Disney's Polynesian Resort (Disney Deluxe Resort) About This Page:

[whhs162005]

We stayed at the polynesian in October and i absolutely loved it. Everything was themed wonderfully I couldnt decide between hawaii or Disney so we decided to stay at the polynesian for the feel of both. I loved having the convienence of the monorail .It was great watching the fireworks from the beach and not having to fight with crowds to get back to your room like you would if you watched them at the park. The only downside for me was the price although I did not pay for it, but I would say it is worth the price. My mom who was with me though was not to thrilled about the food she said it was to much "Asian" I myself though thought the food was great. I would suggest this hotel to anyone.

[Aliceacc]

We stayed at the Poly last summer, and I must admit: I'm now spoiled for other resorts!

Let's get the basics out of the way first: the convenience simply can't be beat! Being on the monorail line, and the 5 minute walk to the TTC combine to give you the best of both worlds!

But more than that, the Poly gives you a tranquil counterpoint to the frenetic activity of the parks. It reminds you that you're on vacation, and encourages you to stop and smell the roses (along with the other million and one varieties of flowers in abundance on the property.)

And pools?? The volcano pool combines the best of all worlds-- zero entry for the kiddies, the slide for the more adventurous, the waterfall for those of us who aprreciate a good back/shoulder massage, the hot jets for a bit more relaxation, and, of course, the Barefoot Bar for a pina colava.

As I said, I'm spoiled for other resorts.

[gretchenohar]

We had a wonderful experience! Our room wasn't ready upon check-in, so we were directed to the club lounge. When our granddaughter saw the castle across the bay, she began jumping up & down, and crying out "The Castle, The Castle!!!". That started the magic for us!
We were able to view the Electric Water Parade and the Fireworks from our room, the lounge, or the beach behind the hotel every night. (This was great since our granddaughter was still afraid of the noise of the fireworks - so we didn't have to make a hasty retreat out of the parks - we could stay in our fairly well soundproofed rooms and enjoy the Million Dollar View! The food & drinks in the lounge were stellar. Transportation can't be beat - I think it's the best location on the entire property in that regard alone! All the other guests we came in contact with were friendly and polite.
Our grandson loved the Volcano Pool - and I think he would have been content to stay at the pool rather than go to the parks some days.
The staff all went above and beyond the call of duty in making our stay truly magical - from check-in, to the lounge staff, to the Mousekeepers. There was not a single problem that was not addressed promptly.
The only drawback - and it's a minor one - is the decor of the rooms. It seems a little tired/dated - definitely not on a par with other deluxe resorts. We were however, very comfortable and I doubt the grandchildren will ever let us consider staying anywhere else (unless they get sight of the Storm Along Bay @ YC, that is!)
All in all, it was a great experience.

[MinnieJen]

We had just spent 3 nights at AKL and wanted to finish the trip closer to MK and on the monorail. Our room was so much bigger then the AKL room and made it much easier with our two little boys. Our littlest was in a pack and play and takes up some precious room space. They transfered our luggage over and it worked great. The room was clean and I enjoyed the theme. We did notice that the bathroom door would not latch closed properly. Our 12 month old figured this out quickly too and I was very concerned as I did not want him to have access to the bathroom. He likes tossing things in the potty. So I called to alert them. Over the next 24 hours they tried to fix it but it needed a new part ordered. I was not willing to wait 3 days for the part so they found us a new room. They upgraded us to Club level lagoon/park view! It was wonderful. We had been Club level at AKL and it was so nice. They were very helpful in helping us move to the new room with a great bellman and they even worked around our dinner plans as we were going to the luau that evening (very cute and worth it IMHO).

We LOVED being on the monorail!! We were able to zip back to the room for nap time. We had dinner at the Grand Floridian twice and quickly made it back to our room for bedtime. My older son (3) loved the monorail rides and the boat rides too. the pools were crowded but clean and great for kids. They have cute poolside kids activities too. They taught how to draw Mickey in chalk the afternoon we were there. So cute.

Kona Cafe was super yummy and the Tonga Toast was very good. We did room service a few times and it was always fast and hot and very good quality. I loved the chicken wings.

We also enjoyed being able to see the light parade and the MK fireworks from the beach and even from our room.

We would go back for sure. I do want to try other resorts just because I love to try new things, but this one is high on our list and we had a great time.

