Did I make the right choice?

[NelleBelle]

Initially booked a studio room at SSR with the Dining Gift Card package but after pursuing all the other deluxe resorts, ended up pulling the trigger and switched our reservation over to the Poly this morning! I had a really hard time trying to decide and did a lot of back and forth between YC (which my mom and I both LOVE) and the Poly, which we've never stayed at.

We typically always take a red-eye in from the west coast and so it's nice to be able to relax at SAB while (hopefully) getting an early check-in. We've always been able to find chairs easily at YC and wonder about the pool situation at Poly? Did I make a mistake? Should I have booked YC?? Are the monorail lines going to be insane at the end of the day (my mom has to use a scooter and I don't think the boats take them)? Advice would be really helpful!

 

[RememberWhen]

Paging @Tuvalu re: pool chairs

I think you’ll be happy with your choice. I love the epcot resorts, but the Magic Kingdom area is awesome in its own way.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Well we often do split stays, so my perspective might be a little different than yours...but we enjoy taking a turn at all the different hotels. We tend to go to one or the other based on price/type of deal WDW is offering/budget. Our most recent visit though, we did some nights offsite. I am somewhat partial now to bigger rooms, even though we don't cook. It is nice to have a full size fridge.

Anyhow, all the WDW hotels have pros and cons. A plus of the Poly is the ease with which you can dine anywhere on the monorail loop via monorail.

The pool at Poly is a lot of fun. It sometimes gets crowded, and can be a bit loud, but then SAB is also a bit loud. If you just want a quiet place to sit and relax, there are a number of places around Poly, even if the pool doesn't work out. I mean it should, but at Poly you might prefer to grab a Dole Whip. There are tables outside the main building (somewhat for eating, but mid-afternoon they are usually pretty empty). There is also the quiet pool, and there's also a picnic table area. I know there was a bench near our room, but it was the smoking area. I don't recall if there were other benches around the resort because I wasn't looking for them, but I think there are some.


At the end of your MK night, you will board the resorts monorail, not the Express one. It does not get busy like the Express one. I mean it isn't empty, but waiting for it isn't really an issue. Christmas week it was easy to get on it. The monorail from Epcot can get busier, but it is short walk to TTC for monorail- so getting to Epcot is usually pretty easy.

I'm not usre about the boats. I want to say the bigger shuttle boats are okay, but I'm not 100% certain on that, or about the smaller boats. (If we stay on the monorail loop, we tend to stay at CR, and use the walkway. CR is super easy with a scooter!) Monorail is usually easiest/fastest from MK.

To tell the truth, I sorta like YC over Poly myself, but the new room decor at Poly is nice. One thing to know about Poly- for a scooter user- to access monorail in main building you have to get up to 2nd floor by elevator. Option B is to use the TTC station. It depends where your room is at Poly which one is easier/closer.

Dining at Poly and GF is great! You might also have option of watching fireworks from your room, or at least the hotel, which you don't really get at YC. Wishes form the monorails resort used to be great, but the new show has less fireworks, so it isn't as good from a distance, but you still avoid the crowds. HEA and Wishes were both better than Enchantment though. I hope they bring back HEA.

 

[Bullseye1967]

Initially booked a studio room at SSR with the Dining Gift Card package but after pursuing all the other deluxe resorts, ended up pulling the trigger and switched our reservation over to the Poly this morning! I had a really hard time trying to decide and did a lot of back and forth between YC (which my mom and I both LOVE) and the Poly, which we've never stayed at.

We typically always take a red-eye in from the west coast and so it's nice to be able to relax at SAB while (hopefully) getting an early check-in. We've always been able to find chairs easily at YC and wonder about the pool situation at Poly? Did I make a mistake? Should I have booked YC?? Are the monorail lines going to be insane at the end of the day (my mom has to use a scooter and I don't think the boats take them)? Advice would be really helpful!

The boats do take ECVs. They have portable ramps just like the friendship boats.

 

[Tuvalu]

The boats do take ECVs. They have portable ramps just like the friendship boats.

To clarify - the larger boat accommodates ECVs but the small launch does not. Typically the Poly-MK-GF route has two boats on course, so someone using an ECV may have to wait a bit longer for the large boat if the small launch arrives first.

