Which Monorail Resort???

[Crush Dude!]

Thinking about alot of things in the planning of my next trip to the world and ive been thinking about maybe a resort on the monorail line but which 1?????

Grand Floridian?

The Polynesian?

The Contemporary?

Any tips or info and thoughts on the advantage to the monorail also welcome :wave:

 

[yankspy]

I have stayed at the Poly and the GF and I would say you cant go wrong with either. I really could not choose a better one of the two. They both have a great location, good restaurants, and great atmosphere.

 

[alanbrai]

Here is my two cents worth on this subject

I have stayed at the Contemporary 3 time and ever since they "improved"/redigned I was not to happy with it. I personally do not get that Disney feel from it any more. The Contemporary tho does have some great pluses the first is the best, if you get a MK view there is no other view in the world that beats it and you get to watch Wishes every night from you balcony:sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:. A few other pluses, everything is in one building never have to go outside, if you stay in tower, for food, shopping or hopping on the monorail. You can walk to and from the MK, about 10 min walk, which i do suggest one should do it is a nice walk. One last plus about the Contem. Chef Mickey's is there, enough said on that.

If I was to stay at a monorail resort I would more than likely stay at the Poly. Never stayed there but when parents did when i was at the Contem. I thought the theming was awsome and i could feel Disney going thru me.

Which ever you choose you will have a great time and I wish i was in your shoes

 

[NiarrNDisney]

Well that is an easy question: Poly Poly Poly Poly Poly Poly Polynesian!
BAM!

 

[Eyekimore]

I LOVE the Poly for its theming- but I think my first pick is definately Contemporary. The biggest reason is at the end of the night- when the throngs are racing toward the monorail- you can just walk back to the resort peacefully. (and will probably beat all those running for the monorail) Additionally- I love the new edition of Bay Lake Towers. We stayed there this summer- it was phoenominal!!!! You just can't beat having everything under one roof.........

 

[Mystic]

I LOVE the Poly for its theming- but I think my first pick is definately Contemporary. The biggest reason is at the end of the night- when the throngs are racing toward the monorail- you can just walk back to the resort peacefully. (and will probably beat all those running for the monorail) Additionally- I love the new edition of Bay Lake Towers. We stayed there this summer- it was phoenominal!!!! You just can't beat having everything under one roof.........

While it is nice to be able to walk back to the Contemporary at the end of the night, there is also something nice about being able to ride back across the water at the end of a long day. The Poly has not only access via the monorail but a small water launch that it shares with GF but you can take the big ferry across to the TTC and walk back to the Poly from the TTC, which itself is not even a 10 minute walk to the furthest longhouse from the TTC.

 

[wdwwdeagle]

I have stayed at both CR and Poly. I enjoyed both equally, and would love to go back to either one.

Really, you can't go wrong with either CR or Poly, IMHO. They both have some wonderful advantages, as other posters have mentioned, and transportation is great from either one.

Personally, if I had to choose where to send a first-timer, I would say stay at the poly first. It's more like a resort and less like a hotel. I just found it more relaxing.

 

[captainkidd]

All 3 are a ripoff, but if you're going to stay at one, I'd say it just depends on personal preference.

Although I wasn't blown away by it, I'd go with the Poly.

The GF is too stuffy. The Contemporary is too business like.

 

[harveyt0206]

Hi Crushdude,

My better half and I just stayed at the Contemporary this past September and I loved it. I have also stayed at the Polynesian and loved it to. (hmmmm...I sense a theme). Anyhoo....I found the ability to walk to and from the MK to be a great perk for us as we finished most every night at MK and typically stayed until closing, which meant that all of the transportation options were backed up. So, being able to walk instead of wait for the monorail was great. None of the monorail resorts are what I would call "Disney" themed. But of all three, I think the Poly has the best overall feel to it.

No matter where you stay, I am sure you will have a great time.

 

[coltow]

I would pick Poly. CR never really "did it" for me. GF is just to fancy for us. Poly was a great fit for us last December. It's right in the middle of the monorail. You can walk to EPCOT line if you choose (it was a long walk for my mother who was in deserate need of a new hip then).

The grounds are beautiful and the rooms were HUGE. We weren't able to use the pool as much as we wanted because the weather didn't cooperate, but the volcano was pretty cool. You can watch MK fireworks and water parade from the beach.

There are plenty of food choices there too. Kona has a great breakfast, Ohana for dinner and the "food court" offers plenty too, just not alot of seating.

