Island Tower at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

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Wow from above, that pool really does look tiny😐 seems like there’s so much space around it, they really could have made it a bit bigger

If I’m honest I had typed out a similar sentiment but decided to postpone judgement until the final product. To me that does seem like the one part of the project that feels value engineered just judging from afar (admittedly not a totally fair thing to do) - was hoping it would be a tad more enhanced.

But a pool is a pool and it will be a great view both day and night though. At least that’s what I’m telling myself. šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‡
 
In looking at that picture, I noticed that on the right hand side, the sidewalk goes from being a standard width, to being a lot wider. I'm really hoping this means they're adding a dock at that location. I can't really think of other logical reasons for the sidewalk to get wider like that right there.
Also, as someone who's hoping to stay here one day, I'm so excited for the extended walkway from Poly to the MK!
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In looking at that picture, I noticed that on the right hand side, the sidewalk goes from being a standard width, to being a lot wider. I'm really hoping this means they're adding a dock at that location. I can't really think of other logical reasons for the sidewalk to get wider like that right there.
Also, as someone who's hoping to stay here one day, I'm so excited for the extended walkway from Poly to the MK!
View attachment 887846
Fingers Crossed because it looks like a long walk to the poly boat dock/Great Ceremonial House esp if you are on the side closest to Grand Flo.
 
In looking at that picture, I noticed that on the right hand side, the sidewalk goes from being a standard width, to being a lot wider. I'm really hoping this means they're adding a dock at that location. I can't really think of other logical reasons for the sidewalk to get wider like that right there.
Also, as someone who's hoping to stay here one day, I'm so excited for the extended walkway from Poly to the MK!
View attachment 887846
That would also be a much closer walk for guests at the original villas building at GF - the current GF dock is a bit of a hike for them.
 

There’s actually a decent amount. Even just one resort for example - Poly. Mid Sept to year’s end is $800 to $1500 a night, while member dues for those same rooms from under $200/nt to a maximum of around $400/nt. Here the MF are closer 25%. There’s many other examples in between.

$243 for 20pt/nt is great. Adding buy-in cost then comparing to rack rate discounts starts closing the gap. Buying CFW can still win economically, plus the added value for Fort Lovers to own, and the value of home priority. But what happens with an occasional trade-out. That math gets tougher. I’ll use our next booking, mid-Nov VGF. We booked 2 studios at 23pts/nt avg each (1BR is similar total point cost). MF on these 268pts cost me $2,029. If I used my BWV contract, dues would be $2,324. CFW would cost me $3,256. That $1,000 quickly eats into the small gap of savings on the CFW trips. Take any reservation, run CFW and any other resort owner’s MF. The vast majority of trade calculations have a 30 to 40% MF surcharge, no matter the WDW resort being booked or the points owned.

To stay cost effective most or all trips need to be those cabins. We also see how commonly members change travel patterns after experiencing more of DVC. There is little flexibility to pivot like that for CFW. The added value of DVC’s flexibility is kind of missing here. Buyer’s need to be very confident about one specific room/resort for decades. Very narrow buyer pool.

If CFW goes and builds up that resort? That has the potential to change all this. What if they add something like Reflections, more amenities like unique restaurants and innovative pool, add a Trust option going forward, etc… The buy-in and MF could start making sense to a much larger buyer pool. More room to pivot and more magic.

Fingers Crossed because it looks like a long walk to the poly boat dock/Great Ceremonial House esp if you are on the side closest to Grand Flo.
I don't know, but I'm guessing they'd have to build a short pier to dock. All (almost all?) 7 Seas and Bay Lake docks are away from shore, maybe a depth issue.
 
Additional article on Island Tower. They are late to report on Moana’s outrigger, but it’s always interesting to compare photos of the construction over time.

https://blogmickey.com/2024/08/moan...ter-play-area-at-polynesian-dvc-island-tower/

It’s interesting looking closer at the exterior restaurant photos. Even though the concept art that was up at D23 made it look like some sort of water feature along the exterior wall (which was also well noted on this thread), I found myself thinking no way, seems like a potential operational mess (trash, kids at the table sticking their hand over, etc). But the concrete forms certainly look like they could form the beginnings of an infiniti edge water feature of some sort. Will be curious to see the final product here.

Construction photo courtesy of BlogMickey:
IMG_0655.jpeg

Concept art… Photo credit Carrie Crevel / DVC Fan: https://dvcfan.com/dvc-resorts/polynesian/new-polynesian-island-tower-concept-art-revealed-at-d23/
Restaurant Image.png
 
It’s interesting looking closer at the exterior restaurant photos. Even though the concept art that was up at D23 made it look like some sort of water feature along the exterior wall (which was also well noted on this thread), I found myself thinking no way, seems like a potential operational mess (trash, kids at the table sticking their hand over, etc). But the concrete forms certainly look like they could form the beginnings of an infiniti edge water feature of some sort. Will be curious to see the final product here.

