Aotearoa is a favorite longhouse of many. On the one side is one of the best garden view areas on property with the monorail gliding over the top of it. On the other side is a mix of lagoon view and garden view rooms. The reason it is mixed is because some of the rooms have a clear view of the lagoon and others are partial. Even the partial view is a nice one.
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Lagoon View rooms
Theme Park View rooms
All other rooms are Garden View.
Pros: If you get a garden view room on the north side you may have a partial view of the lagoon. On the other side of the longhouse is a garden area with the monorail track. Some love to be able to see the monorail go by from their room. You have a beach directly in front of the building that is never crowded. You are a short walk to the Wedding Pavilion, Grand Floridian and Grand Floridian Spa that is available to Polynesian guests. You are very close to the Great Ceremonial House for food and shopping.
Cons: You are close to Luau cove which can be loud at night from the show. If you end up on the south side of the building, you may get noise from the monorail. Neither noise has seemed loud to me but some have told me they did not like it. The bathroom only has one sink. You are the farthest walk back to the Transportation and Ticket Center (monorail to Epcot). There is a road on the south side of the building that may cause some noise.
Facts about the real island of Aotearoa
The Maori of Aotearoa lived in tribes or Iwi, made up of descendants of a common ancestor. The costumes of dancers would tell through the colors and design which tribe they were from. In ancient times, a stranger was greeted by a warrior who would place a leaf on the ground. If the visitor picked up the leaf, it meant he had come in peace. If he did not, it meant he had come in war. Today, visitors are welcomed with the hongi (rubbing or pressing of the noses.)
Facts about Aotearoa the longhouse
Aotearoa is a nice location and I can see why people like it. I have never been a fan of the longhouses on the Luau Cove side of the property but this does not mean you won’t like it. I think it has a nice quiet beach to sit and relax at. It is a short walk to the luau, Wedding Pavilion and the movies on the beach next to the Pavillion. There can be some noise from the luau but some like to hear the music. It is a great spot to watch the monorail go by from your room. The Lagoon and Theme Park view rooms would not be my first pick just because they are tucked back away from the beach and would be farther then any of the other longhouses with those views. The building does seem to always be in good shape when I check it out and it is sometimes the location for test rooms when they are looking at changing the design.
You would be very close to the Great Ceremonial House but it would be one of the farther walks for the Transportation and Ticket Center at about 8 10 minutes of walking depending on your speed.
