Deluxe - Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Address: 1600 Seven Seas Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Phone: (407) 824-2000
Fax: (407) 824-3174

Enter a distant land of the tropical South Pacific complete with white sand beaches, swaying palm trees, koi ponds, volcanic rocks and lush vegetation.

Disney's Polynesian Village Resort was one of the original Walt Disney World resorts, opening on October 1, 1971. During the grand opening, the Polynesian hosted guests such as Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Fred MacMurray, the governor of Florida, and the Disney family. In the 1980s the "Village" portion of the name was dropped, leaving the resort as Disney's Polynesian Resort.

Resort Layout:
Disney's Polynesian Resort is an 847-room resort located on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon. It is situated directly south, and two monorail stops, from the Magic Kingdom. The Polynesian occupies 39 acres and is styled as a South Pacific paradise, complete with beaches, tropical landscaping, waterfalls, and bamboo tiki torches. The Great Ceremonial House is the center of the resort, serving as both lobby and focal point of the area. The Polynesian is a Disney Deluxe Resort, but the atmosphere is very casual and family-oriented.

Tonga (formerly Bali Hai) - This is the suites building. All of the suites at the Polynesian are located here. It is a smoking optional building, but rooms are specially cleaned here for non-smoking guests. Tonga is directly next door to the Great Ceremonial House. Rooms on the northern side face the marina, some with views of Cinderella Castle. Rooms facing south look over the gardens. There are balconies on both floors. Tonga was refurbished in 2005 and now includes a Honeymoon Suite and an accessable suite. Must use room key to gain access.

Aotearoa (ow-TAY-a-row-a; formerly Tahiti)
This building is very close to the Great Ceremonial House, especially Captain Cook's. It is also near Luau Cove, and you may be able to hear the sounds of the Luau. If you are trying to get the to the Transportation & Ticket Center, it can be a bit of a walk. Rooms on the northern side face the garden or the lagoon. Some rooms here face Cinderella Castle and the Grand Floridian. Rooms facing south overlook the gardens and the monorail, some looking at the road. This is a non-smoking building. There are no balconies on the second floor. Aotearoa had a total rehab in 2002.

Fiji
This building is only a short walk away from the Great Ceremonial House. It is also close to Luau Cove, where the sounds of the show might be heard from your room. It is, however, a bit of a walk if you are headed to the Transportation & Ticket Center. Rooms on the eastern side overlook the marina and the volcano. Rooms to the west overlook the gardens, and some overlook the beach. This is a non-smoking building. There are no balconies on the second floor. Fiji had a total rehab in 2002/2003.

Tuvalu (two-VA-lu; formerly Samoa)
Staying here, you are just a few minutes' walk to the Great Ceremonial House, but it is the furthest building from the Transportation & Ticket Center. Rooms to the north are lagoon view rooms, most looking at Cinderella Castle. Rooms to the south overlook the gardens, with a few looking at the marina or beach. There are no balconies on the second floor. Tuvalu had a room rehab in 2002/2003 and had a hallway and outer building rehab in 2003/2004. Tuvalu is now non smoking on 1st and 2nd floor and smoking optional on 3rd floor.

Hawaii (formerly Tonga)
This is the concierge building, and you must use your room key to enter the building. It has a great central location, just a minute or two from the Great Ceremonial House, and about 5 minutes from the Transportation & Ticket Center. It is centrally located to both of the pools at the Polynesian. Rooms on the northern side are lagoon views, many of which look at Cinderella Castle. Rooms to the south overlook the gardens, some facing the quiet pool. There are no balconies on the second floor. Hawaii had a total rehab in 2003. Must use room key to gain access. 3rd floor is half non-smoking and half smoking optional. 2nd floor is entirely non-smoking.

Samoa (formerly Hawaii)
This building is located directly between the two pools. It is very convenient to the Great Ceremonial House, and about 5 minutes to the Transportation & Ticket Center. Rooms to the west face the volcano pool. Rooms on the eastern side overlook the gardens, many of them overlooking the quiet pool. There are no balconies on the second floor. Samoa had a total rehab in 2002/2003. Samoa is all non-smoking.

