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

[Jennifer Marx]

The Polynesian is a lush, tropical paradise resting tranquilly on the Seven Seas Lagoon across from the Magic Kingdom.

Official Guidebook Review: Our official review of Disney's Polynesian Resort can be read in PassPorter's Walt Disney World guidebook (chapter 3).

Personal Review: We adore this resort! We feel it is hands-down the most convenient resort on property, and beautiful to boot. We'd stay here more often it were a bit less expensive. Our most recent visit here was in summer 2007.

Other Reviews: We do not yet have a feature article on file for the Polynesian Resort. If you're interested in writing one, please contact Belle*.

Photo Reviews: See our Polynesian Resort photo collection.

Your Review: What do YOU think of this resort? We want to know! To leave a review AND numerical rating, click the Review button below. Please avoid commenting on previously posted reviews. Tip: Include your pros and cons!

Results from these ratings and reviews will be factored into the ratings that appear in the guidebook, too!

[GoofyMom]

When you first arrive at the Polynesian Resort, you feel like you've arrived in Paradise. You hear water running, and the lush greenery is a sight to behold.

We stayed in Concierge, so we were in the Hawaii building. More lush gardens and a very impressive-looking volcano pool greeted us as we made our way to our building. You need permission to enter the building, so we pushed a button and a Concierge CM opened the door with a happy "Aloha" and let us in so we could check in. Our room was on the ground level so we had a lanai. I really liked the lanai as it overlooked the quiet pool and the kids could just run across the lawn between our room and the pool.

Our room was large. There were two queen beds and a daybed, as well as an armoire for the TV, a small fridge and a table with 2 chairs, plus a large closet and we still had lots of space left over for all our luggage! There was a surprise in the closet for us -- bathrobes for our use while we were guests. They came in very handy when we were using the swimming pools as it was quite cold during our stay. I would have loved a nice hot tub to soak in at the end of the day, but the Polynesian doesn't have one.

I was not fond of the decor, the browns and tans were not doing it for me. I thought it looked worn and tired. But that's a minor thing, and according to my PassPorter Guidebook the decor has been renovated since our stay. The main issue I had was the noise. You could hear everything through the walls and doors. Our neighbours had issues , and people would let their young children race up and down the hallway, and you could hear the thump, thump, thump as they ran. I thought that for $400 a night (we had a discounted value season rate) we might have a bit more peaceful sleeps.

The concierge lounge was amazing! The complementary food was delicious and the view of Cinderella's Castle from the large window was incredible! We spent a couple of nights sitting in the lounge with a glass of wine and a few tasty goodies, watching the fireworks and Electrical Water Pageant. The concierge staff were very helpful and friendly. I had mentioned to one during a small-talk conversation that it was my husband's birthday and we arrived to a wonderful little surprise for him at the end of the day (a balloon, a card signed by Mickey, and a chocolate surfboard).

I loved having the monorail right there. It was so convenient to just go into the Ceremonial House, up the stairs and zip off to the Magic Kingdom! They also have a boat taxi to Magic Kingdom, however we didn't use it. We had a car so we drove to the other parks, so I have no comment on the bus service. There is a quick service restaurant (Captain Cook's) which we never went to because of the Concierge lounge and two table-service restaurants ('Ohana and Kona Cafe), which we did eat at.

I did enjoy our stay at the Polynesian, although for us, it was a once-in-a-lifetime stay.

Pros:

• proximity to Magic Kingdom
• Monorail!!!
• the pools and gardens were lovely
• spacious rooms
• the Concierge!!

Cons:

• noisy
• expensive, even if you aren't paying for Concierge, and even if you have a discounted rate!
• there is no hot tub

[statelady01]

We have stayed at this resort 5 times since 2003. It is beautifully landscaped and the service has been consistently good, every single time we have stayed. Some of the best dining options are right here and the monorail access to MK and EPCOT is superb.

The rooms are some of the largest on property and our family enjoys the marina and pools. Very comfortable with lots of amenities and beautifully decorated.

