Away We Go to Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows – Part II

Posted:  Resorts

Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows? I am back from my trip to Walt Disney World, and let me tell you, I had the trip of a lifetime!   

Entrance to the Tokelau building at Disney's Polynesian Villas. The dark wood building is nestled amongst many colorful plants and greenery.

Tropical florals and palm trees found around Disney's Polynesian Villas grounds.

Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows is all it is made out to be and more. When speaking to any guest about this specific DVC resort, I always knew it would be one of the more popular locations in Disney, but I never really understood what the hype was about until my most recent stay in May. From the room, the fireworks, the food, the resort activities, and the perfect location for anyone wanting to be close to Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows checks all of the boxes on my checklist.  

Overhead shot of Disney's Polynesian Villas lobby. A large Tiki Statue sits in the middle of the lobby.

When we first got to the resort, we were greeted by some friendly Cast Members ready to help us with anything we needed to get settled. The Disney Cast Member helped us check-in, and once we were all set up at the front desk, we were given a lei to welcome us Home. We were then off to kill some time before our rooms were available, and this is where our indulgence of Disney’s Polynesian Villas started. If there is one thing that is a must-have when staying at this resort, I believe it would be the DOLE Whip from Pineapple Lanai. I got myself a swirl of Pineapple and Vanilla for a refreshing treat while we adjusted to the heat. However, there are a few more options for guests to select from, and they are all something to talk about!   

Pineapple Lanai Sign hanging on the wood wall at Disney's Polynesian Villas. The yellow letters that read "Pineapple Lanai" sit on top of a cut out of a Pineapple.

Pineapple Dole Whip in a clear plastic cup being held up in front of the building at Disney's Polynesian Villas.

If we are going to start with treats, I might as well keep going with the various locations for guests to dine because we knocked a few off the list. Next up, one of my go-to’s on this trip was Kona Island, where we would grab our morning caramel macchiatos, along with some giant chocolate-covered strawberries and a morning coconut puff ball. The treats and specialty coffees were by far my favorite at this location and were fun to have in the morning as a guest staying on the property. The Disney Cast Members working here were pleasant and always made our morning coffees with oodles of Disney magic. 

Large Chocolate Covered Strawberry Drizzled with White Chocolate.

We were able to dine at Capt. Cook’s for breakfast and lunch, and this was my favorite breakfast at the resort. I ordered the Bounty Breakfast Platter, which had scrambled eggs, French toast served with bacon, sausage, breakfast potatoes, and a biscuit. This platter provides a good amount of food for a fair price while being delicious! If you are having lunch, I highly recommend ordering the Pulled Pork Nachos. While the salad I had was delightful for the Florida heat, the Pulled Pork Nachos were mouthwatering. The only disappointment was that we found out that we should have ordered more! 

Bounty Breakfast Platter on a Disney-themed paper plate from Capt. Cook's. The Breakfast Bounty Platter includes scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links, french toast, potatoes, and a biscuit.

Exterior Seating at Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace.

Right around the corner from Capt. Cook’s, you will find Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace just outside. I will let you know right off the bat that we put our names on the list and got the callback, but unfortunately, we were not able to make our reservation. However, if you can get here early to put your name on the list, I recommend doing so. Trader Sam’s is one of the coolest looking places with the funkiest menu, and if I can give any advice, go around 2:30 pm to put your name on the list and be around the resort because you just might be called back! We were, however, able to indulge in some tasty drinks on the Tiki Terrance with some live entertainment, and it was a blast! 

Pink Mocktail in a clear glass sitting on a wooden table. There is a slice of cucumber and a yellow cocktail umbrella in the drink.

Finally, one of my favorite meals of the whole trip was at ‘Ohana. We snagged dining reservations for the fireworks timeframe at our 60-day window opening, and the 6:00 am wake up to book it was well worth it in the end. The food was phenomenal and endless, which is always a plus in my books. The gorgeous views of the fireworks from our table were truly perfect. Yes, that is right! If you didn’t know, you can watch the Happily Ever After fireworks show while you enjoy your dinner! ‘Ohana will play the music for the show through the restaurant while you gaze and indulge in the atmosphere around you. This dinner was one of my favorite experiences of this trip, and I think it is a different experience for guests in general while dining.   

'Ohana appetizer platter featuring noodles, chicken wings, vegetables, and potstickers sitting in a cast iron pan.

'Ohana Bread Pudding Covered in caramel sauce.

If you have dinner reservations and need to kill time before your reservation starts, stop at the front desk and grab the clues to this DVC resort’s Hidden Mickey Scavenger Hunt. We did this on our trip, and it was lots of fun with some tricky Hidden Mickeys for us to find.  

Hidden Mickey built into the tiles of the floor in the lobby at Disney's Polynesian Villas.

Hidden Mickey built into the colorful tile of a countertop.

Another wonderful thing about this resort is its location. As mentioned previously, you can see the fireworks from this resort in multiple areas, and the overall location for myself and other guests to get around Disney was phenomenal.   

The first night we arrived at the resort, my team member Stephanie and I decided to watch the Electrical Water Pageant and the Happily Ever After Fireworks from the sand area on the property. If you are not going to go to the park on your first night or are a bit tired from a busy Disney day, this spot is great to lay back at the resort with a snack or drink in hand and avoid the big hustle and bustle. We sang, danced, then walked back to our room after the show, and this was the most fantastic way to start our trip.   

The monorail pulling out of the station at the Great Ceremonial House at Disney's Polynesian Villas.

The Great Ceremonial House at Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows is attached to the monorail and is within walking distance of the Transportation and Ticket Centre. The quick access made our way around Disney smooth and gave me the experience of having the monorail as our number one form of transportation during our trip. I had never experienced this before, and it was a terrific way to get around.   

A Waterfall feature behind the exterior seating area at Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace.

Overall, my stay at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows was everything I had hoped for and more. It’s a place where magical moments are around every corner, and I can’t wait to go back!

 

~Allison

 

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