Do you long to travel to the South Pacific; lounging by the crystal blue waters, experiencing the culture of the Polynesian people? Well then pack your bags and head to Orlando for your own exotic trip at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, the newest Disney Vacation Club property at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
My family has been Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members for a few years now, but bought additional points at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows last year, hoping to score a few nights at the stunning resort. As luck would have it, we managed to get a night there in June, while attending a special Disney Vacation Club event at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. You can book a studio with either a standard view or a lake view, though we reserved the standard-view, as this was a short trip. We arrived in the early evening, as it was getting dark so we weren’t able to view the full splendor of the resort (yet). However, we were able to see just how gorgeous the inside of the rooms were.

Image by Rachel Horsley
DIStracted Tip: The Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows DVC units are located at the far side of the Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, opposite to the check-in in the main house, so if you are driving and uploading your car, you should park/unload in the parking lot located closer to the units.

The floor plan of the studio at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows – Courtesy Disney
We are a family of four, so we choose to stay in a studio accommodation, although the studios have an extra fold-down bed, which my daughter loved! Once the twin-sized bed is pulled down, you will see a mural featuring the characters from the island-themed Disney movie, Lilo and Stich (one of her favorites). The studios also feature a unique bathroom set up, similar to ones you find on a Disney Cruise Line ship. There are actually two bathroom areas, one room with a toilet and bathtub, and a second with a spa-like shower, though both have sinks. If you are familiar with the setup, it makes nighttime baths and morning routines much easier, since you don’t have to share the facilities!
- Image by Rachel Horsley
- Image by Rachel Horsley
- Image by Rachel Horsley
DIStracted Tip: The studios at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows have a twin-size, fold down bed (in addition to the queen sleeper sofa), so they can accommodate five people in the studio, as opposed to the four person capacity in most other DVC studios.

Image by Rachel Horsley
We chose to sleep in a bit the next morning, since we were out late for the special DVC event, but awoke to a beautiful day which was perfect for exploring the resort. As the DVC units are located at the opposite end of the main house, we got the full tour on our way to breakfast. However, if you want to enjoy your own breakfast, the studio unit includes plenty to make a quick breakfast, including a toaster for your breakfast pastry and a coffee and tea maker for your caffeine needs.

Image by Rachel Horsley
DIStracted Tip: All DVC studios feature some kitchen facilities, including a fridge, microwave and coffeemaker, though they don’t have a full kitchen like the one and two-bedroom units.
Since my kids wanted Mickey waffles and I was looking for something hardier, we headed over to Capt. Cook’s, one of the four quick-service restaurants in the Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The restaurant had both indoor and outdoor seating, with views of the main pool, the Lava Pool, and the Seven Seas Lagoon. The 120,000 gallon Lava Pool mimics and active “volcano”—and “erupts” throughout the day. The Lava Pool features a 142-foot tubular waterslide that curves around the volcano as well as in-pool seating and underwater music. This is a must-do when staying at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, as it will delight both young and old.

Image by Rachel Horsley

Image by Rachel Horsely
DIStracted Tip: For a truly memorable breakfast, you can make reservations for character dining at the ‘Ohana restaurant, the Best Friends Breakfast featuring Lilo & Stitch. Breakfast is served family-style and characters are available for photos and signatures.

‘Ohana – Image by Rachel Horsley
If you have more time to enjoy the resort, I encourage you to experience any of the available activities, including the ‘Ohana Treasure Hunt, the Torch Lighting Ceremony or the Hula Dancing lessons. Also, if you are looking for an adult-only evening, Lilo’s Playhouse, a supervised children’s activity center, is open from 4:30 PM to midnight and includes dinner and a late snack for your little ones.
So, if you are looking for a unique island-themed getaway without the long flight, check out Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows for your next visit to the Walt Disney World Resort!
- Image by Rachel Horsley
- Image by Rachel Horsley
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