Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

The good news is this is a great "hotel" for casual guests, not members of the DVC. The Deluxe studio room was perfect for a couple or even a family of 3 or 4. The beds are very comfortable, the small kitchenet a great convenience with a fridge microwave dishwasher and real dishes. It is all brand new and beautiful. Get a park view for the chance to see the spectacular fireworks shows from the park. Staff are very helpful. |The bad news is there is no food at all, not even coffee (not counting that in the room), other than the Wailulu bar/grill, and it is a hike to a quick service restaurant or to buy staples at either the larger Polynesian Village or in the opposite direction to Grand Floridian. DVC members seemed to come prepared with groceries on their arrival. The other bad news for me is the incessant and omnipresent music playing everywhere, in every public space. It is no doubt an expensive choice, but the pool is lovely, the gym is great, the bar does have very good food and drinks. Be prepared to hike for any options for food.

Looking for a tropical island atmosphere? This is the place to come explore some Polynesian art, culture, and cuisine. Located between the Polynesian and Grand Floridian resorts is this newest DVC resort. Decor is themed after the Moana movies. Check out the website for complete list of amenities, including 4 separate viewing terraces. Kids love the inter-active splash pad and pool. Adults love the quiet pool and hot tub. Theme Park side has views of the Magic Kingdom for nightly fireworks. There are speakers along the walkway to enjoy the fireworks music and audio OR guests can tune their TVs to Channel 72 to enjoy the sounds in their rooms. The Wialulu sit-down restaurant has good menu options for adults and kids. There is an open-air bar attached to the restaurant. You can walk to the Grand Floridian to take the resort/Magic Kingdom/EPCOT monorail, walk to the Polynesian to catch a bus or boat, or take a short walk to the Transportation Center. Coming soon is a golf course directly across from the Tower resort.

The rooms are gorgeous, that’s the first thing to mention, possibly my favourite studio layout to date, and Wailulu Bar and Grill is excellent! I love the theming and the environmental initiatives used throughout the Tower, and the location on Seven Seas Lagoon is fabulous. My only niggle with our stay here was that we had booked a Preferred View room and ended up looking out over construction works, the carpark and the road - I hadn’t appreciated that a view of the golf course would also include all of that. It didn’t spoil the holiday but it did mean I spent less time out on the balcony than I normally would - first world problems, I know!

The Rooms are great, location is great, restaurant is great, etc. It wasn't far at all to a pool or even to the main Polynesian building like I had read on reviews. My only complaint is there needs to be some store for items, drinks, snacks, in the lobby. I tried the vending machines and it would do a $5 credit but many of the drinks were $6. The snack vending machine on the 6th floor charges $99 for each bag of chips. This is my only complaint about the towers.

We stayed in a two bedroom Penthouse suite on the 10th floor. Overall the location is very nice and the atmosphere inviting. There are a few peculiar things about this room. The shower in the master bathroom, you have to run the water for nearly 5 minutes to get any hot water. In the dinning / common area there are two TVs that sit back to back. If watching different shows the audio feeds clash. We ran out of regular coffee and requested replacement packets, they were never delivered.

Poor design room. No lamp, no bedside stand. Fuse blew. Very small with a Murphy bed. Luxury hotel? I think not 3 more nights and out of there. VERY disappointed. Always had great rooms at less exclusive Disney properties.

