South Pacific tropics are re-created at this Deluxe resort, which currently consists of two- and three-story Hawaiian “longhouses” situated around the four-story Great Ceremonial House. Buildings feature wood tones, with exposed-beam roofs and tribal-inspired geometric inlays in the cornices. The Great Ceremonial House contains restaurants, shops, and an atrium lobby with slate floors and many species of tropical plants. Spread across 39 acres along Seven Seas Lagoon, the resort has three white-sand beaches, some with volleyball courts. Its pool complex likewise captures the South Pacific theme. The Polynesian Village has no on-site fitness center, but its guests are welcome at the Grand Floridian’s facilities, a short quarter-mile walk or 2-minute monorail ride away. Landscaping is superb—garden-view rooms are generally superior to garden- or standard-view rooms at other resorts.

The Polynesian Village’s Moorea, Tokelau, and Pago Pago buildings have moved into Disney’s time-share program. Rooms here have been remodeled to studio accommodations with kitchenettes. The construction that has converted many rooms to DVC is now finished and has altered the look of the beach, both pools, the lobby, and much of the dining space. If you haven’t been to the Poly in a while, it will look very different in some areas. Of course, the addition of DVC has left the resort with fewer than 500 standard hotel rooms, so nabbing that reservation may be a little more difficult.