Both Disney World and Universal Studios have resorts with a tropical theme. However, they are quite different in terms of exact theming, pricing, transportation, dining, and resort benefits. You may be choosing between making Disney or Universal your home base during your Central Florida vacation, so here is a breakdown of the two to help you decide.
Theming
Disney offers a very immersive tropical theme at the Polynesian with the lush landscaping, over-the-top Ceremonial House, and A-frame longhouses. Plus, having the bungalows and the beach of the Seven Seas Lagoon makes it feel like you are on a tropical beach in the middle of the Pacific.
I really love seeing the giant pool volcano that can be viewed from several places around the resort, and walking the resort at night with the tiki torches burning is very authentic feeling.
Of course, the rooms are incredibly themed as well with Moana! This is a character that almost everyone recognizes, and the details in the rooms are beautiful. Check out pictures and a review of these new rooms here. Even the DVC rooms have undergone refurbishment with beautiful blues and greens in the room.
Royal Pacific definitely has some tropical theming, but it is mostly limited to the front entrance, pool/restaurant area in the back of the hotel, and the courtyard. I do love the little waterway that runs beneath the bridge leading up to the front entrance. There is also so much green landscape in this little area, which is needed because there is not a lot of it around the rest of the hotel.
The rooms at Royal Pacific are nowhere near the same level of theming as the Polynesian. There are some giant flowers painted on the wall, and a few of the walls are painted a nice blue which feels like water. It is very understated, but won’t be as enjoyable for children.
In general, Royal Pacific is certainly more upscale feeling. The main areas of the hotel are bright and airy with tons of natural lighting. It gives off 5-star hotel but with some tropical touches. In fact, I think the new DVC tower at the Polynesian fits more in line with Royal Pacific than it does with the rest of the Polynesian resort.
Winner: this is a toss up depending on what you prefer. If you want more immersive theming the Polynesian is the resort for you. If you want a more modern vibe with some light touches, then you should choose Royal Pacific. It is important to remember, however, that the Polynesian is a resort (with more acreage) whereas Royal Pacific is a hotel with just one building. So, Disney has an advantage there with more theming.
Rooms
Theming aside, you may wonder if Polynesian rooms or Royal Pacific rooms offer better amenities and layout. The layout of the standard rooms will be largely the same, and the only real difference I can think of is that the Polynesian has a couch/pull-out bed whereas Royal Pacific has a desk. This means the Polynesian can sleep one more person!
The bathrooms are where you will notice the most differences I think. At Royal Pacific, the vanity only has one sink (though it’s a good-size sink), and then there is a separate area with the toilet and stand-up shower. The Polynesian standard rooms have two sinks and the toilet in one area, and the stand-up shower in the other. The DVC rooms at the Polynesian have two separate bathrooms: one has a shower and sink; the other has a tub/shower combo, sink and toilet.
There are no tubs at either the Polynesian or Royal Pacific with the exception of the DVC rooms, which may make it difficult for bathing small children.
The views are going to be better at the Polynesian. You can pay for a theme park view which overlooks the Seven Seas Lagoon stretching out to Magic Kingdom. Or, you may see other views of the resort – including the pool, landscaping, or other longhouses. Plus, the rooms have either a balcony or patio. The Moorea water view DVC rooms happen to be my favorite view! See which longhouse to request at the Polynesian in this post.
Royal Pacific views may include the front of the hotel or the pool area. If you are positioned just right you may be able to see the waterway that connects the Universal hotels and parks. There are no balconies or patios at Royal Pacific. Check out my room tour at Royal Pacific (king bed and pull out sofa) which includes my view.
Winner: the Polynesian due to the DVC rooms having two separate bathrooms, being able to sleep 5 adults, and better views.
Dining and Pools
The Polynesian has several restaurants and lounges, including a character meal! Trader Sam’s is one of the hottest places to be on any given night, and who doesn’t love breakfast with Lilo and Stitch? Royal Pacific has a couple of restaurants and a bar, but the bar is in the main area of the hotel so it absolutely feels like a hotel/airport bar instead of a themed hideaway.
