WDW - Polynesian or Boardwalk Inn with kids?
 

We are planning a trip to Disney at the beginning of December. Kids are ages 7,9, and 14. <BR> <BR>Thinking either Polynesian or Boardwalk Inn. Convenience and kid-friendly are our key criteria. Liked Polynesian because it's on the monorail; Boardwalk because it's near a lot of different shops/restaurants, etc. I heard the Polynesian is a little "worn" around the edges... Is this true? <BR> <BR>Recommendations? <BR> <BR>Thanks!! <BR>

Polynesian is a very relaxing [for Disney] setting, with tropical music and torches at night. It is a great location, being on the monorail line, and also right next to the transportation center. I think the newer places will have nicer rooms. The Beach Club [ I think that's next to the Boardwalk?] has a great pool for kids of all ages, with it's own 'quicksand bottom section, shipwreck with giant slide, and whirlpool. We stayed there when it was new, and our kids loved it, and were about the same ages as yours.

I've stayed at Poly and am familiar with Boardwalk (I stay at Beach Club usually). Much prefer the Boardwalk area, although both have their devotees. <BR> <BR>It's been 4 (?) yrs since I stayed at Poly, and certain buildings (like mine!) were getting frayed and needed re-furb. I promptly transferred to the Beach Club. They've been doing work at Poly, but haven't heard what its progress is. <BR> <BR>Boardwalk is pretty new (5 yrs?), is lively especially at evenings, and has some great restaurants (Spoodles, Flying Fish). 5-10 minute walk to Epcot, 10-15 min walk or boatride to MGM, but a bus to Magic Kingdom.

Just returned from a weekend at Disney. <BR>Have stayed at Polynesian, Boardwalk <BR>Inn, and on this trip the Grand Floridian. <BR> <BR>Having seen all three rooms, I would say they are all basically the same type interior. I stayed at the Grand Floridian this time thinking it would be different and nicer than the others. <BR>I cannot say that it was. In my future stays, I will not pay the price of the Grand Floridan but will opt for another hotel on the monorail. Note that Disney also offers AAA rates at some of their locations. <BR> <BR>I would strongly recommend staying at a hotel on the monorail. When we stayed at the Boardwalk Inn, we were within walking distance to the back section of Epcot. To get to the Magic Kingdom, you need to walk from the Boardwalk to the "back entrance" of Epcot, then walk the entire length of Epcot to catch the monorail. Your other option is to catch the bus outside Boardwalk and go to MK but you may also be stopping along the way. You will probably be at Magic Kingdom both during the day and then want to return for the evening parade and fireworks. Believe be, you will walk enough without going thru Epcot twice just to get to the park. <BR> <BR>From the Polynesian, you can take the monorail or boat directly to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. They are also located next to the transportation center, so you can catch the bus to Animal Kingdom, water parks, etc. <BR> <BR>As far as the room goes, they are all clean, and when you get back in the evening, you are so exhausted you really don't care about the room. You and the children will either be at the pool or sleeping.

I'd recommend the Polynesian because it's right on the monorail. It just makes it so much easier to get back and forth to the parks. <BR> <BR>Also, I don't know if you're getting one or two rooms. Both hotels have day beds. I believe the Polynesian day beds are bigger than the Boardwalk beds. <BR> <BR>For more details about the hotels than you'd ever want--but for better answers to your question, possibly--go to www.wdwinfo.com, where you'll find a resorts forum.

Hi <BR>I have stayed at the Poly twice but it has been a few years. We liked it but it was starting to show its age. We are thinking of staying at the Beach Club next time. It is a 10 minute walk to Epoct and a short boat ride to MGM. In fact you could walk to Epoct and then catch the monorail to Magic Kingdom, although this would probably be a 20 minute walk.

<BR>Unless you're fascinated by the monorail & want to ride it at every possible opportunity, it just does not make sense to walk all the way from the Epcot Resorts, thru Epcot, just to get to the monorail at the front of Epcot, as a routine method of getting to the Magic Kingdom. I've done it once or twice for the fun of it, but it's time consuming. <BR> <BR>The busses from Boardwalk to MK run every 20 minutes or so, and they are non-stop ... it's my preferred way to get from Epcot Resorts to MK.