Staying at Polynesian....should we rent a car to get around more easily??

[goofy4tink]

As my subject line says...we'll be at the Polynesian in August. We really want to try to get around and see the other resorts. We're doing an IllumiNations cruise. We're doing water-parks. I'm hearing some horror stories regarding the transportation here. Would we be better off with a rental? My dh says he's not so crazy about driving while on vacation, but he does get impatient waiting in lines for something. So....any thoughts from those of you who have been there, done that? Or maybe Tyler has some 'unbiased' thoughts. Tyler, I personnaly love the buses and their drivers.

 

[TLinden16]

One of the things I love about Disney is not having to get in a car for a week. I personally think that Disney transportation is very good from most resorts (Fort Wilderness being the big exception), and don't mind waiting a little while for a bus every now and again. Of course, I take public transportation in Boston on a daily basis, so I'm used to waiting.

That being said, if you plan on going to several resorts, it's not always going to be easy to go from one resort to another. It will be easy to get to the Floridian and the Contemporary, but if you want to go to the AKL, one of the moderates, of the Epcot area resorts, it's going to take you a little longer. It will depend on what time of day you are going. It's more difficult getting to another resort when the major parks are closed.

When I go to another resort, I usually cab it one way, and use Disney transportation the other way. For example, if I'm going to a character breakfast, I'll take a cab to the resort, and then use Disney transportation to get to the park I plan on spending the day in. If I go to the Boardwalk in the evening, I'll take Disney transportation to get there, and hop in a cab to go back to my resort. Even cabbing it both ways could be more economical then renting a car.

I did an Illuminations cruise in December. We planned to spend that day at Epcot so we could take the boat to the Yacht Club from the International Gateway and we wound up taking a cab back to the POFQ. Our driver offered to let us off at the International Gateway so we could walk through Epcot and get a bus, but we decided to take a cab because we had a very tired six year old with us. It only cost about $10.

I am also staying at the Polynesian in August (the 13 through the 20). Can't wait!

Karen

 

[Daisymeo]

We stayed at the Polynesian the last two summers and had no transportation problems at all. We never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus anywhere. The monorail is so convenient to go to MK and Epcot and also to visit the GF and Contemporary. We took the monorail to MK and then hopped on the boat to go to the Wilderness Lodge just to see the resort. It was very easy to do. We also visited the AKL by going to the MK and then getting on the bus to AKL. I think the Poly offers some of the best transportation options of any resort. This is one of the reasons I like to stay there. I have never had to stand on a bus or on the monorail. If you are not going to visit anyplace else but WDW I would not rent a car because it will probably just sit in the parking lot like ours did one year. I have been reading other posts about bus transportation problems from the Poly and they really surprise me because we had nothing but great transportation any time we were there. I think in the summer months since it is more crowded that buses seem to come more frequently to help out. Have a great time!

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks for making me feel better about my resort choice! A cab back from IlluniNations is most likely what we'll do. And I think we'll be visiting other resorts during the mid-day, so that shouldn't be a problem. thanks again. See ya there Karen.

Diane

 

[starwood]

Originally posted by goofy4tink
Thanks for making me feel better about my resort choice! A cab back from IlluniNations is most likely what we'll do. And I think we'll be visiting other resorts during the mid-day, so that shouldn't be a problem. thanks again. See ya there Karen.

Diane

Coming back from Illuminations just jump on the Monorail to the ticket and transporation center and change over to the resort Monorail back to the Poly. This is the main reason I don't mind paying more to stay at a Monorail resort - it's so easy to get to MK and Epcot.

We're staying there 8/23 after our cruise because we'll only be there 1 night we want to get around as easily as possible.

 

[BCV23]

Oh my, don't get a cab from Epcot to the Polynesian! As starwood said just hop the monorail. Once you get to the TTC, the Polynesian is a very short walk or you can hop that resort monorail.

To visit other resorts other than CR, GF, WL, and FW a car will make your life easier. We also use a car for AK and MGM. The same would be true for any resort for us though....with the exception of BW and MGM but we never plan to stay there anyway.

 

[goofy4tink]

Our issue is that we'll be a the Yacht Club marina, since we're doing the cruise. To get to the monorail, I have to walk back to WS and then through all of Epcot. I'm not sure we want to do that at the time of day!! If I were already at Epcot then, sure I'd hop right on the monorail. Since Yacht Club doesn't really have transport to Epcot, I may have to take that cab. Maybe Tyler will have an alternative suggestion. You know, you have to ask those purple panted people!!!

 

[DebbieB]

If by chance MK is open late that night, you could catch a bus to there from the YC and then the monorail. Or if MGM is open late, take the boat or walk to MGM and Poly bus from there. Otherwise, I agree that the cab would be your best option.