However, Royal Pacific has something the Polynesian doesn’t have anymore: a luau on select nights! While I did not get to experience the luaus during my stays at either the Polynesian or Royal Pacific, it was very disappointing to many Disney Guests when the Polynesian did away with the luau in favor of the new DVC tower. The luau at Royal Pacific is on Saturday evenings, and tickets are required.
As for the pool area, I was incredibly disappointed with Royal Pacific. There is no pool slide! One would think a Premier Hotel would have a pool slide, but it does not. It felt very basic compared to the Polynesian pool which has a volcano slide plus a great splash area.
There are fun activities at each. You can tie-dye Mickey shirts and play fun pool games at the Polynesian. There is a scavenger hunt and other pool games at Royal Pacific. Both have great quick-service options that can be delivered right to your pool chairs.
Winner: Polynesian. There are better restaurants and lounges. Plus, there is a pool slide at the main pool plus quiet pools. Royal Pacific only has one pool with no slide, but it does have a luau.
Proximity to the Parks and Other Resorts
As mentioned, the Polynesian sits on the Seven Seas Lagoon and is located directly across from the Magic Kingdom. You can either walk (once the DVC Tower construction ends) or use the monorail, ferryboat (via the TTC), and water taxi to get there.
If you’re looking to get to Epcot, all you need to do is walk to the TTC from the Polynesian and hop on the Epcot line. I prefer this method compared to riding the resort line to the TTC and getting on the Epcot line. You will save yourself about 20 minutes doing it this way.
You can also easily access the Grand Floridian and Contemporary by riding the monorail. If you want to get to Fort Wilderness or Wilderness Lodge, you can take the water taxi to Magic Kingdom and hop on another water taxi heading towards those resorts.
Royal Pacific is also within walking distance to the parks and has a dedicated walkway. The walkway connects to other hotels like Cabana Bay and Aventura Hotel. Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure are right next to each other and much smaller than Disney World, so getting around by foot is much easier. You can also take the boat that runs back and forth to CityWalk.
Winner: it’s a tie. Both are conveniently located to the parks they are next to. It’s not really fair to compare proximity to all parks because Disney World is so much larger than Universal Studios.
Value
Both hotels are the priciest category at Disney World and Universal, so you can expect to pay a lot of money for these rooms. The perks and benefits that are included are what determines their value since pricing is roughly the same for standard rooms, although Royal Pacific will likely be cheaper than Polynesian on any given date you are looking at.
At Disney World, the Polynesian is a deluxe resort, but the only exclusive perk you receive is Extended Evening Hours. On select nights, one park will remain open for 2 hours after it “officially” closes. Deluxe Guests can then enjoy shorter wait times and lower crowds. Typically, Epcot is on Monday nights and Magic Kingdom is on Wednesday nights.
Royal Pacific is a Universal Premier Resort, and Premier Resorts get Express Pass Unlimited FOR FREE. You don’t have to purchase it or reserve your return time windows. You simply enter the Express Pass lane for the attractions you want to ride, and your wait will be much shorter. See if I think the Express Pass is worth it in this post.
Value for what you get: Universal wins hands down because you get Universal Express Unlimited for free. This will save you hundreds of dollars over the course of your trip!
Final Thoughts
Both hotels have their own strengths and weaknesses, and your preferences will largely determine which hotel you decide to book. If you are looking for more immersive theming and better rooms, the Polynesian is your pick. If you want something more understated and upscale, Royal Pacific definitely has those kind of vibes.
If you are looking for the best value for your money, Royal Pacific wins by a landslide. Express Pass will save you time and money with less of the headache.
Perhaps if you can’t decide where to stay during your Central Florida location you can stay at both! Stay at the Polynesian for the Disney portion of your vacation (particularly on dates that offer Extended Evening Hours) and stay at Royal Pacific for the Universal portion of your vacation (particularly on Saturday when the luau is offered). That way you can have the best of both worlds and enjoy paradise the entire time!
Have you stayed at both Polynesian and Royal Pacific? Which one did you prefer? Let us know in the comments below, and share this post with people you know who are planning their trips!
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