Walt Disney World Orlando offers visitors a chance to go-Hawaiian at their Polynesian Resort.
This resort is roughly modeled on a Hawaiian village of old, though Disney’s version offers a mix of old Hawaii charm and all the modern conveniences expected of a high class resort, including the ability to get to the resort by the Disney mono-rail.
The Disney mono-rail enters the Polynesian Resort station in the hotel complex, as you can see from the first photo.
Visible in the photo, too, are some of the areas that are blocked by screens as this resort is undergoing major reconstruction in early 2015. After all, the Polynesian Resort is one of the oldest as Walt Disney World Orlando. We understand it to have been built in the 1970’s. Further, Disney’s Polynesian Resort will be another in Disney’s world-wide chain of vacation ownership (timeshare) resorts.
Even with the construction going on, it is a beautiful resort. This next view is of part of the main lobby. Gorgeous!
No detail is overlooked in the design, one that transports you to a Polynesian Village with superior facilities and a large number of “lodges” in a Hawaiian type setting.
Rooms are delightfully appointed in multi-level buildings throughout the complex. Access is via the stairs as shown in the next image.
For those wanting to immerse themselves a little further into the Polynesian experience, and with the wherewithal for the higher rates, there are a number of Polynesian villas on stilts out in the lake with access to them via boardwalk from the shore.
There is a beach on the lake, a nice place to soak up some Florida sun while staying at the resort. While very good for sunbathing there is no swimming in the lake water. There are pools on the grounds for the swimmers.
The lake is good for boating, and those so inclined can park a boat at the integral marina. Rental boats are available, should you with to enjoy some boating on the lake which supports the beaches of some of Disney’s other resorts as well. Boat around and see how the folks not staying at the Polynesian Resort live.
As with all Disney resorts, there are a host of places to eat and drink at the Polynesian Resort. Meals can be mundane, as you will find at Captain Cook’s….
…or meals may be sumptuous as available in the Kona Club. Or, may include entertainment with your meal as you will find at Disney’s world famous Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, incorporating hula dancing and fire dancing and a Polynesian feast. It’s a dinner show that books up solid very quickly. For this reason folks are able to reserve seating up to six months in advance! If you are planning on taking in this show, you may want to consider that. Be prepared to pay $60+ per adult in US funds, gratuities included, in 2015 dollars.
If you are driving to the Polynesian Resort on the grounds of Walt Disney World in Orlando, you may find, as we did, a scarcity of signs. If you head for the Magic Kingdom parking area, just before you enter the gates to the parking, there is a road to the right that takes you on past the parking to the turn-off for the Polynesian Village.
On the other hand, if you end up driving into the Magic Kingdom parking line as we did, just ask the nice Mickey employees in the booth to direct you to the road to Polynesian Village and they will point you the way.
You will need photo-I.D. to enter the parking lot of the Polynesian Village. We said we were stopping for lunch and to have a look around, and had no problem with accessing the no-charge Village parking lot.
In early 2015 room rates at the Polynesian Resort start at $429 US per night and go up to over $1,000 per night for club level rooms.
Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World Orlando
1600 Seven Seas Drive
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830-8423
W: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/polynesian-resort/
