Which one? GF vs Poly vs AKL vs BC in August 2018

[The V Gang]

We have an awesome rate at GF for our late August/early Sept trip this year.
10 days, 2 rooms, 2 adults 5 kids (16, 15, 13, 12, 7).

Ofcourse, we are second guessing our choice. We could also stay at the Poly for the same rate, BC for $300 less or AKL for $1000 less.

Would you remain at GF or choose a different resort? If you switch, why?

Thanks so much!

 

[Hootenany]

We are going around the same time and also got amazing room rates! We also struggled with where to stay and finally decided on a split stay between the Poly and the YC. We will be at the YC for the majority of our trip mainly because of the pool. We have stayed at the GF before and LOVED everything about it, but felt that Storm Along Bay was a far superior pool and our 3 teens/tweens would spend a good chunk of time swimming. (It is HOT that time of the year!) We chose Poly as our other split stay resort because it is a resort that is new for us and the rate was too good to pass up! It did kill me a little inside to pass up GF.
Would you consider a doing a split stay? 10 days is a great trip! With a split stay it may feel like 2 vacations in one and depending on which resorts you choose, it may even save you a few bucks!

 

[OneinThree]

Relative to your other options, it does look like you've landed a killer rate at the GF and I wouldn't change it -it's the best resort experience Disney has to offer.

 

[The V Gang]

We are going around the same time and also got amazing room rates! We also struggled with where to stay and finally decided on a split stay between the Poly and the YC. We will be at the YC for the majority of our trip mainly because of the pool. We have stayed at the GF before and LOVED everything about it, but felt that Storm Along Bay was a far superior pool and our 3 teens/tweens would spend a good chunk of time swimming. (It is HOT that time of the year!) We chose Poly as our other split stay resort because it is a resort that is new for us and the rate was too good to pass up! It did kill me a little inside to pass up GF.
Would you consider a doing a split stay? 10 days is a great trip! With a split stay it may feel like 2 vacations in one and depending on which resorts you choose, it may even save you a few bucks!

Split stays with so many of us ends up being a lot of work. We prefer to stay at the same resort throughout our stay. We did love the pool at BC two years ago, especially for our little guy. So many positive things about them all!

 

[The V Gang]

Relative to your other options, it does look like you've landed a killer rate at the GF and I wouldn't change it -it's the best resort experience Disney has to offer.

I think you may be right.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I love the BC but since you just stayed there two years ago i would give GF a try. We also did this deal before and the rates are amazing!! I would go with GF because you may never get a deal like this again.

 

[Shanti]

We have an awesome rate at GF for our late August/early Sept trip this year.
10 days, 2 rooms, 2 adults 5 kids (16, 15, 13, 12, 7).

Ofcourse, we are second guessing our choice. We could also stay at the Poly for the same rate, BC for $300 less or AKL for $1000 less.

Would you remain at GF or choose a different resort? If you switch, why?

Thanks so much!

In August I would stay at Beach Club to take advantage of Stormalong Bay.

 

[100acreHiker]

GF is my absolute favorite resort, but we stay at the Epcot resorts now because we are usually going to either EP or HS. We like the resort area and and enjoy the Boardwalk and walking to the two parks, etc. We just don't go to Magic Kingdom that much. If we did, I would stay at GF everytime. It's just so relaxing and beautiful and the quick service food is great. My kids actually preferred the pool at GF to Stormalong Bay, which they found too crowded and loud. The only downside to GF is that it takes a while to get to the other parks.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

GF all the way Some reasons we love GF.....
-all rooms have a balcony
-the split bathroom makes it easier for multiple people to get ready
-each outer building(except CL) has its own laundry room which will be needed for a 10 night stay
-two great pools that are not overly crowded, both with great food options
-sitting outside Gaspie's at night to see the fireworks without the crowds
-easy transport or walking to other resorts on monorail/boat for dining and shopping
-larger room size
-turn down service nightly
-lounging in the main building listening to great live music in the afternoon and evening
-quick access to MK via monorail/boat
-Keurig coffee maker in the room
-the smell of the lobby each time you walk in.....

We were at GF last August for 10 days and it was awesome! The great rate just sweetened the deal

 

[HairyChest]

Ive stayed at all of those except the Beach Club (I did stay at the yacht club though).
Forget the beach club, its a nice hotel with a large pool but nothing special to me. Animal Kingdom was nice but the room was small, and it was far from the parks. The Grand Floridian and Polynesian are magical and special! They change the vacation to something else. You really look forward to going back to your hotel like it was an extension of the magic kingdom (and you can see the castle from both of those resorts). The rooms at the Grand are better then the poly. The poly has a wonderful Hawaiian atmosphere. They are right next to each other so I would pick the Grand and then you can walk to the Poly whenever you like to enjoy the atmosphere there too. Best of both worlds.

