Following the demolition of the Spirit of Aloha building, Disney is constructing a new Disney Vacation Club wing at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Piling is underway at the construction site as crews continue working on the new building’s foundation.
Disney Vacation Club Wing Construction
We’ve been watching dirt piles move around the site for several weeks.
The land has been mostly flattened.
Multiple construction vehicles, trucks, and a concrete mixer are parked at the site.
This archway is where vehicles enter.
There are three dumpsters full of rubble.
There’s also a scaffolding archway.
We saw crew members using this excavator to clear dirt.
These tall construction vehicles are pile drivers, used for foundational piling. This is where we saw most crew members working during our most recent Monorail trip. Pilings are often used for foundations, especially in areas where the water table is high. Florida’s water table is particularly high, so this is a common practice in construction here.
“It’s no secret that our Members and Guests love the monorail resorts at Walt Disney World,” said Bill Diercksen, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Vacation Club about the new building. “Expanding our Disney Vacation Club offerings at the Polynesian would give our Members and Guests yet another incredible option for staying close to the magic while making vacation memories that last a lifetime.”
The new building is inspired by the early concepts for Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, which was reminiscent of the luxury hotels on Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach. Projected to open in late 2024, the proposed vacation ownership property would complement the existing resort and evoke the spirit of the Pacific Islands.
The Spirit of Aloha dinner show closed in March 2020 alongside the rest of Walt Disney World Resort during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. While most operations have returned to normal, the show was among those that never returned.
Disney’s Polynesian Resort underwent an extensive refurbishment recently. While the standard rooms received “Moana” theming, the Vacation Club Studios got “soft goods” refurbishments, meaning just the upholstery, art, and such were updated.
The hotel received a new Monorail station and port-cochére. The entrance to the resort was redone as well to match the new structures. Kona Café recently reopened after an extensive refurbishment, with all new seating, decór, and more.
The Kiki Tikis Splash Play Area was also repainted and refreshed. Currently, the Lava Pool slide is closed for refurbishment.
For more Disney Vacation Club accommodations at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, check out our video tour of the Bora Bora Bungalows.
Alongside the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort turned 50 in 2021. The resort opened on October 1, 1971 with Disney’s Contemporary Resort (Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds also celebrated its 50th anniversary, but it didn’t open until November 1971).
It’s also home to the fan-favorite tiki bar, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. Guests don’t need a reservation at the hotel to visit the on-site bars and restaurants.
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