[WeRDisneyFanatics]

We spent 8 nights at the Poly in the Spring of 2009. We were surprised at check-in with an upgrade to the Hawaii longhouse -- wonderful! My favorite thing about the Poly is the location. You can catch the MK Monorail from the GCH or if you're up for a little walk you can go to the TTC to get the express Monorail to MK or the Epcot Monorail. Another favorite for our family was watching Wishes from the beach -- magical.

The rooms were spacious and comfortable. I would prefer to have the sink/mirror area outside of the bathroom so that I could do my hair and make-up while DH used the shower. The lounge in Hawaii was wonderful, with beautiful views of Cinderella's castle and tasty food throughout the day.

Our DD visited the Never Land Club several times during our stay. The staff here was so friendly and professional. We think DD enjoyed the club more than the parks -- she is still asking to go back.

During our stay we had both breakfast and dinner at 'Ohana. We enjoyed both meals and really liked how the restaurants carried through the theme of the resort.

[Mystic]

We stayed here Dec 1-9, 2009. This was a last minute hotel change about a month before our arrival. We were supposed to stay at POFQ but switched to avoid Pop Warner.

We stayed in Niue. We loved the location of this longhouse as it was only about 2 minutes from Captain Cooks and less than that to the Great Ceremonial House. The room was large and spacious, especially for only 2 people. The room was big enough that my ECV could be parked out of the way and we didn't have to worry about tripping over it or have to climb over it at all.

Would have been nice to have the sink and mirror outside the shower area so that one of us could dry our hair while the other was in the shower. But given the age of the resort, we realize that that is the way the old rooms were designed and it's only in the newer resorts where the sink and mirror are outside the shower area.

The beds were super comfortable.

The ease of getting to MK and Epcot with the ECV from this resort was fantastic. We would take the ferry to MK from the TTC and we always caught the Epcot Monorail directly from the TTC.

We absolutely love Kona, we have to eat there for breakfast and dinner every trip.

The landscaping was amazing. We loved stepping back onto the grounds after a long day at the park and being overwhelmed with the scent of flowers. It truly felt like you were on a tropical island in the seven seas somewhere when you walked through the grounds. This has always been my mom's and my idea of Christmas. We'd rather have palm trees around us than feet of snow.

Watched Holiday Wishes from the Poly beach on our last night. It was a fantastic way to end our trip. We're booked to stay at the Poly again in Nov/Dec 2010 and can't wait to go back.

[Sue M.]

Over all, we loved our stay. Jan 20 2010. 6 nights. We got a great AP rate, making it more affordable. Without a good discount I wouldn't stay here. Rack rates are way to high IMO.

We had a GV room in Tokelau, close to beach end, facing Hawaii. Could see some of the higher fireworks from balcony. Mostly trees blocking view. Great central location, close to everything, GCH, quiet pool, main pool, and path to TCC.

My only complaint, is that the hallway was always dirty. For a deluxe resort, I felt the halls should be kept clean. (really for any level of resort). Same debris on the carpet for days. Also the back of our bathroom door could have used a fresh coat of paint. I've stayed at WL & AKL, and common areas were always spotless.

Other then that, we loved everything about the resort. Room was great. Very spacious. I was a little concerned because our room was a connecting one, and thought we'd hear noise from next room thru door, but we didn't hear a thing. Mousekeeping was excellent. No towel animals, but our room was kept spotless, and well supplied.

Loved watching Wishes and Electric Water Parade from beach. Also enjoyed the hammocks on beach. Great spot for an afternoon rest.

We did manage to go to the pool twice even though it was Jan. Some afternoons warmed up quite a bit. Volcano slide was great fun. Also being able to see the Castle from the pool. I did wish they had a hot tub.

The resort is beautiful, esp. the lit torches at night. Lobby is beautiful, CMs very nice. Kona is one of my fav. restaurants, and thought Capt. Cooks was good. Being able to get Dole Whips was great! Coffee bar upstairs is great. Nice to be able to get real coffee!

Being on monorail is very convenient for getting to MK, or ADRs at GF & CR. And just a short walk to TTC for Epcot monorail. We also used the boat from MK a couple of times. Nice on a warm afternoon.
One night we walked back to Poly from GF. Nice path, you go by wedding Pavillion and the Spa.

I would stay here again with another great discount, but in summer because of lack of hot tub.

[ImGoofy3mmc]

We just returned from the Poly and our stay was wonderful. The rooms are large, we are a family of five and didn't feel as though we were on top of each other. The grounds of the resort are beautiful, you feel like your fully engrossed in the theming here. This is by far the most relaxing resort I've been to at WDW. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. We ate at Captain Cooks for breakfast nearly every morning and since we are early risers it was never crowded and the food was decent. They have a lot of activities going on through out the day which is great if you come back to the resort early from the parks you certainly won't be bored.

