News New Polynesian Resort DVC villas building to open 2024

[UNCgolf]

So yes, I think it looks nicer than apparently everyone else here does. Give it the standard WDWMagic 50% expectations discount and it will probably be pretty solid.

But maybe it won’t be! Hard to say from a drawing at a distance.

I hope you're right, but considering the last thing they built was the Riviera, which is not only bad for a Disney hotel but bad for any relatively high end hotel, it's hard to have high expectations.

That said, the concept art does look better than the Riviera.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I think it’s impossible to judge that from the concept art.

To me, it appears to be a hybrid look of the Hawaii hotels of today (by necessity, because of the plot and the desire for a tower) and the ultra luxury South Pacific hotels of today (the actual theming elements). And that will look more obvious with the bungalows in perspective with it, as is typically the case with those South Pacific resorts it’s trying to model its visual design after.

So yes, I think it looks nicer than apparently everyone else here does. Give it the standard WDWMagic 50% expectations discount and it will probably be pretty solid.

But maybe it won’t be! Hard to say from a drawing at a distance.

While that may be true, recent openings suggest otherwise. Based on the renderings vs. reality of Riviera, Gran Destino and the finished portions of the new Disneyland Hotel DVC Tower, I think it's fair for people to have concerns. (I would also include Swan Reserve, but Imagineering/Disney Development only consults and has approval there - not directing design.) Nothing opened recently has had much themeing - only decoration - IMHO.

 

[CastAStone]

I hope you're right, but considering the last thing they built was the Riviera, which is not only bad for a Disney hotel but bad for any relatively high end hotel, it's hard to have high expectations.

That said, the concept art does look better than the Riviera.

While that may be true, recent openings suggest otherwise. Based on the renderings vs. reality of Riviera, Gran Destino and the finished portions of the new Disneyland Hotel DVC Tower, I think it's fair for people to have concerns. (I would also include Swan Reserve, but Imagineering/Disney Development only consults and has approval there - not directing design.) Nothing opened recently has had much themeing - only decoration - IMHO.

I think the knock on VDH is 100% warranted (although it is at least more pleasant looking than the other 3 *very ugly* Disneyland hotel towers) and I think Riviera is boring although I do think it is a solid representation of the (boring) theme it is supposed to be.

GDT is awful.

I just don’t see what y’all see here. Anyways I’ve said my peace I think, I’ll read whatever more replies come in but I think I’m going to pipe down and wait to see what actually happens

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I think the knock on VDH is 100% warranted (although it is at least more pleasant looking than the other 3 *very ugly* Disneyland hotel towers) and I think Riviera is boring although I do think it is a solid representation of the (boring) theme it is supposed to be.

GDT is awful.

I just don’t see what y’all see here. Anyways I’ve said my peace I think, I’ll read whatever more replies come in but I think I’m going to pipe down and wait to see what actually happens

I actually think you've clarified your point well.

To put it in a nutshell - I agree this is actually the nicest of everything listed. It definitely has more interesting finishes and (potentially) architectural elements on the various facades of the wood pieces. Plus some possible wooden artistic architectural elements. So, it is evoking some Hawaiian elements. And, more than you would see in a typical plain box apartment or hotel.

For myself (and I think many others), that can all be true - and that doesn't meet the standard of Disney or make it fit the theme of the Polynesian. It is a nicely decorated modern hotel that looks like it came from a Pacific destination. That isn't enough to make it a themed Disney resort for us.

 

[JoeCamel]

I actually think you've clarified your point well.

To put it in a nutshell - I agree this is actually the nicest of everything listed. It definitely has more interesting finishes and (potentially) architectural elements on the various facades of the wood pieces. Plus some possible wooden artistic architectural elements. So, it is evoking some Hawaiian elements. And, more than you would see in a typical plain box apartment or hotel.

For myself (and I think many others), that can all be true - and that doesn't meet the standard of Disney or make it fit the theme of the Polynesian. It is a nicely decorated modern hotel that looks like it came from a Pacific destination. That isn't enough to make it a themed Disney resort for us.

But will they build what the art shows? The Poly entrance art showed details that didn't end up in the finished product.

 

[Bocabear]

The thing is, all the Hawaiian hotels that were mentioned as examples to defend the non-thematic style of this new building are actually in Hawaii....where they don't have to transport anyone visually to an exotic location...they are there already. This is in Florida... it looks like Florida... The concept art is lovely but again doesn't match anything on-property as it should... The concept art we have seen always looks nice but the final product always looks less interesting when completed... The Coronado tower and Riviera show that... And the Riviera honestly has no theming at all other than a mansard roof on the top...and while some may consider the Riviera as a location boring, it could have been very beautiful... if they had actually invested the time and money to define the theme...
If the concept art barely feels themed, the finished product will feel even less... I have a feeling all of those built in planters full of greenery will disappear from the final product too...someone would have to maintain them.... the Teak facade details will be brown painted stucco details...the lack of structural theming cannot be overcome with added fake wood and planters...it will still be a modern anywhere-USA hotel building... Not the beautiful exotic Polynesian themed building it should have been.

 

[John park hopper]

Bocabear you hit the nail on the head. The original Polynesian resort with the original lobby, the luau (some say cheesy -not I) and the overall landscaping you felt like you were on a south sea island not Florida. This new poly DVC will have none of that just another out of place run of the mill hotel.

 

[bpiper]

Just a reminder that I posted a high res image of the resort about 75 pages ago that you can zoom in to the details on

View attachment 730667View attachment 730668View attachment 730669View attachment 730670

Anyone want to make a bet on whether that wood graining actually shows up? I have a feeling that it will be like the monorail station. All the concrete is painted chocolate brown and left that way.

