Hotel Review: Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World.

For decades it had been a dream of mine to stay at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.

The late 60s Polynesian themed vibes, the fact it’s an OG Disney World resort, I was so captivated by the entire concept of the resort.

And finally this year I ticked it off my bucket list, and while it was magical, I’m also not sure I would stay there again.

So, let’s get into my full review and why I loved my stay, but probably wouldn’t stay at the Polynesian again.

Why the Polynesian Resort?

I think most Disney fans will have the Polynesian on their bucket list.

It really is that girl.

Iconic. Historic. 

It was one of the first two hotels built on Disney property, opening back in 1971, and it really has that incredible late 1960s Polynesian vibe to it. It truly feels like you’re walking through the film set of a 1960s Elvis movie.

That was the exact vibe I was searching for, and to be fair to the resort, I got it. And I loved it.

Booking the Polynesian Resort through DVC

I booked my stay at the Polynesian through DVC Shop around 7 months before travelling. I was really fortunate that I managed to find a confirmed booking on DVC Shop for the exact dates I was looking for.

I had been looking at David’s Vacation Rentals and DVC Rental Store for months but hadn’t been successful in securing anything, and was actually getting kinda worried, then bam, I found the DVC Shop confirmation! 

DVC (Disney Vacation Club) is Disney’s timeshare programme. Renting DVC points is a way for non-members to book stays in Disney’s premium “Deluxe” rooms and villages by renting points from existing DVC owners. It basically allows you to stay at Deluxe resorts for up to 50% off standard Disney cash rates. 

I paid $1,168.16 for two nights in a Deluxe Studio – Resort View, which was around 50% cheaper than the online Disney rates.

I would 100% use one of the above websites again. I had a great experience renting DVC points!

Location of the Polynesian Village Resort at Disney World

So the location of the Polynesian is one of the main reasons people book this resort.

It’s not only super close to Magic Kingdom, but you can also get the monorail to Epcot from the Ticketing & Transportation Center which is just a 5-minute walk from the resort..

The location is amazing, and I loved being able to sit on the beach and watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks (they pipe the music through to the beach). It was sooo good being able to go straight to bed after isntead of battling the crowds to get out of the park and onto transportation.

Transport to Disney Parks & Disney Springs

Because of the location there are also loads of transport options. You have the Monorail to both MK and Epcot, and then there’s also the little resort launch boats to MK, and you can also get buses to the parks and Disney Springs.

You can actually also walk to Magic Kingdom if you really want – it takes about half an hour.

Also walking through the lobby is honestly so magical. I LOVE the stone flooring, and the whole vibe just feels super retro and 60s.

Tokelau Building, Deluxe Studio

I was slightly disappointed not to be in the Samoa building just because my love for Samoa is deep. 

Read all about my trip to Samoa back in 2018!

The Tokelau longhouse building was actually originally called Oahu, and built in 1978. It’s a dedicated DVC building and the location of it is incredible.

It’s a short walk away from the main lobby building, the Oasis Pool, Lava Pool, and the dock where you can get the resort launch to Magic Kingdom.

I love the retro feel of the building – you genuinely feel like you’re stepping back to the 60s as soon as you walk up to it and step inside. I was obsessed with the carpet, the decor, everything.

It’s so so charming! 

Deluxe Studio – Resort View, Room 2921

I was in room 2921, about half way along the Tokelau longhouse. My room and balcony also overlooked the Tahiti/Pago Pago side of the resort, so it was really nice and quiet.

The room was huge, really well spaced with plenty of room for five people.

The room had a double bed, pull-down muphy bed, and a single bed that pulled down from under the TV.

It also had a small kitchenette, and two bathrooms, and the usual ‘Hey Disney’ device.

The shower room was fairly nice, but the full bathroom felt very dated and did not feel like a luxury bathroom at all given the cost of the resort.

I would say the only difference between the Polynesian room and the rooms at the moderate resorts was the fact the Polynesian room had carpet instead of wood/laminate flooring.

