The pool is a main draw for guests , featuring a waterfall , slide , and a zero-entry point . PHOTO BY LAURIE SAPP
Nightlife at Polynesian was geared toward adults , so there was a babysitting service called Mouseketeer Club . This changed in 1988 to the Neverland Club and finally became Lilo ’ s Playhouse .
Surf ’ s up ! Original guests may remember waves crashing onto the beach from Seven Seas Lagoon , courtesy of a magical wave machine . This didn ’ t last long due to the erosion it was causing . You could take to the water on an exotic adventure in a sailboat , speedboat , or paddleboat , but the most unique way to explore the water was drifting in a Bob-A-Round .
The first expansion took place in 1978 with the creation of Tokelau Longhouse and 144 new rooms and a leisure pool . That same year , the resort received its first arcade , Moana Mickey ’ s . We said aloha ( alas , goodbye ) to Moana Mickey ’ s in 2014 and received the trendy Trader Sam ’ s Grog Grotto in 2015 .
The resort ’ s iconic volcano pool used to be more of a molten lava rock pile with a slide . The entire area closed in 2000 for a complete remodel , and the current version of the Lava Pool erupted to life in 2001 . A splash pad followed in 2014 .
In 1997 , Disney planted a kukui tree ( the state tree of Hawai ’ i ) behind the Great Ceremonial House , with a time capsule buried beneath .
On April 1 , 2015 , another expansion welcomed 360 Disney Vacation Club Deluxe Studios and 20 Bungalows . The most recent refurbishment occurred in 2021 , with an update to the Great Ceremonial House entrance area .
Although amenities and features have changed over the years , the heart of the resort remains .
For those who couldn ’ t get a reservation at Harmony Barber Shop in Magic Kingdom , the Polynesian once had its own called Alii Nui Barber Shop .
The slide at the Lava Pooll . PHOTO BY LAURIE SAPP