Best Rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
I show you where you’ll find the resort view rooms, water view rooms and theme park view rooms. Plus the best rooms this resort.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is one of the most popular hotels at Walt Disney World. It even has unofficial fan clubs, how many hotels can say that? It’s the only hotel at Walt Disney World with direct access to both monorail lines. But it’s a massive complex with multiple buildings and room types.
There are 3 sections that make up Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort: The hotel, which makes up the largest part of the complex, and two Disney Vacation Club sections: the Villas and Bungalows, and Island Tower. I’ll get into Island Tower in a bit for now let’s focus on the main hotel part of the Polynesian.
Standard hotel room at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
There are 850 rooms located in 11 buildings or as Disney call them, longhouses. At 450 square feet, they are among the largest rooms at Disney World, and most rooms can sleep 5 people in 2 queen beds with 1 twin-size daybed.
There are suites here, though they book up fast, often by celebrities. Club-level rooms are standard hotel rooms in a private building with access to a hospitality lounge.
Child-size fold-down bed
Each of the 11 longhouses is accessed via exterior walking paths, but rooms are located off interior hallways. You can cut through other longhouses if you need air conditioning or shelter from a rain shower.
There are no hotel rooms located inside the main building.
See my video on the best rooms at Disney’s Polyneseian Resort
The Polynesian’s longhouses are 3 stories tall and have elevators.
One of the most important things to keep in mind at the Polynesian is that not all rooms have balconies. All ground-floor rooms have patios, and all 3rd-floor rooms have balconies, but many second-floor rooms do not have a balcony.
Instead, they have a sliding glass door and a railing. I never understood why Disney did this. I mean who wouldn’t want a balcony here?
Now in addition to standard hotel rooms, Disney’s Polynesian Resort also has studios available.
These studios are part of the Disney Vacation Club but they are often available to book even if you’re not a member.
Room rates are about the same as a standard room but my favorite perk is that they come with a kitchenette. I prefer the studios over a standard room, for the extra space and amenities.
Studios are also very close to the Epcot monorail. More on that in a moment.
Deluxe Studio at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney World hotel room prices are based on the view you have from your room. At the Polynesian, room categories are Resort View (formally Standard View), Water View, and Theme Park View.
Where You’ll Find Resort View Rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Resort View rooms are the most economical and have views of gardens, walkways, or possibly a peek at the monorail through the trees.
You won’t have any views of the lot here because it’s set far away from the hotel. Rarotonga has the most Resort View rooms, so there’s a very good chance you will get a room in this building. And that’s good thing, it’s very convenient.
Water View Room at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Water View rooms at Disney mean just that. It might be a view of the pool, the marina, or even the Seven Seas Lagoon. You can make a request for the type of water view you’d like.
You’ll find Water View rooms in the Fiji longhouse, where rooms overlook either the Island Tower pool or the marina. Water View rooms in Tuvalu and Samoa, will definitely have a pool view. Hawaii, the CLub Level building has Water Views overlooking the Seven Seas Lagoon. and Moorea - a DVC building comprised of Deluxe Studios also has water views facing the lagoon.
Theme Park View Rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Then there’s Theme Park View, which comes at a premium price. You’ll be able to see Magic Kingdom from your room and even more importantly, the nightly fireworks.
You won’t find too many Theme Park View rooms these days and they tend to sell out fast, despite the ridiculously high price.
You’ll find Theme Park views in 4 of the long houses: Aotearoa, Tuvalu, Moorea, and Hawaii.
If you stay at Club Level, you’ll be in the Hawaii Building where rooms come in 3 views: Theme Park View, Water View, and Resort View.
Water View rooms here will overlook the Seven Seas Lagoon and may have partial views of the fireworks.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a busy place because there is so much to do here.
So if you prefer a room that is located in a more quiet section of the resort, you have several great options here. And you don’t necessarily have to trade quiet for a room in a remote location.
To avoid people walking by, I recommend a third-floor room for extra quiet and privacy.
And in most cases, better views. Tuvalu theme park view rooms are among the best of the best, you get quiet, in a private area, and beautiful views of the Magic Kingdom.
Rarotonga has several rooms that offer peace and quiet, especially on the south side ground floor rooms, and all 3rd floor rooms, both sides of the longhouse.
These rooms are in the Resort View category so they are economically priced too. In the deluxe studios section, Tokelow, third-floor rooms facing east overlook gardens and they are in a nice quiet area.
