Polynesian vs. Grand Floridian
When choosing a luxury hotel near Magic Kingdom on the monorail loop at Walt Disney World, vacation planners debate between two Deluxe Resorts: Grand Floridian and Polynesian. This head-to-head comparison weighs the pros & cons of each, picking a “winner” in theme, dining, transportation, pools, and other categories. (Updated April 14, 2024.)
This continues our Walt Disney World Hotel Comparison Series, which includes several other difficult dilemmas you might face when trying to pick a hotel. Other versus posts include Animal Kingdom Lodge vs. Wilderness Lodge, BoardWalk vs. Beach Club, Port Orleans Riverside vs. French Quarter, and even Caribbean Beach vs. the Poly.
This Grand Floridian vs. Polynesian comparison pits Walt Disney World’s flagship hotel against a fun fan-favorite that some might argue should be WDW’s “crown jewel” hotel. While both are similar in terms of location (literally a short walk from one another) and pricing, there are many differences in terms of theme, atmosphere, restaurants, and amenities.
While we will draw our own conclusions as to which is better, along the way we will explain our reasoning, so you can form your own conclusions. Since so much of this is a matter of subjective, personal preference, we feel that’s the best way to approach these comparisons. Plus, it would be a pretty short blog post if we didn’t offer explanatory text along with the winner of each element.
Before we get going, one thing to note is that both resorts are still in the midst of massive reimagining and/or expansion projects. In the case of the Poly, a gigantic tower is being built on the periphery of the resort. In the case of the Grand Floridian, the main building and lobby are still in the midst of a reimagining. The good news is that the room reimaginings at both are now finished. At least right now, neither of these projects have much impact on the guest experience, aside from minor (mostly exterior) visual blight. We expect both construction projects to wrap up by late 2024.
Okay, with that, it’s time to see whether the Grand Floridian delivers a sick People’s Elbow to the Poly, or if the Poly can pull off a surprise Stone Cold Stunner… (Sorry, I’ll stop with the wrestlin’ talk–those are the only terms I know, anyways.)
Theme: It Depends – Theme is such a tricky subject since so much of it is predicated in personal preference. Rather than making a value judgment about which theme is inherently “better,” we approach this from their respective execution of theme.
Grand Floridian is no doubt the most elegant and refined hotel at Walt Disney World, befitting of its high-brow Victorian theme. The lobby oozes sophistication and class, and makes a strong first impression. From that alone, it’s easy to see why Grand Floridian is Walt Disney World’s most luxurious and flagship resort. It is, as the name suggests, grand.
If there’s a good “opposite” of opulence, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is it. The Poly captures the essence of vacationing at a tropical resort. From the lush grounds to the South Seas vibe throughout the resort, it’s the confluence of 20th century tiki culture and authentic island paradise. It’s a great place to decompress and has an undeniable “vacation mode” vibe.
Both stumble on executing their themes in some regards. There are areas where the Grand Floridian feels dated, like a 1990s interpretation of the elevated Victorian theme. Some say it reminds them of “grandma’s house.” Then there are spots where modernization feels a bit bland and off-theme, the the Beauty and the Beast bar. The lobbies of the outer buildings all have received the same Mary Poppins-inspired overhaul as the guest room, and that has been tastefully done, balancing modern luxury the the theme of the resort, for the most part.
It’s a similar story with the Polynesian. Its theme has been chipped away at in recent years with the removal of its lobby waterfall and other tropical elements, but other enhancements make it feel like a good blend of mid-century and modern. To the extent that they’ve occurred, the Moana additions have been tasteful and relatively restrained in common areas.
If this were simply our personal preferences, we’d give the win to the Poly. However, that’s also because the interior of the main building at the Grand Floridian hasn’t yet been redone. If they manage to handle that as delicately as the outer buildings, threading the needle on themed design and modern luxury, it could come out on top. Objectively, the two resorts are difficult to compare since they’re trying different things. Both succeed and stumble in the same ways, so we’re calling this a push.
Rooms: It Depends – This updated comparison catches both resorts as they’ve recently debuted new rooms inspired to varying degrees by different characters. In both cases, these are really more movie motifs than they are fully-fledged character themes. In our view, this is a good thing.
