which deluxe???

[HAH]

Due to the fact that the teachers rate is available for only part of our trip, we have decided to bite the bullet--stray from the Swan--and stay at a deluxe. Our trip is in January. We want to be on the monorail. The Contemporary is booked. With all of your collective wisdom, please make recommendations as to whether we should stay at the Polynesian or the Grand Floridian?????

 

[Trekker]

I have never stayed at either one - but I've visited friends at the Poly and it was beautiful.

I've always dreamed of staying at the GF - I know I'm no help but what the hey!

 

[Hayley]

This is just my opinion, but while the GF is lovely, the theme isn't as strong or as "Disney" as the Poly, so we like the Poly.

If you really just want a wonderful hotel, do the GF, but if you like to feel like you are pretending something and have never really left the parks, do our personal favorite resort, the Poly!

 

[vicb]

I have never stayed at GF, and stayed at CR many, many years ago. We stayed at Poly 3 years ago and really enjoyed our stay. Our children were very young and we wanted to be on the monorail too. We had a lovely room with a lagoon view near the marina. We enjoyed the combo pool/beach area. Seeing MK fireworks everynight from our resort was neat. We ate at O'hana and thought it was so-so, we did what was then the character luau and had a really fun time there. We liked the lobby area and had good experiences with the staff.

As a teenager I stayed at CR with my family and thought it was quite cool but that was many years back. I don't know how much it has changed.

This year we took our kids to the GF to do the Pirate Cruise and toured the GF. We thought it was very pretty but the atmosphere did not appeal to us. My 9 yr. old DD commented on how "boring" it seemed at that resort.

So that's my opinion for what it's worth!

 

[daannzzz]

I have stayed at both and they are both great for different reasons. The GF makes you feel like you are rich. The rooms are nice and big but are a bit to Victorian ( frilly) for me. Still it was fun and there are lots of restaurants to pick from.
The Polynesian was more my style. A bit more casual, the room was huge and I love Polynesian / South seas decore and landscaping. 'Ohana is my favorite restaurant at WDW.
You just need to decide if you want a more casual , tropical setting or formal Victorian accomodations.

 

[4greatboys]

Check Expedia, they may have just what you want at a good rate. They have a block of rooms so even if Disney doesnt have a room at a disc rate you are trying to get they may have just what you are looking for.

 

[tinofan]

HAH
You don't mention who is in your party.
We stayed at the Polynesian last year - we loved it (me DH, 9yDD, 9yrDD, 3yrDD). WE can't so enough good things about it. In fact, we going back in Oct
As for the GF, we visited there one evening. IMHO, and I'm speaking only out of our first impression here, but we thought it felt very "stuffy". All we did was sit in the lobby and listen to the piano player and shop a bit. But we couldn't wait to get out of there! We felt as if we had a big sign on our backs saying "outsider". We also visited the CR, and we felt very comfortable there (I know you can't stay there, I'm just giving you a frame of reference).

I think either way, you would enjoy the Polynesian. Have you visited Tikiman's site about the Poly yet? That may help you make up your mind!
http://tikiman2001.homestead.com/index.html

Good luck in your planning!

Tinofan

 

[wdwnutze]

I would have to say the Poly. It is like being on a tropical island. We had a lagoonview last summer and it was awesome. We spent a lot less time in the parks and more time at the resort relaxing. It is like a vacation within a vacation!

 

[TeenaS]

My favorite is the GF. We stay there frequently and I have talked my other friends into trying it. They all thought it was stuffy and too fancy for their taste. Once they stayed there, they were hooked. Now it is their favorite too. We are not fancy people. We love the GF, the CM's, everything about it. and the decorations, especially during the holidays, are unbelievable; and wait until you see Cinderella's coach come pick up a bride. To me it is the most magical place in the world. There is nothing like walking around by the boat docks at night with the castle changing colors across the lake and the noises of Magic Kingdom floating over to you. I always feel I stepped into a fairy tale. The Poly is really really nice too but nothing touches the GF! One morning I went to GGrill to get coffee and a gardner stopped weeding and picked me some long stemmed roses. I called housekeeping and asked for a vase and within minutes it was there. Once when the bellhop was bringing us and our luggage to our room, he overheard me tell my husband I needed a bottle of cold water quick. Five minutes after he left, he came back with a cold bottle of water for me. This is the GF!