Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

Well, mostly positive for us. I found the studio lovely with a couple of caveats. There is a light switch when you enter which is nice, but it lights up the whole room and I will say that is great when you want the whole room lite up. BUT there is NO separate light over the kitchenette without turning on the main switch that lights up the whole room so either make coffee in the dark or wake everyone up with the one switch that lights up the whole room. I agree with others - no soundproofing - heard the people upstairs, next door and especially in the hallway and we were close to the elevator. You can hear every toilet flush all around. We had a standard view and overlooked the parking lot AND the monorail so that was nice. The main floor restaurant was ok. We got chicken wings - only 5 small wings but they were good. However, there is NO quick service breakfast except a pastry. That makes the main quick service at the Poly the only place for quick breakfast and of course, it was packed before - now it is terrible. Plus, it is a good 5 plus minute walk outside to get to that building. That was my biggest disappointment. I saw someone said you couldn't check in here but that is not true. There are several people in the entry until 10 at night checking people in. They were very friendly. We parked in the new parking lot - it is a little hard to get to as there is still construction in that area but it is new so that is to be expected. I slept in the pull-down bed, and I found it very comfortable. The bathroom has a completely separate toilet area - kind of weird but it works. Make sure if you do online check-in to stop and make sure your magic bands are set to work in the elevator, or you will go nowhere - which happened to us. There is a glitch right now and online check- in is not keying the bands to the elevators yet. All in all, a nice stay but needs some tweaking yet.

As a family who has stayed at most Disney resorts, I can confidently say that the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas is, by far, the worst experience we have ever had. From start to finish, it was a complete disappointment and lacked the magical Disney spirit we’ve come to expect. First and foremost, the staff were beyond rude and seemed completely uninterested in being there. Their attitude was shocking—several were outright rude to me and my family on multiple occasions. When we raised concerns, we were met with dismissive responses and outright denial of what we experienced. This is absolutely unacceptable, especially at Disney, where exceptional service is supposed to be the standard. The rooms themselves were another disaster. They lack any sound insulation whatsoever—you can hear everything from people coughing, flushing toilets, and even conversations in the connecting rooms. We could even hear the vending machine being restocked at 6 AM. It made for an incredibly uncomfortable and restless stay. The overall quality of the rooms felt cheap, with wood-effect flooring that’s clearly just low-grade linoleum and beds that were so uncomfortable we could barely sleep. The showers had zero water pressure, making even basic tasks frustrating. On top of that, the logistics were a nightmare. Minnie Vans were the only cars allowed onto the property, but they’d often be stuck waiting 15 minutes at the gate because no one answered the buzzer, and there was no security guard present. We had groceries delivered, but they were turned away because there was no one to receive them. When they were finally accepted, they were sent to the main building, which was a 10-minute walk away. The restaurant downstairs only added to our frustration, as one member of our party ended up with food poisoning severe enough to require a trip to the ER. When we brought up all these issues to multiple managers, they couldn’t have cared less. The only name I remember is Kevin, and the only apology I received was, *“I’m sorry you feel that way.”* That is quite possibly the worst apology ever, and it made it clear they had no interest in addressing our concerns. The only slight redeeming factor was the beautiful view from our theme park view room, but even that doesn’t justify the staggering $2,000-a-night price tag. This experience has left such a sour taste in our mouths that we’re reconsidering our future Disney trips altogether. We had another trip planned for March, but after this, we’ll likely skip it. I can’t recommend the Island Tower to anyone—it’s not worth the cost, the stress, or the disappointment. If a manager who actually cares wants to reach out, feel free to respond to this review. But based on the managers I spoke to during my stay, including Kevin, I’m not holding my breath.

Staying in duo studio premiere view and it's small but extremely comfortable. The property is beautiful the bar and pool area we'll set up. On the bad no info that you have to go to the main house to check in so getting to the hotel is frustrating. Food court is a bit of a walk but it's a large property. Would have given it a 4 star but the check in was the worst part of the stay.

We were so excited to check out the new Island Tower! The rooms are fantastic - spacious, modern, still cozy. The hotel itself is beautiful - different works of art around every corner. And the terraces are a game changer. We watched Wishes with only 3 other people one evening. Will definitely be back!

The property looks gorgeous, unfortunately that is about all that you get! I come to Disney multiple times a year and congratulations to the island tower for taking the award of the worst stay! The trip started with the extreme rudeness of the staff which left me in tears. Trying to move on I thought I would enjoy the resort and have an early night, unfortunately the early night was not to happen with non stop music coming from outside and then being on a bed that is a step below sleeping on the ground outside. I think what is most disappointing is no acknowledgment from the cast members about it being one of the worst experiences ever.

This place is one of the best locations on property. But that's it. It just goes downhill from there. It's not a Polynesian feel at all. More like a brand new Hyatt on an island somewhere that's been modernized. It does not feel like a Disney hotel. The pool is underwhelming. No slide and the pool is just small. The rooms of course are new and clean, that's easy. But if you get one of the rooms facing the parking lot, it is not good for what you are paying. Better off staying at the original Polynesian or go stay at Wilderness Lodge which actually had imagineering thought behind it. This is Chapek style and the new executives aren't much different. They are not allowing any imagineering at all and things just look bland. There's not even a check in desk or a store. Only thing this has going for it is location. Unless you have money to burn pick another place.

Just got back from a 4 night stay at the new tower and while its a very nice looking hotel. I have concerns. My family and I have stayed at multiple resorts at Disney World and I can honestly say that I feel that Disney rushed this resort. I stayed in a 2 bed room villa at the Riviera back in October and I took a nap on the murphy bed that was in the room because I wanted to see if I would like the matterase. I did like the murphy materase at the Riviera, but the murphy mattress that was in my Studio room at the tower was horrible. The other things that I would say about the room is that there is no sound barrier. They installed pressure flushing toilets and you can hear every single toilet being flushed. I have never heard that in any other resort. In my studio we had a little kitchenette, with dishes and cutlery. But the only sink in the room was the vanity. I am not a fan washing dishes in a vanity sink. If you are going to have a kitchenette in a hotel room please have a sink in it and not just the vanity sink. The welcome staff was great. No issues there. The Grill at the tower is a little bit over rated. I have been seeing reviews on the Wayfinder Burger and how its the best burger in all of Disney World. I am hear to let you know that while yes it's a good burger it's a Steak'N'Shake burger. Again a good burger but not worth the over done hype that it has gotten. Also it looked like the burger and the toppings where thrown on to the bun. Everything was lopsided and falling out of the buns. My waitress was nice but she took 15 min to get greet me. I truly feel that Disney rushed this resort. I know that Disney can do better. I will probably not being staying at the tower again.

