Hi Keith,
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! I am so happy to see you here letting us help you with another vacation question. I am also torn between these two resorts for my vacation next spring, so this question is absolutely perfect. Perhaps I can finally decide for myself as I lay out all of the pros and cons of these two fabulous Disney Resorts for you.
Both
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and
Disney’s Beach Club Resort benefit from being in excellent locations. I will often try to choose a resort based upon location, minimizing travel time between the resort and parks as much as possible. Both options are conveniently located near a park, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort being a quick monorail ride to
Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Beach Club Resort being a short walk from the International Gateway entrance to
EPCOT and a short boatride over to
Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You also have nearby access to the
Disney Skyliner, which will whisk you away on an aerial gondola ride with excellent views. Since Disney’s Beach Club Resort has easy, nearby access to two parks, I say it has the location advantage. Plus you would be a short walk from the restaurants, entertainment and nightlife of Disney’s BoardWalk.
Again, both have excellent dining options within or around the resort, but this time I would have to say the advantage goes to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, as my utmost favorite restaurant, ‘Ohana, is located there. You also have access to the incredibly delicious Kona Coffee to help get your day started off on the right foot. As if that wasn’t enough, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort also offers the famous DOLE Whip at Pineapple Lanai. This isn’t to say that Disney’s Beach Club is without excellent dining options, with Cape May Café and Beaches and Cream Soda Shop within the resort and Trattoria al Forno and The Flying Fish nearby at Disney’s BoardWalk, it is still a serious contender.
In my opinion, the advantage in theming between the two resorts also goes to Disney’s Polynesian Village, with it invoking tropical vibes and a sense of an authentic island paradise. Though the best resort pool in all of Walt Disney World belongs to Disney’s Beach Club, with Stormalong Bay’s 3-acre aquatic wonderland, equipped with the largest waterslide in any Disney Resort hotel and a lazy river. Ultimately, the decision between these two beautiful resorts hinges upon personal preference. If you are looking to spend most of your time at Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort might be the right one for you, though if your plan were to spend a good amount of time in EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios or around the resort, playing in and around the pool, you would enjoy Disney’s Beach Club Resort tremendously. With both resorts being absolutely wonderful, you honestly cannot go wrong.
I hope that this information helps you to select the best possible option for you and your family. Please stop back by any time we can help assist you with your vacation questions.
-Angie C.