Niue (knee-UW-ay; formerly Bora Bora)
This is the smallest building at the Polynesian. It is directly next to the Great Ceremonial House, and about 5 minutes from the Transportation & Ticket Center. It is a few steps walk from either of the pools. Rooms to the west overlook the stream that leads to the pool. Rooms on the east overlook the gardens. There is no elevator in the building, but there is a second floor walkway to Rarotonga, where there is an elevator. There are no balconies on the second floor. (Total rehab January 18 - May 2, 2004) All rooms in Niue are smoking-optional.

Rarotonga (RA-ro-ton-ga; formerly Maori)
This building is directly next to the Great Ceremonial House, and about 5 minutes to the Transportation & Ticket Center. It is also next to the arcade, laundry, and Neverland Club. The quiet pool is convenient, and it is just a few minutes away from the Volcano pool. Rooms on the northern side overlook the gardens, some with a view of the pool. Rooms to the south overlook the gardens, some looking at the monorail or the parking lot. This is a non-smoking building. There are no balconies on the second floor.

Tokelau (to-KAY-louw; formerly Oahu)
This building is centrally located to about everything. It is just a short walk to the Great Ceremonial House, the Transportation & Ticket Center, and the Volcano pool. It is directly next to the quiet pool, the arcade, the laundry, and the Neverland Club. All rooms overlook the gardens. Some rooms to the west overlook the quiet pool. A handful of rooms on the northern end overlook the lagoon, but none face Cinderella Castle. This is a non-smoking building. There are balconies on all of the floors.

Tahiti (formerly Moorea)
This building is right next door to the Transportation & Ticket Center. It is a bit of a walk back to the Great Ceremonial House. It is a short walk to the quiet pool, but a bit of a longer walk to the Volcano pool. Rooms to the north are lagoon views. Some look at Cinderella Castle. Because of the trees, other rooms only look at the Grand Floridian, Space Mountain, Wilderness Lodge, the Contemporary, or the Transportation & Ticket Center. All rooms to the south overlook the gardens. There are balconies on all of the floors.

Rapa Nui (ra-pa-new-E; formerly Pago Pago)
This building is right next door the Transportation & Ticket Center. It is a bit of a walk back to the Great Ceremonial House. It is a short walk to the quiet pool, but a bit of a longer walk to the Volcano Pool. Rooms to the north overlook the gardens. Rooms to the south overlook the gardens, some looking at the parking lot. Most of the wheelchair-accessible rooms are in this building, and all of the rooms with a roll-in shower are here. This is a non-smoking building. There are balconies on all of the floors.

Selected rooms in Rapa Nui and Tokelau are wheelchair accessible and include oversized bathrooms with wider doors. Some rooms include roll-in showers or bathtubs with handrails. All of these rooms are equipped with double peepholes. In any room, you can request a shower bench or a hand-held showerhead.

Elevators are in every building, except Niue. To get to the second floor of that building by elevator, you'd have to enter Rarotonga, go via elevator to the second floor, and then cross the walkway that connects the upper floors of these two buildings.

Only Hawaii, Tokelau, Tahiti, and Rapa Nui have automatic doors leading into or out of the buildings themselves.

Designated parking areas for guests with disabilities are provided in the main parking lot, as well as the separate parking lot in front of Rapa Nui. For vehicles displaying a valid disability parking permit, complimentary valet parking will be provided.

Room communication kits can be installed in any room, including door knock and phone alerts, bed shakers, TTY telephones, strobe fire alarms, and phone amplifiers.

A limited supply of wheelchairs is available at Guest Services. They are complimentary, but do require a $250 deposit. This deposit is waived if a credit card is on your reservation for charging purposes. The $250 will only be charged if the wheelchair is not returned. These wheelchairs are rented on a first-come first-served basis, and cannot be reserved. The Polynesian does not offer electric convenience vehicles.

