5 Reasons to Stay at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Resort is one of the original resorts at Walt Disney World. Polynesian Resort and Walt Disney World Resort are both celebrating their 50th anniversary. We had the recent privilege of staying at the Polynesian Resort. Here are the top 5 reasons to stay at Polynesian Resort.
Room Renovations
The last time I had stayed at the Polynesian was in 2017. I’ll admit when we initially stayed there, I was not a huge fan. I felt the rooms were dated. Staying at the Polynesian in 2022 was a completely different story. The Polynesian Resort just completed a massive renovation. All of the guests rooms were renovated, the lobby, and even the monorail station. The areas that I felt were dated previously have been completely transformed.
The guest rooms have been transferred to Moana. Although some people do not like Disney incorporating IP into their resorts, I love it. I feel that most guests staying at a Disney resort want to have a Disney theme. The Moana guestrooms hit it out of the park. It still retains the vision of the original resort but has refreshed the areas that needed refreshed and added a beloved character.
The rooms are gorgeous. Moana, Maui, and Hei Hei all make an appearance in the room. The details still look classy and beautiful. We had part of our family staying in the Polynesian villas and the other half in the traditional hotel rooms. Both rooms have been renovated. The villas feature subtle Lilo and Stich accents and have the popular Murphy bed instead of a sleeper sofa. The studio villas and hotel rooms all sleep 5 guests. This is a great option for families of 5 to avoid booking two rooms.
Transportation
One of my favorite parts of the Polynesian Resort is the transportation to the parks. Guests enjoy monorail access to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Bus service is provided for Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. The monorail station was also recently renovated and is beautiful. The monorail provides a short trip to Magic Kingdom. As parents of young children, we love not having to collapse a stroller to board the monorail. Another perk is guests go through security at the monorail station avoiding the lines for security at the ticket and transportation center.
Guests at the Polynesian can also take a boat to Magic Kingdom. Depending on the room location, the boat may be quicker to reach Magic Kingdom than the monorail.
Pool
The Polynesian Resort has a well themed and kid friendly pool. The feature pool at the Polynesian is the Lava Pool. It has a 142-foot-long waterslide. The pool is a zero-entry making it popular with kids and adults alike. The main pool also features a kids play area.


Image Credit: Disney
Another perk of staying at the Polynesian is you can order a Dole Whip at Pineapple Lanai and enjoy it by the poolside.


Photo: Shannon Loehrlein
Location
The Polynesian Resort has a perfect location and proximity to Magic Kingdom. Because the Polynesian is on the monorail loop, guests can also enjoy dining at the nearby Grand Floridian Resort and Contemporary Resort.
While I was staying at the Polynesian, I wanted to try one of the Grand Floridian 4th of July holiday treats. The walk from the Polynesian to the Grand Floridian was only 7 minutes. Being close to other resorts gives guests access to more dining options. We also took the monorail and had dinner at Steakhouse 71.
Guests of the Polynesian are also eligible for evening after hours for deluxe resort guests. Epcot and Magic Kingdom provide extended evening hours for guests of select resorts. We have found that crowds are significantly lower at these after-hours events.
Theming
The most popular reason people love the Polynesian Resort is the theming. We visited the Polynesian a month after taking our first trip to Hawaii. We stayed at Disney’s Resort, Aulani Resort and Spa, but still did not feel that the Polynesian paled in comparison. Both were equally beautiful. In fact, my recent trip to Hawaii made me appreciate the theming and the Hawaiian cultural influences.
Some families may not be able to make the trip to Hawaii. The Polynesian will give guests the taste of Hawaii but on the mainland.
The Polynesian Resort is so popular that if often sells out on popular travel dates. I recommend guests who want to stay at the Polynesian to book in advance. I rarely see the Polynesian have last minute availability. Working with a Disney Vacation Planner is great way to check on availability at the Polynesian Resort.
Do you want more help planning your next Disney vacation? As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, my goal is to help you plan the Magic your way. I also create customized itineraries, book advanced dining, monitor for discounts for your vacation, and much much more! Also, did I mention that my services are FREE!!!! Contact me at SLoehrlein@MickeyTravels.com or follow me on Facebook @MickeyTravelsShannonLoehrlein