 

[facialhans]

if you'll ask to me than i always preffer to the first stop on your self guided disney monorail resorts tour is disney's contemporary resort. this disney resort was one of the first built at disney world, back in the 1970's.

 

[glennsineadkatl]

The GF is the only Hotel I've ever stay at.I brought my daughter to a breakfast with Lilo & Stitch last year and got to see the Poly then seemed nice. The only problem with the GF is in my opinion the room rate is over the top but it is Disney we are talking about. Already booked next years stay with Kingdom Konsultants can't wait!!

 

[dizzney]

We've stayed at all three - at the GF for our 20th wedding anniversary with no kids and a MK view room (one of the ones under the eaves) and loved it for the romance; at the Poly when we were younger without kids; and at the COntemporary with kids. They all have advantages, but these days with the addition of Bay Lake Tower and being a DVC member, that puts that resort over the top for us - a MK view is waiting for us in January and we cannot wait. The convienance of the monorail for all three cannot be beat though:xmas:

 

[Mystic]

if you'll ask to me than i always preffer to the first stop on your self guided disney monorail resorts tour is disney's contemporary resort. this disney resort was one of the first built at disney world, back in the 1970's.

The Contemporary and the Poly opened within months of each other so both are the first built at Disney. I started going to Disney back when I was the early 80s and there was just the Contemporary and the Poly to choose from.

 

[ksr99]

I love the Poly

I have been lucky enough to stay at all three several times. I just actually came back from staying at the Bay Lake Towers (almost bought some points there, but gotta pay for a wedding first!). Personally nothing beats the poly for me. The landscaping, the ambient lighting at night, the views, you cant go wrong. I tend to stay in the tahiti building with a lake view.
There definately is nothing wrong with gf or the the contemporary, but I dont get that same vacation feeling that I do at the poly. After a long day at the parks I love to just find a quiet spot at the poly with a glass of wine and the fiance, and enjoy the castle view. I know we all have our favorite hotel for all valid reasons, mine for the poly is just that feeling of pure relaxation.
As far as resaurants, cali grille is my favorite(contemporary) for dinner, I love Konas(for breakfast and lunch especially), and citricos is where I'm having my wedding reception(awesome of dinner). So as long as your in one of those three, you really cant go wrong. I would go with your gut, and no matter what one you choose, take full advantage of the perks.
Just on a side note, if you choose BLT, I would recommend the bay view. We had the castle view and it really wasn't all that impressive. You had to look past the parking lot and it seemed to have lost some of its luster. I think if your at the poly or grand, then thats gotta be the view, but at BLT def not a preferred one, in my opinion. :wave::wave::wave: have fun!

 

[karenatwdw]

We loved the polynesian we are going for the 2nd time we almost felt like we got to go to Maui and Disneyworld at the same time. We got to watch the fireworks on the beach they even play the music at the same time loved it. We thought the GF was to stuffy for Disneyworld like the Contempory but felt really big.

 

[redkoala245]

GRAND FLORIDIAN!!! (If you don't mind about the price)
Once you get on GF's monorail the next stop is MK. It's not bad getting to Epcot from there. It is easy to go to anywhere from GF. GF is not too big and you won't get lost. They have a great 24 hour food place/ game room (called Gasparilla's). And you can see Wishes from there. The restaurants are amazing.The rooms are nice. And the gift shops are great. They have 2 pools and a hot tub, plus a beach.
I'm going back there in less than 3 months!!

 

[gibsonc]

October last year I spent 10 days at the world and stayed in all 3, starting at the Grand Floridian ending at the Contemporary. Not that it wasn't totally wonderful to stay at GF it was my least favourite of the 3.

The Contemporary was great, as others have mentioned being able to walk to and from the Magic Kingdom is great, especially as everyone heads out of the park at the end of the night. I booked a Magic Kingdom view room and got upgraded to the concierge floor which was stunning, the view of MK and the other resorts around the Seven Seas Lagoon was amazing. Also it is only the next stop to the TTC to get the monorail to Epcot.

My favourite was the Polynesian, the resort is wonderfully themed, 2nd stop on the monorail is MK, you can easily walk to and from the TTC to go to and from Epcot. Plus the beach at the Polynesian is a great place to watch Wishes from.

 

[Harveyholt]

Yes. Take the monorail to the transportation center. From there take a different monorail to The Magic Kingdom. Personally I've only stayed in one of the 3 monorail resorts, and that one was the Polynesian. It is a beautiful resort and having the monorail right there made things that much better.