The Poly’s new Moana rooms are bold, with distinctly “Disney” style and use of characters. They have a lot going on in terms of colors, patterns, and textures that won’t appeal to everyone. We think they strike the right balance, but some will undoubtedly disagree, finding them too “loud.” Regardless of that, the quality of finishings, features, and functionality is all high. (See our Review, Photos & Video: New Moana Rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.)
For the longest time, Grand Floridian ranked last on our lists like this due to a combination of that price point and the reality that its rooms we’re on par with a mid-tier Marriott. Although prices haven’t budged, Grand Floridian is taking massive leaps forward with new rooms that transform them into something both distinctly Disney and luxurious.
The reimagined rooms at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa are easily the biggest before/after improvement of any hotel room at Walt Disney World in the last decade. This reimagining brought with it greater usability, attention to details, luxurious finishings, thematic flourishes inspired by Mary Poppins, and a range of other details. Whether you’re assessing from a function or form perspective, these are a marked improvement. We also love these new rooms–see Grand New Rooms at Walt Disney World’s Flagship Resort for a look inside.
Which resort’s new character-inspired rooms are better will almost entirely come down to personal preference–both of the resorts as a whole and whether you or your family prefers Moana or Mary Poppins. Both are tastefully done and befitting of their respective resorts. We’d give a slight edge to Grand Floridian for a truly flawless execution, whereas Moana does have some imperfections–but others might argue the opposite.
It’s really going to come down to whether you want elegant and sophisticated with a dash of Mary Poppins whimsy or top-notch tropical fun with Moana. One thing is for sure–the new rooms at both the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian are better than the Incredibles accommodations at the Contemporary!
Dining: Grand Floridian – The culinary scene at the Grand Floridian is befitting of its flagship status. Narcoossee’s and Citricos are two of the most highly regarded restaurants at Walt Disney World, and the latter just received a Mary Poppins-inspired overhaul that took it to the next level. Then there’s Victoria & Albert’s, which is in a league of its own.
When it comes to character dining, Grand Floridian once again offers 1900 Park Fare for breakfast and dinner. This returns after a multi-year hiatus with a new “theme” (air quotes) of wishes. It also features a grabbag of characters that don’t really make much sense together. The whole thing is thematic nonsense, but it’s fun!
At the less expensive end of the spectrum, Grand Floridian Cafe is an underrated gem and has become one of our favorite spots for a casual meal or last minute Advance Dining Reservation around Magic Kingdom. Gasparilla Island Grill is likewise a strong counter service restaurant. There’s also the recently-reimagined Enchanted Rose Beauty and the Beast Bar, we aren’t fans, but others seem to like it.
The casual end of the spectrum is where Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort excels. Captain Cook’s is one of Walt Disney World’s best counter service restaurants. Of course, ‘Ohana is a fan favorite…although we think it’s overrated and has gone downhill in the last several years, it’s still a fan-favorite and deserves to be on your shortlist for novelty and (potential future) nostalgia factor.
Two other options pick up the slack. Kona Cafe is another underrated gem, a stand-out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, the Poly has one of the best lounges at Walt Disney World.
We ultimately give the edge to Grand Floridian due to the Poly’s lack of fine dining options–a big misstep for a Deluxe Resort–but this is another category that comes down to personal preference. It should also be kept in mind that resort-hopping for meals is incredibly easy among the monorail loop resorts.
Transportation: Push – This should come as no surprise given that the Polynesian and Grand Floridian are right next to one another. Both are on the Magic Kingdom Monorail loop. Both offer boat transportation. Both have comparable (shared) bus service to other parks.
Both are now walkable to Magic Kingdom, or will be once the Poly tower is finished and that pathway reopens. We’ve already breathlessly covered this in Photos & Video: Meandering the Magnificent Magic Kingdom to Grand Floridian Walkway. In case you missed that, it’s possible to walk all the way from the Transportation and Ticket Center to Magic Kingdom (when there’s no construction).
Grand Floridian is closer to Magic Kingdom, giving it the edge there. However, the Poly is closer to the Ticket & Transportation Center, which means it’s more convenient for walking to the monorail to Epcot. All of that makes this a tie.
This is another topic that’ll need to be revisited once the new Polynesian tower opens, as it’ll add a massive number of rooms to the resort and could cause the transportation infrastructure to buckle. Unfortunately, if that does happen, it’ll probably impact both resorts–not just the Poly.
