Lots of things are changing in Disney World these days!
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
We’re watching construction progress in Magic Kingdom on the TRON coaster, in EPCOT for the park transformation, and at multiple Disney World hotels for updates coming soon. And today, we’ve got a BIG construction update from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort!
The Polynesian Resort is in the middle of some major construction as Disney prepares to add a Disney Vacation Club building here onsite. But before the new building gets added, some pretty hefty demolition has to be done.
Polynesian Village Resort Construction
Today as we were riding by on the monorail, we noticed that Disney has begun to demolish the theater that was formerly home to the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show. When the changes were announced for the Polynesian, it was revealed that the show would be closing, but it definitely feels more final to see the old building being torn apart.
Polynesian Village Resort Construction
The whole area has become a massive construction zone, with walking paths blocked, demolition equipment, and debris everywhere. We’ll keep watching the progress when traveling to and from Magic Kingdom by monorail to see if things change in the coming days and weeks.
Polynesian Village Resort Construction
If you’re staying at the Polynesian, keep in mind that you may hear some construction noise during the daytime due to this ongoing project. Also, walkways around the resort may be shifting or blocked off due to the work that’s happening.
©Disney | Polynesian Village Resort concept art
And the Polynesian Resort isn’t the only hotel getting updated! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is currently getting some new DVC rooms as well, and Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is scheduled for some updates in the future. We can’t wait to see all of these projects completed soon.
Click Here for a Full List of Changes Coming to the Disney World Hotels!
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There have been a lot of changes at Disney that I don’t like, but this on literally makes me feel physically ill. Getting rid of the luau pavilion is just horrible to me. It is one of my all time favorite places with some of my best memories. You may as well say you’re tearing down the Magic Kingdom castle (from my perspective). I’m soooo disgusted and sick about it, I can’t even express it! They just went too far with this one and Disney will no longer ever be the same for me. Ever.
I 100% agree! It literally makes me sick to my stomach
If they’re building it, Disney must think they can fill it. Let’s say they can. Where will the guests be spending their day – at the already overcrowded theme parks? In the overcrowded Disney Springs area?
Looking at the artist rendition, it appears this will be a large high rise hotel. I hope they will be able to keep it properly staffed and running. They seem to be having problems staffing their already existing hotels, especially with housekeeping.
I won’t be returning to Disney World until Disney World returns to valuing their guests. Post-pandemic, my food budget doubled. Gas is at an all time high. Vacation budgets for many are either non-existent or require less expensive trips. Mortgages, car loans, college expense – that’s what parents are dealing with today. I believe many proposed trips to Disney have been placed on the back burner.
Can’t see how they’re going to make money with this newest addition. Plus, it will ruin the Seven Seas Lagoon skyline.
It seems Disney World is going towards a “Members Only” type of resort, kind of like a huge Golf Club, as all the new buildings seem to be DVC. The pricing also seems to be pushing the “regular people” away. Sad really. WDW used to be a place for everyone.
I am with Bellamouse. The Luau is a day-one piece of what made Walt Disney World great. And on top of all that, the new building is horrendous. There should not be a high-rise in the Polynesian Village!
I’m really sad about this change. The luau needed to be updated with a new show, but the ambiance and look of it was unique and special. The artist renderings of the new DVC Polynesian Village Resort property look generic — like a Hyatt in any semi-tropical location. Are you in Disney? Or somewhere in California? Maybe outside Tampa? Is it San Diego? Who knows? And really, who cares? It defnitely doesn’t look like you’re in Polynesia. What is special about it? The Disney resorts should have unique attributes that set them apart from the generic Hiltons, Hyatts, Marriotts. More and more, it seems like they’re copying them. I don’t think it’s a recipe for success. ? I think the average person visiting WDW and staying on property wants a uniquely Disney experience. They’re getting what looks like an average Marriott experience.
I’m afraid I have to agree with the comment from Bellamouse. It may not be as bad as tearing down the castle, but it’s pretty bad. Another “tower” to ruin the ambiance and natural beauty of Disney World just to sell more DVC memberships. I’m especially sad that this is happening to one of my favorite resorts. I hate to say it, but I already feel like many of the resorts where they have added more DVC rooms are becoming too crowded with members/those renting points and the overall ambiance at those resorts has changed because of it. I don’t like the towers at Riviera and Coronado either. Sure, they are fun to walk around inside and the views from the top are nice, but I would much rather not have them as I especially loved Coronado the way it was, beautiful without a major eyesore. So many changes for the worse over the last ~8 years at Disney World that I am starting to become disillusioned.
Change is not always progress.
This is the epitome of Disney corporate culture nowadays. What made Disney special was that it was not about milking every last quarter out of its guests. It was about creating an immersive experience. Doing some things that made it special more then the bottom line. Having the luau’s was just that.
Replace Mickey Mouse with Scrooge McDuck.
Well said. Another piece of groundbreaking history is gone.
All previous statements are spot on! Of course, all these changes with Disney and the economy in general are a direct result of 2 people mishandling EVERYTHING and their names start with a “B” and a “C”. You figure who they are.