Top Reasons to Love Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

The Polynesian Resort was one of those bucket-list resorts for my family, and when we finally stayed there, it did not disappoint.

There are many reasons why the Polynesian Village Resort is a desirable choice. In a nutshell, this resort offers a few key real estate factors, namely, Location, Accessibility and Waterfront! This resort sits on the Monorail loop which is of great appeal to many guests. Want to relax on acres of grounds themed after the Southern Pacific region? Want access to the best kids’ aqua-play area on property? Want the convenience of the Monorail? How about ‘Ohana and Dole Whips?

Polynesian Village Resort is the place for you!

Top 5 Reasons I Love Polynesian Village Resort

#5. Polynesian-Styled Grounds

At Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, be prepared for full immersion into a Polynesian dream. I truly believe that Disney even provides a Pacific breeze for guests to enjoy at this resort! You will feel as though you are in a Hawaiian Paradise. 

The property is dense with lush greenery and spotted with the rich colours of various flowers. We identified beautiful Tahitian Gardenia and Hibiscus species to name a few. You can literally smell the floral palette of the resort as you stroll the grounds. This is all accented by burning torches along walkways, white sandy waterfront areas to lounge or engage in activities, and the beautiful Seven Seas Lagoon.

Upon arrival, you are met with your very own lei to add to the immersion. There are features all around the grounds to ensure that you are always enveloped in the theme. Also, as would be expected, the element of water is a critical piece of the Polynesian landscape. In addition, the grounds are alive with fish, turtles, lizards, and various water birds. The grounds truly relax you and invite you to be one with your natural surroundings.

 #4 ‘Ohana – Breakfast & Dinner

Polynesian Village Resort offers an on-site Character Breakfast as well as a wonderful, Family-Style Dinner that includes skewer-served meats and seafood. Having a Character Dining experience on-site is always a great feature for any resort. ‘Ohana goes one step further and introduces guests to the star attraction characters of the Polynesian, Lilo and Stitch!

Breakfast begins with fruit plates, followed by a platter of scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, sausages, pineappled ham, and Disney’s beloved Waffles. There are also stories and fun for the kids before the highlight of the morning….The Character meetings! Stitch is just so cute!

Then, in the evening, ‘Ohana serves up a fire-grilled array of meats and seafood, delivered to your table by skewer. A delightful platter of wings, potstickers, noodles, and mixed vegetables to accompany the meats and oak-grilled shrimp. Food, fun and a good time for all! The kids take a break to sweep coconuts around the dining hall while there is music and clapping. And then, the famous ‘Ohana bread pudding with vanilla ice cream & warm, rummed, caramel sauce. ‘Ohana means ‘family’, and this restaurant will ensure all the kinfolk are well fed!

#3. Great Deluxe Studios

While most of the resorts offer Deluxe Studios that are relatively similar in size, the Polynesian Village Resort stands out in this category. With the largest Deluxe Studios on property, you will surely be comfortable in these rooms. From adorable trundle beds to Tikiman lamps and a beautiful colour scheme to encourage easy relaxation after a long day of family fun and adventure. Further, you are pampered with two separate shower areas. The stand-up shower sports a rainfall shower head, built-in seat, and gorgeous tiling.

Then there is the view of Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom if you should choose a Lake View room.

#2. Lava Pool & Kids’ Tiki Aqua Play Area

The Polynesian Resort has an awesome Lava Pool or as we prefer, Volcano Pool! The pool offers a zero-entry end, a beautiful waterfall element, a slide, and a huge volcano as the main feature. My son LOVED the Lava Slide with its passage through darkness to its speedy ejection into the sparkling blue waters below! As he began his descent through the tube, I could hear, “bye for good!” The views from atop the Volcano are impressive. Every detail has been painstakingly recreated to ensure guests always remain immersed.

And for those of you who are looking for a quieter swimming experience, the resort also has the Oasis Pool.

Now, one of the best pool offerings has to be the kids’ Tiki Water Play Area. When I ask my son what his favourite pool is on property, he always says ‘The Poly’ in reference to the Tiki Play Area.This kiddie play area is incredible!

The kids have a large area of gurgling spouts, spraying Tiki totems, rope-bridges, waterfalls, hide-outs and slides. You can literally spend hours at the Lava Pool and adjoining Tiki Play Area each day. The pools are conveniently located near the resort Counter Service, Capt. Cook’s for your food and drink refill needs as you bask in the sun and play.

Given that we visit Disney with a child, the Lava Pool and Tiki Play Area are near the top of our list of reasons to love this resort, and on any given day, it is our Number One reason! I reiterate – BEST KIDS’ Water Play area at Disney! If visiting Disney with kids who love spending time in the pools and aqua play areas, The Poly may be your best choice.

#1. Location / Transportation

So, we made it to the Number One Reason for loving Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. It was a tough decision between our Number 2 and our Number 1, but ultimately, my family feels that the best feature of the Polynesian Village Resort is the location and transportation options.

We LOVE being able to easily walk over to the beautiful Grand Floridian Resort. It is an easy stroll for families along a manicured path with the beach and water to your side. This proximity opens the door to many more dining options, shops, and of course, another wonderful pool and kids’ aqua play area. We love being able to take in the luxury and fun offered at the Grand Floridian.

From the Polynesian Resort, you can also walk to the nearby Transportation and Ticket Center which is where Epcot and Express Monorails both originate. This is a great option for quickly transporting to Epcot or the Magic Kingdom. You can also use buses from the resort or jump directly on the Monorail right from the Polynesian with quick transportation around the resort loop to the Grand Floridian, to the Contemporary, and back home to the Polynesian. There is also Water Taxi transportation from the Polynesian Resort over to the Magic Kingdom! The ways in which you can get around Disney world from this resort are numerous and this equates to CONVENIENCE.

A typical day when staying at the Poly would include getting up in the morning for some pool time, walking next door to eat lunch at the Grand Floridian Café, taking the Monorail over to either Magic Kingdom or Epcot until zipping back to the room for a nap! Then, head over to the Contemporary for dinner and Arcade fun! Being within minutes of the parks, and the amenities of two other Deluxe Resorts is definitely a recipe for fun, dining options, and convenience.

Verdict:

Polynesian Village Resort is a South Pacific escape, enveloping you in wild yet manicured greenery, exotic flowers, and an overwhelming feeling harmony with the surrounding environment. From the glistening Seven Seas Lagoon to white sands to evening torches dotting the property, this is a true haven.

The Resort offers great pool and aqua play areas and the ultimate convenience of multiple transportation options and both nearby parks and Deluxe Resorts.

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Previous blogs by Jason Swain:

TOP REASONS TO LOVE DISNEY’S RIVIERA RESORT

TOP REASONS TO LOVE DISNEY’S BEACH CLUB RESORT

TOP REASON’S TO LOVE DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

TOP REASONS TO LOVE DISNEY’S BAY LAKE TOWER