Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Review (Too Expensive or Worth Every Penny?)

Aloha–it’s a word you hear often around Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Almost anytime you encounter a cast member, they greet you with an Aloha. That small sentiment is one of the very things that makes a stay at Disney’s Polynesian Resort so magical. However, perhaps the most significant factor is the resort’s landscape. Once you’re inside the tropical utopia, it’s difficult to distinguish the resort from an island. Are you really in Florida? It doesn’t feel like it, except for the blazing heat in the hottest months of the year. Oh, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa sits next door–so yes, you are in Florida. 

We recently returned to Disney’s Polynesian Resort to provide a fresh review. It was also our first visit since the Moana rooms debuted. You’re probably aware that many things at the resort have changed in the last decade. Some of those changes were for the better, others not so much. But one thing remains the same–Disney’s Polynesian is a true oasis. You’ll have difficulty finding anything comparable that doesn’t require an overseas plane ticket. After all these years, I still marvel over how a simple resort can provide such an impactful ambiance. There is nothing like it. 

Since we live nearby, we don’t have nearly the luggage load we did in the past. Somehow, I usually manage to fit almost everything in one oversized suitcase. Thankfully, when we went to the front desk to check our luggage, we received a text that our room was ready. What a surprise! It wasn’t even 10:00 a.m., and I didn’t expect it. The only reason we arrived so early was that we had plans to visit Epcot. 

We quickly tucked our items away to take photos of the room. It was gorgeous. 

We had two queen-size beds, each with a bench at the end, which was a thoughtful touch.

Most standard rooms at the Polynesian accommodate up to five guests. This sofa converts into a single sleeper.

Our bathroom featured two sinks, a separate water closet, and a walk-in shower.

Here is a closer look at the shower area.

If you want to learn more, we have a photo and video tour of the Polynesian’s Moana Rooms. Additionally, we have a tour of the deluxe studio at Disney’s Polynesian Villas and a tour of the Bora Bora Bungalows that sit out over the water. Both latter units are part of the Disney Vacation Club at the Polynesian.

The Lure of Disney’s Polynesian

Part of the lure of Disney’s Polynesian Resort is its location. Since it is among the Magic Kingdom Resorts, it commands a higher price tag than others. The resort sits along the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon, directly between Disney’s Grand Floridian and the Transportation and Ticket Center. Cinderella Castle is visible from the resort’s white-sand beaches, and from some angles, you can see Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Guests can walk between the resorts since the Polynesian property adjoins the Grand Floridian. If desired, you can also continue on the walkway from the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom. Therefore, when you stay at Disney’s Polynesian, the most popular theme park in the entire world is only a walk, monorail ride, or boat ride away. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Theming at Disney’s Polynesian

Of course, the other lure of Disney’s Polynesian Resort is its theming. The resort is designed to mimic the South Pacific Islands, providing a tropical oasis for weary travelers. Others often refer to the Polynesian as the Hawaiian Resort at Disney World.

Upon arrival, you’re greeted by a luscious landscape of tropical plants.

Waterfalls reside on each side of the walkway that leads to the resort.

Lit tiki torches contribute to the mood.

A calming sensation washes over you as you approach the entrance. You’ve made it to your destination, and a much-needed week of vacation awaits.

This decorative stone and concrete were poured at the entrance a few years ago. It turned out well.

I couldn’t help photographing the resort-branded rug at the hotel’s entrance.

The Great Ceremonial House

After walking through the double doors, you’re greeted by what feels like an open-air lobby. A ceiling made entirely of windows allows light to flood in from above.

It’s this kind of blissful space that you remember far after the vacation is over. Standing in the lobby of a hotel, breathing it in, the drastic change from the environment you’re so used to every day.

Most of the lobby received new furnishings within the last year. Bright oranges shifted to lime greens.

It’s a wonderful lobby with plenty of seating arrangements.

Bromeliads, orchids, and greenery are scattered throughout the lobby.

A vintage map of the Polynesian takes up most of the wall near the check-in area.

Staircases are located on each side of the lobby. A pair of elevators is also available. The Great Ceremonial House is strictly a large gathering space with a lobby, restaurants, gift shops, and the entrance to the monorail. This building doesn’t have any guest rooms.

A second sitting area is available on the second floor. Anyone can use this space, but most guests sit here while waiting to be called for a dining reservation at Ohana or Kona Cafe. In the evenings, servers from Tambu Lounge often service the area.

Make sure to look for hidden Mickey’s. You’ll find an abundance of them within the Great Ceremonial House.

