Walt Disney World is gearing up for yet another round of changes, and this time the spotlight is on one of its newest hotel buildings.
The Walt Disney World Resort opened its gates in Florida nearly 55 years ago, growing from a single theme park and a small handful of hotels — including the Polynesian and Contemporary resorts — into the sprawling six-park destination guests know today, complete with shopping and dining areas like Disney Springs and lodging options across every budget.
If there's one constant at Walt Disney World, it's that the resort never really stops changing. Nearly every park on property is currently in some phase of redevelopment, from the transformation of Rivers of America into Piston Peak National Park at Magic Kingdom to the ongoing work happening ahead of the resort's 60th anniversary plans for 2031. But the changes aren't limited to the parks themselves — Disney is also turning attention back to its hotels, and the Polynesian Village Resort is next up.
According to a Notice of Commencement filed with local authorities, construction work is now underway at the Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Faden Builders is listed as the contractor, with general construction noted as the scope of the project. The filing itself comes from Walt Disney Imagineering, and while no specifics have been shared publicly, permits from Imagineering typically point to guest-facing updates rather than simple maintenance — suggesting something more substantial could be headed to one of the resort's newest buildings.
For those who haven't stayed there yet, the Island Tower opened its doors in December 2024, becoming the first high-rise addition to the Polynesian since the resort debuted back in 1971 with its collection of low-rise longhouses. The 10-story building went up on the site once occupied by the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at Luau Cove, and it sits right along Seven Seas Lagoon — meaning plenty of rooms come with views toward Magic Kingdom, nightly fireworks included.
Importantly, the tower didn't replace the beloved longhouse rooms guests have stayed in for decades. Instead, it added to the property's Disney Vacation Club offerings, following in the footsteps of similar expansions like Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort.
The tower brought several new room types to the DVC lineup: Duo Studios for up to two guests, Deluxe Studios sleeping up to four, One-Bedroom Villas for up to five, Two-Bedroom Villas for up to nine, and Two-Bedroom Penthouse Villas for larger groups.
Design-wise, the building leans heavily into the Polynesian tradition of wayfinding — the practice of navigating by reading the stars, wind, and ocean currents. Imagineers worked with more than a dozen artists to bring that theme to life throughout the property, from a manta ray design on the tower's exterior to a striking ceiling art installation in the lobby.
The tower's amenities have also become a draw in their own right. Wailulu Bar & Grill offers poolside dining with sweeping views across the lagoon toward Cinderella Castle — a vantage point that simply didn't exist at this part of the resort before. Nearby, the Cove Pool area features a sandy beach-style courtyard and a whirlpool spa, while younger guests can splash around at Moana's Voyage Splash Area, an interactive water play zone built with them in mind.
With new construction confirmed less than two years after the tower first opened its doors, guests are left wondering exactly what Imagineering has in store next for this still-fresh addition to the Polynesian Village Resort. As always, more details should emerge as the work progresses.
What do you think Disney has on the cards for the Polynesian Resort? Let us know in the comments down below!