Also, Resort View rooms in Pago Pago and Moorea, are also quiet areas of the resort.
Especially noisy rooms, just for fun, are the Moorea Water Views - because you’ll have a Magic Kingdom ferry passing through which makes a lot of noise.
This is true for the Bungalows numbered 7014 through 7020 - the ferry comes so close, that passengers will talk to you if you’re outside on your balcony.
Imagine spending $3500 per night in a Bungalow and having zero privacy. Samoa rooms in the water view category are super close to both pools, but if you’re on the east side facing the volcano pool, you’ll hear a DJ playing music all afternoon.
It can be so loud that you will have to turn up the volume of your TV in the room.
Now I said earlier that Polynesian is the most convenient hotel at Walt Disney World, if you agree after this segment, tap that like button to let us know.
Let me give you some examples. See, The Poly is all about location. It’s rich in transportation resources. You can take a boat to Magic Kingdom, buses to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs, and of course the monorails.
But what makes the Polynesian unique is that you can board the Magic Kingdom monorail from the lobby, known as the Great Ceremonial House, and you can walk over to the Ticket and Transportation Center to board the Epcot monorail. In contrast.
This is the only Disney hotel with this benefit. And there is a walking path to the Magic Kingdom from the Polynesian, but I wouldn’t recommend it - it’s very far. It’s great if you’re a runner though.
Let’s see where the best rooms are located that are close to transportation.
If you want to be close to the Epcot monorail line, you’ll want to book a Deluxe Studio, not in the Island Tower, but a traditional studio. You’ll be in Moorea, Tokelau, or Pago Pago.
They are a 5-minute walk to the monorail station.
If you want to be close to the Magic Kingdom in terms of transportation, I recommend booking a Resort View room and requesting a third-floor or ground-floor room in Rarotonga.
This longhouse is just steps away from the Great Ceremonial house - you remember that’s the lobby, right? Now, rooms in Niue are also close to the Magic Kingdom Monorail and the bus depot.
Aotearoa is also close to Magic Kingdom via the water taxi. The water taxi can actually be faster if you see that a boat is just arriving.
Rarotonga and Nuie are among the most requested buildings at this resort because of their convenient location. l share my absolute favorite room at the Polynesian and where you can find it coming up. Hint, it’s in Rarotonga.
If you’re staying at the Polynesian to treat yourself and your family, you may want a room with a great view.
The Theme Park View rooms here are among the best Disney World has to offer. The best views are located m in the Hawaii building, which is Club Level.
Theme Park View rooms in Tuvulu offer amazing views of Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
Third-floor rooms have slightly better views, but ground-floor rooms have beachfront patios. The issue with Tuvulu though is that you’re very far from the Epcot monorail station.
What if you want a great view but in a Water View category? I like water-view rooms in Aotearoa because you could get lucky here and get a partial view of the Magic Kingdom.
Third-floor rooms in Samoa facing east will overlook the quiet pool. Ground floor rooms on the west side will be very close to the volcano pool. You can even walk out your sliding glass door to the pool.
You’ll notice that I’m not providing specific room numbers here and that’s because it doesn’t matter. The odds of you making a request for a specific room and actually getting it, are slim to none.
See, the Cast Members who assign rooms have this giant puzzle to solve every day - like a game of Tetris. If you start hitting them up for room 3601, that could set off a chain reaction of having to move other guests around - who might also have room requests etc.
The key to making room requests is to keep them general. Don’t say you need a palm tree outside your room. They’re not going to talk a walk and see where the trees are located.
Make it easy and realistic for the Cast Members so they can honor your request. So say third floor in Rarotonga facing the pool.
That’s easy. Also don’t book a resort view room and request a view of the fireworks. That request has zero chance of being honored because Disney charges for that tye of view.
In December 2024, Disney opened Island Tower, a Disney Vacation Club property, the second installment of DVC rooms at the Polynesian. Island Tower is 10 stories high and has a few different room categories to choose from: duo studios, which are super tiny rooms, deluxe studios, and 1 and 2-bedroom villas.
But as a tower with only two sides of rooms, you’d think there would be just two view categories. Like the tower at Coronado Springs - there’s Water View on one side of the tower and Resort View on the other. Here at Island Tower, there are four!