But there’s one special hidden Mickey you might care to locate. The builders installed this one in 1971 when the Polynesian was built. It’s three nailheads formed to make a hidden Mickey. It’s in the wood outside a window frame that faces the monorail platform. If you’re in the Great Ceremonial House, you’ll walk up to the long bar behind Kona Island. It’s a couple of windows down from the door that leads out to the monorail.

Here is a view of the Great Ceremonial House from the resort side.

Disney’s Polynesian offers beautiful vegetation featuring palm trees and flowers. The landscaping was planted so that something continuously blooms no matter when you visit.

But if you’re lucky enough to visit when the flowering trees bloom, you’re in for a treat.

They bloom several times throughout the year and are stunning.

Polynesian Longhouses

Disney’s Polynesian comprises buildings called longhouses scattered across the property. Each longhouse provides interior hallways with room access while maintaining the traditional feel of a Polynesian-style village. However, you must walk across the resort’s grounds to access your building. Here are the names of the longhouses at Disney’s Polynesian Resort:

• Pago Pago
• Moorea
• Tokelau
• Hawaii
• Samoa
• Niue
• Rarotonga
• Tonga
• Aotearoa
• Fiji
• Tuvalu

Club-level rooms are in Hawaii, and suites are in Tonga. Disney Vacation Club units are in Pago Pago, Moorea, and Tokelau. Standard guest rooms are in Samoa, Niue, Rarotonga, Aotearoa, Fiji, and Tuvalu.

Disney’s Polynesian has a club level called the King Kamehameha Club. This special concierge longhouse provides a two-story lounge with various daily food and beverage services. If you want to learn more, we have a separate review of the King Kamehameha club level. While it is expensive, those who spend a decent amount of time at the resort can reap the benefits of the lounge.

Additionally, the Bora Bora Bungalows sit over the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon. For most of us, a stay here is one of those maybe someday or bucket list items. They are among the most expensive accommodations at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Dining

When it comes to dining, Disney’s Polynesian has plenty of options. While it’s not our favorite resort option for serious foodies, it’s not too far off. You’ll be able to find a sufficient number of quick services, mobile order options, and table service restaurants at the resort.

Many of the resort’s restaurants include Asian, Hawaiian, and American cuisine. So, if you have picky eaters in your party, you’ll still have choices like cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets. We have an entire dining guide dedicated to the restaurants at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Below, we’ll briefly go over each one.

Captain Cook’s

Captain Cook’s is the primary quick-service restaurant at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. This location offers Polynesian favorites like Thai coconut meatballs and Pan Asian noodle salad, as well as burgers, chicken nuggets, plant-based items, and more.

Captain Cook’s serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It has indoor and outdoor seating areas and accepts mobile orders via the My Disney Experience app. We have a review of Capt. Cook’s that includes photos of the items we’ve tried and pictures of the grab-and-go items.

Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace

Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace is an outdoor lounge that offers the same drink menu as Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. From later in the afternoon to the evening, they also offer an appetizer menu. It’s a delightful place to enjoy the sunset.

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is an indoor bar off the Polynesian lobby. They usually open at 3:00 p.m. and often have a line of guests wrapped around the hall, hoping for admittance. It’s that popular. Get there early to get on their waitlist for a seat.

Kona Cafe

Kona Cafe is a table-service restaurant on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House. Its prices are reasonable. The restaurant offers a combined menu with American and Asian flavors, including sushi. Kona Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also accept mobile orders if you want to get something and return it to your room. We have a review of dinner at Kona Cafe.

‘Ohana

‘Ohana sits around the corner from Kona Cafe and offers two separate services per day. First, the Ohana Best Friends character breakfast is available each morning. It’s an all-you-care-to-enjoy skillet meal with Stitch, Lilo, Pluto, and Mickey Mouse.

In the evening, ‘Ohana is a family-style Polynesian feast with various meats, noodles, vegetables, and desserts. This meal is not character dining like breakfast. We have a separate review of whether or not dinner at ‘Ohana is worth it. It is relatively expensive, especially for larger groups.

Tambu Lounge

Tambu Lounge is on the second floor of the Polynesian’s lobby. It has a bar and lounge-style seating, which extends to the lobby’s second-floor seating area. On occasion, a server waits on guests in this area.

Kona Island

Kona Island is a small stand on the resort’s second-floor lobby. It is mostly known for its coffee offerings and strips of chocolate-covered bacon. Other items include sushi in the evening and a case filled with various treats.