They show this beautiful bathroom Ont heir own website for the one bedrooms, but when we got in our room this was the bathroom with no sewerage walk in shower or a soaking tub, which is described on the website. I asked not to be put in an ADA room and they said there was nothing they could do about it. The very frustrating part of this is that the staff in the lobby has to constantly play telephone with mysterious management that never shows their face to interact with guests. The one person I spoke with didn’t even know what the bathrooms were supposed to look like as she’s never been in a room.

Super nice resort with all of the Lilo and stitched themed areas all around. If you have breakfast here you can sit and watch across the lake and see all of the fun things happening while you eat. The staff is all very nice and the gift shop has some items you won't find at other gift shops around Disney. Direct access to the monorail make this an easy way to get in and out of the park.

Just spent the weekend at the Polynesian, and it was a great experience overall. Any complaints are pretty minor. The theming is great and reflected everywhere. It really feels like you've been transported to Hawaii, from the central building to the outdoor areas, to the rooms. The location of the hotel is perfect. Just hop on the monorail to get straight to the Magic Kingdom. Monorail to the Epcot just takes one transfer at the Transportation Center (or you can take a quick walk to the transportation center and hop on the monorail there). Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and the water parks are all accessible via bus, and the bus stop is only a couple hundred feet away. Great gift shop upstairs and downstairs, and a host of restaurants right in the resort. Great looking pools with waterslides and outdoor play areas. Plenty to keep kids busy. Actually wish we had just one "resort day" but we were running the whole time. My only complaints were that our bathroom shower had some issues that never got resolved (wouldn't drain without holding up the plunger), our reception was a bit lacking because of the online check-in (my kids wanted leis that I had to hunt down later), and my daughter was disappointed from trying to find HeiHei (each resort has a mascot to find in a new spot easy day, HeiHei is this one) and not being told it was only available 9am-9pm which means if you're in the parks the full day, you miss completely. I would 100% stay at this resort again. I loved it.

Trader Sam's Grog Grotto is a whimsical tiki bar located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, offering a uniquely immersive experience. The bar is richly themed, with tropical decor, hidden details, and interactive elements that bring the space to life. Signature cocktails like the Uh-Oa! and the Krakatoa Punch not only taste fantastic but come with theatrical presentations that involve lights, sounds, and sometimes even the bartenders. While the drinks are the star, the small-plate menu complements the experience well, with offerings like pork tacos and dumplings. Seating can be limited, and the bar tends to get crowded, so arriving early is advisable. Perfect for Disney fans and tiki enthusiasts.

Such a fun resort! Can I start with the smell. It is amazing and making you think you are in Hawaii and a fraction of the cost. The resort itself is so cool and has a huge gift shop and so many different places to eat at and explore. And if you come at the right time and you sit in the right place, you may just see some fireworks!

10th visit to Disney world since 2020 and we stay at a different resort every time. This trip we chose Polynesian and I am NOT disappointed at all. This is a very convenient location- buses, boats and monorails.. oh my ! How easy it was to get to all of our destinations this trip is amazing and effortless. Resort is very clean, easy to navigate around. Multiple pools - fun, clean and not over crowded - pool side service, bars and food.. water slides, splash pads.. you name it, they have it! We have eaten here at the resort and a far it's been delicious at both restaurants, trader Sam's grotto and both quick services as well. Our family really enjoyed staying here ( even thought we stay at a different resort every trip this one might just have to make it twice!)

Probably one of my favorite Disney resorts! Enjoyed a nice Kona Cafe brunch. Love this place! Tonga Toast rules!!

The food is good and vibes are amazing but it's VERY EXPENSIVE!!!! We did the brunch on Christmas Day and got to meet characters. The food was like buffet style and they bring you tons of food and juice. We'd also ordered their alcoholic pineapple drink. It's very good but gone in like 5 sips and very expensive. Would come back on a special occasion!

Imagine standing on a Polynesian beach, soft breezes ruffling your hair, the music of Iz gently floats around you. Tiki torches magically light up as an orange sunset fills the sky. Off in the distance, a magical castle beckons you. Nighttime fireworks light up the sky, as the soundtrack pumps onto the beach. You're staying at the Polynesian resort. When you make your way back to your room, it is appointed with details and dabbles of Moana and Maui on the pillows, the wall art, and the headboards. The beds are fairly new and comfy and yet you feel as though you are on a remote island somewhere close to Motunui, and the water... it calls you. We have stayed in the Hawaii building (club level) that is closest to the water and provides theme park views. The first floor will have a patio, the second floor has a Juliette balcony, and the third floor has a full balcony with the best views if you are on the water side of the building. The King Kamehameha Club lounge is two stories and one of the most beautiful club level lounges in WDW. At night, the floor to ceiling windows provide views of the Happily Ever After fireworks from MK, and they pump in the music while you snack on dessert. Like a built in dessert party each night of your stay. The only downside with this lounge is that it does not provide unlimited Mickey ice cream bars. Instead they provide build your own ice cream sundaes. There are limited Dasani water bottles on the first floor near the check in desk which is rare these days. Ok seriously though, that in a nutshell... a coconut shell...is a typical stay at the Polynesian. Even if all else fails you, the beautiful setting will not.

I love Disney !! I have stayed in this resort plenty of times and I would go back any time I can. You can eat breakfast with the characters here and enjoy the view early in the morning while eating, make sure to make a reservation ahead of time since this place gets booked fast. From resort you have access to transportation to the parks and Disney springs. They have 2 pools and a hidden famous tiki bar called Trades sam , also make sure to book your reservation other you won't be able to enter.