Four room view categories for a 2-sided tower. We have Resort View, Water View, Preferred View, and Theme Park View.
So let’s break it down. Resort View: a nice way of saying parking lot views. Preferred View overlooks either the pool or the golf course, Premium View really means water or lagoon view,
Theme Park View, obviously has views of Magic Kingdom and fireworks.
I want to go back to Preferred View for a second though because there are two different views here. If your room is on the east side of the hallway, you’ll have a view of the Hawaiian-themed pool and other areas of the hotel, you’ll probably be very happy about that.
But if you get assigned a room on the west side of the hallway, you’ll overlook the parking lot, a busy roadway, and a distant golf course.
There is nothing tropical or Hawaiian about that view.
And Theme Park View rooms will have views of the Seven Seas LAgoon and Magic Kingdom.
Best rooms here would be on a higher floor to avoid lower obstructions like trees. You’ll also be ablet to the Magic Kingdom fireworks at night.
I think I should point out that many 2nd-floor Resort View and Preferred View rooms are level with the monorail beam, so you’ll have monorails (and passengers) going by your room every few minutes.
This means you’ll have very little privacy.
If views are important to you, you need to book a Theme Park View or a Premium View room at Island Tower. These rooms offer spectacular views and I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed here.
Disney puts a lot of emphasis on room locations and views, more so than other destinations. It’s a Disney thing I guess. Let me know what comments and questions you have about Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
I’ll be following along in the comments ready to help you.
I recently made a video a on Disney’s Beach Club Resort rooms. I show you the best rooms and the rooms to avoid,
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
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Epic Offer for EPIC UNIVERSE
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See so Epic Universe is going to change Orlando (in a good way!)
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Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
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New Signs Are Up At EPCOT Communicore, Mysterious Globe Appears
What is that globe in Epcot? Communicore Opening Date and more…
Today on my visit to EPCOT I noticed that some of the walls have been pushed back in World Celebration Gardens.
Disney has announced that the rest of EPCOT will officially open on June 10, 2024, including Mickey and Friends, Communicore Hall, and Communicore Plaza.
Also, a mysterious new globe appeared. Let’s check it out…
MIckey and Friends signs have been installed. The construction walls have been pushed back as well, making the sidewalk wider.
“Mickey and Friends” is where you can meet popular Disney characters in Epcot.
Communicore signs have been installed. Some of the walls here have been pushed back as well.
Disney has announced that Communicore Hall will be the starting point for Epcot’s international festivals like Food and Wine, Festival of the Arts, and Flower and Garden.
Communicore Plaza will be an outdoor area where guests relax. There will also be areas for large-scale concerts and small performances.
Epcot Communicore Plaza
Communicore Plaza
The canopy has been installed over Communicore Hall. I assume this will be where a lot of the concerts will be held.
Once the walls come down, you’ll be able to walk from one side of the park to the other easily.
Epcot character meet and greet area.
Mickey and Friends is now lit up at night, giving us a better idea of how Communicore will tie in with the World Celebration Gardens and Spaceship Earth.
And this mystery contraption has appeared in World Celebration Gardens. It appears to be some kind of globe. Are those stools around the base? If you know what this is, leave a note in the comments below.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
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Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Fares + Kids Sale Free | Early 2024 from Orlando
The list below is for the lowest available rate which will generally be an interior stateroom (no view).
3 NIGHT Royal Caribbean Cruises
Bahamas & Perfect Day
Ship: Allure of the Seas. Allure is an Oasis Class ship - among the largest ships in the world.
Roundtrip From: Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida
Nassau, Bahamas
Ports of Call:
The list below is for the lowest available rate which will generally be an interior stateroom.
Oceanview and Oceanview Balcony staterooms are also available and in many cases, the fares are less than $100 more per person than an interior stateroom.
There are multiple Kids Sale Free cruise deals to choose from in early 2024. Prices are per person and do not include tax. Fares are subject to availability.
I recommend booking early because cruise fares increase in price steadily as the ship begins to fill up.
Ask me about transfers between Orlando International Airport and Port Canaveral.