@NelleBelle my username is a longhouse at the Poly and I have two Poly stays planned for this year. I also had a fantastic stay at Yacht Club last summer. I don’t think you’ve made a mistake, especially since you have never been. The vibe is very relaxing and the resort is gorgeous at night, illuminated by tiki torches. I rarely have a problem finding loungers at the pools (thanks, @RememberWhen) and I prefer the quiet pool when the main pool gets noisy (pool games with loud music.)

Request a first floor room for ease with the ECV. Elevators in the longhouses are on the small side.

I’ve not had much success with a room being ready early. But you can check in at the Front Desk and if nothing is available upon your arrival, you can get a key card for the pools and lounge/swim/eat until a room is ready.

 

[NelleBelle]

To clarify - the larger boat accommodates ECVs but the small launch does not. Typically the Poly-MK-GF route has two boats on course, so someone using an ECV may have to wait a bit longer for the large boat if the small launch arrives first.

@NelleBelle my username is a longhouse at the Poly and I have two Poly stays planned for this year. I also had a fantastic stay at Yacht Club last summer. I don’t think you’ve made a mistake, especially since you have never been. The vibe is very relaxing and the resort is gorgeous at night, illuminated by tiki torches. I rarely have a problem finding loungers at the pools (thanks, @RememberWhen) and I prefer the quiet pool when the main pool gets noisy (pool games with loud music.)

Request a first floor room for ease with the ECV. Elevators in the longhouses are on the small side.

I’ve not had much success with a room being ready early. But you can check in at the Front Desk and if nothing is available upon your arrival, you can get a key card for the pools and lounge/swim/eat until a room is ready.

Awesome advice about staying on the first floor! I remember the elevators being small when we ate at Kona the last few times so I can only imagine the longhouse elevators aren’t any better.

I’m definitely feeling better about making the choice, especially after my mom was excited looking at the rooms and dining options!

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

The boats do take ECVs. They have portable ramps just like the friendship boats.

Is that all the shuttle boats, or just the bigger ones? I recall seeing a spot on the bigger boats for handicapped access, but not on the smaller boats.

AHA! - here's what I found via a search:

blue flag = no ECV/Wheelchair, unless the wheelchair is folded. Passengers must be able to walk down1 step to board and sit in regular seat. (These are the smaller boats. The small boats run between Ft. W, WL, CR. I think the boats that go to MK alternate between these small boats and the slightly bigger green flag boats.

green flag and red flag- YES (usually) can take an ECV/wheelchair. These are slightly bigger than the blue boats, and run between MK resorts and MK. If water levels are very low or high though they may not be able to take an ECV. To load, there's a metal ramp they have to use, but if water level is way off, then it doesn't reach.

gold flag- no EVC - these are the small boats that run between MK/Poly/GF. I think Disney alternates gold with the green/red flag boats, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

Disney Springs to SSR/OKW/POR/PORQ- YES, can take ECV.
Friendship boats - YC/BC/Swan/HS/Epcot - YES, can take ECV.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Initially booked a studio room at SSR with the Dining Gift Card package but after pursuing all the other deluxe resorts, ended up pulling the trigger and switched our reservation over to the Poly this morning! I had a really hard time trying to decide and did a lot of back and forth between YC (which my mom and I both LOVE) and the Poly, which we've never stayed at.

We typically always take a red-eye in from the west coast and so it's nice to be able to relax at SAB while (hopefully) getting an early check-in. We've always been able to find chairs easily at YC and wonder about the pool situation at Poly? Did I make a mistake? Should I have booked YC?? Are the monorail lines going to be insane at the end of the day (my mom has to use a scooter and I don't think the boats take them)? Advice would be really helpful!

Never had too much trouble finding pool chairs at either of the Poly pools.

 

[dmw]

At the end of your MK night, you will board the resorts monorail, not the Express one. It does not get busy like the Express one. I mean it isn't empty, but waiting for it isn't really an issue. Christmas week it was easy to get on it. The monorail from Epcot can get busier, but it is short walk to TTC for monorail- so getting to Epcot is usually pretty easy.

When we stayed at the Poly in August 2019 the resorts monorail was very busy - we had to wait for three trains. Many non-resort guests were riding. I had expected CMs to restrict access to those monorails, but there was none. How were the resort monorails controlled for your stay? Did CMs check for resort ID or something similar? I'm not questioning your experience, just wanting to find out what might have changed.

