Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

There are lots of onsite activities for kids, so it's especially nice for families, though it works well for everyone. The rooms are spacious and clean, the restaurants are amazing, and the hotel is beautiful. Of all the Disney resorts, this is one of the best. I'd recommend the restaurants even to people who aren't staying here.

A couple of things worked in the resort's favor: it was very close to Magic Kingdom, the boat ride was nice even though it's slower than the rail, and valet Josh was really helpful and friendly. The rest was a letdown for the $1,000 a night we paid. The room felt more like a $150-a-night room, with no room service and no cleaning during our two-night stay. We asked for a crib but never got one, and with two small kids we were put in a room without a bathtub. At that price I expected a welcome gift or drinks at check-in, but there was nothing. There were no late-night food options either. I was told the best choice was McDonald's 20 minutes away. The shower water smelled like a toilet. I'm not exaggerating. Maybe that's a Florida thing?

We had a great view of the fireworks, liked the pool and hot tub, and thought the little hangout spots in the Towers were cool. But over our five-night stay, the food service was the worst I've ever experienced. We had a meal plan and often ordered from Captain Cook for breakfast or dinner, yet they got every order wrong. They forgot a mac and cheese for one kid and a chocolate croissant for another; when I ordered Hawaiian pizza for my daughter, they gave us pepperoni. Another order sat cold on the pickup shelf while the app said “preparing your order” for 45 minutes. I went in to find it, then two hours later got a notice saying it was ready. The food wasn't great to begin with, and the repeated basic mistakes were incredibly annoying. There was only one place onsite for snacks or quick meals, so we were stuck with what felt like the worst restaurant on the planet. We also spent a lot on reusable cups, but the soda machines were constantly out of sugary drinks and often out of other choices. The kids were excited about unlimited Fanta, but they never got any because the syrup was always gone. Sometimes only diet drinks were available; when those ran out too, the fancy machines had only water. The bedding was another problem. Each bed had just a sheet and a slightly thicker sheet, no real blanket. My younger daughter cried and asked why she couldn't have one. We turned the AC way up to keep the kids from getting cold, but then the adults slept badly and woke up sweaty.

Watching the fireworks across the lake is one of the special things about visiting Disney’s Polynesian Resort. It's peaceful and romantic, and you get a uniquely Disney evening without going into the parks. We like having a cocktail, walking around, and then heading to the beach for sunset over the water. The grounds are beautiful and carefully kept, with tropical plants, palms, tiki torches, and a relaxed island feel that puts us in vacation mode. We love spending time here even when we aren't staying at the resort. It never disappoints and is a must-visit for anyone after a mix of relaxation and magic.