The latest on what is going on
We all know that construction at the resort you are staying at is alot like walking in on your parents “doing it”. Its is going to happen but you wish you didn’t have to see it. I want to get us all up to speed on what is going on at the Polynesian. There are a lot of rumors out there and false information. When I read some of these articles, I believe that what is happening is people are getting old information and posting it in a new article. I have seen people quote some of my articles from 2011 where there was some information that Disney was considering tearing down the Great Ceremonial House and rebuilding it, but that idea died a long time ago. What I see happening on other sites and inside Disney is information lag. Its when your carborator gets gummed up….oh sorry that is for my motocross article…haha. I don’t blame anyone for this because I understand how fast things are changing and information is coming out. It is hard to keep up. (Bungalow renderings are thanks to SEDCrockett)
When information is becoming available so quickly it causes problems because Disney is doing their best to keep this information to themselves. I understand why but I think people who are trying to plan their trips a year out deserve to know what might be happening to the resort they chose. Since Disney likes to keep so much information to themselves, they have a problem with information lag to travel agents (internal and external). We have seen notices go out about no refrigerators even though internal communications stated that the Polynesian was completed last month. We also have all these web sites that Disney sent out pool rehab dates of September and that also is old information. Sometimes I think old info is worse than no info.
I have been doing most of my updates on my Facebook page as I get the information so my site has been suffering from being updated. I can tell from some of the emails I get that people are coming here for the news and not my Facebook page so I am going to do my best to post updates on here more often.
We know that typically Disney will not announce Disney Vacation Club until they are selling it to you. Don’t expect any announcements to come anytime soon. We have seen the permits for work to be done that I have been telling you since 2011 was coming so it should not be too much of a surprise. While the details keep changing over the last few years and plans have been scaled back there will still be a significant amount of construction over the next 2 years and it is starting now. I have been putting off writing this because there is more details I am finding out. I have been reading way too many new articles out there that are based on old Disney Vacation Club information and I want to catch everyone up on where we are today.
Lets start with the west side of the resort where Luau cove is located. Originally the location of the site balloons that were testing out what a 5 story building would be like over on that side of the property, now this phase one is not part of the plan. Any speculation that it will be an area of expansion later after Disney sees how DVC sells is based on no true information and is pure 
speculation. From the last few conversations I have had I would say that will not happen. Luau cove does not appear to be going anywhere and in fact has some plans for some improvements to the structure.
Permits are submitted to do work that encompasses the east side of the resort. This seems to include addition of new paths and renovation of existing paths. It also has work being done to expand the east side parking lot next to Rapa Nui and work in the lagoon for the addition of up to 20 bungalows that span the Tahiti beach and around Sunset Pointe. My information tells me that fewer than what were permitted will be built. The whole bungalow idea is not a new one and the idea can be seen in the original concept of the Polynesian Village model. As for the addition of the additonal 
pool and lazy river that was proposed, there is no indication that it survived the cut but I may no more soon.
We have seen Tahiti go over a month past its due date to close for room renovation and since then I was told Tahiti would be converted to DVC. While I don’t have confirmation that Rapa Nui will go DVC some in Disney have told me they believe it will. We have also seen test patterns for DVC materials show up in that longhouse. Another indication that Tahiti and Rapa Nui will not be renovated is a report that I got saying that the company that is doing the room renovation has packed up and left the property and all their equipment and trailers are no longer in the parking lot of the resort. Neither Tahiti or Rapa Nui have had the new room design installed except for the couple of test rooms in Rapa Nui.
Recently Disney finally sent out notification to travel agents of construction that would start in September and would affect room views and close some rooms. In the last few days guests with reservations in September – December have been given letters saying basically the same thing as went out to the travel agents with a little less detail. Considering how close much of the work comes to the rooms in Tahiti, Rapa Nui and even some rooms in Tokelau I can see how either the room views would change or need to be closed. Also Hawaii longhouse was mentioned as being affected and I believe this is because any work to the west side of Sunset Pointe will block views of nearly half the lagoon side rooms in Hawaii. This work will not be a short term project and I can see these affects lasting well into next year. People seem to think this will be a month or two and that their trip in November or December should be fine but I don’t believe that to be the case.
I also expect to see work to the Great Ceremonial House as well as the area from the GCH all the way to the beach and pool area to have major redesigning. I was told the plan to start working on the pool would be January and I could see this moving into the work around the Great Ceremonial House and Marina. The plan is to re-theme the pool and remove much of the volcano leaving the slide in tact but redoing the rock feature around it. Also the pool changes will extend up to the patio area of Captain Cook’s and the Marina Rental building which is proposed to move to where the Premium Cabana is now (use to be the hair wrap station). This will also include the addition of Trader Sam’s somewhere near or on the patio of Captain Cook’s.
The Great Ceremonial House will be done in stages and not torn down but the removal of the water feature looks eminent. Because of the maintenance nightmare it has been and the possible health hazard if not maintained it will come out. It will also fit the vision they have of making the lobby more open and see through to the back doors that look out to the pool, beach and castle. There have been some people that have seen the concept design for the new lobby and I have heard mixed reactions to the new look and water feature. Hopefully soon I will have more information on the plans for the existing stores and restaurants but for now all I know is that Trader Sam’s will be part of that mix.
The resort I am told will continue down its original path of getting more of the look and feel of Adventureland. There are plans for a new wet play area and the hot tub addition is still in the plan but could get cut from the new design.
The last thing that I had mentioned a while ago but is now being announced through Disney is that the Neverland Club will close down the beginning of January and not reopen before April 1. It has been since 2004 that is has been rehabbed and there is some information suggesting it will get a new Hawaiian theme. I would not be surprised if it opened back up as it is now. Last time they did this they had a temporary child care center in Tangaroa Terrace but no official announcement has been made suggesting they will do this again.
I will continue to do my best to keep up with the latest information as it comes out. I want to say thank you to all those that help me and who are my eyes at the resort.
If I had my way they would take down the whole resort and make it the worlds largest Trader Sam’s, or maybe I will just do that to my house. Anyone care for a HippopotoMai-Tai?
FYI the header photo is not a current photo of any construction going on. It just seem to fit the topic.