Standing tall on the banks of the Seven Seas Lagoon and visible from across the water, the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows is the latest Disney Vacation Club resort to open to both members and the general public alike.||With a beautiful, elegant Polynesia theme, both internally and externally, and fantastic views of Happily Ever After, it’s a great new addition to the Polynesian resort.||||Located north-west to the main Polynesian Resort, the Island Tower has its own dedicated entrance off of Floridian Way, with its own private car park for residents. The entrance has an unmanned barrier, so a Magic Band or Resort Key is required for entry – if you have neither of these, the intercom will connect you to a Cast Member that can confirm your stay and allow you to enter.||||Bell Services were ready to greet us as we exited our vehicle in front of the rear of the building entrance – the foyer has doorways at either side of the building – and they assisted us in lifting our luggage out of the boot (trunk) and onto a trolley. We were directed inside where we were greeted with a Cast Member and an iPad – this is a new, non-traditional way of check-in at the Island Tower. There is no desk in sight, just two members of staff each with an iPad. We added a business card to the room booking and were assigned a room – with a quick scan of our Magic Bands, we were on our way.||||Whilst the process was quick and efficient, I feel it lacked the usual warmth of the Disney welcome at a check in desk, which we found a little jarring.||||We headed back to the car to park it before heading to the room – there is a decent sized car park (sorry, parking lot) for guests – when we arrived it was half full with plenty of spaces left. We parked up and headed back into to the Tower to start our stay.||||Viewing Terraces:||There are four viewing terraces within the Island Tower – two facing the Seven Seas Lagoon & Magic Kingdom, and two facing the resort. Whilst these have notices about scanning your Magic Band, they (at time of visit) had no reader on the door, so could be accessed by anyone (so long as they made it up to the floors as the lift does require a key).||||The terraces have plenty of seating and artificial foliage, and are a great place to sit and relax. They have fans on too, which is nice in the Floridian heat. Whilst we did not use them during the fireworks (as we had our own Balcony), these would be ideal for those not in a lake view room.||||Duo Studio Room:||We’d booked a Duo Studio – Premium View – this was done via DVC Members Services. The alternative available accommodation was one of The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, which we were very tempted with. I am an outdoor guy at heart. During the call, we were verbally promised a view of the Seven Seas Lagoon and Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom if we took the Island Tower. This of course swayed us and solidified our choice – the new Island Tower was to be our home for the next two nights!||||Sadly, as we entered the room, my heart sank. The room was rather small and compact, and somewhat dark. It looked as though it was twilight, despite it being pre-5pm. This surprised me, what with it being in a new high rise tower on the lake, with no obstructions or buildings / foliage in front – just a lake. I headed straight to the window to see if there was a curtain that needed opening, only to find out the reason the room lacked natural light – it was a corner unit with a large, tall, overbearing wall to the right of the balcony, and the next door neighbors exposed, protruding balcony to the left. This meant our balcony was recessed and quite literally penned in a corner. I stepped out onto the balcony to check out the view, and immediately noticed something that I was genuinely surprised and taken aback at – the view of Cinderella Castle was only visible through the balcony of the next door room. The “premium view” we were sold was, in our opinion, anything but. Whilst the lake looked beautiful, the fact you had to look through what felt like a frame on either side, made it anything but “premium”.||||Retreating into the room feeling subdued and underwhelmed, we glanced at the space and immediately felt the lack of usable space. To the right hand side of the TV (and up to the wall) was a large open space perfect for luggage. The only issue – it would remain visible in the room for the duration of our stay, rather than be hidden in a cupboard. To the left of this space, and underneath the TV were six draws, laid out in a 2 x 3 format. These were large enough for two people to store their clothing for a few days. To the left of this was a floor to ceiling wardrobe with space for clothes to hang neatly. Whilst not the largest space, it was ample room for what we needed for our two night stay.||||Directly in front of the TV sat a medium sized sofa – which disappeared when you pull down the bed. There was a coffee table in front too, which made for a nice, relaxing sitting area for mid afternoon relaxing time in the room.||||To the left of the sofa (when looking at the TV), there’s a small kitchenette with a fridge/cooler, cupboard space and a microwave, with worktop surfaces too. There was also a coffee machine in the corner, perfect for those morning brews before heading to the Magic Kingdom. A perk of staying at Disney World as a DVC member is the complimentary Joffrey’s Coffee pouches. They both smell and taste so good!||||The bathroom was very small, and felt more like a cupboard than a conscious design choice to make an airy, roomy bathroom. It’s hard to communicate quite how compact it was – a toilet and a shower, hidden behind a sliding door. Whilst the decor of the shower – shiny tiles – was aesthetically nice, it felt far too cramped for my liking.