Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort New Tower Review
If you've ever dreamed of staying somewhere that feels like a tropical vacation and Disney magic wrapped into one, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort absolutely delivers.
We stayed at the new tower building last November during the holiday season, and I can honestly say it was one of the most magical resort experiences we've had at Disney.
From Christmas music playing near the splash pad to watching fireworks from the beach in our pajamas, the Polynesian quickly became one of our favorite Disney resorts.
And traveling with two little ones, we appreciated the resort for more than just its beautiful theming. The location, transportation, pools, dining, and extra space made it especially convenient for our family.
Why We Love Disney Deluxe Resorts With Toddlers
When we travel to Disney with our kids, we don't just use our resort as a place to sleep.
We actually spend time there.
With toddlers, having a resort that makes it easy to take breaks can completely change the pace of a Disney vacation.
That's one of the biggest reasons we love Disney's Deluxe Resorts.
Easy access to midday breaks
Great pools and splash areas
More room to spread out
Convenient transportation
Plenty of dining options
Beautiful resort grounds that are enjoyable even when you're not in the parks
The Polynesian checks all of those boxes.
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Location & Transportation
One of the biggest advantages of staying at the Polynesian is its location.
For families with a stroller, the transportation options are especially convenient.
Monorail Access
The Polynesian has direct access to the Disney monorail, which was a huge perk for us with a double stroller.
Not having to fold up the stroller every time we wanted to use transportation made a noticeable difference.
The resort also provides easy access to:
Magic Kingdom via the monorail
EPCOT via the monorail
The Ticket and Transportation Center
Nearby Disney Deluxe Resorts
Being able to get around without constantly packing up the stroller was a major win for us.
Our Room in the New Polynesian Tower
We stayed in a Deluxe Studio in the new tower, and the amount of space was one of my favorite parts of the room.
Traveling with toddlers means traveling with a LOT of stuff, so having extra room to spread everything out makes a big difference.
Our room included:
One queen bed
One queen-size Murphy bed
Table and bench seating
Small kitchenette area
Spacious bathroom
Private balcony
The room felt beautiful and comfortable while still being practical for our family.
Our Balcony View
Our balcony overlooked the monorail, which was actually really fun for the kids.
They loved watching the monorails go by, and it gave us something entertaining to watch while we were relaxing in the room.
It was also the perfect place for us to sit during nap time with a glass of wine while the kids rested.
For us, having a private outdoor space was definitely a bonus.
Polynesian Pools & Splash Pads
The pool area at the Polynesian is beautiful, but what really stood out to us was how much our kids enjoyed the splash areas.
We were traveling with our 2- and 3-year-old, and having options specifically geared toward younger kids made the pool experience much easier.
Moana-Themed Splash Pad
The Moana-themed splash pad was our favorite for our little ones.
It felt a little more manageable for their ages and gave them plenty to do without being overwhelming.
Our kids could play while we stayed close by and watched them.
The Larger Splash Area
The larger splash area was also fun, but it was much more active and could feel busier.
If you're visiting with toddlers, you'll definitely want to stay close and keep a close eye on them while they're playing.
Overall, though, we loved having multiple water-play options for the kids.
Dining at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
One of the biggest surprises for me was just how much we enjoyed the food at the Polynesian.
There are so many dining options that you could easily spend a few days here without getting bored with the food.
Kona Cafe
We had multiple meals at Kona Cafe, and we loved everything we tried.
A few highlights:
Tonga Toast for breakfast — absolutely a must
Sushi for lunch, which was surprisingly good
Plenty of other options for both adults and kids
Tonga Toast alone is enough to convince me that breakfast at Kona Cafe is worth making time for.
Wailulu Bar & Grill
This was our first time trying Wailulu Bar & Grill, and we were really impressed.
Everything we ordered was delicious, and it was another great option when we wanted something more casual.
I love having dining options like this at a Disney resort because it gives you somewhere to grab a great meal without making the whole experience feel like a formal dinner.
'Ohana
We also did the 'Ohana character breakfast, which was one of our favorite experiences with the kids.
The characters included:
Lilo
Stitch
Mickey
Pluto
The kids absolutely loved it, and the food was great too.
Dinner at 'Ohana is also delicious, although it can be a lot of food and reservations can be difficult to get.
