Welcome to Disney's version of Waikiki and aloha! Disney's Polynesian Resort is one of the few original resorts that has been present in the world (of the Walt Disney variety) since it first opened in 1970s. Tropical palm tress, grass skirts, and a few pineapple juices welcome you to the wonderfully tropical world of the Polynesian resort hotel! Aloha!

The rooms:
As with other Disney deluxe resorts, all of the rooms can accommodate up to five guests, with two double beds as well as a day bed. There are also rooms available for guests with disabilities. The rooms are decorated in bright tropical colours and are light and spacious; some rooms feature small balconies, or those on the ground floor feature a small terrace area. Although the hotel is one of the oldest at Walt Disney World, the rooms have all been renovated within the last few years, ensuring that they are comparable to other Disney resorts, including the levels of cleanliness, etc.

If you are looking to spoil yourself on holiday, book a club-level room, which includes complimentary continental breakfast, a cheese-and-wine reception, and robes in your room. The resort also offers a wide range of suites, which include a one-bedroom suite for five with a separate sitting area and wet bar (sleeps five) or the truly spectacular-looking (from pictures only, as I have never actually stayed in this!) the King Kamehameha, with two stories, two bedrooms, three and a half baths, and a kitchen (sleeps six).

Shopping:
The hotel features a mini arcade of shops, including a menswear and women's clothing shop, that feature the usual Mickey Mouse T-shirts but also more exclusive designers, as well as wide range of beach apparel that you won't really find anywhere else in Disney!

Eating and drinking:
Ohana
Enjoy American grilling influenced by the flavours of Polynesia, including Hawaiian-style appetisers, grilled meats, and vegetables, in this family restaurant in this full-service, full-flavour Disney restaurant. Reservations are recommended during busy periods.

Disney Special and Unique Dining
Kona Cafe
The Kona Café is the place to grab breakfast or lunch in this self-service restaurant, where the food is your average Disney burger and salad, etc., with a slight Asian accent. Perfect for eating quickly or with tired kids. Breakfast can be had for under £5 per person.

Disney's Spirit of Aloha Show
The most exciting dining experience of Walt Disney World (in my opinion!) is the heart-thumping electrical Spirit of Aloha show! Join Disney cast members as they celebrate the rich Polynesian history with hula dancers and fire twirlers. The excitement doesn't cease as you feast on an all-you-can-eat banquet inspired by the flavours of the South Seas. I'm not sure of the current price, but I think it is around £30 per person, with reductions for children 11 and under.

OK, OK, it is Florida, close to the Disney’s Magic Kingdom. But the grounds look very much like the South Pacific French islands of Bora Bora, Tahiti, and the like – lush green tropical foliage, luaus, white sand, bright blue water, and waterfalls. Still you are unlikely to forget exactly where you are, since you will always see the cartoon characters and the park’s monorail.

Public areas have canvas cabanas, hammocks, and big swings overlooking a 200-acre lagoon. The resort's extensive play areas, themed swimming pools, as well as big rooms, can accommodate the entire family – at least the parents and two children (or three children for many of the rooms). This as well as the special themed uniforms for the people working there make the resort a good choice for those traveling to discover the theme park magic with kids in tow.

Most rooms have views of the grounds or a lake while the Tahiti rooms have the ones overlooking the Magic Kingdom itself.

The amenities include everything needed for comfort: a Pac Rim restaurant, cafe, two lounges, two outdoor heated pools of the Polynesian look, a kids' pool. You also get access to water sports equipment for rent, the concierge service, the monorail to the Walt Disney World, a shopping arcade – cheaper than exercising your credit card at the parks themselves.

You get to pay $289-$520 double; $365-$625 concierge level; $465-$2,225 suite. Children 17 and under stay free in their parents' room. If you want to have an extra person in the room it will cost $25 – and that is when the stay can become a bargain. We were three friends, and paid some 110$ per person per night, on average.