WDW Magazine January 2022 | Page 47

My family ’ s first visit to Disney ’ s Polynesian Village Resort 12 years ago carries vivid memories . From walking through the lush lobby and receiving a lei at check-in to night swimming beneath a volcano while fireworks erupted in the distance , I ’ ll always cherish our first stay in paradise .

But paradise has been around a lot longer than the 12 years I ’ ve been visiting . Disney ’ s Polynesian Village Resort opened on October 1 , 1971 , on Disney World ’ s opening day . Along with the Contemporary and Magic Kingdom , these classics make up the original segment of WDW .
WHAT ’ S IN A NAME ? The original name was The Polynesian Village Resort . In 1985 , it changed to Disney ’ s Polynesian Resort . Then , in 2015 , the original name returned ; the current name is officially Disney ’ s Polynesian Village Resort .
But don ’ t be surprised if you hear regular visitors just call it “ the Poly .”
CREATING PARADISE Walt Disney wanted the Polynesian to be an extension of Magic Kingdom — something guests could continue to experience after they left the park . He envisioned it as a 12-story high-rise , the kind you might find along the Hawaiian coast . Eventually , the design changed into a village of longhouses .
BACKGROUND : The front entrance of the Polynesian has just been recently refurbished . PHOTO BY LAURIE SAPP