If you want to experience 'Ohana, I definitely recommend planning ahead.
Tambu Lounge: A Polynesian Hidden Gem
Here's one of my favorite Polynesian tips:
Don't overlook Tambu Lounge.
You can order some of the same foods people love from 'Ohana without committing to the full dining experience.
Some of the favorites available include:
Chicken wings
Pork pot stickers
'Ohana noodles
'Ohana bread pudding
It's a more relaxed option, and you don't necessarily need the same type of advance planning as a full 'Ohana meal.
For us, it was such a fun way to enjoy some of those famous 'Ohana flavors without making it a whole event.
Captain Cook's
The Polynesian also has a quick-service option at Captain Cook's, which is incredibly convenient when you need something quick and easy.
We've eaten there on previous trips and enjoyed it, although we didn't eat there during this particular stay because there were so many other dining options we wanted to try.
Dole Whip, Drinks & Resort Relaxation
One thing I didn't realize before staying at the Polynesian was how much I would enjoy simply hanging out around the resort.
Having Dole Whip readily available certainly didn't hurt.
One of my favorite memories from the trip was grabbing a Dole Whip, sitting near the splash pad, and watching the kids play while Christmas music played in the background.
It was one of those moments where we weren't rushing to an attraction or trying to get somewhere.
We were just enjoying being at Disney.
And if you're looking for a drink, don't skip the bars.
The frozen lime Dole Whip margarita was SO good.
Watching Magic Kingdom Fireworks From the Polynesian Beach
This was probably one of my favorite experiences of the entire stay.
You can watch Happily Ever After from the beach at the Polynesian, and the music is piped into the viewing area.
For families with toddlers, this can be such a nice alternative to watching the fireworks from inside Magic Kingdom.
We got the kids ready for bed, brought them outside in their pajamas, and watched the fireworks from the beach.
There were:
No crowded Main Street crowds
No rushing to find a viewing spot
No trying to navigate a stroller through a massive crowd afterward
No bus ride back to the resort
When the fireworks were over, we simply walked back to our room.
It was calm, easy, and honestly felt incredibly magical.
The Polynesian Resort Grounds
The resort itself feels like an escape from the parks.
The tropical theming, landscaping, beaches, and water views make it feel much more like a vacation destination than just a Disney hotel.
Some of my favorite features were:
Sandy beach areas
Hammocks
Lawn games
Tropical landscaping
Views of Cinderella Castle
Castle views from around the pool area
Beautiful nighttime atmosphere
It's one of those Disney resorts where I actually enjoy spending time exploring the property.
Extra Perks of Staying at the Polynesian
There are also some great perks to the resort's location.
Walk to Disney's Grand Floridian
You can walk from the Polynesian to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, which gives you access to even more dining and resort options.
Easy Access to the Contemporary
The monorail makes it easy to get over to Disney's Contemporary Resort as well.
More Dining Options Nearby
Because you're surrounded by other monorail resorts and the Ticket and Transportation Center, you have access to a lot more dining options than what's technically inside the Polynesian.
For us, that flexibility was another huge benefit.
Is Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Good for Families With Toddlers?
For our family, absolutely.
The combination of convenient transportation, great pools, toddler-friendly splash areas, excellent dining, and the ability to take easy breaks made the Polynesian especially enjoyable with our kids.
And honestly, sometimes the best Disney days aren't the ones where you spend every minute in the parks.
Being able to grab Dole Whip, let the kids play in the splash pad, relax on the beach, and watch fireworks in pajamas made this trip incredibly memorable.
Final Thoughts: Would We Stay at the Polynesian Again?
The Polynesian had been on my husband's Disney bucket list for a long time, and it absolutely lived up to the hype.
Between the location, transportation, food, atmosphere, pools, and family-friendly features, it quickly became one of our favorite Disney resorts.
The new tower was beautiful, and having the extra space in our room made traveling with two little ones much easier.
But more than anything, it was the little moments that made this stay so special.
Watching the kids play by the splash pad while Christmas music played.
Sitting on the beach in pajamas watching the fireworks.
Watching monorails pass by from our balcony.
Grabbing Dole Whip and slowing down for a while.
Those are the moments that make a Disney resort feel like part of the vacation—not just a place to sleep.
We'll definitely be back.