Pros: Location
Watching Wishes from the beach
Theming
Room size
Torch lighting ceremony
Friendly CM's

Cons: Mousekeeping not the best
The walls are a little thin

We will definitely stay here again. This is now one of my favorites.

[pixie08]

We were lucky enough to get a deal 40% off concierge so we got to stay in the Hawaii building. We stayed in a Garden view (as opposed to Mk view) and saved the extra money to eat at some signature places and do the MK dessert party, spa etc.

From the Hawaii building lounge there is a two story window with views of the castle, and music piped in for wishes, but our favorite place to watch the fireworks was the beach. We noticed we took the boats to MK a lot, a spent a lot of time at Mk because of the accessibility.

*Pros...there is nothing better than resting in a hammock, pina colada in hand, watching the castle in the distance. The grounds are beautiful and so are the rooms. The pool was a lot of fun as well. Nice dining options, and loved the sushi bar and coffee bar.

*Cons...the main building is a zoo. It would discourage me from staying there again. We couldn't even get through the lobby to get the monorail because of O'hana, Kona and the luau. Also I think a "Deluxe" resort such as the ploy should have a signature restaurant but at least CTR and GF are nearby.

Overall, it was an amazing stay but I gave it an 8 instead of a 10 because for the value I think I would chose the Grand Floridian instead, but the theming is beautiful and it is nice because it is an original Disney resort so the history is nice for Disney buffs. The resort is one of those were you don't want to be spending every waking hour at the parks, if so save the money and stay at a mod. The Poly is the type of resort that is a destination and the fact that you are in Disney is a major bonus!

[ferrazalves]

Loved the resort! And the magical of CL was perfect! Watching Wishes from the lounge....amazing!!! A large lounge, full of chairs, with enought for everyone! A glass window perfect in every sense!!!!

[Winston]

Ah, the Polynesian Village. Wait, they haven't called it that in years! Now it's "Disney's Polynesian Resort" which will likely see variation again when the Disney Vacation Club renovation/expansion is complete. I'll always remember this hotel from my childhood in the 1970's and 80's when it was smaller, secluded, intimate, and one of only two hotels on all of WDW property. I can still recall the sound of the monorail above us when my dad would pull up in the car for check-in. I remember being shuttled to our room in the golf carts with floral patters on the side. In my mind I can still see all the original tiki sculptures and fountains that could be found throughout the resort and in the Great Ceremonial House.

Today, the Polynesian is bigger, less private, more expensive (of course!), but still an amazing place to stay at WDW. It still has a 1960's/1970's retro feel to it in some aspects, but both the classic elements and updates work together to make an incredible resort. The rooms are among the largest on property (415 to 465 sq. ft.), and all have double sinks - a must for families or even couples traveling together. The longhouse buildings are spread out, but walking between them is pleasant and manageable, and room requests give you a good chance of being close to the Transportation and Ticket Center, the Great Ceremonial House, the boat dock, or the beach/pools, depending on what you find most convenient.

Although there is no signature restaurant at the hotel, there are quick service and table service options, along with room service. Kona Café, one of the most lauded spots for breakfast in all of WDW, is located at the Polynesian, along with 'Ohana. If you're looking for something special, Narcoossee's, California Grill, Citricos, and Victoria & Albert's are just a monorail ride away.

Transportation, especially to Magic Kingdom Park, is unparalleled at the Polynesian. The Magic Kingdom is just two monorail stops away, and the Epcot and express monorails can be boarded next door at the Transportation and Ticket Center. Watercraft will take you to the Magic Kingdom and the Grand Floridian, while buses are available to all other parks and Downtown Disney. If you have a car, there's plenty of convenient parking behind the hotel in a gated lot.

If you're looking for luxury, pampering, or extra attention, the Polynesian has a club level and suites, and the Grand Floridian's spa is a short walk or monorail ride away. Room service is available until midnight. If you want a view of the grounds, Seven Seas Lagoon, or the Magic Kingdom from your room, Disney has you covered.

I rated the Polynesian an 8 in affordability because I've never stayed there as an adult when a generous room discount wasn't available. I've always been able to save at least 25% off the rack rate, and usually much more than that. If you can travel during "Value Season" (when rack rates are lowest) and find a discount or promotion, then one of WDW's best hotels just got a lot easier to pay for!