Aloha! The Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows has officially opened!
Disney World’s newest resort is a new Disney Vacation Club addition next to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Previously, it was home to the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, which closed in March of 2020. This new hotel is home to stunning views of Seven Seas Lagoon, has a Moana-themed splash pad, and a brand new restaurant! While all of this is super exciting, unfortunately, this new hotel is not all that it seems, as we have some bad news about the Island Tower.
The Island Tower officially opened on December 17th, and we have checked out everything! There is no denying that this hotel is beautiful, but just like any new project, it does have its flaws, and we were left disappointed in a few areas.
Generic Theming of Rooms
A complaint that we have seen recently is that Disney is taking a step away from the classic Disney theming that they are known for and taking steps towards a more generic and modern theming of rooms.
While this is the standard in the hotel industry, Disney charges a premium for its hotels and resorts so that you can expect a unique stay. While the new rooms at the Island Tower are clean and modern, they lack the Disney touch and are comparable to rooms at a Hilton or Marriot.
What we will say is that pictures do NOT do the room justice; we were actually shocked by the vibe of the room in person versus the pictures. So yes, while we are taking a few points off for the rooms looking a bit generic in photos, we will say the vibe of the room does feel a bit less generic once you are in it yourself.
Not All Views are Created Equal
While the pool and Wailulu Bar & Grill offer beautiful views of Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom, not all room views are created equal.
Depending on which room you book, your balcony may overlook the parking lot, the Grand Floridian, or the golf course. While this can be a bummer, this is not unusual, as this is pretty standard for Disney Vacation Club Resorts. Take Bay Lake Tower, for example. Park View rooms will cost you more points, whereas Bay Lake View rooms will be middle-tier points, and Standard View rooms will run you the least amount of points. So if you want a better view, you will have to splurge by spending more.
We Miss its Predecessor
While Walt Disney did say, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” the same goes for Disney World; we can’t help but wish that Disney included some form of live entertainment along with the opening of the Island Tower.
As we mentioned, the Island Tower took over the previous home of the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, which was a Luau. It would have been nice for Disney to include some part of the show still to make this DVC resort stand out.
Breakfast is Only ‘Grab and Go’
For the moment, if you are looking to grab breakfast before heading into the parks, Wailulu Bar & Grill only offers a limited ‘Grab and Go’ breakfast menu. If you are looking for a table service meal or warm entrees, you will have to head over to the Great Ceremonial House.
It Does Not Smell Like the Great Ceremonial House
Each resort has its own scent, especially the monorail resorts, and we were shocked that the Island Tower does not have the Polynesian smell! Come on, Disney, get it together and start pumping in that delicious tropical scent!
Transportation is Not Convenient
Since the Island Tower is an extension of the Polynesian Village Resort, if you want to use Disney transportation, you will have to head on over to the Great Ceremonial House to catch the bus, boat, or monorail, which is not super convenient. For the time being, Uber and Lyft only pick up at the Great Ceremonial House as well, so this can be a bit of a pain if you are not bringing or renting a car.
While we do have a few gripes with this new hotel, we can’t deny it is beautiful, and it is still in its first few days of operation, so who knows what changes might be ahead! To stay up to date on all the latest Disney news, make sure to continue to follow along with Disney Food Blog!
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Will you be booking a stay at the Island Tower? Let us know in the comments!
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