PHOTOS - Sight-line test balloons up over Disney's Polynesian Resort

[invader]

Whatever Disney can do to bring in more money, they will do!
The POLY is a classic hotel. I would hope that they could keep it that way. Maybe GCH has to be redone. If there will be a high rise, then so be it as long as the theming is basically the same!
We're staying @ the Poly in Sept., so I hope any possible construction doesn't begin until after then!
Maybe the longhouses need a serious redo, but again, I hope they don't change the entire concept and "feel" of the Poly!
Will they rename the POLY?
Is the tikimanpages concept art correct about what the "new" Poly would look like?
It all remains to be seen...:goodnevil

Nope, just the early renderings of the Poly from the 60s. Just speculation as to what it could look like if they did decide to rebuild.

 

[KevinYee]

I'm sure Alauni would provide inspiration if they did a rebuild. But if they rebuilt, I'll bet money they will go the DVC route.

 

[Gregoryp73]

I'm sure Alauni would provide inspiration if they did a rebuild. But if they rebuilt, I'll bet money they will go the DVC route.

Going to Aulani a week from tomorrow...it will be neat to see the potential of a rejuvenated Poly.

Polynesian was the first "resort" I stayed at while visiting the MK in 80', although being a child I remembered little other than the muggy main entrance...that and all the orange and brown

 

[menamechris]

I wish they would just buidt a DVC there and be done with it. It's clearly coming, its just a matter of when. So, I have accepted it and just hope they don't ruin the lagoon too terribly much.

Once the Poly is completed, they are going to need some new ideas though if they plan on continuing to build for DVC... Fort Wilderness doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon with an addition. And of course, there are those pesky rumored World Showcase additions... Then what?

 

[Tom]

Not always. We were there a couple summer ago and wanted to switch resorts. No availability at Poly.

I was replying to.....

I wasn't worried about getting a room, I already have one reserved. I was just wondering if there might be construction while I was there.

...this. As in, there will never be a period of time when the Poly isn't available for bookings.

I think anything is possible over there, especially if there was a rebuild. Of course, it could always be relocated.

I think they'd tear down the existing luau facility, build the DVC, and probably incorporate it between DVC and Poly....or go indoor with it somehow, since it's always closing due to weather, and it's a nice gold mine for Disney.

Looking at a map, with the TTC to the east and the wedding pavilion to the north of Spirit of Aloha, there is only one place for expansion without demolishing any structures. I decided I'd be creative and see just how much space there really is for a DVC. I took both the Aotearoa and Samoa longhouses and put them in a "T" formation in the area west of Fiji and Tuvalu and expanded the shore further out into the lagoon. There appears to be plenty of space to do this, and the location coincides with where the balloons were placed today.

Given that they're not afraid to extend beaches into the lagoon (see GF), this drawing pretty much nails what I predict they'll do.

I have heard the same thing about GCH: it has to be rebuilt completely. Having worked inside it, I believe it.

The longhouses aren't in great shape either. Rot, mold, etc.

Everything can be remedied without tearing down a building. These buildings are built of a concrete superstructure, so some re-roofing, new exterior membranes, and specific demolition where mold exists would be sufficient to reclaim all of the existing buildings.

There's no logistical way for them to bulldoze the GCH and start over. They can do MAJOR renovations to parts of it at a time though.

I'm sure Alauni would provide inspiration if they did a rebuild. But if they rebuilt, I'll bet money they will go the DVC route.

Me too. No need to add any rooms to their resort inventory, since there's rarely a time when they're at capacity.

I wish they would just buidt a DVC there and be done with it. It's clearly coming, its just a matter of when. So, I have accepted it and just hope they don't ruin the lagoon too terribly much.

Once the Poly is completed, they are going to need some new ideas though if they plan on continuing to build for DVC... Fort Wilderness doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon with an addition. And of course, there are those pesky rumored World Showcase additions... Then what?

DVC will be the growth for a while, as far as accommodations go. DVC makes money - more hotel rooms don't.

