Which hotel is best for our needs - Contemporary or Polynesian?

[traveler_t]

Visiting in February with 2 kids (5, 7). Main attraction in MK but will visit all other parks as well. No car.
Our main considerations are convenience going to parks and hotel attractions during afternoon break. Theme / food is less priority (though still nice).

Contemporary - we can walk to MK. Is this realistic to do it back and forth with kids this age? Or would it be better to save energy. Seems this would be the most convenient way to get early (with short security), come back mid-day, and stay late. And just walking to monorail from Poly might take a few min anyway so we might as well be on our way to the park.

Poly - has better water play for those afternoon breaks. Though in February not sure weather would allow kids to enjoy it?

The contemporary option is a theme park facing view on bay lake tower while Poly is standard view (away from construction).

What would you recommend for our needs?

 

[freediverdude]

If both of your kids can walk most of the day and don't need a stroller, I would say there's not going to be a whole lot of difference as far as convenience. Yes you can walk to MK from Contemporary, but Poly is one monorail ride from both MK and Epcot, as well as having all the transportation options at the TTC (or whatever they're calling it now) at your fingertips. The one time when I would say Contemporary is during the super peak times of year, when you're likely to come out of MK at night to find an hour long+ wait for any monorail, boat, or bus. That's when it pays to be able to stroll back to the Contemporary. But for Jan/Feb? Shouldn't matter that much.

 

[traveler_t]

If both of your kids can walk most of the day and don't need a stroller, I would say there's not going to be a whole lot of difference as far as convenience. Yes you can walk to MK from Contemporary, but Poly is one monorail ride from both MK and Epcot, as well as having all the transportation options at the TTC (or whatever they're calling it now) at your fingertips. The one time when I would say Contemporary is during the super peak times of year, when you're likely to come out of MK at night to find an hour long+ wait for any monorail, boat, or bus. That's when it pays to be able to stroll back to the Contemporary. But for Jan/Feb? Shouldn't matter that much.

thanks! it's presidents day week (+ run disney event) so it might qualify as peak time. what hour are those long waits, is it after fireworks (8pm) or closer to closing time (9pm)?

 

[freediverdude]

thanks! it's presidents day week (+ run disney event) so it might qualify as peak time. what hour are those long waits, is it after fireworks (8pm) or closer to closing time (9pm)?

The rush to the transportation will happen right after the fireworks. I always advise to hang out in MK after the fireworks for at least an hour or so, and then the transport issue becomes much better after that initial crush after the fireworks. Shop a bit or ride a couple more rides, you'll be glad you did.

 

[KTK]

I would recommend the Contemporary. If you don't want to walk back and forth to the Contemporary, you can take the monorail there. After the park closes, majority of people will be using the monorail that takes them to the TTC. The resort monorail lines will be much shorter. One thing to consider is if the monorail is having problems, you have to take boats to MK from the Polynesian where you can just walk from the Contemporary. Plus you mentioned having a theme park view of MK if you stay at the Contemporary. That in itself would sell me as a kid. In terms of pools, honestly, does a 5 and 7 y/o really care about theming of a pool? Most kids that age just want to swim.

 

[traveler_t]

I would recommend the Contemporary. If you don't want to walk back and forth to the Contemporary, you can take the monorail there. After the park closes, majority of people will be using the monorail that takes them to the TTC. The resort monorail lines will be much shorter. One thing to consider is if the monorail is having problems, you have to take boats to MK from the Polynesian where you can just walk from the Contemporary. Plus you mentioned having a theme park view of MK if you stay at the Contemporary. That in itself would sell me as a kid. In terms of pools, honestly, does a 5 and 7 y/o really care about theming of a pool? Most kids that age just want to swim.

Thanks, regarding the pool, my kids actually do not like to swim, I thought they would enjoy the water play area of Poly which has slides and other attractions with very shallow water.

 

[tpoly88]

just check the contemporary as they were doing work out by the pool and that area. not sure it is completed. i love the poly, was always my favorite but going back and forth at that time of year is not terrible as it doesn't rain that much then so if you need to take the boat back you wont get soaked. Both places are great, you wont go wrong with either.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Weve stayed at the Contemp many times starting when DS was young. He had no problems making the walk to or back from MK. It isnt that long of a walk. It saved us time waiting for a monorail to show up and got us to MK faster. We always played a game guessing if a monorail would pass over us along the walk and what color it might be. The view of MK from your room is great and especially catching the evening fireworks. Theres also a viewing spot on the tower skybridge or Top of the World lounge.
DS used to be on the YMCA swim team and was used to going in unheated pools, so he used the pool no matter the time of year or temp. when we went. Dis water in their pools are kept at a comfortable temp. but the air might be chilly when they get out or raise up out of the water.