Our favourite date evening at Walt Disney Global is doing ‘dinner and a fireworks display’ out of doors Magic Kingdom. We’ve completed this extra occasions than I will rely, once in a while as a part of a multi-stop monorail move slowly and different occasions all from one spot by means of consuming at one of the vital very best eating places for Fortuitously Ever After perspectives.
Up till just lately, our #1 manner to do that used to be by means of staying at Bay Lake Tower. We’d in most cases have dinner at Steakhouse 71 or Contempo Cafe, stroll again to our room, after which take the elevator as much as Best of the Global Living room for an up-close view of Fortuitously Ever After. Bonus issues if this used to be adopted up with a nightcap of the Seven Layer Cake.
A few of our very best reminiscences of gazing the Magic Kingdom fireworks are in truth from Bay Lake Tower. Nearly 15 years in the past when BLT used to be brand-new, we stayed in a Grand Villa for New Yr’s Eve and watched the Fable within the Sky fireworks on each December thirtieth and thirty first from the viewing deck. Because of the off-center location and the broader perimeter bursts, it felt like we have been in reality immersed within the pyro. That’s an enjoy we most probably received’t quickly best, however we do have a brand new favourite lodge view at Walt Disney Global!
To the marvel of no person who has stayed there, our new #1 pick out is the brand new Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Lodge.
Situated at the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon, the brand new Island Tower is basically between the prevailing Nice Ceremonial Area on the Poly and the Grand Floridian, and proper subsequent door to Disney’s Marriage ceremony Pavilion. It added 260 visitor rooms to the Polynesian, in numerous room and consider varieties, together with surprising ones of Magic Kingdom.
Maximum particularly, the Island Tower is 10 tales tall, making it one of the vital tallest buildings within the Seven Seas Lagoon skyline, in the back of simplest Bay Lake Tower and the A-frame of Disney’s Fresh Lodge, which might be 15 tales each and every.
Not like the ones hotels, Island Tower inexplicably does now not have a rooftop eating place or living room.
I will be able to by no means perceive this resolution. Some of the largest ‘infrastructure’ issues on the Poly is fireworks viewing. This has been a subject for the ultimate a number of years, and person who has simplest gotten worse at the same time as Walt Disney Global has cracked down on get entry to to the seashore and lodge as an entire. The issue is that the Poly is ‘porous,’ so there’ll all the time be guests gazing from the seashore. It’s unavoidable.
Including the Island Tower additional burdens the already overburdened infrastructure of the lodge with any other 260 visitor rooms, which might be each greater capability and occupancy than the prevailing lodge. Having a rooftop deck would’ve helped remedy that factor in relation to fireworks viewing from the Polynesian, possibly even offloading one of the current pressure at the seashore.
Despite the fact that that weren’t a subject, why depart cash at the desk? Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Lodge is a massively standard persona eating enjoy at breakfast and a Signature Eating place at dinner. It’s one of the vital highest-demand Advance Eating Reservations for each foods, and turns out like a license to print cash.
There are a number of little short-sighted choices that Walt Disney Global has made within the post-reopening technology, and value-engineering the Island Tower to be as reasonably priced as conceivable to build is true up there with development CommuniCore Corridor versus the multi-level competition middle with its personal rooftop deck. Without a doubt the ones dessert events, dinner applications and the whole lot else would pay for the added in advance infrastructure prices again and again over within the many years to return?! However I digress.
This isn’t where to as soon as once more air my grievances with the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Lodge. As a substitute, it’s to reward the characteristic I really like maximum in regards to the unpleasant brown field: the terrace gardens.
Disney Holiday Membership Individuals and visitors staying on the Island Tower can revel in unique get entry to to 4 tropical terrace gardens. So now not precisely loose, however “loose” because it’s incorporated with a keep on the Island Tower. And a characteristic price emphasizing as a result of DVC may just’ve allotted this high actual property to dear Grand Villas or another monetized house.
Each and every terrace lawn options colourful paintings, lush foliage, and uniquely themed seating spaces. The distinctively designed hideaways be offering households a serene locale to assemble and take within the perspectives all over their keep. Those oases amidst the Island Tower be offering pretty escapes and breathtaking perspectives.
