Close your eyes and picture yourself on a sandy shore surrounded by a tropical landscape with a hammock nearby. Welcome to Disney’s Polynesian Resort.

One of the first hotels built on Walt Disney World property, it opened its doors in October of 1971. Built to be a tropical oasis, here bold colors meet cool stone floors and wooden beams overhead. Situated on the Seven Seas Lagoon’s shores, with the Magic Kingdom only a short Monorail ride away, Disney’s Polynesian Resort couldn’t have a more ideal location.

The hotel’s lobby is composed of a main structure called the Great Ceremonial House, and eleven longhouses, named for Pacific islands, where 847 guests rooms are situated. The Great Ceremonial House is home to the lobby, front desk, shops, and restaurants. The lobby of the Great Ceremonial House really transports guests to paradise with a three-story tropical garden complete with cascading waterfalls and a rich vegetation of dozens of species of tropical plants.

With its ideal location, many guest rooms offer views of gardens, the Seven Seas Lagoon, or of a swimming pool. Select rooms offer views of Magic Kingdom. The decor of the rooms is rich in earthy tones with pops of vibrant color and pattern. The furnishings all feature beautifully carved or woven wood. Most guest rooms can accommodate up to 5 guests, with a combination of 2 Queen Beds and 1 Day Bed. There are also Club Level Rooms with exquisite views and extra amenities such as Evening Turndown and Personalized Front Desk and Guest Services.

In addition to Room Service from 7:00 AM to Midnight, there are several Quick Service and Table Restaurant Choices at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.

• ‘Ohana – Ohana means family, and that’s just how you are treated at this family style restaurant. Breakfast is full of American favorites with Polynesian flavors. Lilo & Stitch are the host with some of their friends. The characters mingle with guests, sign autographs, and pose for pictures. Dinner service is also family style and features Hawaiian delights of cuisine and fun. You can try out a hula hoop or sway to island music. Meats such as shrimp, turkey, and steak are served at your table from skewers brought over by servers. Lunch is not offered here. Adjoining ‘Ohana is the Tambu Lounge. Guests can find tropically flavored cocktails or have their favorite from the full bar. Light bites and appetizers are also available here.

• Kona Cafe – Breakfast in this warm and cozy Table Service restaurant is full of American fair, while lunch and dinner offer Asian flavors. There are plenty of sandwiches, salads, and noodle bowls during lunch. Dinner offers surf and turf entree choices, sushi, and vegetarian options. Topical cocktails, beers, and wines are available to guests 21 and older.

• Capt. Cook’s – This bright and airy Quick Service spot in located in the Great Ceremonia House. Breakfast selections kick off the day and are available until 10:30 AM. Choose between sandwiches, salads, flatbreads, and sushi rolls for lunch or dinner. The fan favorite Pineapple Dole Whip Soft Serve can also be found here!

• Kona Island – Grab a stool and perch yourself on this bar situated in front of over-sized windows. In the morning you’ll be treated to a delicious, aromatic cup of coffee. Return to this spot in the evening and you can grab fresh sushi and sashimi. Beer and wines are also available for guests of age.

The main pool is the Nanea Volcano Pool. As you would guess, the pools cool, blue waters hug around a large volcanic feature dripping gentle waterfalls into the pool. This zero-depth entry pool is easy on the eyes with tropical plant landscapes and a location just off oa Seven Seas Lagoon beach. Whiz down the 142 foot waterslide or kick back and relax with a tropical drink from the poolside bar, Barefoot bar. Toddlers also have their own water play area. The second pool is the Polynesian East Pool off. This smaller, quieter pool is surrounded by a tropical garden landscape.

An arcade, shopping, boating, and fishing make for great recreational activities. If Mom and Dad are looking for a night out, kids ages 3-12 can visit The Neverland Club. Disney Cast Members will have a night of activities just for them! Time at the clubhouse includes dinner and a snack. Cost is based on an hourly rate.