News New Polynesian Resort DVC villas building to open 2024

Doberge

Doberge

True Bayou Magic
Premium Member
I think the tower will be a great addition. Disney could do a great job replicating South Pacific style and it wouldn't be Disney enough. Disney could make it more "Disney" and then it wouldn't be enough South Pacific. Others will see a pig in makeup in everything Disney does. Everyone will not be won over.

I'd love to instead come here and talk about what is actually happening and what we want to see, beyond looks.

Is the existing Captain Cooks enough for Poly once the tower is open? If not, do you think it's more likely we'll see either CC's expanded, possibly into Trader Sam's space with TS maybe moved to the tower (larger space, possibly on monorail / service side where they won't need a view)? Or do you think they will be new QS either in the tower or pool with a Geyser Point-like hybrid lounge with a QS window?

What do you want from the lobby? Hopefully they do a better job than with BLT and at least drop a coffee spot in the tower.

What do you think the squarish open areas are on the lagoon side? The monorail side of the same cutouts has what looks like room windows. On the lagoon side it looks designed to create small communal areas for guests on monorail side to enjoy the lagoon and fireworks viewing. Maybe wishful thinking! FWIW it's a great fireworks viewing area. The July 3-4 chartered fireworks cruise boats from Contemporary used the area directly in front as their fireworks viewing location. Spots for monorail side guests to enjoy the view would be a great touch. It's also something Disney didn't need to do, as they likely could have fit four more studios in each cutout and made more money from more expensive rooms.
 
Bocabear

Bocabear

Well-Known Member
JD80 said:
What trend to remove the themes? The last resort was the Riviera was themed pretty well for what is was trying to accomplish.
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no, it was not themed pretty well. It had a mansard roof, which was about the only nod to the theme of the Riviera there was. There were some photos here and there of Walt and Lillian Disney traveling...I think most guests would agree there is not much of a theme there at all... Look up the threads on work done at the Boardwalk lately... and the Enchanted Rose Lounge at the Grand Floridian.
 
LuvtheGoof

LuvtheGoof

DVC Guru
Premium Member
Doberge said:
I think the tower will be a great addition. Disney could do a great job replicating South Pacific style and it wouldn't be Disney enough. Disney could make it more "Disney" and then it wouldn't be enough South Pacific. Others will see a pig in makeup in everything Disney does. Everyone will not be won over.
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We agree. Besides the bungalows, it will be really nice to have the 1 and 2 bedroom additions in the tower.
Doberge said:
I'd love to instead come here and talk about what is actually happening and what we want to see, beyond looks.
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I agree, but we both know that people have made up their minds that they are going to hate it long before they even see what it is really going to look like in person. And most of the people complaining about it will never see it in person - possibly for years and possibly never.
Doberge said:
Is the existing Captain Cooks enough for Poly once the tower is open? If not, do you think it's more likely we'll see either CC's expanded, possibly into Trader Sam's space with TS maybe moved to the tower (larger space, possibly on monorail / service side where they won't need a view)? Or do you think they will be new QS either in the tower or pool with a Geyser Point-like hybrid lounge with a QS window?
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We've never actually eaten there as we pretty much stick to Kona Cafe. I do think that there will need to be more expanded options when you add several hundred people to the tower that are looking to eat.
Doberge said:
What do you want from the lobby? Hopefully they do a better job than with BLT and at least drop a coffee spot in the tower.
Click to expand...
Would be nice to be able to check in at the tower instead of walking over from the main check in at the Poly. Doesn't hurt for the current DVC longhouses to check in there, but not for a new tower.
Doberge said:
What do you think the squarish open areas are on the lagoon side? The monorail side of the same cutouts has what looks like room windows. On the lagoon side it looks designed to create small communal areas for guests on monorail side to enjoy the lagoon and fireworks viewing. Maybe wishful thinking! FWIW it's a great fireworks viewing area. The July 3-4 chartered fireworks cruise boats from Contemporary used the area directly in front as their fireworks viewing location. Spots for monorail side guests to enjoy the view would be a great touch. It's also something Disney didn't need to do, as they likely could have fit four more studios in each cutout and made more money from more expensive rooms.
Click to expand...
I'll wait for when it is completed to form an opinion on that.
 
Bocabear

Bocabear

Well-Known Member
Doberge said:
I think the tower will be a great addition. Disney could do a great job replicating South Pacific style and it wouldn't be Disney enough. Disney could make it more "Disney" and then it wouldn't be enough South Pacific. Others will see a pig in makeup in everything Disney does. Everyone will not be won over.

I'd love to instead come here and talk about what is actually happening and what we want to see, beyond looks.

Is the existing Captain Cooks enough for Poly once the tower is open? If not, do you think it's more likely we'll see either CC's expanded, possibly into Trader Sam's space with TS maybe moved to the tower (larger space, possibly on monorail / service side where they won't need a view)? Or do you think they will be new QS either in the tower or pool with a Geyser Point-like hybrid lounge with a QS window?

What do you want from the lobby? Hopefully they do a better job than with BLT and at least drop a coffee spot in the tower.

What do you think the squarish open areas are on the lagoon side? The monorail side of the same cutouts has what looks like room windows. On the lagoon side it looks designed to create small communal areas for guests on monorail side to enjoy the lagoon and fireworks viewing. Maybe wishful thinking! FWIW it's a great fireworks viewing area. The July 3-4 chartered fireworks cruise boats from Contemporary used the area directly in front as their fireworks viewing location. Spots for monorail side guests to enjoy the view would be a great touch. It's also something Disney didn't need to do, as they likely could have fit four more studios in each cutout and made more money from more expensive rooms.
Click to expand...
But could they? That is the question...I have not seen any evidence lately that they could.
and we should be grateful they didn't add even more rooms to maximize even more profit? Well I guess.
Seems like a lot of diversion to me...
"Look over here! there is a palm tree! See it does look like we are in Polynesia!
Oh a Palm tree on the property is not theme enough? Well I guess you can't please everyone....
Aren't you glad they included a walkway? I mean, it is so nice to have that space rather than building more hotel rooms up to the water line..."
Sounds like someone in PR wrote this....
 
FigmentFan82

FigmentFan82

Well-Known Member
Bocabear is right, there has been an overall general de-theming vibe going on, prob at least over the last 5 years or so. Call in "minimal aesthetic" if you like, but the gist is the same. What's strange is that it's not consistent across the board, which makes it all that more frustrating.
A few trips back I had dinner at the Riviera at the top floor restaurant. The hotel from a distance looks fine enough, but up close and inside everything is just bland and unremarkable. The restaurant felt like a big open empty room to me and the food was just fine. On the other hand, I actually find the Grand Destino tower to be very well done and the tapas rooftop restaurant there has way more theming and decor, and was a much better meal IMHO.

The new Poly front entrance/monorail station though is a joke. In person it's just bad. Whoever approved should be ashamed of themselves. I'd love to be surprised by this new Poly tower, but I'm sure as $hit not expecting anything good.
 
Beacon Joe

Beacon Joe

Well-Known Member
Great job, Disney. This will hands down be an amazing addition. And in the history of all resorts ever considered for gracing the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon, this Hampton Inn tower that would look at home on the south end of Virginia Beach certainly will be.... something. A breathtaking backdrop to that pricey destination wedding, too, I'm sure.

oof 1.jpg


oof 2.jpg
 
Disstevefan1

Disstevefan1

Well-Known Member
Beacon Joe said:
Great job, Disney. This will hands down be an amazing addition. And in the history of all resorts ever considered for gracing the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon, this Hampton Inn tower that would look at home on the south end of Virginia Beach certainly will be.... something. A breathtaking backdrop to that pricey destination wedding, too, I'm sure.

View attachment 731094

View attachment 731095
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Could you imagine what Eisner would have put there!

Sincerely, It would have been fabulous!
 
FigmentFan82

FigmentFan82

Well-Known Member
Also, somewhat related since this thing replaced something in that general area as well, why in the living hell does Disney not have more dinner shows??? An entertainment company with some of the most recognizable vacation destinations, and they only have actual dinner show. I gather Spirit of Aloha wasn't the best thing ever, but I'm sure many had a grand time with it. There should be at least 4 or 5 dinner shows running every night on property. But right, Disney is in the business of taking away, not adding to.
 
John park hopper

John park hopper

Well-Known Member
Beacon Joe said:
Great job, Disney. This will hands down be an amazing addition. And in the history of all resorts ever considered for gracing the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon, this Hampton Inn tower that would look at home on the south end of Virginia Beach certainly will be.... something. A breathtaking backdrop to that pricey destination wedding, too, I'm sure.

View attachment 731094

View attachment 731095
Click to expand...
OMG that box construct has totally ruined any remnants of what the Polynesian used to be. Disney just go all the way and tear down the Polynesian resort and build another eye sore. Guess it's all about build cheap, sell fast.
 
Beacon Joe

Beacon Joe

Well-Known Member
Disstevefan1 said:
Could you imagine what Eisner would have put there!

Sincerely, It would have been fabulous!
Click to expand...

About a week before we swung onto property for an afternoon, I watched a short documentary about the history and designs of all planned, scrapped, and built monorail loop resorts. It just made seeing that Polyday Inn building all that more sad when it first came into view. The view from the launches was bad enough, but even Even the drive up Floridian Way was just laughably bad. Just sad to see the state of that company.
 
Epcot82Guy

Epcot82Guy

Well-Known Member
A big part of the issue is
Beacon Joe said:
About a week before we swung onto property for an afternoon, I watched a short documentary about the history and designs of all planned, scrapped, and built monorail loop resorts. It just made seeing that Polyday Inn building all that more sad when it first came into view. The view from the launches was bad enough, but even Even the drive up Floridian Way was just laughably bad. Just sad to see the state of that company.
Click to expand...

The Grand Venezian would have been impeccable. Incredibly expensive, but impeccable.
 
Beacon Joe

Beacon Joe

Well-Known Member
Epcot82Guy said:
A big part of the issue is


The Grand Venezian would have been impeccable. Incredibly expensive, but impeccable.
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Yes. That design was actually stunning. On the positive side, I have to think that at least some of the design work for that resort ended up influencing significant parts of DisneySea. Maybe?

John park hopper said:
OMG that box construct has totally ruined any remnants of what the Polynesian used to be. Disney just go all the way and tear down the Polynesian resort and build another eye sore. Guess it's all about build cheap, sell fast.
Click to expand...

At least it wasn't really noticeable from the Pineapple Lanai / pool area. But the lush area and beach along the path over the the Grand Floridian was really a wonderful and serene area. Talk about place-setting and mood. Two things Disney used to be good at and care about.

On a selfish level, other than being completly @#$Y^ed off about the DVC GF expansion people now being in the same 11-month availability window as those of us who bought into the OG GF DVC building, I'm livid that they went ahead and utterly trashed the view for those of us who bought points based on lake view points. I used to enjoy the view over to the Polynesian. Now? Forget that. I guess I can try to get the lake view on the short wing that faces away from the Poly... unless all those GF expansion people screw up my 11 month window.
 
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JD80

JD80

Well-Known Member
Bocabear said:
no, it was not themed pretty well. It had a mansard roof, which was about the only nod to the theme of the Riviera there was. There were some photos here and there of Walt and Lillian Disney traveling...I think most guests would agree there is not much of a theme there at all... Look up the threads on work done at the Boardwalk lately... and the Enchanted Rose Lounge at the Grand Floridian.
Click to expand...
Oh man, this is so plain. May as well serve me my free breakfast at a Hampton Inn here.

1689787441857.png
 
D

dreday3

Well-Known Member
John park hopper said:
OMG that box construct has totally ruined any remnants of what the Polynesian used to be. Disney just go all the way and tear down the Polynesian resort and build another eye sore. Guess it's all about build cheap, sell fast.
Click to expand...

OMG it's not done. It's just the bones. What the heck do you think the poly looked like while it was being built?

Can't we at least hold off the drama until it's starting to reveal itself? 😄
 

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