TPV Poly or TPV CR?

[AngiTN]

Tell me your pick, and why?
Please.
I'm hoping someone points out something about one that I've not thought of and it will seal the deal on what I pick

 

[SamanthaH]

My comments pertain to mainly non CL rooms, since I have only stayed in the regular TPV rooms at both resorts.

I love the Poly TPV views from the Tuvalu longhouse. It is a very intimate, beautiful view directly across Seven Seas Lagoon to the castle. The EWP floats right in front of your room before the fireworks. The view is also very private as there is no walkway between the balconies and the view. Most non club level Poly views are housed here. However, there are a few TPV rooms in Aotearora, but these are set back behind a lawn and the beach. I have never stayed in a club level room here. I have seen pictures and still prefer the view from Tuvalu.

The Contemporary TPV rooms offer a more vast, birds eye view. You are set a little off to the side, but you can really sense the energy and hustle bustle down at the MK. You can see boats and buses dropping people off. You have a view of Space Mountain and still can watch the EWP before the fireworks in the lagoon before the fireworks, though you are not as close. It is the quintessential MK view. All the views would be similar here with the club level being the best of the best since they are higher up and farthest from the parking lot down below.

Both are fantastic, but I would pick the Contemporary because 1) I would be disappointed to be placed in a TPV room in Aotearora and 2) I would be disappointed to be placed in a 2nd story room at the Poly with no balcony. 3) If the view is most important, the Contemporary always wins by a hair.

 

[AngiTN]

Your comment about no balcony is where I’m concerned too
And I do like that the EWP comes by the from the room. It’s not visible from the room at CR
I’ve stayed in both personally. Both with CL and without. The stay I’m researching now would not be CL and my traveling partner has never stayed at either resort period

I’m mostly picking for her and she won’t pick since she’s never stayed there

 

[SamanthaH]

Your comment about no balcony is where I’m concerned too
And I do like that the EWP comes by the from the room. It’s not visible from the room at CR
I’ve stayed in both personally. Both with CL and without. The stay I’m researching now would not be CL and my traveling partner has never stayed at either resort period

I’m mostly picking for her and she won’t pick since she’s never stayed there

We stayed in the Contemporary TPV room back in 2008, and back then, I thought I watched the EWP going on down in the Seven Seas Lagoon in the distance. How strange. I wonder if I am having some kind of false memory of that. Now I am seriously rethinking our plans. We have a TPV booked in September at the Contemporary, and I thought I’d be watching my beloved EWP. At any rate, we were just at the Poly TPV this past August. We had a 1st floor patio view in Tuvalu. It was lovely, but I agree it would be a bummer to get a 2nd floor room. I even wouldn’t be super jazzed with Aotearora TPV room with a balcony. It seems set back too far. With that price point, it would be nice to be guaranteed a balcony or patio.

 

[JoanneAZ]

I have only stayed at the Contemporary. I love the fact that I can watch the fireworks in my nightgown from my balcony with the music on the TV If I choose. I also love the close proximity to the MK, it’s so convenient to just walk there. The first time I stayed there I was out on the balcony in the afternoon and I could faintly hear the train chugging its way toward Main Street Station which just thrilled my silly Disney nerd heart. The fact that the shops and restaurants and monorail are just downstairs is also a big plus for me, especially if it’s raining or I don’t feel well. I’ve wanted to try the Poly but these things keep bringing me back to the Contemporary.

 

[JoanneAZ]

We stayed in the Contemporary TPV room back in 2008, and back then, I thought I watched the EWP going on down in the Seven Seas Lagoon in the distance. How strange. I wonder if I am having some kind of false memory of that.

No, you aren’t having a false memory. I’ve watched the EWP from my balcony. I don’t think the Contemporary gets the full show and some of the view is kind of from the side but, it goes by every night.

 

[SamanthaH]

No, you aren’t having a false memory. I’ve watched the EWP from my balcony. I don’t think the Contemporary gets the full show and some of the view is kind of from the side but, it goes by every night.

Thank you for this. I think the mystery is solved. I also asked over on the Contemporary thread, and someone commented that if you have a room closer to the MK side, then you may not see the pageant. However, if you have a room closer to the Chef Mickey side then you do see it go by.

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

Thank you for this. I think the mystery is solved. I also asked over on the Contemporary thread, and someone commented that if you have a room closer to the MK side, then you may not see the pageant. However, if you have a room closer to the Chef Mickey side then you do see it go by.

No, you aren’t having a false memory. I’ve watched the EWP from my balcony. I don’t think the Contemporary gets the full show and some of the view is kind of from the side but, it goes by every night.

I doubt that. The TPV faces the MK, the lagoon view rooms face the lagoon. The lagoon view rooms would see the EWP, not the TPV rooms. Maybe a tiny glimpse if you are on the Garden Wing side of the CR TPV rooms but I don't know if the EWP goes around that side?

