Latest look at the new Disney Vacation Club tower construction site at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort

ToTBellHop7 minutes ago

Yes, you monster. You may only eat food your ancestors made or you’re CANCELED! Thank God I’m mostly French. What if I was mostly British and had to eat bangers and mash 6 nights a week?

Nubs7041 minutes ago

I'm of Northern European decent, am I culturally appropriating if I eat Mexican food?

mattpeto45 minutes ago

The leaked blueprints that went around these forums revealed a restaurant I believe, along with a 2 bathroom 1 bedroom room layout (Like Kidani and BLT-IIRC).

donaldtoo2 hours ago

Nobody should knock the tiki aesthetic, as tons of businesses have made bank on it over the decades, including Disney…!!!!! :hilarious:;)

BrianLo2 hours ago

It’s nicer than 99% of actual infrastructure/hotels in Polynesia though. 😂

splah8 hours ago

of course! it comes down to thoughtful consideration in design. the parks aren't recreating real-life they are amplifying the best parts, the most intriguing parts, the parts that people (and especially people unfamiliar with the source) happily want to explore. my view is they want to be so "authentic" they end up creating things that exist already and are afraid to explore what makes those things unique in the first place. they risk creating a museum of fakes vs. an invitation to explore a place deeper. and a bigger philosophical question, why does something in a theme park need to be "authentic" in the first place? respectful & appropriate, yes. Authentic what does it mean to be in authentic in a purely manufactured environment. the polynesian is not a real place, it shouldn't be, and it shouldn't be held to "real" standards because it's not real. this hotel tower doesn't capture the feeling of escaping to a tropical island, there's no charm. i've never been to hawaii, but which hotel inspires me to go. the unique fun one, or the generic modern one? (as an aside i think that's why SWGE feels flat, they made a fantastical world real. i agree that's what a real outpost probably would look like on the galaxy's edge, but is that somewhere where i want to be? where's the life, where's the charm?)

_caleb9 hours ago

Fair point, if that is indeed what’s happening here. I’m no expert in Polynesian hotel architecture. But it’s an interesting question: can some degree of authenticity be achieved using non-indigenous typologies?

lazyboy97o10 hours ago

Reducing the authenticity to mere decoration doesn’t really change that dynamic. If anything it makes it worse, it’s a thin layer on top of a completely different typology.

DisneyHead12310 hours ago

Since Universal is about to open what looks to be an off-the-hook, deliciously over the top fantasy world with Epic Universe. I think it’s a pretty easy bet that Disney parks will lean into extravagant “fantastical world” themes somewhat more in the near future.

lazyboy97o10 hours ago

They’ve been using light colored bonding agents on the building.

Earlie the Pearlie11 hours ago

I agree with most said above. I don’t want to be like “oh authenticity is the worst thing ever!” because I don’t think that’s true. There’s definitely a middle ground between actual offensive stereotyping and 100% commitment to being absolutely authentic, and I think that Disney is overcorrecting towards the latter. Some authenticity is great! Part of what makes Animal Kingdom and World Showcase’s theming so fantastic is their use of real artifacts, work by local artists, and commitment to realism. But, despite being a huge EPCOT enthusiast and a big appreciator of AK, if you asked me whether I would rather spend time in an authentic Harambe or Morocco, or a highly stylized and not “grounded” Adventureland a la Paris… I think I would pick the Adventureland. It’s more fun for me!

MisterPenguin12 hours ago

I pink, therefore I hem.

splah12 hours ago

I think disneys lost the plot on the word authentic (it seems their definition now is made by). I would suggest a better word would be inspired for a themed setting. The point of a theme park is being and doing things that are extra-ordinary (beyond the everyday). As much as we’re asked to suspend disbelief. Everyone knows we’re not in the Pacific Ocean. Except for Epcot we’re not going to actual places, we’re going to imagined places that don’t have to be what exists in the real world. Many designs are now muted where certain aspects need to be turned up to 11. I reject the thought everything from outside the North American continent has to have gravitas and serious. It’s as though “fun” was left out of the briefing. I also reject the notion that a thoughtful designer must come from the background of the work that is inspiring the new art. I’d say design something fun, bring it to your cultural partners, and adjust if necessary. WDI is the expert in the art of guest experience. Local artists are experts in their art which doesn’t necessarily translate into a theme park setting

nickys14 hours ago

Yep. Plus the resale price for the Poly is rising fast right now. There was a contract for sale earlier this week for $196 per point. Incentives for buying direct will bring the cost below that.