View Full Version : Polynesian or Wilderness Lodge?
2luvtink2
06-30-2007, 10:09 PM
I was wondering if anyone could give me some input on which resort to stay at for our next trip. I have 2 kids ages 11 & 8. Do you think that the kids would perfer one resort over the other? How are the pools? Are they both kid-friendly? Is there really an advantage to staying at one vs. the other? Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks!!!
2luvtink2
Mr.Abominable
07-01-2007, 01:46 AM
I have not stayed at the Poly yet(will this december) but I think that the Lodge is a great hotel and I feel like it offers more for the money than a lot of the resorts. It is generally a lot less money than the Poly. The pool is very cool and the boat service is very convenient. The rooms were very nice as well, kind of reminds me of the rooms at Animal Kingdom.
frdeb1999
07-01-2007, 02:47 AM
We always stay at the Poly. We absolutely love it! The pool and slide are wonderful. You have the advantage of being able to sit and watch not only the fireworks, but water parade in the evenings. The resturants are great. And you have the convience of the monorail, bus and water launch. We are staying there once again in August!
wdwfamily4
07-01-2007, 03:57 AM
We like both equally as well.Both pools are very nice.The difference between the two is the monorail. But the Wilderness has a boat that will get you to the Magic Kingdom without the hassle of crowded monorails during peak times.
efoxx
07-01-2007, 04:32 AM
WL is a wonderful hotel, in fact it is our DVC home resort so we have stayed there quite a bit. we have also stayed at the Poly. the facts are pretty straight forward. the rooms are bigger at the poly, have recently been refurbished, and the location is hard to beat. this with the edge given to the Poly for having the monorail I would say given a choice I would stay at the poly. but if I were to end up at WL I would feel no real loss.
dahunter1129
07-01-2007, 09:25 AM
We have never stayed at the Poly, but we have been at WL, and we LOVE it. It is very family friendly, and the bunk beds alone are enough to win over our 5 yo DS. The boat launch to MK is awesome, and the bus service to other parks is great. We like a lot of the activities at the camp ground (camp fire, petting zoo, horse back riding) so it is nice to be so close. And as a big plus, the Whispering Canyon Cafe is just LOADS of fun and has great food. The pool continues the theme that is so well done inside, and has a great water slide. My son also LOVES the geyser. We are headed back to WL in September. For the money, you can't beat it. If Poly and WL were the same price, maybe we would try Poly, but for our budget, we are the WL biggest fans!
Iceman
07-01-2007, 09:42 AM
I haven't stayed at the WL but have stayed at the Poly quite a bit. Based on that limitation in my knowledge, here's what I think:
Poly pros: On the monorail. Totally immersive south seas theming. Excellent pool and waterslide. Tonga toast!
WL pros: Bunk beds. Less expensive. Poly customer service has gone way downhill.
Outburst42
07-01-2007, 12:14 PM
I loved wilderness lodge and have gotten tons of my friends to agree with me. A lot of the cast members say the same thing and have heard it on one of the travel shows on the travel channel. If you have kids it is even better. I really want to go to the resort it is modeled after in Yellowstone National Park. Hoping that will happen one year over Christmas. I have not been back since the remodel but the pictures of the rooms now are fantastic!! I would highly recommed the concierge level, and ask to stay in the room with the view of the Magic Kingdom (they will know what you are talking about) If you arent staying on the CL, get the room directly under the MK view room on the 6th floor. Can still see the MK castle through the trees and still have a great view of the fireworks at night. The view below isnt great at all (a loading dock). I think if you get any room on the right side of the resort and have a high floor you will see the fireworks. Hope you have fun!!
TinaMouse
07-01-2007, 01:14 PM
Have you priced them both out? Poly is A LOT more expensive than the WL. Doesn't mean it's not worth it; just that it would certainly be a consideration for me! I was on the Diz website last night and about died when I got a quote for MouseFest weekend. YIKES!
BTW, I have heard wonderful things about both!
bandontherun
07-02-2007, 01:26 AM
I don't think either would dissapoint. I think the customer service is better at WL but there's nothing more convenient than having the monorail.
Mr.Abominable
07-02-2007, 01:51 AM
Have you priced them both out? Poly is A LOT more expensive than the WL. Doesn't mean it's not worth it; just that it would certainly be a consideration for me! I was on the Diz website last night and about died when I got a quote for MouseFest weekend. YIKES!
