Island Tower at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

[mkatsy]

There are two types of people: those who’ve been to the Islands (the more often and longer the better) and appreciate how much more authentic this style is to actual Island life and decor, and those who think that anything that doesn’t look like Don the Beachcomber in Marina Del Rey, circa 1966 (which is exactly where the Imagineers likely hung out for their inspiration), is a thematic sellout.

"Trailer park Tiki vibe" is a pop culture it's not a reflection of wealth or education.

 

[tx911]

Is there a standard view? Do you mind saying which dates so we can comparison shop other rack rates?

March 16-21

 

[kilik64]

As someone who stays in deluxe studio villas, I personally hate the placement of the kitchenette and the pull down bed. Room looks very small to me.

That is just me though. I know many stay in 1BR and 2BR

I agree, from pics it didnt look too bad, but looks real small in the video.

We just stayed in the longhouses for the first time this past week, they are huge compared to this new tower one.

Will be interesting to see how demand for tower vs longhouse studios plays out.

 

[intamin]

I prefer the longhouses and the tiki look, but this Tower is gonna kill RIV sales. The rooms are stunning for the new look they're doing.

The best looking since RIV in my opinion.

Easily the best rooms since RIV. You know what sales this will beat like a dead horse? CFW. The interior design on these is fantastic. I can't wait to make this one of my home resorts.

 

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

I’ll need to figure out who my guide actually is in the not too distant future

When do we think they will begin selling points?

 

[maui22]

Something I found interesting during my call this morning. The CM actually mentioned the “overwhelmingly positive” feedback they received on making this part of PVB.

She brought it up without me mentioning anything about PVB. Perhaps anyone who owns at PVB is getting these comments?

 

[CastAStone]

I don't think that will be a problem.

The number one streamed movie in 2023 was Moana (by hours streamed metric).

As long as they dont screw up really bad with Moana 2, I dont think this will be an issue at all.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1448658/top-streaming-movies-us/#:~:text=Most popular streaming movies in the U.S. 2023, by minutes viewed&text=In 2023, the top movie,", which airs on Disney+.

It’s been that way for years too. If you dig into the Nielsen metrics, Disney+ is really just people watching Bluey and Moana.

And Disney doesn’t own the IP rights to Bluey. So here we are.

 

[Sandisw]

Hi. Here is some info I just got.

Memorial Day weekend - May 23-26 2025 (3 nights). 2BR Penthouse Preferred View $11,559. 2BR Theme Park View $7,580. Cancellation policy in 2025 will be 8 days prior to reservation for full refund.

She did not know how far out we could book at first - she was surprised we got Memorial Day since it is more than 11 months out. But then she spot checked June (yes), October (yes), and November (no). I don't know the exact date she tried in October but looks like it is out to that general time frame.

So, if I understood correctly, the Penthouses may only have Preferred Views - no Theme Park views.

Hope this helps!

Since these are cash bookings, they can book more than 11 months out because the rooms being booked won’t be part of declared inventory at that point.

The 11 month rule is only for DVC bookings. What is interesting, though, is that they had to have decided a general sense of sales and how they will declare in the next year.

 

[DeeBee3]

It’s been that way for years too. If you dig into the Nielsen metrics, Disney+ is really just people watching Bluey and Moana.

And Disney doesn’t own the IP rights to Bluey. So here we are.

Off topic, but I will stay at a Bluey DVC resort. Sell it to me, Disney!

 

[maui22]

As someone who stays in deluxe studio villas, I personally hate the placement of the kitchenette and the pull down bed. Room looks very small to me.

That is just me though. I know many stay in 1BR and 2BR

DW mentioned the placement of the kitchenette too.

One thing she appreciated is they made sure to put the sofa/pulldown next to the kitchenette.

 

[CastAStone]

Off topic, but I will stay at a Bluey DVC resort. Sell it to me, Disney!

You can! It’s just not a Disney property - Ludo and the BBC own Bluey, Disney just airs it.

https://www.altontowers.com/explore/cbeebies-land/bluey-at-cbeebies-land/

 

[kilik64]

It’s been that way for years too. If you dig into the Nielsen metrics, Disney+ is really just people watching Bluey and Moana.

And Disney doesn’t own the IP rights to Bluey. So here we are.

Encanto is huge too, hence the push to get that IP into the parks as well.

 

[MagicDVC]

DW mentioned the placement of the kitchenette too.

One thing she appreciated is they made sure to put the sofa/pulldown next to the kitchenette.

I do like the placement of the kitchenette. The only time it's possibly not accessible is when you have the bed pulled down. Who know the actual space between the mini-fridge and the sofa. Love the bench and sitting area!

 

[MerlinandtheMouse]

It’s been that way for years too. If you dig into the Nielsen metrics, Disney+ is really just people watching Bluey and Moana.

And Disney doesn’t own the IP rights to Bluey. So here we are.

Literally me

Gonna watch it tonight to celebrate!

 

[BigBadBobbyH]

What does the penthouse offer that warrants such a massive premium over the standard 2BR?

I think it is a much bigger room from a square footage perspective. Has a living room and a patio balcony. Here is the pic they had provided:


I was told the penthouse accommodates up to 8 people - 1 king bedroom, 2 queens bedroom, 1 queen murphy. Regular 2BR actually accommodates up to 9 people - 1 king bedroom, 2 queens bedroom, 1 queen murphy, 1 single murphy.

 

[MerlinandtheMouse]

I think it is a much bigger room from a square footage perspective. Has a living room and a patio balcony. Here is the pic they had provided:

View attachment 865748
I was told the penthouse accommodates up to 8 people - 1 king bedroom, 2 queens bedroom, 1 queen murphy. Regular 2BR actually accommodates up to 9 people - 1 king bedroom, 2 queens bedroom, 1 queen murphy, 1 single murphy.

Feels like the living room space of a GV but with 1 less 2 queen bedroom

 

[DonMacGregor]

I think Moana, Princess and the Frog, Tangled, and Frozen are solidly the "Big 4" of the Revival Era just like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Lion King defined the Rennaissance Era.

I would have bigger concerns if they were doing Big Hero 6, Wreck-It Ralph, or Zootopia.

Regardless, my point was more about maintenance than thematic shelf-life.

I do understand that your point was more about maintenance, and it has merit.

To your other point though, I'm just not convinced Moana wasn't used simply because it conveniently ties in with a Polynesian themed resort. Of course, I'm also the guy that absolutely abhors what I think was the same shoehorning of The Incredibles into the Contemporary for no good purpose and who doesn't see introducing Mary Poppins into the Grand Floridian as any improvement.

As you point out, the films tend to represent "eras" at the studio, and in another 10-20 years, we may have already seen another era come and go. I guess my point is that the popularity (and I mean the initial hyper-popularity) of a film can be transient and while the general popularity of a great film endures, I'm not sure it stays at a high enough level over the long lifetime of a hotel. Slapping IP on a hotel (especially a single IP over an entire resort) is relatively new, and the hotels were incredibly successful for decades without it.

I guess to put it in context, the highest grossing Disney animated movie of all time, adjusted for inflation, is Snow White. If one of the original hotels had been built with Snow White theming back in 1971, how popular and contemporaneous would that theming be today? I just think adding IP to hotels runs the risk of dating them as newer, more popular IP is constantly being created.

 

[DonMacGregor]

"Trailer park Tiki vibe" is a pop culture it's not a reflection of wealth or education.

Unfortunately, it's not a reflection of real Polynesian style or culture either.

 

[Salokin]

I owned SSR and recently bought PVB via resale, if as seems likely this forms part of the association then that’s a nice bonus. I like the look of the interior at the tower but given studios only sleep 4 and have just one bathroom I imagine we’ll still likely book poly legacy. That said I do look forward to trying the tower out though.

 

[wnielsen1]

I do like the placement of the kitchenette. The only time it's possibly not accessible is when you have the bed pulled down. Who know the actual space between the mini-fridge and the sofa. Love the bench and sitting area!

I'm sure it will be fine. The layout is similar at VDH.