. We just got back from the Beach Club and it has the best pool on property, but we're looking for something closer to the Magic Kingdom for our next trip. We know going in that it won't compare to what we just had.
Thanks!
Mike

 

[luvmydis]

I have stayed at the Poly, but not WL. The pool at the Poly is great (although it doesn't compare to Storm Along Bay). The water slide is quite good. It is built into the volcano, is a decent length, and has several twists. The atmosphere at the pool is also nice with polynesian music playing. The Volcano pool can get crowded though. There is also another generic pool on the grounds that is a decent size.

As far as convenience to MK goes, I'd go with the Poly hands down. You can't beat the monorail!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I have stayed at both resorts and I think in terms of pool size they are about the same, however I would say the Wilderness Lodge has more chairs. Although in terms of location to the Magic Kingdom that would go to the Polynesian.

 

[Ella's Mom]

I think the WL pool seems bigger than the Poly volcano pool. The pool area seems bigger at WL also. I love the Poly, but with little kids, I enjoyed the WL pool area more. The kiddie pool at WL is great for toddlers.

 

[tardin1964]

I think the WL pool is a little larger but both pools get too crowded sometimes.

I think it may depend on the age and likes of your kids.

The Poly pool is zero entry which is great for the little ones.

The Poly slide is a little better IMO.

Not to give you something else to think about but the pools at GF are the biggest out of the MK resorts.

 

[diseverestfan]

I have stayed at the Poly, but not WL. The pool at the Poly is great (although it doesn't compare to Storm Along Bay). The water slide is quite good. It is built into the volcano, is a decent length, and has several twists. The atmosphere at the pool is also nice with polynesian music playing. The Volcano pool can get crowded though. There is also another generic pool on the grounds that is a decent size.

As far as convenience to MK goes, I'd go with the Poly hands down. You can't beat the monorail!

Yeah, I agree about the monorail to the Magic Kingdom. We spent a fair amount of time on this past trip making that circuit. But, it's a good deal more money than the WL, and we're always looking to try something new. The boat ride looks kind of nice to us too. We enjoyed the boat from the Beach Club to the Studios.
Thank you for the advice!

 

[diseverestfan]

I think the WL pool seems bigger than the Poly volcano pool. The pool area seems bigger at WL also. I love the Poly, but with little kids, I enjoyed the WL pool area more. The kiddie pool at WL is great for toddlers.

That sounds good to me. I'm looking for size more than anything else. Thanks.

 

[diseverestfan]

I think the WL pool is a little larger but both pools get too crowded sometimes.

I think it may depend on the age and likes of your kids.

The Poly pool is zero entry which is great for the little ones.

The Poly slide is a little better IMO.

Not to give you something else to think about but the pools at GF are the biggest out of the MK resorts.

Okay, you had to make this even harder, didn't you?

Actually, my wife and daughter went over there for the Princess tea party last week, and they both said they would like to stay there some day...

 

[tardin1964]

Okay, you had to make this even harder, didn't you?

Actually, my wife and daughter went over there for the Princess tea party last week, and they both said they would like to stay there some day...

If you can afford it and the most important thing to you is how big the pools are along with the area around them, then I would have to say GF is the best.

 

[mickeynut1]

We've stayed at both and they are both great resorts with great pools . The Poly being on the monorail is very convenient, but we also found the boat from the WL to be just as convenient . We love both resorts for different reasons and I don't think you can go wrong with either one . Good luck deciding as they are both awesome resorts .

 

[ScubaCat]

We enjoyed the boat from the Beach Club to the Studios.

Sorry, that one line literally was like nails on a chalkboard.. you enjoyed that boat for real? The one that goes .02 miles per hour and takes 45 minutes to go one mile?

I seriously envy your patience! That boat is the ONE thing I can't stand about BC!!

 

[vanillarum]

We also have stayed at both resorts. In regards to the pool, during our last trip (Aug '07), we spent very little time at the Poly's pool. This was because except for very early in the morning, the pool was so crowded, you couldn't move ! We spent 99% of our pool time at the "quiet pool", and I say that in jest because when the main pool gets too crowded, everyone goes there, and there is no way it is a quiet pool ! If the pool is your #1 priority, go to the WL. You'll enjoy the pool because you can actually use the pool. Good luck.

 

[Epcot4Me]

I agree that the pool at WL is bigger than the Poly, but both definitely get crowded. Not sure if you're interested in hot tubs, but it is good to note that the Poly doesn't have one and WL does. If pools are important, out of the two, I'd pick WL

 

[diseverestfan]

Sorry, that one line literally was like nails on a chalkboard.. you enjoyed that boat for real? The one that goes .02 miles per hour and takes 45 minutes to go one mile?

I seriously envy your patience! That boat is the ONE thing I can't stand about BC!!

Yep, we did. We heard all the horror stories about the lack of air conditioning, speed, etc before we left, but we were pleasantly surprised. We thought it was a whole lot better than walking after all day in park, that's for sure.

And yes, I can be patient, especially at Disney.

 

[iloveeeyore]

Hmmmm. Very interesting responses. I'd love an official answer from Disney on this one regarding the relative size of the pools. I've stayed at both resorts and felt the pool at the Poly was much bigger than the WL's, and had a WAY better slide (WL's slide is very lame). Though I agree the seating/lounging area immediately surrounding the pool is more adequate at WL. But the Poly has three large beaches, one of which is right next to the pool, where WL's beach is a little further removed from the main pool area (around a bend and behind the bar). The WL has a few hot tubs where the Poly has none. For us it comes down to Volcano slide vs. hot tub...neither is perfect. I WISH they'd build a hot tub at the Poly!!!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I've stayed at the Poly but am thinking about going to WL for the first time. The pool is important to us too so now y'all are making it harder for me to make a commitment to WL!!!

I did not think Stormalong Bay was that great (gasp, eek, oh my gosh!). I didn't like how you couldn't really pick a spot to put your stuff and see it while you were swimming. I also found it confusing, too crowded, and the slide was about a mile away from it all. I actually preferred the quiet pool at BC better! And yes, I have two small kids and we like the quiet pools (hooray for deep ends!)

I like the volcano pool at the poly but it is hard to get a chair there and it does feel a bit crowded but the scenery is great and so are the drinks. The quiet pool at the Poly is awesome with a deep end, lots of seats, and you can still walk to the volcano pool bar for drinks. But, they don't have a hot tub.

So, WL has a hot tub, will I like it??? Do they have a quiet pool too? I will keep checking to see what everyone has to say.

 

[iloveeeyore]

So, WL has a hot tub, will I like it??? Do they have a quiet pool too? I will keep checking to see what everyone has to say.

WL has TWO hot tubs, but no official "quiet pool." However, at WL, you can use the pool at the WLV which is certainly "quieter" than the main themed pool and I believe it is similar in flavor to, but bigger than, the quiet pool at the Poly. Plus there is a THIRD, HUGE, HOT hot tub at WLV, which we really enjoyed every night...but no Volcano!

 

[tardin1964]

The hot tub by the VWL pool is great. It's pretty large and it's tucked around some rocks. I've been in it a few time all alone and was able to really relax.

The two hot tubs by the main pool get very crowded. They are close to the kiddie pool and are right off the wooden walkway to the boat dock and gyser. Too many kids go in the hot tub..... but that discussion is for another thread

 

[kaffinito]

For pools I'd pick WL over Poly. Poly has no hot tub and the pool was freezing cold!