January 2024
Tue, Jan 02, 2024 $592
Fri, Jan 12, 2024 $632
Fri, Jan 19, 2024 $373
Fri, Jan 26, 2024 $363
February 2024
Fri, Feb 09, 2024 $382
Fri, Feb 16, 2024 $452
Fri, Feb 23, 2024$412
March 2024
Fri, Mar 01, 2024 $352
Fri, Mar 08, 2024 $363
Fri, Mar 22, 2024 $452
Fri, Mar 29, 2024 $473
Perfect Day at CocoCay - Royal Caribbean’s private island paradise in the Bahamas
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Since 2010, Darren has been making Orlando vacations easy! As an Orlando resident, he is able to provide insider, expert advice on Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Florida-based cruises.
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Things to do in Nassau, Bahamas Without Booking an Excursion
Did you know you can explore Nassau, Bahamas on your cruise without an excursion?
Did you know you can explore Nassau, Bahamas on your cruise without an excursion? While there are a number of things to do like chilling at the beaches, exploring Nassau’s historical sites, renting a jet-ski or visiting the Atlantis Resort, you can have a great day just walking around the port area on your own, without an excursion.
Both Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean almost always include a day at Nassau on their 3 and 4 night itineraries from Florida.
Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas (center) and Freedom of the Seas (right) are twins - both part of the Freedom Class.
It’s perfectly ok to get off the ship for a couple of hours, walk around the port, then go back to the ship for lunch and enjoy the pool with lower crowds.
Fun fact! Nassau was Royal Caribbean’s very first port over 50 years ago.
As soon as you leave the pier (and make your way through a few offers for a taxi ride) you’ll be in Nassau’s touristy shopping district. But that’s ok, you’re a tourist!
There are a number of t-shirt and souvenir shops, jewelry stores, bars and restaurants, an outdoor flea market and even places to get your hair braided - all within a short walk from your cruise ship.
A busy day in Nassau, Bahamas. The Disney Dream is pictured center and Anthem of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean Oasis Class ship is on the far left.
The Disney Fantasy at Nassau, Bahamas
Straw Market - Nassau
A 5 minute walk from the pier on Bay Street, you’ll find Nassau’s world-famous Straw Market.
The Straw Market - Nassau, Bahamas
Now, I don’t know how “world famous” it is but it’s home to local, handmade Bahamian crafts, souvenirs, and items such as hand-woven straw hats, bags, mats, dolls, conch shell jewelry, and wood carvings.
It’s also a great place to try your negotiating skills - it’s even expected. Most of the vendors inside will accept US currency and or credit cards.
The Straw Market is a 5 minute walk from the cruise port, right on Bay Street.
The Straw Market has t-shirts and apparel, but my favorite items are the wood carvings, sea shell crafts and other items made by the locals.
Before you commit to buying something, I recommend that you first walk the entire market so you can get a sense of what they offer here.
Shopping on Bay Street - Things to do in Nassau
Bay Street is a block over from the cruise port and lined with touristy shops. I like it because it’s not too far from the ship. Remember that it is a foreign country and a poor one at that. So, it’s best to stay in the well-traveled, touristy areas.
Bay Street on Nassau
Stores on one side of the street tend to be focused on inexpensive t-shirts and souvenirs while the opposite side tends to have more jewelry.
The stores have the same type of merchandise, for the most part, but there’s enough variety to make each one interesting.
Prices vary widely from place to place too so don’t from the first store you visit. Shop around a little.
Bay Street shopping at Nassau
Bay Street shopping at Nassau
Christ Church Anglican Cathedral - Things to do in Nassau
This Anglican church is over 100 years old and remarkably beautiful. It’s actually quite small even though it’s called a cathedral but Queen Elizabeth and Prince Harry have visited here over the years.
This isn’t a tourist destination necessarily and that’s exactly why I like it. In the midst of the t-shirt district, you come across a local church, beautifully maintained.
You are free to go inside, sit down, and just reflect for a moment or two.
Christ Church Anglican Cathedral is a nice break from the touristy things in the area
The church is about a 10 minute walk from the cruise port and just a few blocks up from the Straw Market and Bay Street shops.
Pirates of Nassau Museum - Things to do in Nassau
I found Pirates of Nassau by accident just walking around randomly with my son and although I was hesitant to walk in - he begged me to go inside.
Pirates of Nassau - Nassau, Bahamas
I pictured some disappointing tourist trap inside but it’s an excellent museum - one might say a real treasure here in Nassau!
This museum is one of my most recommended activities in Nassau while exploring on your own.
Pirates of Nassau - Nassau, Bahamas
Pirates were a very real part of the Bahamas including the notorious pirates you probably heard about like Black Beard.