||||In a strange design choice, the sink to wash your hands was not within the bathroom, but sat outside in the main room, next to the door and to the left of the wardrobe. This meant that when you used the bathroom, you had to open the door with your dirty hands, only to wash them in the main room. In my opinion, this is incredibly unsanitary, and the strangest design of a toilet facility I’ve ever experienced in a hotel. It just felt incredibly janky and ill thought out. I carry hand sanitizer with me everywhere I go (even pre-Covid), and frequently clean surfaces when I travel, so this one completely took me by surprise and made me feel physically sick. If I were to take a shower, I’d have to touch the interior dirty door handle to get out of the room, when that same handle had been touched with dirty hands if I were to use the toilet. It simply makes no sense and is, arguably, disgusting.||||There were also a few of these rubber circles on the floor which we caught our feet on multiple times – are they door stops of sorts?||||We pulled down the bed to check out what the process was, only to find that once we did, there was no movable space in the room. At all. Speaking from my seated position on the left hand side of the bed, to the left was a small gap in-between the bed and the kitchenette, with the surfaces above body height when laid down. To the right was the balcony door, and at the foot was the TV stand/draws and a tight walkway. This really was compact. Also, the coffee table had to awkwardly be moved into a corner, which was difficult as this is where our luggage was sat. This really made us feel like we were in a room that was very compact – something we felt before we even lowered the bed.||||Overnight, we realized the bed was not as comfy as other Disney beds we have slept on in the past. Whilst it was not the worst, you could definitely tell it was a pull down bed. It lacked the overall comfort of the standard beds and felt a bit flat. There was also a very slight tilt to the bed, with our heads a few cm lower than our feet. This was apparent when looking from the foot of the bed in the morning – I was utterly convinced of this fact overnight but needed to check in daylight. It made me feel slightly sick.||||There were a selection of power outlets across the room, though the options close to the bed were lacking. Also, the lack of shelving / storage near the bed meant that nothing could be charged nearby overnight in a safe capacity, which was annoying.||||Happily Ever After:||Perhaps it’d be better and more accurate to say “Happily Never After”, as they were only visible in their entirety through the protruding balcony to our left. Also, this wasn’t a complete view either, and it was framed on all sides (by the walls and ceiling/floor). If the people in the balcony on the left were stood there, the view was completely blocked. Fortunately, we did get to see most of the show, but had this been our first view, I’d have been so incredibly upset. It was, at best, a “partial view”, which is a push – you should not have to awkwardly stare across and into someone else’s space to get a view of the show if that is what you have been promised at time of booking. This feels wildly disingenuous.||||The TV (as with all Magic Kingdom area resorts) live streams the soundtrack/audio to the show, so you can hear the music as it’s played in the park. This is something I absolutely love about these resorts – you can fully immerse in the show without having to be in the park itself.||||The Next Morning:||The following morning, we woke and still felt frustrated at the lack of space in the room. I was heading in early to the Magic Kingdom for a few hours (DVC resort guests get Early Entry to the parks when staying on points), whilst my colleague finished off some work in the room. However, when I returned late morning, the bed was still down and he was sat on his laptop, relaxing. This meant I had nowhere to physically sit, other than the bed itself, something I did not want to sit on. I had to awkwardly ask him to put the bed away so I had a place to sit, which meant he had to pack up his stuff and lift the bed back into position. This, for me, was the straw that broke the camels back and I had to admit that I didn’t like the room and could not stay for a second night.||||We called DVC Members Services and they were understanding and offered the chance to move to another resort. However when we called back to avail this, they informed us they actually could not do this, and the only people able to do this were the Polynesian front desk. We called them and after 90 minutes, agreed on a move to the Grand Floridian instead. The staff member was lovely and listened to our concerns and confirmed this was not the first time they had heard this feedback, which gave us comfort that we were not being awkward or too critical. The only issue for us – this was eating into our final afternoon in Disney World and the USA. Having to pack all our things up, move them downstairs, check out, transfer over to the GF, unload the car, check in and get things to the room was going to take a lot of time, but it was something we needed to do. I’ll go into greater detail about the move in a separate writeup.||||Final Thoughts:||The Island Tower holds itself on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon, in a prominent location close to the Magic Kingdom. The interior of the lobby is stunning and airy, and gives a premium feel to the experience from the moment you enter the doors. However, our Duo Studio failed to live up to the experience we were promised, and we felt disappointed on multiple points – view (or lack of), space (or lack of), and light (or lack of). Whilst our experience may have been specific to the Duo Studio, we have nothing else to go on, so our overall opinion is, sadly, negative.

From the time my family and I set foot on this Disney property stress began to melt away. The cast members greeted us with a genuine "Aloha" and lei. The air was scented with an island aroma that just helped relax me. ||We arrived earlier than expected and the bell services team held all sixteen bags with out delay. Not only that but they held our rented scooters for those with mobility issues ||The dining experience at the resort is hands down amazing. We dined mostly at Captain Cooks but did enjoy Ohana, The Kona Cafe and Wailulu as well. ||The two bedroom lock off we used allowed for five adults and 3 children to sleep comfortably. Each family ended up with their own bathroom. ||

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!