WL or POLY

[iloveeeyore]

First, this is for KatMark !

We have stayed at both of these resorts, and while we love them both, I personally prefer the Poly, while DH gives the edge to the WL. I don't think you can go wrong with either. If you read the above posts carefully, you will see conflicting opinions on almost every single category. The Poly has nicer rooms...the WL has nicer rooms. The Poly has better food...WL has better food. I hate the outside buildings...I love the outside buildings, etc. Honestly, I think it comes down to which theme turns you on more. Are you more tropical or outdoorsy? Do you like palm trees and flowers, or a fireplace and tall pines? For me the Poly wins out because my answer to this question is palm trees and flowers. DH likes the dramatic lobby and the hot tubs of the WL. Some say that the Poly is "spread out." We don't think so. The guest rooms are located in buildings that are separate from the lobby, yes, but we haven't found anything to be particularly far from anything, as it is at say, Caribbean Beach. In fact, the walk from our room to the bus stop at WL seemed farther than any walk we ever experienced at the Poly...and we didn't mind, anyway. I'm bringing this up to emphasize that every family has a unique experience that affects their perception of each resort, and you must recognize that most of what is offered is opinion based on experience, not necessarily empirical fact.

Just curious what kind of ideas you have for a toddler to do at a resort? IMO, the best thing to do in the afternoon at the resort for a toddler is nap! ALL Disney resorts are very kid-friendly and offer some activities and events. Please tell us what you have in mind so we can offer more specific advice. Here's what I can think of:

The WL has a kiddie pool, I think. But while the Poly doesn't have a dedicated kiddie pool, it does have a splash and play area that's more like fountains and sprinklers (no standing water) and a zero-entry section of the main pool. Both resorts offer different kinds of activities by the pool, games and such, but I don't know if they are appropriate for a 3-year-old (sorry, it's been a long time since I've travelled with a 3-year-old). Both resorts have a beach (no swimming allowed, but you may play in the sand). IMO the view from the Poly beach is pure magic, the view from WL is very nice. Your toddler probably won't care a bout that, but YOU might! The Poly has a section of the lobby for kids to watch TV and do some crafts, color, etc. I don't remember seeing that at WL, but there is a section near the entrance to WCC with Lincoln Logs. From WL, it is VERY easy to get to Fort Wilderness, either a pretty long walk or a boat ride. FW has a petting zoo, pony rides, movies on the beach? Mickey's Backyard BBQ. You can always get there from the Poly, too, but it's a litle more complicated. I don't know if you'd want to take the time to do that on a relatively short trip anyway. Both resorts offer a boat ride to and from MK. The Poly also offers the monorail to/from MK and Epcot. You can use the monorail when you stay at WL, too, you just have to use the boat to get to it first.

The Poly has 'Ohana, which IMO is one of the best restaurants on property. It is a Mickey and Lilo & Stitch character breakfast in the morning and an all-you-can eat Polynesian feast in the evening with games for kids (limbo, coconut races). We like it much more than WCC, which is WL's family restaurant, which also has games and antics. But this is just our opinion and others disagree. And you can stay at WL and dine at 'Ohana anyway and vice versa, so I wouldn't call that a reason to stay there.

The view of the fireworks from the Poly beach is one of the best views in all of WDW. And you are allowed to watch from there whether you stay there or not, this is a fact. From WL, you can see some of the higher fireworks, but it is by no means considered a view of the fireworks show. You can see EWP from both resorts, Poly 9 PM and WL 9:35 nightly.

Please let us know if you have any more specific questions. Have you found the Poly FAQ and the WL FAQ threads yet? You might find those very helpful.

Happy Planning!

 

[Muggle-born]

Watching the fireworks from the beach at POLY is a factor in my desicion. Are you sure they let you do that? The main factor in my decision is how much will my toddler be ablr to do at the resort. She will need to get away from the parks for a while so I want to have a lot to offer her. The other decision is travel becasue we are only there for 3 days in the parks and 4 nights. We are going in about a month.

You can watch the fireworks from the beach, Poly guest or not, it doesn't matter.

And at the WL, it's SO MUCH more quieter so when your little one needs to get away from the parks, she'll feel more relaxed. At the Poly, with all the people going in and out, either dining, resort hopping, monorail touring, pool hopping (which I know isn't allowed, but it doesn't mean that it doesn't happen)... it's very busy.

My last trip we decided never again. The rooms have been too run down for paying as much as we did for them. Take the extra money from when you book the WL (and I advise a non-standard view room) and spend it on something fun in the parks!

 

[sam_gordon]

I have stayed at both. The pros and cons have been covered very well. One thing I'd like to point out though is if you're staying at the Poly and want to catch the monorail to Epcot, it's either walk to TTC (easy depending on where your room is) or go all the way around the lake on the resort monorail. Not a bad thing, but you've got to stop at GF, MK, and CR before getting to TTC.

With a 3 year old, the volcano slide doesn't really help. They might be able to do the slide at the WL pool (from what I remember... it's been a couple years). WL has hot tubs, Poly has better food (WL isn't bad, I just think Poly's is a little better).

