There are currently a lot of construction projects at the Poly. We’ve been updating our list of 2026-2027 Hotel Construction & Refurbishments at Walt Disney World with a rundown of what’s happening right now, but with two new closures just added to the calendar, we felt it was worth offering a quick standalone update.
Let’s start with the good news, which is that the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows between the existing Polynesian longhouses and Wedding Pavilion, near the Grand Floridian, is now open. With that construction completed, the overall experience at the Poly is better and work is less intrusive.
Island Tower is a bit of a mixed bag in terms of what it adds to the resort. The unequivocal positive is Wailulu Bar & Grill, which is a big asset. But it also adds crowds, further straining the overburdened infrastructure. While we still love the Poly, we’ve found that we enjoy visiting more than staying here. When we do stay at the Poly, we now favor staying at the Island Tower, even though we hate the hideous exterior (among other things).
Even with Island Tower now having been open for over a year, construction at the Polynesian isn’t finished. Here’s the construction alert on the Walt Disney World website:
Through 2026, some areas of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows are being refurbished. This work includes the reconfiguration of the front entrance roadway and bus area. All Resort dining, pools and most amenities will remain available. Additionally, some views of the theme parks and other surrounding areas may be impacted.
There’s major work being done to re-route and expand Floridian Way, so that’s what’s referenced for the construction and refurbishments through 2026. This is a lengthy project that has an impact to both the Poly and Grand Floridian.
Walt Disney World is creating new entrances to the Polynesian, which also impacts the parking lot and bus loop. Currently, the buses have been relocated to the porte cochere while the permanent bus stop is rebuilt and a bus-only entrance is completed.
It seems like maybe this portion of the project is in the home stretch, as the new bus stops look close to opening, and the new entrance for guests and visitors is now open. The biggest result of this is that parking has been a bit more limited at the Poly and the temporary bus stop is closer to the lobby. Hardly anything make or break from our perspective.
Speaking of transportation, there’s a new construction notice that was just added:
From May 11 through late June, the boat dock at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will undergo routine maintenance. The dock will be closed and boat transportation to suspended from May 11-June 5, 2026. Please allow for extra travel time when arriving at or leaving the Poly.
We’d recommend heeding this ‘allow extra travel time’ warning, especially when leaving the Poly during peak periods, like around park opening or pretty much any time in the evening.
I’ve encountered long lines for the monorail at times (including in April 2026), and that was before the boat dock refurbishment started. Without that to help absorb some of the crowd, the monorail station will be even busier. This is one of the big reasons why we now prefer visiting the Poly (or staying at the Island Tower and walking to Magic Kingdom) as opposed to staying here. It’s arguably not worth the cost given the crowds.
Additionally, some views of the theme parks and other surrounding areas may be impacted. This is now noticeable around the Great Ceremonial House, to the point that Walt Disney World is warning guests who book ‘Ohana about impaired views of Magic Kingdom. Here’s the construction bulletin for that:
Beginning January 15, 2026, portions of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will undergo exterior maintenance. During this time, views of the Seven Seas Lagoon from ‘Ohana may be partially or completely obstructed. We apologize for any inconvenience.
I recently headed over to the Poly to document just how bad this is looking, but a veritable monsoon began right as I arrived. I tried to wait out the rain by calling an audible and eating at the adjacent Tambu Lounge, where I enjoyed unblemished views (see above side view out of the GCH) and way too much food.
Unfortunately, the heavy rain meant no photos of Great Ceremonial House outside, but from what I could see, there was a lot of scaffolding all around the Seven Seas Lagoon facing side, from Capt. Cook’s to ‘Ohana. Although I couldn’t document that, I did take photos of the ‘Ohana Bread Pudding (for research). Please enjoy:
This scaffolding probably explains the latest construction bulletin, this time that Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace is currently closed for refurbishment. A bulletin just appeared on the official website, but no reopening date has been announced–just a message to check back for updates.
The outdoor bar & lounge has no operating hours listed on the official Walt Disney World website as far out as the calendar currently shows, which is through June 11, 2026. I wouldn’t read too much into that–it probably just means they don’t know when the space will be available again.
No explanation was given for the closure, but I’d bet anything that it’s because the phase of the exterior refurbishment has advanced to that point, and it’s not possible to have the outdoor seating area open during construction.
The good news is that Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, the hugely popular indoor counterpart to Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace, remains open as normal. Following a change made last holiday season, Grog Grotto is now open daily from 11 am until midnight.
