Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Review | Disney Resort for Families
If you’re looking for a Disney resort that offers both immersive theming and prime location, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort definitely delivers!. Our recent stay at this iconic Magic Kingdom area resort gave us the perfect balance of comfort, convenience, and Disney magic.
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From the newly refurbished rooms to the delicious dining options and peaceful pool areas, this resort quickly became a family favorite. In our opinion, if this resort is within your trip budget it will work for a variety of families.
Let’s take a look at some of the highlights of the resort, so you can see what makes it stand apart from other resorts at Walt Disney World!
What Makes Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Special?
Polynesian Village Resort is one of the original Walt Disney World resorts (opened in 1971!) and still retains its charm while feeling fresh and updated.
Located on the monorail loop, it is just one stop away to get to Magic Kingdom when you’re on the way to the theme park. And some of the far buildings are a short walk away from the Transportation and Ticket Center, meaning you can get directly on the EPCOT monorail without having to transfer monorails. (Which was one of my biggest complaints about staying at the Contemporary, this transfer felt clunky and time draining!)
The recently updated rooms now feature Moana inspired decor, blending Disney magic with modern comfort. The theming is subtle yet whimsical, perfect for families who love immersive environments without over the top characters in every corner.
We loved the beach location and went to the beach to watch fireworks every night we were there! They also had a number of great activities, like making your own Kukui Nut Lei (paid activity) and S’mores at the beach!
This was an all around family friendly resort with lots of great activities, and we feel like it would work well for a variety of families. Including families with a children at all ages.
Transportation & Location
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort offers convenient transportation options, including direct monorail access to Magic Kingdom and easy transfers to EPCOT via the nearby Transportation and Ticket Center.
There is also boat service to Magic Kingdom and walking paths to the TTC for additional flexibility.
Buses can take you to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs. We also used the transfer buses to get to the water parks and it was fairly quick and easy to get there as well. Hop on a bus to Disney Springs to get to Typhoon Lagoon, and a bus to Animal Kingdom to get to Blizzard Beach water park.
Room Types at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
We stayed in a standard room located in the Fiji building, and its location couldn’t have been better.
Just steps from the recently updated Polynesian’s Cove Pool, and a short stroll from both the main pool and the Great Ceremonial House, it provided easy access to everything we needed without feeling crowded.
The refreshed room designs were a standout part about our time here! Inspired by Moana, the updated decor features subtle Polynesian patterns, natural wood finishes, and vibrant accents that celebrate Disney storytelling without being overwhelming.
The rooms felt spacious, comfortable, and most importantly… family-friendly!
Bathrooms feature a bathtub and this was actually the only resort we stayed on during our resort tours that had a bathtub.
It should be noted that the shower is in the same room as the double sinks, which means that if someone is showering then everyone loses access to the bathroom area to get ready. This made it a bit more difficult to have multiple people getting ready at the same time, but we adjusted our schedule so that two people took showers in the evening and two took showers in the morning.
The beds were cozy and worked well for our family of four. There is also a lay down couch here that can turn into a bed as well, for a fifth sleeper!
There are also a number of room options here, smaller studio rooms, club level rooms, villas, and even bungalows that are over the water!
Dining Options at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Dining was a high point of our time at Polynesian Village Resort! It should be noted that our family loved Asian and Pacific inspired cuisine, so this was a great fit for us. All of the restaurants had a great selection, and we enjoyed the flavors here.
For us, one of the best parts of staying at the Polynesian is the on site dining. We enjoyed every meal, from quick snacks to sit down experiences.
Kona Cafe is an excellent table service restaurant option for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with fresh flavors and quick service.
We visited Kona Cafe for dinner on our recent trip and we tried a number of the sushi roll options that were great. I also got the Sauteed Red Quinoa with Mahi, which was absolutely delicious!
‘Ohana is one of our favorites for a character breakfast, but we also went to dinner here on our first night and it was a highlight of our trip!
We loved everything at the ‘Ohana dinner, including the Hawaiian style grilled meats to the iconic bread pudding. It’s a standout experience that is perfect for arrival day or last evening at the resort.
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is a fun lounge that the secret has definitely gotten out about! You’ll need to put your name on the waitlist to experience this one most days and kids are only allowed in before 8pm.
It’s a fun experience if you’re looking for something interactive and memorable with light appetizers.
