There’s one Disney World hotel that’s losing a little bit of its charm, and it makes us SO sad.
The Polynesian Village Resort has been around since the very beginning, opening with Disney World on October 1st, 1971. Since then, it has been a dream stay for many Disney fans with its relaxing vibes and upscale accommodations. But these days, something about it just feels…off.
So what’s going on here? Well, I talked to our team. Across our group, we’ve stayed at the Polynesian, dined there, or just stopped by for an afternoon visit countless times, so we have a pretty good grasp on the state of things. And our team agreed that there are a few problems.
The main problem here is that the quality of the dining options doesn’t seem to be as good as it was a few years ago. Kona Cafe is a knockout for breakfast, but for later in the day, it’s just fine. Capt. Cook’s has a few good items, but we certainly don’t hear people raving about it the way they used to.
And the one that makes us the saddest? ‘Ohana! During more recent visits, some of our team described it as “disappointing.” For a hard-to-get reservation that’s not exactly easy on the wallet, that’s a bit of a bummer.
‘Ohana is also home to the character meal at the Polynesian. At breakfast, you can meet Lilo, Stitch, Mickey, and Pluto. Unfortunately, some of the other Deluxe Resorts have character meals that run all day (think Chef Mickey’s and 1900 Park Fare), so ‘Ohana’s meal isn’t quite as in-demand as some of those.
The next complaint that fans have had recently is that the Polynesian feels overcrowded. The lobby gets packed during prime check-in or check-out times, as well as during the evenings. That definitely takes away from the relaxed, laid-back island vibe.
Along with the lobby crowds, there has been an uptick in the number of people who visit the Polynesian in the evenings to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the beach. This used to be a great hack — park at the TTC, take the Monorail, and enjoy a Dole Whip while you watch Happily Ever After. But now? You have to stake out a spot in advance, and it’s no longer a leisurely activity.
Finally, the third problem we’ve seen with this resort lately is that there seems to be near-constant construction. From the newly-finished Island Tower to gift shop renovations to pool updates, we’ve often encountered walls at the Polynesian in recent years.
So yes, the Polynesian Village Resort has some problems these days. But honestly, we still love it. Several people on our team are still planning to stay there in the future because it has such a unique theme among the Disney Resorts, the rooms are fun, and the location is hard to beat. Every hotel is going to have its ups and downs.
So if the dining issues are bothering you, hop on the Monorail or boat and eat at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort next door. If it’s the crowds that concern you, consider avoiding the lobby during potentially busy times by doing online check-in before your visit. And if you want that stunning fireworks view, you can book a theme park view room at Island Tower and watch the fireworks from your balcony.
Construction can be hard to avoid, but if you stay tuned to AllEars, we’ll make sure to warn you about any upcoming or ongoing refurbishments at the Disney World hotels. So tie all that together, and it’s still possible to have an amazing stay at the Polynesian!
Check out Quincy’s ranking of the Disney World hotels after she stayed in ALL of them below!
Keep following AllEars for more Disney World tips and updates.
Disney World Hotels Are Changing in 2026 — Click Here!
Have you stayed at the Polynesian Village Resort recently? Tell us in the comments!
It seems to me that the Polynesian’s decline began when they took magnificent and unique elements away. Namely, the beautifully landscaped lobby waterfall; and the idyllically situated Luau. Shame on Disney for failing to recognize these as integral to creating the feel of escaping to a tropical paradise.
We just returned home yesterday from our first stay at the Polynesian and I agree with the comments about the over crowding. The lobby was really packed Saturday night and the beach was over crowded with guests there to watch the fireworks. Thankfully we had a room in the Hawaii building and could watch from our room. While we didn’t eat at Obama we did mobile order from Kona Café and the food was pretty good. It’s a possibility that we would stay there again but it’s going to be a while. Still a nice hotel.