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is a fan favorite. The “secret spot” (air quotes) is tucked away behind a nondescript door on the lower level of the Great Ceremonial House. Secret because it doesn’t draw attention to itself with a prominent marquee and isn’t easy to find if you’re unfamiliar with the lobby layout, but air quotes because the location is nevertheless insanely popular and has a dedicated following among fans.
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is popular for good reason. It’s near the top of our List of the 25 Best Bars & Lounges at Walt Disney World, and we view Trader Sam’s as a must-visit for first-timers or fans of themed design. It’s really well-themed and a fun experience, but honestly, we prefer the laid-back ambiance of the outdoor area. (At least, when there isn’t construction all around.)
Guests of all ages are welcome at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto from 11 am until 8 pm, at which point entry is limited to guests 21 years of age and older are allowed into the tiki bar from 8 pm until midnight. (Last seating for guests under 21 is around 7:30 pm.) Normally, the open-air Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace remains all-ages at all-hours.
Additionally, vehicular access to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is routinely restricted to only guests of the hotel, or those with ADRs. This means that if you’re not staying at the Poly, you need to take Walt Disney World transportation to the resort in order to drink at Grog Grotto.
You might have success with security that guards the parking lot, but don’t bank on it. We’ve heard from countless guests who have said they’re going to Grog Grotto and have been rejected. We don’t think it’s even worth the gamble. (On a related note, see Walt Disney World Adds Rule Restricting Resort Bound Buses for why we hope Disney does more like this.)
Even if everyone in your party is over 21 years of age, we highly recommend doing Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto before ~3 pm. The bar is busy most afternoons and evenings even before the Tiki Terrace closure, and the resort is bursting at the seams many evenings.
One solution to this problem, as discussed in Abandoned Areas at Walt Disney World, is restoring a shuttered restaurant at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The hotel used to be home to Tangaroa Terrace, which is a stout building over by the monorail tracks and near-ish the bus stops. Although Tangaroa Terrace closed in 1996, the building was still used after that for group events and, more notably, the Neverland Club and Lilo’s Playhouse until 2018. It now serves as a space for Cast Members, including storage and offices.
Even before the opening of Island Tower, the Poly needed more dining capacity. Now the hotel badly needs another restaurant, as Wailulu is just not enough for the rooms added. Reopening Tangaroa Terrace as another restaurant, lounge, dinner show, or Moana character dining experience would be a huge win. Island Tower should’ve been built with a rooftop restaurant, but since that ship has sailed, this is the best consolation prize. But I digress.
As for the overall construction impact and whether you should avoid the Polynesian, that’s tough. As hinted at above, we have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the Poly. During quieter times, it is the quintessential ‘Vacation Kingdom of the World’ resort at Walt Disney World.
At its best, nothing can beat the Poly. But when it’s busy, all bets are off. Because of that, we find ourselves booking strategically during slower seasons or staying at Island Tower, which better avoids the chaos completely.
The current construction doesn’t really move the needle on that one way or the other for us. Of course, not everyone is us and if you’re more borderline about the Poly or are averse to any construction, you might be less tolerant of the ongoing work.
The problem with that is, every monorail loop resort has at least this much work currently happening. Ditto Crescent Lake, and both of the lodges. If you’re looking to avoid any and all construction and want a Deluxe Resort, I’m not really sure where you go. There’s a lot happening right now, and the Poly is perhaps one of the least-bad options.
Honestly, my perspective is that it’s not that bad, especially the work facing the road. You see it upon arrival, but that’s about it. The exterior work on the Great Ceremonial House and other longhouses is a bigger issue, and one we’d recommend making a room request to avoid (ideally during online check-in, and then confirming again with the front desk upon arrival but before entering your room).
Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace being closed also isn’t a big deal. The main draw for first-timers is Grog Grotto on the inside; people like us who prefer the laid back atmosphere of the terrace have Wailulu Lounge as an even better option. Views are impacted from ‘Ohana, but Tambu Lounge is another arguably better alternative to that.
The one potential dealbreaker for me might be the suspension of boat service from May 11 to June 5, 2026. Since we already (mostly) avoid the monorail at the Poly, and that’s a time of year when it’s a bit too hot to make the walk to Magic Kingdom in the morning, that might convince me to switch resorts. On the other hand, that timeframe should be slower in the first place, so perhaps even the added burden on the monorail won’t be too bad.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
Have you experienced the current construction, closures, etc. at the Poly? Did you find the work impacted your experience, or was it mostly avoidable? Would you stay at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort this summer while these projects are ongoing? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
