Disney puts a magical spin on a Polynesian paradise in a way that only Disney can. The Polynesian Village resort transports guests to the south pacific in a Moana themed destination that represents the best hotel experience Disney has to offer. The location, pool, food, beach, and rooms are unrivaled by any other resort at Walt Disney World.
There is nothing more important than location at Walt Disney World and the Polynesian Village resort is one of the four Magic Kingdom resorts on Seven Seas Lagoon.
The resort has a myriad of transportation options and is one of the most conveniently accessible resorts at Walt Disney World. It is one of three hotels with a Magic Kingdom monorail station and is steps from the transportation center and the Epcot monorail.
The resort has many great options including the main dining attraction 'Ohana. In addition, there are quick meal options, which is very useful in the morning when trying to get to the parks.
The hotel has all of the typical amenities you would expect, but takes it up a notch with character breakfasts on site and a "Minnie Van" service. One overlooked, but useful amenity is laundry being available on-site.
Parking is included for guests staying at the hotel and guests visiting for dining, shopping, and other such activities.
The hotel is, of course, themed after the polynesian islands and Disney always does a great job with their themes, but this one was particularly special.
Disney has something for everyone.
Everything tends to be very casual across Disney World. Casual clothing is even acceptable at fine dining restaurants
Disney World is one of the most accessible places on earth. The rooms, hotel properties, parks, and transportation are all extermely wheelchair friendly.
JetSetDNA brings you an in-depth tour of Disney’s Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World. Check it out for yourself on YouTube!
The Polynesian Village resort is located directly on the Magic Kingdom monorail route on Seven Seas Lagoon. The resort has magnificent views of the Grand Floridian and Contemporary resorts next door as well as the Magic Kingdom in the distance across the lagoon.
Location is key at Walt Disney World and this resort has very convenient access to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot parks. The Magic Kingdom is accessible via the on-site monorail station and ferry. There is also a walking path around Seven Seas Lagoon if you feel like you haven’t walked enough around the parks all day!
The transportation center is located right next to the Polynesian resort and is only a 1500 foot walk from the main lobby. The transportation center acts as a connector station between the Magic Kingdom and Epcot monorail routes making Epcot easily accessible from the Polynesian.
Lastly, a bus station is located right next to the lobby. Buses run constantly throughout the day to major parks making Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom easily accessible as well.
The hotel is designed to transport you to the south pacific Polynesian islands. Bright colors are found throughout the resort and in the guest rooms giving it a vibrant and tropical feel. Disney has a reputation for paying attention to details and every square foot of this property is immaculately designed and decorated. There are even hidden Disney details incorporated into the design throughout the resort and guest rooms.
The resort is situated on Seven Seas Drive directly across from the Magic Kingdom parking lots. Don’t worry, you will never feel any of the traffic from the parking lots while on resort property.
The hotel boasts a beautiful and gated entrance. Once on property you will approach the large porte cochere where valet parking is available to take your vehicle. Be on the lookout for the monorail to whiz past as you arrive.
The entrance to the lobby is grand with main walkway flanked by tropical waterfall scenes on each side. This entrance certainly makes you feel like you are entering a Polynesian paradise.
The grandeur continues once inside the “Great Ceremonial House.” The magnificent two story hub of the hotel is beautifully decorated with Polynesian statues and tropical gardens. Check-in and guest services are found right off the entrance with shopping and dining options aplenty to be found elsewhere in the lobby. Despite containing all the action, the lobby is a great place to hang out in the mornings when it has a calm atmosphere. Did we mention that it smells amazing in here?
Boutiki is the primary shopping boutique at the Polynesian. There are plenty of goodies in here to satisfy any customer with some items being unique to the resort and others that can also be found throughout Walt Disney World. High quality apparel from Tommy Bahama and Lilly Pulitzer is on offer along with Disney toys for the little ones.
Moana Mercantile is a secondary shoping experience located on the second floor of the lobby. This store has a more limited selection of merchandise, but does have a section of general items such as snacks, sunscreen, and toiletries in case you forgot anything.
The Polynesian resort has among the best transportation options in all of Walt Disney World and is one of the best reasons to fork out your hard earned money on, what is now, the most expensive hotel at Disney World.
An on-site monorail station serving the Magic Kingdom is by far the biggest draw and is located on the second floor of the lobby. Another perk is that you will go through park security at the hotel, which is much more convenient than going through security at the park! The transportation center is only 1500 feet away from the main lobby and is walkable. The transportation center connects to the Epcot monorail, making that park also easily accessible from the Polynesian. Another option to get to the Magic Kingdom is the on-site ferry navigating the Seven Seas Lagoon. This may be the most intimate way to get to the Magic Kingdom.
Lastly, there is a bus stop just a few hundred feet down from the main lobby. Buses run constantly throughout the day to transport guests to the Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom parks as well as Disney Springs. The buses are handicap accessible and don’t take long to get to the other parks.
Disney spares no detail and every inch of this property is immaculate. Beautiful tropical gardens grace every pathway. There is a marina on the property offering a peaceful ambiance. The beach is perfectly manicured being raked every morning. But, the best part of this resort is the location on Seven Seas Lagoon. The resort is flanked by the Grand Floridian to the west and the Contemporary resort to the east making for spectacular views from the beach and dock.
