Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Review

Polynesian Village Resort is a deluxe hotel at Walt Disney World with a South Pacific tiki theme which mirrors the vibe of a classic retro movies. With its new porte cochere recently completed, monorail access to Magic Kingdom back is now running again along with fan-favorite restaurant ‘Ohana and the beloved bar, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto.

As one of Walt Disney World’s original resorts, the Polynesian is understandably popular with Disney fans. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a “village” because of its layout of various longhouses plus the over-the-water Bora Bora Bungalows. The Poly is not as spread out as some other Disney resorts, making it easy to walk to the Great Ceremonial House in the morning no matter in which area you’re staying. There’s a lot to explore, making the resort a relaxing area to meander about.

The Polynesian has a delightful island vibe in terms of theme and atmosphere and is my son’s favorite resort at Walt Disney World. Whenever we stay at the Poly, it’s pleasant to rise early or stroll about at night to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the parks.

Fairly recently, a path now connects all the way to Magic Kingdom, making it possible to walk from the Poly to Magic Kingdom. This path starts at the Transportation and Ticket Center TTC, meaning you could walk from the TTC to Magic Kingdom. However, with both monorail and boat access to Magic Kingdom most will opt for those for their MK park commute.

Bus transportation is available to all of the parks, but if you have your own car, parking at the parks is included with your resort fees, so it is often more convenient to drive at your own leisure to avoid transportation woes. For a Disney deluxe resort, the parking fee is $25 a night. However, when you rent Disney Vacation Club points for your stay, parking is free as it is included in the owners’ DVC dues.

The rooms are a tremendous draw at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and these might be some of the best at Walt Disney World now. With the recent room renovations, rooms have white bed comforters, new carpet, and wall decor with tropical-print and Moana accents. The rooms balance theme and luxury, offering tropical patterns, without being “loud” about it. One of the best aspects of the Deluxe resorts is that most, including the Poly, offer balcony studios which sleep 5, something that allows larger families to enjoy-often more affordable than they may think.

The Great Ceremonial House has an open air atrium which creates a spacious atmosphere, which is typically calming. The Poly has a variety of options: Kona Cafe, Captain Cook’s, and ‘Ohana (one of Walt Disney World’s most popular restaurants). Ohana is fun and if cost is not an issue, we would recommend it.

In addition to these favorites, there’s Barefoot Pool Bar, Oasis Bar & Grill, Tambu Lounge, Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (luau), and the Pineapple Lanai window. Although personally not a pineapple fan, it was actually at the Poly where I tried my first Dole Whip; the Poly is one of the few places for a Dole Whip outside of the Magic Kingdom.

The pools at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort live up to the island vibe of the resort, especially the Lava pool with its volcano slide and waterfall, kids play area, and hut tub-all with Cinderella’s Castle visible in the distance. I have often found that the main pool is great for kids to run out the rest of their energy, but then we move to the quiet pool when it's getting time to call it a night.

The downside of the Poly is pricing. Discounted rates start at over $400/night through Disney. If you're trying to do Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort on a tighter budget, your best option may be through a rental process. This will give you the chance to stay at the Polynesian Village at less than half the price of the main hotel.