Whereas there may be some very robust competitors, when all is alleged and carried out, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort holds the rating of my favourite resort lodge on Earth. It appears, feels, smells and is — in all methods — trip.
“The Poly,” because it’s identified by some, first opened similtaneously the Magic Kingdom in October of 1971 and has been entrancing households with its South-Pacific-meets-Disney vibe and unbeatable location ever since.
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Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Over time, the resort has grown to incorporate 11 lengthy row buildings consisting of rooms, Disney Trip Membership studio villas and even 20 overwater bungalows.
However now, there is a new option to keep at this basic favourite, due to the addition of 268 new rooms in an all-new Island Tower that opened in December 2024. With the Island Tower addition, the resort has now crossed over that 1,000-room threshold, giving company an excellent wider number of room choices. Some buildings nonetheless seize that Seventies basic nostalgia, whereas others are as trendy and contemporary because it will get.
This is the whole lot you want to know in regards to the new Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort — together with how one can book its rooms for up to 50% off — so to determine if it is the precise Disney lodge to your subsequent journey.
Associated: The best Disney World hotels for your next stay
What’s the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort?
The Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has 268 rooms unfold throughout 10 tales, ranging in dimension from duo studios constructed for simply two company to two-bedroom villas and penthouses that may sleep as much as 9 company. The tower is situated on the facet of the Poly that’s closest to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, which is a really brief stroll away.
As this can be a Disney Vacation Club resort, to cowl your keep, you’ll be able to personal DVC factors, rent DVC points from different house owners (extra on that shortly) or pay Disney the going nightly charge, as you’d at Disney’s different motels and resorts. The Island Tower shouldn’t be technically a separate lodge from the remainder of the Polynesian Village, however you do have to guide the Island Tower rooms, particularly, if you wish to keep on this a part of the resort.
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The Island Tower has entry to all of the facilities at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort — such because the Lava Pool and its iconic waterslide — however it additionally has some facilities that had been added when the tower was constructed, comparable to a brand new pool with a “Moana”-themed splash space, a brand new health middle and a brand new restaurant.
In most components of the Island Tower, you will not see the daring orange, crimson and brown colours you see all through different components of the Poly. As a substitute, this part of the resort took inspiration from Polynesian wayfinding and the pure world. This contains the weather of earth, water, wind and sky.
It continues with the extra delicate and elevated theming that a number of Disney resorts have taken lately, so take the time to search for animal etchings labored into the outside and “Moana” characters within the multistory mural within the foyer. Additionally preserve your eyes peeled for the unique Polynesian Village artwork situated on the second degree of the foyer.
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Traditional Poly design followers should not shrink back too rapidly, because the terraces, that are open-air areas situated on varied flooring all through the Island Tower, will very a lot remind you of that attribute design you discover all through the property. Merely put, the Island Tower has the very best of each worlds: It is new, contemporary, trendy and distinct with its Polynesian influences and look, however it additionally has some sturdy ties and roots to the remainder of the unique Disney World resort.
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The rooms on the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
The room I stayed in on the Island Tower was a deluxe studio with a theme park view that might sleep as much as 4 company between the freestanding queen mattress and a pull-down queen Murphy mattress.
The look of this room, which I principally loved (although I can not say the inexperienced sofa was my favourite), is impressed by the natural world of the Hawaiian Islands. Total, the room was beautiful and really practical, with built-in seating, ample shops and a kitchenette with a minifridge, a microwave, utensils, a sink and — a primary for a DVC studio — a dishwasher.
Disney has stated that the addition of a dishwasher on this room kind is definitely an environmental transfer to encourage company to make use of cups, plates and silverware offered within the studio as an alternative of single-use choices.
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The toilet featured a standard structure (suppose: a double vainness sink, a rest room and a bathe multi function room), which labored properly for me however might doubtlessly sluggish issues down a bit for a whole household preparing.
The sofa within the Island Tower rooms pulls down very simply to transform right into a queen-size Murphy mattress with its personal hidden “Moana”-inspired artwork that shows solely when the mattress is pulled down.
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It is fairly potential that this theme park view room now has the easiest view in all of Disney World, due to its location on the lagoon. You may see the Magic Kingdom fireworks and the night “Electrical Water Pageant” occasion.
Associated: What it’s really like staying in Polynesian overwater bungalows at Disney World — and how to book for less
Issues to do and what to eat on the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
When staying on the Island Tower, you should utilize all of the amenities at the remainder of the Polynesian Village. On the tower, you may discover some new amenities, together with a health middle, a pool, a splash pad and a restaurant.
