Deluxe Resort Comparison – Polynesian vs. Beach Club
Each Disney resort is unique in its own way. Some have more perks such as bigger rooms, monorail transportation to parks, and overall style. There are three tiers in which resorts are categorized: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Resort, are both deluxe resorts, meaning they are of the highest tier of Disney resorts. Though this means that both resorts are classified by overall excellence, each has certain aspects I would improve if I could. I have stayed at both resorts multiple times and, to me, Polynesian Village trumps the Beach Club as Walt Disney World’s best resort.
Disney’s Beach Club Resort: Pros and Cons
Disney’s Beach Club Resort is located on the Boardwalk area, overlooking Crescent Lake. It is convenient in that it is a short walk to Epcot and the World Showcase, and also a short ferry ride to Hollywood Studios. Unlike Disney’s Polynesian and other Magic Kingdom resorts, there isn’t a monorail station at the Beach Club. To get to the Magic Kingdom, people staying here can either take a bus or walk through Epcot, which can get pretty tiring, and take the monorail from there.
The Beach Club is also very large in size. This may appeal to a lot of people, but having stayed there many times in the past, it is actually one of the reasons why I’d rather stay at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Disney’s Beach Club Resort is so big that some people could have rooms that are far away from the lobby.
Therefore, it takes several minutes just to get to the lobby from your room and vice versa. After a few days and nights in the parks, this can get quite tiring. Despite this not so favorable aspect, Disney’s Beach Club is very luxurious, and houses one of my favorite restaurants, Cape May Cafe, as well as the consensus best pool in Walt Disney World, Stormalong Bay. This is actually the only sand-bottom pool on Disney property.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort: Pros and Cons
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is one of Disney’s “Magic Kingdom resorts” surrounding the Seven Seas Lagoon. It is connected to the Magic Kingdom along with the Grand Floridian, Contemporary, and Transportation and Ticket Center by a large monorail system. This makes transportation to and from the Magic Kingdom and Epcot very simple. I also love the layout of the Polynesian. It is divided into several three story longhouses where people can stay. This means that there is much quicker access to locate the room. It is also nice to walk to your building outside, and enjoy the weather and views of the resort.
I also love the Polynesian because it has my favorite Quick Service restaurant, Capt. Cooks. It is also one of two locations in all of Walt Disney World where people can enjoy a Dole Whip, a pineapple-flavored ice cream that is both delicious and keeps to the Hawaiian theme of the Polynesian.
However, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort isn’t perfect either. Ever since I started going there as a kid, there have been major renovations. The Great Ceremonial House used to have a huge fountain, which was my favorite place in the entire resort and it is now gone. It can also get somewhat confusing with all the buildings and it is possible to get lost in some instances. There are very few flaws with this resort, though, making it my favorite.
Conclusion
I love staying at both Polynesian Village and the Beach Club. In fact, the next time I visit Disney in less than a week, I will be staying at the Beach Club and will definitely visit the Polynesian at least once. Both resorts are special to me, even though they aren’t perfect.
They both have a magical feel that makes me never want to leave. Despite this, I believe that Polynesian Village has just a little more to offer than the Beach Club, and since I have stayed at the Polynesian since I was a baby, it holds a special place in my heart. I believe it is the best resort Walt Disney World has to offer.
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Special thanks to summer intern, Tyler Antonelle, for writing this article. Tyler is a high school senior from New Jersey. He loves everything about Disney, and has been to Walt Disney World 2-3 times a year since he was born. His passion for Disney is huge and he believes there is no better way to express that passion than to write about The Most Magical Place on Earth!