Disney's Polynesian Village Resort

Beautiful resort, great location. But as a Disney Travel Agent I would really struggle to recommend this hotel. Booked a weekend night here a few weeks ago. Dropped our luggage in the room, grabbed a dole whip, and headed to the parks. Arrived back at the room late and hit the pillow. We woke up the next morning to a broken shower (the handle fell off) toilet that wouldn't flush, and a tub that wouldn't drain the water stuck in it. Contacted front desk immediately and was told maintenance would come out. We wait an hour and no one showed up. Went back to the front desk and asked again what we could do; we needed a bathroom to get ready. Maintenance was no where to be found and we already gave up the first hour of our park reservations. Their advice? To use the public restroom. We arrived back at the room later to checkout and I'll spare you the rest of the drama. We went two days without a shower in the hot Florida sun with no alternative, no recourse, no apology, nothing. Instead, for $950 a night, if something goes wrong, you'll be escorted to use the public restroom. Here's a photo of my husband washing his hair in the sink. What a disaster.

I recently stayed at the Polynesian and had a great time overall, but to be honest, the main reason I’d stay here again would be for the nostalgia and the location. There isn’t much else that really makes it stand out. Going into any Disney resort, you know you’re not getting a true luxury hotel experience, but you are paying those prices. Still, if you manage your expectations and want to stay in the Disney bubble, it can absolutely be worth it. Every cast member I interacted with was incredibly nice and friendly, which made a big difference. The grounds are lush and beautiful, and the Hawaiian music playing throughout the resort really adds to the immersive atmosphere. The whole place leans hard into its classic tiki theme, and it definitely delivers on that front. If you’re into that old-school Polynesian vibe, there’s a lot to love. That said, the resort is crowded. The lobby, walkways, and especially the pools were packed throughout the day. I found the Cove pool underwhelming, and the new tower being built is frankly an eyesore that takes away from the charm of the property. My room was comfortable, and the renovation shows in parts, but it’s also starting to feel a little worn again. Cleanliness could’ve been better. The bed was too firm for my taste, the sheets weren’t especially soft, and while the AC worked great, some of the finishes felt dated. The hallways looked and felt like a motel, cheaply built, worn down, and not really in line with the price point. Some of the building exteriors and stairwells looked like they haven’t been touched in years, which was disappointing. I’ve also stayed at the Grand Floridian, and while it has the same “not quite luxury” feel as most Disney resorts, it’s clearly better maintained and feels more refined. The grounds there are peaceful and elegant, and to me, it felt much more like a flagship resort. With prices usually being similar between the Poly and the Grand, I honestly don’t see a reason to choose the Polynesian again unless someone really prefers the theme. That said, I still had a great stay, it’s a fun, classic resort with unbeatable monorail access and tons of Disney charm. Just go in knowing what to expect.

We stayed here from Thursday to Sunday. Check-in was a breeze. The property is really cool with the Polynesian theme. The property was very clean and well maintained. The landscaping is very pretty around the whole property. We had a standard room with two queen beds. Very spacious for a standard room. Very clean and everything worked properly including the A/C. The room has an amazing amount of storage which was great. Also, 3 decent size garbage cans. Most hotels give you one little garbage can that holds like 4 empty water bottles. It’s the little things. The beds were very comfortable. We were on the 3rd floor with a view of the Oasis pool. Nice tropical view. The pools were nice, although we only used the Oasis pool. Decent size pool with a lot of loungers. We were there over July 4th weekend, so it did fill up by late morning. All in all, a great stay and it was up to Disney standards. We would go back.

The most relaxing part of this family vacation was coming back to our club level room after going to the parks. The lounge space, access to beverages and snacks all day was a huge plus. The concierge was great and extremely helpful in planning the day and answering questions. The beds are very comfortable and the bathroom is nice and spacious. Loved it here!

The theming at this resort is superb and the shopping is awesome. Can’t beat the monorail and proximity to magic kingdom. Rooms are gorgeous. Pools are very lovely but they are small for a resort this size. Fireworks from the beach. Easy dining options. Staff and managers here are superb. Would stay again in a heartbeat.

We recently stayed at the Polynesian and enjoyed our time yet again! It’s been along time since we visited here, but it did not disappoint. It’s been through some room remodels and they upgrades are good. The bathrooms are much smaller than some of the others and not as functional with location of the sinks and showers. At this price point they should look to remedy that. The transportation options and close proximity to amenities are priceless, and Disney knows it. This will cost a pretty penny to stay at for Disney, with only the Grand Floridian costing more than this place. Still, I cannot say enough good things about the Polynesian. Forever one of my favorite resorts. The location, the vibe, food, drinks, pool, transportation, just stunning. If you can swing it, stay here!