Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Refurbishment Tracker
Disney’s Polynesian Resort has seen several updates over the years, from routine room refurbishments to larger projects that have changed parts of the resort experience. This tracker serves as a running timeline of those changes, with a focus on what may impact a stay.
We’ve organized refurbishment notices and construction updates in chronological order so you can quickly see what has been completed, what is in progress, and what has recently changed. When available, we’ve included links to more detailed updates for additional context.
If you are planning a stay at the Polynesian, this timeline can help you better understand the current state of the resort and how recent work may affect your visit. You may also enjoy looking back at less recent changes.
2026 Polynesian Refurbishment Updates
We’ve listed resort refurbishment dates below in order of the most recent.
June 2026 Updates:
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort continues to see ongoing updates, with construction focused on refreshed guest areas and continued work tied to the new tower expansion. The boat dock has reopened as of June 5th, and the bus stop looks as though it will be operational any day now. For the latest details and what to expect, see our full photo update here: Polynesian refurbishment updates for June 2026.
April 2026 Updates:
Wailulu Bar and Grill at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is undergoing a short-term refurbishment focused on updates to the exterior roofing of the outdoor bar and dining area. Work began on April 23 and is expected to continue through late June. For more details, see Refurbishment at Wailulu Bar and Grill Will Cause Some Service Changes.
Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is temporarily closed due to ongoing refurbishment work tied to construction around the Great Ceremonial House. The closure only affects the outdoor seating area, while Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto remains open with limited access and standard operations continuing inside. At this time, no reopening date has been confirmed. For more details, see the announcement for the temporary closure of Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace.
A recent temporary closure of the Polynesian Village Resort boat dock took place as part of scheduled maintenance tied to ongoing resort-wide refurbishments. During the closure window, boat service between the Polynesian, Magic Kingdom, and Grand Floridian was suspended, with guests directed to use alternative transportation options. The dock has since reopened following the completion of the work, restoring normal boat service for resort guests. For full details and timing, see our breakdown here: Temporary boat dock closure at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
December 2026 Updates:
A new vehicle entrance officially opened at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort last December, shifting guest arrival to a reconfigured roadway off Seven Seas Drive as construction continues around the front of the resort. The former entrance has been converted for bus use, helping separate transportation flows while work on the surrounding areas remains ongoing. For a closer look at the changes and what to expect when arriving at the resort, see our full breakdown here: New Polynesian Village Resort entrance update.
June 2025 Updates:
BouTiki at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will undergo a phased refurbishment focused primarily on flooring updates and minor interior adjustments while keeping the shop operational throughout the work. Sections of the store were temporarily closed and reopened in stages, allowing guests to continue shopping with limited disruption. The refurbishment is now complete, and the space has returned to full operation with no major design changes. You can find the full breakdown here: BouTiki refurbishment announced for June.
2022-2024
The Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas officially opened in December 2024. During the time it was constructed, we provided several updates in one timeline. You can take a look back at those updates in our Polynesian DVC Island Tower Construction Photos.
During the time it was built, a temporary construction path connected guests between the Polynesian and Grand Floridian. As of late 2024, a new path is available, allowing guests to walk between the Poly and Grand.
The Island Tower hotel was officially announced in March 2022. We have a press release featuring the announcement of the proposed tower. With this news, Walt Disney World also officially announced that the Spirit of Aloha dinner show would not return to the Polynesian.
Kona Cafe, the table service restaurant on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House, was completely refurbished between August and October of 2022.
2021
New rooms debuted at the Polynesian in August 2021. This room refurbishment affected the resort’s standard rooms and upgraded suites. It also brought the addition of Moana to the Polynesian Resort. We have photos of the Moana Rooms at Disney’s Polynesian if you would like to learn more.
2015
Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows officially opened on April 1, 2015. This Disney Vacation Club Resort resides at the Polynesian. At the time of opening, it featured 20 two-bedroom bungalows that sleep up to eight guests and 360 deluxe studios.
1971
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort officially opened to the public on October 1, 1971. It’s one of two original hotels that were part of the Walt Disney World Resort’s grand opening.
For an entire list of refurbishments for all the resorts, see our Disney Hotel Refurbishment Schedule. Check back with Resorts Gal for more around the resorts!
In the Comments
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