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March 2024 by David R.
I absolutely love(d) this resort, particularly from a look and feel perspective. Both the Polynesian / South Pacific / Hawaii vibe, and the immersive Moana theme, which extends all the way to the custom shower tiles. Seriously, even the shower tiles are custom. That being said, look and feel first. What used to be just the isolated Polynesian with other resorts in the distance, now has a hideous "Florida modern" Disney Vacation Club condo building towering over it from next door. It has really killed your ability to step onto a water-facing balcony and forget you're in Florida. Similar issue when at the pool; can I imagine I'm at a water-spewing volcano in a remote land? Not anymore. Hugely disappointing. Next up, I don't typically factor price into my reviews, but again, we're well past market rate for hotel rooms here. There will be evenings where Polynesian is pushing $1100/night while the also-on-property Disney Swan and Dolphin might be $300/night, and bus-accessed resorts like Disney All Star, etc. could be even $250/night. I'm willing to pay a premium for Polynesian, even double, but not triple, and certainly not 4x+, for what is just a hotel room at the end of the day. Restaurant-wise, it's lackluster with the exception of the indoor side of Trader Sams Grog Grotto; an amazing tiki bar which becomes adults-only at 8pm. Problem with Trader Sams is you have to ruin your afternoon to get in there, because they only take walk-up reservations, and only if it's full; i.e. you can't show up during operating hours and get on the list for perhaps an hour or two later if there's a current spot available. So, what you end up doing is having to time your arrival perfectly, not too early, not too late, to hopefully get on the list where you'll get called back around when you wanted to. For example, we try to get on the list around 545pm, then go have dinner at a good restaurant elsewhere (Citrico's at Grand Floridan for example), and hopefully Trader Sams is calling us for seating around 715-745p when we'd have wanted to get back there anyway. If we get it wrong, we'll get called too early and lose our seats, or too late and we aren't feeling like pounding tiki drinks because it got too late. Club level rooms cost even more, and while the club is nice, it's not like the club at a Hyatt for example. The one exception is that you can watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from within the club, including the time synchronized music. It's great, most of the time. However, more often than not the past year or two, they haven't dimmed the lights in the club while the fireworks are going, making them very difficult to see. For the hotel room rate issue, I'd love to see Disney reward guests who book the hotel very early by opening up lower priced options very far in advance, if even a limited quantity. Have a pay in full policy, what Disney gives up by reducing the rates they'll make back on people who gamble and have to cancel with no refund. For Trader Sams, do the same. Require a significant and non-refundable reservation deposit and let people book seating when they want, while still at the parks they're paying a lot to enjoy. Any seat that goes empty is filled by a standby in ten minutes, and that missing ten minutes is made up for by the deposit. Restaurant still achieves the same cashflow. Why force guests to play the waiting list game in person. I think in the current setup results in everyone having a less than ideal experience for one reason or another. Paid too much, couldn't get what they want, the other on-site dining options are mediocre, ugly DVC building next door, etc. at pricing that only increases year after year.
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March 2024 by Warren W.
For the price our family does not feel like the Poly is worth it. The number one benefit was access to Dole Whips! Our view wasn't that pleasant, but the grounds are beautiful! The food court was just ok. Tonga toast for breakfast is a 5 star! Overall, as a family, we would rather use our Disney money at the parks rather than on our resort.
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March 2024 by Brad H.
The bungalow at the Polynesian Resort are amazing. The view is awesome and they are very private. The pool is nice and everything is very close.
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March 2024 by Christina S.
This was our first time at a Disney grounds resort and we had a wonderful time. We stayed in a deluxe standard studio. It was nice to have 2 bathrooms and the room was plenty of space for a family of four. I do agree the resort is spaced out. It provides a nice atmosphere for relaxing however with small kids it would have been nicer to be closer to the main building. If I had older kids I wouldn't mind. The pool with the kid area is wonderful. Just enough space for them to have fun. We also swam in the quiet pool as well. Captain Cooks and Koana cafe both have great options. There was enough variety and the ordering ahead was easy. Rooms were cleaned daily. The resort staff were friendly as well. The family activities and view of fireworks can't be beat. Monorail to MK was a huge perk and couldn't have been made easier. We will be back!
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March 2024 by Brent McDonald
Pretty good. Pretty, pretty good.
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March 2024 by Ron M
We liked the bungalow on the water but the hotel is very busy and reservations absolutely necessary for food much of the time. It’s “Disney nice”.
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March 2024 by Adam Barish
Update. Still disappointing. While the sweet bread is served again. ( It was on hiatus last visit ). They have discontinued the macadamia honey butter. It was theae little touches that set Kona/ the Polynesian/ Disney apart it is a Deluxe hotel and certainly the prices reflect it. The server was friendly and service generally good. Bussers, however were absent and table maintenance suffered. May be the last visit for a while.Usually a favorite, kona is a regular stop for us. Lunch took 90 minutes today. The pork belly noodles were extremely salty. Don't feel like we got the same value or enjoyment today that we are used to.
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March 2024 by Marcello Gerez
Great menu
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March 2024 by philip pfuelb
We had a negative experience with Trader Sam’s. Hostess and manager would not let my wife, age 29, myself, age 29, and her two parents in their sixties in because my wife’s drivers license recently expired and did not arrive in the mail on time. Even the TSA allows for expired licenses if they are recently expired. Afterwards we attempted to order a couple of drinks outside, and the same manager would only allow our party of four to order one drink. So did my wife’s DOB change within the two weeks of her license expiring?Is the state of Florida going you to revoke Walt Disney World’s liquor license for serving to a 29 year old and her parents? This was the last night of our otherwise fantastic trip and it left a bitter taste in our mouths.
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March 2024 by Phil Franze
An original hotel. It's amazing inside an a very unique experience. There's a few awesome restaurants as well and don't forget about trader Sam's
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March 2024 by Chuck Baker
Always high quality and good options at the resort.
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March 2024 by Jack Owen
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort is truly a gem, with its unbeatable location that effortlessly captures the magic of the nearby Magic Kingdom. Situated directly across the lake, the resort offers a front-row seat to the enchanting 8:00 fireworks display every night, elevating the overall experience for guests.The hotel itself is a masterpiece, adorned with lush tropical plants that create a captivating atmosphere as you stroll through the resort. The attention to detail extends to every corner, providing a delightful experience in its own right. The allure of the surroundings is further enhanced by the mesmerizing beauty of the Polynesian Village Resort.Families will find joy in the meticulously designed pool area, where the water slide adds an extra layer of excitement for the little ones. The staff, without exception, exudes courtesy and warmth, contributing to the overall positive ambiance of the resort.A special commendation is reserved for the dedicated room attendants who consistently went above and beyond to ensure our stay was exceptional. Our room was nothing short of amazing, thanks to their meticulous efforts in creating a welcoming and personalized environment.In summary, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort offers not only a prime location but also a harmonious blend of beauty, comfort, and exceptional service that transforms each stay into a truly magical experience.
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March 2024 by Alex Jordan
Gorgeous venue with amazing fireworks on the beach every night. The Polynesian is a family favorite!! It helps that the staff is amazing too!Nearby activities: Pool, hotel activities, and fireworks on the beach!Food & drinks: Kona Cafe - yum! The quick serve is great as is Trader Sam’s!Noteworthy details: The bar and lobby are so fun!
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March 2024 by Phillip Purvis
By far my favorite Disney Resort on property. Beautiful rooms, wonderful views of Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom, and amazing staff and atmosphere. 'Ohana is likely one of the best restaurants on property as well especially for breakfast. Definitely on the higher end cost wise forRooms: Wonderful rooms that are incredibly well themed. Cleaning services is amazing and they do a fantastic job with regularly checking and cleaning the rooms.Walkability: Incredibly walkable. The entire hotel has beautiful feel and vibe to it. Direct Access to the Disney World Monorail and Watercraft. This allows for access to Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Magic Kingdom, and transportation and ticket center. This allows walkable access to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios so there is no need for a car or bus with those parks.Food & drinks: 'Ohana is one of the best restaurants on property and is wonderful for breakfast. For Adults especially in the late evening there is Trader Sams for anyone who wants a bar with a fun experience. For Quick Service there are a ton of options including a coffee shop as well.Noteworthy details: Wonderful atmosphere. Definitely very peaceful at night but also can be lively. Its wonderful to open the window and just listen to the breeze, music, and boats going by. From the pier you can see "Happily Ever After" as well and they pump the music into the hotel.
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March 2024 by Alyssa Atanasio
One of my favorite Disney vacation spots!!
