News New Polynesian Resort DVC villas building to open 2024

[Chef idea Mickey`=]

Yeah, that's true. Grand Villas are a lot smaller, but I guess Bay Lake is pretty big. I hadn't thought of that. Okay, maybe it's not crazy lol

It looks crazy because The Polynesian seems a more popular location to visit. To me I love the three equally but Ohana, Trader Sam's, the place itself, dole whip, The Poly is an attraction of it's own to majority of people. The only closest thing to that is Steakhouse 71 and say California Grill.

 

[pvtim]

Grand Flo- Narcooses, Citricos, Victoria & Alberts, Gasparilla Island Grill
Contemporary- Chef Mickey, California Grill, Steakhouse 71, Contempo Cafe
Poly - Ohana, Kona Cafe, Captain Cooks

Poly is just as popular and has only 2 Sit Downs with one quick Serve - No Fine Dining while the other 2 have 3 Sit Downs and 1 quick serve - both including a Fine Dining option. A Fine dining option at the top would have rounded it out but what they went with spreads already super popular options even thinner!
That is the problem here (I purposely left off coffee bars, pool bars and lounges to see the deeper concern with this lack of foresight), it is hard enough staying at the Poly as is and getting a reservation without fighting an extra 250+ rooms worth of guests.

 

[James Alucobond]

Grand Flo- Narcooses, Citricos, Victoria & Alberts, Gasparilla Island Grill
Contemporary- Chef Mickey, California Grill, Steakhouse 71, Contempo Cafe
Poly - Ohana, Kona Cafe, Captain Cooks

Poly is just as popular and has only 2 Sit Downs with one quick Serve - No Fine Dining while the other 2 have 3 Sit Downs and 1 quick serve - both including a Fine Dining option. A Fine dining option at the top would have rounded it out but what they went with spreads already super popular options even thinner!
That is the problem here (I purposely left off coffee bars, pool bars and lounges to see the deeper concern with this lack of foresight), it is hard enough staying at the Poly as is and getting a reservation without fighting an extra 250+ rooms worth of guests.

While rooftop dining would have been nice, they don’t lack for space that could be used for dining if they wanted to, so it’s not like it was a singular golden opportunity. Heck, Tangaroa Terrace could be converted back to dining at any time if there was a desire.

 

[DCBaker]

Photos from today:

I’m curious at what point the will start on the weird tree like structure outside the main lobby. It’s appeared in every piece of concept art, but it doesn’t seem like they’ve done any work to support it yet. Maybe it’s freestanding and so they can just drop it in place? But it looks like it’s built around the existing column, so that wouldn’t necessarily make sense

From the concept art:
View attachment 806423View attachment 806422

This is where I’d expect some signs of it, but nothing so farView attachment 806424

Work has now started on that structure:

 

[DCBaker]

Here are a few additional photos:

 

[Disstevefan1]

Sure looks like there’s a lot of work to go still to be able to open this year.

 

[Tha Realest]

how is this going to affect capacity on the resort Monorail? I can’t imagine the folks at GF will be happy if the MK-bound monorail’s already full when it hits their station.

 

[Ayla]

Yeah, that's true. Grand Villas are a lot smaller, but I guess Bay Lake is pretty big. I hadn't thought of that. Okay, maybe it's not crazy lol

It is crazy.

 

[Ayla]

I didn't realize how truly crammed this was into that space until the overhead pics from bioreconstruct.

 

[Tha Realest]

Grand Flo- Narcooses, Citricos, Victoria & Alberts, Gasparilla Island Grill
Contemporary- Chef Mickey, California Grill, Steakhouse 71, Contempo Cafe
Poly - Ohana, Kona Cafe, Captain Cooks

Poly is just as popular and has only 2 Sit Downs with one quick Serve - No Fine Dining while the other 2 have 3 Sit Downs and 1 quick serve - both including a Fine Dining option. A Fine dining option at the top would have rounded it out but what they went with spreads already super popular options even thinner!
That is the problem here (I purposely left off coffee bars, pool bars and lounges to see the deeper concern with this lack of foresight), it is hard enough staying at the Poly as is and getting a reservation without fighting an extra 250+ rooms worth of guests.

This makes a lot more sense once you consider they don’t really care about guest convenience in that regard and really want to cram DVC in a place where it will have the most demand and make the most money.

 

[Chef idea Mickey`=]

I suppose since they didn't find it an issue for Bay Lake Tower and Contemporary sharing one small quick service that it wouldn't be a problem for Villas at The Grand and now Polynesian Tower. If Polynesian needed a fine dining this could've been the spot since replacing the Luau Dinner Show!

 

[JoeCamel]

I suppose since they didn't find it an issue for Bay Lake Tower and Contemporary sharing one small quick service that it wouldn't be a problem for Villas at The Grand and now Polynesian Tower. If Polynesian needed a fine dining this could've been the spot since replacing the Luau Dinner Show!

Or maybe Poly wedding venue dining and dress shop? Split it depending on which side you are facing and everyone gets a fireworks view. Should be good for ~$500 a plate depending on wine

 

[Bocabear]

They could always do a "Victoria and Albert's" style restaurant.. Limited one seating per night...same sort of pricing but a luxe version of French Polynesian dining... call it Kalākaua & Liliuokalani... French Polynesian cuisine ... With a little entertainment...Like a very fancy Luau... It could be a fancy $375 excl wine or cocktails dinner.
I personally know many people that would gladly pay for that... Especially if the venue is really beautiful, feels Polynesian (not Ikea) and is somewhat intimate. No jackets, Slacks and nice tropical/Hawaiian style shirts... It could be the loveliest evening for adults on property.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Question, do they do a soft opening, and when does that start? One or two weeks before the real opening date? How do they do this bookings...is it employees and and family?

 

[nickys]

Question, do they do a soft opening, and when does that start? One or two weeks before the real opening date? How do they do this bookings...is it employees and and family?

No soft opening.

Because it will open well within the 7 month window, once points go on sale they will then allow all Poly owners a few weeks home resort priority on booking, then open it up to all owners.

 

[Beacon Joe]

Now for the one million dollar question: Will you still be able to walk from the Poly to Magic Kingdom again?

Based on the recent concept art, it looks like the former shoreline pathway from the Polynesian to the Grand Floridian (and then to the park) will not be restored.

I'd like to assume they will at least build a pathway on the Floridian Drive side of the Hampton Inn so people can again walk between the Polynesian and Grand Floridian, but honestly, who knows if they will even bother.

 

[Beacon Joe]

It hasn't gotten better looking yet...I keep waiting for some spectacular decoration that will go up and then it will start to look correct for the resort, but it never happens.....

Maybe they'll make another bulk buy from Michael's fake foliage and fake flower section like they did for the Splash Mountain retheme, and drape that junk all over the concrete blocks.

 

[Bocabear]

you can see the bulk artificial greenery in one of thos pictures waiting to be installed in on of the viewing area boxes...

 

[rle4lunch]

how is this going to affect capacity on the resort Monorail? I can’t imagine the folks at GF will be happy if the MK-bound monorail’s already full when it hits their station.

there's a great big, beautiful tommmm... err, walking path from GF to the turnstiles that they can use.. and already faster than waiting for the monorail at certain times of day.

 

[rle4lunch]

No soft opening.

Because it will open well within the 7 month window, once points go on sale they will then allow all Poly owners a few weeks home resort priority on booking, then open it up to all owners.

we've booked for May for SS, but also own at Poly. Patiently waiting to see if will be able to modify and book the Towers whenever they start points booking.