Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Review

Polynesian Village Resort is a deluxe hotel at Walt Disney World themed to retro tiki culture and the South Pacific, with monorail access to Magic Kingdom. This review features room photos, thoughts on the amenities, and whether this expensive resort is worth the money. (Updated February 5, 2025.)

We’ll start with several updates. The good news is that Walt Disney World has finished construction of the new Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. This massive Disney Vacation Club addition is located at the perimeter of the resort, and is technically part of the Polynesian (hence the name), but is nothing like the legacy resort. It quite literally towers over the longhouses.

The Island Tower has its pros and cons, but since it’s a DVC resort, we’re not going to focus on most of those in this review. All you need to know if you’re considering a stay on the hotel side of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (or the Poly as it’s known by fans) is that the Island Tower adds a lot of rooms to the already crowded resort without adding many amenities.

Especially during busy seasons, expect more congestion along the beaches for fireworks, in the Great Ceremonial House during the dinner rush, and when trying to use the resort monorail during peak times around park opening and closing. On the plus side, Wailulu Bar & Grill along the waterfront in the Island Tower is a great casual place to eat dinner around sunset or during the fireworks.

Now that the Island Tower is open, the bulk of the multi-year construction projects at the Poly is now completed. The only thing that remains ongoing is road work. This includes the World Drive North project, relocation of the Polynesian’s main entrance, and creation of a roundabout connecting roads. Walt Disney World hasn’t officially announced any of this, but it’s supported by multiple construction permits.

So if you’re wondering why there’s a “Please Pardon Our Pixie Dust” message on the official Walt Disney World website for the Polynesian, that’s why. The message is honestly a bit odd, and contains outdated info about the “proposed expansion” of the resort. That was for Island Tower, which is now open. To the best of our knowledge, the work that’ll last through 2026 is all related to roads and the entrance, and is happening on the far side of the parking lot–there’s no impact to the guest experience.

It’s honestly odd that Disney wouldn’t explain that this construction revolves around roads, as we’ve heard from many readers who are reluctant to stay at the Polynesian in 2025 or 2026. These same worries probably wouldn’t exist if they knew it was infrastructure work on the opposite side of the parking lot, instead of construction to the resort itself.

Perhaps we’re wrong and there’s more to it that has yet to be announced, but there is no “proposed expansion” or construction that’s currently underway on the Poly itself (as the message states). That work is all finished. Suffice to say, we have no hesitations in staying at the Poly now that the Island Tower is done (aside from the aforementioned increase to crowds during busier times). We’re excited to finally do so again, and recommend it to you, too.

As for the Poly itself, all work is done on the hotel side of the resort and has been for a few years, including the room refurbishment. We’ve stayed in these overhauled accommodations, and share the experience in our Photos & Video: “Moana Makeover” Rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Along with the new rooms, a number of upgrades have been made around the Poly in the last couple of years. The Great Ceremonial House received updates, a new porte-cochère and monorail station were built, and gardens around the front entrance were reimagined.

With all of these refurbished finished and only construction continuing outside the parking lot, the Poly is looking and feeling fresh as of 2025. Here’s our updated hotel review, following our most recent stay in one of the Moana rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort…

As one of Walt Disney World’s original hotels, the Polynesian has a rich history and is incredibly popular with Disney fans. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is considered a village because of its sprawling layout comprised of 11 longhouses plus the over-the-water Bora Bora Bungalows, which radiate out from the Great Ceremonial House.

The Great Ceremonial House contains several restaurants, shops, an atrium lobby with many species of tropical plants, and access to the monorail station that services Magic Kingdom, the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), Grand Floridian Resort, and Contemporary Resort.

Outside the Great Ceremonial House, you’ll find the Poly’s marina and feature pool, plus outdoor seating areas for a handful of the resort’s restaurants. There’s also a path that connects the Polynesian to the Island Tower to Disney’s Wedding Pavilion, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

This path now connects all the way to Magic Kingdom, making it theoretically possible to walk from the Poly to Magic Kingdom (it’s about a mile-long walk–definitely doable in the winter months, but probably not ideal during the summer). This path actually starts at the TTC, meaning you could theoretically walk from the TTC to Magic Kingdom. If you enjoy serene strolls, it’s actually quite lovely. But we digress.

We have long been fans of the Poly. For me, it dates back to when I was a kid, walking from Shades of Green to the Poly for the monorail (now no longer possible), and going to the Neverland Club (now closed) while my parents went to Pleasure Island (since replaced by Disney Springs).

We’ve since been back numerous times for dining and other purposes, and have stayed at the Poly both before and after the big “renewal” of the resort, on both the hotel side and DVC side of the property. We’ve stayed in over a half-dozen different room types, and visited the Poly more times than I can count for meals or just the South Seas serenity.

While there were some loses during that renewal (such as the lobby water feature) and DVC expansion, the Poly is still an excellent resort and one that now feels nicer and modern. Let’s start by taking a look at the positives…

The Poly is just a flat out cool resort. It has a ton of incredibly detailed tikis scattered around the grounds that were carved by Oceanic Arts in California. I could spend a morning just wandering around looking at these, and their cheeky designs always make me smile.

In general, the Polynesian has a very enjoyable ambiance thanks to its many details and the general island ambiance that is so well conveyed, even if the resort is more a lighthearted caricature (not at all in a bad way) of island life than it is an attempt at authenticity. The feel of the Poly is a definite X-factor. In terms of theme and atmosphere, this is one of our favorite resorts at Walt Disney World.

In terms of layout, I think the Polynesian Resort will satisfy a variety of guests. I’ve stated in numerous reviews that I like resorts that are spread out, giving me plenty to explore in the mornings. I think this has perplexed a lot of commenters, who generally seem to favor compact layouts for the efficiency’s sake.

The Poly is not as spread out as Coronado Springs or Caribbean Beach Resort, making it easy to walk to the Great Ceremonial House in the morning no matter the longhouse in which you’re staying. Despite this ease of access, there’s still a lot to explore, making those who prefer the sprawling “resort” layout (like me) happy. The only resort that does a better job of striking this balance is probably Wilderness Lodge (Grand Floridian also does it well).

Exploring the Polynesian is a ton of fun, too. I’ve long held the opinion that sunsets at the Polynesian are more beautiful than sunsets anywhere else at Walt Disney World, and I’m convinced that the same is true of sunrises. One of the great things about staying at the Poly is getting up early and enjoying the resort with no one else around.

Whenever we stay at the Poly, I get up well before sunrise to walk around, take photos, and soak up the ambiance. If it weren’t for wanting to take photos, I could just lounge in a hammock listening to the relaxing background music for an hour or so as the sun comes up.

We also enjoy simply hanging out in the Great Ceremonial House. The open air atrium gives it a relaxed, spacious atmosphere. Around dinner time, it can get loud in here, but it’s generally pretty calming.

We do miss the waterfall that used to be in the middle of the lobby, but aside from this and the removal of some of the streams behind the Great Ceremonial House, the changes made to the Poly in the last few years have been generally positive.

The rooms are a big plus at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and these might be some of the nicest at Walt Disney World now. Rooms now feature Moana-inspired decor, along with custom-made fixtures and furnishings.

The quality of these is mixed but mostly good. The furniture is heavy and substantial, feeling both high quality and durable. These do a great job of balancing theme and luxury, offering an upscale vibe of the tropics. They utilize textures and patterns nicely, without being overly busy or chaotic.

Functionally, there’s a lot to like about the rooms. There are tables with outlets on each side of each bed and reading lights in addition to lamps. There’s also uplighting from the headboard itself, which is fantastic as a single-source mood light for decompressing after a long day in the parks.

As with other Walt Disney World hotel redesigns, the beds are elevated with storage of suitcases. There’s also more storage space flanking the television and dresser, but this comes with a big potential drawback–no desk. (Personally, I think this was an unnecessary removal–this is a huge room and they added plenty of storage space. No need to also remove the desk for even more.) The chair and couch are both comfortable, and provide plenty of space for spreading out.

The additional storage space continues in the bathroom, where there are cubbies below the sinks and an elevated countertop above.

The backlit mirror provides ample lighting in the bathroom and the stone texture behind is a nice touch. The toilet is also now separated with a door, a simple but essential upgrade for larger parties.

In terms of commonalities between the old and older rooms, both are spacious, sleeping five adults with plenty of room to roam, and have space to sit, along with a desk for working and balconies with a table and chairs.

These rooms are among the largest at Walt Disney World, making them a good option for larger parties or those who will be spending a lot of time at the resort.

Above is a video that Sarah shot of the new Moana rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Suffice to say, the Poly’s rooms are perfect for laid back, resort-centric stays. Whereas there are some hotels at Walt Disney World geared towards only sleeping, you could easily stay at the Poly and never visit the parks–these are rooms you don’t want to leave!

In terms of dining, the Poly has four options that we love (click the link for our full review of each):

• Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto – One of the best bars at Walt Disney World
• Kona Cafe – Table service restaurant that’s an unheralded gem
• Captain Cook’s – A good to great (depending upon what you order) counter service restaurant
• ‘Ohana – One of Walt Disney World’s most popular restaurants…but perhaps (controversial opinion incoming) a bit overrated.

Don’t get us wrong–we really enjoy ‘Ohana. But the price has increased exponentially over the past several years and the quality has decreased in that same time. It’s still a ton of fun and if money were no issue, we’d highly recommend it.

In addition to these favorites, there’s Barefoot Pool Bar, Oasis Bar & Grill, Tambu Lounge, and a few snack spots.

Most notable of these is the Pineapple Lanai window, which is one of the few places outside the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World to get a Dole Whip.

While none of the aforementioned restaurants are fine dining options, there are plenty of those at the Grand Floridian and Contemporary, which are a short monorail ride or walk away.

Fine dining in the Polynesian would be nice, but given the proximity of the other options, we aren’t penalizing the Poly for its lack of fine dining.

The pools at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort used to be simply fine, but are now top notch. The main pool with its volcano slide was totally re-done, and now looks more authentic, while containing more areas that–I think–feel relaxing.

It’s not just a loud, family pool. The quiet pool is nothing special, but it’s not bad. The refurbishment has pushed the Poly to the head of its class in terms of Deluxe Resort pools near the Magic Kingdom.

Transportation is a complaint we have about every Magic Kingdom-area and Epcot-area Deluxe Resort, and that these high-priced hotels share buses while Pop Century (a Value Resort) does not continues to puzzle us. We feel this is a serious fault of all of these Deluxe Resorts, and something that Disney should correct.

Fortunately, the Poly has convenient monorail or boat transportation to the Magic Kingdom, and many longhouses are a short walk from the Ticket & Transportation Center, which also offers monorail service to Epcot. Getting to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and the water parks is less convenient, but the convenient access to two theme parks is a huge plus.

Far and away the biggest downside of the Poly is pricing. Discounted rates start at over $500/night and only go up from there–and that’s if discounts are even available.

The Poly is frequently excluded from special offers, in which case you’re looking at rates in the $700+ range. For the Polynesian Village Resort’s room rates, it should be a luxury-class hotel. Although the theming is fun and as a fan of Disney history I love all of the little details, the Poly isn’t on par with similarly-priced real world hotels.

However, this is a common refrain we have when it comes to Walt Disney World hotels, especially on the Deluxe end of the spectrum. It only becomes more pronounced with the most expensive hotels. Some nights, the Poly is double the cost of the Four Seasons Orlando or Waldorf Astoria–and it does not offer commensurate luxury.

It is a fair point to contend that the location, monorail transportation, and theming compensates for the lack of luxury. Historically, Walt Disney World hotels have gone for themed design rather than upscale amenities.

It’s also fair to say that location plays a huge role in price–most real world hotels don’t have Cinderella Castle visible in the distance, nor do they have a monorail whizzing past them.

If you want the best of both worlds, see our King Kamehameha Club Level at Polynesian Resort Review. Just a fair warning that Club Level rooms start at over $1,000 per night before discounts.

Conversely, if you’re trying to do Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort on a tighter budget, your best option is unquestionably renting Disney Vacation Club points.

This will give you the chance to stay at the Polynesian Villas (which we prefer to the regular rooms, anyway) at less than half the price of the main hotel. If you have a larger party and want something novel and fun, consider the Polynesian Bora Bora Bungalows (we didn’t love our one stay in those, but we had an ‘unfortunate incident.’)

Overall, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a great option for those who want to splurge on a trip, but want a resort with a more laid back and relaxed tropical vibe as opposed to an opulent and luxurious one. The Poly is pricey, but other than that we don’t have major complaints about the resort. Its theme and ambiance are exceptional and very much to our tastes, and it’s a great place to simply hang around and wander.

Beyond that, the Poly scores major points from a functional perspective. The rooms are among the best at Walt Disney World, the pools are great, and the dining options are diverse and fun (minus the lack of fine dining). Walkability and transportation also cannot be overstated–the ability to conveniently catch a monorail to both Magic Kingdom and Epcot is huge, an advantage you may not fully appreciate until having experienced it. All in all, these factors are why the Polynesian Village Resort ranks so highly on our List of the Best & Worst Deluxe Hotels at Walt Disney World.

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Want to do it yourself, but not sure which Walt Disney World hotel is right for you? Check out our Walt Disney World Hotel Reviews page, which offers quick-hit capsule reviews of the strengths and weaknesses of every Walt Disney World hotel, plus links to our reviews and photo pages for every hotel we have reviewed. Looking for comprehensive Walt Disney World vacation tips? Make sure to read our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide.

Your Thoughts

How do you feel about Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort? Do you think it’s overpriced for what it is, or do you think it’s such an awesome place that it justifies the high nightly rates? What are your pros & cons for the Poly? Thoughts on transportation or dining here? Do you agree or disagree with our resort review? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!