Pineapple Lanai

Pineapple Lanai is outside the back entrance of the Great Ceremonial House. This location focuses on Dole Whip Treats. Good luck finding a seat nearby, and don’t be surprised if you find a long line.

Barefoot Pool Bar

The Barefoot Pool Bar is located at the Polynesian’s Lava Pool. This bar has a popular drink menu that includes the Pago Pago Painkiller. If you’re visiting the resort as a day guest, the bar has a separate walk-up area on the marina side.

Oasis Bar & Grill

The Oasis Pool Bar has an additional quick-service window exclusive to Disney’s Polynesian Resort guests. It also has an excellent covered outdoor seating area for dining by the pool.

During your stay, you’ll find plenty of places to grab a quick bite or enjoy a table-service restaurant. You can also hop on the monorail and enjoy nearby dining at the Grand Floridian or the Contemporary.

*Unfortunately, the former Spirit of Aloha dinner show is permanently closed.

Pools

Disney’s Polynesian has two pools, the Lava Pool and the Oasis Pool. Both pools are beautiful areas and a ton of fun. Unfortunately, our experience is that they are also nearly always over-crowded. These photos were taken as soon as the pool opened, and some were taken before anyone was allowed in the water.

The Lava Pool is the Polynesian’s feature pool. It is themed to look like a volcano and sits directly behind the Great Ceremonial House.

On one side, the lava pool has a zero-entry area, a waterfall feature, and a 142-foot-long waterslide.

The waterslide is a lot of fun. It goes under this little walkway before dumping you out at the bottom.

At the top, a traffic-style light turns green when it’s the next person’s turn. You’ll have to walk up several flights of stairs to reach the top.

So, it’s a long way down through the volcano.

A children’s aquatic play area sits next to the Lava Pool.

A gorgeous hot tub sits on the opposite side of the pool.

The Oasis Pool is a short walk from the Lava Pool. It’s considered the resort’s secondary or quiet pool.

This pool is often less busy than the Lava Pool but considerably smaller.

It also has a separate hot tub. If you would like to view more photos of the pools at Disney’s Polynesian, our separate article includes specifics of the changing areas, pool depth, and other pool amenities.

Related: The Pools at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Nightly Fireworks Viewing

During the evening, you might enjoy watching Magic Kingdom’s fireworks and the Electrical Water Pageant from the Polynesian’s white sand beaches. A speaker system streams the audio, allowing you to hear the music and narration. It’s a peaceful place to enjoy both forms of entertainment away from the crowds. While you’re there, you might want to attend the nightly Movie Under the Stars.

Is the Polynesian Too Expensive or Worth Every Penny?

This is an exceptionally subjective question. As someone who regularly visits the Polynesian for shopping or dining, I have often felt that the resort is somewhat overrated. After this last stay, I no longer feel that way. Granted, it had been ten years since our last extended stay at the Polynesian, but a few unpleasant issues accompany memories of that previous stay.

One setback then was the major construction and demolition of the former waterfalls in the lobby, which we were unaware of going into that stay. We also had a frog the size of a cantaloupe who had taken up residence on our patio. While humorous now, I did not want to deal with it at the time.

On the first night of this visit, I already wished we’d planned to stay longer than a couple of nights. It was so pleasant that I debated whether or not to extend our trip. However, the expense was the final decision. Ultimately, I decided we would return for leisure in the future. But for now, our funds are better spent providing updates at some of the other Walt Disney World Resorts.

If you are trying to weigh the pros and cons of staying at the Polynesian Resort, I have a better suggestion: Ask yourself: Will staying at Disney’s Polynesian Resort improve your vacation experience? If the answer is yes, will you have any regrets about the expense? If the answer is no, then you have your answer. If you’re still unsure–what is the worst-case scenario if you don’t have a good time?

I can’t answer that question for you. But I know that long ago, an unpleasant experience made me leery of staying here again. Now, I am excited to return and recapture that magical feeling that only a resort like the Polynesian can offer. Here are a few more photos of the Polynesian I took during our stay.

Final Thoughts

Aloha, once again. Hopefully, this review of Disney’s Polynesian gave you a fresh perspective. It’s a beautifully unique resort. However, if a stay here isn’t entirely within your budget, you can always plan a dining reservation during your stay. You’ll still get those same island vibes when you enter the resort.

In the Comments

What are your thoughts on this review of Disney’s Polynesian Resort? Have you stayed here before? Do you have plans to stay here? You are welcome to share your vacation memories in the comments below. We value your feedback and enjoy others’ perspectives, as do our other readers.