Disney's Polynesian Resort
Along with a warm aloha and a lei greeting, guests are invited to enter the soothing South Seas environment of the Great Ceremonial House, a green oasis sheltering the front desk, shops, and restaurants.
Vines encase the rugged lava rock cataracts that cool the two-story lobby resting below towering palm trees. Among the centerpiece garden is a profusion of flowering orchids, bromeliads, ginger, and anthurium scattered throughout banana trees, elephant ears, and rubber plants. High-backed rattan chairs sit on floors of polished flagstone while overhead brilliantly colored macaws perch in the branches of the surrounding foliage. Two-story picture windows draw the eye outdoors to the lush landscape surrounding the Volcano Pool and the Seven Seas Lagoon beyond. Some find this resort a bit hokey and old-fashioned, but it has a loyal following — and I love it.
Located on the monorail system and within walking distance of the Ticket and Transportation Center, Disney’s Polynesian Resort is the most convenient of Disney’s resorts with direct access to both Magic Kingdom® Park and Epcot®. Lodging is in 11 tangerine- and mahogany-tinted longhouses scattered throughout the luxuriant grounds composed of more than 75 species of dense vegetation. Ducks and ibis roam the thick grassy lawns and rabbits hop along meandering pathways lined with volcanic rock. In the evenings, the resort is torch-lit, and soft Hawaiian melodies set a romantic mood. Three white-sand beaches dotted with hammocks and lounge chairs are a spectacular place to sun or to relax while viewing the nightly fireworks at Magic Kingdom® Park.
Cara's Tip: Some find this resort a bit hokey and old-fashioned, but it has a loyal following. There are, however, many complaints of lackluster service and poor management. I have had a few unpleasant experiences myself so don’t expect a flawless stay here each and every time.
853 rooms. 1600 Seven Seas Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830; 407-824-2000; Fax 407-824-3174. Check-in 3 p.m.; Check-out 11 a.m.
Accommodations
Guestrooms
Some of the largest standard rooms in Disney with around 440 square feet are here at the Polynesian. Rooms are quite nice with chocolate and cream-colored batik print carpeting, and furnishings that are a mixture of dark and blond wood. Bamboo bed frames go well with the batik-style bedspreads rich with rust, blue, and brown tones, and the drapery is fun with a tropical leaf motif. A rattan chair with ottoman sits in the corner.
Running the length of the wall opposite the bed is a bamboo bureau attached to a vanity/desk atop which sits a built-in 32-inch LCD flat-panel TV. Many rooms also offer a daybed. In the entry are built-in closets with reed motif etched glass paneling that feature a marble-topped bar with an under-the-counter refrigerator, coffeemaker, and an electronic safe. Smallish baths come without Disney’s typical split-bath configuration and many without double sinks, but all are handsomely festooned with rich green marble vanities, rust-colored marble flooring, seagrass wallpaper, tiki god fixtures offering very poor lighting, and rounded shower rods with sea green batik print curtains. Baths in the Tokelau, Tahiti, and Rapa Nui longhouses are a bit larger. Amenities include an IPOD docking station clock radio, iron and ironing board, full-length mirror, dual-line phones, and daily newspaper.
Cara's Tip: Walls are particularly thin resulting in a bit too much noise heard from surrounding guestrooms. Your best chance of receiving the perfect room (of which there are many) is to educate yourself before check-in and request exactly what you would like, both at reservation time and again at the front desk before being handed your key. The following information may sound excessive, but it could make the difference between a perfect vacation and a disappointing one. The longhouses of Tokelau, Tahiti, and Rapa Nui feature the largest rooms, all of which come with patios or balconies and a convenient location near the Transportation and Ticket Center. Older longhouses, closer to the Great Ceremonial House, lack second-floor balconies.
The two-story Niue and Tonga longhouses, with the Tonga being an all-suite building, are small and intimate; the Tonga has second-floor balconies, the Niue does not. Water-view rooms in the Tahiti building front a lovely beach with great views across the lagoon but are also located very close to the Transportation and Ticket Center with noise from the ferryboat during park hours. One side of the Samoa and the Niue buildings faces the rambunctious Volcano Pool, a plus or minus depending on your personality. One side of the Fiji longhouse looks at the marina but is considered a garden view. One side of the Aotearoa, Tonga, and Rarotonga longhouses faces the monorail, and one side of the Rapa Nui can see the parking lot, although these are actually considered “garden” views.A few garden-view rooms closest to the concierge lounge in the Hawaii building look at another building.
If staying in the Fiji, Tuvalu, Tonga, and Aotearoa, you had better enjoy the beat of drums, because the Polynesian Luau is held nearby. The worst view is from the so-called garden-view side of the Tuvalu longhouse that stares at one end of the Fiji building only a few feet away. And now there’s a Magic Kingdom lagoon view category that guarantees you a spectacular view of the park but at a higher price tag.