First time at a Disney resort. We had a party of 7 and were able to get adjoining rooms on the first floor. It's a small thing but having bottled water, juice and coffee (very good coffee with free Nespresso pods as an option) available 24/7 was awesome. We stayed at the Hawaiian portion of the resort. They have food, snacks, and drinks available throughout the day including breakfast, a variety of juices and wines, dessert bar, etc. They also turn down the lights for the Magic Kingdom fireworks in the lounge at 8pm. The room was basic but comfortable. The beds were clean and had a variety of pillows. I wish there was more counter space in the bathroom and more than 1 mirror in the room. The pullout couch was surprisingly a single bed not double like we expected. The staff were very nice and helpful for making recommendations. We had the quick service meal plan which was helpful overall and included food, drinks, snacks, adult drinks. The food selection with this was somewhat limited and at times crowded but we did get some pretty good food. I recommend paying attention to how often you use it because we didn't end up using all of our meals with all the running around in the park. I would definitely stay here again.

The Polynesian resort is a great option if you have kids since their lava pool and the little kids splash pad are absolutely awesome. At night you can sit along the sandy shore and enjoy the fireworks. It is the softest sand I have ever sunk my toes in. The grounds are absolutely beautiful, and we love the items in the gift shops. We've stayed here twice, and though they've done a re-theming to Moana, the rooms still feel the same. Both times, our rooms felt dark, but the difference is that since the floor isn't carpet it doesn't feel as dank. Many rooms have balconies or a patio but be prepared because if you end up om the second floor, your room will not have a balcony and this was an unpleasant surprise because we were looking forward to sitting out in our balcony in the evening. At night, it was hard to sleep because we could hear all the movements and noises from the guests above us and the best was not comfortable. Really, the perk of staying here is the convenience of being on the monorail line. Otherwise, I don't know why this one costs so much compared to it's neighbors on the monorail line.

This was our first time at a Disney grounds resort and we had a wonderful time. We stayed in a deluxe standard studio. It was nice to have 2 bathrooms and the room was plenty of space for a family of four. I do agree the resort is spaced out. It provides a nice atmosphere for relaxing however with small kids it would have been nicer to be closer to the main building. If I had older kids I wouldn't mind. The pool with the kid area is wonderful. Just enough space for them to have fun. We also swam in the quiet pool as well. Captain Cooks and Koana cafe both have great options. There was enough variety and the ordering ahead was easy. Rooms were cleaned daily. The resort staff were friendly as well. The family activities and view of fireworks can't be beat. Monorail to MK was a huge perk and couldn't have been made easier. We will be back!

Love Tami lounge and the new tower! Try the sweet potato hummus if you're a plant-based eater!

This is a beautiful place. It was our first time staying here, and they truly made every minute of our stay magical. From the moment I entered, I was warmly greeted right away. Check-in was seamless. I was surprised I was checked in with a tablet instead of a person behind the counter. The lady who checked me in even provided me with tips for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween event. She had originally greeted me by saying,"Welcome Home." It was my first time here, but I wouldn't mind calling it home. She provided me with leis and 1st time buttons. We walked into our room, and it was breathtaking. The room was simple and comfy... it sure felt like home. Our room was on the first floor, and we were literally a few steps away from the volcano pool. Honestly, the resort itself was relaxing. You can literally just hang out, walk around, do some shopping, grab some food, and chill. They had movie night and all sorts of activities. Having dole whip (Pineapple Lanai) close by totally made my day/ every night. All the food we had here was yummy and had you stuffed.. ready to take a nap. All areas of the resort were clean and well kept. I never would've known this place has been here since 1971! Having stayed here was perfect and convenient for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween event. The monorail was literally at the main building. The 2nd floor is super convenient. The staff at all levels were super nice and always provided service with a smile. Highly recommend this place. I'm already planning my next trip back.

We stayed here multiple times and always have a great experience. This is a splurge for us so we get the most basic room on the first floor, which came with an outdoor patio. Perfect spot to drink coffee in the morning or just sit at night and relax. A few different food options for breakfast and two different pool areas with a hot tubs. Each pool has a bar which also offers food options. Did I mention you can watch the MK fireworks from the beach area? This is a monorail resort, offering convenient access to MK and Epcot. It also offers boat transportation to MK and buses to all parks. Parking our rental car was free.

Disney themeing at its best. We had a great time here and enjoyed the pool. The pool views of MK were great. Pool staff was on top of everything and attentive. The afternoon activities were fun to watch as the kids played games. The cast member even jumped into the pool if the kids could keep the beach ball up 45 times! She stayed true to her word and jumped in lol. It is very pricey, but we paid for Disney location and theme.

Stayed here in the summer and was super amped to be here, as wdw is a new obsession for me. Unfortunately the architecture and history are really the best things about this place (in my humble opinion). Additionally, the proximity to the tts is also pretty convenient and makes this resort the easiest deluxe resort to have monorail access to both MK and Epcot. However, I was not a fan of how spread out the grounds are, which I know, is the case with a majority of the resorts. But again, something to consider when your vacation is somewhat built around packing the most into the time you have. Also, if you have a pool facing room, it will be loud. For like, 12 hours a day, into the evening. For people like myself traveling with an infant, this was less than ideal. Something to keep in mind. The coconut meatballs are insanely good and we frequently ran into people on the monorail coming from other resorts just to get some. And trader Sams is a cool vibe, but better later in the evening. The one thing I feel worth mentioning is that the idea that monorail is a convenience worth booking here for, it is not. While the ride itself doesn't take long, we spent SO MUCH time waiting for it, then waiting for it to fill up, then waiting for it to get jam packed. And sometimes the security line would be backed up into the gift shop in the hotel. Not as convenient as I had hoped. But it is beautiful, smells lovely, and the water facing rooms are so beautiful and peaceful.

It's a beautiful resort but the crowds and wear and tear and overly priced everything are just not for us. We got food at Captain Cooks and it was just terrible. Line was long. Drinks we got from the lobby bar were good. My daughter got a $46 souvenir from the on site shop only to see it available at Target a day later for $30. Typical Disney. It's a great place to catch fireworks and we enjoyed the sandy beach. The path to the beach is stinky.

We stayed for almost a week at the Polynesian per the advice of countless sources. Everyone said that this is an amazing hotel and they were partially correct. The tropical ambiance is unmatched. Price per dollar for the experience I would say it is not worth it. Perks were monorail access and views and restaurants on property. Our room was a balcony room right on the lake which was a super nice treat. Customer service was phenomenal. Most importantly we really enjoyed ourself. Next time I'll likely stay at a different resort.