New health middle
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If you wish to get a exercise in, you are able to do that within the Island Tower’s shiny and ethereal gymnasium. It is outfitted with ample cardio and weight-lifting machines.
New pool and splash pad
The brand new pool situated subsequent to the Island Tower has a little bit of an L-shape with a zero-entry facet. There are no waterslides right here, however there are a scorching tub and a “Moana”-themed splash space, making it a handy spot for a dip.
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Wailulu Bar & Grill
The brand new Island Tower is house to the Wailulu Bar & Grill, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, albeit with various kinds of choices at completely different instances of the day.
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You may eat indoors or open air within the expansive (and lovely) lined space.
Breakfast is served as a grab-and-go providing from 7 to 10 a.m.; the very restricted menu of choices from the bar contains pineapple-coconut bread ($4.79), a yogurt parfait ($5.99) and occasional ($4.49). There isn’t a desk service within the morning.
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For lunch or dinner, Wailulu affords a full sit-down expertise with choices comparable to burgers ($23), poke bowls (from $22) and grilled fish ($32). Nonetheless, as it’s technically a lounge, no reservations are accepted. This implies it’s doubtlessly simpler to pop in there for an unplanned meal than someplace that does take reservations and is more durable to get into on the final minute.
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Issues to know earlier than you guide the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- The deluxe studio within the new Island Tower solely sleeps 4 folks, whereas a few of the current studios within the different Polynesian buildings can sleep as much as 5 through a single pull-down mattress along with two queen beds. Moreover, the studio villas within the new constructing have all the toilet facilities in a single room, whereas they’re cut up throughout two bogs within the older Polynesian studio villas. For these causes, households of 4 or extra will do higher within the older studios.
- It’s an out of doors stroll from the Island Tower to the primary Poly facilities, such because the Captain Cook dinner’s quick-service venue, the primary Lava Pool and the monorail. Nonetheless, it did not really feel like an extended stroll from the Island Tower than once I stayed within the Pago Pago constructing and even the overwater bungalows.
- From the Island Tower, you might be virtually as near the Grand Floridian foyer and its monorail because the one within the Polynesian’s most important foyer, so preserve that in thoughts for planning functions.
- The Island Tower is impressed by Polynesian cultures (and the “Moana” films) however in a extra delicate method than the older Polynesian rooms and buildings, so select the aesthetic your loved ones prefers.
The perfect (and infrequently most cost-effective) option to guide the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
I’ve advised you plenty of excellent news about Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and its new Island Tower, however this is the unhealthy information: It is very frequent for costs to start out at $700 (if not nearer to $1,000) per night time for normal rooms.
Nonetheless, you may also guide with owned or rented DVC factors beginning on the following factors costs:
- Duo studios: beginning at 12 factors per night time
- Deluxe studios: beginning at 14 factors per night time
- One-bedroom villas: beginning at 28 factors per night time
- Two-bedroom lock-off villas: beginning at 44 factors per night time
- Two-bedroom penthouse: beginning at 86 factors per night time
David’s Vacation Club is a bona fide respected enterprise that rents out Disney Trip Membership factors at $20 to $25 per level, relying on the resort you need and the way far upfront you might be reserving. If you happen to hire your DVC factors at these charges, duo studios and deluxe studios begin at $276 to $322 per night time. That could be a very vital financial savings over what the going money charge will normally be when reserving straight with Disney.
You’re finest served reserving a keep properly upfront should you hire DVC factors, and I like to recommend familiarizing your self with the method and taking a peek on the DVC factors charts to get a way of the price at completely different instances of the yr.
Even should you do not wish to keep within the new Island Tower, you should utilize rented DVC factors for the overwater bungalows or the older Polynesian studios.
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I personal DVC factors, however generally I haven’t got sufficient factors once I want them or do not personal factors on the resort I wish to guide upfront, so I’ve used David’s Trip Membership a number of instances very efficiently. It is a good way to remain at Disney’s finest properties, like this new Polynesian constructing, whereas usually paying solely round half of what it in any other case would have price.
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Backside line
If you wish to benefit from the location, theming and facilities of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort whereas within the latest rooms accessible, then the Island Tower could also be the most suitable choice for you.
It does have a unique appear and feel than the opposite rooms on the Poly, however that is one of many issues that makes it nice because it offers you the reward of much more selections.
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