 

[MR.Dis]

I have long ago stopped giving a hoot about if a resort has great themeing. I am a DVC owner of Bay Lake Tower and you cannot find a more generic design. Yet it is my favorite resort. It is the old saying in real estate: location, location, location. To me, nothing beats being able to walk to my room in less than 15 min after a long day/night at MK. Add in when with grand kids, not having the hassle of loading onto a bus or getting them on transportation to the TTC to get to the parking lot and loading into a car and then still driving to hotel. Have I mentioned how much I love Bay Lake Tower? So the Poly Tower looks generic, so does the Riveria but owners there seem to love the place. Each to their own.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I have long ago stopped giving a hoot about if a resort has great themeing. I am a DVC owner of Bay Lake Tower and you cannot find a more generic design. Yet it is my favorite resort. It is the old saying in real estate: location, location, location. To me, nothing beats being able to walk to my room in less than 15 min after a long day/night at MK. Add in when with grand kids, not having the hassle of loading onto a bus or getting them on transportation to the TTC to get to the parking lot and loading into a car and then still driving to hotel. Have I mentioned how much I love Bay Lake Tower? So the Poly Tower looks generic, so does the Riveria but owners there seem to love the place. Each to their own.

To me, Bay Lake Tower is perfectly themed to match the Contemporary.

The Polyday Inn is no way themed to match the Polynesian resort.

 

[Bocabear]

It should have been designed to fit the style and architecture of the existing buildings...
but this is what they are doing now... The Marriott school of Hospitality Design has taken over evidently, and the creative and unique design that Disney at one time set the standard for, seems to have gone by the wayside entirely... Because as someone just pointed out... It's only about location and who cares.... That's a pretty low bar.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I have long ago stopped giving a hoot about if a resort has great themeing. I am a DVC owner of Bay Lake Tower and you cannot find a more generic design. Yet it is my favorite resort. It is the old saying in real estate: location, location, location. To me, nothing beats being able to walk to my room in less than 15 min after a long day/night at MK. Add in when with grand kids, not having the hassle of loading onto a bus or getting them on transportation to the TTC to get to the parking lot and loading into a car and then still driving to hotel. Have I mentioned how much I love Bay Lake Tower? So the Poly Tower looks generic, so does the Riveria but owners there seem to love the place. Each to their own.

A big part of what’s a location desirable is it’s design.

 

[GimpYancIent]

Bocabear you hit the nail on the head. The original Polynesian resort with the original lobby, the luau (some say cheesy -not I) and the overall landscaping you felt like you were on a south sea island not Florida. This new poly DVC will have none of that just another out of place run of the mill hotel.

Meh. "EYESORE" encompasses it all, I believe.

 

[James Alucobond]

A big part of what’s a location desirable is it’s design.

This. A big part of why I hate the Contemporary so much is because they bill it as comparable to the other two monorail resorts, but the pool is hideous, the Grand Canyon Concourse is neglected, and the rethemed rooms look comparatively cheap.

That said, I don’t fundamentally mind complementary mixed styles of accommodations. I also think that, if they build to plan, this building actually works quite well from the penultimate floor down on each tower. It’s the last two floors that look a bit too modern, switching to glass railings and a mundane roofline.

 

[DznyRktekt]

To me, Bay Lake Tower is perfectly themed to match the Contemporary.

The Polyday Inn is no way themed to match the Polynesian resort.

Bay Lake tower clashes with the original A frame, in my opinion. It is to large or should be larger, like 1/3 taller. The asymmetrical convention center out front also looks out of place and dated.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Bay Lake tower clashes with the original A frame, in my opinion. It is to large or should be larger, like 1/3 taller. The asymmetrical convention center out front also looks out of place and dated.

We can agree to disagree on this one. I very much like BLT and they did not phone it in like they are doing with the Polyday Inn.

 

[scottieRoss]

It should have been designed to fit the style and architecture of the existing buildings...
but this is what they are doing now... The Marriott school of Hospitality Design has taken over evidently, and the creative and unique design that Disney at one time set the standard for, seems to have gone by the wayside entirely... Because as someone just pointed out... It's only about location and who cares.... That's a pretty low bar.

No, the customers want modern, luxury feeling resorts with minimal theming. Just like Las Vegas has spend the last 10 years removing the theming. That is not what people want except for a few Disney uber fans.
Just like for years, people called Wilderness Lodge dated. Or Beach Club dated, or Grand Floridian dated. Or even Pop and All-Stars tacky, or Dixie Landings stuck in the past. They want a modern new feeling, not a theme from 30 years ago.
And so, until the paying guests want ultra-immersive Disney will give them modern with a touch of theming on the back wall of the closet and the drawer liners.

 

[James Alucobond]

No, the customers want modern, luxury feeling resorts with minimal theming. Just like Las Vegas has spend the last 10 years removing the theming. That is not what people want except for a few Disney uber fans.
Just like for years, people called Wilderness Lodge dated. Or Beach Club dated, or Grand Floridian dated. Or even Pop and All-Stars tacky, or Dixie Landings stuck in the past. They want a modern new feeling, not a theme from 30 years ago.
And so, until the paying guests want ultra-immersive Disney will give them modern with a touch of theming on the back wall of the closet and the drawer liners.

I agree (to an extent) within the guest rooms themselves, but I don't think that's true of the lobbies or the resort grounds, the impact to which is what most people here are concerned about. Also, if their goal is to reduce the tackiness, Contemporary really missed the mark.

 

[CastAStone]

I am a DVC owner of Bay Lake Tower and you cannot find a more generic design.

In its defense you can’t really match the contemporary resort’s highly unified theme of retro 1950s modernist design mixed with 70s hippie art project mixed with The Incredibles mixed with a motel style annex wing mixed with depressing 1960s style concrete jungle water park.

 

[JD80]

I WILL COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERYTHING!