While there are lots of changes happening inside Disney World’s theme parks with Test Track’s retheming, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opening, and so much more, there’s even MORE happening outside the park gates.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Fort Wilderness has been getting new Disney Vacation Club (DVC) cabins, and in December 2024, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will open their new DVC tower, built on the ground that housed Spirit of Aloha dinner show at the resort for decades. We asked our readers on Facebook if they’re planning on staying in the new tower, Island Tower, and we got a pretty strong response!
About 60% of you said that you will NOT be staying at the new DVC tower. Some of you just plainly stated “no,” while others really told us their feelings about the look and feel of this new tower, which are controversial to say the least.
©Disney || Island Tower
To take directly from our readers, they said no to staying at this resort because:
- “No. It’s ugly.” (DANG straight out there)
- “Honestly, I’m questioning if we ever want to stay there at all now. It’s so ugly and so in your face.” (Well…that’s two votes for ugly.)
- “No, I don’t like the non theming, theming.” (Told you this theming was not on people’s favorites list!)
- “If I’m going to pay deluxe resort money to stay in Disney I want to be immersed in theming. The new builds all look like corporate conference hotels you could find anywhere.” (…fair point.)
- “The theming doesn’t draw my attention.” (Again, if you want to really remember you’re IN Disney World from that theming, you’ll also hate this “theming.”)
©Disney
Other readers shared that the main reason they won’t be staying at this new tower is due to the price. While it will be eventually open for DVC points, when bookings opened for DVC members on June 4th it was only for cash reservations. Annual Passholders were able to make cash reservations on June 5th and all guests could make cash reservations on June 6th.
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DVC point bookings will be available at a later date, but Disney hasn’t announced when that will be, or how many points DVC members will need to book. Despite this current uncertainty, here’s what our readers had to say about the price:
- “BRB selling a kidney!” (It’s funny…but not really when you realize how expensive it REALLY is.)
- “My friend called, no points can be used but 5 nights stay would be $25,000 She said thanks and hung up fast.” (YIKES)
- “Maybe, if I win the lottery.” (Oh how we wish…)
- “Nope. I’ve seen the cash prices and it’s not in my budget. I also don’t think we’ll have enough DVC points to cover a stay there.”
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Another big section of our readers were saying that they’re in no hurry to stay at the new tower. One reader said that they have other DVC stays planned and they’re not in a rush to add the new tower to that list. Many others said that they’ll probably eventually stay there, but they’re waiting to see how many points it’ll cost.
©Disney
Right now you can check out photos of the new rooms coming to Island Tower to see if it’s something you’re interested in experiencing. If you’re willing and able to pay cash to stay, you can make your reservation on the Disney World website or by calling (407) 934-7639.
Construction on the Island Tower
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Learn everything there is to know about Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort here!
How do you feel about Island Tower? Tell us in the comments!
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DVC members finance new attractions, new lands, and obviously towers like this. They are not just members; they are considered owners. Without them where would the rest of us be, over at Universal. I don’t think even if I have disposable income would I stay at a DVC tower. I’ve worked hard all my life and understand the value of a dollar. It’s for them to enjoy not me.
Who knew Polynesia was so…beige.
The elephant in the room is the isolation, it’s a LONG walk to the monorail station or the park.
I will not stay there bc no way could I afford it. But, also, agree with themeing issues. I guess I’m nostalgic, but I think the hulking building ruins the Poly as a whole resort. It’s an eyesore.
We are looking forward to seeing the final product, after all the exterior trim and landscaping is added. We may or may not stay here, I just don’t know yet. I do wish Disney could have found a way to retain the Luau.
I am hoping that Disney’s new CEO takes a hard look at Disney’s governance structure. I would like to know how projects like this, and some of their newer creative content, gets the final approval to “go ahead.” If such a structure exists, the new CEO needs to take a hard look at the people that are in the chain approving these projects. The output lately seems half-baked and uninspired. How can the same company create something like the Guardians of the Galaxy attraction and then produce The Star Wars Acolyte. Our jury is still out on this new Polynesian Tower. No doubt Disney could have done better, but we will wait for the final product to judge.
Another win for Epic Universe! Disney is really pushing everyone away. $25k for room alone is insane! We can take an international trip for two weeks for less and that includes air fare, food, tours, entertainment, souvenirs. This is outrageous, just like Galactic Starcruiser. Walt has to be turning in his grave.
For the money, there are just so many things we’d rather do, so many places we’d rather stay, and we only have so much time (and money) to spend at the resort. One thing Dinsey seems to be getting perpetually wrong is that, regardless of price point, people want the theming! If I had all the money and time I could possibly spend, I still can’t imagine bothering with this one. In terms of resort choices, I’d spend my money and time at the heavily themed places – including value resorts – first. There are so many themes that Disney could have filled these rooms with to increase the demand that would have been on-point with Polynesian, and the rooms would be in much higher demand, regardless of the ugly facade. If they had created Stitch rooms, Moana rooms. Tiki Room rooms, and vintage Polynesian resort rooms, demand would be high. But as it is, I can go down the road to the closest corporate-focused hotel and pretend I’m there for a lot less. I can take plenty of photos and no one will know I’m not there lol
I would stay at Island Tower, but I won’t pay cash for it. I’ll wait until I can use my points.
Another think for Disney to price out the middle class and cater to the RICH UPPER CLASS.
I have stayed at the Polynesian a few yrs ago and must say I was very very disappointed. Felt like we were staying in a cheap motel. What theming are you all talking about? Was the most disappointing stay I have had as a DVC member ever!!! I will wait and see how the tower turns out and the points needed to stay there. It looks pretty nice to me.
Our “home” has been Bay Lake Tower since 2010 and we get down 2-4 times per year. I’m a firm believer in “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. BLT is, and will remain, our home.
‘The world is a carousel of color” – unless you stay at the new Poly tower.
June’s comment is hillarious. Thank you, June.
It’s not only the new Polynesian Tower. Many of the recent resort refurbishment projects had the corporate generic hotel look, with de-theming being the pattern. Who came up with that? Who approved that? Are they still with Disney?
I have to agree with Randy. I just stayed in a refurbished room at Saratoga Springs and while the room was beautiful, it was also monochrome. Except for the wood floors, everything was a shade of white. Disney rooms used to be so colorful.