The Polynesian's main Nanea Volcano Pool is a "zero-entry" pool, which means the entrance slopes gradually like a real beach. There is also a water wheelchair available to aid in entering the pool -- ask a lifeguard for assistance.


Services & Amenities:
 Room Service
 Concierge desk
 Health Club
 Babysitting and child services
 Pak-n-play crib available
 Room and facilities for guest with disabilities
 Self parking
 Valet parking available for a nominal fee
 Laundry facilities/services

Guest Rooms:
Polynesian rooms are located in one of eleven different buildings called longhouses. Each one is either 2- or 3-stories high. All rooms are accessed through interior hallways.

A standard room at the Polynesian includes two queen-size beds, a day bed, an armoire, a table, and two chairs. Typical rooms are 409 square feet and have a maximum occupancy of five persons, plus one child under the age of three. All rooms come equipped with an iron, ironing board, small refrigerator and a hair dryer.

Suites are located exclusively in the Tonga longhouse. They can accommodate between four and six persons

Lagoon views offer views of Seven Seas Lagoon. Views of the Magic Kingdom and Cinderella Castle can be requested, but not guaranteed. Garden view rooms feature views of the Polynesian's tropical landscaping and walkways. Views of the marina or of the pool are included in the Garden category. Garden view rooms may also face the parking lot. Again, specific views within these two categories may be requested when reservations are made, but they cannot be guaranteed.

Concierge Suite - This suite is a one-bedroom suite that includes 2 queen size beds. The bathroom includes both a shower and a tub. There is no separate parlor. This suite faces the marina.

1 Bedroom Suite - This is a two-room suite. The bedroom features two queen size beds. The bathroom has a separate sink/dressing area from the actual bathroom. A separate parlor features a sitting area and a day bed, along with a small kitchen area and refrigerator. This suite faces the garden.

Princess Suite - There are two bedrooms and a parlor in this suite. Each bedroom has two queen size beds. One bedroom features a bathroom with a shower and tub. The other bedroom has a tub and a separate sink/dressing area. The parlor has a sitting area with a day bed, and a small kitchen area with refrigerator. This suite faces the marina.


Ambassador Suite - There are also two bedrooms and a parlor in this suite. The master bedroom comes with a king size bed and bathroom with tub. The second bedroom has two queen size beds and bathroom with both a tub and a shower. The parlor includes a very large sitting area and queen size Murphy bed. There is a third bathroom here with sink and shower. A mini-kitchen features a small refrigerator and a microwave. This suite faces the gardens.

King Kamehameha Suite - This suite is the largest at the Polynesian, and is two stories high. The first floor features the sitting area with a ceiling open to the second floor. There is also seating at a bar leading into the kitchen. The kitchen area features a refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher. There is also a small bathroom located off of the parlor. Both bedrooms in this suite are on the second floor. The master bedroom features a king size bed, and a huge bathroom with whirlpool tub. The second bedroom has two queen sized beds and a bathroom with both shower and tub. This suite faces the marina.

Room Features:
• Rooms are available with two queen-size beds (available with sofa bed); king-size beds available in suites
• Disabled accessible rooms available
• Nonsmoking rooms available
• Irons, ironing boards, hairdryers and make-up mirrors in each room
• In-room coffee makers and refrigerators available at no charge
• Cribs available upon request
• In-room safes
• Dual line phones with voicemail
• Disney Channel and ESPN
• Newspaper delivery available
• Laundry facilities/services
•
Club Concierge-level guests
• Plush robes available in your room
• Staff available prior to and during your visit for reservations and vacation planning
• Access to the exclusive King Kamehameha Club Concierge Lounge featuring Continental breakfast, snacks and evening wine and cheese reception
• Ability to participate in the Wildlife Discovery Excursion — an exclusive guided tour of Kilimanjaro Safaris® at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park — offered only to a limited number of Club Concierge-level Guests for an additional fee

Check-In & Check-Out:
Check in at the Polynesian is at 3:00 pm. Check out is at 11:00 am. If you arrive early, Polynesian cast members will be glad to pre-register your family and store your luggage while you enjoy the parks or the rest of the resort. You can call the Polynesian to check the status of your room, and then go directly to your room when your room is ready.

