Disney has filed new construction paperwork tied to the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, signaling further changes at one of Walt Disney World’s most historic resort properties.
Background: A Resort Nearly 55 Years in the Making
Walt Disney World Resort first opened in Orlando, Florida, close to 55 years ago. At launch, the property consisted of a single theme park and a small number of hotels, among them the Contemporary and the Polynesian. Since then, the resort has expanded into a six-park complex that also includes Disney Springs and a wide range of hotel options spanning multiple price points.
Ongoing reinvention has long been part of Walt Disney World’s operating philosophy, and that is especially evident right now, with the majority of its theme parks undergoing significant redevelopment. Beyond the well-documented replacement of Rivers of America with Piston Peak National Park and the addition of the Tropical Americas area, Disney’s broader resort-wide transformation seems to be building toward its 60th anniversary celebration in 2031. That transformation, it turns out, extends beyond park gates and into the hotel portfolio as well.
The Permit: What We Know
A Notice of Commencement has been filed for construction at the Island Tower, part of Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows at the Polynesian Village Resort. Faden Builders is named as the contractor on the filing, with the scope of work listed simply as general construction. The permit originates from Walt Disney Imagineering. No official details have been released regarding the nature of the work, but permits of this kind, filed by Imagineering, have historically preceded guest-facing updates or additions rather than routine upkeep.
Island Tower: A Recap
The Island Tower opened to guests in December 2024, marking the first high-rise structure added to the Polynesian Village Resort since it originally opened in 1971 with an all low-rise longhouse layout. The 10-story tower was constructed on the former site of the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Luau Cove and sits directly along Seven Seas Lagoon, giving a large number of its rooms direct sightlines to Magic Kingdom, including views of the nightly fireworks display.
Rather than replacing the resort’s original longhouse-style rooms, the Island Tower was designed as a supplement, expanding Disney Vacation Club inventory at one of Walt Disney World’s original monorail-line resorts. This mirrors a similar expansion strategy used previously at the Contemporary Resort with the addition of Bay Lake Tower.
New Room Categories
The tower introduced the following DVC room types:
- Duo Studios
- Deluxe Studios
- One-Bedroom Villas
- Two-Bedroom Villas
- Two-Bedroom Penthouse Villas
Theming and Design
The building’s design is rooted in the concept of Polynesian wayfinding — the traditional method of ocean navigation using observation of stars, wind patterns, and sea conditions. To realize this theme, Walt Disney Imagineering collaborated with more than a dozen artists on original artwork installed throughout the property, ranging from an exterior manta ray design to a ceiling art installation featured in the lobby.
Amenities
Notable amenities at the Island Tower include Wailulu Bar & Grill, a dining location offering unobstructed views across the lagoon toward the castle — a sightline not previously available elsewhere on the resort. The Cove Pool area features a sandy beach-style courtyard and a whirlpool spa. For younger guests, Moana’s Voyage Splash Area provides an interactive water play space.
What Comes Next
With construction confirmed less than two years after the tower’s opening, the scope of the planned work at Island Tower remains unclear.
What do you think Disney is planning to change at the resort? Let us know in the comments down below!
