Contemporary or Polynesian?!

[stefan74]

Hello All! I am in the pre-planning stages of my 40th birthday trip in September 2014. I already know I am going to take a three day cruise before my resort stay but I am at a loss of where to stay. I have stayed at the Grand Floridian before on two occasions but I want to stay somewhere else. I was leaning towards the Polynesian but now I am considering the Contemporary. I plan on eating at both resorts while I am there and I plan on eating at California Grill for the fireworks one night. I want a room which faces the Magic Kingdom but I am spoiled by the Magic Kingdom view rooms at the Grand Floridian.

From reading reviews online, the theme park view rooms at the Polynesian do not seem as good as I thought. I have read the island in the middle of the lagoon blocks the view. I was thinking of staying in the Tahiti Longhouse since I have read it offers great views of the Magic Kingdom and is in walking distance to the TTC (perfect for me).

Thinking the Contemporary was closer, I thought the Magic Kingdom views would be better than the Polynesian, plus I could walk to the Magic Kingdom. I have also read reviews about how horrible the elevator service is at the Contemporary.

I'm stuck and need some help. There will be no kids with me, just me and some family members, all over 18. Some of them have stayed at the GF with me in the past and they loved the MK views as well. Any advice would be great.

Thanks and have a Magical Day!

 

[polymissy]

You really can't go wrong with either one!

I prefer the atmosphere at the Poly, but the rooms at the Contemporary seem much more luxurious.

I also like the Poly's monorail access to Epcot with a quick walk to the TTC. It just seems less involved than swapping monorails as you would need to if heading to Epcot from the Contemporary.

If its the view that is your main concern, it also kind of depends on what you want to see. Because of the location of the Contemporary, the view you see of the MK seems to be primarily of Tomorrowland because it is so close. You certainly see more than just Tomorrowland, but when I look from there, I always feel like that's what I see the most of by far. From the Polynesian, you are pretty far off, you can see the castle, but it is much more distant.

Again, they are both fantastic in my opinion. But if you're taking votes, mine goes to the Polynesian every time!

 

[NeedDisneyNow]

We've stayed at both CR and Poly with theme park views. They are very different views. CR gives you the entire castle from top to bottom, along with the rest of MK. Poly gives you the lagoon plus the top part of the castle. Both are nice views, but very different.

Just to put a wrench in things, since you love GF so much, have you considered BWI or YC? Both are elegant resorts and you can get a room with a water/boardwalk view which is very, very nice. These epcot resorts are gorgeous and the area is very relaxing. And a beautiful, easy walk right into the Epcot countries.

 

[dvczerfs]

request an odd number room, you can lay in bed and enjoy the view!

 

[ryguy]

Both hotels are nice so you can't go wrong. I recently stayed at the Contemporary MK view and thought it was great. The room was pricey but I did get 40% off with a bounce back offer. The downside to the Contemporary is that the pool is average at best. Also it's a convention hotel so there are a lot of suits walking around. It's kinda of a odd atmosphere in that sense. You have people in Suits and here I am in the elevator with them in my swim trunks. I can see where the elevator service could be marginal during busy times but I did not have any issues. Walking to the MK is a big plus. I like the fact you can hang out on the 4th floor they have some nice shops and a bar.

The Polynesian is great too. To me the atmosphere is awesome. You really feel like your on vacation. Hanging out on the beach to watch the fireworks is a nice plus. The bar at Ohana has great drinks. You have two pool options. Having a Dole whip at Captain Cooks is always a plus too.

Have fun deciding, you can't go wrong either way. :wave:

 

[Scuttle]

If it's a theme park view go Contemporary, otherwise Poly for everything else.

Agreed! Although I bet the Bay Lake view is pretty nice to.

 

[tahitifan]

Poly Tahiti longhouse.

 

[stefan74]

request an odd number room, you can lay in bed and enjoy the view!

What fantastic views!! Thanks for the pictures.

 

[captainkidd]

Polynesian, hands down. Nicer rooms, MUCH better theme, better food, easier access to Epcot. We stayed at a Courtyard by Marriott this weekend and kept saying how it would reminded us of the Contemporary.

 

[dvczerfs]

What fantastic views!! Thanks for the pictures.

your welcome.

 

[coachwnh]

Have stayed and both and loved both. The one advantage the contemporary has is the ability to walk to MK. Makes it so easy at the end of a busy night to have that option of taking a short, easy walk to your resort.

 

[Scuttle]

Have stayed and both and loved both. The one advantage the contemporary has is the ability to walk to MK. Makes it so easy at the end of a busy night to have that option of taking a short, easy walk to your resort.

