First look: New Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Whereas there may be some very powerful competitors, when all is alleged and completed, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort holds the rating of my favourite resort lodge on Earth. It appears to be like, feels, smells and is — in all methods — trip.

“The Poly,” because it’s identified by some, first opened concurrently the Magic Kingdom in October of 1971 and has been entrancing households with its South-Pacific-meets-Disney vibe and unbeatable location ever since.

Through the years, 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 method to keep at this traditional favourite, because of 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 a good wider number of room choices. Some buildings nonetheless seize that Seventies traditional nostalgia, whereas others are as fashionable and recent because it will get.

This is every part you could know in regards to the new Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort — together with find out how to ebook its rooms for as much as 50% off — as a way to resolve if it is the suitable Disney lodge in your subsequent journey.

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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 measurement 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 positioned 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 Trip Membership resort, to cowl your keep, you’ll be able to personal DVC factors, lease DVC factors from different homeowners (extra on that shortly) or pay Disney the going nightly fee, as you’ll at Disney’s different inns and resorts. The Island Tower will not be technically a separate lodge from the remainder of the Polynesian Village, however you do must ebook the Island Tower rooms, particularly, if you wish to keep on this a part of the resort.

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, reminiscent of a brand new pool with a “Moana”-themed splash space, a brand new health heart 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 an alternative, 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 refined 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 positioned on the second stage of the foyer.

Traditional Poly design followers should not shrink back too rapidly, because the terraces, that are open-air areas positioned on numerous 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 most effective of each worlds: It is new, recent, fashionable and distinct with its Polynesian influences and look, however it additionally has some robust ties and roots to the remainder of the unique Disney World resort.

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 would 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 largely loved (although I am unable to say the inexperienced sofa was my favourite), is impressed by the wildlife of the Hawaiian Islands. General, the room was beautiful and really practical, with built-in seating, ample retailers and a kitchenette with a minifridge, a microwave, utensils, a sink and — a primary for a DVC studio — a dishwasher.

Disney has mentioned that the addition of a dishwasher on this room sort 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.

The toilet featured a conventional structure (assume: a double vainness sink, a bathroom and a bathe multi functional room), which labored nicely for me however may doubtlessly sluggish issues down a bit for a complete 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.

It is fairly potential that this theme park view room now has the perfect view in all of Disney World, because of its location on the lagoon. You’ll be able to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks and the night “Electrical Water Pageant” occasion.

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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 heart, a pool, a splash pad and a restaurant.

New health heart

If you wish to get a exercise in, you are able to do that within the Island Tower’s shiny and ethereal health club. It is outfitted with ample cardio and weight-lifting machines.

New pool and splash pad

The brand new pool positioned subsequent to the Island Tower has a little bit of an L-shape with a zero-entry facet. There are not any waterslides right here, however there are a scorching tub and a “Moana”-themed splash space, making it a handy spot for a dip.

Wailulu Bar & Grill

The brand new Island Tower is dwelling to the Wailulu Bar & Grill, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner day by day, albeit with various kinds of choices at completely different instances of the day.

You’ll be able to eat indoors or outside within the expansive (and beautiful) 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 low ($4.49). There is no such thing as a desk service within the morning.

For lunch or dinner, Wailulu gives a full sit-down expertise with choices reminiscent of burgers ($23), poke bowls (from $22) and grilled fish ($32). Nevertheless, 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 tougher to get into on the final minute.

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Issues to know earlier than you ebook the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

• The deluxe studio within the new Island Tower solely sleeps 4 folks, whereas a number of the current studios within the different Polynesian buildings can sleep as much as 5 by way of a single pull-down mattress along with two queen beds. Moreover, the studio villas within the new constructing have all the lavatory facilities in a single room, whereas they’re break up throughout two loos 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 principle Poly facilities, such because the Captain Prepare dinner’s quick-service venue, the principle Lava Pool and the monorail. Nevertheless, it did not really feel like an extended stroll from the Island Tower than after 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 principal 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 refined approach than the older Polynesian rooms and buildings, so select the aesthetic your loved ones prefers.

One of the best (and sometimes most cost-effective) method to ebook the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

I’ve informed you plenty of excellent news about Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and its new Island Tower, however here is the unhealthy information: It is very widespread for costs to begin at $700 (if not nearer to $1,000) per evening for normal rooms.

Nevertheless, you can too ebook with owned or rented DVC factors beginning on the following factors costs:

• Duo studios: beginning at 12 factors per evening
• Deluxe studios: beginning at 14 factors per evening
• One-bedroom villas: beginning at 28 factors per evening
• Two-bedroom lock-off villas: beginning at 44 factors per evening
• Two-bedroom penthouse: beginning at 86 factors per evening

David’s Trip Membership 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 prematurely you might be reserving. Should you lease your DVC factors at these charges, duo studios and deluxe studios begin at $276 to $322 per evening. That may be a very vital financial savings over what the going money fee will normally be when reserving instantly with Disney.

You’re finest served reserving a keep nicely prematurely in the event you lease 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 associated fee at completely different instances of the yr.

Even in the event you do not need to keep within the new Island Tower, you should utilize rented DVC factors for the overwater bungalows or the older Polynesian studios.

I personal DVC factors, however typically I haven’t got sufficient factors after I want them or do not personal factors on the resort I need to ebook prematurely, 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 out there, then the Island Tower could also be the most suitable choice for you.

It does have a distinct feel and look 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.