When it comes time to picking your Walt Disney World hotel, few families completely skip over Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. With its stunning design, great location, and popular bars and dining options, most people at least include Polynesian on their bucket lists. We’ve stayed at Polynesian multiple times and are happy to share our experiences, so read on to learn all about staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort!
Note: Walking Path Reopened
BlogMickey has coverage of the reopened walking path between Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom. The path between Polynesian and Grand Floridian was re-routed a while back, but the bottom line is both resorts are once again linked the Magic Kingdom by a walking path.
Basics of Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
Polynesian was one of the original two Walt Disney World resorts, the other being Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Like Contemporary, Polynesian is a Magic Kingdom area resort, connected to Magic Kingdom and Epcot (with a transfer) by monorail and boat transportation, which we cover in more detail below.
Polynesian is a deluxe resort at Walt Disney World. These are Disney’s best hotels. If you’re considering Polynesian, you may want to read some of our other posts. We have a ranking of the best Disney World deluxe resorts. We also have a guide to all the hotels of Walt Disney World.
And here are our reviews of all the deluxe resorts (links open in new tabs):
Review of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (you are here)
And if you’d like to see where this resort falls overall, check out our complete Disney World hotel rankings.
Rack rates for standard rooms at Polynesian Village in 2024 range from $691 to $1256 per night. It’s not uncommon to see Polynesian’s standard room rates sell out, leaving it as the most expensive option some nights at Walt Disney World. (Also worth noting—due to the variety of room types, you need to be extra diligent to make sure the Disney World website shows you the lowest prices here.)
Staying at Polynesian Village, you get the perks of any Disney stay. You’ll have access to free transportation to and from the parks and Disney Springs. You’ll also have access to Early Theme Park Entry and the ability to book your individual Lightning Lanes at 7AM (as opposed to when the parks open). Polynesian is a deluxe hotel, so guests have access to Extended Evening Hours, granting these guests extra time in select parks on select nights.
Because of its beautiful theming and great location, Polynesian is a bucket-list resort for many families. Keep in mind that you can always pay a visit to the resort even if you’re not staying there, something we recommend if you’re considering it for a future trip.
Booking Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
We booked our most recent visit to Polynesian through our choice travel agent, Lauren Quirk at Travel With Character LLC.
We paid $824.40 per night for our Club Level Theme Park View room using a Walt Disney World annual passholder deal. The rack rate for the room was $1030 per night, which put our discount at 20% off.
As we mentioned above, the lowest rates in 2024 start at $691. These rates often sell out. Booking while Disney is offering a discount is one of the best ways to save at Polynesian, as you will occasionally see 20% to 30% discounts.
To save on hotel costs, we’re big advocates of doing a split stay that includes Polynesian (or another monorail resort). Spend two nights here for the easy access to Magic Kingdom, and then spend the remaining nights at a value resort (we recommend Pop Century, which will give you Skyliner access to Hollywood Studios and Epcot).
Arrival and Check-In at Polynesian Village
If you’re coming from Orlando International Airport, you’ll need to have a plan for getting to the resort. Check-in technically begins at 3PM, though we’ve often been able to get rooms earlier than that.
To avoid long lines at check-in, you can use Disney World’s online check in. Do that, and you’ll get notices as to whether or not a room is ready for you. If you get to the resort and a room still isn’t ready, stop by the front desk to see if they can help.
If you can’t get a room, you have a few options. If you have a park ticket, the best option is just to check your bags and head to Magic Kingdom. Even if you just get on a few rides and catch the parade, you’ll make your next visit to the park that much easier. Alternatively, you could head to one of the restaurants for lunch, or perhaps go and kick back by the pool.
I don’t recommend waiting all the way until 3PM before making a second visit to the front desk. If you arrive at 11AM, I think revisiting the desk at 1PM to see if a room is available yet is a fine idea. You can also continually check in the app to see if a room has been assigned. While I usually get the text confirmation when my room is ready, the system isn’t perfect.
Guests of the King Kamehameha Club Level have a dedicated check-in desk next to the regular check-in desks.
When staying Club Level, it’s always beneficial to swing by the desk, even if you’ve checked in online. This will ensure you’re provided any relevant information about your benefits.
Polynesian Village Grounds and Theming
Polynesian is a large campus, with a central “Great Ceremonial House,” 11 hotel buildings, two pools, and 20 Disney Vacation Club bungalows along the water.
The theming of Polynesian Village is—obviously—Polynesia. Polynesian is not “Hawaiian” themed. Polynesia is a broader area across the central and south Pacific covering many other cultures.
This may seem insignificant, except Disney does have a Hawaiian themed resort, Aulani, in Hawaii.
The Great Ceremonial House is where you’ll find most of the hotel amenities. Polynesian has an open lobby, but it’s not as gigantic as the lobbies at Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge. The centerpiece of the resort is a tiki statue of Maui.