True, but the Poly is hands down the most convenient for transportation. When your at the other parks it's very nice to be able to have two bus options. The TTC bus or the resort line bus. That is often overlooked IMO.

 

[dvczerfs]

Have stayed and both and loved both. The one advantage the contemporary has is the ability to walk to MK. Makes it so easy at the end of a busy night to have that option of taking a short, easy walk to your resort.

hey coach, i live near gracedale! :wave:

 

[Missymoe4]

I would go with the Contemporary for these reasons. In my opinion their Tower - Magic Kingdom View is a lot better since it's a full view of it, where as the Polynesian just has a view of Cinderella's Castle or Space Mountain. Plus the cost for the Contemporary is less expensive and at the Polynesian you are paying more to look at a small part of the Magic Kingdom.

Besides that all the Tower rooms in the Contemporary come with a guaranteed balcony and at the Polynesian you need to request a room on the 3rd floor just to get one.

Finally when staying in the Tower you are an elevator ride away from their stores, restaurants, transportation options and etc. At the Polynesian you won't know which Longhouse you are staying at until you check-in. Even if you request a specifc one there is no guarantee you will get it.

I have stayed in both places:

Contemporary Tower facing Bay Lake for 10 nights in 2010.
Polynesian: 3rd floor for 11 nights in 2011.

Between the two: the Contemporary knocked the socks off of the Polynesian. The staff in the Contemporary was much better--even bell services and the room service people called my brother and I: "Mr" and "Miss." They went over backwards! The view of Bay Lake is amazing. Sitting on a Tower Balcony watching the boats and world below was a daily event--you can hear everything from below that people are saying. Every time I spoke with someone from the Poly, I didn't feel the same effect that the Contemporary staff give off. Also, the housekeeping at the Contemporary is speedy and efficient. Never once did I come back to my room and have it not clean. At the Poly, some times we'd come back around 3 or 4 pm (after being out since 7am) and still have to wait for housekeeping. That, in itself, is frustrating when you're hot and tired from the August heat.

The Polynesian was a bit outdated. Some of the carpets have stains and the cleaning of the halls is not up to par. One day my brother's girlfriend dropped a muffin on the hallway floor. It took 7 days for the crumbs of her muffin to be vacuumed up. We counted--and made it our 'game' to see how long it would take for the hall to be cleaned. DISGUSTING!

The rooms in the Contemporary are bigger AND quieter. A lot quieter. The sick and bathroom area is also more spacious--plus double sinks!!

I also noticed that the traffic in and out of the Polynesian to be higher--a lot of people wandering around checking out the scenery, which is nice, but I want to relax on my balcony--wasn't too settling.

The buses pick up/drop off the Contemporary first. By the time they came to the Polynesian, they were packed. We stood most of the time. The bus depot at the Contemporary is nicer--at the Poly we had to stand up each time a bus came to check where it was headed.

A SUPER HUGE PLUS: You can WALK to the MK from the Contemporary!! From the Poly, you either go by boat (the quickest way) or wait for the monorail. I used to love the monorail as a kid, but as of late, it's been going so slow--the walk to/from the MK is the best deal around.

If you have any questions and/or want pics of the rooms for each hotel--please write me. I have a ton!!

Contemporary knocks the socks off of the Poly.

 

[Missymoe4]

I would go with the Contemporary for these reasons. In my opinion their Tower - Magic Kingdom View is a lot better since it's a full view of it, where as the Polynesian just has a view of Cinderella's Castle or Space Mountain. Plus the cost for the Contemporary is less expensive and at the Polynesian you are paying more to look at a small part of the Magic Kingdom.

Besides that all the Tower rooms in the Contemporary come with a guaranteed balcony and at the Polynesian you need to request a room on the 3rd floor just to get one.

Finally when staying in the Tower you are an elevator ride away from their stores, restaurants, transportation options and etc. At the Polynesian you won't know which Longhouse you are staying at until you check-in. Even if you request a specifc one there is no guarantee you will get it.

I have stayed in both places:

Contemporary Tower facing Bay Lake for 10 nights in 2010.
Polynesian: 3rd floor for 11 nights in 2011.