One of my other favorite aspects of the Polynesian is that it truly reminds me of nostalgic Disney as it was when the resort opened in 1971. Yet, modern amenities and updates have been done so the resort has kept up with the times. The atmosphere is authentic from tiki torches lined along pathways to the island music piped in just about everywhere on the grounds.

My only lower ranking is in the affordability category. It's expensive, even with a discount but yet, I feel like whatever I pay for the nightly rate, I always get my money's worth.

The Polynesian ranks # 1 for us at Walt Disney World!

[Colexis Mom]

We made our first trip to the Polynesian in August 2006, just coming off our 4-night cruise on the Disney Wonder. Prior to that, I had stayed here numerous times as a child with my parents (and spent countless hours in Moana Mickey's Fun Hut)!!

Upon arriving at the gate, we encountered problem number one. They couldn't find our name on the list They just waved us thru anyway after looking at my ID. Upon check in, they couldn't find my reservation. Come to find out, our name was spelled wrong on the reservation (which I didn't catch) and once I presented my confirmation letter (see - always bring them with you) they found me!! One thing I liked about the check in was it appeared that the CM checking you in had the ability to choose the room right there for you. Everywhere else it has seemed that the room was pre-assigned. We were given a room in Fiji (I had paid for Garden View) and we were soon on our way!

One thing the Polynesian has going for it is the huge rooms They had just refurbished the rooms not too long prior, so there was a flat panel TV, as well as updated bedding. We had plenty of room to store our belongings, and had a great room overlooking the luau area and the Wedding Pavillion at the GF. We did have an issue with housekeeping though. The desk that pulled out from under the counter was covered in sticky goo. One of the lights was out in the bathroom, and the bathroom fan had a constant dripping noise.

The Volcano pool at the resort is nice, however I would consider it quite small for a resort that size. Having stayed at both the BC and AKL where there were large pools, we were taken aback by the size. The kids did enjoy the slide, and having the zero point entry was a nice feature, especially with little ones. I needed to borrow a "bubble" for my DS, and they were only available from the marina (on which I had to leave an ID) and the marina was only open until 5. Again, just not what we were accustomed to at BC (where we had it for length of stay) or AKL (where there were boxes of them in the open).

At the time of our visit, Captain Cook's was under renovation, and the only option for quick meals was at the Tangaroa Terrace. The food was great and I had a yummy salad. It was just a bit of a walk from Fiji! This trip, we decided to cancel our ADR at 'Ohana, although we've eaten here in the past (for both breakfast and dinner) and always had a great meal. We've never made it to Kona Cafe yet......hopefully one of these years!! We also experienced the luau (something we always did as kids too). The kids had a great time, and we enjoyed great food too! I'd highly recommend it!

Being on the monorail line was convenient. And being able to walk back from the TTC was also a nice option that we did a number of times. This gives you accessibility to really two parks (Epcot and MK).

We got to watch Wishes from the beach a couple of times. This is a must do if you're staying here! We found the music to be louder in the marina area than the beach area, but it was still faint enough that you could follow along!

I think we just had a rough stay at the Polynesian and we'll have to give it another try! Here's a link to my trip report......it starts at post #70 for the Poly. http://www.passporterboards.com/foru...-11-6-a-4.html

Pros:

• Location
• Room Size
• Good Eats

Cons:

• Pool Size
• Expensive
• One Laundy area - opposite end of resort from where we were staying.

[Juan's mom]

My favorite place to stay. I loved the look and feel of the entire resort. I loved our room with the balcony. We stayed in 2006 and there were some renovations going on to at least one of the long houses, but we were to busy having a great time to notice.

The Kona Cafe was great, and in fact became my favorite restaurant.

The volcano pool was very busy, but the 3 y.o. loved it.

pros: The monorail and the ease of getting around, especially walking to the TTC
Beautiful grounds
Great cast memebers, especially in the Kona Cafe

con: boy, is it pricey for an older resort.

