Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort | Resort Review
There are a few resorts that immediately come to mind when people think of Walt Disney World and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is one of them. Originally opening on October 1st 1971, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a AAA Four-Diamond Award-winning resort located at the Walt Disney World Resort. Themed to the South Seas, Disney’s Polynesian Village offers up everything guests could ask for when looking for a tropical getaway including beautiful waterfront views, sandy beaches, pool bars and so much more.
Unlike some of the other resorts we’ve discussed in the past, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is not exclusively a Disney Vacation Club resort. However, they do have a Disney Vacation Club section called Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Like other Disney Vacation Club Resorts, Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows feature slightly different amenities to include kitchenettes and villas with multiple bedrooms.
👻 Attention Happy Haunts: At the time of my visit [late-spring 2021] Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is under refurbishment. With that being the case, there are some areas of the resort that are inaccessible and some amenities that are unavailable. I’ll take note of these details here today. As work continues, some things may change and/or wrap up. Thanks for your understanding.
There are a lot of things about Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort that guests might find appealing. As I mentioned, there are sandy beaches and you can get a clear view of Disney’s Magic Kingdom from across the water. This makes it a great resort for enjoying nighttime fireworks when they are happening. For me personally, part of the resort’s appeal is its history. Since it opened up in 1971, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has played host to a lot of interesting people including John Lennon. [In fact, this is where he is known for signing the paperwork that officially ended the Beatles.] It was also a place where some innovative ideas were tested out. For example, did you know that there was once a wave machine that created surfable waves at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort?
Interesting as the history of the resort might be for some of us, the real question is how the resort holds up. After all it has been 50 years. Being one of the most sought after and expensive resorts on Walt Disney World property, what we’re going to explore today is whether or not it’s worth the hype.
The first thing that I want to discuss today about this resort is its theme. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is themed to Polynesia and celebrates the “spirit of the South Pacific” with the use of imagery and lush tropical vegetation. The resort also has a very distinct 1970’s vibe that can have you feeling like you were transported back to opening day at Walt Disney World. Though you can find well themed resorts around Walt Disney World, it’s this immaculate theming at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort that has it standing out above the rest. From the decor to the music, you really feel like you’ve been transported to a resort in a not-so-specific slice of tropical paradise while at this resort.
Though you may feel like you’ve been whisked away to a tropical paradise, you won’t be far from much at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort [under normal circumstances]. Located just a short walk from Disney’s Ticket and Transportation Center and featuring its own Monorail Station, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort gives guests easy access to Disney’s Magic Kingdom as well as EPCOT. Under normal circumstances, there is also a water taxi to Magic Kingdom. Bus transportation also provides access to other parts of the Walt Disney World Resort.
As I mentioned, at the time of my visit, the Polynesian Village Monorail Station was under construction and the EPCOT Monorail was not operational. This meant that I needed to either walk to the Ticket and Transportation Center or use the bus service to get to all parks; including Disney’s Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. I found this to be less than convenient, mainly because buses to these 2 parks in particular were far and few in-between. [Though I can not confirm whether or not this was true for my particular visit, it’s not uncommon for bus service from resorts with alternate transportation to parks to be less frequent. For example, as there’s usually a monorail to EPCOT, buses come less frequently. Another example would be bus service from Saratoga Springs to Disney Springs; as they are walking distance.] That having been said, this is something I mention for guests who are planning on staying at the resort under these specific conditions; with no monorail or water taxi service. Guests staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort in the future will likely be able to disregard this specific detail.
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As far as layout is concerned, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a series of buildings that are somewhat clustered together. The centerpiece of the resort is the Great Ceremonial House. This is where you’ll find the lobby, shops and restaurants. This is also where you’ll access the Monorail Station [located on the 2nd floor], feature pool and boat to Magic Kingdom. It’s also very close to the resort’s bus stop.
