Final Preparations Underway for Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Resort

Dec 10, 2024 in "Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows"

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Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows construction - December 9, 2024

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Posted: Tuesday December 10, 2024 9:07am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows is set to officially open its doors on December 17, 2024, and final preparations are in full swing. With just one week remaining, crews and Cast Members are working to ensure the newest addition to the Disney Vacation Club portfolio is ready to welcome its first guests.

Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows construction - December 9, 2024

Exterior Finishing Touches

The exterior of the Island Tower is nearly complete. Crews have been adding the final details, including the installation of signage at the arrival area to guide guests as they check in. Landscaping enhancements are also being finalized, bringing lush, tropical greenery to the property.

Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows construction - December 9, 2024

Interior Preparations

Inside, the focus is on the finishing touches. Crews are working to complete interior design elements and ensure all amenities are operational. Cast Members are also preparing the Island Tower for the first wave of guests, which includes readying the resort's new restaurant, the Wailulu Bar and Grill.

Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows construction - December 9, 2024

The 10-story tower will feature a variety of room types, complete with original artwork inspired by the Polynesian Islands, wayfinding and the natural elements – earth, water, wind and sky.

Each guest room will also feature custom pieces inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios film, "Moana."

Duo Studios

With inspiration from the stars and the sky that the wayfinders used for celestial navigation, the bright and airy duo studios will offer the perfect retreat for two.

Duo Studio

Studios for Families of Four

Celebrating the lush flora and fauna of the islands, the deluxe studios will sleep up to four and include a first-of-its-kind feature for Disney Vacation Club deluxe studios – a dishwasher. The deluxe studios in the Island Tower will have a new layout, including a cozy seating area across from the kitchenette.

Deluxe Studio

One- & Two-Bedroom Villas for the Entire Family

You and your family and friends will be able to spread out in a one- or two-bedroom villa, sleeping up to five and nine, respectively. Through unique artwork, each villa will showcase a voyager's journey both on land and under the sea. Embracing the beauty of water or earth, these spaces will feature a kitchen with full-size appliances, a dining area, a washer and dryer, and an outdoor patio area.

NEW Two-Bedroom Penthouse Villas

2 Bedroom Penthouse

Disney Vacation Club will introduce a brand-new type of accommodation in Island Tower: two-bedroom penthouse villas. Themed after the calming balance between water and the islands, the villas will sleep up to eight and boast a spacious living room, and spectacular views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom Park from an expansive patio balcony.

2 Bedroom Penthouse

Sustainable Design Details at the Island Tower

Several features within guest rooms contribute to the Island Tower's sustainable design, in line with Disney's 2030 environmental goals. For example, in addition to the convenience that comes with the first-ever dishwashers in the tower's studios, they also contribute to Disney's goal of minimizing waste by reducing the need for plastic utensils and single-use dishware. The plush rugs and carpets inside guest rooms are made from mostly recycled plastic bottles woven into fine yarn that feels like silk.

Discuss on the Forums

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DisneyFanatic125 days ago

The tower has a small lot, without a guard booth or anything (just an arm). You pretty much have to try and use your phone to enter and hope it’s part of the 30% of the time that MDE actually works to unlock a door.

networkpro5 days ago

Imagine spending 3200 a night on a bungalow sandwiched in between an Elks club and the dockyard (free friendly toots every 20 minutes! )

Sirwalterraleigh5 days ago

Kinda defeats the purpose to sleep in your car out back when it’s 84 at 3 am, doesn’t it? 🤔

JoeCamel5 days ago

Did they not add any parking for this? Google does not show any but does show the building

Sirwalterraleigh5 days ago

I mean…I think this one is of particularly poor effort… So save the “but I think it’s worth it to ME” (the sign someone just blew $30,000 without thinking) But the the greater point is when they slap cookie cutter “villas” in on top of existing 55 year old spaces…everyone loses. They added trader sams, refurbed the lobby (not well…but whatever) and redid the pool before they did a straight conversion 10 years ago… Now they add about 250ish? And do what? Just raises everyone’s frustration level…period. I’d say the last dvc convert where they did “enough” might be…I don’t even know? I guess wilderness lodge 2?

networkpro5 days ago

I w I walked past it a few hours ago leaving Tambu. Only thing missing is a few chopped veggies and you'd have human soup. You could easily call the Polyday Inn a parasitic load on the existing amenities. Fortunately they can't stumble away from the large open bar downstairs over to Tambu.

Sirwalterraleigh5 days ago

Well that’s good (for the 4 people it fits) I looked on the satellite and couldn’t find it

Tuvalu5 days ago

PIT (gotta love the acronym!) has a hot tub.

Sirwalterraleigh5 days ago

Because that’s not the scam…I mean…”model” I try not to harp…but it’s been obvious since Saratoga that the game has been to replace rack rooms with dvc and not add to services for the occupants unless they deem it “statistically unavoidable” to do so…and then only at the basic minimum This isn’t hard for those of us that are legally adults here to figure out in the last 15 years…let’s do better

Sirwalterraleigh5 days ago

And that pool looks just ok…a puddle with water in it. Which we can get at the holiday inn Apparently a hot tub is WAY too much to ask…cause when you charge $750 a night…that only goes so far 🙄

Sirwalterraleigh5 days ago

And that’s why it’s bad management They see if they can slide by with minimums and they keep doing it Part of the explosion of on property wdw hotels was they were built well equipped to encourage return visits. That was 101% MICHAEL D EISNER…and it was never “broken”…so it never needed fixed

Sirwalterraleigh5 days ago

Very sad to hear Atrocious asset management…which is becoming standard

MickeyCB5 days ago

It's true. We were very busy with the parks and didn't spend a whole lot of time at the resort, but it was sad. They have the sandy beach out front that my granddaughters loved, but it's small and there was no way to clean off their feet and though we tried I'm sure we dragged sand into the lobby. (It's probably not really meant for play but there wasn't a whole lot else to do to let them unwind.) They have a fake grass area with one chess set and I think some cornhole set up. We never used the pool because it just didn't seem worth the hassle. I still love these resorts and they have areas of beautiful landscaping, etc. I just wish they would spend a little more effort (and money) thinking things through from a guest experience perspective. Regarding food service, I was thinking something as simple as a few themed food trucks would be better than the crazy they have going on there. 🤣

Chef idea Mickey`=5 days ago

It's funny they are so concerned about capacity numbers for the parks especially the three outside of Magic Kingdom, except when they build on capacity to their Premier existing resorts they don't care or concern if they can accommodate the rise in population.