Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Photo Walk to the Magic Kingdom in 110 Photos (Past Island Tower, Grand Floridian)
Hi everyone!
I have a new Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort to Magic Kingdom photo walk to share today. My last photo walk of the resort was back in January 2021, from the Polynesian to Disney’s Contemporary Resort. With the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows now complete, the walk is a bit different.
There are over 110 photos in this walk from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, past the Island Tower and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and then on to the front of the Magic Kingdom. It is a lovely walk! But you can also take the monorail or boat from here.
Here is my photo walk.
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We are starting from outside of the Great Ceremonial House. We’d stopped here for breakfast, Kona Cafe to-go (Macadamia Nut Pancakes FTW). I have been asked about the time and amount of steps for the walk, but I didn’t record those yet (I will soon).
The map outside does show the new Island Tower addition.
The Island Tower also includes the Cove Pool and Moana’s Voyage splash pad.
There are running trail maps as well, and the Island Tower has been added.
We are first heading out toward the Island Tower.
We are passing by the Tonga building on the left. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has long been my favorite Disney resort, it’s where I grew up visiting in the 70s and early 80s as a child. Jeff also grew up mostly staying here.
The next building is Aotearoa.
Very quickly you’ll notice the Island Tower.
We were here for the Island Tower media event. Since then, there have been games added to the grass along the way.
The Cove Pool is ahead. It is a pretty basic pool, although the Moana’s Voyage splash pad will be a draw for kids.
We are walking toward the Island Tower.
A large chess game can be seen in the grass.
There is also a Banyan tree that originally was located at Luau Pointe (when there used to be a Luau at the resort). The tree looks so majestic here.
I am a little confused at this sign, since Disney’s Wedding Pavilion, Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom are to the right.
We are turning right, past the Island Tower.
The Moana’s Voyage splash pad is to the right.
To the left, there are restrooms.
The Island Tower also has two Coca-Cola Freestyle machines and a mug washing location.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort received a fitness center with the Island Tower. Until now, guests from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort had to use the fitness center at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
This signage does point the way to Disney’s Grand Floridian and the Magic Kingdom.
The new Wailulu Bar & Grill is a lovely location with fireworks views at night. We did sample some food at the media event, and the big hit for me was the Hibiscus iced tea and we quite enjoyed the Short Rib Loco Moco.
The breakfast is a grab and go, but the restaurant and bar open at 11:00 a.m.
We are walking past the restaurant toward the Seven Seas Lagoon.
The next turn is a left.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort can be seen to the left, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort to the right across the water.
There are hammocks on the small strip of beach.
Disney’s Grand Floridian resort is coming more into view.
The Wailulu Bar & Grill is pretty spacious.
Here is a look from the opposite side.
The Magic Kingdom and a monorail are seen further out.
There is a nice amount of seating in front of the Island Tower to look out at the lagoon.
Here is that view.
We stopped briefly inside to see the Christmas decorations. There is a tree and some garland for the holiday season.
We took a ramp down to the walkway.
Head out to the left, and it won’t be long until you are at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
We are walking past more hammocks.
Franck’s Studio at Disney’s Wedding Pavilion is ahead.
We are walking along the new fence to the right.
There is signage along the way.
The Wedding Pavilion juts out over the water.
We are walking past both Franck’s Studio and the Grand Floridian Wedding Pavilion.
Signage points the way to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
A monorail passes by.
These signs don’t mention the Magic Kingdom, but we are heading to and past Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
To our right, this is a look at where we came from.
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is ahead.
We are walking along the water.
The main building of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is ahead. I still remember when it opened in 1988, it was such an elegant addition to the property (and a dream of mine to stay there, which I eventually did about 20 years later).
Disney’s Grand Floridian Beach Pool is ahead.
There is also another Running Trail sign.
We are walking along the fence for the Beach Pool.
Beaches Pool Bar and Grill is available for guests of the resort.
There is a nice beach to enjoy here.
We are still walking along the fence.
We are heading up the stairs. The main building of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is here.
Holiday deer are looking into The Garden View Lounge, which was a tea room for many years. I hope it will be again. The lounge has been used for the holiday season as guest seating.
Holiday deer are also out by the fountain near the Courtyard Pool.
We are walking past the main building and will turn left.
Seating for Gasparilla Island Grill can be seen ahead.
Gasparilla Island Grill is the quick-service location at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. The view is lovely outside.
Getting to the path to the Magic Kingdom can be a little confusing. It is to the left of the building here.
A sign points guests to the walkway, which starts next to a service area.
A green fence helps guide the way.
At this point, you just need to follow the walkway along the monorail beam all the way to the Magic Kingdom (keep reading).
Cinderella Castle can be seen rising above the trees. I slept in Cinderella Castle back in 2007 as part of Year of a Million Dreams.
We are walking toward a little bridge.
The Magic Kingdom walkway is open from one hour before park opening until one hour after.
This bridge is short.
This walkway from Disney’s Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom opened in 2020 and was so welcome! It makes a big difference to be able to walk from the resort.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort is in the distance. Guests can walk all the way from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort to Disney’s Contemporary Resort, as I’d linked earlier.
The path is pretty easy here.
The view of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is beautiful.
There is another small bridge that can be temporarily closed at times (for watercraft).
Here is another look at Disney’s Grand Floridian.
We are on the last leg of the walkway.
A monorail passes by.
There is some seating as we get closer to the Magic Kingdom.
A boat heads to the Grand Floridian.
This is the boat launch it left from.
A sign lets guests know where to walk. Around the corner is security.
And we arrived at the Magic Kingdom! The holidays were still being celebrated here. With some stops along the way (and hundreds of photos), it took us about one hour to complete the walk.
I will head back and time the walk without pictures next visit, and will post that information here.
Mickey and Minnie were wearing Santa hats in front of the park.
It has been quite some time since I posted a Walt Disney World photo walk. Did you enjoy this?
Our website started with photo walks around Walt Disney World property back in 2007. I still enjoy the walks, but we get so busy now (some of the walks have been between 200 – 300 photos, so they are time consuming). This was a shorter walk for me to post.