7. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
It’s paradise found for vacationers staying at this South Pacific island-themed resort. Also located within the Magic Kingdom Area, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort shares the title along with Disney’s Contemporary for having been the other original Disney World accommodation to open on Oct. 1, 1971. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind marvel in Hawaiian hospitality conveniently located in the heart of central Florida.
While an original design concept for this resort was to follow the popular 12-story luxury hotels of Hawaii’s Waikiki Beach, the eventual decision was made to establish a island village layout with separate buildings instead. This made for a much more family-friendly easier-to-navigate course around the resort. And with different room and building distinctions, including club level areas with Concierge along with the newer seaside bungalows, every guest can enjoy their own sweet retreat into paradise. From the unique positioning of this resort overlooking Seven Seas Lagoon you can look with unobstructed views at Cinderella Castle in the distance. The beach also presents first-rate views of the nightly Electrical Water Pageant as it makes its way across the waves. And let’s not forget all those unique resort-wide amenities and activities to take in. Swimming pools, arcade games, movies under the stars, and plenty of other onsite recreational pursuits all await you with a warm aloha. Other elements to the fully encompassing island-style motif include the themed Hawaiian music, décor, and overall tropical vegetation, which even boasts none other than an actual live Kukui Nut Tree right outside of the Great Ceremonial House.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort stands out as a rare gem—or at least a one-of-a-kind South Sea Pearl—In a number of ways, including a host of enticing, sometimes exclusive tastes. For example, this is the only place outside of the Magic Kingdom that serves up the Disney World renowned Dole Whip—an original concoction. And let’s not forget breakfast, the most important meal of the day, and that well-loved house specialty feature of Tonga Toast the resort. You can enjoy many other delightful dining selections from the resort’s two most popular restaurants—Kona Café and ’Ohana. The first is a renowned favorite for its many signature selections, which fuse Asian and American cuisine tastes into distinctly unique menu offerings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then ’Ohana dishes out traditional Hawaiian hospitality in all-you-can-eat family-style fashion for both breakfast and dinner. What’s more, breakfast is actually a character dining meal known as the Best Friends Breakfast Featuring Lilo and Stitch. As its name suggests you can expect to find Lilo and Stich there along with other Disney characters for meet and greets, personal table visits, and other fun around the restaurant. In addition to these, there are other great eating and drinking locations throughout the resort, but perhaps the most elaborate display of feast and festivity comes by way of Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show. This stunning display of song, dance, and daring performance acts is held evenings at Polynesian’s open-air Luau Cove Theater. Spanning a grand three-hour duration, this all-out luau feast serves up bountiful all-you-can-eat buffet selections of the most delectable traditional cuisine offerings. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to eat, drink, and be merry in full island fashion.
