What I Wish I Knew Before Staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

One of Disney World’s most iconic resorts is Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. It’s been around since 1971, the same year Disney World opened, and is a tropical oasis.

With heavy influences from the South Pacific, this resort is many fans’ biggest bucket list item. It has views of Magic Kingdom and its own monorail stop. Here’s everything I wish I knew before staying at the Polynesian.

1. Preferred Buildings are SO Worth It

The Polynesian is a deceitfully big resort, which is great for a spacious feeling when walking around, but not so great when you want to get somewhere. Preferred Buildings are typically closer to the lobby, which has all the restaurants, shops, and the monorail station.

We love being a little closer to the front so we don’t have to add too much travel time to our day (and we promise it’s so much better when you’re running late to an Ohana reservation).

2. Magic Kingdom is Not as Close as You Think

We know you can see the castle off in the distance and think, “I can walk there, easy peasy.” While you can definitely walk, and we recommend it when you have nothing else planned that evening, you won’t love it when you’re rushing to get into the park.

You can take the boat transportation or the monorail to make getting to the park even faster and easier.

3. DVC Deluxe Villas Have Split Bathrooms

Getting everyone out the door and ready in the morning is no easy feat at Disney World. Something that can make it easier are split bathrooms. It’s one of our favorite features on Disney Cruise Line ships, and at the Disney Vacation Club rooms at the Poly, you can get the split bathrooms.

One bathroom has a toilet, sink, and shower, while the other bathroom has a shower and a sink. These are the Deluxe Studios, and this feature is awesome!

4. Take Advantage of the Amazing Food Offerings

The Poly has some of our favorite restaurants, including Ohana and Kona Cafe. You should definitely go to Ohana in the morning for breakfast and meet Stitch, Lilo, Mickey, and Pluto before heading to the parks. Breakfast is served family style, and meeting Stitch takes it over the top.

Kona has the iconic Tonga Toast for breakfast and offers incredible dishes, like the delicious dashi noodle bowl, and fun cocktails.

5. You’ll Never Want to Stay at a Non-Deluxe Resort Again

We hate to break it to you, but once you stay at a Deluxe Resort, you’ll never want to go back. Deluxe Resorts are close to the theme parks, so close you can literally walk. They also have transportation options, such as boats and monorails.

There are also options around the resorts, such as cabanas and incredible pools, as well as views of the theme parks. They even get Extended Evening Hours to spend more time in the parks!

Now you’re fully prepared for a stay at the Poly! Make sure to grab a lei when you walk in and welcome home.

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

Make sure you’re following AllEars to stay up-to-date on every detail you need for your next Disney World vacation.

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Have you ever stayed at the Polynesian? Tell us about your experience in the comments!

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