Which would you choose?

[Minnie824]

Our trip this year isn't even here yet, but I'm planning for next year. DDs will be 5 and 2. This year, staying at Beach Club, next year want to try GF or Poly. Please let me know your choice, and any reasoning. We really don't have a preference at the moment. Just want to try a monorail resort, before we go back to the Epcot area we love. Also, we would not be doing the dining plan, not sure if that really matters, or going to waterparks.

 

[edingerc]

Those prices seem a little high for just 6 nights... I mean you're talking $500 a night for Poly Garden, that's too high. No AAA or AP discount? Often times, you can save money on rack rates by buying a single AP and using that to make your res.

 

[Minnie824]

Those were the package prices I got at disneyworld.com....length of stay, no expire, with waterpark, 7 day tickets.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I voted for the GF Lagoon view. If that is what you choose, ask them to put you as high as you can, so you can have a spectacular view of the Castle, water parade and the fireworks. (You can watch the fireworks while the girls are in their pj's - no crowd!).

It's a great location and your dd's can go on the Pirate Cruise, have Tea with Alice and do a cooking class - all within the GF. The shoppings and the spa is a great perk, as well.

Enjoy and let us know what you decide.

 

[minnie61650]

None of the above for me thank you very much.

I am 55 years old and travel several times a year. I often stay at 4 star hotels.
So the deluxe resorts do not have anything special for me.
All Star is like being in the heart of the Disney Magic and that is where I want to be.
When I am at Disney I am at the parks,out shopping, dining, eploring or taking in the sights so I don'tneed a large room to lounge around in.

All Star Music is my faveroite resort. It is quieter because more couples stay there.
I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. It was brand new. I've stayed at FW, Disney Inn, a few the of Hotels on hotel Blvd., CBR and the towers at the Contemporary. I got to see the MK from my balcony at the Contemporary and I'm happy I got to experience it once. I just prefer the All Star Resorts.
The theaming is pure Disney.
My last 4 visits have been at The All Stars and this fall when we take dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 we are staying at the All Stars Music. I thought about AKL and even though we can well afford AKL I just wanted Alex to experience the Disney Magic at the All Stars on his first visit.
Where else can one find Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse at the pool?
I can hardly wait.
Linda

 

[gigi1313]

i voted for the poly garden concierge... it's the best for the least imo (although i've not stayed there personally! LOL! i just like the idea of concierge... love the look of the poly... and the price was the lowest of all concierge options!)

 

[grimley1968]

Poly Garden view. It's the least expensive, gets me in the Poly (I prefer Poly to GF), and gets me all those transportation options Poly offers.

 

[J and R's mom]

I voted Poly Lagoon Concierge.

I've stayed at GF Concierge (not in the main building, though) and wasn't that impressed. We were upgraded to it so at least we didn't have to pay for it.

I've never stayed at the Poly (we're not really big into the whole tropical theme) but from some of the things I've read on this board, it's really a great place to stay and the Concierge at the Poly is hard to beat. Being so close to the TTC and having the monorail, I'd definitely go with Poly. Plus, I think it's be more appealing to young kids than the GF is.

Here's a link to a thread I just read from a person having just returned. Sounds like they had a wonderful experience (in case you haven't read it yet). http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=889308

Good luck with your choice and I agree with the posters saying to invest in at least one Annual Plan (AP) so that you can get the discounted room rates. The extra $100 you might spend on an AP might save you several hundred or more on the room.

 

[J and R's mom]

I voted Poly Lagoon Concierge.

I've stayed at GF Concierge (not in the main building, though) and wasn't that impressed. We were upgraded to it so at least we didn't have to pay for it.

I've never stayed at the Poly (we're not really big into the whole tropical theme) but from some of the things I've read on this board, it's really a great place to stay and the Concierge at the Poly is hard to beat. Being so close to the TTC and having the monorail, I'd definitely go with Poly. Plus, I think it'd be more appealing to young kids than the GF is.

Here's a link to a thread I just read from a person having just returned. Sounds like they had a wonderful experience (in case you haven't read it yet). http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=889308

Good luck with your choice and I agree with the posters saying to invest in at least one Annual Plan (AP) so that you can get the discounted room rates. The extra $100 you might spend on an AP might save you several hundred or more on the room.

 

[PamNC]

Hi there! Sounds like you have great taste in resorts. I voted Poly garden view. We don't have kids, so we're not in the same situation as you, but we stayed concierge once and didn't find it to be worth the extra money. It was nice, but the only thing we found to be an "extra" was the lounge and food offerings...which we didn't eat enough of to justify the cost. But, I know people with kids find it to be cheaper than eating all meals out. I choose Poly garden also because although I would love to get a lagoon view, the garden views are so nice and lovely that I can't justify paying the extra $$ for the lagoon view. We like the Poly better than the Grand, and we've stayed at both resorts. The GF is beautiful, the staff is great but the Poly is just more our style.

PamNC

 

[Lewisc]

I voted for POLY GV. The fact that you're posting the poll means price is a factor.

 

[swilphil]

I voted GF garden view. Such a beautiful resort. You might want to book through Dreams Unlimited to see if they can get you a better rate on a code. It might be worth it for you to buy one AP to get the AP rate for your stay. It was worth it for us to do so on our 6 night stay at the Contemporary.

 

[tinkerbela]

i voted for the poly lagoon view because even though it's a little more than the garden view, it's cheaper than GF lagoon view. you might see cindy's castle and some fireworks.

 

[Manon]

Wow! This is too much money only for 6 nights!!! If you think about it, you're supposed to only be a little bit of time in your room....I know I would't pay that amount of money for a room, even at Disney!!!

 

[DisneyJen0504]

Poly garden view

 

[bellarella]

Poly Garden view. With kids I just wouldn't enjoy the perks of conceirge. And chances are when you are in the room with kids you will have the drapes closed (someone napping) so the view would not be that important, especially since there are no lousy views at the Poly.

I would love to stay at GF, but wouldn't do it with kids. Not that I think kids aren't welcome, but rather what I would want to do at GF wouldn't be possible with kids (namely be able to linger at things like tea and cocktails). That and the transportation options at Poly are so much better with the TTC being right there, I think it is a better choice with kids.

 

[iliketoby]

Voted Poly Lagoon view, because that's what we did and loved it. So peaceful and tranquil. Still, Beach Club is my favorite hotel (so far).

Did concierge at Beach Club and Boardwalk, and was unimpressed. Have heard that Poly conc is better, we're just not doing anymore concierge at WDW.

 

[slo]

I've done both the average garden view and the concierge lagoon view. Obviously, the concierge is the one I voted for, it was a wonderful time. But, we splurged and I don't know if we would do this again. If you are on a budget, and you don't want to spend tons of money, then I would do the garden view.

Also, how much will you be in your room? Last year when we did concierge lagoon view, we were traveling with our 13 month old DD and we were in the room alot more than average. While DH and 6yr old DD were swimming, I was in the room while the baby was napping. I did enjoy that lagoon view!!

I would do what's best for your budget - all the rooms are nice at The Poly!!

 

[MissionMouse]

You really need to decide this one for yourself since they are both excellent resort offering a different and distinct ambience. Also time of year also makes a difference too.

The GF offer lots of different room choices way beyond your listed options. Additionally, beware there are two levels of concierge at the GF and I perceive the one you listed is the concierge-light where the PR only provides full concierge service.

Check this site out for the GF which provides pictures and floor plans http://www.the-grahams.net/gf/
Be sure to use all their links contained in this site for the full experience.
Restaurants | Shopping | Photos | Rooms | Recreation | Spa & Health Club

and of course the landmark for the Polynesian Resort Tikiman's Unofficial Disney's Polynesian Resort

 

[eeyore0062]

I voted for the garden view (specify that you would not like to overlook the monorail), basically because we don't spend that much time in the room. If we want to look at the Lagoon, we go down to the beach. More money to spend on food and other goodies!