Photos: The Moana-themed Mural at the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas
If you haven’t had the opportunity to stop by the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows yet, you might enjoy a quick visit to check out the Moana-themed mural in the lobby. It’s a beautiful work of art designed by artist Maria Apelo Cruz. The artwork itself is inspired by the koru, a spiral-shaped emblem most commonly represented by an uncoiling fern frond. This element dates back to the Maori culture, representing creation, new beginnings, and hope.
The mural itself is three stories. Day guests can see most of the mural from the lobby level. However, those who are staying at the resort can enjoy additional views from the upper level. For this visit, we’ll stay downstairs to see what all we can find, which was surprisingly a lot.
From my research (after the fact), the multi-story lobby in the Island Tower lobby is home to the following characters from Moana:
- Resting Te Fiti
- Shape-Shifting Maui
- Gramma Tala’s Spiritual Manta Ray
- Hei Hei
- Tamatoa
During this visit, we also found a whale, a sea turtle, a seahorse, and a hidden Minnie Mouse, another rare find. I spotted one potential hidden Mickey as well, but I have since learned of another. The mural itself was crafted from materials like seashells, driftwood, and coconut. Let’s take a look.
Perhaps the most standout character was Tamatoa, the villainous crab from the original animated film.
Next, we have Gramma Tala’s spiritual form as a Manta Ray. (I believe that the feather shapes above the ray are Maui’s shape-shifting form as a giant hawk or a falcon.)
Next, we have a whale or possibly a whale shark, which is also pretty prominent when you take a step back and look at the mural from a distance.
The sea turtle is another fun find.
I was delighted to find this seahorse.
Okay, here is the hidden Minnie. She was a challenge to find. If a cast member hadn’t pointed me in the right direction, I wouldn’t have even known she was there. The cast member said that once you know she’s there, you can’t unsee her. I’ll let you decide.
Unfortunately, I didn’t see the resting Te Fiti, whom I assume can be seen from the upper level, along with a better view of Maui. As for those hidden Mickey’s, you’ll have to look closely. I can see one clearly in the photo below, to the left of the whale’s nose.
I don’t know about you, but I think I’ll have to stop by for another look. Of course, any excuse to have that cheeseburger from Wailulu Bar and Grill is a good one. If you’ve had the opportunity to dine there, you already know that.
For more on Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, you might enjoy our resort guide:
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (A Complete Guide)
5 Memorable Disney Resort Hopping Plans + Tips
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In the Comments
Have you had a chance to visit the Island Tower at the Polynesian and see the lobby mural? Let us know in the comments below.
