The first guests have checked into Walt Disney World's new Island Tower addition at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.
The new Disney Vacation Club property officially opened to guests today, adding one more place to stay around the Seven Seas Lagoon in front of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.
The 10-story tower features duo studios, deluxe studios, one- and two-bedroom villas, and a limited number of two-bedroom penthouse villas.
The IP theme here is, predictably, "Moana," to extend the Polynesian theme of the neighboring resort hotel, which was one of the two original Walt Disney World hotels. Each room in the new tower includes Moana-themed artwork, and there's a "Moana's Voyage" splash pad for kids to enjoy at the tower's Cove Pool.
The tower also brings a new restaurant to the Walt Disney World Resort - Wailulu Bar & Grill. Serving dishes inspired by Hawaiian and Polynesian cuisines, the restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining. Entrees range from $18 Grilled Tofu or Teriyaki Chicken Chow Mein Salad to a $33 Short Rib Loco Moco.
For assistance in planning a Walt Disney World vacation, please contact our partner for a free, no-obligation vacation quote.
Remember that whenever you buy tickets or book vacations through our partners, a small portion of that goes to support Theme Park Insider. So you can support independent media while getting a great deal at the same time.
To keep up to date with more theme park and travel news, please sign up for Theme Park Insider's weekly newsletter.
The exterior design and colors are extraordinary. The interior public spaces (I've been inside) surpass Disney standards. The pool and bar area offer a perfect respite from park life. The rooms are gorgeous (I've seen them). The waterside of the hotel and the exterior gardens are a really nice touch. The upper floors on the waterside offer spectacular views of the Seven Seas Lagoon.
Granted I am not viewing the hotel while driving by at 45 mph and looking through a car window. Maybe this is why the_man (number 1,400-whatever) has a different opinion.
It is stylistically different from the Polynesian, though. And that side of the lagoon is getting crowded with all the DVC development, the Poly, and the Grand, plus the wedding pavilion.
Thinking about that, though, it occurs to me that the only thing stopping development all the way around that side to the MK entrance is the canal entrance on the Seven Seas Lagoon. But with Disney filling in the Rivers of America, might it also fill in that canal?
Perhaps it will be needed for water elements in the new Villains land. But if not, that's another stretch of prime lagoon-front real estate for Disney to build another resort hotel/DVC property.
@RN If I recall, since WDW's early days, there were plans for a hotel next to the TTC.
Bring back the Persian and/or Venetian and/or Mediterranean and/or Asian!
You must be registered and logged in to submit a comment.
I drive by this thing regularly and my god it is UGLY. It kills the look and vibes of the whole resort.
That being said i'm sure it will be very expensive and always booked out.