===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 "destination" 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 "South Seas Island" 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.
[[Image:Polyconcept1.jpg|thumb|400px| Concept Art from Walt Disney's EPCOT film. Here the "Seven Seas Theme Resort" is featured with its three lagoons]]
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.
The first major written description of the South Seas resort came in the 1967 Florida Project book. Here the hotel is described as "designed for enthusiasts of aquatic sports". True to this description the hotel's lagoons were earmarked for a specific purpose. One lagoon was to be used for swimming, one for boating, and one for "shark diving". The history of the Polynesian Village Resort, and Walt Disney World in general, changed in 1967 when Disney learned that the planned location for their theme park and resorts was largely unbuildable. To rectify this, Disney moved the facilities, and created the Seven Seas Lagoon on the unbuildable land. At this time, the area planned resorts, including the South Seas resort, were moved to the shores of the newly created lagoon.