Pools: Polynesian – Our favorite pools at these resorts at Beach Pool at the Grand Floridian, which we ranked #4 on our list of the Top 10 Pools at Walt Disney World, and Lava Pool at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (#2). We give the edge to the Lava Pool because it’s more imaginative, immersive, and ultimately, more fun for kids.
Both of these resorts have a couple solid pools beyond their main feature pools, but none of the quiet or secondary pools at Grand Floridian move the needle back towards it. If anything, the retro style (and shade structures!) at Polynesian’s Oasis Pool provide an adult foil to the more family-friendly main pool. By contrast, both of the “main” pools at the Grand Floridian skew towards adults.
Cost: Polynesian – While these are the two most expensive resorts in all of Walt Disney World when comparing standard rooms, the Grand Floridian is significantly more expensive. While rates vary by season and room category, you can expect to pay about 20% more for a comparable room at the Grand Floridian.
However, the practical reality is that many guests aren’t paying rack rate at the Grand Floridian whereas many are at the Poly. Due to differences in popularity, the Grand Floridian routinely offers exceptional savings–of 25% to 35% off. By contrast, the Polynesian’s discounts are usually lower–from 10% to 25% off. Worse yet, the Poly is occasionally excluded entirely and often has no availability even when it’s not excluded.
The end result is that even while sticker prices at the Poly are lower, guests can end up paying more on average due to disparities in discounting and availability. That makes this comparison really tricky.
Verdict: Polynesian – This used to be an incredibly easy one for us, but Grand Floridian has really narrowed the gap with its new Mary Poppins-inspired rooms. However, there is still a gap. Even in the categories that the flagship won, I have a difficult time seeing the Grand Floridian with an advantage that matters to me as a guest staying at the hotel. In fact, everything we love most about the Grand Floridian–dining and lobby atmosphere–can just as easily be enjoyed while staying at the Poly and doing a “date night” at the Grand.
The Grand Floridian has grown on us and improved in the last few years, but the Polynesian is a masterpiece of Imagineering that’s transportive in theme and feels like the quintessential Walt Disney World resort. It’s where we actually want to stay while on vacation, with atmosphere, amenities, rooms, and other features we’d use regularly over the course of a trip.
When comparing any two resorts, other factors will obviously come into play. Important amenities, location, recreation, and other variables are going to matter and weigh differently for different parties. If you want to compare for yourself or see how other resorts stack up, check out our Rankings of ALL Resort Hotels at Walt Disney World from Worst to Best.
Our goal is for this post was to offer a head-to-head comparison of the most crucial elements of each Walt Disney World resort experience, but we suggest supplementing this with our full review of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and our Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Review for further explanation of pros & cons, room photos & video, and much more.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Which of these two Deluxe Resorts is the better one, in your opinion? Is money the deciding factor for you or is something else? Is there anything you can think of to make Grand Floridian the better pick? Do you prefer the Moana rooms at the Poly or Grand Floridian’s more sophisticated style laced with Mary Poppins? Are we missing a key variable that could, potentially tilt the scales in the Grand’s favor? Do you agree or disagree with our picks? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
One think I’ve noticed is the Grand Flo often has discount when Poly does not. We like them both about equally but can often get a better price at the grand.
If you haven’t had the truffle fries at enchanted rose, you need to pay it another visit. The ones we had were the best thing we ate all trip, and that included most signature restaurants.
“the Poly has one of the best lounges at Walt Disney World”
Once the atmosphere and food menu return to normal, the Tambu Lounge will make it two.
I didn’t read through the older comments but I suspect the ‘fine dining’ offering at the Poly is the Luau. I mean, GF doesn’t have a dinner show…
I stayed at the Poly as a kid and again for my honeymoon (20+ years ago) and one last time for our 5th anniversary. We haven’t been able to book a room since as there is never anything available.
Club level main building at the GF is better than club level at the Poly. My last stay club level at the Poly in a Theme Park view room, the sliding door did not work, the door lock did not work, and the shower needed help. The food in the club is better at the GF, and the Main building at it GF has a wonderful vibe.
Ignoring club level, I would take the Poly over an outer building room at the GF every time. I actually really love the rooms at the Contemporary too, but seem to be a small minority on this preference.
I was at the Ethan Allen at Millenia recently and the manager there was excited about doing a huge project for the upcoming work at The Grand Floridian. That would be a quality upgrade!
Am I the only one who thinks the GF lobby smells like Aquanet hairspray?