A wonderful resort! Lots of activities for kids and families to do every night or day. The lei making, movie nights, campfire s'more making and glow parties were some of our favorites. An easy on or off location with the monorail stop, the ferry pier and bus stop. And it is a quick walk to the transportation hub. Multiple dining options good for all ages and tastes. Multiple pools for all ages which is great if you just want to float around, ride a slide or play in the splash pad. And if you are able to snag a room with a view of the lagoon it is fantastic to watch the nightly light parade and magic kingdom fireworks. They play the music at the resort so the show is great! We would definitely stay here again. Great for a couples get away or a family trip. And the staff is so wonderfully helpful.

This is the review from the standpoint of a family with a four-year-old and a two-year-old. What makes a Disney resort worth this price? That's the major question when you have many resorts to choose from at various price points. I don't want to write exactly how much we paid to stay here in case my husband reads my review later, but let's just say it is the most expensive hotel we've ever stayed at. We're actually staying at two other deluxe Disney resorts this year and this is the most expensive of even the ones in that category (other two are Animal Kingdom Lodge and Beach Club). For me, it's three things, how amazing is the pool and additional kid stuff, how good are the restaurants, and convenience to the parks. When I say convenience to the parks, that's a different scale for us, because we drive so we always have a car. That means pretty much any park is convenient for us from any resort, except Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom is it's own beast, because of the monorail to the parking lot. If you leave after fireworks, the line to get on the monorail is horrific. It was even pretty bad for the resort monorail line (which is different than the parking lot one). Usually there is a walkway that you can walk to the Polynesian via the Grand Floridian, but it was closed for refurbishment. (I was super salty about this fact the entire time we were there. I kept thinking, I'd be back at the room by now if I could just walk. You can see the walk from the monorail line and it looks very pretty.) We ended up taking the boat that goes first to the Grand Floridian and then the Polynesian, but even that took a while (the first time I thought the boat might not exist, we were standing and waiting so long). Therefore, I would not stay here unless that walkway is open (it's supposed to open later this spring). When the walkway is open, it's about a 30 minute walk, but I like walking so this is fine by me. Getting to the park via the monorail at the Polynesian was super convenient and you go through security at the Polynesian before you board. We never waited long and the cars were always pretty empty. There is a fun splash pad area and a zero entry pool for the kids, but my four year old told me he liked the Animal Kingdom Lodge pool area better. There really aren't a lot of seats here and they were almost always completely taken. The one major plus is they have wait service that comes around to take your order. The menu has a great variety of food and drinks (you can get sushi poolside). Also that waitstaff is on it! I was never left waiting, because they were always walking by. There's a second pool, but since it's just a pool we never went to it. There is no arcade at the Polynesian nor a playground. There is a small beach area, but my kids never expressed interest in checking it out. The other plus is the food. They have Kona and Ohana along with Trader Sam's. I'll review each individually, but overall these are solid eateries. Finally, I really loved their store. I'm always looking for cute Disney dresses with matching shirts for my husband and there seemed to be more here than I even see at the parks! Unfortunately, no matching for the kids, but I can't win them all. The rooms and decor are gorgeous. It was revamped with a Moana theme and I felt it was very well done. The rooms are spacious and being on the first floor we had a small seating area right outside our room. There are huge windows, which was actually a little weird to open since anyone walking could then see in, but I like the option to have that much light. If I ever redecorated, I'd want to copy this theme. Even small details like the fact that the sliding doors are soft closed (amazing, so little hands don't get crushed) were taken into account. A+ for decor and ambiance. If price wasn't a factor I would definitely come back. However, based on the pool area/no playground/no arcade, I'll probably try the Grand Floridian or the Contemporary before coming here again. Still, if price doesn't matter to you, this place is definitely worth checking out.

Absolutely the worst. Staying at the new DVC Tower. There are no employees on site. There is no lobby. If you need anything, you have to walk over to the other hotel. There is no store to purchase even a water bottle. No food available and if you order food, the vendors can't enter the property. A real sh-t show. Don't waste your money. Stay elsewhere.

My partner and I visited Disney's Polynesian Village Resort on a Friday morning. We are planning on staying there for a family vacation in May. Disney's Polynesian Village Resort is located next to the Grand Floridian Resort and right next to Magic Kingdom. It has bus transportation, Monorail, and boat transportation to Magic Kingdom. Self-parking is available and free right now if staying on the resort. There are a variety of restaurants at the Disney's Polynesian Village. You can try eating at O'hana, Kona, and Captain Cook. You'll need to make reservations through the Disney mobile application for the restaurants. The pool looks amazing though. It's a volcano theme with a slide that goes through it! There is also a beach that you can sit and relax at. The main lobby is absolutely stunning. You'll initially enter through the main entrance that contains rainforest theme and waterfalls as you enter the hotel. The lobby has a tiki statue in the middle and a variety of ceremonial themed decor. This is one of my favorite Disney World resorts!

This was my 1 day experience at the Polynesian Village Resort, and it was one of the worst experiences I've ever had. The biggest issue was the incredibly rude, insensitive, and unprofessional treatment I received from the manager, David, from Plymouth, MA. He repeatedly cut me off while I was speaking and never once apologized for the numerous problems I faced during my stay. The issues began right at check-in. I called guest relations at 4:05 PM to report that the room view wasn't what I had booked. The representative I spoke to assured me they would call me back to arrange a room change, but that call never came. I was left with a view of ongoing construction and another hotel--definitely not the resort view I paid for. To make matters worse, I stepped on a nail that went right through my sandal. It could have caused serious injury, and it's a clear sign of how unsafe this resort is. I've attached images to show just how dangerous it can be here. When I brought these issues to David's attention, I was met with nothing but dismissiveness. As someone who works in customer service, I am appalled that someone with such a poor attitude could be in a managerial position. The fact that a manager could be so unprofessional and indifferent is shocking. Unfortunately, I couldn't check out early because everything else was sold out, but I will never return to this place. If you're considering staying here, I strongly urge you to reconsider. The management is abysmal, the service is nonexistent, and the safety standards are clearly lacking. This resort does not deserve your business.

