New Sustainable Details Revealed for Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney has shared beautiful new images of the Island Tower, the newest addition to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The Disney Vacation Club expansion is billed to be one of the most fun yet, featuring a bar with views of Cinderella’s Castle, the new Cove Pool, and Moana’s Voyage splash pad.
But it’s Disney’s commitment to sustainability that makes this new expansion stand out. Throughout the Island Tower construction, Disney has blended environmental innovation with Polynesian-inspired design. From the moment you step foot in the resort, you’ll be impressed with the art on display.
Honouring Polynesian Culture Through Art
Inside the Wailulu Bar & Grill, the tower’s new restaurant, vibrant fish sculptures crafted from reclaimed fishing nets swim overhead, bringing the beauty of marine life indoors. And, adding to the natural theme, the tower’s lobby will feature an art installation made from preserved moss. This one-of-a-kind piece celebrates the natural world and provides a striking visual connection to the Polynesian environment.
The tower will also celebrate traditional Polynesian crafts with Tapa, a cloth made from natural fibres. These pieces have been custom-designed to reflect the heritage of ocean wayfinding and will pay homage to the sustainability theme woven throughout the resort.
Even the rugs inside guest rooms tell a story. Look closely and you’ll see they mimic the colours and patterns of ocean waves, sand, and coral, immersing guests in the tropical beauty of Polynesian beaches from the moment they wake up.
Preserving nature was an important part of the tower’s construction. A Ficus aurea (Florida strangler fig), along with the rare Sabal palm growing within it, were carefully relocated to ensure they remain a part of the resort. Why are these trees special? Well, they date back to the opening day of Walt Disney World Resort.
Pioneering Sustainable Construction
In recent years, Disney has made a concerted effort to become more environmentally-friendly. There has been a heavy focus on sustainable practices during construction of the Island Tower. Prefabrication techniques helped reduce waste, and energy-saving measures such as optimised heating and cooling systems, energy-efficient lighting, and the resort’s first all-electric kitchen were utilised.
And the effort doesn’t stop there: the tower is expected to consume around 30% less energy than similar-sized resorts. The project has even received recognition from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Lodging program.
The Island Tower block at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is scheduled to open on December 17, 2024. Reservations are now available.
