Tuvalu is one of the smaller longhouses but can be a nice location. I stayed in a lagoon view room in this longhouse in 1998 and it was much different than my stay in Tahiti. Most lagoon view rooms have access to the beach but Tuvalu has a roped off area that drops off to the water. The nice thing about this is there is nothing between you and the water view. The garden view rooms do not have the best view but you are close to many of the common areas.
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Lagoon View rooms
Theme Park view rooms
All other rooms are Garden View
Pros: These rooms on the lagoon side are very private and have a clear view of the lagoon. There is a nice beach right next to it. The third floor rooms have balconies. The ground level rooms have patios. Lagoon side rooms can see the fireworks and the Electric Water Pageant .
Cons: You are close to Luau cove which can be loud at night from the show. The view of the Magic Kingdom is partly blocked by Beachcombers Island. The second floor rooms do not have balconies. The bathroom only has one sink. Although right across from the Volcano pool you must walk around the marina to get to the pool.
Facts about the real island of Tuvalu
The population of Tuvalu is 9,000. Only 8 of the 9 islands were inhabited until 1940 when the last one was conquered, giving it the name Tuvalu or “Eight standing together”. Most of the inhabitants are Polynesian and speak Tuvaluan, a language closely related to Samoan.
About Tuvalu the Longhouse
Thanks to Nick’s info and photos I had to check out the view at Tuvalu ground level rooms sice it had been since 1989 that I had stayed in a ground level room over there to see the view. Nick mentioned that the view of the castle was blocked by trees on the island. He was right when it comes to the rooms closest to the marina. You can see below a series of photos going from the rooms to the left and ending at the right and you can see how the castle starts to hide behind the trees. You can still see fireworks and the Electric water pageant from these ground level rooms but if you are looking for a view that you can see more of the castle you might want to try and be on an upper level or in another longhouse if there is availability.
I sort of liked the little grass area that went up to the water’s edge but I don’t think it would be a good idea for little kids and the one thing that really turned me off of staying in Tuvalu was walking around the marina to get to the pool or the boat. I think people have heard me gripe about this a million times but it was one of the few things that really irritated me during a stay at the Polynesian. Not that it is that far but the traffic along the marina with people and service carts can get crazy and I much rather walk out of my room in Hawaii or Samoa or even walk the beach from Tahiti to go to the pool then walk around the marina.