Dining:
Ohana- This is a popular family restaurant at the Polynesian. It features an all-you-can-eat Polynesian feast overlooking Seven Seas Lagoon. 'Ohana is not a buffet. It is served family-style at your table. Food is prepared on an open fire pit. 'Ohana is located on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House.

For breakfast, 'Ohana is the site of the 'Ohana Character Breakfast. Here you can enjoy a family-style breakfast where Disney characters (Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Chip, and Dale) will interact with you right at your table. (Minnie Mouse no longer appears here for breakfast.)

Kona Cafe- This restaurant serves creative fresh dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and features special Kona Coffee! Unique desserts are a specialty of the house. There are several menu items that can easily be accommodated for vegetarian and even vegan diets. The chefs can assist with your entree needs and the pastry chef can assist with your dessert desires. There is also has a coffee bar just outside the restaurant, near the entrance to the monorail. Kona Cafe is located on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House.

Caption Cook's Snack Company - This is a 24-hour snack bar, featuring fast food, snacks, and desserts. Some folks have commented that the Captain Cook's dining area is too small. There are some additional outdoor tables available. Refillable Mugs are available here! Note that the grill does close at 11 pm, but the rest of the shop is open 24 hours a day. Captain Cook's is located on the first floor of the Great Ceremonial House.

The Polynesian has two. Tambu Lounge is connected to 'Ohana on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House, and offers cocktails, juices, coffees, and appetizers. The Barefoot Pool Bar is next to the Nanea Volcano pool on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon. It is open daily 11:00 am - 7:00 pm.

Polynesian In-Room Dining is available each day from 6:30 am until midnight. A menu is available in each room. Note that there is a $3 delivery charge and an 18% service charge automatically added on all orders.

Tonga Toast ;is one of the most famous breakfast meals at WDW, available only at the Polynesian. Auntie Kaui's Tonga Toast is similar to extra-thick French toast, made with sourdough bread and stuffed with banana. It is served topped with sugar and cinnamon. You can get Tonga Toast at the Kona Cafe or through Polynesian In-Room Dining. It can be ordered fried (the traditional way) or grilled (a new option). It can even be made vegan if the breakfast chef is given a day's notice.

Recreation:
Pools
The Nanea Volcano Pool, featuring a volcano with waterfall and waterslide opened in March 2001. The quieter, although larger, freeform Swimming Pool is centrally located to all the longhouses. Both pools are also heated. The Polynesian pools feature music that is piped into the pool itself, perfect for underwater listening.

A new stream begins outside of the Great Ceremonial House and continues down to the Volcano pool. A 40-foot high volcano houses the pool bar and a tubular slide. Underwater jets, warmer water areas, and in-pool seating are also a part of the new design. On the beach end of the pool, guests will find a zero entryway, no steps required to enter or exit. A specialized water wheelchair is available here, allowing access directly into the swimming pool.

The Nanea Volcano pool features a hot water area in the deep end, near the slide. It has an underwater seating area where the hot jets feed into the pool.

Beach
Soak up the sun on a white-sand beach.

When the resort opened in 1971, a wave-making machine created artificial waves that crashed onto the beach. Although it added to the authentic South Seas feel of the resort, it also created rapid beach erosion. Operation of the wave machine ceased shortly afterwards, but the machine itself is still located just under the waters off the Polynesian beach.

Grand Floridian Spa & Health Club
Work out on state-of-the-art exercise equipment, or book a rejuvenating full-service spa experience.

Never Land Club
This is a special child care experience for children ages 4-12. It is a supervised child care program for WDW guests that features full-sized arcade games, Nintendo, computers, dress-up, arts & crafts and Disney movies. The facility is themed to Peter Pan and includes the Darling nursery, Skull Rock, a pirate ship, and the clouds of London.

From 6 until 8 pm a dinner buffet is served, which typically includes pizza, chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese, French fries, hot dogs, corn on the cob, fruit, and dessert. A pudding dessert is served at 8 pm and a juice and cookie snack at 10 pm.

The Club is located in the same building as the arcade and the laundry, between the Rarotonga and Rapa Nui longhouses. Please note that animal programs and character appearances are no longer part of the Neverland Club. Reservations are required, and can be made by calling (407) WDW-DINE.

Arcade
Play a variety of video games at Moana Mickey's Arcade, located next to the Never Land Club.

Watercraft Rentals
Spend some time on the lake with a Pontoon Boat, Canopy Boat or Sea Raycer by Sea Ray®, or take a specialty cruise. (Extra fee)

Volleyball
Grab a pal for a friendly match.

Fishing
Hook a fun-filled fishing trip for the entire family. (Catch and release only)

Jogging Trail
A jogging path circles around the Polynesian longhouses, past Luau Cove, and stretches to the Shades of Green Resort and back. The entire route is 1 mile. You can obtain a map of the jogging path at Guest Services.

Shopping
Trader Jack's stocks Disney logo merchandise. You can find toys, plush, books, videos, and clothes, along with various Walt Disney World souvenirs. Open daily 8:30am - 11:00pm.

Samoa Snacks stocks sundry items. Here you can find a small selection of food and drink, suitable for taking to your room or to the beach. You will also find housewares, candy, baby items, aspirin, and first aid items. Open daily 8:00am - 11:00pm.
News from Polynesia is where you will find Polynesian logo items. You can also find grass skirts, Polynesian music, and other gifts from the islands. It's also your stop for film, books, magazines, batteries, and suntan products. Film processing is done here. Open daily 8:00am - 11:00pm.

Robin Crusoe's is the men's shop. You can find sportswear, swimsuits, and a wide selection of Aloha shirts. Open daily 9:00am - 10:30pm.

Polynesian Princess is the women's shop. You can find sportswear, swimsuits, jewelry, and accessories. Open daily 9:00am - 10:30pm.

Maui Mickey's is the place to find children's clothing and other items with Disney characters. Open daily 9:00am - 10:30pm.

Wyland Galleries of Florida also has a location at the Polynesian. It features nautical themed original works of art, prints, sculpture and jewelry. Open Tuesday through Saturday 9:30am - 10:30pm, and Sunday and Monday 9:30am - 10:00pm.

All shopping is located in the Great Ceremonial House.

Other Amenities:
Both letter and postcard can be purchased at the front desk or guest services. in the correct amount for other countries can be purchased at News from Polynesia. Mailboxes are located near the entrance of the gift shop and near the Lobby Concierge desk.

The Island Guide desk is a separate desk located at the entrance of the main lobby. Island Guides are an extension of Lobby Concierge, and are there to answer any and all of your Polynesian and Walt Disney World questions. After you check in, the Island Guides will greet you with traditional Polynesian leis. They are also the hub of children's activities at the resort, holding daily lei and bracelet making, and arts and crafts activities. The cultural experts of the resort are located here, in case you have any questions about the islands or the Resort. The desk does not have a computer, so cannot work with your reservation, or make dining arrangements.

Hair wraps are available under an umbrella at the Nanea Volcano Pool. They do not do hair braids.

There are two pressed penny machines at the Polynesian. Both are on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House. The quarter machine is located on the first floor of the Great Ceremonial House.

You can find an ATM in the Great Ceremonial House on the first floor adjacent to the Disney Vacation Club desk.

Transportation:
Monorail Station inside the Great Ceremonial House - This is the resort monorail, and it will take you to the Magic Kingdom, the Monorail Resorts, and the Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC). In order, the monorail stops at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the Magic Kingdom, Disney's Contemporary Resort, the TTC, and then back to Disney's Polynesian Resort.

Monorail Station at the TTC - There are three monorail lines here. The resort monorail is described above and will take you to the Magic Kingdom by way of the Monorail Resorts. The express monorail will take you directly to the Magic Kingdom. The Epcot monorail will take you directly to Epcot.

