The brand new Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Resort is now open to company as of right this moment, December 17, 2025. This shares pictures & movies of the resort enlargement, plus just a few first impressions of the high-rise that’s been plopped in the course of the monorail loop at Walt Disney World and purports to have a good time the South Pacific, Moana, and pure components.
Positioned on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon and providing views of that and Magic Kingdom, the Island Tower replaces Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Present. The brand new Island Tower is actually between the present Nice Ceremonial Home on the Poly and the Grand Floridian, and proper subsequent door to Disney’s Wedding ceremony Pavilion.
It’s a towering addition to a monorail loop ‘skyline’ that already seems to be dramatically completely different than it did 15 years in the past, with many extra visitor rooms added to the combination. For its half, the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows provides 260 visitor rooms in quite a lot of varieties that can sleep from two to 9 company. This consists of duo studios, spacious one and two-bedroom villas, and brand-new two-bedroom penthouse villas. The tower will even embody deluxe studio rooms, including to the deluxe studio rooms already accessible on the Poly Villas.
In response to Walt Disney World, the brand new 10-story Island Tower’s structure pulls inspiration from early idea artwork of the long-lasting property by Walt Disney Imagineering. When pitching the venture to followers, the corporate has invoked legendary Imagineer Marty Sklar’s quote: “A good suggestion by no means goes away!”
Of their protection, early ideas for Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort included a multi-story terraced construction surrounded by three-story buildings alongside the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon. The unique design for the tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort would have been trendy for the Seventies and paying homage to the luxurious inns discovered on Waikiki Seashore.
Right here’s a have a look at the unique idea artwork from the late Nineteen Sixties:
Disney retains touting this, so I’m going to as soon as once more push again on it–particularly since we additionally typically use the road {that a} ‘good concept by no means dies at Imagineering.’ Maybe the assertion is, in truth, extra precisely that concepts by no means die–each good and dangerous–at Imagineering.
It bugs me that Disney is taking plans that by no means made it off the drafting board to argue that this completes the unique imaginative and prescient for the Polynesian Resort, as if all the things from the previous is robotically good. Maybe there’s a purpose the tower idea didn’t come to fruition within the first place many years in the past. That it was and is a nasty concept, not a superb one.
Sarcastically, each change away from Walt Disney World’s previous that truly was realized is justified with a Walt Disney quote about progress. Guess they determined to change up the playbook right here.
To every their very own, however this argument falls flat for me. Largely as a result of I’ve eyes. I can have a look at the factor in query, consider it, and decide whether or not or not it’s a superb or dangerous concept. If others simply wish to blindly imagine that the Island Tower completes the imaginative and prescient for the Poly based mostly on what Disney is saying, I suppose that’s their prerogative.
Frankly, I’d choose that different Disney followers disagree with me on the deserves, and suppose the Island Tower really seems to be good and the complaints about its look are overblown. I can settle for that–completely different strokes for various people and all that.
Not solely that, however the Island Tower could be very completely different than the decades-old idea artwork Disney is displaying to justify its existence. (The act of them doing this alone suggests to me that they felt it needed, because the factor can’t communicate for itself on substance.)
Whereas I don’t love the look of the unbuilt tower and suppose the Poly is/was higher with out it, the construction is a minimum of visually attention-grabbing, evoking a mountain–maybe Diamond Head. It jogs my memory a little bit of the Hyatt Grand Cypress however with a extra formidable design. We’ve really stayed in tower inns designed like this–they are often eye-catching. Against this, the Island Tower is extra boxy, reminding me of Gran Destino Tower greater than anything.
Past that, the Island Tower as completed could be very completely different than that idea that had a tower on the coronary heart of the Poly. It might be one factor to have a quasi-tower with bungalows radiating out from it. That’s not what that is. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort was already constructed a method, with a purposeful design and format–and no tower. Now it has a tower plopped on the periphery of the resort, and in a distinct model.
There is no such thing as a thematic cohesion or shared design language between the legacy Polynesian Village Resort and the Island Tower. It’s apparent simply from taking a look at them that they’re two completely different visions from two completely different eras.
I’m not even suggesting that the Island Tower is inherently dangerous–simply that doesn’t full some grand imaginative and prescient for the resort as a complete. There’s no unity or concord between the 2. From a design perspective, they’re mainly two standalone resorts subsequent to at least one one other that share some visible motifs and customary inspiration.
Truthfully, if the Island Tower weren’t being wedged in between the Grand Floridian and Polynesian, eternally altering the ‘skyline’ of the monorail loop, I wouldn’t have practically as a lot concern with it. If this very same design had been being constructed out on Western Method close to Coronado or the All Stars, it might be positive. Adequate, even!
