Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows is an exciting Disney Vacation Club home resort just across the Seven Seas Lagoon from Magic Kingdom. While Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort opened on October 1st, 1971, Disney Vacation Club was added in 2016. This included Deluxe Studios that are converted hotel rooms and bungalow buildings built on the water. In 2024, the Island Tower opens introducing new rooms and its own Deluxe Studios. How are the Polynesian Deluxe Studios vs Island Tower Deluxe Studios different? What is in each of these Deluxe Studio Polynesian villas? You are able to pick which one you stay in when booking which is helpful. Here is everything you need to know about each room.
What’s the difference between the Polynesian Deluxe Studios and Island Tower Deluxe Studios?
The original Polynesian Deluxe Studio and Island Tower Deluxe Studio rooms sleep a different number of guests and have differences in sleeping arrangements, sitting spaces, location within the property, decor style and view options. The Disney Vacation Club rooms at this resort are themed to either a subtle Moana in the Island Tower or various, tropical characters, like Lilo and Stitch or the Neverland mermaids, elsewhere.
Original Deluxe Studios Sleep 5, Island Tower Sleeps 4
The Polynesian is one of the DVC resorts that sleep 5. The biggest difference between these two rooms is that the original Polynesian Deluxe Studio rooms sleep 5 people. There is a queen size bed, queen size pull down bed and twin pull down bed.
The Island Tower Deluxe Studios sleep up to 4 people. The Island Tower Deluxe Studio sleeping arrangement is one queen size bed and one pull down queen size bed. The pull down converts into a couch when not in use, like we see in many other DVC rooms now. Being able to pull down or push up a bed and have more living space may be a plus for some traveling parties who want seating in the room.
Polynesian Original Deluxe Studios Have Two Showers
There is also the different bathroom styles to consider. The original Polynesian Deluxe Studio Bathrooms has a split bathroom with two separate showers. This can be a real luxury when you’re getting ready in the morning. One side of the bathroom closes off to be a shower and a toilet while the other side can close off with a shower and a sink area. Having these doors to close provides privacy and essentially creates two separate shower rooms. The added Island Tower Deluxe Studio rooms do not have two showers. There is a spa style shower with a seat but it is small.
Island Tower Deluxe Studios Have Theme Park Views
The Island Tower rooms have Theme Park Views so if that’s your priority, that will help you decide which room is right for you. There is also a dishwasher and a larger kitchenette in the Island Tower Deluxe Studios. There is a small dining bench and table as well which we don’t often see in this style of room.
| Polynesian Deluxe Studio Review | Original Polynesian Deluxe Studio | Island Tower Deluxe Studio |
| Location | Moorea, Pago Pago, and Tokelau longhouses near the Transportation and Ticket Center | Tall 2024 building close to Disney’s Wedding Pavilion |
| View | Standard View or Preferred View | Standard View, Preferred View or Theme Park View |
| Sleeps | 5 | 4 |
| Sleeping accommodations | queen size bed, queen size pull down bed, twin pull down bed | queen size bed, queen size pull down bed |
| Hidden art in pull down beds | Lilo & Stitch | Moana |
| Kitchenette | sink, small refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker | bar sink, small refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave and coffee maker |
| Bathrooms | shower and tub combo in one, separate spa style shower with seat | one bathroom with a spa style shower with a seat |
| Theme | authentic, subtle Moana | tropical Disney characters like Lilo and Stitch |
Original Polynesian Deluxe Studio
Location within resort: Moorea, Pago Pago, and Tokelau longhouses next to the Transportation and Ticket Center
Theme Park View: not available in this style of room
Sleeps: 5
Sleeping accommodations: one queen size bed, one pull down queen size bed, one pull down single bed
Kitchenette: yes with a sink, small refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker
Bathroom: split bathroom features one spa style shower with a seat and a shower and tub combo in a separate room
Polynesian Island Tower Deluxe Studio
Location within resort: new Island Tower building closer to Grand Floridian
Theme Park View: available for additional points
Sleeps: 4
Sleeping accommodations: one queen size bed, one pull down queen size bed
Kitchenette: yes with a bar sink, small refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave and coffee maker
Bathroom: one bathroom with a spa style shower with a seat
Disney Polynesian Deluxe Studio FAQs
Do the new Polynesian Studios have firework view rooms?
The Polynesian Island Tower Deluxe Studio rooms do have firework views. These actually have three different view types to choose from: Standard View, Preferred View or Theme Park View.
How do the points compare for the Polynesian Deluxe Studio vs Island Tower Deluxe Studio rooms?
Both of the different Polynesian Deluxe Studio rooms are on the same Polynesian’s Island Tower DVC Point Chart. The rooms actually cost the same amount of points in the same view categories. The original Polynesian Deluxe Studio rooms do not have firework view rooms you can book. The Island Tower Deluxe Studios do have a bookable Theme Park View room. These are quite a bit more points.
How far are each of these rooms from the resort’s lobby?
Another difference to consider between the Polynesian Deluxe Studios vs Island Tower Deluxe Studios is the actual location on the property. The Island Tower is closest to Magic Kingdom, making the walk to the park the shortest. The original studios are in the other side of the resort closest to the Ticket and Transportation Center. This could be convenient for those looking to walk to the TTC and hop on a monorail right to Epcot or a ferry to Magic Kingdom. Depending on which of the longhouses you’re in, it could be about the same distance from the lobby.
Do Polynesian Deluxe Studio Rooms Have Refrigerators?
Both of the Deluxe Studios at the Polynesian have a small refrigerator. A beverage cooler, like we saw introduced in other DVC studios such as the Grand Floridian Resort Studios, has become the option in some rooms.
Do Polynesian Deluxe Studio Rooms Have Dishwashers?
We see small appliances in many Disney hotel rooms. DVC villas take it a step further. Having a kitchen or kitchenette can make a difference to some DVC owners. The original Polynesian Deluxe Studios have a small kitchenette with amenities like a sink, microwave, small refrigerator and some accompanying items like a sponge, dish soap and paper towels.
In the Island Tower Deluxe Studios, there is all of the above and a dishwasher as well. We don’t usually see this in the Deluxe Studios. The kitchenette is bigger in these rooms. There is also a small table with a dining bench in the Island Tower Deluxe Studios.
Original Polynesian Deluxe Studio vs Island Tower Deluxe Studio Decor
Another difference between the original and Island Tower Polynesian Deluxe Studio rooms is the theme, decor style and color palette. The wall colors, wall art, furniture accents and pull down bed art is all different. The original Deluxe Studio rooms have a darker palette overall while the others have a lot of texture. The pull down beds in the original Deluxe Studios have Lilo and Stitch art. The Island Tower rooms have Moana art in the pull downs. The Moana theme is very subtle in these newer studio rooms.
Which Polynesian Studio Rooms Have Theme Park Views?
If having a Theme Park View room is important to you, you want the Deluxe Studio in the Island Tower. These are advertised as having castle views. Not all of these rooms will have theme park views but the point chart will guide you in the right direction.
What kind of rooms does Polynesian DVC have?
Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows debuted with just two room types: Deluxe Studios that sleep five people and the famous Two Bedroom Bungalows on the water that sleep eight people. With the addition of the Island Tower, the Polynesian DVC capacity expands quite a bit. The Island Tower adds more room styles to this resort including a completely different Deluxe Studio. There are some notable differences in the original Polynesian Deluxe Studio vs Island Tower Deluxe Studio rooms. The Island Tower also has Duo Studio, One Bedroom Villa and Two Bedroom Villas.
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