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

As someone who has stayed at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort repeatedly in the last decade, these are things I wish I knew before staying here.

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. While many guests love this resort, there are a few things I wish I had understood better before booking my first stay here.

1. Preferred is Worth It

The Polynesian is a sneaky big resort. It’s great for the theming, but not so great when you want to get somewhere quickly. Preferred Buildings are typically closer to the lobby, which has all the restaurants, shops, and the monorail station.

If you are someone who wants to be close to the action, we love paying the extra for a preferred room. We appreciate it when 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 your Lightning Lane reservation).

2. It’s Not THAT Close to Magic Kingdom

3. Be Sure to Reserve Dining Here

You might be booking a stay at the Polynesian because of its great restaurants. However, don’t think you’ll be able to walk right up to one just because you’re staying there. These restaurants get popular and bring in a lot of guests who aren’t staying here.

You will want to grab an Advanced Dining Reservation for ‘Ohana, Kona Cafe, and Wailulu Bar & Grill. If you aren’t able to grab a reservation, Kona Cafe has to-go options, as well as Capt. Cook’s, the quick-service restaurant.

4. It’s People-y 

Speaking of popular, lots of guests will come to the Polynesian via the monorail from the Transportation and Ticket Center just to visit the resort. Several guests will come here to watch the fireworks on the beaches, enjoy a Dole Whip, or grab a drink at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. This can cause crowds in the stores, lobby, and other common areas. It can sometimes feel overwhelming in these spaces, especially around the holidays.

5. The Pools are Worth Your Time

Lucky for resort guests, there is one place that people who aren’t staying at the resort cannot crowd — the pools. The pools at this resort are incredible. There are two — the Lava Pool and the Oasis Pool.

The Lava Pool has a big water slide, a kids’ area, and several areas that overlook the Seven Seas Lagoon. The Oasis Pool is usually calmer, with a great pool bar and a large hot tub. If you aren’t really a big fan of having a pool day, you might want to rethink that if you’re staying here. There’s just something about the tropical vibes and these pools that are really worth your time!

6. It’s a Vacation on Vacation 

We’ll say it again — the theming here at this resort is incredible. From the music playing in the background as you walk around to the white, sandy beaches. You can feel like you’re on a vacation while on vacation. It will also make you want to stay here more, so get those wallets ready!

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!

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What do you think about Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort? Tell us in the comments below!