Last October when I was visiting the Polynesian and meeting with a bunch of people during the 40th anniversary I found out about a bunch of things going on at the resort from the pool needing to be repaired to DVC coming to the resort. Well some of that info was very preliminary and I have found out more details that I know are accurate so let me go over what I know right now (leaving out some of the stuff I can’t share yet because they will lock me in with the guys at the end of the Pirates of the Caribbean).
We will start with DVC. Yes it is coming and yes there is a design for it. For now I will have to leave it at that and not share the details. I don’t know a time for the phases to start or when they expect to have it complete. If I had to guess from the conversations I have had I would expect to see some part of the first phase next year or 2014 at the latest with completion around 2017 or 2018 for all phases. Again that is my best guess.
The Great Ceremonial House will not be torn down but a complete remodel. The interior will be removed a section at a time and replaced. It sounds like it will be completely different inside when done and I don’t know the fate of ‘Ohana or Kona.
The new room design was put into 2 buildings in February 2012 (two rooms in each building). The new room design looks like it will start going into Tokelau now and take a few months. Tonga suites was redesigned in 2011 but it will be closed September 23- October 19 to get a new lounge. I would expect other longhouses will follow Tokelau or even more than one at a time for the remainder of 2012 and part of 2013. Hawaii (club level rooms) will be closed for the new room design January 6 to March 13 (going by the construction dates that are set right now). No word on if the club level will move while Hawaii is closed like they did before. I hear the new rooms are much like my photos of the new room in Tonga suites with the brighter colors and it sounds like the bathrooms are getting a complete redesign.
The hot tub is planned for this fall to go in where the kids wet play area is located now next to the Volcano Pool. I have heard work to the Volcano pool later this year or next year will close it for an extended period but I don’t know what they are doing. There has been some info that the pool is sinking and those cracks to the zero entry end will have to be fixed but I don’t know much more than that.
I hope to find out more when I am there in September/ October and maybe get some photos of the new room if I am lucky.