Within close proximity to the Great Ceremonial House you’ll find Tuvalu, Fiji, Aotearoa, Tonga, Rarotonga, Niue, Samoa and Hawaii. These buildings feature standard guest rooms and have easy access to the resort’s 2 pools. Located on the far side of the resort you’ll find Tokelau, Moorea and Pago Pago. These are the buildings that feature Disney Vacation Club Studio Villas. Of these three buildings, Tokelau is the only one with direct access to one of the resort’s pools. The other two buildings, Moorea and Pago Pago, are somewhat out of the way. Though they are the closest to the walkway leading to the Ticket and Transportation Center, they are a decent walk from everything else available at the resort.
Finally, we have the Bora Bora Bungalows. These bungalows are comparable to Disney Vacation Club Grand Villas. They feature 2 bedrooms, a dining rooms, living room, full kitchen, deck and private pool. They are also located along a private boardwalk that can only be accessed by guests staying in one of the bungalows. These rooms, all of which are independent structure with no shared walls, are located just off the beach and run the resort’s coastline. This location puts them somewhat out of the way. However, with the amenities that the room incluse it won’t be much of an issue for guests who are looking for this very unique resort experience.
Rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort [in the Disney Vacation Club Villas section] feel old and out of date. Though they were just updated in 2015 and are not in disrepair, the 1970’s theme, color palate and lack of adequate lighting gives the rooms a roadside motel vibe. This is exacerbated by the lack of noise mitigation in the rooms which makes it possible to hear toilets flushing and people casually chatting while walking past the building, even from the 3rd floor.
Color choices and noise aside, the rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort are some of [if not the] largest Deluxe Studios on Walt Disney World property. Coming in at over 400 square feet, these rooms can comfortably sleep 5 with plenty of room to function in the room. Most notably, the Deluxe Studio at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort features 1 full bath as well as a second room with a shower and vanity. This feature of these rooms is what makes them well worth considering if you’re a larger family or will be sharing a room with some friends. Rather than having to scramble for a shower or wake up earlier to try and manage how you’ll all get ready with only one small bathroom to utilize, this room has more than enough space for all 5 of you to get ready. . . . . huge plus in my book!
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Dining options at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort are some of the most interesting and delicious that I’ve had at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, even with the limited menu and closures. With favorites like chicken nuggets to unique offerings inspired by the South-Seas, there’s quite a bit to choose from at the dining locations around Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Though some resorts on Walt Disney World property have dining options that will suffice, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has options that have you wanting to come back for more! In fact, whether I stay at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort again in the future or not, I can easily see myself making my way over for a bite to eat.
As unique and well themed as Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is, I find myself a bit conflicted about my overall opinion of the resort. While I think that there’s nothing quite like the combination of theming and location that this resort has to offer, there are many things you may find yourself experiencing during your stay that you wouldn’t expect from a resort at this price point. This includes both lack of sound mitigation, as I mentioned earlier, as well as the water in the rooms which had a horrific smell and taste. Though some of these things would be easy to brush off if you were staying in a budget hotel, I am of the opinion that guests who are paying upwards of $700.00 per night [which is the rate for this room during the time of my stay] deserve better.
👻 Attention Happy Haunts: Though this resort was under construction at the time of my visit, the noise I am referring to is not related to that construction. The main source of noise included the horns from nearby ferry boats, daily maintenance crews outside and the flushing of toilets that could be heard from both behind the headboard of my bed and the wall along which the TV was situated.
I also think that it’s worth mentioning that the Disney Vacation Club Villas, particularly those in Moorea and Pago Pago, are situated in a rather inconvenient and out of the way location. Though they would be ideal for guests who want to be close to the parking lot or Ticket and Transportation Center, they aren’t what I would recommend to families wanting to utilize the pools or frequent the resort’s restaurants. Of course, this falls a bit more into the area of personal preference, but I think it’s something to take into consideration if you’re planning a stay at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort in the future.
Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort? What was your experience like? Also, if you’re planning a stay at this resort in the future, we’d love to hear about it! Share some of what you think is awesome about the resort and why it’s on your “places to stay” list by joining the jamboree!