 

[lifeguard1020]

Update/Renovate/DVC

I am all for them updating, renovating, or adding a DVC wing, but Poly still has the largest rooms on the property if I am not mistaken. If they add a "tower" of rooms and keep some longhouses, the rooms in the tower will be nowhere NEAR the size of the old rooms.

Oh yeah, I also took my first steps at the Polynesian as well.

 

[MarkTwain]

Judging by the location of the balloons mentioned in the OP, it sounds as if the new wing will be built on top of the luau and the largely undeveloped land in between the luau/main resort.

That wouldn't be all that bad if they relocate the luau to a different location, but I won't get my hopes up. In any case, between the existing wedding pavilion, the upcoming GF DVC wing, and the potential Poly DVC wing, any buffer between the Grand Floridian and the Poly would be virtually nonexistant.

 

[Master Yoda]

I am all for them updating, renovating, or adding a DVC wing, but Poly still has the largest rooms on the property if I am not mistaken. If they add a "tower" of rooms and keep some longhouses, the rooms in the tower will be nowhere NEAR the size of the old rooms.

Oh yeah, I also took my first steps at the Polynesian as well.

While this is certainly a possibility there is nothing preventing them from making the rooms the same or a larger size in whatever new construction they do.

 

[orky8]

I'd be all for rebuild, but not for anything DVC.

I think you are pretty much guranteed that if there is a rebuild, DVC will be a part of that.

 

[Tom]

I think you are pretty much guranteed that if there is a rebuild, DVC will be a part of that.

Ditto.

 

[kapeman]

The Poly building is apparently not salvageable. A rebuilt of the main house is in order, apparently. It's not clear to me if the driver to all this is a rebuild of the existing hotel (day guest) concept or a DVC concept, but the latter wouldn't surprise me.

Why wouldn't it be both?

Historically, this is what P&R/DVD have always done.

 

[bgraham34]

While this is certainly a possibility there is nothing preventing them from making the rooms the same or a larger size in whatever new construction they do.

I would doubt they would make them any bigger than current size DVC rooms. They are going to want to maximize the amount of rooms that they have so more money via point purchases. Smaller rooms mean less points available and less money.

 

[Master Yoda]

I would doubt they would make them any bigger than current size DVC rooms. They are going to want to maximize the amount of rooms that they have so more money via point purchases. Smaller rooms mean less points available and less money.

I doubt they would make them any bigger than the current DVC rooms as well. However, that would only have the studios being smaller than a standard room at the Poly and that is assuming that they would use a similar floor plan to BLT or KV.

 

[jt04]

I really hope they consider buiding a tower. I know the purists would not want this but I think it works. There is plenty of room so that it would not interfere with the nature of the resort. It could be placed in the 'background' and still allow the resort to maintain its aesthetics.

A tower would also allow for straight-on views of the MK or views overlooking the Palm and Magnolia courses. It could market itself as a Polynisian/MK monorail resort AND a golf resort. They could even add a storm-a-long bay style water park to the mix. Plenty of space.

 

[disneyeater]

I'd be all for rebuild, but not for anything DVC.

I still think this is for a rebuild and not primarily for DVC, though I assume a part will end up being DVC.

Curious why you don't want any DVC if they are going to rebuild anyway. How does that effect anything?

 

[Buried20KLeague]

I really hope they consider buiding a tower.

Of course you do.

 

[COProgressFan]

I really hope they consider buiding a tower.

Of course you do.

Love it!:ROFLOL:

 

[Tim Lohr]

The article says there were 3 balloons but only shows photos of 2, the yellow one is over the luau building, the pink one is between the luau and the main hall but does anyone know where the third one is?

 

[wdwmagic]

The article says there were 3 balloons but only shows photos of 2, the yellow one is over the luau building, the pink one is between the luau and the main hall but does anyone know where the third one is?

I will try to confirm that. They were only up for a few hours total.

 

[Tim Lohr]

I will try to confirm that. They were only up for a few hours total.

ok thanks, because it doesn't look like the 2 balloons in the photos are much higher than the current hotel buildings, I was wondering about the height of the third balloon people keep talking about them possibly building a tower