Should we upgrade from POFQ to Poly to be on the monorail?

[MECH8T7]

Opinions, please.

We're going next Easter and we've got two small kids (they will be 4 and 6). We were planning on staying at POFQ for the first 5 days of our stay and we are finishing off with 3 nights at AKL (and we may not even go into the parks on those last 3 days).

During the first 5 days we will be touring the parks and we anticipate that we will go for the early entry and then return to the resort early afternoon to nap and swim and head back out in the evening.

We picked POFQ because of the compact size of its layout and its cost in relation to a deluxe (diference of $160 per night at rack rates). However, we're having second thoughts about what its going to be like to trek back and forth from POFQ by bus several times each day with two young kids.

Is this enough to justify the upgrade to Poly or is the burden of busing back and forth from POFQ not nearly as bad as I am assuming? By the way, I think that we would likely be dining at the Kona Cafe and Califonia Grill and other GF/Poly/CR restaurants during our 5 park days.

We might split our 5 "park" days between POFQ and Poly but I'm thinking that this might be a little crazy since we are aleady moving to AKL for the 6th nights.

TIA for everyone's thoughts.

 

[Rozzie]

I upgraded from POFQ to Poly for this exact reason. we don't even have kids, but i am a monorail snob, and last time at POFQ the bus system wasen't bad, but wasen't a breeze. Did you try a mousesaver code? I saved over $700 off poly rack rate for 6 nights. good luck!

 

[GoofyDad_STL]

Just wanted to add something to think about the monorail (I am a parent of a 3 and 6 year old - and someone who will be at WDW the week before Easter). The monorail from the Poly only does a straight shot to MK, which is probably great for at least a couple of days given your children's ages. To go to Epcot you either have to get off the mononrail at the TTC go down a long ramp up back up a long ramp or you walk to the TTC from the Poly and catch the Epcot monorail.

Personally I usually do a split stay, part by MK and part in the Epcot/Disney-MGM resorts.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Take it from a family here who has done both...

The POFQ IS a tremendous savings and probably has all of the room you'll need. That said, we stayed at the Poly for the first time last year, and 'had I known THEN what I know NOW, I would've definitely stayed at the Poly instead. Our DD was almost 4 when we went for the first time. It was nice to go back to POFQ for a nap, but I secretly envied the guests at the monorail resorts. We booked the dream maker package last year and got the rates for Poly at only a slightly higher rate than we'd paid at POFQ. Very well worth the difference. Saves a lot of time w/the monorail!

 

[Traveliz]

I have stayed at the values many times with my daughter (starting at age 3. she is now 17) as well as the moderates and have done fine.

This summer we took my niece and nephew ages 4 and 6 and stayed at the Poly and it was pure heaven. Taking another niece and nephew over Easter and will probaby do a value (they are 12 and easy to cart about) but if some extra money comes my way I would for sure upgrade. The Poly is just so convenient.

Liz

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Convienent, relaxing and beautiful!! It is so much easier with munchkins to be at a monorail resort!!!

You'll love every moment and you will be less stressed -s o if you can afford it, well worth the cost. Watch for codes and call right away to see if it can be applied to your room ressie.

How neat!!

 

[MECH8T7]

Thanks for the responses, everyone. Sounds like its a bit of a "no-brainer" if there were AP or other discounts available.

Would any of you make the switch if it was at rack rate? (During "peak season: $419 per night at Poly versus $190 per night POFQ)

How about upgrading from FOFQ to the CR garden wing standard view at rack rates ($319 versus $190) just to be on the monorail?

TIA

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Honestly, if I had to pay rack rate I'd go with a moderate - one where you can get easy bus access (POFQ or CBR preferred room location) and save the $ for all the other fun things there are to do with munchkins.

I've stayed at most of the resorts with littles ones of all ages and have enver had a problem as long as I requested a room location.

Keep us posted!!!

Christine

 

[spectromagic fan]

Staying at a monorail hotel can't be beat. It saves so much time, ect. Years ago when our children were young and we had a travel trailer, and we stayed in Ft. Wilderness and loved it. We've also stayed at moderate resorts. and we loved them too. After we stayed at the Poly, we were hooked and spoiled by being on the monorail. I doubt if we'll ever stay at anything but a monorail resort! It's the greatest (in our opinion)!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

spectromagic fan,

Ditto - all things considered, if affordable, the MK resorts with the monorial are fabulous, but without a discount code are astronomically expensive for most families..those codes sure do come in handy!

 

[bfosbenner]

Stay at POFQ and enjoy. If you have a rental car you can drive to the parks to save time. We went with dd when she was 2,3,5,&7.

Stayed at Poly the last time. It was not worth the extra $ imho. I think the moderate resorts are the best value for my family.

Because we had a rental and drove to the parks, it saved a lot of time.

I stayed at the CR as a child on 4 vacations. That and Poly were the only choices. The monorail was nice, but think what you can do with the money saved.

 

[TJA]

We stayed at AKL with our 7 month old twins. While we loved the resort, we were exhausted after the folding/unfolding of the stroller 4-6 times per day, etc., because of the bus transportation.

Therefore, when our girls turned 13 months old, we decided to stay at CR and try the monorail transportation. OMGosh what a difference! It changed our whole vacation from tiring to exhilarating.

But would I pay rack rate? No, never. I would only go to WDW if I could get a code discount or AP discount, no matter if the resort is value, moderate, or deluxe. That being said, if discounts are available, YES I would pay more for the monorail resorts and also the EPCOT resorts. To our family, paying more money is well worth it because we've experienced the vacation both ways and feel very strongly about never staying at a bus-only transportation resort again....at least not until our kids are much older.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

The Cont is a good option and code discounts can be very good there as well. It's true the monrail cannot be beat, but it can be done and loads of fun at another resort. I think your children are not toddlers, right? If they are 3 or above I think you'll do fine at any resort!

Best Wishes!

 

[MECH8T7]

Hi everyone.

Now that the new codes have been released, we were able to snag a relatively decent discount for our Poly GV room today for our stay next Easter. (We also got a discount on our AKL dates, too!)

Thanks everyone for all your opinions and suggestions.