This was my dream Disney hotel. I am not sure if things were better before Covid, or it was always this way. I DO NOT recommend this hotel. The outside and lobby are nice, but the space is not large enough for the amount of people the hotel can hold. The hotel rooms were remodeled. The theme is cute, but the buildings smell old, and at most, the inside of the hotel rooms look like they should be valued at $200.00. The hotel room was a major disappointment. While walking inside the room, the floor literally shakes underneath your feet as you walk on it. I was staying in the Fiji building. If you aren't on the top floor, you will hear the noise from people walking above you. I compare it to walking in a mobile home. You will hear every sound in the hallway. You will hear every sound from your neighbors. I could even hear when housekeeping would scrub the tubs next door. I had to sleep with ear plugs in and I could still hear everything. Additionally, for the $600.00+ a night price tag: they do not provide any bottle water, there is zero room service options (if you're too tired from the day at the parks), no robes, or any details that would make you feel like you're staying in the most expensive hotel in Disney. The restaurant food is ok. The pool bar dole whip drinks were warm and gross. Before my stay, I called to book a bungalow. THANK GOD, I didn't spent the $11,000.00 price tag (for 4 nights) for a hotel stay that does not even provide bottled or filtered water. When leaving, I called the bellman for a valet cart to move our luggage. The Bellman told me they did not do that, so my husband and I carried everything to the front of the resort. Point is, if you want to stay at a Disney hotel, stay at a cheaper one and visit this one. The only good thing is the monorail, but there are two other hotels with monorail access. There are way better hotels for the same price or less.

What a great venue! The food was excellent. We enjoyed our time there! Top notch Mickey service!

Wonderful customer service at the front desk. I stayed with DVC points so the room was in Morrea, which is next to the Bora Bora huts on the water. It was quiet and serene. I had a small kitchen, closet, a bathroom with a tub and one with a shower, mini fridge, tv, balcony and couch, pull down bed. Kona and Captain Cook is great for a quick bite. I recommend the antioxidant salad and pulled pork sandwich from Captain Cook's. Obama is a popular all you can eat buffet! Mobile order is available at the casual eats & Kona;however, certain entrees like the salmon cannot be ordered to go due to limitations in container size, per cast member. *TIP* If you check out in the morning and end up going to the park, there are 2 stand up showers (with curtains) in the bathroom by the pool, where you can shower and change! I didn't have a comforter and the trash cans were not lined, so I was a bit disappointed. They gave me an accessible room, which meant the door opens with the push of a button and self closes, which was neat! The ice machine was broken the two nights I was there. I was told I'd have to go to another building, since room service is not available at this time, which seemed wild. Luckily one of the ice machines on the first floor was functional :) I lost my slipper socks and their lost and found service will mail it back to you, free of charge, if you fill out a form online. I am still waiting to hear back regarding the status of my item and hope they're able to find it.

I absolutely love(d) this resort, particularly from a look and feel perspective. Both the Polynesian / South Pacific / Hawaii vibe, and the immersive Moana theme, which extends all the way to the custom shower tiles. Seriously, even the shower tiles are custom. That being said, look and feel first. What used to be just the isolated Polynesian with other resorts in the distance, now has a hideous "Florida modern" Disney Vacation Club condo building towering over it from next door. It has really killed your ability to step onto a water-facing balcony and forget you're in Florida. Similar issue when at the pool; can I imagine I'm at a water-spewing volcano in a remote land? Not anymore. Hugely disappointing. Next up, I don't typically factor price into my reviews, but again, we're well past market rate for hotel rooms here. There will be evenings where Polynesian is pushing $1100/night while the also-on-property Disney Swan and Dolphin might be $300/night, and bus-accessed resorts like Disney All Star, etc. could be even $250/night. I'm willing to pay a premium for Polynesian, even double, but not triple, and certainly not 4x+, for what is just a hotel room at the end of the day. Restaurant-wise, it's lackluster with the exception of the indoor side of Trader Sams Grog Grotto; an amazing tiki bar which becomes adults-only at 8pm. Problem with Trader Sams is you have to ruin your afternoon to get in there, because they only take walk-up reservations, and only if it's full; i.e. you can't show up during operating hours and get on the list for perhaps an hour or two later if there's a current spot available. So, what you end up doing is having to time your arrival perfectly, not too early, not too late, to hopefully get on the list where you'll get called back around when you wanted to. For example, we try to get on the list around 545pm, then go have dinner at a good restaurant elsewhere (Citrico's at Grand Floridan for example), and hopefully Trader Sams is calling us for seating around 715-745p when we'd have wanted to get back there anyway. If we get it wrong, we'll get called too early and lose our seats, or too late and we aren't feeling like pounding tiki drinks because it got too late. Club level rooms cost even more, and while the club is nice, it's not like the club at a Hyatt for example. The one exception is that you can watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from within the club, including the time synchronized music. It's great, most of the time. However, more often than not the past year or two, they haven't dimmed the lights in the club while the fireworks are going, making them very difficult to see. For the hotel room rate issue, I'd love to see Disney reward guests who book the hotel very early by opening up lower priced options very far in advance, if even a limited quantity. Have a pay in full policy, what Disney gives up by reducing the rates they'll make back on people who gamble and have to cancel with no refund. For Trader Sams, do the same. Require a significant and non-refundable reservation deposit and let people book seating when they want, while still at the parks they're paying a lot to enjoy. Any seat that goes empty is filled by a standby in ten minutes, and that missing ten minutes is made up for by the deposit. Restaurant still achieves the same cashflow. Why force guests to play the waiting list game in person. I think in the current setup results in everyone having a less than ideal experience for one reason or another. Paid too much, couldn't get what they want, the other on-site dining options are mediocre, ugly DVC building next door, etc. at pricing that only increases year after year.

From a non-lodger: make a reservation to eat in the lodge or at least ride the monorail around to hang out for a while. You can see the fireworks above the magic Kingdom from here and they pipe in the music. Grab a chair on the beach early

I would give this resort 0 stars if I could! This was our dream resort to stay at. We booked a DVC room and went to celebrate my child's first birthday and my anniversary of serving in the military! We checked in around 1230, but our room wasn't ready yet. I asked if they could do pixie dust for our celebrations, and they said they'd leave something for us in our room. About 30 min. later, I got a text saying our room was ready. We get to our room and there are bugs by the sliding door, and hair, dust and dirt in a lot of places. I have a one year old, who I don't need walking around touching all of this dirt! I went to talk to a manager at the front desk, David, who definitely needs to work on his customer interaction! He said he'd have house keeping clean it. I asked to be moved to another room especially since my child needed to go down for a nap, but he said he didn't have any rooms available due to being sold out. He came off across like he couldn't care less. I asked if we could be moved to another resort. He said if we got moved to the grand then we'd have to pay more. I'm thinking you all messed up and I have to pay more?? I told him to check other hotels, but no one had any DVC availability. I asked to speak to another manager because he came off very cold. I ended up speaking to Nadine, the asst. director for housekeeping, who told me they rushed to clean the room because they knew we were waiting. I'm sorry but I would rather wait for our room than have to go to a dirty room then spend an hour with management trying to get a solution!! And this is Disney where customer service is everything!! Why are you telling me you rush to clean rooms and then do a half ass job?? They found another room for us. I went back that night to talk to another manager because I wasn't happy with the way things were handled. The night manager, Sami, was good ! She gave us compensation and really listened. She said she'd have housekeeping do a full clean while we were at breakfast; however, they need to work on communication because we came back to the room after eating, and it wasn't cleaned. I let her know and housekeeping came a few minutes later. Two ladies came to clean the room, with one saying, "yes, we rushed your other room so it wasn't inspected and that's why it was dirty!" Wow!! Didn't expect to hear that from Disney! Then at breakfast, the eggs were very wet, the bread was hard, the ham was hard and the waffles were mushy. We asked for different food and what the server brought was better; however, the service was slow. The character interaction was very meh, not a lot of enthusiasm from some of the characters. Stitch went to go see my child and when Stitch knelt to touch him, he knocked my child over. I know it was an accident but the characters need to be more careful. They should probably have the interactions not in the middle between two tight tables in the center! I was going to complain to a manager but my child was getting fussy and it was nap time so we left. I was going to come back but then had to deal with the housekeeping issue. By the time, I came back, it was a different manager bc they were switching to dinner. The cast member told me to come back and talk to the morning manager. I went back the next morning and talked to the manager, Colleen. After everything I told her that happened, she told me that I should've said something yesterday when it happened and there was nothing she could do. This is Disney!!! You're always able to do something!! If we didn't have a magical experience, then fix it!! I asked to talk to another manager, so she called Cameron, who was the duty manager for the Polynesian, Grand Floridian and Contemporary. I let him know what happened the whole stay, and he said well it looks like we went above and beyond because we got you into a new room and brought you new food. I let him know that No, it wasn't above and beyond because as a paying guest, it is my right to be in a clean room and have good food initially! They messed up. Of course, they should've fixed it. Him telling me that made no sense! VERY disappointed in this stay here, especially after driving 12 hours and spending all of this money to have the WORST experience! We will NOT be coming back to Ohana or the Polynesian!

This review is based on the Stitch Character breakfast offered at this hotel which included breakfast and the Disney characters Lilo, Stitch, Mickey and Pluto. I generally have low expectations for a hotel breakfast, but my expectations change when it costs $132.32 plus tip, for three people, for what essentially amounts to prison food. The eggs were spongy/watery eggs made from mix, the sausage and ham were this weird chewy texture and were not good, and the only semi-decent parts of the meal were the fruit and potatoes. The waffles were the standard waffles you can make at any hotel for breakfast, but I guess the big selling point here is that the waffles were Mickey shaped. We did get to spend about 60 seconds of the meal taking pictures with the characters, so maybe to some, that is worth the price tag. I'll mark up a star based on the characters, but the breakfast was objectively awful and I would never book this experience again.

This hotel is classic Disney. It opened on October 1, 1971 as one of Walt Disney World Resort's first two on-site hotels along with The Contemporary. Designed by Welton Becket and Associates and constructed by US Steel Realty the resort has a South Seas, Polynesian theme. The resort is organized around a central building named the Great Ceremonial House designed after a Tahitian royal assembly lodge. Inside the ceremonial house is guest services, resort dinning, and shops. Ohana, the restaurant on the second floor offers a character breakfast and a Hawaiian feast dinner where you may catch the fireworks over the magic Kingdom if you time it right. The lodge also has a tropical rain forest in its atrium with over 75 species of plant life and several waterfalls. Guest rooms are in two and three story long houses or lodges around the property. The resort has two swimming pools, a marina, an arcade, a supervised children's activity center, and a shared spa and health club. The Polynesian Resort is on the shores of the man-made Seven Seas Lagoon and is just south of the Magic Kingdom. The resort marina has watercraft for rent for the lagoon. The resort has a stop on the monorail making it very easy for everyone who stays here to get to the parks. The Polynesian underwent major expansion three times over the years and it now includes Disney Vacation Club accommodations as well as enhanced resort amenities. After the renovation in 2006, the resort has grown to include to 847 rooms. In 2021 Disney capitalized on the popularity of Moana and designed the rooms to reflect the movie. . A bit of resort trivia is the Polynesian is credited with being the place where the Beatles were dissolved. On December 29, 1974. John Lennon signed the paperwork that officially broke up the Beatles at the Polynesian Resort. I have been a fan of this resort ever since I first stayed here at the age of 5 in the 70's. I recently came to visit and see all of the changes in the property. I still love the minute attention to detail that makes you feel like you are on a south seas island instead of the middle of Orlando. I was sad to see Spirit of Aloha a luau with Polynesian dancing and all you can eat feast close with Covid. There doesn't seem to be any plans to bring it back but there is still plenty to enjoy about the Polynesian. Unfortunately cost isn't one of them. A cheaper room is over $700 a night. Other rooms are $1.500. It is too rich for me but you can walk around any time you want for free.

I'm pretty sure this would be my first choice of Disney resorts to stay at. Although I'm a Florida resident and we don't usually stay at resorts here I do love hotel hopping. We've explored all the Disney resorts and I always say I like the atmosphere if this resort the best. Upon enter ring you'll receive a lei and a warm welcome. The gift shop as you enter is super cute however it's Disney pricing so proceed with caution. You can get better Disney product at better prices elsewhere. Do you really need a 50.00 plastic cup ? Probably not. Regardless their holiday trees are up and it's fun to look. Start here, hop on the Disney bus and head over to the Grand Floridian to check out their holiday display .

Everyone will tell you to ho here. Definitely getting your money's worth with quantity but as far as good food.....just okay. Our family went for the dinner option. Everything has the same flavor just on a different protein. The steak is cooked perfectly and the food is plentiful but seriously everything is coated in teriyaki sauce and has the same flavor. For the ambiance it really gives off a 70s Hawaii feel. Its cute. My server while friendly seemed very scriped on how she spoke and seemed friendly but annoyed. A one and done for us.