Thank you for not giving “theme” to the Polynesian! I think your analysis is spot on, and while Grand Floridian is an easy target for dropping the ball (see any recent discussion around Enchanted Rose and Citricos), Polynesian has some major flaws as well.
In particular, the widening of pathways (i.e. stripping away foliage) and updated landscaping outside the Great Ceremonial House are huge downgrades. I can totally live with the renovated lobby, but the grounds outside were just as essential to feeling transported. That’s largely gone in exchange for concrete and astroturf.
Also, the hideous DVC building at Grand is ironically more distracting from the Polynesian than the Grand itself, while actually being nice on the inside. Such a shame they didn’t do more to make the exterior blend in, but I digress; another minor point in favor of the Grand.
I’m one of those odd ducks who likes both resorts, so I appreciate your fairness here. It’s totally valid to prefer Polynesian over GF (I did for many years as well), but honestly Poly’s not even the most successfully themed deluxe resort at WDW. That would have to be AKL or WL.
Oh, Tom. Bad Tom. VERY bad Tom! You totally messed up on dining! You forgot the equalizer!
Two Words:
Pineapple Lanai
Oh, sure. 5-star dining at Victoria and Albert’s, Narcoossee’s and Citricos are excellent restaurants…
But you can’t order Pineapple Dole whip from any of the 3, can you? Nor, with the Hallelujah Chorus being sung in the background of your mind, to a unique island beat, order a:
DOLE Whip with Rum Floater!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I mean, c’mon, man! At worst that’s a push for the Poly!! ^_~
Slightly more serious: In this comparison, the reality is that that dining at the Poly or GF realistically means dining options are easily accessible for guests to either resort, with, of course the MK and Contemporary dining options very accessible as well. Also, the Wildernesses are also both a boat ride away.
The advantages of the dining options at each individual resort has drastically changed in recent years. It is still a thing, but far less so than in the past. Right now, I look at as clusters: The MK area resorts, connected by monorail, walking and boats, the Epcot/Hollywood resorts, connecting up and down the Skyliner, and the Disney Springs Resorts, connecting via walking or boats (Saratoga Springs and Port Orleans, upon reopening). Further, The MK and Epcot/Hollywood clusters are connected via the Epcot monorail. Only AKL, Coronado and the All-Stars are left high and dry of the official resorts; even the Hotel Plaza/DS resorts get to partake in the Disney Springs dining scene without relying on a personal/rental/rideshare vehicle or buses.
Which means that going forward, any evaluation of dining at a resort needs to necessarily include the connectivity to other options. For example, Pop Century vs. Animal Kingdom Lodge. Naturally, an easy win, complete blowout victory for AKL. But the Skyliner means that Sebastian’s at the Caribbean and Topolino’s Terrace at the Riviera are just minutes away via the Skyliner. Every restaurant at Hollywood Studios is 1 transfer away. The restaurants at Epcot and the Crescent Lake resorts are the end of the Skylkiner and a walk. So, yeah, AKL wins the battle, but for those who don’t care about their room but want to spend their time wining and dining, Pop can easily win the war.
The Grand Floridian is the only resort we’ve never had a desire to stay at. The DVC rooms are too much of a haul to the main areas of the Gr FL (let alone the boat to the MK!). Not everyone can walk with ease those distances, especially after a long day at the park. My cane can only help me so much. And the rooms are boring. When it comes to the DVC rentals, though, I’ve found the GrFL & the Poly to be pretty equal in pricing, with the Poly often being the more expensive option. Bad thing about the Poly is that there aren’t any covered walkways to your room. Sad that you’ll get drenched walking to your room at one of the most expensive resorts on property. That’s always been the turn off for me with the Poly, but I still love the theming.
I know Animal Kingdom Lodge doesn’t come close to the Poly when considering distance to parks & the monorail, but how about comparing those two? They’re the two most culturally-centric resorts on property & the most peaceful (imo). I’d love to see your take on the two of those resorts side by side.
This was such a great article thanks Tom. I agree with the conclusion and prefer the Polynesian but really this piece just makes me wish I was at either one right now!
Tom,
Considering that the monorail is down at the Poly now & will be still down during our stay mid-August 2021, would you switch to The Grand now? We are currently booked at the Poly with three 6 year olds. We could move to The Grand for $900 less for the entire stay. Help please LOL
Apologies for the delayed response, but that’s a tough call given that the Grand Floridian will actually be cheaper for those dates.
