Disney’s Polynesian Village Moana Room Review

With over 20 resorts to choose from at Walt Disney World, choosing your home away from home at the most magical place on earth can be a little overwhelming. Plus, Disney has been busy re-theming guest rooms at select resorts and so, to make the decision process a little easier, we’re covering everything you need to know about Disney’s Polynesian Village Resorts and its new Moana guest rooms. What can we say, except, you’re welcome?

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – The Basics

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort opened with Walt Disney World in 1971 offering guests a tropical island getaway in the heart of Central Florida.

Two and three-story Hawaiian “longhouses” named after Polynesia locales like Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa are spread across the resort’s 39 acres with the Great Ceremonial House serving as the Polynesian’s lobby.

Several of the resort’s longhouses, such as Moorea, Tokelau, and Pago Pago house Disney Vacation Club villas. The Polynesian also offers on-the-water bungalows facing Cinderella Castle!

Now at the Polynesian, guests can expect slate floors, tikis, wood tones, lush landscaping, and a South Seas flair.In addition, many Disney World guests believe that the Polynesian Village Resort offers the best selection of resort dining on property.

While the Polynesian Village Resort is a Deluxe resort, it’s also a Monorail resort meaning guests can hop aboard the Monorail from the resort’s station for quick access to the Magic Kingdom and the surrounding Monorail resorts.

The Polynesian also sits next door to the Transportation and Ticket Center and is across the water of Seven Seas Lagoon from the Magic Kingdom with views of the Cinderella Castle spires.

Our Moana Room

When the Moana-themed rooms opened in July, our park reporter Chrissy booked a stay to check them out and to enjoy the full Polynesian Resort experience.

While on her way to her room, she noticed the hallways also received a new overlay that’s considerably brighter and more vibrant than what it was before.

Closer examination of this vibrant new hall decor revealed everyone’s favorite boat snack – Hei Hei.

Chrissy’s stayed in room 3605 which happened to be located in the resort’s Samoa building.

The Polynesian’s rooms have long been amongst the largest of the Disney Deluxe resorts, and the new lighter wood tones add to that feeling of spaciousness.

According to Chrissy’s measurements, it’s 27 feet and 6 inches long x 14 feet and 3 inches wide.

The bathroom was lighter and brighter as well with new features and an impressive amount of space!

The bathroom vanity measured 5 feet long x 5 feet and 5 inches wide while the sink counter measured 4 feet 10 inches long and 20 inches wide.

The Polynesian still offers some individual bottles of Disney’s H2O brand of toiletries.

Unfortunately, the rest have been relegated to those huge pumps bolted to their shower wall.

Still, the huge shower is very much appreciated, and the tile work contained themed designs.

These little privacy rooms for the toilet are huge wins, especially when a whole family is sharing the room.

The space measured 3 feet and 2 inches wide x 5 feet and 2 inches long, and the built-in shelves for towels are a nice touch.

Here’s a view of the bathroom from the perspective of the privacy room.

The entryway features a huge closet and a small coffee prep space.

The total closet length measures 6 feet, 6 inches.

Inside the closet was a luggage rack, drawers for storage, and additional blankets and pillows for the fold-out sofa bed. However, there was no iron or ironing board.

The hallway artwork seems to have made its way over the little coffee prep space. Honestly, it’s appropriate since Hei Hei looks every Disney guest after waking up to snag that 7 a.m. Rise of the Resistance boarding group.

This little space measures 24 inches long x 20 inches wide. In addition to concealing a mini-fridge, it also includes the following:

• Individually wrapped, plastic coffee cups and lids
• 4 plastic cups – also individually wrapped
• Keurig coffee machine
• 3 regular coffee Keurig cups, 1 decaf, 1 green tea, 1 English Breakfast
• Various powered creamer, sugars, and sugar substitute

Let’s talk room lighting. There are 6 lamps in the main room coupled with two overhead lights, one in the entryway and one in the bedroom.

Huge props for theming the vent!

Now, here’s a look at the new beds and headboards.

Both are queen beds and are the Posturepedic Plush Pillowtop brand.

The purple throw pillows complement the wall decor behind the little coffee space, but does it work with the main bedroom? Also, we don’t recall a lot of purple in Moana?

Anyway, two new benches sit at the end of each bed and match the color of the blue upholstery and wood tones reflected in the headboards.

Speaking of headboards, these new additions feature wood-carved designs that provide some natural texture.

Also, gotta love the subtle nod to Moana on the bedposts!

The nightstand is pretty standard and offers additional storage along with outlets and USB ports.

Also, you have to appreciate Disney continuing their trend of offering additional storage space under the resort room beds.

Here’s a view of the other side of the bedroom which includes the room’s dresser and television, table and lamp, and sofa that converts into an additional bed.

The dresser itself measures 22 inches wide x by 4 feet and 6 inches wide.

Also, gotta appreciate the clear lamp cords. Again, a commitment to theming?

While Disney has offered convertible sofa beds for years, this one is a little different.

Here’s a peek at what it looks like with the cushions removed…

…and here’s a look at when it’s fully opened made measuring 6 feet long x 32 inches wide.

Notice it doesn’t fold out. For the guest or child sleeping here, they have no view of the television. That could be a problem for some.

The artwork behind the sofa and television is where the Moana theming is the strongest!

There are 4 headboard lights with switches on the headboard for easy access. By the way, every resort needs a mini shelf next to the bed. How perfect are they for charging your phone?

Plus, outlets are in abundance here. In fact, we counted over 20 outlets and 8 USB ports in the room alone.

The chair and footstool offer additional seating in a way that doesn’t take up too much space. Also, Moana fans are sure to notice additional references to the film hidden in the lampshade.

In addition, the new rooms include two, heavy nesting tables.

Lastly, we took light readings all throughout the room – all LUX. Here’s what we found:

• Snack Area – 351
• TV Area – 44.2
• Pillow near wall 101.2
• Pillow near window 99.5
• Sofa Bed 127.4

Room 3605 offered a great view of the resort’s Lava Pool and the Grand Floridian Resort beyond. It took 1 minute and 17 seconds to reach the gate for the pool.

In regard to getting around the resort, Chrissy timed how long it took to get various locations throughout the resort. Here’s what she found:

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Amenities

Views of the Electrical Water Pageant

This vintage nighttime water parade sails past the Polynesian Village Resort’s shores every night.

Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Pools & Recreation

The Polynesian Resort is home to two gift shops. Moana Mercantile offers sundries and souvenirs. BouTiki is the larger of the two selling a wide variety of items including those exclusive to the Polynesian Village Resort.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Transportation

Parking

Guests looking to drive themselves should know that standard overnight self-parking is available to registered guests. However, it’s no longer free. Instead, a fee will be applied to a guest’s hotel folio upon check-out and includes tax.

• Parking at Disney Deluxe Resorts is $25 per night
• Valet parking is $33 per night.
• Self-parking is complimentary for guests who aren’t staying at the resort but enjoying select dining, shopping, entertainment, and recreation.

Monorail

One of the best perks of the Polynesian Village Resort is the fact it offers Monorail transportation. Guests can board Disney World’s signature mode of transportation from the second level and just outside of the Great Ceremonial House for access to the Magic Kingdom, as well as the other Magic Kingdom Monorail resorts and the Transportation Ticket Center.

Note: The Polynesian’s Village Resort’s Monorail access is temporarily unavailable.

Guests can reach this transportation hub via the Monorail or by walking path as it sits just next door to the Polynesian Resort. This is also where guests can access the Monorail to EPCOT.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort bus stop is located a short walk from the lobby. There is only one bus stop for all four parks. Disney buses are the only way guests can reach Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, water parks, and Disney Springs from the Polynesian Resort. Buses run 45 minutes prior to park opening until 1 hour after park closing.

Guests can live out their own Moana wayfinding adventure by utilizing the resort’s boat transportation. Boats to the Magic Kingdom begin running 30 minutes prior to park opening until 45 minutes after park closing.