Where should i stay?

[Girlstar30]

Hi guys! So i was able to score MM tickets for June yesterday so ofc I started stalking till I dropped lol. I was able to get 8 nights at riv preferred, still going for one more and im confident I can get it! I was really going for the poly longhouses. As much as id love to stay in a one bedroom, we have a lot of short stays at vdh this year on special occasions that I dont want to cancel! We want to save as many points as we can so im kind of staying away from trying the pit this time around.

My question is this: Should I still try to get poly longhouses and keep riv for now and stalk and put a waitlist? We fell in love with the poly ISLAND tower in SEPTEMBER. We have never stayed at the long houses and dont know if we love those. We felt okay with riv, but we had already hit the theme parks and it was mostly a resort stay so we were wanting some more stuff to do at the resort, but this time we will be more busy.

What i loved about Poly was the peaceful island vibes. Am I not going to get this in June? Will the pool and dole whip lines be extremely crowded? How will Riviera be?

Here is where my thoughts are:

Poly pluses:

We liked the island tower a lot
Walking distance to vgf where I really want to explore all of the restaurants and I love afternoon tea
Preferred method of transport is the monorail
Better pool

Riv

Going to be less crowded?
Less kids?
Better food all around, topolino being my favorite dinner and interest in trying sebastians
Interest in buying art on demand riv artwork so convenient to be there
Bus is better not sharing for when we have to use it
Better rooms than longhouses?


If someone has stayed at both these room types, can they please clue me in on which studios are nicer or are they equal and if poly is just going to be a crowded mess and staying at pit is a big difference than longhouses? There are our concerns. Thank you! We are going to be two adults, no kids this time around

 

[Steelers0854]

Haven’t stayed at Riviera but have stayed at both types at the Poly. The Island Tower and Longhouses are very different decor and vibe wise. But I would say if you liked the island tower I believe you would like the longhouses, I am not so sure I would say the reverse. I dont think you will be sad at the Poly, but I cant give you advice between that and the Riviera. Only other thing to consider about riviera is that in June you will likely get a lot of afternoon storms and those can wreak havoc on the skyliner.

I feel like the Poly is so popular it’s about the same crowd levels year round. In June the pool will be more popular obviously but since it’s a good size and they added the one by the tower you may not be as disappointed as some other resorts with smaller pools. The Dole Whip line generally moves pretty quick year round

 

[Sandisw]

I’m always choosing RIV so my opinion isn’t worth a lot.

But, I can say that I am not a fan of the longhouses but would be of the island tower.

 

[airjay75]

Well, I'm assuming you got the TL MM magic tickets for 6/25, and that will be night 7 of my 8 night stay in a RIV 2 BR Preferred Lock-off so you should stay there simply because I'll be there too! We also got the MM tix and plan to go .

In all seriousness though, I think you probably can't go wrong with either. You know you really love Poly, so might be able to get a good feel for it during a busier time than September. Could be informative in case you do decide to add some direct PVB points before they sell out (or resale PVB at some point). Based on the tours I did of PIT during Easter week and during July last year, I think you will get a busier vibe than you got during September, but it's still WDW and I'm sure you'll have a great time regardless. Just expect a busier vibe and then maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised.

I stayed at RIV last summer during July when there was an Epcot MM, and we had zero problems with the Skyliner. That said, I love @Sandisw's idea of just keeping some Lyft/Uber funds as your back-up plan should serious thunderstorms cause problems and take it from BW or BC - I mean, it's gotta be less than a 5 minute ride from those places. And, for the TL MM, I think all bus transportation from the resorts requires you to transfer at DS to get to TL, so you'll probably end up using Lyft/Uber for that anyways (unless you have a rental car). And TL is a lot closer to RIV than to Poly.

So, I don't think you can go wrong.

 

[Girlstar30]

Haven’t stayed at Riviera but have stayed at both types at the Poly. The Island Tower and Longhouses are very different decor and vibe wise. But I would say if you liked the island tower I believe you would like the longhouses, I am not so sure I would say the reverse. I dont think you will be sad at the Poly, but I cant give you advice between that and the Riviera. Only other thing to consider about riviera is that in June you will likely get a lot of afternoon storms and those can wreak havoc on the skyliner.

I feel like the Poly is so popular it’s about the same crowd levels year round. In June the pool will be more popular obviously but since it’s a good size and they added the one by the tower you may not be as disappointed as some other resorts with smaller pools. The Dole Whip line generally moves pretty quick year round

Thank you, this is helpful, I didnt consider the storms and I would be very disappointed by that. That happened to us with the boat at hs and it was very annoying. Poly would save us more points in the long run as it is a deluxe studio but my happiness is more important. Ugh this is tough

I’m always choosing RIV so my opinion isn’t worth a lot.

But, I can say that I am not a fan of the longhouses but would be of the island tower.