 

[JoanneAZ]

I stayed in a TPV room close to the MK end and watched the EWP multiple times from my room as it passed from the MK off towards the LV side of the Contemporary. It is not a full on view and it doesn’t stop but, it is quite visible and audible as it goes by. TPV rooms have a side view of the MK and a direct view of the Seven Seas Lagoon, the LV side has a view of Bay Lake.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

We stayed in the Contemporary TPV room back in 2008, and back then, I thought I watched the EWP going on down in the Seven Seas Lagoon in the distance. How strange. I wonder if I am having some kind of false memory of that. Now I am seriously rethinking our plans. We have a TPV booked in September at the Contemporary, and I thought I’d be watching my beloved EWP. At any rate, we were just at the Poly TPV this past August. We had a 1st floor patio view in Tuvalu. It was lovely, but I agree it would be a bummer to get a 2nd floor room. I even wouldn’t be super jazzed with Aotearora TPV room with a balcony. It seems set back too far. With that price point, it would be nice to be guaranteed a balcony or patio.

What you probably saw was the EWP making its nightly stop in front of MK. Depending on where you are at CR, you can have some semblance of a view and hear the audio when it’s at MK, although the angle isn’t straight on. You can also spot glimpses of it across the water when it stops at Poly and GF, but again that will depend on just where your room is in the building as there are islands and such that block a full view across the water.

 

[DisneyLifePapioNe]

Tell me your pick, and why?
Please.
I'm hoping someone points out something about one that I've not thought of and it will seal the deal on what I pick

As much as I’d like to say Poly, I believe your thread title says it all, I think there is a distinct difference in what you can actually view at both, for a “better” TPV I think you know that would be CR.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

@AngiTN - Non CL TPV? I vote CR, mainly because 1) one building and 2) guaranteed balcony (although the odds are good at Poly, just not 100%), 3) I like Contempo Cafe better than Captain Cooks (if resort quick service is a factor in your plans). But none of those are particularly earth shattering observations, I know!

 

[AngiTN]

Yeah, No CL. Price isn't in the budget this trip. It would be to add on at WL but I can't get anywhere on if they are still offering that right now or not. So I'm pretty much giving up on it unless I find confirmation somewhere.

I do like the 1 building at CR
DH put in his 2 cents but it was via coin flip. Poly won the flip

 

[AngiTN]

What you probably saw was the EWP making its nightly stop in front of MK. Depending on where you are at CR, you can have some semblance of a view and hear the audio when it’s at MK, although the angle isn’t straight on. You can also spot glimpses of it across the water when it stops at Poly and GF, but again that will depend on just where your room is in the building as there are islands and such that block a full view across the water.

Ok, that does make sense. I was looking at it as a straight on view like you get from WL, GF or Poly. I know the WL is hit and miss but you have the view of the lake for it. TPV at CR is on the wrong side but I can see how a few rooms may have a sideways view

 

[Childs1stTime2Disney]

I also will say if you care most about TPV, go for CR for sure.

 

[AngiTN]

And, we ended up going a totally different route.
I check constantly looking for cancellations and today found a RPC CL room at GF open up, for a pretty good price, all things considered. While the WL room is less, the cost to add on CL, if we even could have, would have put the cost of the 2 rooms pretty close together. While I am not a GF fan I know my friend will be over the moon to try it out. And SL is the one CL I haven't done, I've only done the RPC. So it will be fun from that aspect. I do want to visit all of them.
Though, I'll continue to check and may change again if something else opens up

 

[AngiTN]

I also will say if you care most about TPV, go for CR for sure.

Well, actually, TPV was of no consequence at all. Just happened that both rooms I found at the time were TPV. The resort itself is what care about most. And giving my dear friend a fun experience.

 

[Skywise]

hmm - TPV CR will be the world's most expensive parking lot view - but you'll get a balcony, easy access to the monorail and a great view of Cinderella's Castle.
OTOH TPV at the poly will guarantee you a waterfront view but not necessarily a good view of the castle, especially with not staying CL but you would get a good view of the EWP.

If this is a first time trip I'd lean towards the Contemporary as it's more iconic to WDW, you can see if from Tomorrowland and such - but if you're going to be staying any reasonable amount of time at the resort and not mostly at the parks I'd almost go for the Polynesian instead.

 

[SarahC97]

TPV at CR was my most magical stay ever. It was just so incredible to walk out on the balcony and Magic Kingdom is right there. I legit cried. And CR holds a lot of memories for me too, so there's a nostalgia factor there. Plus, CR has little touches that make it very Disney -- from the monorail running through the lobby to Mickey's voice announcing what floor you're arriving to on the elevator. Personally, I'm always going to vote for CR over the Poly! But hey -- there's no bad choice here!