Personally, I don’t view the Poly’s monorail being down as a huge deal–the walk to the TTC is incredibly short and easy, and you have direct monorail access to both Magic Kingdom and Epcot from there. Even if the monorail station weren’t down, walking to the TTC can get you to the parks faster than using the Poly’s monorail (depending upon room location within the Poly).
When it comes to refillable mugs, the Grand Floridian has Freestyle machines and the Poly just has traditional fountain dispensers. Also, the Poly doesn’t have its own fitness center so you have to walk to the Grand Floridian to use theirs.
I’d still pick the Poly though! They do have their own Dole Whip window after all.
OKW vs SSR comparison?
Stayed at Poly 3 times never the Grand. I would think cast members or hotel employees count. If so, just check out PeteWerner twitter lines in the last 24 hours
Horrible service at Grand. Check in
I have stayed at the Poly 3 times and the Grand once. I found everything too far apart at the Grand. Overall if you aren’t staying in the main building at the Grand, everything is inconvenient. While lots of things at the Poly are de-centralized, it just seems easier to get around. So if my budget was open, it would be the Poly.
Tom,
What would be your choice between Polynesian lagoon view at $5,800 for 6 night stay with no discount vs Grand Floridian at $6,300 with free dining for the exact same 6 nights of stay?
Thanks,
Sal
Hi Sal, you didn’t ask me but I’ll answer anyways. Bottom line, will you be eating more than $500 in food (snacks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, alcohol) over the 6 nights? I’ll answer that too.. Yes, of course you will. I don’t know how many in your party, but assuming there are at least two of you, that’s $250 each for all of your food. Great deal. Based on your two options, “free” (or $500) dining and a stay at GF is a no brainer! Add your expected dining costs to Poly for a better comparison (a conservative +/- $100 per adult per day depending on locale, note 1900 Park Fare breakfast is $60+/person). Take the “free” and easy dining plan and live it up at GF!
I love them both as a DVC member at both! However , I do prefer the Grand when it is just my husband and I. The Poly is fun and we will see how much my husband likes it when we go this fall to Food & Wine. We have an adult son who loves to go wherever we stay.
I just love the Grand perhaps it is because I stayed at Aulani before the Poly and really love that property! But that’s an unfair comparison as Aulani has the greatest view especially at sunset.
I am staying at Poly in a few days with my niece and nephew – maybe my perspective will change some after the next two stays there. BUT RIGHT now the scales are slightly tipped to the Grand FL for me. We will be walking over to dine at the Grand – and when we stay at the Grand we walk over to the Poly for Dole Whip. So dinning really isn’t a factor between the resorts.
In April my family of 6 will be staying in a bungalow at Poly for 1 night and then moving over to a 2 bedroom villa at the Grand. My feeling is with the cost of the bungalow, I need to spend as much time as I can enjoying the room. We are planning on doing ‘Ohana room service, watching wishes from the deck, and finally getting some tonga toast for breakfast. We have stayed at the grand Floridian before, but this will be our first stay at the poly. Thank you for your comparison the information helps a lot!
While I feel like we’d take the Poly over the Grand Floridian if we could afford them, most of all I wanted to say this “versus” series is exciting! I’ve especially been attempting to compare BoardWalk v. Beach Club and Caribbean Beach v. Port Orleans Riverside, so I look forward to those comparisons. I do love the feel of the Poly in general, great fun, though dining is lacking to me (but with the monorail and boat to other options, that’s forgiveable). I must add what I feel is an often overlooked negative about Grand Floridian, as someone with a great interest in history, I personally find the Grand Floridian theme to be quite disturbing. While the Victorian era was a time of improvements, it was still a horrible time for minorities, women, children, the Irish (Famine), the Indian (British took over), so I can never understand those who romanticize the era. I honestly feel guilty about the way Disney dresses their employees there (as servants or slaves, especially black employees), even when we are passing through or going to dine there.
Have stayed several times at the Poly and love it. Have only visited GF several times to eat at 1900 Park Fare and while it is pretty especially at Christmas your comment about it feeling dated in some areas rings so true to me. When do you anticipate posting the Caribbean Beach v. Port Orleans Riverside write-up? Am trying to decide between the two for our stay later this year. Thanks!