As with all Disney resorts, they had their classic shampoo/conditioner/body wash in the bathroom. The shampoo & conditioner actually really dries my hair out, so I always bring my own. But I love the smell of the shower gel!

 

Disney Theming at the Polynesian Resort

The Disney theming at the Polynesian depends on which part of the resort you’re staying in.

If you’re in the main Polynesian Village Resort area, the theming is Lilo & Stitch. 

If you’re in the new Polynesian Tower Resort, the theming there is Moana. 

I had a tour of the Polynesian Tower while I was there, and the theming in both resort areas is super minimal and doesn’t feel intense at all. If anything I was expecting it to be a bit more themed? Especially around the pool areas. 

Which brings me nicely onto…

Pool & Amenities

So there are three pools at the resort: the Oasis pool, the Cove pool, and the Lava pool. All of them have pool bars which is awesome! 

The Oasis feels basic and fairly quiet. I wish there was more theming here instead of it being so standard.

The Lava pool is fun and has a slide, waterfall, and a splash pad and play area for the kiddos.

And then the Cove pool is the newest and is attached to the Tower resort. It has a big Moana themed splash pad and then a separate pool for swimming/paddling.

I really enjoyed the pools (and the pool bars had great non alcoholic drink options) but they were insanely busy and they didn’t feel big enough for the size of the resort. 

As well as the pools there’s also the beach where you can watch the MK fireworks from each evening. The beach is protected by a net between the sand and the water, so there’s no worry about gators!

If you have kids, definitely make use of the free marshmallow roasting on the campfires in the evenings, and there’s also movies under the stars where they provide complimentary screenings of favorite Disney films.

You can also go fishing, do volleyball, watch the Electric Water Pageant, or make use of the jogging trails! 

Restaurants & Quick Service

Every single restaurant at the Polynesian Resort is iconic. People travel from other resorts just to eat at them – even the quick service.

I tried as many as I could in just two nights and with a lot of park time.

Ohana Character Breakfast (Table Service)

I’d heard really mixed reviews about Ohana, but I had a really good experience.

I did the character breakfast at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom last year and wasn’t impressed, but I found the food was far better at Ohana. 

When I arrived at Ohana I was kinda bummed that they had put me on the table right by the toilets. It also felt like it was in the middle of the walkway. I asked nicely if I could move to an empty table by the window, and they very kindly said yes. It made such a difference to the experience for me!

The food was delicious, I loved the selection (including a lovely big bowl of fresh fruit), and they serve POG juice like most of the other character dining experiences. 

The food includes the fruit bowl, pineapple coconut bread, Stitch & Mickey waffles, and then a skillet filled with scrambled eggs, pork sausage links, Hawaiian-style ham topped with pineapple compote, fried island-style potatoes, and warm biscuits.

Everything is done family style and unlimited so they’ll bring out as much as you want, and as a solo diner I certainly did not leave hungry haha. My waiter was really amazing and made sure I met all the characters as they can often miss people when they have to stop for the group dance.

The character interactions were great, you meet Stitch, Lilo, Mickey, and Pluto, and the family on the table next to be really kindly offered to take photos for me with the characters!

Captain Cook’s (Quick Service)

I really enjoyed the food at Captain Cook’s, but I’m convinced their Thai Coconut meatballs & rice gave me food poisoning (although to be fair, they were delish). I’d been fine at Disney all week, and then a couple of hours after eating the meatballs & rice the vomiting started. 

Rice is a really common food poisoning cause in restaurants because there’s a certain bacteria that grows on it at room temperature that can’t be killed by reheating it. 

The following morning I had the Tonga Toast here and it was delicious!

It’s also much cheaper to have the Tonga Toast at Captain Cook’s than at Kona Cafe upstairs (it just doesn’t come with the strawberry sauce, but honestly I loved it without the sauce).

Pineapple Lanai (Quick Service/Snack)

The Pineapple Lanai is the only resort on Disney property that serves the famous Pineapple Dole Whip, and the only place you can find it outside the parks.

