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/* Pre-opening (1966-1971) */
==History==
===Pre-opening (1966-1971)===
The genesis of what would eventually become Disney's Polynesian Resort began in 1966, as Disney was working on their master plan for the Florida Project. As part of the plans for their expansion into Florida, Disney envisioned a series of "themed resortsdestination" that guests would stay at while vising Disney property. In these early concepts, Disney planned on creating a "South Seas" themed resort, which was to be located east of the Magic Kingdom, unconnected to Bay Lake. This early version of the "Seven South SeasIsland" hotel would have featured three main lagoons, each of which served as a hub for a series of canals. The resorts restaurants would have been located on the shore's of these lagoons, with the main restaurant sitting atop a large pier.
The next glimpse of the South Seas hotel came on October 27, 1966 when Walt Disney filmed his EPCOT film. Although the resort itself had not changed, it was now shown as being located on the shores of an extended Bay Lake. Although now a waterside resort, this incarnation of the South Seas retained the lagoons seen in the 1966 plan.
By 1970, the Disney World pictorial souvenir shows the Great Ceremonial house at the resort's center, with the marina on the east, and longhouses flanking the east and west of the resort's lobby. In this booklet the resort is described as:
{{Quotation|"The atmosphere of Pacific Islands will be created in the graceful high-rise structure and two-store "outbuildings" of the 700-room Polynesian style hotel. Entertainment, food, and décor will carry out the islander theme and -with all of its rooms facing the water- guests will almost literally feel like the have traveled into the far Pacific.<br>Like the other hotels, the Polynesian will provide a variety of recreation activities,. Boating will be almost at the doorstep of many rooms, and the Vacation Kingdom golf courses will be located close-by. A special highlight for many visitors will be the scuba-diving pool, where guests will be able to participate or watch through specials underwater viewing ports for spectators.}}
As the development of both the Polynesian Resort and Disney's Contemporary Resort continued, Disney's relationship with US Steel began to sour. As deadlines continued to be missed and the construction costs skyrocked, Disney decided to take over construction of the hotels themselves, and ended their partnership with US Steel. In order to train their employees how to run a hotel and experiment with new guest service methods, Disney leased out the Hilton Inn South in Orlando. In 1971, the former Seven Seas Resort was officially christened Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. In February of that year, construction on the resort officially began. Four months later, in August 1971, the resort was completed.
===History Since Opening===
When Disney's Polynesian Village Resort officially opened it housed 478 guest rooms and six suites. The resort's hotel rooms were housed in eight longhouses which were named:
Tahiti, Figi, Maui, Samoa, Tonga, Hawii, Bora Bora, and Balley High (which was not constructed using modular construction). In addition to the Great Ceremonial House, the resort also featured a swimming pool, putting green, and Mariana.