[CANDYTLEW]

We have decided that the Polynesian is our favorite! The only thing I would change is the lack of a hot tub. The scenery is absolutely beautiful and the service is great. Very quick commutes to MK and Epcot. O'hana and Kona cafe are right there and the food is very tasty. The Polynesian is everything you could ask for.

[rlk]

My family enjoyed staying at the Poly last year. We loved the ease of going to & from MK; break time was so much easier to manage. My two boys loved the Volcano pool and access to the beach. For me the best part was being able to go back to our room, sit on our balcony and watch Wishes & EWP.

[stephluvsdisneyworld247]

I love this hotel it is the greatest!
I love the pool and the theme!
I love the feeling of being on a tropical island and going on amazing rides.
The monorail is great and the quick service
I really love this hotel!

[James101]

We stayed four days at the Poly over spring break this year and would never stay there again. The restaurants were booked every night so we had to eat at Captain Cooks for nearly every dinner as well as breakfast. Needless to say, we were extremely tired of their limited selection not to mention their poor service. We were unimpressed with the decor in our room (nothing matched) and it looked as if old had been mixed with new. Cleaning didn't occur until after 3:30 daily as well. We did like their monorail service (very convenient)! We have stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and Port Orleans in the past and were very pleased with both. We moved on to the Cruise for an additional four days and couldn't have loved it more. We have cruised with Disney in the past and they seem to get everything right. Maybe we're spoiled by their attention to detail but it seems they could definately give some pointers to the Poly staff. We stayed an additional two days at the Royal Pacific Resort at Universal and were really impressed! Very large rooms, beautifully decorated and could get right on any ride with our Express Pass. From now on we'll probably stay on Universal property and bus over to WDW.

[MickeyWatch]

We try other hotels at Disney but keep coming back to the Poly. We love the volcano pool and adjacent beach area. The door is a little dated, even with the updated rooms but it does have a wonderful tropical feeling. The location is even better than the other monorail resorts because of the ability to walk to the TTC and get on the Epcot Monorail. We usually rent a car and avoid the bus system entirely.
Like any other place at Disney you do need to make dining reservations in advance or you will end up at the snack bar every night.

[Lori Jakiela]

We stayed at the Poly April 9th thru 16th. The Housekeeping department left a whole lot to be desired. The room counters and frig were sticky when we got there which really turned me off. I don't expect to go to a deluxe resort and have to dig out my chlorox wipes! Housekeeping did nothing asked unless a sizable tip was left. I have a problem compensating less than acceptable work. Not being a clean freak this says something! This was my biggest disappointment....paying peak prices and theme park view and having a dirty room!!!

The rooms are spacious but dark. Not nearly enough drawer space and although there are to closets one is only half because of the safe and shelving. The bathroom could use better lighting. Beds were soft but comfortable, although my husband thought the twin bed was the most comfortable because he likes an extra firm mattress.

We had a theme park view and a patio room which was fine. The beach at our door was great for the kids. The pool was great but small, the kids loved it!

The food was just okay unless you went to the Kona Cafe. The most friendly CM;s were those at the restaurants ..Ohana and Kona. The Concierge was great but the front desk left a whole lot to be desired also. I was expecting those friendly Aloho's you hear all about and there were none. They weren't busy at the desk when we checked in but appeared to be awfully frazeled!

Sitting on the beach at night and gazing across te "pond", can't help thinking I would have been happier across at the Grand Floridian!

[Lori Jakiela]

Originally Posted by James101

We stayed four days at the Poly over spring break this year and would never stay there again. The restaurants were booked every night so we had to eat at Captain Cooks for nearly every dinner as well as breakfast. Needless to say, we were extremely tired of their limited selection not to mention their poor service. We were unimpressed with the decor in our room (nothing matched) and it looked as if old had been mixed with new. Cleaning didn't occur until after 3:30 daily as well. We did like their monorail service (very convenient)! We have stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and Port Orleans in the past and were very pleased with both. We moved on to the Cruise for an additional four days and couldn't have loved it more. We have cruised with Disney in the past and they seem to get everything right. Maybe we're spoiled by their attention to detail but it seems they could definately give some pointers to the Poly staff. We stayed an additional two days at the Royal Pacific Resort at Universal and were really impressed! Very large rooms, beautifully decorated and could get right on any ride with our Express Pass. From now on we'll probably stay on Universal property and bus over to WDW.