Adjacent to the lobby, on the first and second floors, you’ll find all the stores and restaurants. Also on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House is the monorail stop for Polynesian. As with all monorail resorts, you’ll pass through security before boarding.
Outside the back of the lobby, you’ll immediately see Pineapple Lanai, a spot specializing in pineapple dole whip, before encountering the feature pool—the Lava Pool (sometimes called Volcano Pool)—and its accompanying play area Kiki Tikis Splash Play Area.
A secondary pool sits among the eastern buildings of the property. While there are walkup bar / restaurants accessible near the pools, neither has poolside service.
Past the feature pool you’ll find the marina and launch for boats to Magic Kingdom. You can walk to both Transportation and Ticket Center (5 minutes) and Grand Floridian (10-15 minutes) from Polynesian. From Transportation and Ticket Center, you can catch the monorail directly to Epcot. From Grand Floridian, you can walk to Magic Kingdom.
The theming across the Polynesian grounds is excellent. This might be why we swing by Polynesian pretty regularly just to take in the environment. You can grab a coffee at Kona Island or a drink at Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace and really soak in the “island living” feel.
I would add, though, that like any Disney World resort, Polynesian tends to be a crowded place. Insofar as you’re looking for a more serene resort experience, you’re unlikely to find it here. There are some spots to escape to, like the small beach on the way to Grand Floridian, pictured above, but when you’re walking the grounds of the resort, or eating at the restaurant, or sitting poolside, you can expect the usual hustle and bustle of a Disney World resort.
Moana Rooms at Polynesian
While I may have used kinder words in my old review, I hated the old Polynesian guest rooms. They were absolutely the weakest part of an otherwise amazing resort. The new Moana rooms are a huge upgrade from the old rooms.
Look, the newest rooms at Disney World, particularly the deluxe resorts, have struck an amazing balance between functionality and theming. For much of the 2010s, a lot of deluxe rooms had some sort of bland minimalism to them. Now, the rooms are sleek, themed, and functional.
There is ample space under the beds. Hardwood floors (easier to keep clean). Plenty of drawer and counter space, along with plenty of outlets. And the theming hits everything it can without overpowering you. Lampshades, chairs, headboards—all these carry themed design that beautifully accents the room.
A big upgrade to this room from the old one we stayed at a few years ago—a doorway dividing the toilet from the rest of the bathroom! This is a small but absolutely necessary change. (I can’t speak to whether every room is like this, but the two new rooms we’ve stayed in have been.)
Theme Park Views at Polynesian
While our most recent visit was in a standard/garden view, a few stays ago we spent some nights in a Theme Park View room. We have a post Comparing Theme Park Views of Magic Kingdom at the Monorail Resorts if you’re set on a special view. As guests of the King Kamehameha Club Level, our room was in the Hawaii building.
The Theme Park View was amazing. They play Polynesian music from the speakers during the day, making this balcony an absolutely ideal spot to relax for a bit.
The speakers also play the music for the fireworks at Magic Kingdom. I’ve watched that show from Polynesian before, but it’s always nice to be able to do so from your own room.
Food & Drink at Polynesian Village Resort
Polynesian has two table service restaurants, two quick service restaurants, four bars, one dole whip stand, and a small cafe-style restaurant. Room service is also available. (The old Spirit of Aloha dinner show is no longer available.)
Table Service Restaurants at Polynesian Village
The two table service restaurants, ‘Ohana and Kona Cafe, both sit off the second floor of the lobby. ‘Ohana is the most popular table service restaurant at Polynesian. Breakfast at ‘Ohana is a family-style character breakfast with Lilo and Stitch. Dinner is also family style, but is not a character meal, instead having fun and activities themed to Polynesia.
Kona Cafe is the casual table service option at Polynesian Village. Kona Cafe is probably most known for its Tonga Toast at breakfast (we’re also fans of the Bloody Mary flight).
Just outside Kona Cafe is Kona Island, which does not participate in the Disney dining plan. This is a coffee shop in the morning, but changes into a small dining spot in the afternoon, specializing in sushi.
Quick Service at Polynesian Village
The main quick service option at Polynesian Village is Captain Cook’s. Captain Cook’s is an all day (no longer 24 hours, usually 7AM to 11PM) quick service option that serves a mostly standard quick service menu throughout the day. One highlight is that you can get Tonga Toast here if you don’t want to get a table at Kona Cafe.
Oasis Bar and Grill, by the Oasis Pool (the secondary pool) is an alternative quick service option with a very creative menu including fish tacos, spinach and watermelon salad, and crispy fried calamari.
Getting Dole Whip at Polynesian
Polynesian likes to remind guests that it’s the only hotel that services dole whip (pineapple soft serve). You can purchase dole whip at Pineapple Lanai, right behind the lobby, outdoors next to Captain Cook’s.
Bars at Polynesian Village
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is probably the most famous Disney bar and a personal favorite of many guests, including us. It’s mostly a very good tiki bar, but there is a nice touch of Disney fun thrown in that makes it a must-experience for adults and families alike. Trader Sam’s is a mainstay of adulting at Disney World and really is the highlight of the monorail bar crawl.
