Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Moana Themed Rooms

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort was one of the opening day resorts in 1971 and has been a fan favourite ever since.

Being on the Magic Kingdom Monorail loop is one of the benefits of this resort. Even if you don’t want to be IN the park, you can see the Magic Kingdom fireworks each night from the beach. There are so many reasons to love this resort, but that is another post.

There is a wide array of accommodations and all room types share the same resort amenities, including pools, dining and recreation.

Room types offered at this Resort:

Rooms and Suites (sleep up to 5 adults)
Rooms and Suites with Club-Level Service (sleep up to 5 adults)
Deluxe Studios (sleep up to 5 adults)
Bungalows (sleep up to 8 adults)

We are focused on the Resort Rooms that sleep up to 5 adults. The views offered:

Theme Park View (Magic Kingdom Park and Seven Seas Lagoon)
Pool or Marina View (Pool or Marina)
Standard View (Garden, Monorail or Parking Area)
Lagoon View (Seven Seas Lagoon)

These rooms generally have 2 queen beds and 1 day bed, but some have a king instead of the queens.

The two queen beds in the room are comfortable and have plenty of space between them.

It’s always hard to take pictures of art work on the walls – but this Moana art is stunning in person. The camera does not do justice to the colors.

The day bed in the room is a decent size, I think I could sleep comfortably on it, but I wouldn’t suggest that it’s suitable for someone who is 6 foot tall.

You can see the Moana touches on the wall – almost subtle, yet obvious.

There is quite a bit of space between the ends of the beds and the furniture on the other wall – leaving plenty of walking space.

The bathroom is very large with double sinks and a shelf large enough for all your toiletries

There is a separate water closet with a pocket door.

The shower and tub are nice and bright. There’s nothing worse than being in the dark when your’e in the shower right?

The colors in this room are all so bright and inviting. And what Moana themed room would be complete without Hei Hei??

With Hei Hei guarding the coffee maker, the theming is complete!

Overall the room is spacious, bright, plenty of storage (including under the beds for your suitcases). Absolutely worth exploring for your next visit.

Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort? Did you love it??

5 Reasons I love Disney’s Contemporary Resort

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Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of the two original Walt Disney World resorts that opened in 1971 (Fort Wilderness Campground was there too!). It was the first place we stayed as a family on our very first visit in 1974, so I guess that’s why it feels like home to me. I have always had a soft spot for this resort, and that hasn’t changed since my first visit.

Here are the 5 reasons I love Disney’s Contemporary Resort

1. Proximity to the Magic Kingdom

Not only can you see the fireworks from the Contemporary resort, but you can WALK to the Magic Kingdom! It’s an amazing feeling at the end of the night, the fireworks end and swarms of people are leaving to get on a bus, boat or monorail and you get to avoid the crowd and just walk back to the resort. It’s a quick walk that completely removes the stress of that ‘commute’ after a busy day in the Magic Kingdom. It also makes it SO much easier for afternoon breaks to spend a few hours mid day at the resort and not spend time travelling and waiting for buses.

It’s fun to watch the fireworks from outside of the park. Then you realize they aren’t right behind the castle!

2. Food and Drinks

I don’t know what it is about the Contempo Cafe, but I love it. Maybe it’s sitting in there watching the monorails go by, or hearing the kids at Chef Mickey’s having a fabulous time, but this quick service is one of my favorites. From breakfast to dinner – there is always something tasty to eat here, and of course they have some good treats too!

The Outer Rim Lounge is a great place to relax and have a drink. Here you can get some light snacks with a full bar menu while looking out over Bay Lake. It’s not big, there is limited seating at this cute lounge next to the Contempo Cafe.

You can beat this view from the California Grill!

California Grill is a convenient dinner option when staying at the Contemporary. It’s a signature dining experience located on the top floor of the resort. It’s nice to have a great meal up there, watch the fireworks and then just take the elevator back to your room. The perfect evening all contained in one building!

Of course I couldn’t talk food and drink at the Contemporary without mentioning Chef Mickey’s! This fan favorite is always fun and it is much easier to get to that early breakfast reservation when you’re staying right there!

3. The Monorail

Being on the monorail line is amazing. Going to Magic Kingdom (if you don’t want to walk) or a quick ride over to the Polynesian for a Dole Whip is something we do quite frequently! Being able to jump on the Monorail and go to the Polynesian or Grand Floridian to shop or grab a bite to eat is so convenient. Although, I think my most favorite thing is watching the Monorail go through the resort. All these years later I am still in awe, I could watch it for hours!

See – it’s RIGHT INSIDE the resort. It’s so cool – even now!