I am down for a split stay and I havent been able to let it go it but my wife is against it. She says most people would love to have a continuous stay and why am I going arpund splitting it up lol. 9 days in one hotel is a long for me. I love the new rooms, we didnt stay in the studio when we went we did a two bedroom and were on the one bedroom side so I havent experienced that. And I was comparing it to Poly which is also new. I found that I have not liked the more dated rooms as much which is why im hesitant for the long house. Hmmm.

 

[Girlstar30]

Well, I'm assuming you got the TL MM magic tickets for 6/25, and that will be night 7 of my 8 night stay in a RIV 2 BR Preferred Lock-off so you should stay there simply because I'll be there too! We also got the MM tix and plan to go .

In all seriousness though, I think you probably can't go wrong with either. You know you really love Poly, so might be able to get a good feel for it during a busier time than September. Could be informative in case you do decide to add some direct PVB points before they sell out (or resale PVB at some point). Based on the tours I did of PIT during Easter week and during July last year, I think you will get a busier vibe than you got during September, but it's still WDW and I'm sure you'll have a great time regardless. Just expect a busier vibe and then maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised.

I stayed at RIV last summer during July when there was an Epcot MM, and we had zero problems with the Skyliner. That said, I love @Sandisw's idea of just keeping some Lyft/Uber funds as your back-up plan should serious thunderstorms cause problems and take it from BW or BC - I mean, it's gotta be less than a 5 minute ride from those places. And, for the TL MM, I think all bus transportation from the resorts requires you to transfer at DS to get to TL, so you'll probably end up using Lyft/Uber for that anyways (unless you have a rental car). And TL is a lot closer to RIV than to Poly.

So, I don't think you can go wrong.

Yes typhoon lagoon, i am so excited a Waterpark MM looks awesome! I dont mind using uber at all so thats a good point or the bus since it only shares one. Am I crazy to want to do a split stay when I can just stay in one?

 

[airjay75]

Yes typhoon lagoon, i am so excited a Waterpark MM looks awesome! I dont mind using uber at all so thats a good point or the bus since it only shares one. Am I crazy to want to do a split stay when I can just stay in one?

I don't think a split stay is crazy at all, especially without kids and especially since you're doing studios. When you do 1 BRs, I think you tend to settle in more because you've got the full fridge and washer/dryer. If it were just me and my wife, no kids, and in a studio, I don't think a split stay would phase us.

That may well be the best path for you. I'd probably keep RIV for the TL MM since it is a lot closer - do at least the night before and night after so you don't have to worry about moving immediately before or after the MM event. But, do Poly for the the other half.

I think it is also nice because you can do your MK visits during your Poly time and your Epcot/HS visits during your RIV stay.

 

[airjay75]

I'll just add one thing. One reason I'm doing 8 nights at RIV (instead of 7) is so we can get the full cleaning after night 4. That is one nice thing about doing a longer stay in one room/resort. But, if you split stay, then you just get an entirely brand new, clean room! And, that's really just as good, if not better.

 

[Girlstar30]

I'll just add one thing. One reason I'm doing 8 nights at RIV (instead of 7) is so we can get the full cleaning after night 4. That is one nice thing about doing a longer stay in one room/resort. But, if you split stay, then you just get an entirely brand new, clean room! And, that's really just as good, if not better.

Thank you so much, I am adding a night so its 5 and 5 and we are split staying! When we were at animal kingdom i was so excited to leave and go to copper creek and have a new experience! And im so glad I did! I didnt like the copper studios amd loved the one bedrooms! What if this happens again?? Then I can go crazy over which to purchase

I think its a great way for me to do another battle of the resorts with studios haha! And perhaps see poly in a different light and appreciate the quieter pace of riv. Im excited for pool time at poly and I think the soccer ball at riv is really fun! Fine dining at both! Woo woo! I was going insane today. Switching them over and over. I had beach club one bedroom at one point which i thought would be great for the summer and then riv and poly just kept calling out to me! Thank you for your advice!!

 

[Girlstar30]

I will add a funny story that I went to the dr yesterday and told her we bought vdh and added to our timeshare and she told me, "be careful, those timeshares can be addictive."

She doesnt know I own at 4 and that was the only thing i said about it besides mentioning we had a disney timeshare before and really enjoyed it!

I just laughed it off and said we were done buying (with my fingers crossed behind my back )

 

[airjay75]

Thank you so much, I am adding a night so its 5 and 5 and we are split staying!

I think that really sounds like a great plan. I think it will be great.

I will add a funny story that I went to the dr yesterday and told her we bought vdh and added to our timeshare and she told me, "be careful, those timeshares can be addictive."

She doesnt know I own at 4 and that was the only thing i said about it besides mentioning we had a disney timeshare before and really enjoyed it!

I just laughed it off and said we were done buying (with my fingers crossed behind my back )

My wife and I both have a family therapist we have seen for quite a few years. I have told her about our DVC purchase, but I have yet to tell her just how much money I've spent on it! Sometimes, there are things that are just better left unsaid. LOL.