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Disney's Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World

simpleprocedures1 | May 17, 2010 |

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Disney's Polynesian Resort, located in Orlando, Florida, is an 847 room deluxe resort in Walt Disney World and is one of the the original resorts to open when Walt Disney World opened for business on October 1, 1971, with the other resorts being the Contemporary and Fort Wilderness. It is situated right on the 450 acre Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon, directly across from the Magic Kingdom theme park.

HOTEL and ROOMS

Disney's Polynesian Resort has a South Pacific theme to it, as it offers guests an opportunity to experience the look and feel of staying in a tropical paradise, with coconut palm trees, water falls cascading over volcanic rocks, koi ponds, landscaping reminiscent of the islands natural vegetation, all on a white sandy beach. Guests will feel as if they are not even in Walt Disney World, but they are.

The Polynesian Resort consists of 847 rooms spread out among 11 two and three story buildings, called village longhouses, and each building has its own name, as they are named after the islands located within the Polynesian Isle map such as Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Hawaii, Aotearoa, Tuvalu, Tahiti, Rapa Nui, Rarotonga, Fiji, and Tonga. The rooms are lavishly appointed in earth tones to reflect the the influences of the South Pacific theme that is evident throughout the resort, offering bright and dark colors in a harmonious balance, along with the use of bamboo and rattan to maintain the authenticity of being in a tropical paradise.

Once you enter the main building of the Polynesian Resort, called the Great Ceremonial House (designed after a Tahitian royal assembly lodge), you are immediately whisked away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world and placed in a tropical paradise that captures the eye with the beauty and tranquility that only the South Pacific can offer. The Great Ceremonial House has guest check-in, dining, shopping, but no guest rooms are in the main building.

Each room at the resort comes with amenities such as a television with cable t.v., hairdryer, iron and ironing board, in room safe, alarm clock, internet access (for a fee), coffeemaker, desk, balconies or patios (some 2nd floor rooms do not have balconies), and much, much more.

AMENITIES

For those seeking recreational activities within the resort have a bundle of choices in which to from that will sure to please, such as Disney's Grand Floridian Spa and Health Club (available to all guests staying at the Polynesian Resort), fishing, bike rentals, watercraft rentals (which include a 17 foot Boston Whaler and Sea Ray boats), water sports (para-sailing, water skiing, and wake boarding), an arcade, two heated pools, one is the popular Nanea Volcano Pool, a zero entry pool featuring a water slide, a volcano, and waterfalls, and the second pool is considered the quiet pool for those seeking a more relaxed setting, jogging trails, the Never Land Club (a supervised children's activity center for ages 4-12 that is open 4:00pm-Midnight daily, and is great for those wanting to get out on the town without the kids), and of course the white sand beach with plenty of lounge chairs for relaxing in, and is also a great place to view the night time fireworks display, Wishes, at the Magic Kingdom theme park, as well as the Electrical Water Pageant show that takes place nightly across Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon (weather permitting). There are also 5 championship golf courses located at Walt Disney World for those wanting to get in a round, or two, or even three of golf.

Other amenities at the resort include babysitting services, room service, concierge service, laundry facilities, plenty of parking, valet parking, and of course excellent service for individuals that have disabilities, such as wheelchair accessible rooms and bathrooms, wheelchair accessible elevators and ramps, rooms for the hearing impaired, at the Nanea Volcano Pool is a water wheelchair that is available for those wanting to have fun and get wet, plenty of handicap parking spaces, as well as valet parking is available to all individuals with disabilities.

DINING

When you get hungry there are numerous dining choices in which to choose from that will sure to fill you up and satisfy you, such as the Kona Cafe, offering American cuisine with South Sea accents set in a casual setting, 'Ohana, offering family-style American cuisine with a Polynesian flair, 'Ohana's Best Friends Breakfast with Lilo and Stitch, offering character dining American cuisine with tropical dishes, Captain Cook's, offering American cuisine such as burgers, salads, pizzas, ice cream, and a whole lot more, Kona Island, offering quick American cuisine, Tambu Lounge in the Great Ceremonial House, offering adult beverages such as beer, cocktails, coffee, wine, and many other choices, Barefoot Pool Bar (located at the Nanea Volcano Pool), offering a wide selection of beverages and snacks, such as beer, wine, sodas and cocktails. Probably one of the best, if not the best dining choice in all of Walt Disney World is Disney's Spirit of Aloha Show, offering all-you-can-eat Polynesian cuisine family style dinner with a South Pacific inspired show set in an open air dining theater with hula dancers, fire-knife performers, and more (definitely a must see and worth every penny).

SHOPPING

If you need to get some shopping in while you are staying at the resort, then the Polynesian Resort has all the bases covered there as well, with a large gift shop, a photo shop, Wyland Gallery, which offers and showcases artwork from renowed marine-life artist Robert Wyland, and another gift shop with a large assortment of snacks and beverages, along with pin trading.

TRANSPORTATION

When venturing out of the resort to visit the theme parks, do some shopping and dining at Downtown Disney, going to the Disney Water Parks, visit other resort properties, or heading on over to Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports complex, there is plenty of transportation services available to guests staying at the Polynesian, such as a short boat ride from the resorts marina to the Magic Kingdom theme park, water taxi to the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, the Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, and Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, or you can take a ferryboat to the Disney Transportation and Ticket Center to get on a bus to all other resorts, dining, shopping, and attractions and entertainment on the Disney property. You can also get on a bus in the front of the resort to take you to Disney's Transportation and Ticket Center, where you can board buses that go to any of the theme parks or to Downtown Disney or Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports. As well as you can enjoy a ride on the monorail that picks up and drops off in front of the Polynesian Resort, and makes stops at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, the Magic Kingdom theme park, the Contemporary Resort, and Disney's Transportation and Ticket Center where you can transfer to another monorail to take you to the Epcot theme park.

The Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World offers guests a relaxing and fun time in a quiet tropical setting, while being close to everything that Walt Disney World has to offer.

All Disney's Deluxe Resorts offer the ultimate in luxury hotel accommodations at Walt Disney World, that gives guests close proximity to any of the four theme parks, from lavishly appointed rooms, premier dining and shopping, as well as other activities, from golfing to tennis, and just about everything else that you can think of. So when you are thinking of visiting Walt Disney World, you might want to consider staying at one of the deluxe resorts for the a vacation that you will want to always remember. Although the prices can be a little high, you do get what you pay for during your stay, and that is the ultimate Walt Disney World experience.