Just outside the Grog Grotto is Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace. This is a beautiful spot with good ambiance and tasty drinks. If the Grog Grotto is full, you’ll want to grab your buzzer and grab a seat on the Tiki Terrace.
Tambu Lounge is the bar at ‘Ohana. If you’re looking for a more traditional Disney hotel bar, this is the spot to visit. It’s good for grabbing a drink before your meal or after getting in from the parks.
Barefoot Pool Bar is the pool bar at Polynesian’s feature pool.
Recreation at Polynesian
Polynesian maintains a standard schedule of activities, including things like trivia, movies under the stars, and campfires. From the marina, you can rent boats for fishing or just exploring Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon.
Shopping at Polynesian
Adjacent to the lobby you’ll find two stores—BouTiki on the first floor and Moana Mercantile on the second floor. BouTiki is more the spot to find nicer clothes, Polynesian gear, and housewares.
Moana Mercantile is more for snacks, toys, and some simpler apparel.
Transportation At Polynesian
One of the perks of staying at Polynesian is the easy access to the Magic Kingdom. You can take a monorail two stops (about five minutes) to Magic Kingdom. Alternatively, you can take a boat from the marina to Magic Kingdom, which also takes about five minutes.
Coming back from Magic Kingdom, you’ll be the third monorail stop, so the ride will take closer to 10 to 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can take the boat with one stop at Grand Floridian, also about a 15 minute trip.
The walking path connecting Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom has now opened. As Grand Floridian is itself walkable from Polynesian, this will effectively create a walking path from Polynesian to Magic Kingdom. From Polynesian it takes about 25-30ish minutes (at a relatively fast pace I did it in 23 minutes) to get to Magic Kingdom on foot.
To get to Epcot, you’ll have to take the monorail from Transportation and Ticket Center. You can either take the resort monorail 15-20 minutes to TTC and then transfer, or you can walk 5-10 minutes over to TTC.
Bus transportation will get you to Hollywood Studios (15 min), Animal Kingdom (15 min), Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and Disney Springs. It’s not uncommon for buses at Polynesian to be shared with the other Magic Kingdom resorts during the middle of the day.
These days, we use (and endorse) Uber when we need to get to rope drop or are in any other sort of rush. We spent $12 to get from Polynesian to Animal Kingdom Lodge for dinner, for example. Disney’s official rideshare, Minnie Vans, are also an option.
Guests who bring a car to Disney World will have free parking, and theme park parking is included. A car can help stays at Polynesian, but isn’t strictly necessary.
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort - Conclusions
Polynesian is a really hard resort to draw clear conclusions about. For me, Polynesian is almost victim of its own high quality. Here’s why…
One of my most “Magical” Disney memories is sitting on the beach outside Polynesian and watching Wishes across the Seven Seas Lagoon with my family.
One of my favorite birthday surprises I’ve ever given Emily was a visit to the then-new Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto.
And there’s definitely something nice about grabbing a press pot from Kona Island, sitting in the Polynesian lobby, and enjoying the sights, smells, and sounds of a busy Disney morning.
But here’s the thing…all of those are things I did when I wasn’t a guest at Polynesian. You don’t have to pay in excess of $600 per night to enjoy the best that Polynesian has to offer, you just have to spare a few minutes to take the monorail or boat from Magic Kingdom (or pay for an Uber from your hotel).
By paying for Polynesian’s rates, most of what you’re getting is (1) their great rooms (2) access to their good pool and (3) the easy transit to/from Magic Kingdom.
In the past, I wasn’t a fan of the rooms, but they are in the top tier of Deluxe rooms now and arguably the best rooms around the Monorail. So while I used to waffle on whether the Polynesian was worth even a short stay, now I can definitely say the resort is worth it for a night or two.
Access to Magic Kingdom is probably the thing that will bring you to the monorail resorts (other than their “bucket list”) status. The Boardwalk area hotels may be better for adults or families with older kids at Disney World. The monorail resorts are best for people who will spend a lot of time at Magic Kingdom. So while it’s worth the price for a few nights, can it justify a full, four-to-five night trip?
I love a walk through Polynesian as much as everyone. Heck, if I’m staying at Grand Floridian I’ll get off the monorail at TTC and walk across Polynesian just for the scenery. I just don’t love it enough to believe it’s worth an entire, say five-night stay.
With the Moana rooms and a walking path to Magic Kingdom (via the Grand Floridian), I’m happy to say Polynesian is our choice for best Monorail resort. (Contemporary and its Incredibles rooms are fine competition, for what it’s worth.)
That said, like Contemporary we endorse split stays at Polynesian. On an ideal Disney World trip where we’ll need a lot of Magic Kingdom time, we’d stay two nights at one of these two hotels and the remaining nights at a value resort.
Polynesian has a lot to offer, but its high prices demand you be strategic in deciding How and when to visit!
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
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Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
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