Each and every new hotel at Walt Disney Global within the final decade has confronted fan backlash when first introduced: Gran Destino Tower, Riviera Lodge, Swan Reserve, Celebrity Wars Galactic Starcruiser, DVC Cabins at Castle Wasteland, Lakeshore Hotel. Possibly they all from the final two decades, with the exceptions of Animal Kingdom Hotel and Artwork of Animation.
All the new standalone motels and DVC expansions have adopted a rather predictable development: complaint of the concept that artwork; proceedings concerning the location, dimension and scale, and loss of ambition within the themed design; issues all the way through building about ruining the skyline or sightlines (plus all the above). After all, a redemption arc upon opening.
I’m as responsible of this as any person. And simply to be totally transparent, I’m now not hand-waving away any of the aforementioned opinions. Walt Disney Global has gotten lazier with themed design, plopping bland and uninteresting towers down the place they don’t belong.
The “downside” is that each and every unmarried hotel at the above listing has over-delivered at the visitor revel in. From a high quality of keep viewpoint, all the recently operational motels constructed within the final decade had been beautiful nice!
Whilst there’s undeniably cost-cutting and saving on infrastructure, a part of what’s being critiqued is Walt Disney Global ‘assembly visitors the place they’re,’ responding to visitor comments, and giving visitors what they would like in lodging. That’s a large a part of the cause of prioritizing serve as over shape.
Grievance for the outside and themed design isn’t at odds with reward for the visitor revel in and high quality of keep. Disney’s Riviera Lodge appears underwhelming from the out of doors, unfit of affiliation with the richly-detailed French Riviera. Gran Destino seems like a on line casino lodge from afar, and towers over Coronado Springs in a jarring method. And but, each at the moment are amongst my favourite puts to stick.
All the opinions I had for the ones two towers have been not anything as in comparison to my response to the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Lodge. The large distinction used to be that, by the point the Island Tower opened, I used to be very cognizant of my very own private personal tastes. Virtually each and every time I commented at the eyesore irrevocably changing the monorail loop skyline, I added that previous precedent has taught us it’ll most likely be a beautiful position to stick.
I’ve additionally damaged the sacred blogger oath: as a substitute of racing to put up a evaluation, I’ve waited a complete 12 months after opening to study the Island Tower. All over that point, we’ve visited and stayed on the new hotel more than one instances, giving it an excellent likelihood to modify my thoughts through the years. And it has, a minimum of partially.
My most up-to-date keep on the Island Tower used to be right away after the reimagined rooms at Bay Lake Tower. That unquestionably gave me a better appreciation for the Island Tower, as I used to be surprised at simply how a lot more I appreciated the rooms than BLT.
Anyway, let’s dig into the evaluation of Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Lodge…
Positioned at the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon, the Island Tower changed Spirit of Aloha Dinner Display. The brand new Island Tower is largely wedged between the present Nice Ceremonial Space on the Poly and the Grand Floridian, and proper subsequent door to Disney’s Wedding ceremony Pavilion.
It’s a towering addition to a monorail loop ‘skyline’ that already appears dramatically other than it did 15 years in the past. For its phase, the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows provides 260 visitor rooms in quite a lot of varieties that sleep from two to 9 visitors. This contains duo studios, spacious one and two-bedroom villas, and brand-new two-bedroom penthouse villas along with usual studios.
Like different towers that got here earlier than it at Walt Disney Global within the final decade, the Island Tower is unpleasant. Boxy and spartan.
It’s jarring and visually incongruous with the present Polynesian. There’s no thematic brotherly love or shared design language between the legacy Polynesian Village Lodge and the Island Tower. It’s evident simply from browsing at them that they’re two other visions from two other eras.
I can’t consider any person coming near the Island Tower for the primary time would think it’s a part of the Poly. It seems like its personal factor. There’s no cohesion or unity between the present hotel and the growth. From a design viewpoint, they’re principally two standalone motels subsequent to each other that proportion some visible motifs and not unusual inspiration.
In truth, if the Island Tower weren’t being wedged in between the Grand Floridian and Polynesian, endlessly changing the ‘skyline’ of the monorail loop, I wouldn’t have just about as a lot factor with it. If this very same design have been out on Western Manner close to Coronado or the All Stars, it could be tremendous.
After a number of remains and visits, what I in finding maximum bothersome concerning the Island Tower is the loss of consideration to element, and now not simply its boxy form and dimension. Strolling across the present Polynesian, you’ll see and really feel the nice and cozy glow of tiki torches illuminated at evening, bamboo concealing simple facades, and plush crops all the way through.
Island Tower is actually missing on this regard. The absence of tiki torches is most likely practical; Disney would provide a line about environmentality or some such nonsense. (It’s environmentality when a “dangerous” factor can also be lower and save them cash; now not such a lot when the dangerous factor is core to profitability.)
There also are a number of eye-level partitions and back-of-house amenities that Disney has made no effort to hide. That is particularly noticeable when strolling from the gym to the Nice Ceremonial Space. It’s dangerous display, and worse but, it’s simply remediable. Any individual has simply made up our minds it’s now not a concern for this expensive Deluxe Lodge.
However sufficient on my rants about the way in which the Island Tower appears from the outside and the way it irrevocably alters the skyline of the monorail loop. At this level, you both agree or disagree with me; there’s most likely now not a lot room for persuasion.
Let’s transfer gears to the positives of the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas, stepping throughout the new Disney Holiday Membership wing…
In the event you’re judging it towards different Deluxe Lodges, the foyer of the Island Tower is at the smaller aspect. Relative to different DVC wings or towers, it’s in truth greater.
It’s unquestionably extra spectacular than that of Disney’s Riviera Lodge, albeit much less so than Gran Destino Tower. The most obvious comparability is Aulani, which is thematically identical and in addition includes a textural richness to its design.
The foyer at Island Tower isn’t overwhelming or wow-inducing to start with blush, however there’s so much to like if you peel again the layers. Each and every inch of the distance feels thoughtfully-designed, from the seating to the enhance columns, lighting fixtures, ceiling panels, and extra.
Now not most effective is that this foyer very detail-dense, nevertheless it’s additionally extremely inviting and calming. I really like the Nice Ceremonial Space past due at evening or tremendous early within the morning, however the sensible fact is that it’s continuously loud and crowded.
Island Tower is solely the precise dimension that it doesn’t draw in an target audience, however is nonetheless a pleasant area to linger. I particularly revel in very first thing within the morning or round sundown when the herbal mild floods the distance and provides much more intensity to all the textures, carvings, and many others.
Walt Disney Global enthusiasts comic story about this being the Polyday Inn (get it?), which is humorous as a result of there’s reality to the outside rivaling a regional Vacation Inn. However we’ve stayed at one of the nicest lodge chains on this planet, and the Island Tower’s foyer beats many Conrads, 4 Seasons, Park Hyatts, Ritzes, and many others. It’s actually that neatly executed.
The foyer point is the place you’ll additionally in finding the doorway to Wailulu Bar & Grill, the one eating place within the Island Tower. We like this living room. On the subject of eating places that we’ll revisit over and over, Wailulu Bar & Grill is our new #1 private favourite living room in all of Walt Disney Global.
The seating house boasts breathtaking perspectives of the Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom off within the distance, together with Cinderella Citadel and Area Mountain. In the event you dine right here on the proper time, the living room provides high perspectives of the Fortuitously Ever After fireworks and Electric Water Festival. Wailulu additionally advantages from a fab breeze coming off the water, and the peak of the hideous Island Tower blocks out the past due afternoon solar.
We’ve got 0 complaint of Wailulu Bar & Grill. The whole thing from the understated inner design to the scrumptious dishes is excellent. With that mentioned, it does strike us as a overlooked alternative to have this be the one eating place within the Island Tower. Relieving one of the burden from the eating places within the Nice Ceremonial Space, which might be continuously slammed, would’ve been savvy.
Wailulu Bar & Grill does a just right process fulfilling the wishes of the Island Tower, however within the larger image of the Poly, every other counter carrier spot or perhaps a rooftop eating place would’ve been treasured.
Now let’s head as much as the visitor rooms earlier than we head out of doors and have a look at the typical spaces of the hotel…
Pictured here’s the common Deluxe Studio room, which is the one room sort we’ve executed on the Island Tower.
Those earth-themed rooms that sleep as much as 4 and exhibit the wildlife of the islands, with be offering an out of doors patio and kitchenette with a dishwasher.
Those rooms be offering 1 queen mattress and 1 queen-sized settee sleeper. That is the newest technology of those rooms, the place the sofa is a pull-down Inova mattress; they’re considerably extra relaxed and better-looking than conventional settee sleepers.
The kitchenette options dual-use Keurig machines, which is able to both brew a unmarried cup by means of pods or complete cups of espresso. This appears to be the brand new commonplace for residences, and we find it irresistible. Those are a large improve over the outdated Cuisinart espresso makers.
The kitchenette additionally has a mini-fridge (now not only a beverage cooler), sink, microwave, and numerous cupboard space. Espresso, paper towels, cleansing provides, and dishware also are equipped.
There’s additionally a first-of-its-kind characteristic for Disney Holiday Membership deluxe studios: a dishwasher.
The studios have a brand new format, which provides a comfy seating house throughout from the sofa and adjoining to the kitchenette.
I used to be to start with skeptical of this association, as I love to make my espresso whilst Sarah and Megatron are drowsing and like slightly of isolation with the kitchenette within the access hallway. (The BLT studio genre in truth works neatly for us; it’s simply too small.)
Then again, I’ve come round in this. Placing the kitchenette in the principle room frees up area for garage within the hallway and, in flip, that comfortable seating house in the principle room. The result is extra seating than we’ve noticed in studios, and organized in a logical way so 4 visitors may just conceivably revel in a meal or speak in a herbal way. It’s a reputedly little factor, nevertheless it’s a large win.
It’s additionally spectacular how none of those adjustments got here on the expense of cupboard space–there’s nonetheless lots, together with a devoted baggage stand and attracts–or a table. As we’ve noticed with fresh room designs, there are in most cases compromises made to options. Now not right here.
Particularly, I’m happy that there’s nonetheless a table within the studios at Island Tower. Maximum vacationers most likely gained’t care about this, however that is large for me, in my opinion. Or a minimum of, it could be if there have been a correct chair as a substitute of a backless stool.
That’s the only “omit” of this design, and it’d be rather simple to treatment down the street. Because it stands, I in truth desire running on the seating house so I’m now not separating myself from the remainder of the room. (In fact, my most well-liked paintings area used to be the terrace gardens–extra on that during slightly.)
Another way, those rooms are DVC’s newest designs, very similar to what used to be first pioneered at Disney’s Riviera Lodge again in 2019.
That genre of room has since been offered to many different Disney Holiday Membership motels which have been renovated, and for just right explanation why, member delight surveys give those rooms very prime marks.
The Island Tower is the primary hotel at Walt Disney Global since Riviera with in point of fact new studios, versus reimagined rooms or retrofits. (Previous to this, there used to be the brand new Castle Wasteland Cabins, however that’s now not actually apples to apples since the ones aren’t studios.)
We’ve beloved the reimagined rooms that Disney Holiday Membership has executed within the ~5 years since. Particularly, Boulder Ridge and Bay Lake Tower stand out as colossal enhancements over their predecessors.
With that mentioned, I did back-to-back nights in studios at BLT and Island Tower, and the adaptation used to be evening and day. I most likely wouldn’t have spotted the total extent of the variations (particularly since I used to be blown away via the brand new rooms at BLT) had the remains been extra spaced out.
However those rooms are much better, and that’s in large part due to their purpose-built nature. I’m nearly certain that if Disney may just do all of it once more, that is the format they might’ve selected for BLT. Sadly, flattening partitions and rearranging the floorplan is past the scope of even a troublesome items refurbishment.
The Island Tower toilets also are great, with one sink and numerous counter area in addition to garage beneath the sink. A dangling barn-style door separates the toilet from the remainder of the room.
The toilet provides a separate room for the bathroom, in addition to a spacious bathe that includes an overhead rain showerhead along with a hand held one. Slightly factor, however I really like the feel of the tile on my really feel at the bathe ground.
The whole thing concerning the Island Tower studio is sweet and prime finish.
There’s a pleasant heft to the bench, finish tables, lamps, and different furnishings. Those little upgrades don’t seem to be obvious from footage, however imbue the room with a better sense of luxurious than maximum different hotel rooms at Walt Disney Global.
It’s truthfully slightly wild what a distinction the inner of the Island Tower is to the outside. The out of doors appears extremely value-engineered, as though no nook used to be too small to be lower. The interior is the complete opposite. There’s such a lot consideration to element, and the whole thing feels very considerate and practical. I will be able to’t bring to mind every other hotel the place this distinction is so pronounced.
Previous to staying right here, my worry with the rooms used to be that they have been overly beige, ‘earthy,’ and one-note. Given its mid-century and Polynesian roots, I used to be hoping for lots extra colour.
However in in truth the use of and experiencing the completed product, what they lack in colour they make up for in texture and element. Those rooms don’t seem to be bland, however moderately, refined. They’re much less of an for your face genre, however there’s in truth so much to love.
A large number of visitors will recognize the calming design and the way in which they act as counterprogramming to the present Poly Villas. There’s not anything garish or grating about them; the distance feels harmonious, for lack of a higher time period.
On steadiness, those are my new favourite studios at Walt Disney Global. And I say that as somebody who usually skews in opposition to who prefer extra excessive themed design. They’re unquestionably now not rather my most sensible choose from a stylistic viewpoint (I’d nonetheless give the nod to Boulder Ridge with BLT now being proper up there), however the intersection of shape and serve as is unequalled.
Circling again to facilities, the Island Tower will even provides a brand new gym and pool house.
The gym is sweet; huge given the scale of the tower and with trendy apparatus. It additionally provides a just right view, versus being stuffed right into a windowless area. And when you exercise an excessive amount of, there’s a refillable mug station proper out of doors the door for a sugary offset.
The brand new Cove Pool is a quiet pool, however greater than I anticipated. It has a courtyard with a sandy seaside house, whirlpool spa, and perspectives of Seven Seas Lagoon.
Proper via that is Moana’s Voyage, a dash house with sculptures of Moana and her canoe.
There’s seating proper in the back of Cove Pool that provides serene perspectives of Seven Seas Lagoon, too.
There are in truth a number of outside seating spaces out of doors the Island Tower that find the money for gorgeous perspectives. It’s spectacular simply how a lot Disney controlled to cram into the slightly restricted footprint of this hotel–and with out it feeling cramped!
My favourite seating house of all is again throughout the construction, the place visitors staying on the Island Tower can revel in unique get admission to to 4 tropical terrace gardens.
Those be offering picturesque perspectives of the golfing classes or Seven Seas Lagoon and Magic Kingdom. It’s great to have this unique get admission to, because the Poly seashores can also be full of other people for Fortuitously Ever After viewing.
I completely love those lawn terraces. This evaluation is already lengthy, so for extra, I’ll refer you to: My New Favourite “Unfastened” Fireworks Lodge View at Walt Disney Global.
The Island Tower is set a 5-7 minute stroll to the monorail or boat dock on the Polynesian, which isn’t that dangerous. Relying upon your room task, chances are you’ll come across one thing very identical when staying on the primary campus of Disney’s Polynesian Village Lodge.
The larger upside, from my viewpoint, is that Island Tower has the very best stroll from the Poly to Magic Kingdom. You’re just a little farther away than the Grand Floridian’s DVC tower, and the stroll is totally manageable. All over our remains, we’ve at all times executed this stroll when the elements has been great.
The larger drawback is that Island Tower has the worst stroll from the Poly to the TTC. Which means, when you’re in need of to catch the monorail to EPCOT, you have got an extended stroll than from any of the longhouses. For my part, this nets out to a slight win within the grand scheme of items; we discuss with Magic Kingdom extra when staying alongside the monorail loop, however your mileage might range.
Every other drawback of the Island Tower is that it’s now not affordable.
For now, there’s a prime sum of money stock–making it the most productive time to ebook the Island Tower when you plan on reserving without delay and are hoping to search out bargain room stock. At complete worth, room charges border on obscene. The Duo Studio begins within the $550 vary for iciness dates and the Deluxe Studio begins round $200 upper, with $1,000+ in step with evening dates being plentiful.
Suffice to mention, renting Disney Holiday Membership issues will prevent significantly at Island Tower. Level charts are nearly just like the present Polynesian Villas, a minimum of at the Deluxe Studio aspect. As longtime DVC house owners, our “charge” of staying on the Island Tower has been about $168 to $228 in step with evening so far, accounting for our preliminary outlay plus annual upkeep charges.
In the end, there’s so much to criticize concerning the Island Tower and the way it appears from the out of doors. However what’s executed is finished. Now not most effective that, however the only position at Walt Disney Global the place you’ll’t see the outside of the Island Tower? The Island Tower itself! In the event you assume it’s an eyesore to the Magic Kingdom skyline, keep on the Island Tower to keep away from its visible blight!
There’s additionally so much to like concerning the Poly’s Island Tower. Wailulu Bar & Grill, the Moana pool house, and (particularly) Terrace Gardens are improbable property. The rooms listed below are completely improbable, taking the whole thing we recognize about the ones at Disney’s Riviera Lodge and in some way additional bettering upon them.
In case you’ll’t inform, I actually have a love-hate courting with the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Lodge. I believe nearly responsible for a way a lot I’ve loved staying right here, because it’s a hotel I feel will have to now not had been constructed within the first position. I beloved to hate at the Polyday Inn all the way through building…and now I hate how a lot I find it irresistible.
The article is that the perspectives, rooms, and not unusual spaces are among the finest in all of Walt Disney Global. And once more, what’s executed is finished. I’m already rather assured I’ll really feel in a similar fashion about Lakeshore Hotel, despite the fact that I grimace each and every time I see it emerging upper above Pioneer Corridor.
Island Tower is now on the very most sensible of of our favourite puts to stick at Walt Disney Global. Although you hate the outside look and the entire thought of the Island Tower, chances are you’ll wish to believe giving it an opportunity. No quantity of “protesting” at this level goes to modify its life, so all of us may as neatly benefit from the just right if we need to submit with the dangerous!
In the event you’re making an allowance for becoming a member of DVC and need extra steering, make sure you learn our Final Information to Disney Holiday Membership. That information covers the professionals & cons, resale v. direct, how much cash you’ll save, and different essential issues to understand earlier than taking the plunge. In the event you nonetheless can’t make a decision whether or not club is best for you, “take a look at before you purchase” with the suggestions in Methods to Save BIG on Deluxe Disney Lodging Renting DVC Issues.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you bring to mind the Island Tower? Is that this a internet certain or destructive for Walt Disney Global as a complete? What about for the Polynesian or DVC individuals? Have you ever already booked a keep on the Island Tower? Do you settle or disagree with our hotel evaluation? Any questions we will mean you can solution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas underneath within the feedback!