BTW, I have heard wonderful things about both!
We booked the Poly for Mousefest weekend with a pretty decent rate(less than 300, not bad for the Poly), our Disney travel agent has some rooms blocked I believe. If you would like details you can PM me. :)
I have not stayed at the Poly yet(will this december) but I think that the Lodge is a great hotel and I feel like it offers more for the money than a lot of the resorts. It is generally a lot less money than the Poly. The pool is very cool and the boat service is very convenient. The rooms were very nice as well, kind of reminds me of the rooms at Animal Kingdom.
Are there buses to MK also or just the boats? How long is the boat service to MK? Are there a lot of stops FW, Contemporary etc. or is it direct?
bandontherun
07-03-2007, 09:38 AM
Are there buses to MK also or just the boats? How long is the boat service to MK? Are there a lot of stops FW, Contemporary etc. or is it direct?
There are buses too but the boats are more fun and scenic. We consider it part of the overall fun Disney experience. Some boats are direct to MK and some stop at FW first. It depends on time and season. WL is always the first stop back from the MK. Contemporary boats run separately. I think the buses may be slightly faster but I have only taken the boat and been very happy with it. I take the buses to MGM and AK and take the Contemporary to the Monorail to get to Epcot.
There are buses too but the boats are more fun and scenic. We consider it part of the overall fun Disney experience. Some boats are direct to MK and some stop at FW first. It depends on time and season. WL is always the first stop back from the MK. Contemporary boats run separately. I think the buses may be slightly faster but I have only taken the boat and been very happy with it. I take the buses to MGM and AK and take the Contemporary to the Monorail to get to Epcot.
Thanks bandontherun. We almost stayed at the WL our trip in June but decided to stay at POR again. We did go to Whispering Canyon for dinner this trip and spent some time going around the resort and really liked it. At this point, I think we agreed this is the resort for our next trip. We were just concerned about the boat ride to MK and how much time it takes. The boat ride to DTD from POR is very long and slow. It is nice to take once but very time consuming for regular transportation to DTD. I was concerned that the boat from WL and MK was long as well.
littlej
07-03-2007, 09:59 AM
A little off topic, but as long as we're on the subject of boats...
My trip in December is at the WL (I've never stayed at either before, 2luvtink2, so I can't help you with your question, sorry!). I was told that there would be boats between WL and the Contemporary, but that they stop "early." Does anyone have any idea what time "early" is in December? If we wanted to have late drinks and dessert at the California Grill, will we have to taxi it home if the MK is already closed?
Wendy Bird
07-03-2007, 10:49 AM
A lot of the cast members say the same thing and have heard it on one of the travel shows on the travel channel.
The show is called "Great Hotels" hosted by Samantha Brown. :)
littlej
07-03-2007, 10:52 AM
Ah, Samantha Brown, the only woman my DH says he would leave me for.:mad:
Drince88
07-03-2007, 05:18 PM
If we wanted to have late drinks and dessert at the California Grill, will we have to taxi it home if the MK is already closed?
I seriously doubt (based on nothing but gut instinct) that the boat would be running. I'm guessing it's more for Chef Mickey's than the Contemporary.
If the MK is already closed (and it's not a MVMCP night), you can either take a taxi, or take a bus from the Contemporary to DTD, and then anohter bus to the WL.
I WOULD try to do it on a MVMCP night, since that's going to be the easiest way to deal with transportation.
bandontherun
07-09-2007, 12:43 PM
A little off topic, but as long as we're on the subject of boats...
My trip in December is at the WL (I've never stayed at either before, 2luvtink2, so I can't help you with your question, sorry!). I was told that there would be boats between WL and the Contemporary, but that they stop "early." Does anyone have any idea what time "early" is in December? If we wanted to have late drinks and dessert at the California Grill, will we have to taxi it home if the MK is already closed?
If I recall, they do stop early from the Contemporary, like around 10pm or so. I remember because we were also hanging out at the California Grill and they told us that it would be running and it wasn't. You should count on taking the boat from MK and find out when that last boat goes, otherwise, you would need to get to downtown disney and back to the hotel..
Wendy Bird
07-14-2007, 05:19 PM
TLC will show the Great Hotels epidosed with the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness on July 25 at 9 am PST