The newest Disney Vacation Club venue at Walt Disney World, Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, will open on December 17. Disney describes the Island Tower as “Brimming with themed spaces that bring the adventurous spirit of Polynesia to life” and says it “will immerse you in the captivating stories and unique cultures of the islands—making it the perfect place for unforgettable family vacations.”
Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
The new tower is next to the Seven Seas Lagoon, where the Spirit of Aloha dinner show was once located. It has 260 rooms, including duo studios (sleeps two), deluxe studios (sleeps four), one-bedroom villas (sleeps five), and two-bedroom villas (sleeps nine). With the tower, DVC is debuting the new two-bedroom penthouse villas, which sleep up to eight guests.
Lobby
The Island Tower lobby has a zig-zagging pathway of brown wood cutting between white tiles. On the ceiling are island-shaped panels created by sculptor Nick Petronzio. These lead from the tower entrance to Wailulu Bar & Grill.
The lights between the panels are stick-shaped with illuminated tips like torches. The panels are made from steel tubes and an epoxy sculpting compound. The team used brushes to create wood grain textures before printing the artwork on fabric and laminating the tiles.
Each piece depicts a sea creature like whales, turtles, and a manta ray. The ray is a recurring element of the Island Tower partially inspired by Gramma Tala from “Moana.”
On the walls are dimensional pointed ovals, creating circle and diamond shapes. Lights below cast shadows across the panels, which create the illusion of more depth.
The tower’s theme is “wayfinding.” The carved columns feature different patterns inspired by the elements used in wayfinding: water, fire, wind, and earth.
The ceiling features wood slats reminiscent of a boat. Lights shine through the slats.
Tall railings around the second floor also have slats creating diamond shapes.
The lobby’s seating includes light-colored armchairs and long benches. The benches have curved wicker backs.
The tower’s color scheme features more blues, representing the ocean, than the rest of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. This includes the rugs, which are blue and tan, with ripples like the surface of the ocean.
Mossy pillars hang from the wavy slatted ceiling above a seating area. Tall windows at the back of the lobby bring sunlight into this space.
The three-story art wall was designed by Maria Apelo Cruz. It’s based on a sacred design from the Maori culture called koru, meaning coil. It represents birth, life, growth, strength, and peace.
As described in a behind-the-scenes video, the wall was created using organic materials from Polynesian islands including seashells, shark teeth, coconut shells, and driftwood. “Moana” characters are incorporated into the wall.
Gramma Tala’s manta ray appears once again, alongside Maui in hawk form, Tamatoa, and Te Fiti. Other elements of the blue and green wall include underwater plants.
Coffee tables in this area have white marble tops. There are also small black tables between the armchairs and couches. The backs of the couches have leaf patterns.
A large table is made from a piece of driftwood. It has chairs with low brown backs and green seats.
The wall sconces are tall black flumes with lights shining upwards. They sit against panels of small gray rocks and glass.
The panels are framed by brown wood.
Similar standing lamps of different heights are throughout the lobby. There are also potted plants on the ground and tables, adding to the natural atmosphere.
More chairs have gray frames with a triangular pattern across the seats and backs.
The indoor entrance to Wailulu Bar & Grill is in the far right corner from the main entrance.
This alcove features a stylized painted map of Polynesia. Sitting on a table in front of the framed painting is a model of a drua canoe, a Polynesian sailing boat.
Similar boats are featured in the “Moana” films.
The painting labels islands like Hawai’i, Samoa, Tahiti, Rapa Nuí, and Aotearoa (New Zealand). A dua and another sailing boat are pictured. The central part of the image is highlighted with a triangle of ocean, while fish are pictured in the corners of the artwork. “Te Moana-nuí-a-Kiwa” in the center means “The Pacific Ocean.”
The elevator bank has another piece of artwork depicting Polynesian sailboats, set against a dark blue wall. On the ceiling are chandeliers with strings of beads.
The walls feature a tight woven-inspired pattern of diamond elements. Panels above each elevator door are brown with a white shell-like pattern.
Artwork
During our tour, various artwork from the hotel was on display in the lobby. Guests will see these pieces displayed throughout the Island Tower.
There are pieces inspired by “Moana,” including paintings featuring Te Fiti or the manta ray. Other pieces are more generally inspired by the nature of Polynesia.
Terrace Gardens
We visited the terrace garden on floor five. This large garden within the Island Tower offers views of Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom. It has a stone floor and planter walls.
There are planters around the edges and one in the center. They are full of lush foliage.
A palm tree is in one corner, reaching to the ceiling of the space.
The north wall is made of wooden slats. It features the silhouettes of four birds, which will stand out in different ways depending on the angle you’re looking at them.
On the south wall is a vibrant mural depicting an outrigger similar to Moana’s boat, palm trees, flowers, and birds. The sun shines down on the beachy scene.
In the corner of the mural is a curl of a wave, similar to the wave that chooses Moana.
The gardens are two stories tall with windows on the inner walls so guests can also look out from inside. The ceiling is black with large island-shaped slatted decorations.
The main seating is a bench in a black wicker frame. The bench seats are yellow. The pillows are striped with cream colors.
A black wicker coffee table sits in the center of the half-circle. There are also some armchairs.
We got a view of the level four terrace garden from inside. It faces the Monorail track, with views of Disney’s Oak Trail and Magnolia Golf Courses across the street. Instead of a curved bench, it has a few red sofas.
The mural on its north wall features an orange and red volcano.
It has a wall of volcanic black rock and several hanging plants. The flooring is dark gray with black rock planters, continuing to reflect the volcanic theme.
There are four terrace gardens, two on each side of the tower.
The Island Tower also features Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort’s first-ever fitness center. Stay tuned for more of our coverage of the new Disney Vacation Club accommodation.
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