This is a really cool resort that we got to explore eat at walk around adventure take some pictures and really get to experience the cool part of the Disney Village resort. It's definitely one that I would stay at. It's better than the ones that we stayed at.

This is a review from a DVC member, meaning I can't review based on value vs. $$$. I've stayed at Disney's Polynesian Resort once I have to say, I was blown away by the cool island vibes and tiki-themed decor. When I stepped into the lobby, I felt like I had been transported to a tropical paradise. The resort's lush landscaping and stunning waterfalls only added to the island feel. One of my favorite things about the Polynesian Resort was the amazing tiki bar, Trader Sam's Grog Grotto. This place is seriously cool, with tiki-themed cocktails served in souvenir glasses and some seriously delicious appetizers. Of course, the location is one of the best things about the Polynesian Resort. It's just a short monorail ride away from Magic Kingdom, making it super convenient for anyone who wants to spend a lot of time in the park. And if you want to explore other amazing Disney resorts, the Polynesian is just a short walk away from both the Grand Floridian and the Contemporary.

Polynesian Village is so beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed our time here! The gifts shops are great! There's one on the second floor from the central lobby area (with a trading pin board), then another gift shop on the first floor in the main lobby as well (with yet another trading pin board). The concierge had yet another pin board, so we were swimming in pins! The gift shops had a lot of unique merch (Mickey hands!), but not too many unique pins overall. We ate at the "food court" here. The food was absolutely delicious and I had these delectable pulled pork nachos (the nachos were wonton strips). We ate on the patio, which is right next to the water park, which was separated by a fence, but you still got a gentle misting every once in a while from the wind carrying the water sprays within the water park on over. The birds on the patio were a tad bit aggressive and hovery too, but overall a very pleasant experience here. What I think is the crowning jewel of the Polynesian Village Resort is TRADER SAM'S GROTTO!!! Make sure to get on the list for a seating here as soon as you can before checking out the rest of the resort(s) because this is a must! Trader Sam's is such a fun tiki bar/speakeasy vibe that is family friendly until a certain time and is just so immersive! It's tucked away and a really fun time - highly recommend!

The Polynesian is one of my favorite places on Disney property. To be honest with you I have never actually stayed in a room at the resort but I have pretty much done all the things possible there beyond that. Whenever I need a Disney fix without stepping into the parks this is usually the resort I go to. 1) Monorail access-- duh. Monorail hopping is one of my favorite pastimes. 2) Ohana-- easily one of my favorite Disney restaurants. 3) Kona Cafe-- also a great little restaurant where I could just stay and eat the bread alone. Seriously. Go get the bread. 4) Trader Sams-- such a fun atmosphere and staff and some of the yummiest Tiki drinks around. :) I love this place 5) Fireworks on the beach--- If you go there for a dinner do plan on staying for the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Basically you head down to the beach and they have speakers set up that goes with the music to the show. It's awesome. 6) Pineapple Lanai-- you can only get a Dole Whip at a few places and this is one of them that doesn't require a ticket :) Yum! LOVE LOVE LOVE Polynesian forever!

Before you bring family to enjoy the Disney Park, make sure you need bring the following items to this hotel: 1. Water. They don't give a single bottle of water in the room throughout your stay; 2 Bring your own glass or plastic cups for your toothbrush or washing/soaking your Invisalign braces; they don't supply any cups here; 3. No robes; 4. Must remember to put up the silent sign at every night even you came back from Halloween horror night after 3am; because the staff will knock on your door in the morning to wake you up to deliver you their flyers of some sort of "gift"- ads of their time share properties or something 4. Be prepared for no gym in this hotel; and when you take monorail to next hotel that has the gym, because the walk way was blocked, be prepared not be able to get on the. monorail when you are done at 10:30pm because the monorail staff will ask you to try the boat; and when you walk five minutes to arrive at the boat area, be prepared that there is no boat in next half hour while watching monorails departed three trains during the time; then you can go back to monorail and get on the next one; and the monorail will drop you off after 4 stop in about 12 minutes. 5. Be prepared a long waiting for bell boy to show up after your call when you check out, maybe half hour if you are lucky. 6. Their standard room is $1000+ per night. Only 4 times of other Orlando five star hotels that's 15 minutes or $25 Uber away

Disney is number one is anything they do! This one is definitely 5 star, but I give it 4 because it is pricey and I would've like to get bargains in anywhere I can. But definitely consider staying over here when planning to go to Disney!

Best resort in WDW. No need to fly to Hawaii or Bali, this place takes you there and more. The rooms, the pools and many jungle gardens are all superb. Even a sand beach. Don't forget to have a Dole whip on a hot day. Next to Magic Kingdom and Grand Floridian. Most highly recommended.

This is our favorite resort, but prices are insane. It's also very sad to see a huge concrete tower being built here (where everything is very themed). I've never had a good experience with bell services here either- last time they were very annoyed that I asked for my bag, and then took almost 1 hour to get the bag out of the back while my whole group stood out in the heat.

Came here to look at all the Christmas decorations and check out the hotel. Beautiful! Loved the them and decor in general. The Christmas decorations were beautiful!

I don't know why I have never reviewed the Poly! Considering that I've stayed here on several occasions since January 1972. I was 5. Yes, I'm old. So what? According to my mom, it was somewhere around $30 a night that first time that we stayed there. Now, you pretty much have to sell a kidney to stay a few nights. Back then, I remember watching sarong clad men lighting torches at sunset to the beat of drums. These days, I believe they turn on automatically. Through the years, we've enjoyed our stays at the Poly. First of all, you can't beat a monorail hotel. You can also take a boat to the MK or even walk if you're so inclined. Plus it's a also a short walk to the TTC and the monorail to Epcot. The pool is great and the kids splash pad is one of the best. My granddaughter loves it! The rooms are comfortable and of course nicely themed. Recently, we've been using our points and stay in the DVC buildings. We love the two bathrooms! We also like the new Murphy beds with the real mattress. The grandbaby loves her "special bed", the single pull down bed. Food at the Poly never disappoints. Even quick service at Captain Cooks is good. They have Tonga toast for breakfast. Albeit without the strawberry sauce like at Kona Cafe. Ohana's has always been a favorite, I love the noodles, chicken wings, and of course the Bread Pudding. But we haven't been there since they changed it yet again. This last time, we were there with our granddaughter and I refuse to pay $33 for a 3 year old that MAY possibly nibble on a piece of chicken. Heck, I can't even justify $55 for me since I definitely pretty much eat like a toddler. We also enjoy Trader Sam's & Tambu Terrace for adult time. Sadly, they no longer have the luau. I was lucky enough to have enjoyed it on several occasions as a child and later as a mom with my kids. That's one thing, in my opinion, that should not have ended. Especially just to add even more rooms! All in all, I still love the Poly for convenience, food options and recreation/Entertainment around the resort. Pricewise? Not so much. Thank goodness for DVC!