 

[mickeynut1]

We have an awesome rate at GF for our late August/early Sept trip this year.
10 days, 2 rooms, 2 adults 5 kids (16, 15, 13, 12, 7).

Ofcourse, we are second guessing our choice. We could also stay at the Poly for the same rate, BC for $300 less or AKL for $1000 less.

Would you remain at GF or choose a different resort? If you switch, why?

Thanks so much!

We've stayed at all of the resorts you mentioned and while the Poly is our favorite, the GF runs a very close second. With that said, if you got an amazing rate at the GF, I think I'd stick with that as great discounts are sometimes hard to come by anymore. However, if you were to change, my choice would be to change to the Poly. Good luck!

 

[rchampagne]

We're going around the same time, and had a similar decision. We were debating between GF, BC, and Poly.
Poly is our favorite, but we've stayed there twice before, and this trip is supposed to be about new experiences. We decided on GF for a few reasons. First, while the pool at BC is obviously better, I enjoy pool time more if it's not TOO crowded. I don't have any experience with Storm Along Bay but from what I've read, it seems it's always crowded. Also, I read that daybeds are not guaranteed at BC, while every room at GF has one. It just makes things simpler when my kids each have their own bed.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We're going around the same time, and had a similar decision. We were debating between GF, BC, and Poly.
Poly is our favorite, but we've stayed there twice before, and this trip is supposed to be about new experiences. We decided on GF for a few reasons. First, while the pool at BC is obviously better, I enjoy pool time more if it's not TOO crowded. I don't have any experience with Storm Along Bay but from what I've read, it seems it's always crowded. Also, I read that daybeds are not guaranteed at BC, while every room at GF has one. It just makes things simpler when my kids each have their own bed.

We did BC on the Labor Day deal. The pool was never crowded (late August) and we were there everyday for at least 4 hours. Twice my kids were in there for 8 hours. They refused to come to Epcot with us because they loved the pool so much.

 

[loves to dive]

I'd do BC, F&W will be going on and being able to walk to Epcot and HS is great. Bonus it's less.

 

[mamasha]

We have an awesome rate at GF for our late August/early Sept trip this year.
10 days, 2 rooms, 2 adults 5 kids (16, 15, 13, 12, 7).

Ofcourse, we are second guessing our choice. We could also stay at the Poly for the same rate, BC for $300 less or AKL for $1000 less.

Would you remain at GF or choose a different resort? If you switch, why?

Thanks so much!

Can I ask how much 10 days cost?

 

[Shellyb84]

We've stayed at all of those and they are all amazing resorts! BC is our favorite resort, and that's a great time of year for the pool and the location is perfect for F&W!

We are going for 5 nights over Labor Day (with the awesome TA rates) and were torn between Poly, GF and BC/YC. We decided against BC/YC because we stay there every summer and have 9 nights there in June/July. I was leaning towards GF (we stayed there in 2016 at the same time of year) but DD REALLY wants to go back to Poly (we've only ever spent 2 nights there) so that's what we're going with. I think we'll miss being at an Epcot resort during F&W, but it will also be nice to try something different.

 

[justme0729]

I would stay put at GF. I love GF and Poly... not sure which one I really love more. I think GF has nicer rooms and decor but just to consider...at the Poly you can walk to the TTC for the Epcot monorail instead of going all the way around the resort monorail loop to get to the TTC to get to Epcot. Poly to me feels like an MK and Epcot resort because it’s quick to get to both.

 

[lovin'fl]

I'd switch to BC. F&W begins and the SAB pool would be a big hit with your gang.

 

[Trish0025]

I’m going to be the one to defend AKL. I love the theming at Kidani! It was so nice to come home to those lit lanterns every night. I also love love love the all of the food options at AKL. Jiko was one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. We also got Sanaa to go and carried it up to our room to eat while watching animals from our balcony. I also liked drinking my coffee in the morning while watching the zebras gallop around. I also didn’t mind the distance. When we HAD to be somewhere at a specific time we just took an Uber. I also had elementary age kids who got really into completing their bead activities. They actually asked to leave a park early one day so that we wouldn’t miss the animal tracks activity. I think it is really underrated. I would stay there again and again.

 

[Sue M]

I love the BC but since you just stayed there two years ago i would give GF a try. We also did this deal before and the rates are amazing!! I would go with GF because you may never get a deal like this again.

I was going to post the same thing! Go with GF. We’ve had 3 stays there and love it. But rates are going up. My last stay at GF was around $30 or $40 a night less! So grab it while you can. We decided to book WL this Labour Day.