Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Resort: Latest Construction Updates as Terrace Gardens Take Shape

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Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows construction - September 13 2024

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Posted: Friday September 13, 2024 11:07am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Here's the latest update on construction progress at the Island Tower, part of Disney's Polynesian Resort in Walt Disney World.

Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows construction - September 13 2024

One of the four terrace gardens has begun to take shape, with visible landscaping now in place. The themed seating areas, inspired by the islands of Bora Bora, Hawai'i, Samoa, and Fiji, are designed to provide families with a serene and relaxing space to gather. Disney has revealed that guests will be able to explore vibrant artwork and lush greenery throughout the gardens, creating a distinct sense of place in each terrace.

Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows construction - September 13 2024

Hawai'i Terrace Garden

At Moana's Voyage splash area, her iconic outrigger canoe is now in position, and construction continues on the surrounding pool area and hot tub.

Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows construction - September 13 2024

Moana's Voyage splash area

The new Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows is scheduled to open on December 17, 2024, with reservations now available.

Opening week rates for a December 18 arrival start at $826 per night for a Duo Studio with a Standard View and go up to $5,016 per night for a 2-Bedroom Penthouse with a Theme Park View. Discounts may be available for Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members, and Florida Residents.

Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows concept art

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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.

networkpro6 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! )

Sirwalterraleigh6 days ago

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

JoeCamel6 days ago

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

Sirwalterraleigh6 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?

networkpro6 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.

Sirwalterraleigh6 days ago

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

Tuvalu6 days ago

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

Sirwalterraleigh6 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

Sirwalterraleigh6 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 🙄

Sirwalterraleigh6 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

Sirwalterraleigh6 days ago

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

MickeyCB6 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`=6 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.