Disney's Polynesian Village resort was where we stayed during the entire length of our trip to Disney World. With a South Pacific and Hawaiian theme to it guests arriving are given the traditional "lei" greeting over at bell services or at the front desk. You are welcome to store your luggage at bell services until your room is ready. The morning of your arrival your credit card on file has $100.00 hold placed on it for incidentals. Check in is done either in person or using the My Disney Experience app. Upon arrival you walk past a mini rainforest with tropical waterfalls into the main lobby. The lobby itself is breathtaking with a Tiki Statue in the middle along with roped lanterns high above you from the second floor. This is the Great Ceremonial house where you can find all the restaurants, shoppes, and everything else you are looking for during your stay. Photopass photographers are there to "capture your moment" in front of the statue. My husband and I were fortunate to get a "club" level garden room which had additional amenities to it. Once I received a notification that our room was ready we headed to the "Hawaii" longhouse and using our Magic Bands to enter were granted access to the King Kamehameha lounge. Inside they have their own concierges willing to help you will all your needs and complimentary beverages. Upstairs in the lounge itself is a dining area where you can grab breakfast, hot foods, snacks, and desserts throughout the entire day. They also have their delicious "pog" juice here that you would have to purchase at one of their restaurants. The lounge has plenty of seating area and great views of the top of the castle at the Magic Kingdom along with the beach and the bungalows. At night we were able to watch the fireworks from the Magic Kingdom here and they had the music piped right in! We stayed in one of the refurbished Moana style rooms. We had laminate flooring to look like wood along with two balcony chairs, comfortable bedding, and an upgraded shower that included an extra take off head in the event you wished to use it along with pump bottle of Disney bath items. The TV had a welcome greeting with our surname on it. The TV menu gave us a lot of information to help us with our trip including regular TV and movies. They think of almost everything!! Rooms are made up daily. Our room was near the "quiet pool" since this one didn't have the waterfall. Walking around the grounds there is a beach area, the main pool with a waterfall and water playground for kids. There are food bars at both pools along with a hot tub. Every night a movie screen is set up around 8:00 to show a movie. Kids activities take place here and inside the main pool area. Headed off to one side is a marina where you can rent a watercraft or catch a ferry headed to the Magic Kingdom with a stop at the Grand Floridian resort nearby. The Polynesian has impressive views of both Disney's wedding chapel and the Grand Floridian. Inside the great ceremonial house are O'Hana, Kona cafe, Kona Island, Captain Cook's for dining as well as Pineapple lanai where you can get the same Dole Whip you get in the Magic Kingdom. There are two gift shops here one containing grab and go which is Moana mercantile and the other one called Bon Tiki with more South seas offerings and Disney gifts. Silhouettes are in one corner and the Disney vacation club rounds out the other corner. Check out Minnie in her Hawaiian garb as you make your way to Captain Cook's. Donald Duck's nephews are also decked out nearby and there is an enclosure devoted to Disney classics such as Castaway cowboy and "Annette" as pineapple princess. Although it seemed wonderful the resort still has a few flaws. For example, you can walk to the ticket and transportation center from the Polynesian in a matter of minutes and even though we had a map of this place there is not directional signage to help you find your way out of the complex. Also when heading to the marina to catch a boat during the early hours you cannot "cut" through the main swimming pool area to avoid excess walking. You literally have to go around the main complex to get over there. I understand why that is necessary but it would be nice to have a more direct route. Third the resort maps still list the "spirit of aloha" dinner show and location. That site has just been torn down to make way for new Disney vacation club rooms. Be aware of the fact that if you walk along the jogging path to the Grand Floridian they are preparing to close that path sometime in July to continue the construction in that area. You will have to use the monorail to get to that resort during construction. Finally I was stunned by the checkout process. I learned that if you don't check out by 11 AM day of departure Disney automatically checks you out around 10:30. Something to keep in mind. All in all it was a great visit and most definitely will stay here again!!!

For the price our family does not feel like the Poly is worth it. The number one benefit was access to Dole Whips! Our view wasn't that pleasant, but the grounds are beautiful! The food court was just ok. Tonga toast for breakfast is a 5 star! Overall, as a family, we would rather use our Disney money at the parks rather than on our resort.

The bungalow at the Polynesian Resort are amazing. The view is awesome and they are very private. The pool is nice and everything is very close.

It starts with the smell, ahhhhh the smell. No, actually started with all the correspondence. They have just wrapped up some renovations, while others, namely the monorail platform, are underway. We were moderately inconvenienced, but Disney planned and provided multiple other accommodations for travel. Disney had us well prepared. Pretty much everything flows through the Disney app now, which can take some personal touch out of the experience, if you let it. Didn't have to check in in the traditional sense as you learn your room number, room availability and can open your door with the app. We still went to the front desk so we could figure what building the room was in. Small miss there, but kids got flower necklaces, and we learned of many other amenities for kids too. Pool bingo, Potato Head relay race, tie dye shirt making, necklace making, movie under the stars. Total differentiator that Disney does so well. The room was recently renovated, and well appointed. Not like we spent much time in there, but we were very comfortable for the time we did. Pool area is great. Three water slides and a waterfall, separate area for younger children. Also is a quiet pool, but we never ventured to it. Arcade of some sort on site, but was being renovated. Tried several food options on site and enjoyed them all. Pretty accommodating for allergies and customizations. A few gift shops on site, with items we only found at the Polynesian. Great views of Magic Kingdom. Many reported being able to see the fireworks from the pool area. In summary... can we please stay forever?

This resort is one of the best Disney has to offer. The food is delicious, the property is beautiful with a man made beach. The pool area is pirate themed and my daughter loved splashing in there. They have outdoor activities for the kids including light up hoola hoops, outdoor movies, etc. the part is you can see the fireworks from the beach every night and for free with audio of the music and story just like you are in the park. Gotta get there early to grab a spot!