Only a couple of nights at Polynesian…what’s the “must-do” stuff for you?

[Jaymarkm]

Our home resort is AKV-Kidani which we love…but we swapped a couple of nights for Polynesian studio. Trying to decide if we should take advantage of being close to parks during those days, or if we should just chill and get to know resort.

What’s awesome at that resort that you’d say “definitely do this?” Anything we should be getting reservations decently far out for?

 

[RanDIZ]

We own AKV as well. Our next trip we’re also trying POLY. I set it up to have 1 of the 4 days MK and the others to explore and relax. Plus it should be a nice fireworks display every night from the beach.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

I love the vibe at the Poly. I’d book dinner at Kona Cafe or Ohana, whichever appeals more, and arrive a bit early in order to enjoy a delicious drink out of a pineapple and just enjoy the ambiance. (The Lapu Lapu can be non-alcoholic if that’s your preference.)

Or hang out at the beach, watch the electrical water pageant, send someone for Kona To Go, and then watch the fireworks.

If your family is into breaks at the resort during the day, I absolutely love the theming of the volcano pool and just enjoying a dole whip when it’s super hot out.

Check out Trader Sam’s and see if that interests you. I have never been but have heard good things. I don’t drink and have a 6 year old that is easily scared (as in we can’t eat in Japan because there’s a scary statue there in Epcot. Sigh.)

 

[Jaymarkm]

I love the vibe at the Poly. I’d book dinner at Kona Cafe or Ohana, whichever appeals more, and arrive a bit early in order to enjoy a delicious drink out of a pineapple and just enjoy the ambiance. (The Lapu Lapu can be non-alcoholic if that’s your preference.)

Or hang out at the beach, watch the electrical water pageant, send someone for Kona To Go, and then watch the fireworks.

If your family is into breaks at the resort during the day, I absolutely love the theming of the volcano pool and just enjoying a dole whip when it’s super hot out.

Check out Trader Sam’s and see if that interests you. I have never been but have heard good things. I don’t drink and have a 6 year old that is easily scared (as in we can’t eat in Japan because there’s a scary statue there in Epcot. Sigh.)

I’m making a list. We had never seen or even heard of the water pageant and stayed in Contemporary (greatest location for a work conference ever) and my whole fam was like UMMMM WHAT IS THAT?!?! Gotta see it again.

Have never had a Dole Whip either.

 

[Lori Duck]

Please go to Pineapple Lanai and have a Dole Whip! The shopping at Poly is fun, even has some Hawaiian treats Yum! DS and I stick to Captain Cooks there, and the wings are heavenly. We sit outside normally.
If you decide to take monorail to EPCOT or ferryboat or Express monorail to MK, it's a three minute walk to TTC from last two long houses. We use that path repeatedly.
Have not watched fireworks from beach, but it's on our list! Enjoy your trip!

 

[RoseGold]

If you are all adults, TRADER SAMS.

 

[Jaymarkm]

If you are all adults, TRADER SAMS.

Well two of us are and the other three can happily watch a movie haha. I’ve never heard of the place before these responses and will now hit the Google

 

[Lori Duck]

On the DISboards tab Resorts find

Disney's POLYNESIAN VILLAGE RESORT Information & Questions​

Lots of good info there!

 

[PolynesianPip]

I think you’re smart to make some of it MK time otherwise you’re really missing an opportunity to be completely, totally, and utterly spoiled by being at a monorail resort!

 

[RoseGold]

I think you’re smart to make some of it MK time otherwise you’re really missing an opportunity to be completely, totally, and utterly spoiled by being at a monorail resort!

I always take the TTC boat. It's always running, it's a nice ride, and the DVC rooms are right next to the TTC. You clear security entering the TTC, so you just arrive and it's all magic.

 

[wnielsen1]

I always take the TTC boat. It's always running, it's a nice ride, and the DVC rooms are right next to the TTC. You clear security entering the TTC, so you just arrive and it's all magic.

Is the TTC boat running for the early morning entry rope drop? Or should I use the monorail/resort boat?

 

[RoseGold]

Is the TTC boat running for the early morning entry rope drop? Or should I use the monorail/resort boat?

The resort boat will run last. The monorail and the TTC boat should be running for rope drop.

 

[Disneykate605]

We always make sure to get a dole whip
(daily). We also love the vibe at Poly and like to enjoy the resort for at least a few hours each day of our stay. Having a drink on the patio at Trader Sam's in the evening is relaxing as well. ( We have never had a drink inside Trader Sam's).
We also like to book ADR's at all the monorail resorts when staying at a monorail resort. I love all the shopping on the monorail loop.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Dotluvsdisney]

I just stayed at Poly for the first time and loved it! Prompted me to finally buy DVC resale. It was smaller than AKL and my feet loved the short walks to dining, both pools, and the beach areas. We just stayed for an overnight. Trader Sam’s was super kitchsy and fun. When different drinks are ordered, the CMs have a little routine. The pork tacos there were my favorite. We liked the food at the counter service restaurant! The pork nachos and kale salad were the best value and only around $11. Shared both by the pool and had plenty for two. Got the veggie noodles which were mostly noodles and very few veggies. We got dole whip, dole whip smoothies (from the pool bar which I spiked) and had an amazing day at the pool. My son and his friend (teens) loved it! At night we watched the Electric Boat Parade and MK fireworks from the pool. Had our chairs and snacks in the reclining chairs. Pretty sure the hot tub had a nice view too. The lobby and grounds are absolutely gorgeous. I walked over to GF and checked out their lobby too. Everything was magical and I cannot wait to go back as an owner!

 

[Beachmom0317]

Fireworks at the beach, our kids love running around the green outside the grand ceremonial house, fishing excursion from the marina there, walk to grand flo or even all the way to magic kingdom, shopping at bou-tiki, get Hawaiian leis at check in desk, electrical water pageant and so much more!

 

[peabody58]

You definitely want to book the Luau show!! It is by far the best entertainment / food offering at WDW. It fills up very fast.

Oh wait................. never mind!

 

[DduzDis]

I absolutely love the quiet pool to chill during the day and to have a drink on the beach at sunset. With Grand Flo and the bungalows in the backdrop and the music playing, it really can't be beat IMO. It's not quite the same, but I often play the Poly soundtrack on a speaker and have a drink at sunset on my deck at home now too.

 

[Dicentras]

Poly is my favorite. I love:
-taking the boat to MK
-fireworks and water pageant on the beach
-torch lighting ceremony (are they still doing this?)
-walking to GF
- Ohana

 

[bp2412]

My wife and I stayed at Poly in May for the first time as part of a split stay for 2 nights. We always knew we'd love Poly due to the theming but never had a chance to stay until DVC. So definitely not experts on the resort but we love O'hana for dinner (the noodles!!)- it has become a must do for us each trip even if we aren't staying there. In May we had a window table and had dinner during the MK fireworks so it was a pretty awesome view (they play the soundtrack in the restaurant during the show). The ADRs do fill up quickly from my experience so might be tough to get.

We haven't been in Trader Sam's yet but that is definitely on our list someday. We enjoyed the pool although didn't get to experience much on our two days as both days were overcast and rained. Loved being so close to MK- ended up taking the walkway home which was very nice. After O'hana we hopped on the monorail and visited both Grand Floridian and Contemporary for drinks and looked through the gift shops and resorts and that was a lot of fun. Our last night just got some Dole Whips and sat on the chairs on the beach and relaxed- that will become our end of vacation ritual I'm sure when we stay at Poly next!

Have an awesome trip!