Contemporary vs. Polynesian. Please help!

[Goofyruss]

I'm headed back to Disney World this summer and need opinions. I am taking two 9 year old girls and my mom and dad. Dad uses a scooter to get around. I really want the ease of using the Monorail.

Any opinions on which Resort would be better, the Contempory or the Polynesian ???

Thanks, Russ.

[BigPigletFan]

Re: Contemporary vs. Polynesian. Please help!

First of all, welcome to MiceChat! :wave: I'm sure you all will have a great trip! :cgrin:


If you are picking based upon location and monorail I would say Monorail.

The Resort Monorail starts at TTC (MK parking lot,) then to Poly, Grand Flo, MK, then Cotemp, and then back to TTC.

The Poly is within walking distance to the TTC to catch the Epcot monorail line or the Express MK monorail (but I would just take the Resort one to MK.)

You should keep in mind that the Contemp. is withing walking distance to MK. It is also the first one from monorail to TTC to monorail hop to the Epcot monorail line.


So... you're pretty much half and half. If he is using the scooter you will have to wait for the special monorail ramps each time. While CMs are great with this, during the busy times with lots of guests there can be some extra time delays associated with this. I would say Poly. because coming back from MK is nearly the same and coming back from Epcot you can walk and scoot back to your resort instead of waiting for your next monorail.

[akfandisney]

Re: Contemporary vs. Polynesian. Please help!

Welcome to micechat
if I remember wright
Contemporary have narrow walk to the monorail
and
the Pollynesian Have big walk way to the monorail
sorry I do not have the photo of the contemporary resort.

Here is Pollynesian Resort to monorail platform

[Jerren]

Re: Contemporary vs. Polynesian. Please help!

I would say the Poly would be a better option for ECV access. As stated before the monorail station is much easier to navigate and they have added a new bus station to better accommodate ECV's. In terms of monorail access I think the Poly has the edge hands down, there is a path from the Poly to the TTC for quick access to Epcot and MK in addition to the better resort monorail station. The rooms are about the same size, Access might be easier at the Poly as its a low rise hotel which may mean less elevators to deal with.

[nbodyhome]

Re: Contemporary vs. Polynesian. Please help!

I love the Polynesian Resort, that is still my favorite of any at Disney. The nice thing, you can walk to the TTC and get the Epcot line, or get the monorail to the MK. That would probably be my choice. But you really can't go wrong with either.

[Guy Hutchinson]

Re: Contemporary vs. Polynesian. Please help!

I concur with Jerren.

I also think the Polynesian is nicer. I have stayed at both and I just love the tropical setting of the Polynesian.

However, the Contemporary is within walking distance of Magic Kingdom.... really, really close. I think it's about the same as walking from the MK gates to Space Mountain in my estimation.

Also, the monorail makes it's first stop at the Contemporary when you return to the hotel. When you travel to the MK, the monorail leaves the Contemporary and goes to the Polynesian then The Grand Floridian before arriving at MK. The trip takes over 20 minutes from the Contemporary to MK so walking is much faster to get to MK, getting back to the hotel, the monorail is usually much faster.

As for Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, the Poly and Contemporary are not as convenient.

Epcot requires you to change monorails from the Contemporary, but at the Poly you can walk next door to the ticket and transportation center and take a direct monorail.

Hollywood Studios can be accessed by bus or car. Or you can take a boat from Epcot to Hollywood Studios.

Animal Kingdom can only be reached by bus or car.

One last thing to consider....

If you spend more time at Epcot and Hollywood studios than MK, there is always the beautiful Boardwalk Hotel. From that hotel it's an easy walk to Epcot and a long walk (or boat ride to Disney's Hollywood Studios.)

Whatever you choose, plan ahead and notify your hotel that a member of your party uses an ECV and perhaps they can get you a room near the elevator or main lobby etc.

Have a great trip!

[Parisi]

Re: Contemporary vs. Polynesian. Please help!

I'm headed back to Disney World this summer and need opinions. I am taking two 9 year old girls and my mom and dad. Dad uses a scooter to get around. I really want the ease of using the Monorail.

Any opinions on which Resort would be better, the Contempory or the Polynesian ???

Thanks, Russ.

If you can afford the contemp. go with that one... Only because it has a pathway straight from the hotel directly to the main gates of the MK. No need to ever use a monorail. If you are going to visit the other parks, the monorail stops right in the hotel and there is an elevator that will take you up to the monorail waiting area.

All in all for someone who needs the assistance of a scooter, I would go with the contemp.

[sir clinksalot]

Re: Contemporary vs. Polynesian. Please help!

I think Sweetie makes a good point.

It really does depend on which park(s) you spend the most time at.

Using the Boardwalk, yacht/beach would probably be your best bet if you go to EPCOT/Disney Studios more than the MK. But of course, getting to the MK you would either have to take a bus or walk through EPCOT, to the Monorail take that to the TTC then a MK Monorail from there.

I still think the Poly would be your best choice though.

[Susabelle]

Re: Contemporary vs. Polynesian. Please help!

Contemporary!

[Imaginationeer]

Re: Contemporary vs. Polynesian. Please help!

Even though I like the Contemporary better, I would advise against it because of all of the construction taking place there between now and 2009. Go with the Polynesian, it is very nice, and nothing is being worked on.

If it's an option, I would also suggest the Grand Floridian, it isn't that much more expensive then these two and is much nicer.

[WDWGirl]

Re: Contemporary vs. Polynesian. Please help!

It truly comes down to what you prefer in terms of walking distance/ parks to be at. The Polynesian is themed much more nicely, and has a very wonderful "atmosphere". I've always loved the Contemporary, and it's really worth it to stay in the "tower" rooms, or rooms in the large building. The MK is the last stop coming from the Contemporary, but at night it's wonderful because the Contemporary is the first stop coming back from the MK, and you'd be grateful after a day of being at the park and being tired! At the Polynesian, it's half and half distance, as the Monorail would go, starting from the Polynesian, to the Grand Floridian Resort, then Magic Kingdom, then Contemporary, Transportation and Ticket Center, and Polynesian again. As mentioned, the Contemporary is walking distance to the MK, which is helpful if you don't want to ride the monorail the entire length around to the MK. Of course, if you don't want to walk, and if it may be easier on your parents, the monorail is definitely your best shot. I always travel with my mother and elderly grandmother, and using the monorail is much easier on her, so I would definitely recommend it as your main transportation. The Contemporary and Polynesian both have pretty nice food courts, but from what I understand and from the last time I was there, the Contemporary's food court is still being refurbished and is closed, but I could be wrong - it may have already re-opened. The Polynesian food court is very nice, and was refurbished prior to Christmas 2006. Both gift shops are great, and so are the guest rooms!
I hope this helps! I hope you all have a WONDERFUL time!
~WDWGirl