It was obviously perfection, and the perfect cool down when you leave the pool.

They also offer the Pineapple Float and a Dole Whip Float with Rum.

Benefits of Staying at The Polynesian Village Resort

The main benefits of staying at the Polynesian is its proximity to Magic Kingdom, the monorail to Epcot, and the Deluxe evening hours.

However, it’s important to be aware that the Deluxe extended evening hours are only on certain evenings and not everyday.

Other benefits include the Electric Water Pageant, and being able to watch the MK fireworks from the beach.

Service & Issues

My main issue with the resort was that it just didn’t feel deluxe. For the price it didn’t feel like a luxury resort.

Also, the water was horrific.

Like, truly horrific. It smelled of rubber/sulphur every time you turned on the taps and the shower. Showering in it made me feel unclean.

I’ve also stayed at Coronado Springs, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Swan Reserve, and none of those hotels had the awful water. I just don’t understand why Poly can’t install some sort of water filter.

The service was also very hit-and-miss. When I checked in I was able to get a bellhop to take my luggage to my room, but when I tried to call them to ask them to collect it on check-out, the phone just rang and rang and no one answered. 

Trust me, having to lug four pieces of luggage across carpeted hallways when you have a cardiac condition is *not* good lol. By the time I got to the lobby my heart rate was 180bpm and I felt like I was about to pass out. 

Was it worth the cost to stay at the Polynesian Village Resort?

Am I glad I stayed at the Polynesian? Yes. 100% yes.

Would I stay again? Probably not. If I did, it would only be if I had kids, and it would definitely only be if I found a very good DVC deal.

Unless you’re a family staying there who need the extra room of the DVC rooms, I personally just do not believe it’s worth paying over $500 per night for just a solo traveller or couple. Rooms frequently go for over $1000 per night at normal prices.

I did love getting this cute resort pin to add to my collection though haha.

But to put it into perspective, $1000 a night is how much it costs to stay at some of the top hotels in the world, including the Bel-Air Hotel, Beverly Hills Hotel, Mandarin Oriental Lutetia in Paris etc.

Which brings me nicely onto…

Opinion on Polynesian being a ‘Luxury’ Resort

In my opinion the resort is far too expensive for what you get and is not a luxury hotel.

I’ve been very fortunate to stay in five star hotels and resorts all over the world, and when it comes to value for money, the Polynesian was possibly one of the worst.

Firstly, it doesn’t feel like a luxury resort. There’s nothing that screams at you ‘this is a luxury resort’.

It’s loud, chaotic, and busy. 

I don’t have a problem with the rooms feeling older because that was part of the reason why I wanted to stay there. I love the 60’s vibes. But what’s lacking is the extras and the service that you come to expect with a luxury resort.

The towels are thin and threadbare. The shower didn’t provide hot water. The main bathroom was dated and felt basic. 

But the worst part for me was the service.

At $1000 a night I expect it to be standard for the bellhops to take luggage to and from the room. I don’t expect to have to carry four pieces of luggage from the room to the lobby to check-out, along the thick carpet of the hallways. A walk that took me 5-minutes without luggage took me 20-minutes with lugagge. 

At that pricepoint I also expect things like robes and slippers, and turndown service. I know it’s a very first world problem, but I love a turndown service when I’m on holiday!

I really felt the difference when I then went from the Polynesian to the Swan Reserve (which was utter perfection). 

Alternative Resort Options

Personally I much preferred Swan Reserve (deluxe) and Port Orleans French Quarter (moderate).

I think they’re better, more relaxed resorts and I enjoyed my stays at both of them far more than my stay at the Polynesian.

Check out my guide: Comparing the 6 Best Luxury Resorts at Walt Disney World.

Also: What to Pack for Walt Disney World, Completing Walt Disney World’s 4-Park Challenge Solo, and my 5-Day Walt Disney World Itinerary for Solo Travelers.