New DVC Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows – 10 Things to Know

Disney Vacation Club has expanded Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows with a new Island Tower, a beautiful new addition that offers guests unique accommodations, spectacular views of Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom, and a perfectly themed retreat that celebrates the cultures of the Polynesian Island. We recently had the chance to preview the resort and were blown away. Learn more about this new addition below.

1 – Expanded Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

The new Island Tower addition adds an additional 268 rooms to the resort, offering a unique variety of accommodations for Disney Vacation Club members and guests. A new pool, splash pad area, and new table-service restaurant and lounge offer guests a retreat that we are sure will be very popular with guests.

The expansion complements the existing 380 Disney Vacation Club rooms located at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Guests can enjoy staying in beautifully designed studios within one of the resort’s classic Polynesian-themed three-story longhouses or two-bedroom bungalows.

2 – Variety of Room Types

The 10-story tower features a variety of room types to meet the different needs of travelers for vacations ranging from small getaways to multi-generational reunions. Each room includes custom artwork inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film “Moana” and sustainable design elements, such as rugs made primarily from recycled plastic bottles.

A limited number of two-bedroom penthouse villas make their debut at the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Themed after the elements and Moana’s love for nature, the penthouse villas sleep up to eight guests. In addition to a living room area, full-size kitchen, dining area, and three full bathrooms, the new penthouse villas have outdoor patio areas with stunning views of Magic Kingdom Park or Disney’s Oak Trail and Magnolia Golf Courses.

One- and two-bedroom villas are themed to the beauty of water or Moana’s love for nature and sleep five and nine guests, respectively. The villas include a full-size kitchen, dining area, and living area with sofa seating that can be easily pulled down to reveal a queen-size bed and a story-themed mural inspired by Moana sailing on her canoe to retrieve the heart of Te Fiti. These rooms also include two bathrooms, a primary bedroom, and a washer and dryer, which are staples of Disney Vacation Club villas.

Cozy deluxe studios celebrate the lush fauna and flora of the islands in an updated layout, including a seating area across from a kitchenette featuring a dishwasher, a first-of-its-kind for Disney Vacation Club deluxe studios. The deluxe studios offer a spa-like bathroom, an outdoor patio, and two queen-size beds, accommodating up to four guests.

Perfect for two guests, the duo studios are inspired by the wind and sky and include a queen-sized bed that conveniently tucks into the wall to reveal a sofa when not in use.

3 – Gorgeous New Lobby

One of my favorite spaces to visit was the lobby. The space features a variety of artists from around the world to create a unique experience rooted in Polynesian heritage. The four pillars represent the elements: earth, wind, water, and fire. Be sure to look up because you’ll see sea animals above you. There are many windows to connect you to the outdoors. Finally, there is a beautiful three-story mural of sea life with touches of Moana throughout, such as Gramma Tala’s manta ray, Maui, Te Fiti, and Tamatoa. The mural was crafted from organic materials native to the Polynesian island and was designed by Maria Apelo Cruz. It really is an amazing addition to the lobby and it’s worth the time to visit just to see the mural.

4 – New Cove Pool and Moana Splash Zone

The brand-new Cove Pool area welcomes guests to an aquatic oasis perfect for relaxation. Guests can unwind in the zero-entry swimming pool while little ones can cool off at “Moana’s Voyage,” a whimsical splash area featuring a statue of Moana and her iconic canoe. Moana is the perfect addition to the space, and we know that children will love playing on her canoe!

5 – Terrace Gardens

Members and guests staying at the Island Tower have exclusive access to four tropical terrace gardens inspired by the islands of Polynesia, which are accessible on floors three through six. Each uniquely designed garden offers a peaceful retreat and scenic look at the surrounding areas, including a stellar spot to watch the fireworks at Magic Kingdom Park. These garden spaces will undoubtedly be popular retreats, offering a peaceful place and incredible views.

6 – Wailulu Bar & Grill

The new tower is also home to Wailulu Bar & Grill, a casual dining spot that celebrates the sea and how the ocean connects all life. The menu is influenced by ingredients common in the Polynesian islands, and it has an all-day lunch and dinner menu. Both offer a variety of signature dishes, including spiced ham musubi and beef short rib loco moco. Wailulu Bar & Grill offers indoor and outdoor seating, showcasing custom artwork crafted from recycled materials and picturesque views of the Seven Seas Lagoon, including Magic Kingdom Park. The lounge and restaurant are open to all guests, not just those staying at the Tower. Upon opening, Wailulu Bar & Grill will accept walk-ups for dining.

7 – Green Features: Designed with Sustainability and Conservation at Its Core

The Island Tower addition was designed with sustainability and conservation at its core while providing guests with the experience and features they expect from Disney Vacation Club. The tower is projected to use approximately 30 percent less energy than a typical resort of a similar size through a variety of measures, including optimized heating and cooling systems and energy-efficient lighting. Furthermore, the majority of the tower was constructed off-site using pre-fabrication techniques that help minimize construction waste. Like Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, the tower is part of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Lodging program, which recognizes lodging facilities that commit to conserving and protecting Florida’s natural resources.

8 – A Disney Vacation Club Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows is one of 17 Disney Vacation Club properties across four states, including the newest resorts, The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, and The Villas at Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.

Disney Vacation Club debuted in 1991 with a flexible, vacation points-based system rather than the traditional fixed-week timeshare model. Today, Disney Vacation Club has more than 250,000 member families from all 50 states and approximately 100 countries who have discovered the joys of membership.

9 – Non-DVC Members Can Rent Points From DVC Members

As with all Disney Vacation Club properties, you don’t have to be a member to book a stay at the Island Tower, and you can book a stay directly. However, there is another way to enjoy DVC resorts if you are not a member. Do you want or need larger accommodations or a kitchen? Want to test DVC out before buying? DVC member, do you have points you can’t use? If you find yourself in any of these situations, there’s a great option for the exchange of DVC points. David’s DVC is an exchange service connecting DVC owners who find themselves with extra points with non-owners who want to rent a DVC villa but don’t want to purchase a DVC membership. They’ve been doing it for years, and they make it easy. We’ve even found that guests can often rent a DVC villa for nearly the same price as a regular room.

To explore renting DVC points with David’s Vacation Club Rentals, click here.

10 – Overall Thoughts

We loved our time at the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. The resort is stunningly beautiful, and Disney did a terrific job with the design of the tower itself and the rooms. The gorgeous Terrace Gardens will offer fantastic views of the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks. We tasted a few items from Wailulu Bar & Grill and will definitely be back for a full meal as they were delicious. The Cove Pool and Moana’s Splash Pad will also be a popular spot! We’re sure the Island Tower will be a hit with guests!