To me, the bottom line is $$$. I'm guessing over three nights, WL will be about $300 cheaper. THAT'S enough for me.

 

[ols386]

I found the Poly to be very quiet. We were in Tahiti, and never heard a peep from anyone while in our room...not from the hallway or from outside the balcony. I didn't find our room at the Poly run-down at all.

I found the WL to be very noisy. When we came back to the room in the afternoon to rest, the courtyard/pool was VERY noisy (we had a courtyard view room). But if you can get a room that's wood's view, it may be more quiet.

 

[1971DBday]

As my title states we LOVE both resorts. We have fond memories of our honeymoon at the WL and wished we had taken the opportunity before we became a party of 5 to stay there once more (villas at WL more expensive then a standard at the Poly). It was always our dream to stay at the Poly (for me it was the first resort I stayed at on my first visit as a child).

As a parent of a toddler here is your benefit of the Poly - THE MONORAIL! It is sooooooo worth it for the option of 2 of the 4 parks (not including DTD and waterparks) to be able to just roll a passed out child in their stroller right on. When utilizing the buses you will have to close up the stroller and carry it with you on the bus. I know it is not ALL of the parks, but again it's 2 of 4 and MK will be the popular one with your toddler.

Someone else can chime in, but the main pool at the Poly is zero depth entry, but I can't remember if there is a kiddie pool at the main pool at the WL, but there is no zero entry.

We also never had a challenge with a seat on the monorail. However, I can't tell you how many times I was left standing on the bus (no one offered their seat) while holding my baby/toddler in my arms while gripping on to the bars above my head as the bus made a fast turn! It may be the next new thrill ride that WDW can advertise!

By the way just wanted to share/comment on the hard words being said earlier in this post.....between yesterday and today I received THREE types of bad news:
1. Acquaintance friends of ours lost their 11 year old son this past week - electricuted.
2. A good friend just lost her mother Saturday (her father passed away 8 months ago)
3. And another friend just lost their baby today.

Please remember these are just supposed to be happy discussions about a magical place that takes us away .....things could be worse. If everyone could just say a little prayer for all mentioned above! Forgive, Forget and Move On

Sorry to Allenc99 for the controvery....have a wonderful family trip and don't let the little things ruin your trip - it's about quality family time.

 

[allenc99]

First, this is for KatMark !

We have stayed at both of these resorts, and while we love them both, I personally prefer the Poly, while DH gives the edge to the WL. I don't think you can go wrong with either. If you read the above posts carefully, you will see conflicting opinions on almost every single category. The Poly has nicer rooms...the WL has nicer rooms. The Poly has better food...WL has better food. I hate the outside buildings...I love the outside buildings, etc. Honestly, I think it comes down to which theme turns you on more. Are you more tropical or outdoorsy? Do you like palm trees and flowers, or a fireplace and tall pines? For me the Poly wins out because my answer to this question is palm trees and flowers. DH likes the dramatic lobby and the hot tubs of the WL. Some say that the Poly is "spread out." We don't think so. The guest rooms are located in buildings that are separate from the lobby, yes, but we haven't found anything to be particularly far from anything, as it is at say, Caribbean Beach. In fact, the walk from our room to the bus stop at WL seemed farther than any walk we ever experienced at the Poly...and we didn't mind, anyway. I'm bringing this up to emphasize that every family has a unique experience that affects their perception of each resort, and you must recognize that most of what is offered is opinion based on experience, not necessarily empirical fact.

Just curious what kind of ideas you have for a toddler to do at a resort? IMO, the best thing to do in the afternoon at the resort for a toddler is nap! ALL Disney resorts are very kid-friendly and offer some activities and events. Please tell us what you have in mind so we can offer more specific advice. Here's what I can think of:

The WL has a kiddie pool, I think. But while the Poly doesn't have a dedicated kiddie pool, it does have a splash and play area that's more like fountains and sprinklers (no standing water) and a zero-entry section of the main pool. Both resorts offer different kinds of activities by the pool, games and such, but I don't know if they are appropriate for a 3-year-old (sorry, it's been a long time since I've travelled with a 3-year-old). Both resorts have a beach (no swimming allowed, but you may play in the sand). IMO the view from the Poly beach is pure magic, the view from WL is very nice. Your toddler probably won't care a bout that, but YOU might! The Poly has a section of the lobby for kids to watch TV and do some crafts, color, etc. I don't remember seeing that at WL, but there is a section near the entrance to WCC with Lincoln Logs. From WL, it is VERY easy to get to Fort Wilderness, either a pretty long walk or a boat ride. FW has a petting zoo, pony rides, movies on the beach? Mickey's Backyard BBQ. You can always get there from the Poly, too, but it's a litle more complicated. I don't know if you'd want to take the time to do that on a relatively short trip anyway. Both resorts offer a boat ride to and from MK. The Poly also offers the monorail to/from MK and Epcot. You can use the monorail when you stay at WL, too, you just have to use the boat to get to it first.