4. The stores

Bayview Gifts shop in the Contemporary is where I have bought Alex and Ani bracelets, t-shirts, luggage, souvenirs, bags and the H2O products that we love! The pins available at the Fantasia shop are extensive and there is some great stuff to customize your magic bands, phone cases etc. I must admit that there are multiple visits to these two stores each trip, even when we’re not staying at the Contemporary! There is a sundries shop too – so when you’re staying there you can buy wine, beer, snacks, cough syrup and wet bandaids – really anything you might need.

5. The rooms

The standard tower rooms at the Contemporary Resort are inviting, modern, and among the largest at Walt Disney World. With updated theming to include the Incredibles, it really makes for an incredible stay! If you have a theme park view you can sit in your jammies and watch the fireworks at night right from your balcony! It doesn’t get any better than that!

I remember as a kid when we didn’t have a theme park view, my Mum would take me down to the outside stair well at the end of the hall to watch the fireworks from there. It’s quite a view!

Have you stayed at Disney’s Contemporary Resort?

Did you love it?

Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, what we like and what we don’t

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Pixie Dust Fan Disney Podcast Episode 74

Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, Joe Rohde retires and mobile shopping

On this episode of the podcast we start out covering the latest Disney news. We first reflect on the stay at home order in California that is impacting Downtown Disney and California Adventure. After that we dive in to Joe Rohde’s retirement and this new mobile shopping experience that I think might save us some money? Then it’s on to a review of Disney’s Boardwalk resort where we share what we like about the resort and what we think could use some improvement. What’s the thing that will make or break your trip here? You have to listen to find out!

Show Notes:

A Duckburg Family – Donald Duck’s family tree blog

A look at Carol’s Disney room pre-overlay can be found in this blog

YouTube video of Carol’s Christmas overlay is here

Find Francine and Carrie online:

Website: www.PixieDustFan.com

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Carrie on Instagram: www.instagram.com/muppetcrazy/

Join our Facebook group: Pixie Dust Fans

Support Pixie Dust Fan by shopping at Disney and Amazon

Pixie Dust Fan merchandise available at Enchanted Collectors

I have resort tours on YouTube as well – check out my channel!

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Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

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The Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge are not the ‘cabin’ that I would be used to – there is no camping here, it’s not even glamping. These cabins are luxury.

These two-bedroom waterfront cabins feature a full kitchen, private porch and a hot tub with views of Bay Lake.

The bedrooms are spacious and if you look closely, there is a little reading bench next to the window! Lots of USB charges and outlets in the night stands next to the bed. That makes a huge difference when you need to charge your phone at night for the next day at the parks!

SHOP FROM OUR TEE PUBLIC STORE!

Pixie Dust Fan’s Tee Public Store

Lots of space at the vanity but I’m not sure I would use the soaker tub if I had a hot tub?

While at Walt Disney World you often think about being at the parks from morning to night, I really like to enjoy my resort. I think I could totally carve out some time to relax and enjoy this cabin. It’s so peaceful and away from the hussle and bussle of the parks, but close enough to the Magic Kingdom that you’re never far from the excitement.

Imagine some great family time hanging out in this living room? The fireplace is a nice touch. The cabins sleep up to 8 adults, and the living space is big enough to acommodate the whole party.

If you wanted to order some groceries for your stay – you could totally be cooking full family meals in the fully equipped kitchen!

SHOP FROM OUR TEE PUBLIC STORE!

Pixie Dust Fan’s Tee Public Store

There’s even plenty of space for you all to sit down and enjoy your meal. Although we would probably use it for games and stuff…. maybe some take out from Geyser Point. If you haven’t been to Geyser Point – you need to check it out and it’s so conveniently close to the cabins!

Of course the real relaxation comes in the porch, this is where I’d love to sit and just be quiet….

Alright – not at the picnic table, but in the plunge pool!

There is a fence around the pool so if you have little ones, you don’t need to worry.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is a terrific option for families who want to be near the Magic Kingdom, but not on the monorail line. A quick boat ride from the dock will have you at the Magic Kingdom in no time.

The theming is on point and the views from around the property are breathtaking. Head down to the beach and you can see the fireworks and electrical water pageant at night.

If you don’t want to splurge on the cabin but still need a little more space? The 1 bedrooms are great too! I have a full walkthrough video of the 1 bedroom below.

Have you stayed at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge? What did you love about it? Let us know in the comments below!

5 Reasons To Stay At Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

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Disney’s Yacht Club Resort is a deluxe resort on Disney property, and it’s in the deluxe category for good reason. Every resort has it’s own unique theme, and this one is no exception. The nautical theme throughout the grounds is authentic, but also feels relaxed yet classy. It’s a resort that I found welcoming, and one I will stay at again.

Each Disney resort has it’s own pros and cons depending on what you’re looking for in a vacation. For me, I’m hard pressed to find a reason NOT to stay at the Yacht Club. Here’s 5 reasons why the Yacht Club should be on your list to try.

