Weird question - GF or POL

[cindyadam]

It seems like on this board, the POLY is highly recommended, even over GF. But when i go to other travel sites like Fodor's, Frommer's, or places where hotels are reviewed, it's completely reversed. The POLY gets described as very run-down.

Since spending so much money on a vacation is a once every several years thing for our family, i really want to choose the nicest resort...

Have any of you been to either resort recently - can you comment on why other places complain about the POLY's rooms (old, moldy smell, below average, etc.)?

 

[tiggerfied]

I've stayed at both but not for almost three years. I love the Grand Floridian - it still takes my breath away when I walk into the lobby - feels like heaven. That being said, I still prefer the Poly and here's why: (1) Poly is more kid friendly, somehow at GF I feel like they have to be behaved (2) because of it's Polynesian theme, I really feel like I'm away on a tropical vacation - from the tiki torches all around to all CMs saying aloha (3) the rooms we have stayed at Poly have alway been much bigger (4) Waterslide! (5) You are directly facing the Magic Kingdom - which is special, I think. When you make your reservations just make sure that you ask for a room that has been recently refurbished and where there is currently no construction going on

 

[cindyadam]

Thank you! That's a great idea about the room request...
Which building(s) do you prefer?

 

[WIDisneyFan]

My wife and I have stayed at the Polynesian the last two summers and have wandered over to the GF both times. For us it is a matter of personality of the resorts - we LOVE the tropical theme and the relaxed feeling we get at the Polynesian, and not to say that there is anything wrong with the GF it just is not us.

 

[cindyadam]

So were you happy with the state of your room?

 

[johnvree]

It seems like on this board, the POLY is highly recommended, even over GF. But when i go to other travel sites like Fodor's, Frommer's, or places where hotels are reviewed, it's completely reversed. The POLY gets described as very run-down.

Since spending so much money on a vacation is a once every several years thing for our family, i really want to choose the nicest resort...

Have any of you been to either resort recently - can you comment on why other places complain about the POLY's rooms (old, moldy smell, below average, etc.)?

Any guidebook that describes the Poly as run down has not done its homework. It is true that the Poly is the oldest resort. But it is constantly being refurbished. In fact, they are in the process of completely redoing each of the buildings. I have been there 5 or 6 times and have never had any foul odors, and I have a very sensative nose.

The GF is a great resort too. So it comes down to theme preference.

 

[cindyadam]

It's not the guidebooks saying the bad stuff - it's people on the guidebook sites...
I'm glad to hear that you haven't experienced problems.

Do you have any building or room recommendations? Thanks

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We definitely prefer the GF over the Poly. The poly is nice but we think the GF is much more "grand" and a better value for the money spent. We feel the Poly is more dark and GF has a more airy and lighter feel. Sometimes the POly seems a bit outdated. Don't get me wrong I do think the Poly has a nice tropical feel I just think the GF offers so much more. To each his own.

 

[cindyadam]

Do you have any building or room recommendations for GF?

 

[Tikiman]

Most information about the Polynesian is just inaccurate including in most guide books. This is one of the reasons I made my web page. The Polynesian is very popular so it gets a lot of work to keep it new. They just finished redoing most of the longhouses (all the original ones) including the exterior wood and most of the interiors. There is very little at the Polynesian that has not been changed in the last 5 years. You might not notice it is different or new but most of it is. Even the whole area from the lobby to the beach was gutted in 2000 to add all new paths and the new pool area. For info on what has been done to the Polynesian by year go to the link.

http://www.tikiman2001.homestead.com/poly2_5.html

Even the newest longhouses built were only a few years older than the GF. I know the GF has needed a lot of work in the last few years also. It all comes down to what you prefer. The GF and Polynesian are two different feels. If you want one of WDW largest beaches and a very tropical relaxed feeling that the Polynesian is for you. If you want more of a Victorian elegant feel that the GF would be a good choice. The Polynesian standard rooms are much larger than most of the Deluxe Resorts including the GF and the transportation is slightly better at the Polynesian since it is walking distance to the TTC and is in the middle of pick-up for busses and the monorail as apposed to last at the GF. The nice thing is what ever resort you pick the monorail makes it easy to hop on over to the other resorts on the monorail to eat or shop.

Aloha

Steve

 

[cindyadam]

Thank you very much for your in-depth response. I'm going to take a look at your site.

 

[Ilovestitch]

I bet the rooms at Polynesian have been refurbished more recently than the rooms at GF. We stayed in Fiji in December and the room was spotless and everything looked brand new.

 

[cindyadam]

OK, thank you for the info

 

[DisneyMomx7]

For a gv room at GF I always recommend Sago Cay, marina view. It's so peaceful and relaxing and you get a nice view of the marina at a garden view price. It's also close to Gasparilla's for snacks and fireworks viewing. Both GF and POly are wonderful resorts I'm sure you like whichever one you pick.

 

[cindyadam]

For a gv room at GF I always recommend Sago Cay, marina view. It's so peaceful and relaxing and you get a nice view of the marina at a garden view price. It's also close to Gasparilla's for snacks and fireworks viewing. Both GF and POly are wonderful resorts I'm sure you like whichever one you pick.

It's so hard to choose!

 

[2princessintraining]

In the past three years I have been to both.

Poly:
I always feel like I am somewhere tropical....walking into the lobby of the Poly has the best smell. "Instant vacation mode" I like to call it. We always eat there just so I can walk in the lobby and get that smell. The rooms were fine when we went in 2003, and no mildew smell I can remember. My DD's loved it as well.

GF:
It is beautiful and also a favorite. It is just a different type of hotel....not stuffy at all but looks it. It has some nice extra's that we liked like the coffee pots in the lobby of the lodges in the morning. (at least as of last year). Gaspiralla's open 24hours (which I think the Poly has as well),


Both had newspaper service, the turndown service at the GF my girls loved.

Either choice would make you happy I am sure.