I couldn't agree more!!!!

[buckysmom]

We stayed in the Poly Oct '07 after the renovations in Fiji Garden View room, 1st and 2nd floor levels. The CM who checked in both parties were very nice and welcoming but I gotta ask- am I the only one who feels like this is the episode from the Brady Bunch where they are in Hawaii and get the Tiki god curse? Anyway...

Magic
Volcano Pool
Wonderful Transportation to EPCOT and MK
Kona Cafe/ accessibility to GF/Contemporary/ MK eats
watching MK fireworks from the beach

Not so magic
decor
$$
Capt Cooks (madhouse!!)
dark rooms and overall gloom of the interior

I'm glad I stayed (once!) but this isn't the resort for me-which is why WDW is great-so many choices for different tastes.

[katsunderthestars]

The Polynesian is one of my all time favorites. There is nothing like waking up to the lush tropical gardens and coming back at night to tiki torches. It's extremely relaxing and exquisitely beautiful. Since it is one of the first resorts at WDW, the rooms are slightly larger than the rest of the resorts.

The pool is nicely themed, however, one disappointing feature is that there is no hot tub. Some of the resorts (such as WL) have 2 or 3 hot tubs. For someone, such as myself, that enjoys a relaxing dip in the hot tub after a long day in the parks, this is a big disappointment.

Being on the monorail is amazing and being within a hop, skip and jump to TTC, no transfer to Epcot monorail is needed.

Overall, this resort is top notch and will always hold a dear place in my heart.

[AGentlRose]

This was my first return stay at the Polynesian (and Walt Disney World) since the mid 90's and I just hoped that the resort would not show it's age (37 years old), and Disney's TLC of the resort made it exceed my expectations. We were greeted at check in with a warm Aloha and a silk lei, reminiscent of Hawaii. Check in was swift and efficient. I requested, and received, a room on the third floor of Rarotonga, garden view, which was basically landscaping with a view of the monorail going by. The rooms had been refurbished a few years ago and were very comfortable. A/C worked fantastic and the ceiling fan added to the temperature comfort. The room had a coffee maker and refrigerator, iron, ironing board, small safe and a large screen TV. The room had 2 Queen beds and a daybed and lounge chair, with a small table with 2 chairs on the patio. Mousekeeping was great, rooms were always done up in a timely fashion and if I requested extra coffee cream, it was always left in abundance. However, we never got any towel animals, not even when we first checked in. The best thing about Disney's Polynesian was it's location on the monorail, you could be at the Magic Kingdom within minutes. Or if you prefer, there is a boat launch that travels between the Magic Kingdom, Polynesian and Grand Floridian hotels.
Captain Cook's was the counter service dining option that we used a lot, especially since we purchased the refillable resort mugs, I think they are a bargain, $12.49 for the mug and you can refill as many times as you want during your stay, with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, iced tea or soda. The Poly also has 2 restaurants: Ohana, an all you can eat table service and Kona Cafe. We didn't spend that much time at the hotel, so I can't comment on the restaurants or pools, although the Volcano pool looked fantastic. Another perk of the Polynesian is the ability to watch from the beach, the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom as well as the nightly Electrical Water Pageant.
Would I return to the Polynesian? You bet, we're going back in February.
As a side note, we utilized the services of Disney's Magical Express from the airport to the hotel. I was a little worried since I was unfamiliar with the service but it was great. They send you luggage tags that you attach to your checked luggage, once you check in at your home airport, you don't have to deal with. You bypass baggage claim, Disney picks up your luggage and delivers it right to your room. You do need to pack a carryon with anything you would need upon arrival since it takes time for the luggage to reach your room. We also used the resort check in returning home and again, I can only say good things about this service.