Delicious Quick Service Options
Capt. Cook’s was our go to for quick service meals. The menu offers a great variety, and the mobile ordering made it super convenient. We ate here for both breakfast and lunch a number of times and enjoyed everything tried.
It should be noted that Capt. Cook’s offers both Tonga Toast for breakfast and noodles later in the day that are similar to dishes from some of the resort’s table service restaurants.
Pineapple Lanai offers Dole Whip treats at their window near the pool, and this is one of the only places to get Dole Whips at Disney World outside of the theme parks! We visited Pineapple Lanai a number of times to get Dole Whip treats during our trip.
We also really loved that they put freestyle drink machines near the Cove Pool that worked with our refillable mugs. These were convenient to stop by from our Fiji building room, and we loved the Island Fizz flavor that is specific to the Polynesian Village Resort!
There is also a quick coffee grab and go area on the second floor of the lobby called Kona Cafe to Go. They have a great selection of coffee and dessert options. Plus it is a great location to visit before boarding the monorail since its right at the doors that exit to the monorail!
All around the dining at Polynesian Village Resort is a high point for our family and we will continue to even just stop by the resort to visit the dining options!
Resort Perks: Location, Views, & Monorail Access
One of the biggest advantages of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is its location. You’re just one monorail stop away from Magic Kingdom and have easy transfer access to EPCOT. I especially liked that some buildings at the Polynesian are just a short walk away from the Transportation and Ticket Center, making it easier to catch a monorail to EPCOT.
Found in photo: Stitch Ears
If you’re a fan of nighttime shows, watching Happily Ever After from the beach is a truly magical experience. And our kids loved making s’mores on the beach every night too!
The lush landscaping, tropical vibes, and relaxed atmosphere also make this resort feel like a true escape, even while you’re still in the middle of the Disney bubble.
Maybe it was the atmosphere, but using the monorail felt just a bit easier here. Less crowded, and less of a hassle. This would be our top pick resort for staying on the Magic Kingdom monorail loop, and you can check out our full ranking of the Deluxe Resorts in this article.
Polynesian Resort Pools & Activities
The Lava Pool is a family favorite, featuring a large volcano structure, thrilling water slide, zero-entry area for little ones, and a nearby splash play zone.
For a quieter experience, the new Cove Pool offers a more relaxing atmosphere with a Moana theme splash area.
Beyond the pools, guests can enjoy a variety of activities like movies under the stars, tiki torch lighting ceremonies, recreation games, and rentals from the marina, including pontoon boats for a scenic cruise on Seven Seas Lagoon.
One of the paid activities was making Kukui Nut Leis and we thought this was a neat resort specific activity with a take home item.
My kids also loved making S’mores at the beach in the evenings. The resort offers a paid Mickey S’mores kit that includes all of the ingredients (chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows) that can be split between multiple kids, or they also give out two free marshmallows to roast to any guests that want to take part!
There is also a nightly showing of the Electric Water Pageant on Seven Seas Lagoon and stellar fireworks viewing from the beach area, as well as both pools.
Whether you’re looking to unwind or play, we found that there was a great variety of activities to do at this resort!
Would We Stay at Polynesian Village Resort Again?
After staying at every monorail area resort, this one is definitely one of our favorites! This is definitely a resort I would stay at again and in fact, I already have another trip booked here in the coming months!
Found in photo: Lilly Inspired Ears / Pink Skirt / Sandals
Polynesian Village Resort is a wonderful choice for families looking for a deluxe Disney resort with character, convenience, and that extra touch of magic.
The ambiance here is one of the best parts, and we enjoyed everything there is to do at this resort. It can get busy at times when a lot of guests are visiting the monorail resorts, but during the holidays it has the least decor out of all of the Magic Kingdom monorail area resorts so it will be slightly less busy than the Grand Floridian or Contemporary.
Our favorite time to stay here is in the spring, summer, or fall – and we have other resorts that would be our preference during the holidays. However if you love the Polynesian inspired atmosphere, Moana, and Pacific cuisine, there’s a good chance this resort will work well for you too!
The standard rooms are a good size and comfortable for a family of up to five people. There are also larger rooms available here, but keep in mind that costs also are higher due to the location.
If this resort has been grabbing your attention, or if you’ve just always wanted to stay here, we recommend giving this one a try! It’s one we will definitely stay at again, and will continue to visit even more often for their dining and activities!
Disclaimer:
** All opinions are unbiased and independent. This post contains affiliate links. Moms with Mouse Ears is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
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