Last summer Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort was schedule to reopen to guests. Eventually Disney announced the resort would remain closed through the summer of 2021 as it would undergo an extensive renovation to the Great Ceremonial House and its guest rooms.
In August 2020, Disney stated that the updated guest rooms would take their inspiration from the hit Walt Disney Animation film, “Moana.”
At the time a Disney World spokeswoman said, “changes to the [guest] rooms will include a move to a Pacific Ocean-inspired color palette as well as details, patterns and textures from Disney’s ‘Moana,’ an animated film that takes place partly on the Polynesian island of Motunui.”
Today, the Disney Parks Blog gave Disney fans a first look as to what the new guest rooms will look like when the resort reopens to guests this summer. It appears the resort will be reopening sometime in July as Disney is currently accepting booking for later in that month.
In addition to the Pacific Ocean-inspired color palette and the subtle and not-so-subtle characters from “Moana” throughout the room, Disney has also installed new furnishings and fixtures. “In the bathrooms, for instance, Disney Imagineers took inspiration from the sandy ocean floor for the tiles and carved details in the vanity. The colorful patterns found throughout the room bring a whole new energy to the space, evoking undulating ocean waves and tropical flowers,” read a Disney Parks Blog post.
The Polynesian’s porte cochere is in the midst of a dramatic overhaul that will feature a high-pitched, open-truss roof covered in a thatch style with pops of color. Above the porte cochere, the Monorail station is receiving new wooden screens with tropical colors, adding to the open and airy vibe befitting of the South Seas.
Reactions to the new look of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort’s “Moana” themed guest rooms are mixed. Some love what they are seeing so far. They describe the rooms as have a “fresh, clean look” and say love the “contemporary feel” while others say “I appreciate the understated ‘Moana’ touches.”
One Twitter user said, “… The herringbone floor, feature wall, colors, textures, tasteful use of Moana, and functional upgrades. The rooms have character but aren’t over the top …IMO, Walt Disney World has found the sweet spot on room designs in the last couple years. Basically Yacht Club forward (+ AKL, Riviera, SSR, WL) look good. Beach Club, BW, GF, etc. not so much.”
However, others are upset that Disney has been making every resort look virtually the same. Brayden (@sirbrayden) posted an image of a new standard Polynesian guest room and compared its look – and price – to those of the recently built Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Twitter user @parkhopperzach said, “This screams Disney’s Moana Resort, not Polynesian Village. The Moana elements are far from subtle.”
Tom Corless, owner of Walt Disney World News Today (WDWNT.com) tweeted, “When the theme isn’t the problem, but more so that all the furniture and flooring is the same quality as a value or moderate…”
What is interesting is the last paragraph in the Disney Parks Blog post. “This exciting progress is part of the overall evolution of our Disney Resort hotels, as we infuse even more Disney touches across our collection – just in time for “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” beginning Oct. 1, 2021, in honor of Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary.”
Some Disney fans are not happy about the Disneyfying of the Disney Resorts. They are worried that all of the charm, uniqueness, and escapism that these resorts were meant to project – a South Seas getaway, a lodge in a national park, or a New England seaside resort – will be lost. There will be no discernible difference between the resorts and the theme parks.
In April, Disney will begin updating some of the Contemporary Resort guest rooms.
At this time, it is unknown how the rooms will be decorated or the extent of the renovations. In the fall of 2019, based on testing of a small portion of a hallway on the eighth floor of the resort, a rumor was spreading among Disney bloggers that the Contemporary Resort would receive an Incredibles-themed overlay. Testing included “The Incredibles” artwork, new guest doors, new carpet and wall coverings in the hallway. The two rooms were located at the end of the hallway overlooking Chef Mickey’s restaurant.
The work is expected to be completed by mid-September, just in time for the kick-off of Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary on October 1.