Between the two: the Contemporary knocked the socks off of the Polynesian. The staff in the Contemporary was much better--even bell services and the room service people called my brother and I: "Mr" and "Miss." They bent over backwards! The view of Bay Lake is amazing. Sitting on a Tower Balcony watching the boats and world below was a daily event--you can hear everything from below that people are saying. Every time I spoke with someone from the Poly, I didn't feel the same effect that the Contemporary staff give off. Also, the housekeeping at the Contemporary is speedy and efficient. Never once did I come back to my room and have it not clean. At the Poly, some times we'd come back around 3 or 4 pm (after being out since 7am) and still have to wait for housekeeping. That, in itself, is frustrating when you're hot and tired from the August heat.

The Polynesian was a bit outdated. Some of the carpets have stains and the cleaning of the halls is not up to par. One day my brother's girlfriend dropped a muffin on the hallway floor. It took 7 days for the crumbs of her muffin to be vacuumed up. We counted--and made it our 'game' to see how long it would take for the hall to be cleaned. DISGUSTING!

The rooms in the Contemporary are bigger AND quieter. A lot quieter. The sick and bathroom area is also more spacious--plus double sinks!!

I also noticed that the traffic in and out of the Polynesian to be higher--a lot of people wandering around checking out the scenery, which is nice, but I want to relax on my balcony--wasn't too settling.

The buses pick up/drop off the Contemporary first. By the time they came to the Polynesian, they were packed. We stood most of the time. The bus depot at the Contemporary is nicer--at the Poly we had to stand up each time a bus came to check where it was headed.

A SUPER HUGE PLUS: You can WALK to the MK from the Contemporary!! From the Poly, you either go by boat (the quickest way) or wait for the monorail. I used to love the monorail as a kid, but as of late, it's been going so slow--the walk to/from the MK is the best deal around.

If you have any questions and/or want pics of the rooms for each hotel--please write me. I have a ton!!

Contemporary knocks the socks off of the Poly.

 

[s&k'smom]

Why couldn't the presidential debates be as interesting as this one?

 

[stefan74]

I have stayed in both places:

Contemporary Tower facing Bay Lake for 10 nights in 2010.
Polynesian: 3rd floor for 11 nights in 2011.

Between the two: the Contemporary knocked the socks off of the Polynesian. The staff in the Contemporary was much better--even bell services and the room service people called my brother and I: "Mr" and "Miss." They bent over backwards! The view of Bay Lake is amazing. Sitting on a Tower Balcony watching the boats and world below was a daily event--you can hear everything from below that people are saying. Every time I spoke with someone from the Poly, I didn't feel the same effect that the Contemporary staff give off. Also, the housekeeping at the Contemporary is speedy and efficient. Never once did I come back to my room and have it not clean. At the Poly, some times we'd come back around 3 or 4 pm (after being out since 7am) and still have to wait for housekeeping. That, in itself, is frustrating when you're hot and tired from the August heat.

The Polynesian was a bit outdated. Some of the carpets have stains and the cleaning of the halls is not up to par. One day my brother's girlfriend dropped a muffin on the hallway floor. It took 7 days for the crumbs of her muffin to be vacuumed up. We counted--and made it our 'game' to see how long it would take for the hall to be cleaned. DISGUSTING!

The rooms in the Contemporary are bigger AND quieter. A lot quieter. The sick and bathroom area is also more spacious--plus double sinks!!

I also noticed that the traffic in and out of the Polynesian to be higher--a lot of people wandering around checking out the scenery, which is nice, but I want to relax on my balcony--wasn't too settling.

The buses pick up/drop off the Contemporary first. By the time they came to the Polynesian, they were packed. We stood most of the time. The bus depot at the Contemporary is nicer--at the Poly we had to stand up each time a bus came to check where it was headed.

A SUPER HUGE PLUS: You can WALK to the MK from the Contemporary!! From the Poly, you either go by boat (the quickest way) or wait for the monorail. I used to love the monorail as a kid, but as of late, it's been going so slow--the walk to/from the MK is the best deal around.

If you have any questions and/or want pics of the rooms for each hotel--please write me. I have a ton!!

Contemporary knocks the socks off of the Poly.

WOW!!! Thank you so much. I have heard complaints about the noise and cleanliness of the Polynesian rooms but have also heard complaints about how sterile the Contemporary rooms look. I do like your comments about both resorts and I am glad you have stayed at both and can offer great advice. I have always wanted to stay at both resorts one day and I might be leaning towards the Contemporary now based on what everyone has been saying. The views are great at the Contemporary and I would be guaranteed a balcony which is always nice. I also like the way mousekeeping had your room cleaned and public areas cleaner than the Polynesian resort and also the quietness of the rooms.

Thanks again for your comments and I would love to see some pics from Contemporary.

 

[stefan74]

Why couldn't the presidential debates be as interesting as this one?

I totally agree!