Island Tower at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

[maui22]

Given that they plan this to open in December, I don’t think we will need to wait that long.

I bet we see the updates to the POS in the next few weeks.

How far in advance of sales does Disney typically update the POS?

 

[Sandisw]

How far in advance of sales does Disney typically update the POS?

It looks like the one for VDH was done in Dec 2022, with sales starting in May. But, TBH, this project has not followed normal projects of the past in terms of timelines, so I don't think we can take anything from it.

Just the fact they waited until May to add the timeshare license was strange...given that with VGF, it was announced around May 2021, and the license filed in, I think, August 2021...with sales not starting until March 2023.

For this to be opening in December...that process has to be sped up. Unless, of course, the plan is not to start sales for this until 2025, and that only cash bookings will be taken to start off...which, legally, they can do that....they only have to declare the units for sales to begin...and that doesn't take long at all....

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

In addition to items cited above, the studio side has its own door to the outside hallway. That can be nice when adults or older teens are staying there because they can leave and come back without disturbing the rest of the party. When younger kids are sleeping there, it might not be desirable for them to be able to sneak out into the hallway without adults knowing it!

And it's own thermostat.

 

[maui22]

Would be fantastic to have another pineapple lanai or a Hawaiin shaved ice stand! My bet is on shaved ice making its Polynesian debut

View attachment 864685

My wife corrects me every time I say shaved ice. In Hawaii, it's shave ice (like the sign in your post).

Sometimes, I intentionally say the wrong thing to see her reaction.

 

[hockeydad21]

My wife corrects me every time I say shaved ice. In Hawaii, it's shave ice (like the sign in your post).

Sometimes, I intentionally say the wrong thing to see her reaction.

In philly we just call it wooder ice, so tell your wife your wording could be worse…

 

[Electron_si]

In our discussion about the possibility of a Community Hall by the pool area a couple days ago, I speculated about the bathrooms next to that large room. I said they appear to be accessed from the outside for the use of those at the pool, and there appears to be a men's room, women's room, and two private Family/Changing rooms.

These are indicated in the plan image below as follows:
Yellow = Community Hall
Red = Women's Room
Blue = Men's Room
Orange = Family/Changing rooms

There is, however, one part of that area on the plans that I did not discuss or speculate about.
The area outlined in Green.

View attachment 864667

This area is right where the pool sidewalk comes up to connect to the covered walkway.
It is very difficult to make any since of what appears in this area in the image, so I did not have any good guess at the time.

But now, having looked at all the new photos from BlogMickey.com linked above, I now have a VERY, VERY HOPEFUL guess at what might be going there.

In the photo below we can see the "Community Hall" on the right with the all glass front.
On the far left is an opening that will lead to the restrooms.
But in the middle, where the workers are standing, is a large opening for the area in question.
What could it be???

View attachment 864670

A closer look in the next photo shows that this area will be open to the outside where people can walk up.
It could be some sort of towel stand, but that's not what I think it will be.

View attachment 864672

Looking at the size, location, and walk-up access, and comparing it to what is over at the GCH near the Volcano Pool, I am crossing my fingers that this may be a new Dole Whip Stand!!!

Pineapple Lanai 2.0 !!!​

Please, Please Please let this be true!
.

I hate to say this but that area looks way too shallow to be a concession stand in my opinion. Judging from the worker standing in the opening it’s only about 4ft deep and then metal framing or metal conduit runs vertically. It would be hard to imagine how a counter area would fit in the narrow space unless it’s going to protrude from the building. It’s possible that it will be then at that point it will be subject to the elements and much harder to lock/cover.

Maybe someone else has a different opinion.

 

[MagicDVC]

I hate to say this but that area looks way too shallow to be a concession stand in my opinion. Judging from the worker standing in the opening it’s only about 4ft deep and then metal framing or metal conduit runs vertically. It would be hard to imagine how a counter area would fit in the narrow space unless it’s going to protrude from the building. It’s possible that it will be then at that point it will be subject to the elements and much harder to lock/cover.

Maybe someone else has a different opinion.

Could be a mug refill station? Close to the bathrooms near the pool.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Could be a mug refill station? Close to the bathrooms near the pool.

Great example of how context is everything— people would be celebrating the convenient soda station if it was announced unexpectedly but it’s such a huge step down from “Dole Whip!/Shaved Ice*”

*I’m prepared to die on the past-tense hill here.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

In philly we just call it wooder ice, so tell your wife your wording could be worse…

So true!

 

[hockeydad21]

Could be a mug refill station? Close to the bathrooms near the pool.

Option #3 of refill station is probably the most likely, but definitely the least sexy…so I’m going to ignore it for now

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Option #3 of refill station is probably the most likely, but definitely the least sexy…so I’m going to ignore it for now

It’s also probably actually the best for making our lives convenient (and saving money) as members— so easy to refill by the pool or even swing by on the way to park (for tower guests)— as opposed to a long line to purchase tropical treats.

 

[MagicDVC]

Option #3 of refill station is probably the most likely, but definitely the least sexy…so I’m going to ignore it for now

Better than my first guess as a utility closet.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Yes especially for Aulani resale seems like a no brainer - especially if your goal is to use those points AT Aulani....

I've even thought roughly it might make sense to buy 1/3 the points you need for AUL and then take 2 or 3 trips once every three years and flip it at that point... You're likely to come out ahead of cash rates I think....

RE the tower it seems Disney is continuing the tradition of building pools that are too small to accommodate the number of guests at their hotels comfortably....

The biggest difference with AUL direct vs resale IMO is access to VDH and future DL fwd resorts.

 

[maui22]

Could be a mug refill station? Close to the bathrooms near the pool.

I think we have a winner. Disney food blog has images from the Oasis pool. You can see the refillable mug station in one of the images. Looks very similar.
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2016...d-grill-at-disneys-polynesian-village-resort/

 

[Cfabar1]

The biggest difference with AUL direct vs resale IMO is access to VDH and future DL fwd resorts.

Yes, for those of us who are FL based though, DL is unlikely to be a major part of our resort plans in the future.... I'm not even getting into whether DL or WDW is better... I'm just saying when you're 2-3 hours away from WDW, DL has to be SIGNIFICANTLY better to justify all the travel stress compared to WDW....

 

[accm]

I've been looking at the picture of what I'm assuming is the 2 bedroom penthouse, and the middle section doesn't make sense to me. Is DVC honestly going to have the people who are paying a premium for these rooms share the balcony? Even if they add a separation, it still doesn't feel like it would be very private. I also thing the boarded up sections are where the doors are going to be, which makes me wonder if there will be one theme park view penthouse, and a standard view penthouse. And then the other sliding doors are regular studios/1 bedrooms. Even then, the privacy isn't great, since those upper balconies can see straight in to the lower penthouse balcony. Definitely not ideal.

 

[mkatsy]

I think we have a winner. Disney food blog has images from the Oasis pool. You can see the refillable mug station in one of the images. Looks very similar.
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2016...d-grill-at-disneys-polynesian-village-resort/

So does that automatically mean quick serve? Those drink refill stations aren’t stand alone are they?

 

[accm]

I think we have a winner. Disney food blog has images from the Oasis pool. You can see the refillable mug station in one of the images. Looks very similar.
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2016...d-grill-at-disneys-polynesian-village-resort/

That seems unlikely, since theres a door into that area from inside the building, with whatever is in it, being against the exterior wall...

 

[CastAStone]

The biggest difference with AUL direct vs resale IMO is access to VDH and future DL fwd resorts.

You could almost buy a resale Aulani contract and a resale VDH contract for the price of Aulani direct. Not quite. But almost.

 

[mkatsy]

Yes, for those of us who are FL based though, DL is unlikely to be a major part of our resort plans in the future.... I'm not even getting into whether DL or WDW is better... I'm just saying when you're 2-3 hours away from WDW, DL has to be SIGNIFICANTLY better to justify all the travel stress compared to WDW....

I’m sure DL is an awesome time, but it’s not even on my radar.