Construction photo courtesy of BlogMickey:
View attachment 887900

Concept art… Photo credit Carrie Crevel / DVC Fan: https://dvcfan.com/dvc-resorts/polynesian/new-polynesian-island-tower-concept-art-revealed-at-d23/
View attachment 887901
Incorporating the half-moon booths into the water feature like that looks great!

At first I thought ā€œwell, aren’t they eating into potential outdoor seating area? Eating up a potential table row?ā€ But looking more closely I think this is smart. It keeps the seating areas under cover instead of fully exposed, while beautifully incorporating the edge-seating into the aesthetic feature.
 
It’s interesting looking closer at the exterior restaurant photos. Even though the concept art that was up at D23 made it look like some sort of water feature along the exterior wall (which was also well noted on this thread), I found myself thinking no way, seems like a potential operational mess (trash, kids at the table sticking their hand over, etc). But the concrete forms certainly look like they could form the beginnings of an infiniti edge water feature of some sort. Will be curious to see the final product here.

Construction photo courtesy of BlogMickey:
View attachment 887900

Concept art… Photo credit Carrie Crevel / DVC Fan: https://dvcfan.com/dvc-resorts/polynesian/new-polynesian-island-tower-concept-art-revealed-at-d23/
View attachment 887901

Thank you for crediting me! Glad to see the construction living up to the rendering. The restaurant looks like it is going to be gorgeous.
 
It’s interesting looking closer at the exterior restaurant photos. Even though the concept art that was up at D23 made it look like some sort of water feature along the exterior wall (which was also well noted on this thread), I found myself thinking no way, seems like a potential operational mess (trash, kids at the table sticking their hand over, etc). But the concrete forms certainly look like they could form the beginnings of an infiniti edge water feature of some sort. Will be curious to see the final product here.

Construction photo courtesy of BlogMickey:
View attachment 887900

Concept art… Photo credit Carrie Crevel / DVC Fan:
I was also extremely doubtful about it actually being a working water feature. It’s an absolutely beautiful design (that looks like it’s actually coming to fruition!) but don’t you think sitting at an infinity pool booth is going to be very loud? šŸ˜¬šŸŽ§šŸŽ§šŸŽ§šŸ™‰
 
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I was also extremely doubtful about it actually being a working water feature. It’s an absolutely beautiful design (that looks like it’s actually coming to fruition!) but don’t you think sitting at an infinity pool booth is going to be very loud? šŸ˜¬šŸŽ§šŸŽ§šŸŽ§šŸ™‰
Pretty sure the whole lobby area is going to be quite loud, at least for the next year and potentially indefinitely (especially if it opens up to the pool area)— at least the water feature will be a soothing sound to drown out the miscellaneous shrieks and whining.
 
Here's better versions of the concept art courtesy DC Baker at WDWMagic

Moanas Voyage.jpg

Wailulu Bar Grill.jpg

It's very clear it is indeed an infinity water feature.

The outdoor image is called "Wailulu Bar & Grill" and the Splash pad is "Moana's Voyage"



53914734030_271054ae7e_k.jpg

Also this is the monorail side of the hotel and it's kind of new news to me that there are more pocket gardens?! Even a funny skinny one.
 
Here's better versions of the concept art courtesy DC Baker at WDWMagic

View attachment 888064

View attachment 888065

It's very clear it is indeed an infinity water feature.

The outdoor image is called "Wailulu Bar & Grill" and the Splash pad is "Moana's Voyage"



View attachment 888066

Also this is the monorail side of the hotel and it's kind of new news to me that there are more pocket gardens?! Even a funny skinny one.

That restaurant looks awesome!

Moana's Voyage is going to make this pool area great for families with young children. I would be shocked if some families with young children don't spend more time here than any of the other pools. We were just there in June and all of our great nieces would have absolutely been at this area instead of either pool.
 
In looking at that picture, I noticed that on the right hand side, the sidewalk goes from being a standard width, to being a lot wider. I'm really hoping this means they're adding a dock at that location. I can't really think of other logical reasons for the sidewalk to get wider like that right there.
Also, as someone who's hoping to stay here one day, I'm so excited for the extended walkway from Poly to the MK!
View attachment 887846
That outlined area does seem like they intend to put something there. The Condo Related documents that showed up on 8/2/24 for PVB show this diagram for the addition of the land to PVB association. I believe a pier would be owned by Disney and not part of PVB. If I'm right, that would explain why it's not part of this land addition to PVB.

Screenshot 2024-08-21 101121.png
 
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