Photo Tour of a Studio at Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows

By Dave Shute

(For the first page of this review of Disney’s Polynesian Resort, click here.)

PHOTO TOUR OF A STUDIO AT DISNEY’S POLYNESIAN VILLAS AND BUNGALOWS

The Studios and Bungalows opened at the Polynesian in April 2015, and I had the chance to stay in a Studio late that month, and stayed in one again in January 2019.

At 465 square feet, the Studios at the Polynesian are the largest DVC studios, are among a currently small group of DVC studios that sleep 5 (all Polynesian standard rooms sleep 5), and are alone in having one and a half baths. They are also the only DVC studios that can connect to another studio.

However, the extra square footage largely comes from not-useful extra width, and the half bath comes at the expense of living space and convenient storage. So for families paying cash (as opposed to using DVC points) the pros and cons of a studio and a standard room are a bit difficult to tease out.

The entry to my Pago Pago longhouse had fun stuff tied to its theme.

My Moorea longhouse room also had a fun and vibrant entry.

The corridor walls and carpet are fun and colorful, and hint at the orange color scheme you’ll find in the rooms–frankly, more fun than the green of the Polynesian’s standard rooms.

You enter the Studio into long hallway–half of its total length.

One side has the connecting door, closet and kitchenette. This is the outside of the closet…

…and this is the inside.

I did not measure the safe, but my book is six inches by nine inches. Note the small shelves under the safe. Storage is probably adequate in total, but is widely distributed in these Studios (there is no dresser), so I’ll be calling out all the storage options as we tour it.

Next to the closet is the kitchenette.

All Disney deluxe rooms have a mini-fridge and coffeemaker. Studio kitchenettes add another sink, a toaster and microwave…

…and some basic utensils and supplies. Note that you can probably gain a shelf for storage by consolidating some of this stuff…

…especially if you use the cabinet above the microwave.

The other side of the entry has the two bath areas. The first is a full bath with no interior walls–with a sink…

…with these toiletries…

…and some storage drawers and shelves…

…and a tub/shower combo and toilet next to it.

On the side wall there’s this charming art.

The second bath has just a large shower and a sink.

Note the blue accent wall. There’s one in each bath, and they really add a lot to the overall playfulness of the space.

Toiletries in this bath…

…which also has storage.

I also really like the lighting in the shower.

The showerheads.

The living/sleeping area takes up about half the square footage of the Studio–I think this is means less living/sleeping space than you’ll find in a standard Polynesian Village room, but Tikiman disagrees. I’ll sort that out on my next stay in a regular Polynesian room, but regardless, the bed space in a Studio is just a tad more than 16 feet long. This has to be less than standard rooms, as they fit two queens and an easy chair along their bed side–hard to do in 16 feet…

On one side is the queen bed and couch…

This side from the back of the room. The colors are vibrant and fun, but I find this whole wall to be cramped.

A closer view of the bed. Note that–at least as of January 2019–these rooms have not lost their bed skirts!

A bedside table on either side adds a storage shelf with powerpoints, and a storage drawer.

The drawer is large enough for your important books.

On either side of the bed, built in below it, are long, large drawers. The one on the bath side is awkward to access…

…as is the one on the couch side, when the couch is folded out into a bed.

The bed is raised, platform style, enabling storage of rolly bags and similarly proportioned luggage underneath, even slob luggage like mine.

Between the bed and the bath wall is this fun art.

Next to the bed is this couch and chest that serves as a coffee table or place to prop up your feet (when mom isn’t looking). The couch is pretty tight to the queen bed–this side of the room would have worked better with another 12 or 18 inches. The total length of this living and sleeping area is 16 feet 2.5 inches–that’s two feet shorter than the longer wall in the bedroom space of a value resort room…

Above the couch there’s more fun art.

The top of the chest is hinged, yielding access to a large storage area within. Two large drawers in this object would have been more practical than a top-opening chest.

The couch unfolds into a bed that I measured as 76 inches by 59 inches–just a bit less than a queen–with a six inch cushion. I slept fine on it.

On the other side is a fold-down Murphy bed under a large 54 inch TV, and a table and chairs.

The TV side from the back. There’s no dresser.

The Murphy bed pulls down from the enormous object underneath the TV. I measured it as 72″ by 30″, but it sleeps a little shorter than that because of the way it is framed. The cushion is 6 inches. I napped on it fine, but it’s really not suited to anyone over 5′ 9″ tall for a full night.

Note the charming picture of a sleeping Lilo and Stitch revealed when the bed is pulled down.

In the back corner of the room is this table and chairs. Note the different chair colors–a fun feature. Above the table is a power point with one normal outlet and two USB power jacks. There’s another regular outlet below the table, and more in the kitchenette. This room is short on dressers but not on power!

The balcony extends the full width of the room.

All Studios have balconies or patios–in the longhouses with standard Polynesian Village rooms, second floor standard rooms have no balconies.

Views vary, not just by longhouse and longhouse side, but also by the season. Compare the view from my Pago Pago room in April (above) with the foliage you can see from my Moorea room in January, below.

More specifically, among the three Polynesian longhouses with Studios:

Tokelau has the best overall location, and all of its rooms have fine views. Half face the Oasis pool, so may suffer from noise.
All Moorea rooms have fine views. Half face the Seven Seas Lagoon, but likely all these will get scarfed up by DVC members.
Half of Pago Pago rooms have fine views, and the other half face a parking lot that while handy to all three of these longhouses is not worth looking at.

Compared to a standard room, Studios get you a toaster and microwave, a half bath, and guarantee a balcony or a patio.

They trade the desk for a table and chairs, and a queen bed for a pull-out sofa, at the expense of a smaller living space, a bit of cramped space along the bed/couch wall, and no dresser. You also lose an easy chair.

If you use it all and creatively, you’ll likely find enough drawers, shelves, chests and such for all your stuff, but it’ll be spread around more than if you had a dresser.

Most Polynesian Studio rooms have a better location than most Polynesian standard rooms, and, at least to my eye, have lovelier baths and a much more charming color scheme in the living area.

PHOTO TOUR OF A BUNGALOW AT DISNEY’S POLYNESIAN VILLAGE RESORT

This review continues here.

TOPICS IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S POLYNESIAN VILLAGE RESORT

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest!!

RELATED STUFF

70 comments

1 Brett { 05.05.15 at 7:20 pm }: Hello and thanks for the great room tour, I am beginning to book my next stay and had some questions. I’m thinking abut booking a Poly studio for my family of 5 (me, wife, 16 son, and 2 14 yo sons) for 11/28-12/5. First, will this studio be a little tight on room in general for my bigger family of 5? Was also thinking about the same for the studios at the Wilderness Lodge Villas, is there the similar issue? Lastly when looking at the Poly, I can only book a standard view. Is this because they are already sold-out or b/c they are not finished yet. Any help is appreciated ! Thanks!
2 Dave { 05.06.15 at 7:39 am }: Brett, only half of one of the three Studio buildings has lagoon or theme park views, so I am guessing they are just sold out. The Poly studio will be a little cramped, but the WL variant will be even more so. Have you considered a regular Poly room? Less cramped–but also fewer baths…
3 Brett { 05.05.15 at 7:24 pm }: Sorry forgot to state that the standard view rooms are available, not the lake view rooms when talking about them being sold-out vs. not ready. Thanks, Brett.
4 Cyndi { 07.27.15 at 9:18 am }: thanks for the great and thorough review and walkthrough! In your opinion – totally crazy to have 4 adults and 2 children (6 and 2yrs) in a studio? Me, husband, both our moms, and our 2 daughters. The 2yr old doesn’t count so the room will technically fit us all – I think it’ll be fine, hubby is worried about the space. I’m a packaging engineer – my job is to fit things into the smallest possible space – so I’m sure I can get the storage/luggage to work out. Thought we’d bring hangers to make better use of the closet, kids will sleep on the floor, me/hubby in the bed, grandmas on the murphy and sofabed. Thoughts?! Crazy?!
5 Dave { 07.28.15 at 8:57 am }: Cyndi, not crazy, but perhaps impractical in a couple of ways.
First when the two fold out beds are down there’s not a lot of room for two beds/ or a bed and a crib on the floor. One or the other, and even then you’d have to stack up the chest infornt of the bed wiht the table and chairs, but not both. Putting the grandmas together on the sofabed would work, with the older kid on the Murphy bed…
Second, even if you could stick to yuor plan and fit the kid beds, whose mom gets the Murphy Bed? If you have an even number of nights, they can take turns, but honestly I’d have had a hard time putting my mom on a murphy bed when my wife and I had a big old queen, and after some glares from my wife the scheme would end up with me on the Murphy bed and my wife’s mom in her bed, my mom in the other big one…
6 Linda { 11.06.15 at 11:07 am }: I love your website and thoughtful insights. Do you know what DVC studio building would be the most quiet? We heard complaints from some who heard the horns blowing from the boats in lagoon until 3am and started up again at 7am.
Thanks for all your help!
7 Jennifer { 11.09.15 at 5:03 pm }: Like Linda, I’m wondering about the noise factor, but also the property overall. We’ve got a lake view studio reserved in April, and when poking around the interwebs for pictures and impressions, I’ve found a LOT of hate directed at the PVB. Complaints about pool overcrowding, disinterested and unhelpful staff, and low quality Mousekeeping abound, and now I’m worried. It’s of course too late for me to book anything else but SS or OKW, neither of which interest me. Can you offer any reassurances that the negativity is overblown?
8 Dave { 11.10.15 at 6:30 pm }: Jennifer, there’s no tactful way to put this…I’ve stayed in 118 different WDW-owned hotel rooms/studios/villas/suites/cabins/campsites, including 65 in the last 36 months, and based on that experience have no reservations about a Poly lake view studio…
9 Jennifer { 11.11.15 at 12:45 pm }: Dave, you are the best. Thank you VERY much. And I must say how much I appreciate the personal sacrifice that must be involved in spending THAT much time at Disney, you poor man. 😉 Seriously, thanks a TON for that!!!!
10 Dave { 11.12.15 at 10:39 am }: Jennifer so long as people find the site’s ads, my book, or my travel agent partners attractive, I’ll continue to be able to afford to keep the reviews real!
11 Alicia { 12.07.15 at 10:22 pm }: This was my first visit to your site (found it via a specific Google search – ‘Polynesian Villa Drawers’) because I couldn’t find anything about the storage space on my normal Disney websites. This was super thorough so thank you for explaining the drawer situation and taking pictures of everything. Very much appreciated and feel more prepared for my trip in the next couple of weeks!
12 Dave { 12.08.15 at 6:58 am }: Hi Alicia and welcome!! After my visit next week, I will have stayed in 120 different WDW-owned rooms, studios, villas, suites, cabins or campsites. In my reviews of them (all linked to from here) I try to focus on what’s special–and not so special–about each, particularly for families on their first visit.
There really is plenty of storage in these Studios. It’s just not in a dresser…
13 Jennifer { 01.08.16 at 1:23 pm }: Me again! Two quick questions: first, how large is that coffeemaker, i.e., could I bring my own filters and coffee (I’m fussy, I admit it)? Second, as you failed to provide your famous “six-pack for scale” picture of the fridge’s interior ;-), is it as it appears be, larger than the fridge found in a standard room? Specifically, is it large enough to hold a gallon container of milk?
Thanks again, Dave, I don’t know WHAT I’d do without your fabulous site!!! 🙂
14 Dave { 01.10.16 at 8:18 am }: Hiya Jennifer! I can’t believe I didn’t take a photo of the fridge. Must have had too many scaling objects. Anyway, it’s about the same size as all the rest–not bigger. Shelves are movable so a gallon should fit. The coffee pot is definitely usable with other coffees.
15 Amber Pittman { 01.14.16 at 2:28 pm }: This may sound like a silly question, but if we book a Studio Lake View Polynesian Room, will we actually see the castle in the distance, or no? I don’t want to spend the extra money on it if we don’t at least get the castle view.
16 Dave { 01.14.16 at 6:40 pm }: Amber, it’s a great question, and the answer is that there are no guarantees.
In the non-DVC part of the Poly, you can buy “Lagoon View” or “Theme Park View,” and only “Theme Park View” has an unobstructed view of the castle.