The Poly has 'Ohana, which IMO is one of the best restaurants on property. It is a Mickey and Lilo & Stitch character breakfast in the morning and an all-you-can eat Polynesian feast in the evening with games for kids (limbo, coconut races). We like it much more than WCC, which is WL's family restaurant, which also has games and antics. But this is just our opinion and others disagree. And you can stay at WL and dine at 'Ohana anyway and vice versa, so I wouldn't call that a reason to stay there.

The view of the fireworks from the Poly beach is one of the best views in all of WDW. And you are allowed to watch from there whether you stay there or not, this is a fact. From WL, you can see some of the higher fireworks, but it is by no means considered a view of the fireworks show. You can see EWP from both resorts, Poly 9 PM and WL 9:35 nightly.

Please let us know if you have any more specific questions. Have you found the Poly FAQ and the WL FAQ threads yet? You might find those very helpful.

Happy Planning!

Thank you for all the advise and info. I love these boards and that you can get real opinions from real people. I was looking for the info about the pool, play areas for kids. I'm going to check out the FAQ threads now!

 

[allenc99]

As my title states we LOVE both resorts. We have fond memories of our honeymoon at the WL and wished we had taken the opportunity before we became a party of 5 to stay there once more (villas at WL more expensive then a standard at the Poly). It was always our dream to stay at the Poly (for me it was the first resort I stayed at on my first visit as a child).

As a parent of a toddler here is your benefit of the Poly - THE MONORAIL! It is sooooooo worth it for the option of 2 of the 4 parks (not including DTD and waterparks) to be able to just roll a passed out child in their stroller right on. When utilizing the buses you will have to close up the stroller and carry it with you on the bus. I know it is not ALL of the parks, but again it's 2 of 4 and MK will be the popular one with your toddler.

Someone else can chime in, but the main pool at the Poly is zero depth entry, but I can't remember if there is a kiddie pool at the main pool at the WL, but there is no zero entry.

We also never had a challenge with a seat on the monorail. However, I can't tell you how many times I was left standing on the bus (no one offered their seat) while holding my baby/toddler in my arms while gripping on to the bars above my head as the bus made a fast turn! It may be the next new thrill ride that WDW can advertise!

By the way just wanted to share/comment on the hard words being said earlier in this post.....between yesterday and today I received THREE types of bad news:
1. Acquaintance friends of ours lost their 11 year old son this past week - electricuted.
2. A good friend just lost her mother Saturday (her father passed away 8 months ago)
3. And another friend just lost their baby today.

Please remember these are just supposed to be happy discussions about a magical place that takes us away .....things could be worse. If everyone could just say a little prayer for all mentioned above! Forgive, Forget and Move On

Sorry to Allenc99 for the controvery....have a wonderful family trip and don't let the little things ruin your trip - it's about quality family time.

I could not agree more about the part of having a maigical trip with your family. We will be praying for the families of these lost ones. Thank you for the info!

 

[iloveeeyore]

Thank you for all the advise and info. I love these boards and that you can get real opinions from real people. I was looking for the info about the pool, play areas for kids. I'm going to check out the FAQ threads now!

You're welcome! And I just remembered that the WL also has a playground down by the beach. My kids didn't use it, but I think it has some swings, a slide or two, and maybe something small to climb on? The Poly does not have a playground. There are movies on the beach between the Poly and the GF with dancing and a campfire to make s'mores. I think they do the same kind of thing at Fort Wilderness, but not right at WL. If more stuff pops into my mind, I'll post it!

 

[padawans]

We just spent nine days at the poly aboslutely the best vacation I've had. The monorail is worth every extra penny. We never waited more than 5 minutes. We had dxdp and the signature restaurants at the monorail resorts are excellent. Its also a very short walk to the GF. My kids loved the pool. My dh who is not a disney lover, but hawaii is his favorite place on this earth fell in love with it and wants to go back. I would highly recommend it.

 

[carolinesc7]

Our children are ages 3 and 6. We have been going to Dis AT LEAST once a year since the oldest was 11 months. When we got to the point of bringing our double jogging stroller, the monorail became necessity!! It is so nice to just be able to roll on with kids IN and not have to do anything else, when it's not packed. Most of the time, this has been the case. In rare occasions, we have had to fold the stroller, but no biggie!! We LOVE the theming at Poly. We have been lucky to have clean rooms, and very spacious, with wonderful CM's.

We have stayed at All Star Movies once, and GF. GF was wonderful, but a little to formal for my taste. We have not stayed at WL, but considered it for our upcoming trip. We decided to return to Poly because my parents will be joining us for their first trip on WDW resort property and I wanted them to enjoy the monorail.

No matter what you choose, you will have a GREAT TIME!!! Good luck!!

 

[Irishgrl6975]

I have to say WL over Poly! We never had a problem with transportation other than DTD, but then it seems to take forever to get to/from there no matter where you stay We like the lodge feel but my DH loves the fact that at the end of a long day at MK, when the lines for the busses, monorails and ferry are reeeeaaallly long that the wait and line for the boat back to WL is short and its a nice relaxing ride back to WL