Absolutely beautiful resort. I've had this on my bucket list for a long long time. It was everything I expected and then some. We had a room walking distance to the ticket and transportation center which was fabulous. We were able to watch the fireworks from the hotel common area, a big bonus! Try a room with the walk in shower, your won't regret it!

We are a family of four, with two small kids, that stayed at the Polynesian for our first trip to Disney World. We chose this resort due to monorail access and its loyal fan following. It was an OK stay; in retrospect, given our personal circumstance it may have been better to stay at another, newer resort (e.g., Animal Kingdom Lodge, which we visited for a meal and loved) and/or self-catering lodging.

The good: customer service (front desk, bellhops) was top notch, the rooms were kept very clean. The 2 pools and splash pad for tots were a big hit. Getting the fabled dole whip on site was a treat, and Kona cafe and island offered healthy and delicious dining options. Monorail access to the parks was key, so we could keep the kids in the stroller door to door. Views of the MK fireworks were truly magical. Fun activities during the day, a Disney junior tv in the lobby to keep little ones entertained while waiting for transportation. With two kids under the age of four, we utilized Minnie vans for visits not on the monorail. On request, we were provided with an electric kettle and other needs.

The bad: The room and resort as a whole was outdated, kept up with fresh paint but reminiscent of luau experiences in the 1970s. At this price point, a complete renovation would be warranted. We stayed in a pool view room with two double beds and wished we had a king bed option. The bathroom was nice with two sinks but had older fixtures in need of replacement. Most significantly for us, the old fashioned metal crib supplied by Disney was not suitable for our infant who could not sit up yet - strongly suggest you rent one or bring one, especially if you need an elevated surface. Capt cooks had very few healthy dining options. No playground nor on-site childcare, like at AKL.

Overall, it was a nice visit, but at this price point we likely will choose another Disney resort when we come back

Went to WDW September 2-8, 2018 and stayed at The Polynesian. This had been my dream resort forever and I couldn't believe I was finally staying here! Prior, we have stayed at Caribbean Beach Resort and the Fort Wilderness cabins. When we got to the resort, we did not receive a lei or any sort of "welcome" which was disappointing, as everyone talks about the warm welcome they receive upon check in. They seemed under-staffed. Our room was not ready and we were told we would receive a text when it was. So, we headed to MK. A few hours later, around 5pm, we returned back to the resort and still did not receive the text. It was now after check in time. We went to the desk and we were told the room was ready a few hours ago - ugh - and they did not know why we did not receive the notification.

The resort itself was very beautiful - the pools, the walking paths, the landscaping - it felt like we were on an island. We also loved that we had the option to take the monorail, bus and boat. All were very convenient. This alone was worth it.

While we loved the resort for the location and atmosphere, the room itself was just okay - it wasn't what I was expecting for the price of a "deluxe". We were in Rarotonga, 2nd floor (No balcony). While the room was large, it was dimly lit. The beds were pretty uncomfortable which again, for a deluxe resort, was also very disappointing. We had to call for housekeeping twice - they did not take our garbage out (which was full) when cleaning the room (two days in a row) nor did they replenish the coffee mugs after they were used. I will say - one positive about the room was that we had a partial view of the monorail and did not hear it once!

Overall, we enjoyed our stay at the Polynesian but, if we ever return, our expectations will be a bit lower.