In the studios, only “Lagoon View” is available. If you request upper floor (and get it) the odds are increased, but no guarantees.
17 Laurie { 01.24.16 at 10:35 pm }: Hi! This is super helpful! I’m still having trouble deciding between a dvc studio and a regular room. Can you tell me why you think the dvc studios are in a better location? Also, do you know when the east pool is expected to be completed? We’re going in May and worried about construction if we stay in a dvc studio. Also, any other tips you may have about choosing a room versus a dvc would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help!
18 Dave { 01.25.16 at 9:13 am }: Laurie, they are a closer walk to the Epcot monorail. I’d guess that the pool will be done by May, but no one will know for sure until it opens. My other thoughts on the pros and cons of the studio vs a regular room are in the post.
19 Kristy { 05.06.16 at 9:08 am }: Hi I’m staying at a deluxe studio at the Polynesian I have a standard view ..do you have any suggestions for online check in so I could get the best location and view . Trying not to get a view of the parking lot…thanks !
20 Dave { 05.07.16 at 6:06 am }: Kristy, avoid Pago Pago and you should be fine!
21 Kristy { 05.07.16 at 9:52 am }: Thank you Dave. Can I request a specific building at online check in?
22 Dave { 05.08.16 at 9:30 am }: Oh, good point Kristy. When I did it 15 months ago, no (see the image) but back then Tokelau wasn’t even open. So if you don’t get the option, call and request Tokelau.
23 Kristy { 05.10.16 at 3:58 pm }: Thank you so much Dave ..that’s the same options I get for check in . I will definitely call and request tokelau! Thank you so much for your advice !
24 Melanie { 05.12.16 at 8:40 am }: I have what may be a silly question, but I thought DVC’s had a washer/dryer? Did they leave that out in order to put the stand-up shower/sink area? Which, in my opinion, is a better feature. We’re staying in a regular room in late Sept/early Oct, but I’ve been checking these out since I think it might actually be a better deal to stay DVC Poly than standard room Poly, but this time I’m locked in. Thanks in advance and as always, I love your website and reviews!!!
25 Dave { 05.13.16 at 8:45 am }: Melanie, no DVC studios have washer/dryers–only one bedroom villas and larger spaces have them.
26 Melanie { 05.13.16 at 6:10 pm }: Thanks Dave! I was misinformed by a friend who said they all had them. Good to know.
27 Kar { 05.28.16 at 8:31 pm }: Hi Dave, We are deciding between paying cash for a Poly studio or a Poly standard room. I know with DVC members that housekeeping is less frequent than when on the main or traditional property. Do you know if the same is true when you pay cash for the studio? Would we only receive housekeeping service every fourth day or so or would it be every day as it is in a regular (standard) room when a patron is paying cash? We have two children under the age of seven so I think the studio would offer enough sleeping space. Thanks in advance for your advice and help!
28 Dave { 06.02.16 at 9:30 am }: Kar, when you pay cash you get housekeeping every day!
29 Kelly B - Destinations In Florida { 05.30.16 at 7:53 pm }: Hi Kar – If you are booking your room/package directly through Disney (or a TA like myself), you will get all the perks of a regular resort guest – Availability to book Dining Plan, MagicBands, transportation and housekeeping and so much more. A studio will have plenty for room (queen bed, sofa bed and pull down bed as we. I would love to help you book and plan your Disney vacation. We can look at options and prices and see what will work best for you and your family. Contact me at KellyB@DestinationsInFlorida.com or 980-429-4499.
30 Kar { 06.05.16 at 6:33 am }: Thanks to both of you for your advice! It truly helps our decision process.
31 Lindsay { 07.17.16 at 11:15 am }: Thank you for this great tour! We are planning our first family trip to Disney World. We are traveling mid February 2017. A deluxe studio at the Poly has been my top choice (and available) due to resort location and feel, but we were worried about being cramped (2 adults, 2 kids; ages 8 and 6). Your tour shows that we will be more than comfortable for the little time we will be in the room. We are light packers and get creative with storage, if needed. I think we will go ahead and book! Our girls have no idea we are planning this and will be SO excited!
32 Dave { 07.18.16 at 12:25 pm }: Thanks Lindsay!!
33 Rm { 11.05.16 at 1:16 pm }: Hi Dave , my wife and I are planning a trip next year in November. We are DVC members and are using points for our stay . The question I had was would it be more comfortable to get a regular room which has two queen beds as opposed to having one queen and a pullout ? Is the comfort of two queens worth the loss of the 1/2 bath and kitchenette ? Are the regular rooms still nice even though renovated years ago ? Thank you so much for any help you can provide , we appreciate it ..
34 Rm { 11.05.16 at 1:18 pm }: Let me clarify , we also have two kids 7 and 3 years old with us … thanks
35 Dave { 11.07.16 at 12:41 pm }: Rm, the beds and storage in the regular rooms are better, but the studio wins on other dimensions. They are also more brightly colored. The regular rooms are still nice, so I’d view it as close to a coin flip.
36 Kelly B - Agent with Destinations in Florida { 11.05.16 at 3:25 pm }: Rm – I was able to tour the studios last December and absolutely loved them. I’ve heard wonderful things about the sofabed and their comfort. With 3 children of my own, I know that kids will sleep anywhere. So it won’t matter to them. I love having 2 bathrooms. So my opinion would be the villa.
37 Donna A. { 11.20.16 at 11:29 pm }: Studio vs Standard Room question for you. Hopefully staying 4/15-4/22. 2 adults and 3 teenagers. We are a tall family. Husband is 6″4, twin boys are 6″2, and 5″9 daughter will sleep in the pull out. Based on height would standard room be better for sleeping and/or extra space? We dont plan to be in the room other then sleeping, however the extra bathroom is appealing in the Studio. Help!?!
38 Dave { 11.22.16 at 7:47 am }: Donna, I would not but the twins on the pull-out couch–its mattress is just not comfortable enough for kids of that size. So that puts you in the standard room.

Leave a Comment | Ask a Question | Note a Problem

Photo Tour of a Studio at Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows