News New Polynesian Resort DVC villas building to open 2024

[SpaceMountain77]

It wouldn’t be the first

Which existing resort was closed and eventually reimagined entirely? Pop2 never opened.

 

[Robbiem]

Disney should have reworked Aulani‘s design for the new tower. The proposed designs don’t look in keeping at all with the Polynesian resort which was always my favourite , somewhere I would have loved to stay if I won the lottery.
the new tower is so un Polynesian resort it should be its own resort like riviera and carribean beach

 

[peter11435]

Which existing resort was closed and eventually reimagined entirely? Pop2 never opened.

Disney’s Village Resort… it eventually became Saratoga Springs

 

[Robbiem]

Which existing resort was closed and eventually reimagined entirely? Pop2 never opened.

Pop is the oddest theme for a resort. Its the resort version of carousel of progress with a growing gap from the last scene to today. Nothdates more than a resort themed to icons from your (great) grandparents childhood

 

[Sir_Cliff]

The Riveria resort is much uglier than the Contemporary which is far far from ugly.

Completely agree. Contemporary might not be to everyone's taste, but the clean simplicity of the shape and design at least makes an aesthetic statement.

Riviera looks like a generic chain hotel with a bunch of tacky decorations pasted on. I suspect this hotel will be similar, except that it will look like a suburban apartment block with some decorations applied to the facade.

 

[Robbiem]

Completely agree. Contemporary might not be to everyone's taste, but the clean simplicity of the shape and design at least makes an aesthetic statement.

Riviera looks like a generic chain hotel with a bunch of tacky decorations pasted on. I suspect this hotel will be similar, except that it will look like a suburban apartment block with some decorations applied to the facade.

I agree as well there is a definite difference between the aesthetics and personal preference for the style. You may not like the style of a building but it may work as a space.

 

[MrPromey]

Huh???

You missed the implied "Unlike all of you plebs," at the start of that sentence.

Some people aren't as creative as they think in saying only their opinion should matter - especially when they're in the clear minority with said opinion.

 

[MrPromey]

The good news is that you'd never want to stay in the rooms; the beach is SO BEAUTIFUL. We stayed at the Sheraton near Black Rock. I remember so little about the room; we spent just about all our time snorkeling with the turtles that hang out there. I don't think you'll be distracted that way at the Poly -- or any place else on WDW property. But, the poster you responded to was talking about his/her perception of a Polynesian hotel as you'd see in movies. Certainly what I thought before we decided to visit.

Well, you could always go snorkeling if you make it past the rocks without security noticing... turtles will not be the reptile you'll (mostly) be doing it with in that murky water, though.

 

[mikejs78]

Yes. It’s more that they can’t find many more people willing to pay rack rate for deluxe rooms, so investment will be values, mods, and DVCs.

Universal keeps building cheap hotels, too. It will take a new park for them to finally build another hotel with Express Passes.

I mean, maybe because the rack rates are ridiculous.

I remember when there used to be discounts on Deluxe resorts.

 

[freediverdude]

I know, not a popular opinion, but the Poly used to be a high end destination resort. It had upscale boutique shops, the lush fountain in the lobby, the golf carts giving you a tour and then taking you to your room, an actual pool that you could dive into next to a working volcano instead of a zero depth entry kiddie pool, the list goes on. Now it's an ad for Moana to stay in a room next to magic Kingdom. If Disney really wants to get back to attracting the upper middle class and wealthy, they need to change.

 

[Patcheslee]

I'm really surprised at how many people are upset about the Luau Cove part of all of this. I was under the impression that Spirit of Aloha was almost universally hated.

I never got to see it the times we went. Between reservations and the ick hitting just wasn't in the cards. If I'm honest, I just wanted to see fire juggling. Villains night took covered that though.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I know, not a popular opinion, but the Poly used to be a high end destination resort. It had upscale boutique shops, the lush fountain in the lobby, the golf carts giving you a tour and then taking you to your room, an actual pool that you could dive into next to a working volcano instead of a zero depth entry kiddie pool, the list goes on. Now it's an ad for Moana to stay in a room next to magic Kingdom. If Disney really wants to get back to attracting the upper middle class and wealthy, they need to change.

Seems like these new builds—Riviera based on the rooms, but also GF resort studios & Poly tower—are meant to win back some of those high rollers who were lost to the Ritz-Carlton, Waldorf, and especially the Four Seasons.

A Poly tower could absolutely do this, assuming the rooms skew more modern than Moana and feature prime fireworks views. It looks just gentrified enough to say, "I'm not kitschy like those 70s longhouses."

There's a true mythos and cachet to the monorail resorts that can never be taken away. Richard Nixon at Contemporary, Beatles at Polynesian, Grand Floridian featured on Full House; these places have a legacy that extends beyond pure Disney fans. Their status has been somewhat diminished by true luxury establishing a place in Orlando, and Disney knows it, but Golden Oak and Club 33 have allowed them to grow a permanent foothold in the area start claiming back more of that share.

Now it seems like they won't stop building until it happens.

 

[Tom Morrow]

The ugliest building on property is the Contemporary A-frame.

You're probably right, and it was always a weird design choice to have it visible from within several parts of MK. Still, it doesn't ruin the aesthetics of an existing resort and they went a long, long time before doing something like that again, with one exception being the Swan & Dolphin.

 

[Bocabear]

Seems like these new builds—Riviera based on the rooms, but also GF resort studios & Poly tower—are meant to win back some of those high rollers who were lost to the Ritz-Carlton, Waldorf, and especially the Four Seasons.

But how are pedestrian modern themeless hotel rooms and stripped-down resorts going to win back the high rollers... People loved the elegance of the Grand Floridian...but they seem determined on ruining it's charm with additions like The Enchanted Rose which looks straight out of a Fairfield Inn.
The wealthier people I knew always loved the Polynesian for it's quieter vibe and exotic feel...A lot of that is missing now with the stripped out gardens, missing lobby waterfall etc...The general feel of the resort has changed. Grand Floridian is also declining into mediocrity... I am not sure why. Disney's entire thing is about thematic immersive entertainment...why at this point would they go the opposite direction?

 

[Bocabear]

The ugliest building on property is the Contemporary A-frame.

"Older" doesn't mean better.

Hardly:
That A Frame was groundbreaking at the time...A vast light filled core, the added kinetic candy of a monorail running through...It was spectacular...Still is.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

But how are pedestrian modern themeless hotel rooms and stripped-down resorts going to win back the high rollers... People loved the elegance of the Grand Floridian...but they seem determined on ruining it's charm with additions like The Enchanted Rose which looks straight out of a Fairfield Inn.
The wealthier people I knew always loved the Polynesian for it's quieter vibe and exotic feel...A lot of that is missing now with the stripped out gardens, missing lobby waterfall etc...The general feel of the resort has changed. Grand Floridian is also declining into mediocrity... I am not sure why. Disney's entire thing is about thematic immersive entertainment...why at this point would they go the opposite direction?

The Polynesian tower very well could, if it contains a true signature restaurant (I have to imagine it will, as that's been one of the biggest strikes against Poly for decades) and higher-end amenities (infinity pool with fireworks view is a good start).

As for GF, the marble floor lobby was a step up from dated carpets, and while Enchanted Rose is baffling, Mizner's itself was fairly bland and dated. The upgrade to Citricos (which I see as an upgrade from the previous look, IP or not) and reopening of V&A is a sign Disney hasn't given up on GF. Hopefully the standard rooms get a major refresh soon - by all standards, they need it.

That said, even if GF's ship has sailed, this new structure and location looks very much like the kind of hotel my extended family (many of whom are 0.01 percenters) would consider in London, Paris, Barcelona, etc. I hate to admit it, but it's also more visually appealing than the Four Seasons, which gets it right on the inside yet has an exterior no one could love.

 

[UNCgolf]

Seems like these new builds—Riviera based on the rooms, but also GF resort studios & Poly tower—are meant to win back some of those high rollers who were lost to the Ritz-Carlton, Waldorf, and especially the Four Seasons.

Rooms alone aren't enough to do that, though. Those places don't only offer nice rooms, but service and amenities far above and beyond what Disney offers.

Plus, Disney is building DVC rentals, not hotels. The kind of people you're talking about generally aren't going to buy into a timeshare.

 

[lazyboy97o]

It's also apparently going to be much larger than the rest of the resort, which could cause separate aesthetic issues.

Of course it's just concept art, though.

We're discussing renderings. The actual resort won't look as "nice". Cutbacks. Changes. Renderings drawn to look make it look better....

Like the “concept art” for Destino Tower, Riviera and Reflections, this looks like an image of the “blueprints,” albeit one that was first exported to SketchUp.

The design is different. But the concept of modern tower is the same. If anything I would say this one has more appropriate finishes and details than the original proposal.

They’re not Modern towers, they’re contemporary towers. Which makes the comparison ridiculous. It’s like saying an American log cabin and traditional northern Chinese house are pretty much the same because they’re both a vernacular concept.

Compared to some of the original Poly concept art?

While it certainly has more theming than Reflections, a drug rehab resort had... it definitely changes the style of the Poly.

That’s the Asian which was to be located where the Grand Floridian was built.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Rooms alone aren't enough to do that, though. Those places don't only offer nice rooms, but service and amenities far above and beyond what Disney offers.

Plus, Disney is building DVC rentals, not hotels. The kind of people you're talking about generally aren't going to buy into a timeshare.

It seems like Disney is working to offer this level of service, but mainly for an existing base of Golden Oak + Club 33 members.

Club level is the next best thing, and by at least one account (Tom Bricker's update on the status of club level at WDW resorts), Disney has stepped up their offerings to better compete with real-world hotels. The service is what it is, but it's not like Four Seasons or the Ritz could work any WDW-specific miracles (e.g. booking 'Ohana or Space 220).

That would be an interesting development for the Poly tower: club level making a comeback. I find it fascinating that DVC never dabbled in it again after AKL Jambo, but if there were ever a resort to test the concept again, it could be a Poly tower. Not expecting this to happen, but I really don't think Disney's given up on the luxury crowd.

These people also wouldn't break a sweat paying rack rate for the rooms, assuming any categories aren't fully booked.

 

[UNCgolf]

It seems like Disney is working to offer this level of service, but mainly for an existing base of Golden Oak + Club 33 members.

Club level is the next best thing, and by at least one account (Tom Bricker's update on the status of club level at WDW resorts), Disney has stepped up their offerings to better compete with real-world hotels. The service is what it is, but it's not like Four Seasons or the Ritz could work any WDW-specific miracles (e.g. booking 'Ohana or Space 220).

That would be an interesting development for the Poly tower: club level making a comeback. I find it fascinating that DVC never dabbled in it again after AKL Jambo, but if there were ever a resort to test the concept again, it could be a Poly tower. Not expecting this to happen, but I really don't think Disney's given up on the luxury crowd.

These people also wouldn't break a sweat paying rack rate for the rooms, assuming any categories aren't fully booked.

Right, but that's the issue -- it would have to be whatever rooms are left over (i.e. not booked by DVC members).

I don't think Disney is really chasing those people, at least not with builds like this. If this was a new deluxe hotel, I'd be more likely to believe that was the goal, but it feels more like they're just trying to get as much money out of DVC as possible.