2 of the Absolute Worst Things About Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort From a Gal Who LOVES Staying There

Brace yourselves, y’all, we’re about to face a few hard truths about Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort together.

Okay, I’m going to ease in with my least controversial statement first — I LOVE the Polynesian Village Resort! It’s got amazing food, an incredible location just a Monorail ride away from Magic Kingdom, and a relaxing, tropical vibe that screams vacation mode. But for all its many highlights, I’d be lying if I said the hotel is 100% flawless. In fact, there are two big pitfalls I always brace myself for before a stay at the Polynesian!

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a classic Disney World hotel — literally! It was one of the original Walt Disney World resorts, opening on October 1st, 1971. And the fact that it’s still so popular over half a century later — despite the many shiny new additions to the Disney hotel lineup — is a testament to just how incredible the Polynesian truly is!

The tropical vibes carry through all around the hotel, from the fresh flavors at the hotel restaurants to the Volcano-themed pool to the lush decor. But even though the theme of the Polynesian is basically “sunshine and rainbows,” not everything is actually…well, you know.

So, what downsides could there possibly be at such an iconic hotel with so many great selling points? I’m glad you asked! The first big problem I always brace myself for at the Polynesian is actually a symptom of how awesome it is — CROWDS!

Because the Polynesian is so popular, everyoneeee tends to flock there, even if it’s not where they’re staying. People come for the dining, the fireworks on the beach, Dole Whip, or even just to soak in the vibes, especially since there’s such easy access from the Magic Kingdom.

As relaxing as the overall vibe of the hotel is, the crowds can definitely take away from the tranquility. The Polynesian gets a lot more visitors than the average hotel, so brace yourself for potential crowds, especially if you’re visiting during a peak time like spring break, the holiday season, or long weekends!

The other big pitfall I’ve found at the Poly is a similar case of “suffering from success” — the most popular restaurants are VERY hard to get into. The two biggest offenders of this are ‘Ohana and Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. These spots are SUPER popular, each for different reasons, and there’s a good chance you could struggle to get into either, considering the high demand.

‘Ohana is the popular restaurant that features an all-you-can-eat Polynesian feast, served family style. On top of the delicious food, breakfast at ‘Ohana is a character meal, which further adds to its popularity.

And to cap it all off, there are views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks from ‘Ohana at night, so reservations here get snapped up FAST, regardless of the time of day!

When I can’t get a reservation for ‘Ohana, both Kona Cafe and Wailulu Bar and Grill are solid backup options that are typically easier to get into. But, if you’ve got your heart set on ‘Ohana, you might end up disappointed if you didn’t plan to grab your reservation way in advance!

The other spot that’s extra hard to get into is Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, an interactive bar and lounge that serves fun, tropical drinks in a SUPER immersive environment!

To add to the difficulty, you can’t make a reservation at Trader Sam’s in advance, but it did recently add the option to join the Walk-up Waitlist in the My Disney Experience app. Before this, the only way to get in was to line up in person, so the Walk-up Waitlist at least makes it slightly easier to join the queue for entry. But it definitely doesn’t make this spot any less popular!

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is the most popular bar choice, considering the interactive elements, but in a pinch, you could head to the bar’s outdoor lounge area, Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace, instead. It serves the same food and drinks as the indoor bar, just without the interactive environment, and there often isn’t a wait to get into the terrace!

Oasis Pool Bar also tends to be less crowded and has surprisingly good food, so it’s another solid backup option!

The moral of the story is that I love Polynesian Village Resort…but so does everybody else! As long as you set the right expectations for yourself and plan ahead for snagging reservations, you can absolutely still have an incredible stay here. Just don’t get caught off guard and let the crowds ruin your island vibes!

I’m Saying It. Magic Kingdom Food Is Actually Good Now.

What’s your favorite Disney World hotel? Share it in the comments!

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