# Contemporary vs. Polynesian with kids: which Magic Kingdom hotel

Written 2026-10-10 by Play Day. Two Disney World hotels that get you to Magic Kingdom without a bus: the Contemporary, with its walking path and a monorail through the lobby, and the Polynesian, with the volcano pool, the beach and the Dole Whip.

The Polynesian is tiki torches, a lagoon beach and a volcano in the pool. The Contemporary is the big modern A-frame with the monorail running through the lobby. With kids under six, we'd pick the Polynesian.

They share a monorail loop, and the trips feel different. The Polynesian is a beach vacation that happens to be two monorail stops from Magic Kingdom, and from the Contemporary you can walk home after the park with a sleeping toddler in the stroller.

## The Polynesian for the pool and the beach

### [Disney's Polynesian Village Resort](https://ourplayday.com/places/disney-s-polynesian-village-resort-lake-buena-vista)

Hotel: Monorail, two stops

The Polynesian is low longhouses in palm gardens on the Seven Seas Lagoon, with a beach and hammocks where you watch the castle fireworks with the music piped in. Rooms are big for Disney and sleep five. The monorail stop to Magic Kingdom is in the main building.

The pool has a volcano slide and a water play area, Ohana does a character breakfast, and the Dole Whip window is here too.

- Cribs: Yes
- Suites: Yes
- Pool: Yes

## The Contemporary for the walk

### [Disney's Contemporary Resort](https://ourplayday.com/places/disney-s-contemporary-resort-lake-buena-vista)

Hotel: Walk, or monorail

We'd book the Contemporary for the walking path to Magic Kingdom, about ten minutes. At park close, while everyone else lines up for buses and the monorail, you walk home with the stroller. Park-side tower rooms look out on the castle and the fireworks from the balcony.

The monorail runs straight through the lobby. The pool has a slide and a splash area, and Chef Mickey's character meal is downstairs. The Bay Lake Tower villas next door add a kitchen.

- Cribs: Yes
- Suites: Yes
- Fridge: Yes
- Pool: Yes
- Waterslide: Yes

## The third monorail hotel

Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is the third hotel on the loop, with a zero-entry pool and a walking path of its own. Our Disney World hotel guide has places with a kitchen, for a trip split across four parks.

Page: https://ourplayday.com/guides/united-states/florida/orlando/contemporary-vs-polynesian-with-kids