And while they were a rough bunch, they were absolutely adored by people all over the world (except the British Navy).
Pirates of Nassau - Nassau, Bahamas
At this museum you’ll experience pirate life in a realistic setting, one that rivals Pirates of the Caribbean at Walt Disney World.
Admission is $13.50 for adults, kids ages 4-17 pay $6.75. It takes about 30 minutes to see the entire museum and it’s self-guided.
You can walk to the museum in under 10 minutes along the shops on Bay Street. It’s also right across the street from the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral.
So, is it worth getting off the ship in Nassau? Yes! I think it’s worth getting off the ship even if you prefer to skip the excursions (aka port adventures). Exploring on your own is a great way to spend the morning. But also take advantage of lower crowds onboard the ship.
Your day in Nassau is also a great time to enjoy the water slides or other activities onboard with fewer people.
If you prefer to book an excursion at Nassau, I personally only recommend Paradise Island (Atlantis Resort). I also recommend booking this with your cruise line as they often include transportation. It’s always best to book port adventures directly with your cruise line because they vet the tour companies and they are also responsible for you.
I’m often asked, do I need a passport for a cruise to the Bahamas?
No. Although I recommend a passport just in case, you do not need to show any form of government ID in the Bahamas. A birth certificate is sufficient when you reenter the United States.
But, if you have an emergency and need to fly home from Nassau, you will need a passport to board a plane. Passports can be obtained in about 8-10 weeks, so if you have time, it’s worth getting.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Darren is a Disney-focused travel agent with Magical Vacations Travel and has over 13 years of experience. Readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World rate him as a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent. Darren is also an Orlando-based travel writer with topics ranging from theme parks to cruise lines.
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Exclusive Offer: Up to $100 To Spend at Sea on Royal Caribbean
Come seek the Caribbean with the exclusive onboard credit offer. Yes, it can be combined with other offers!
Get ready for a sun-soaking, adventure-going journey of a lifetime with the cruise line voted Best overall since 2023.
And when you book with me enjoy an exclusive bonus on top of the current promotion. I’ll give you up to $100 onboard credit to enjoy on any Royal Caribbean sailing. Come seek the Royal Caribbean!
Stateroom Category and Bonus Spending Money
Suite $100 per stateroom
Balcony $50 per stateroom
Interior & Ocean View $25 per stateroom
Hurry, this offer is only valid for bookings made by January 19, 2023.
Have questions about planning your Orlando vacation? I have answers! Contact me now to get more out of your vacation.
Darren is a Disney-focused travel agent with Magical Vacations Travel and has over 13 years of experience. Readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World rate him as a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent. Darren is also an Orlando-based travel writer with topics ranging from theme parks to cruise lines.
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Update to SaveatWDW.com Coming Soon
SaveAtWDW will soon change to OrlandoParksGuy.com to reflect Orlando as a destination, rather than just Walt Disney World.
Today I’m excited to share that my website, SaveAtWDW.com, will be changing to OrlandoParksGuy.com.
SaveAtWDW.com will soon be OrlandoParksGuy.com
This is a name change only, I will still be the one providing offers and travel guides for Walt Disney World.
I am busy as ever with Magical Vacations Travel too!
OrlandoParksGuy.com is more encompassing of the services I provide to my readers and clients. Over the past few years I’ve gotten more requests about Orlando as a destination, rather than just Walt Disney World.
Plus, as an Orlando resident, I am watching the city grow well beyond Walt Disney World.
Universal has already started work on a 4th theme park, high speed train service will soon connect Orlando to Tampa and Miami, and Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal is expanding to accommodate more cruise ships, including the mega ships like Wonder of the Seas.
In addition to the new name, I gave the offers pages a new look and I’ve made it easier to bundle a Walt Disney World vacation with Universal Orlando or an Orlando-based cruise.
As we begin to get back out there, I am here to help you get the most out of your next Orlando vacation!
Look for the website change very soon! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.
P.S. you’ll also notice that my social media channels are also being updated to reflect the new name and content as well. Check them out at Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Twitter.
Darren is a Disney-focused travel agent with Magical Vacations Travel and has over 12 years of experience. Readers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World rate him as a Best of the Best Disney Travel Agent. Darren is also an Orlando-based travel writer with topics ranging from theme parks to cruise lines.
Preview Epic Universe merch before you go.