It nonetheless wouldn’t my private favourite model, however I’d acknowledge that trendy company really need towers like this. Not all the things must be tailor-made to my tastes. The difficulty right here is all about the place Island Tower has been plopped–what’s round and “linked” to it.
Whereas leaving Magic Kingdom and heading to Wilderness Lodge the opposite evening, we noticed the Island Tower illuminated from the boat dock. Sarah stopped in her tracks and mentioned, “wow.” It wasn’t a superb wow. Sarah has typically been extra forgiving of the Island Tower than me, selecting to concentrate on the sensible upside (it’ll be an incredible place to remain!) than the way in which it seems to be.
She’s additionally a fan of each Gran Destino Tower and Riviera Resort, and has been optimistic in regards to the addition based mostly on its similarities with these properties. However even she was bowled over by simply how the Island Tower dominates the view from all alongside Seven Seas Lagoon.
Once more, the Island Tower is extra just like the ex publish facto additions of Gran Destino and Riviera Resorts than it’s one thing like the unique Polynesian tower idea and even Aulani, which might have been (or was) master-planned and has visible cohesion in consequence.
Although I don’t love the outside look of Gran Destino, a minimum of it has turn into the point of interest of Coronado Springs. That resort has been re-centered round Gran Destino Tower. It’s not good, however Imagineering actually made lemonade out of lemons there. (The stakes had been additionally decrease–Coronado Springs was not beloved neither is it park-adjacent.)
That has not occurred with the Poly. Nice Ceremonial Home stays the nucleus of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, however now there’s this gigantic tower on the fringe of the resort that serves as the point of interest of the property. It’s incongruous and jarring.
However sufficient on my rants about the way in which the Island Tower seems to be from the outside and the way it irrevocably alters the skyline of the monorail loop. At this level, you both agree with Disney or with me, and despite the fact that I might most likely ramble on for one more thousand phrases, there’s no additional persuasive worth in doing so.
Let’s as an alternative discuss in regards to the Island Tower’s affect on infrastructure. As famous above, the Island Tower provides 260 visitor rooms, however with the next visitor depend than that quantity would counsel if this had been an everyday resort, as a lot of these are multi-bedroom items. One of many issues we’ve pressured repeatedly in the course of the tower’s development (and even earlier than it) is that the Poly is already bursting on the seams on busy dates.
Throughout our current Walt Disney World vacation journey, we made it over to the Nice Ceremonial Home as a part of a Christmas-time tour of the monorail loop resorts. That is hardly stop-the-presses information, however the Nice Ceremonial Home was completely bonkers. Visitors overflowing from the ‘Ohana ready space, a shocking variety of individuals standing round ready to be seated at Kona, a protracted line for the monorail–simply crowds, in every single place.
To be truthful, that is the worst time of yr for congestion and chaos on the monorail loop resorts. Households wish to do good meals on the resorts or come to see the decorations, which might make each the Polynesian and Grand Floridian lobbies really feel like madhouses. I’ve encountered kind of the identical factor every of the previous few years at each GF and the Poly. It’s nothing new, and positively can’t be attributed to the Island Tower.
However a lessened model of that is already the norm on the Poly. The second-level of the Nice Ceremonial Home has been loud and chaotic each night I’ve been there within the final a number of years (save for 2020-2021). My worry is that the Island Tower will exacerbate this. Similar goes for stress on the resort monorail, which is already overburdened attributable to Bay Lake Tower and Grand Floridian Villas.
The Island Tower simply opened, so the jury continues to be out on all of this. I hope that my fears should not well-founded, and that extra company will use the beautiful walkway to Magic Kingdom, boat service, or in any other case keep away from the monorail.
I additionally hope that the excellent-looking Wailulu Bar & Grill has more-than-sufficient capability to service the Island Tower, and even pulls individuals away from the Nice Ceremonial Home. That strikes me as unlikely, however I’m nonetheless hopeful.
The choice is ‘locking down’ the Polynesian (and perhaps additionally the Grand Floridian). Walt Disney World already restricts parking at these resorts (and generally fireworks viewing), however maybe they’ll have to take {that a} step additional and prohibit entry, interval. I’m not precisely how they accomplish that from a sensible perspective given how porous arrival factors are, nevertheless it’s not unprecedented–Tokyo Disney Resort does precisely this with Toy Story Resort and Fantasy Springs Resort.
I have already got my alarm set for the 7-month mark so we will (hopefully!) e book a keep on the Island Tower subsequent Christmas. For analysis, after all. To see how the resort ‘performs’ throughout probably the most crowded time of yr after one other yr of DVC gross sales and (presumably) larger occupancy within the tower than the rest of this vacation season.
Let’s finish on a constructive be aware, with the rooms! Disney has launched room tour movies that provide a greater have a look at the within of the assorted room varieties on the Poly’s Island Tower:
Duo Studios
Good for two Visitors, these Studios supply an outside patio and kitchenette, plus vibrant paintings impressed by each Moana and the sky factor.
Deluxe Studios
These earth-themed rooms that sleep as much as 4 majestically showcase the wildlife of the islands, and supply an outside patio and kitchenette with a dishwasher.
1-Bed room Villas
Uncover lovely water-inspired paintings in Villas that sleep as much as 5 and have an outside patio, full kitchen, spacious residing space, 2 bogs and a washer and dryer.
2-Bed room Villas
Along with all the things the 1-Bed room Villas supply, these Villas—themed to each water and earth—have a 3rd luxurious toilet and sleep as much as 9.
It may be a controversial opinion with diehard followers (and our commenters), however my total impression of those rooms is constructive. And I don’t doubt for a second that the rooms will probably be well-received by common DVC members.
Disney has been doing an incredible job with the brand new and reimagined rooms on the villas for the final 5 years. We additionally simply stayed on the new Fort Wilderness Cabins and completely liked them, which additionally looks as if an unpopular perspective amongst followers.
I’m not a fan of the Island Tower and want it didn’t exist in any respect, however the visitor rooms should not a part of that criticism. My solely concern earlier than was that the rooms had been overly beige, ‘earthy,’ and one-note.
Given its mid-century and Polynesian roots, I hoped for lots extra shade. However in really watching the video and seeing the completed product, what they lack in shade they make up for in texture and different particulars.
The jury continues to be out till we really keep there, however my first impression is that these aren’t bland, however reasonably, delicate. A number of followers will doubtless recognize the ‘calming’ design and the way in which they act as counterprogramming to the present Poly Villas.
In the end, there’s rather a lot to criticize in regards to the Island Tower and the way in which it seems to be from the skin and what it does to Walt Disney World as a complete. Past the above, I additionally suppose it leeches off goodwill and good design from over 5 many years in the past, and that if all the things had been constructed this manner from the start, most of us wouldn’t be Walt Disney World followers within the first place. It’s a model withdrawal reasonably than a deposit, to make use of Disney’s personal language.
However what’s achieved is completed. I simply needed to get this out of my system one final time earlier than really reviewing the Island Tower and repeating the errors made in our Disney’s Riviera Resort Evaluation, which focuses inordinate consideration on themed design and traits that aren’t related to common company or from a sensible planning perspective.
The underside line is that there’s additionally rather a lot to like in regards to the Poly’s Island Tower. Wailulu Bar & Grill, the Moana pool space, and (particularly) Terrace Gardens appear like incredible belongings that company will love. I can’t wait to spend late nights or early mornings with a cup of espresso in these gardens, overlooking Magic Kingdom because it wakes up or goes to sleep for the day.
Ultimately, I hate how the Island Tower seems to be from the skin, however identical to Riviera and Gran Destino earlier than it, the ugly and undercooked tower ought to be nice when you’re inside and having fun with views from it reasonably than of it. The Island Tower is the one place that provides sweeping views of Magic Kingdom and Seven Seas Lagoon, with out having to take a look at the Island Tower! (Kinda appears like DVC has developed its personal type of ethical hazard, however no matter.)
I’m additionally assured that precise company who aren’t armchair Imagineers or on-line critics (ahem) are going to like the Island Tower. I’ve little doubt about that. It combines two issues that rating rather well with present company–towers and the brand new types of rooms. (These two issues could not charge extremely with you personally, however they do carry out exceptionally with company as a complete.)
There’s no undoing the harm already attributable to including this tower to the monorail loop…so we’d as properly benefit from the good if we now have to place up with the dangerous. We can’t wait to remain on the Island Tower as a household; as a reviewer, I can’t await a time limit when Walt Disney World additions don’t have to be evaluated from a “lemonade out of lemons” perspective.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the Island Tower? Is that this a internet constructive or detrimental for Walt Disney World as a complete? What about for the Polynesian or DVC members? Have you ever already booked a keep on the Island Tower? Are you optimistic or pessimistic in regards to the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort? Do you agree or disagree with our first impressions? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