Bus Stop at the Great Ceremonial House - Go left as you exit the Great Ceremonial House for the Bus Depot. Here you will find the Disney-MGM Studios bus, the Disney's Animal Kingdom/Blizzard Beach bus, and the Downtown Disney/Typhoon Lagoon bus.

Boat Launch - The boats at the dock behind the Nanea Volcano Pool take you to the Grand Floridian and the Magic Kingdom.

Walk Around the World path - This bricked path will, walking east, take you to the TTC. Walking west, you will first pass Luau Cove, followed by Disney's Wedding Pavilion, the Grand Floridian Spa & Heath Club, and finally the Grand Floridian Resort, itself.

Ferry at the TTC - This larger boat takes you directly to the Magic Kingdom.
Special Notes: Buses to the Disney-MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Downtown Disney areas may also pick up guests at the Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge.
This can make for a long and crowded trip to get where you need to go. Boarding the water launch to the Magic Kingdom at the Polynesian boat dock, you also may find a boat already filled with guests. This boat picks guests up at the Grand Floridian before heading to the Polynesian and the Magic Kingdom.

Rates:
Just like the other WDW hotels, there are Value Season, Regular Season, Peak Season and Holiday Season rates. Rates begin at $304 a night. These are regular rate prices and do not include the 6.5% Florida Sales Tax nor the 11.5% county resort tax. Rates are based on double occupancy. No charge for children under 17 years old when in the same room as the adults. For each adult over 2 there is a $25 per night charge per person. Maximum of 5 persons per room.

Annual Passholder discounts are sometimes available.

For reservations, call (407) WDISNEY or contact a travel agent.

Extra Information:
Guests in the concierge level are given exclusive access to a private lounge on the second floor of Hawaii. This lounge offers fantastic views of Cinderella Castle and the Wishes fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. The music for the fireworks is even played on speakers inside the lounge. A large screen television set and VCR are in the lounge, and the area can seat about 50 people. USA Today and the Wall Street Journal are delivered to the lounge each morning that the papers print.

Most lagoon-view rooms feature great views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Otherwise, any place on the Polynesian beaches or boat dock offer good places to watch.

The Pageant floats by the Polynesian each night at approximately 9:00 pm. The Polynesian is actually its first stop, and if you position yourself at the boat dock a few minutes before 9:00pm, you can watch the floats being towed out to the Lagoon and prepared for the show.

This is your room key. If you have placed a credit card on your reservation for charging ability, you can also use your key as a charge card. You can use this to charge purchases at most merchandise and food locations across Walt Disney World. At the Polynesian, your resort credit limit is $1500. Cards marked "Not Valid for Charging" at the bottom, will not work as a charge card.

Your Key to the World can also be used to hold your park ticket, if you purchased admission through a package or individually at the front desk. If your Key to the World is a theme park ticket, you will also use it for FASTPASS.

A boat provides transportation between the Magic Kingdom, the Grand Floridian, and the Polynesian, and can be a relaxing trip. Fireworks cruises, private or with company, can also be arranged at the marina.

The Torch Lighting Ceremony is a short program of the Polynesian welcoming the night. It features an authentic Polynesian dancer who does a traditional fire-knife dance, and lights the torches leading into the Great Ceremonial House. A Polynesian entertainer is also on hand to perform chants and authentic drumming. It is presented each evening, Tuesday through Saturday, at 6 pm.

There is a Hidden Mickey right in the stone floor of the Great Ceremonial House. Also be on the lookout for Mickeys in the laundry waiting area, outside of the arcade and on the day bed bedspreads and shower curtains in your room. For a new twist, try to find the Hidden Tinker Bell in Captain Cook's.

King Kamehameha was the Hawaiian king who is known for uniting the Hawaiian Islands in 1810. The largest suite at the resort is named after him.

The Great Ceremonial House features a replica of a tropical rain forest. The atrium holds the largest indoor collection of tropic and subtropic plant life in Florida. It features more then 75 different species among its flowers and waterfalls.