The beach is typically not popular during the day as access to the water is restricted by fencing. However, there are plenty of Adirondack chairs available if you wish to hang out. A volleyball court is also located on the beach if you want to get a game going. The beach does liven up a bit in the evenings as a hangout spot. Fire pits, campfires, and movies under the stars make for a nice atmosphere.
The Lava pool is one of the best pools at any Disney World hotel with the only competition coming from Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Beach Club. The Lava pool features zero entry, a large waterfall , a 142 foot long waterslide, and a kids splash area. The pool is very popular in the afternoons, so be sure to come a little bit early to get good chairs.
The Oasis Pool is the second aquatic offering at the Polynesian resort. This pool is not as popular and doesn’t have all the fun features of the Lava Pool. However, all ages are welcome at this pool as well.
The Polynesian resort has numerous room categories on offer. However, we don't believe Disney World is the place you want to crack open your wallet and pay big bucks for a fancier room. In our opinion, Disney World is about the parks, so spend your time enjoying them and think of the room as a place to sleep and nothing else. With that in mind, we went with the basic resort view room with two queen beds.
The basic resort view room is spacious, sleeps five, and comes in a king bed or double queen bed configuration. The Moana themed room has beautiful decor sporting earth tones with pops of tropical color. The room is outfitted with a couch and chair for a sitting area, TV, minibar, and terrace. There is no desk area, but who comes to Disney World to do work?
Despite the small size, the bathroom was nicely appointed. Taller guests will appreciate the ceiling mounted shower head, which also added to the luxurious feel.
The couch converts into a single bed, making the room suitable for up to five people.
The bathroom is impeccably designed. It is spacious, has two sinks, a full bath and shower, and separate water closet. High quality granite stone and tile give the bathroom a luxurious feel. Disney branded toiletries and a plethora of towels are replenished daily.
The room comes complete with a sitting terrace. There are not bad views at Disney World hotels. Our room was the cheapest category and we had a view of the backside of the resort and monorail, which the kids loved watching pass by. The monorail was not disturbing at all and we could not hear it with the door closed.
Rooms at the Polynesian are designed with families in mind and Disney knows you will need space to store all your stuff. There is ample closet space with a safe. Once you unpack, put the suitcases under the bed and you will be good to go.
The room features a minibar with Keurig machine and mini-fridge. Complimentary coffee and tea are provided. Note that Disney does not provide alcoholic beverages in the rooms.
Kona Cafe is a popular casual, mid-priced option located on the second floor of the lobby. Kona Cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is also a takeout station located right outside the main cafe for some quick bites.
Capt. Cooks is located behind the lobby and offers plenty of takeout options as well as quick cafeteria style meals. We found Capt. Cooks to be extremely convenient to find a reasonably priced breakfast that is quick before hitting the parks, although it is also open for lunch, dinner, and late night snacks.
‘Ohana is the signature restaurant at the Polynesian resort serving, you guessed it, Polynesian food. American options are also on the menu. This restaurant is popular for dinner and features a Lilo & Stitch themed character breakfast. Character breakfasts are amazing for the kids who get to interact and take photos with the characters. The food is served family-style for breakfast and included plenty of options for everyone to enjoy.
‘Ohana is closed for lunch. Reservations are highly recommended well in advance.
Trader Sam’s is a nice hang out spot in the evenings with live music and bar service only. Trader Sam’s can be found next to the pool and has a nice ambiance next the marina and also boasts a nice waterfall feature.
The Grog Grotto is a bit hard to find, but the entrance is down the hall from Capt. Cooks and is protected by a bouncer. This place is very popular and difficult to get into, so plan accordingly. We unfortunately didn’t get to check out the Grog Grotto due to limited time and a packed schedule on this trip.
Barefoot Pool Bar is found on the far end of the Lava Pool and serves up all your favorite beach drinks while offering typical poolside food. The drinks are decent, but nothing spectacular.
If you need a break from the parks, the Polynesian resort has plenty of activities going on. The pool always has games, trivia, and more going on. Pickup a volleyball game on the beach, rent a boat, or perhaps even do some fishing. By night, the beach is where the action is with campfires on the beach and movies under the stars. There is certainly plenty to do!
The obvious draws here are the Disney theme parks and Disney Springs shopping area. Orlando is the theme park capital of the world for a reason and with options like Universal and Sea World nearby, there is no shortage of options. In fact, you could spend weeks in Orlando without running out of things to do, so long as your wallet doesn’t run dry first! The best option is to stay at a hotel nearest the attraction you are visiting, so, keep it Disney while staying at the Polynesian.
The front desk staff was friendly, professional, and able to tend to our every need. Guest services is always there to help if you have questions about the parks, transportation, or anything else on your mind.
We were greeted with Leis at check-in making us feel like we were in the tropics.
Housekeeping did an excellent job tending to our room each day. Our towels and toiletries were replenished daily as needed and the room overall was spotless.
Working at Disney is a privilege and the brand attracts and recruits people that a highly driven by the Disney culture. Everyone is friendly and helpful and we have never met a rude employee on a Disney property.
Walt Disney World is truly the most magical place on earth and the beauty of the Polynesian islands has been impeccably captured in this resort. Location is always the most important thing at Walt Disney world and this resort checks all the boxes with monorail, bus, and boat providing easy access to all the parks. The dining options and amenities are great and the pool and beach are great draws for families. Having stayed at the Grand Floridian and Contemporary resorts, the Polynesian Resort is the best resort at Walt Disney Wold in our opinion and the location alone is worth the money.
