Large banyan tree being relocated from the Polynesian Village Resort DVC tower construction site

Aug 16, 2022 in "Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows"

Gallery / 2 Photos
Oak tree removal from Polynesian Tower construction site

Posted: Tuesday August 16, 2022 9:55am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Work continues clearing the land for the upcoming Disney Vacation Club tower at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.

Oak tree removal from Polynesian Tower construction site

This week, crews are preparing a large mature banyan tree to be moved to another area of Walt Disney World property. The work entails placing a box around the tree's root structure and using a crane to lift the entire tree onto a flatbed truck.

Oak tree removal from Polynesian Tower construction site

Disney has previously moved large trees, most recently around the Transportation and Ticket Center for new roadways. Those trees were relocated near the new approach road to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Oak Tree relocation from the TTC

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

Bocabear23 days ago

I love that they do spend money on some nice art and design...but the problem is the big picture, not the finer details...They could have designed the tower to fit within the style of the existing resort architecture and it would have looked more harmonious overall. There could and should have been nods to everything in the resort as a whole, not a wing of the "Reflections" Aloft Hotel tower with some vaguely island motifs added. I think the building, if it were at a non-Disney vacation location, and was a standalone, not part of an existing resort, would have been fine. I think the interiors are very nice. Our 2br unit there was very comfortable and nice... I think the pool for the tower is a real miss... This pool should have looked like the original Poly pool...it should have been something special...instead of a plain run of the mill hotel pool that is just a little too shallow.

Disstevefan124 days ago

But it’s NYC 🤢the smell and rats are free. To be fair, I heard there was a recent drop in the rat population in NYC so that’s good I guess.😉 JK.. I❤️NY

FigmentFan8224 days ago

Just watched the D+ doc on making the tower which heavily goes into the art in and around the tower. I know everyone has thoughts on the building itself but there’s def a lot of amazing talent and effort that was put into the visual details within. It’s a good watch.

ftblgenius24 days ago

Additionally, and with discount, the cost of these duo studios was $625 for non DVC booking. Riviera's is $495. I just couldn't imagine paying that much for a closet. Especially when a regular studio is only $100 more. For much cheaper I can visit NYC and stay in a room the same size in Manhattan.

lazyboy97o25 days ago

I tried to tell you.

Tha Realest25 days ago

Hmmm. I had no idea Genslerism infected Universal Creative. Checks out

easyrowrdwJun 10, 2026

I just added them up lol I didn’t take into account the “size” of the seasons but it’s anywhere from 80-85% at the Polynesian. It’s 65-75% at AKL.

Disstevefan1Jun 10, 2026

Its DVCs club, we just vacation in it. ;)

nickysJun 10, 2026

I didn’t realise the points differential was that low. I assumed it was more like 60%.

easyrowrdwJun 10, 2026

I think the idea of a duo is fine but the point savings is insufficient. A value studio at AKL is about 70% of a standard. At the Poly tower a duo is more than 80% of a standard. You’re paying more for less.

HauntedPirateJun 10, 2026

It's a word I use sparingly and only when I feel it's deserved. Similar to you, I don't despise spinners even though I won't and can't ride them. But these duo rooms? I indeed despise the very concept of them. When you look at the current $220+/point cost plus maintenance fees, why would anyone want to spend even 12 points per night on a room smaller than what you can get 2 miles down the road (in the case of Riviera)? Is the Skyliner access worth it? Some surely think so, but they are essentially very, very expensive and small hotel rooms, and that defies any sort of logic for me. $33,000 ($220/point times 150 points for the initial outlay) can pay for a lot of nearby hotel rooms for years.

nickysJun 10, 2026

They’re smaller than a regular room. And if you just do the parks and don’t spend much time in the room, why not save your points? Despise seems a strong emotion for something you don’t want. I don’t despise coasters just because I don’t ride them.

Disstevefan1Jun 10, 2026

Well, like 45 percent of the visitors to WDW are Disney adults so…..

HauntedPirateJun 10, 2026

"refrigerator" aka. beverage cooler? Personally, I despise the very concept of them. If I wanted a regular-sized hotel room, I'd book one. Off-site, of course. Unless you're sitting on a thousand points or more, duo studios are a silly use of points. IMHO.