Since its opening in 1971, the resort has seen three major expansions; the first in 1978, with the addition of a longhouse, the Tangaroa Terrace restaurant/support facility, and a secondary pool.

[5] The resort is organized around a central building named the Great Ceremonial House, itself designed after a Tahitian royal assembly lodge.

[7] The waterfall and foliage were removed and replaced, however, during extensive resort renovations due to health and safety concerns and to reimagine the lobby as a social space.

[10] This method of building caused problems in both Disney's Polynesian and Contemporary Resorts, with guest complaints of a moldy smell in their rooms.

Ten of the eleven longhouses, excluding Fiji, were renamed: Bali Hai became Tonga; Bora Bora became Niue; Hawaii became Samoa; Maui became Rarotonga; Moorea became Tahiti; Oahu became Tokelau; Pago Pago became Rapa Nui; Samoa became Tuvalu; Tahiti became Aotearoa and Tonga became Hawaii.

In March 2021, Disney Parks Blog revealed updated rooms with new furnishings, fixtures, and Moana themed details, patterns, textures, and colors.

[12] In March 2022, it was announced that the resort's luau show, the "Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show", would not be returning after closing two years earlier due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the closure was due to anticipated expansions for the Disney Vacation Club, including new villas, as Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows and amenities which opened on December 17, 2024.

Kona Island serves coffee and pastries in the morning before switching to sushi, sandwiches, and salad in the afternoon.

ʻOhana is a character dining experience where guests can meet Stitch, Lilo, Pluto, and Mickey while being served an "all-you-care-to-enjoy" Island-style meal.

The restaurant, whose name means "family" in Hawaiian, has existed before the development of Lilo & Stitch (2002), having been mentioned in The Walt Disney World Explorer (1996).

He finally picked up his pen and, in the unlikely backdrop of the Polynesian Village Hotel at Disney World, ended the greatest rock 'n' roll band in history by simply scrawling John Lennon at the bottom of the page.28°24′21″N 81°35′03″W / 28.4057°N 81.5843°W / 28.4057; -81.5843