Concierge Rooms
Nestled up against the beach is the Hawaii concierge building, offering the services of a concierge staff as well as private check-in and checkout. The bi-level Royal Polynesian Lounge is among the best in Disney’s repertoire, affording a fantastic view of Cinderella’s Castle and the Magic Kingdom fireworks with quite delicious food to boot. Accommodations come with either a lagoon view, theme park view (a guaranteed view of the castle without obstructions), or a garden view, but second-floor rooms do not have balconies. Additional amenities include robes, DVD players, and nightly turndown service.
Open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., the concierge lounge has complimentary food and beverages, beginning with a continental breakfast of juice, coffee, tea, fresh fruit, hot oatmeal, pastries, bagels, English muffins, and cereal. From noon to 4:00 p.m., fresh fruit, cookies, orange guava juice, lemonade, coffee, and ice tea are served along with snacks such as cookies, gummy worms, and goldfish crackers. Evening choices include fresh pineapple with caramel dipping sauce, hummus, cheese and crackers, crudités and dip, PB&J sandwiches, and two hot appetizers such as sushi rolls, vegetable spring rolls, BBQ pulled pork, duck pot stickers, chilled banana and coconut soup, Maui onion potato au gratin, scallop bacon wraps, chicken satay, Asian slaw, and Kona sticky wings, as well as wine and beer. After dinner are cordials and mini desserts of brownies, éclairs, cream puffs, fruit tarts, and petit fours. There’s also a self-service espresso and cappuccino machine.
Suites
All suites are located in the small and intimate two-story Tonga longhouse. Their only drawback is the inconvenient walk to the Hawaii longhouse concierge lounge for food offerings since the only meals served in the Tonga building are continental breakfast and afternoon snacks and beverages. All suites are decorated in an ethnic island style with impressive rattan and bamboo furnishings, seagrass wallpaper, bedspreads in tropical prints, and granite countertops throughout.
For the ultimate vacation, try the King Kamehameha, a two-story wonder with two bedrooms, two and a half baths, a parlor, and a kitchen. At 1,863 square feet, the upstairs master offers a balcony, bamboo king bed, entertainment center, easy chair with ottoman, an enormous two-part bath with a sink, bidet, commode, whirlpool tub, TV, and walk-in closet on one side—and a tub, shower, sink, and commode on the other. The second bedroom has two queen beds, easy chair with ottoman, entertainment center, bath with double sinks and separate shower and tub, as well as a balcony. Downstairs is a great parlor with flagstone-style tile flooring, entertainment center, six-person dining table, a seagrass sleeper sofa, easy chairs, bamboo coffee table, overhead paddle fans, half bath, and granite kitchen with microwave, dishwasher, sink, toaster, and coffeemaker. A balcony spanning the length of the suite overlooks the marina and Cinderella’s Castle in the distance. CARA’S TIP: The Honeymoon Room can connect to the King Kamehameha Suite to make a 3-bedroom, 3-1/2 bath.
The two-bedroom, three-bath Ambassador Suites at 1,513 square feet have a master with a king bed, entertainment armoire, chaise lounge, desk, table and two chairs, large bath, and balcony. The living room features two small sofas, a large TV, chaise lounge, dining table for four, sleeper sofa, large garden-view balcony or patio, wet bar, full bath, and separate full kitchen (minus a stove). The second bedroom is the same size as a standard guest room with a balcony. A few caveats here: there are two Ambassador Suites: one on the first floor and one on the second with preference on request only. The downstairs suite faces a small fenced garden; the upstairs suite has a view of the parking lot. Both are close to and have a view of the monorail.
The marina/Cinderella Castle–view two-bedroom/two-bath Princess Suite has dark rattan furnishings in the seagrass wallpapered living area with daybed, settee, two easy chairs, coffee table, glass-topped bamboo side tables, flat-panel television and DVD/VCR player, granite wet bar with microwave, and patio. Off to each side of the living area are two master-type bedrooms each with two queen beds, TV, easy chair, and ottoman. Each bedroom has a bath with granite-topped, double-sinked vanities, and a separate room with a bathtub, stand-alone granite shower, and toilet (one bath is wheelchair accessible). A One-Bedroom Princess Suite simply eliminates the 2nd bedroom.
The Honeymoon Room is a slightly oversized standard guest room offering a marina/Space Mountain view, king bed with orchid-motif duvet, an easy chair and ottoman, bamboo table and chairs for two, and patio. The bath is found off the foyer with a whirlpool tub, double sinks, and separate shower.
You’ll find complete information on dining, recreation, services, and transportation at Disney's Polynesian Resort in The Luxury Guide to Walt Disney World® Resort.