 

[NelleBelle]

Is that all the shuttle boats, or just the bigger ones? I recall seeing a spot on the bigger boats for handicapped access, but not on the smaller boats.

AHA! - here's what I found via a search:

blue flag = no ECV/Wheelchair, unless the wheelchair is folded. Passengers must be able to walk down1 step to board and sit in regular seat. (These are the smaller boats. The small boats run between Ft. W, WL, CR. I think the boats that go to MK alternate between these small boats and the slightly bigger green flag boats.

green flag and red flag- YES (usually) can take an ECV/wheelchair. These are slightly bigger than the blue boats, and run between MK resorts and MK. If water levels are very low or high though they may not be able to take an ECV. To load, there's a metal ramp they have to use, but if water level is way off, then it doesn't reach.

gold flag- no EVC - these are the small boats that run between MK/Poly/GF. I think Disney alternates gold with the green/red flag boats, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

Disney Springs to SSR/OKW/POR/PORQ- YES, can take ECV.
Friendship boats - YC/BC/Swan/HS/Epcot - YES, can take ECV.

Ooh! Thank you for digging up all this excellent information on the boats to/from the Poly/MK! I knew the friendship boats took scooters because we used them when we stayed at YC and she had a scooter. But knowing the colored flags for the other boats will be SO helpful! Of course, we will definitely check with the CM at the boat launch about whether they’re able to take scooters or not.

 

[NelleBelle]

When we stayed at the Poly in August 2019 the resorts monorail was very busy - we had to wait for three trains. Many non-resort guests were riding. I had expected CMs to restrict access to those monorails, but there was none. How were the resort monorails controlled for your stay? Did CMs check for resort ID or something similar? I'm not questioning your experience, just wanting to find out what might have changed.

I know when we stayed at SSR back in 2018 and rented a car, they were only allowing resort guests to use the resort monorail at the end of the night and were checking each guests MB/room key as we were getting into the express line. I would dearly love if that were still the case!

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

I know when we stayed at SSR back in 2018 and rented a car, they were only allowing resort guests to use the resort monorail at the end of the night and were checking each guests MB/room key as we were getting into the express line. I would dearly love if that were still the case!

We did not see that on our most recent visit over the holiday week, but to me, it did not seem at all necessary. The Resort monorail had plenty of spare capacity.

What was odd though was the parking lots CM's parked people in the far lots, which was not at all necessary. I think it might be an effort to sell the upcharge parking, which is just tacky.

 

[JIMINYCR]

green flag and red flag- YES (usually) can take an ECV/wheelchair. These are slightly bigger than the blue boats, and run between MK resorts and MK. If water levels are very low or high though they may not be able to take an ECV. To load, there's a metal ramp they have to use, but if water level is way off, then it doesn't reach.

We had two trips in the past during what was considered drought conditions in FL and the water levels were down quite a bit. The boats couldnt accept DW's wheel chair and we missed out on using the boats. We always enjoy using the boats and on those trips it was a missing element to our usual trips.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

We had two trips in the past during what was considered drought conditions in FL and the water levels were down quite a bit. The boats couldnt accept DW's wheel chair and we missed out on using the boats. We always enjoy using the boats and on those trips it was a missing element to our usual trips.

While staying at WL:

1. We tried to take the bus to MK in the AM. Saw the wait was going to be almost 20min, so we went to the dock. Ten min later, as the boat pulls up, the boats were ordered to stop due to fog. We go back to bus stop. By then we had just missed the bus that arrived.

2. Sunny day, we leave MK about 4pm. CM says boat will be there any minute. Fifteen minutes later, no boat. CM again says it will arrive any minute. Fifteen minutes more, no boat. THAT is when the CM tells us he just heard boats was stopped due to lightning in the area. Argh! The delay really mucked up our plans that day. I respect stopping the boats, but the MK dock should have a VERY VISIBLE BRIGHT LIGHTS or something when boats are stopped.

(Incidentally, it did not storm over MK/WL that day. It stayed sunny and dry in that area. Though I have seen a times where half a park gets soaked while the other half or other parts of WDW stay perfectly dry.)

While the boats are fun, I am now a bit less eager to trust their reliability.