1 Proximity to Epcot

Being able to walk to Epcot is one of my favourite things for the Beach Club, The Boardwalk and the Yacht Club. It’s a great feeling at the end of the night after the fireworks when the park is busy – you can just walk back to your resort. No need to wait for a boat, bus or monorail – no need to squish in to one of those modes of transportation with 362 strangers who are all tired and cranky. You can walk with all the space around you that you’d like. As someone who is not a big fan of crowds and being in enclosed spaces with crowds, this luxury is worth its weight in gold to me.

Take the International Gateway to walk between Epcot and the Yacht Club, Beach Club and Boardwalk Resorts

2 Proximity to Hollywood Studios

I didn’t group this with Epcot because it’s a little different. You CAN walk to Hollywood Studios, but it is a little farther – and I have never done that walk. It really just feels too long for me, so I’ve always taken the boat. Even thought it’s crowded at closing, I would still prefer these boats with a few short stops and open air to the bus.

3 The Pools

Stormalong Bay is shared with Disney’s Beach Club, it’s THAT big! With almost 800,000 gallons of water, the area has:

230 foot waterslide (one of the highest at Walt Disney World)
life sized ship wreck replica
lazy river
3 whirlpool spas
sand bottom pool
gently sloped entry to the pool for little ones with a miniature water slide

If some quiet time is more your speed, you can find 3 quiet pools located throughout Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, each with it’s own whirlpool spa. Could it sound any better?

One of the best pools on Disney Property. Only resort guests are permitted to use the pool.

4 The Steakhouse

The Yachtsman Steakhouse is fine dining, with what some would call the best steak on property. There is a dress code in effect and while it’s not super strict, they do welcome dressier outfits – bringing a more elegant feel to the restaurant. The menu will make your mouth water, reservations are strongly recommended.

5 The Rooms

Staying in all the resorts at Walt Disney World over the years, I can absolutely say that I would stay at the Yacht Club again. The room was bright, spacious and inviting. We had plenty of room for 4 adults and never felt crowded. The beds were comfortable and there were plenty of charging stations for all of our devices. The storage space would have been terrific if we were staying longer and having the room under the beds for our suitcases just made it that much more roomy.

I am not sure if being dog friendly is a pro or con for this resort. I like dogs, so it doesn’t bother me that they are allowed to stay in the resort, but for those who don’t like dogs, or are allergic – this might be an issue. There are select resorts on Disney property where you can bring your dog to stay with you and this is one of them.

This alerts the cast members that there is a dog in the room

An honourable mention of a plus at the resort should go to the Ship Shape Fitness/Spa services. While I like the idea of a massage, I can’t speak to the fitness facility… why do they have these things on vacation? I can’t get on a treadmill at home – I’m not about to try one at Walt Disney World! Maybe they could magically shed the pounds I put on in cupcakes? Maybe that’s what they’re for? I may never know….

Check out this video tour of Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Resort Bungalows – 3 Reasons I Want To Stay In One

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I had the opportunity to tour one of the bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Resort on my last visit. Being like everyone else, I had drooled over the pictures online and wanted to see them in person. I wondered if they were as nice as they appeared online and knew that the only way to tell was to walk inside one.

After my tour, I had 3 reasons that I really want to stay in one of the bungalows, and 1 reason why I don’t!

1. The bungalows are big.

2 bedrooms, a pull down couch and two trundle beds – you can sleep 8 people in one of these. Would I? No – I think that might be a little bit crowded. I think our family would be comfortable with 6 of us in there.

2. The view is incredible!

Being on the Seven Seas Lagoon facing the Magic Kingdom – you don’t get a better view than that. There are speakers on the deck so that you can play the music to go with the fireworks you’ll watch from your private plunge pool at night! Okay – the plunge pool is pretty small, but they couldn’t really have made it any bigger or they would have used up too much of the deck. How about those chairs? Yes – I could spend an afternoon relaxing there!

3. The décor

The decor in the bungalows is a throw back to the original Polynesian Resort décor, especially in the living room. I love that they incorporated the history of the resort, but still kept them modern with all of the bells and whistles. The kitchen looks like a place I would like to cook in – but of course you probably wouldn’t do much cooking on vacation. The dining room table though is the perfect place to eat your Ohana’s dinner that you order from room service!

So if these are so great – why don’t I want to stay in one?? The answer is simple – price. These bungalows are the height of luxury at around $3,000 USD per night. This is not something I can see myself splurging on anytime in the near future. It’s always fun to dream though, you never know what will happen. Maybe one day I’ll be sipping a cocktail on that deck, watching the fireworks and thinking saying “remember when I said I would never stay in one of these?”.

Check out the pictures – would you pay to stay there?