There are two terrace gardens on each and every aspect of the development, that means part of them be offering perspectives of Disney’s Oak Path and Magnolia Golfing Classes, and a host of highway building as a part of the Floridian Method widening and Polynesian front re-routing challenge. This building view is neither breathtaking nor serene.
The opposite two terraces are the place this selection shines. Those characteristic bold perspectives of the Seven Seas Lagoon, making the terrace gardens a impressive position for viewing Magic Kingdom fireworks.
Right here’s the place each and every of the terrace gardens are discovered throughout the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Lodge:
- third Ground: Bamboo Terrace Lawn
- 4th Ground: Lava Rock Terrace Lawn
- fifth Ground: Wave Smash Terrace Lawn
- sixth Ground: Lagoon Reef Terrace Lawn
The perspectives from the odd-numbered terrace gardens are of Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom. The even-numbered terrace gardens are the golfing lessons and building. For evident causes, we’ll center of attention our consideration at the former duo of viewing decks.
The terrace gardens are for the unique use of visitors who’re staying within the Island Tower.
Despite the fact that you’re a Disney Holiday Member who owns on the Polynesian Villas and are staying on the Poly DVC longhouses in Moorea, Tokelau or Pago Pago, you continue to won’t have get entry to!
It’s because, not like maximum different Walt Disney Global hotels, you wish to have to scan your MagicBand or Key to the Global card in an effort to use the elevators ahead of settling on the ground. It really works in a similar way to maximum Membership Ranges, in that simplest registered visitors of the Island Tower can get entry to visitor flooring.
My doubtlessly unpopular opinion is this limited get entry to is a just right factor.
I might notice that there’s additionally keycard get entry to at the doorways to the terrace gardens themselves, however the occasions I’ve stayed at Island Tower to this point, this has now not been activated. Frankly, I want it have been.
On one of the vital nights when I used to be gazing the fireworks from the terrace lawn, a drunken gaggle of visitors occupying the entrance row seats used to be loudly boasting about how they weren’t in truth staying on the lodge. (They clearly knew this wasn’t going to endear them to any individual else; it used to be nearly as though they have been looking for a disagreement, which they by no means were given.)
I’m now not announcing this as a result of I’m some “allow them to devour cake” Walt Disney Global elitist. On the contrary, our remains at Island Tower shall be few and a ways between; we received’t be capable to get entry to the terrace gardens when staying at All Famous person Sports activities or any place else, which we do way more ceaselessly than the Poly.
Then again, I will acknowledge that as a sensible fact, high fireworks viewing in those areas is a scarce useful resource that are meant to be handled adore it is–as an amenity for registered visitors who’re staying within the Island Tower. If there’s nonetheless extra capability with the keycard machine (there isn’t!), enlarge the eligibility pool to all visitors staying on the Polynesian Villas and even at the lodge aspect.
Pricey inns ration and reserve facilities for registered visitors just about far and wide. I’m now not positive why this idea is arguable amongst Walt Disney Global lovers. Other folks paying Poly costs/issues will have to have precedence over guests.
As discussed above, the Bamboo Terrace Lawn and Wave Smash Terrace Lawn have perspectives of the Seven Seas Lagoon. Past ‘aerial’ perspectives of the Polynesian longhouses, you’ll be able to see the Disney’s Fresh and Grand Floridian Lodges, in addition to Magic Kingdom, together with Cinderella Fortress, Area Mountain, and TRON Lightcycle Run.
Most significantly, you’ll be able to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from up right here! That implies both Fortuitously Ever After or, higher but, the fireworks all over Mickey’s No longer So Frightening Halloween Celebration or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Celebration, either one of which characteristic partial perimeter bursts.
Whilst you’re ready, you’ll be able to catch the Electric Water Competition. It’s in truth a large number of amusing to peer the barges make their manner from the Poly to Grand Floridian, Barren region Hotel, and again against the Fresh.
Between the Bamboo Terrace Lawn and Wave Smash Terrace Lawn, the latter has the easier view.
That is clearly subjective, nevertheless it’s the upper of the 2 and it’s extra focused and it’s angled extra against Magic Kingdom because of the curvature of the development.
My room all over used to be proper throughout from the Bamboo Terrace, however I walked as much as the Wave Smash Terrace Lawn for the reason that view used to be awesome. There are handy stairwells and likewise, clearly, the elevators.
I might additionally argue that the Island Tower provides the most productive theme park view of any monorail loop lodge. Bay Lake Tower does have the nearest and maximum increased view, nevertheless it additionally has extra visible blight than the opposite hotels.
Between you and the park is a big car parking zone, bus drop-off house, and highway. The point of view may be a ways off-center, because the Fresh is positioned most commonly to the east of Magic Kingdom and overlooks Tomorrowland.
In contrast, the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Lodge is to the southwest of Magic Kingdom. This implies the view is extra focused, which is sweet in relation to fireworks. It’s farther away than the Fresh, however the Seven Seas Lagoon is within the foreground as a substitute of a car park.
The view from the Island Tower is sort of a pretty layer cake with water, different hotels, boats, and electric pageants all within the foreground. Nearly as just right because the scrumptious roughly layer cake served at Best of the Global!
Right through the sunlight hours, the terrace gardens are strangely serene. No longer that I used to be anticipating them to be overcrowded, however I’ve spent a large number of time running on my computer within the Wave Smash Terrace Lawn–most definitely on the subject of 20 hours over the process a number of days–and there have been folks in there for a grand overall of no a couple of (1) hour all over that point, in overall.
The opposite ~19 hours, I used to be the one particular person in there. I might automatically revel in my espresso right here between 5 and six am ahead of heading to Magic Kingdom for Early Access, then go back to paintings from 10 or 11 am via 5 pm.
The terraces wouldn’t see a lot visitors till round 3 or 4 pm, at which level there have been a large number of pop-ins (probably visitors checking in) to respect the view and temporarily snap footage. However maximum have been out and in in a rush.
Evenings are a unique, even ahead of fireworks time. From round 6 pm to eight pm, there are most often visitors in there. About half-hour ahead of the fireworks, the distance begins filling up.
If you wish to have a entrance row view, you will have to most definitely err at the aspect of warning and arrive 45 mins upfront. Most likely an hour for the MNSSHP and MVMCP fireworks, and perhaps even longer for New Yr’s Eve and Fourth of July. The ones are simply guesses, despite the fact that. I’ve simplest watched Fortuitously Ever After from right here (to this point).
That’s now not strictly vital–you may well be high-quality with a ways much less time. I’ve simplest watched the fireworks from up right here a couple of occasions–an overly low pattern dimension–and would say that almost all visitors arrived 5-10 mins ahead of showtime.
Suffice to mention, I completely love those terrace gardens. For the entire complaining I’ve completed in regards to the Island Tower, I’ve not anything however effusive reward for the terrace gardens. They’re one thing particular, and I’m happy Walt Disney Global incorporated those within the design, as they’re a phenomenal characteristic in an another way amenity-lacking tower.
I might pass so far as to mention that I choose the terrace gardens to a rooftop eating place or living room. That comes right down to the sensible fact of get entry to; I’ve already spent extra time in those terraces than Topolino’s Terrace or Best of the Global, which comes right down to the convenience of get entry to and freedom to return and pass on every occasion.
They’re additionally lined, that means I will paintings on a computer in terraces regardless of the elements. It used to be in truth rather serene and calming to observe a day thunderstorm roll out and in from right here, even if I did have to transport clear of the entrance row to steer clear of the rain.
Those terrace gardens are certainly one in every of my new favourite spots in all of Walt Disney Global, and I figured they deserved an “appreciation” submit given how a lot grievance I’ve had for the Island Tower as an entire. If truth be told, I’ve spent extra waking time in them than the visitor rooms within the Island Tower!
To that time, I wouldn’t even imagine paying more money or issues for a room with a view on the Island Tower, because the terrace gardens are a a lot better balcony–and without cost! It’s in truth surprising that Disney allotted this house to not rooms they may promote, however to a loose characteristic that might actively undercut the “want” for visitors to guide higher-priced theme park view rooms. I can’t wait to move again right here past due at evening or early within the morning and revel in a cup of espresso and watch Magic Kingdom get up or fall asleep, because the case could also be.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you call to mind the terrace gardens on the Island Tower? Have you ever already loved those areas for fireworks viewing or noon lounging? Does the presence of this “loose” characteristic make you much less vulnerable to guide a theme park view room? Do you settle or disagree with our overview? Any questions we will permit you to solution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas underneath within the feedback!
