Last month, I told you all about my resort and food tour through Walt Disney World. As we continued on our tour we visited the Polynesian, Contemporary, and Wilderness Lodge. Each resort was so gorgeous and had themes built in that distinguished from each other.
Let’s Take a Tour of the Polynesian Village, Contemporary, and Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World
Celebrate the spirit of the South Pacific at this oasis of tropical palms, lush vegetation and so much more at the Polynesian Village Resort. From moonlit nights immersed in the outdoor island ambience to the exotic tastes of our world-class restaurants, discover the signature tropical atmosphere that’s made Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort a favorite Disney destination since 1971.
The Polynesian Resort was the first resort to open up and is a legacy resort. It has a specific kukui tree from Hawaii on property and features one of the largest pools, as well as a quiet pool, on property. In addition to the the Lava and Oasis pool, there is 2 hot tubs. In total, there is 896 rooms with 20 bungalow rooms that sleep 8 in total. The rooms feature a Moana theme. When staying at this resort, you have great views of the fireworks. A fun fact about the Polynesian is the Beatles are rumored to have broken up here.
In terms of dining, you can visit the Barefoot Pool Bar, Capt. Cook’s, Pineapple Lanai, Kona Café, Tambu Lounge, Oasis Bar and Grill, Trader Sam’s Grog Groto, Kona Island, Spirit of Aloha Show, and Ohana. We had breakfast in Ohana, which is served family style, and it was SO GOOD! You must try their freshly squeezed juices. They are also known for their monkey bread, which is a pineapple coconut bread that is baked fresh. Besides breakfast, Ohana is open for Polynesian themed family style dinner.
Retreat to this ultra-modern Disney Resort hotel and discover award-winning dining, spectacular views and dazzling pools. Guests can walk to Magic Kingdom or catch the Resort Monorail as it breezes through the tower. Inside, a 90-foot-tall mural by Disney Legend Mary Blair—responsible for the distinct look and feel of the “it’s a small world” attraction—celebrates the Grand Canyon and the American Southwest.
The Contemporary Resort opened in 1971 with 373 rooms in the tower and 283 rooms in the South Garden presently. The feature exclusive fantasia merchandise. When staying on property, you have the choice of 2 pools. Most of the rooms at the Contemporary sleep 5 people and they have the Incredibles theme in the rooms. There is also a club level on the 14th floor which features 11 suites with 16 total rooms. If you stay here, they have their own concierge lounge.
The Contemporary is known for their extensive artwork and one of the main selling features of this resort is it is walking distance to Magic Kingdom. Amenities at this resort include the Electrical Water Pageant, Disney’s Monorail Transportation, Disney’s Water Transportation, and the Buses. Located on the 4th floor of the Contemporary Tower, The Game Station is an extensive arcade for children and parents alike. This resort also features basketball, yoga on the lake, catch and release fishing, volleyball, tennis, jogging trails, resort campfires, and more.
Dining choices at The Contemporary include Steakhouse 71, California Grill, Chef Mickey’s, Contempo Café, Contemporary Grounds, Cove Bar, Outer Rim, and the Sand Bar. We ate at Steakhouse 71 which is upscaling dining that features something for everyone’s pallet. It was fantastic. In the past I have eaten at the California Grill which was superb. Here you can savor the finest in California dining and see the fireworks go off. Of course, Chef Mickey’s buffet is one you don’t want to miss out on! The characters alone will sell you!
Wilderness Lodge
Escape to the rustic majesty of America’s Great Northwest. Inspired by turn-of-the-century National Park lodges, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge celebrates American craftsmanship and honors the beauty of the untamed wilderness. Soak in the splendor of the great outdoors, from nature trails through pine forests to rocking chairs that overlook a murmuring creek. Inside, discover towering totem poles, headdresses and more, and enjoy the rustic elegance of the stone hearth and roaring fireplace.
When we entered the Wilderness Lodge, we were greeted with a 45 foot Christmas tree and the grounds were immaculate. There is a grand fireplace with a hidden Mickey and also a geothermal fizer to the courtyard. There is 2 pools on property, the Main Pool (Cooper Creek) and The Boulder Ridge Pool. The Main pool has a slide and a lounge.
The Wilderness Lodge features 330 rooms with 181 being on the Cooper side and the remainder on the Boulder side. This resort features pacific northwest theming and railroad inspirational themes throughout. Some of the rooms feature the fireworks and most include either 2 queen or 1 king (for a total of 2 or 4 person rooms). There is also a club level that features rooms that sleep 5 people. Some fun things to do at this resort are Smores (available at nighttime), movies on the water, mickey tie dying, motorized boat rentals, catch and release fishing, and more.
Dining options include Story Book Dining, Whispering Canyon Café, Geyser Point Bar and Grill, Roaring Fork, and Territory Lodge. I was told that the best bison burger can be found at the Geyser Point Bar and Grill.
We ended our busy day going to the Grand Floridian, which is one of my favorites. The new addition is the Enchanted Rose Pub which features a Beauty and the Beast theme. They have 4 different rooms in this pub all inspired by the movie. We had fantastic drinks in the library which is highly recommended! We ate dinner that night at Citricos where we were able to dine under the lovely London sky in the newly imagined restaurant inspired by Mary Poppins return. The food is SO DELICIOUS here and I recommend the Citrus-cured Hamachi.
Stay tuned next week where I end with the last 3 resorts we visited. If you have any questions, feel free to dm me on Instagram, fb, or twitter!
*Disney hosted me on a press trip to learn about their various hotels and food on Disney property. All opinions are my own and not swayed by outside sources.*