Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort opened on October 1, 1971, along with the entire Walt Disney World Vacation Kingdom. When it first opened, room rates ranged from $29 to $44 per night. The resort showcased the Tiki culture that became popular in West Coast restaurants after World War II.
The Great Ceremonial House, designed after a Tahitian royal assembly lodge, featured a beautiful array of tropical plants and waterfalls, creating a warm welcome for guests to this South Seas paradise.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Planning & Construction
Initially, in 1969, the resort’s plans called for constructing a 12-story triangular building, with longhouses surrounding it. However, this concept was later shelved, and instead, the Great Ceremonial House, with its delightful Polynesian charm, was built in its place.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort offers a one-of-a-kind experience with its Polynesian-inspired architecture, tropical landscaping, and stunning beaches overlooking the Seven Seas Lagoon. This iconic Walt Disney World destination quickly gained popularity with guests and continues to be beloved over fifty years later. Take a look at this construction photo above, which shows the progress being made to prepare the resort for its grand opening in 1971.
In the photo above, we can see a spectacular aerial view of the construction at the Polynesian Village from September 2, 1971. Over the past half-century, this resort has continued to be a favorite for those who visit the Vacation Kingdom. The culinary delights and immersive theming make this resort distinctly Disney. Special thanks to Raymond Thorn for sharing this photo with us from the Gee & Jenson Archives!
Former Walt Disney Imagineer Scott Girard
Former Walt Disney Imagineer, Scott Girard, stated in reference to the photo above: “What makes this photo REALLY interesting is its date: 9/2/71. One month before opening… the pool is still under construction, there’s construction traffic all over the site. Some trees were planted but no shrubs, no ground covers, and no turf grass was in place. We didn’t start those final planting activities until 10 days prior to October 1st.”
In the photo below, we see this stunning aerial view of the Polynesian also from September 1971, just a few weeks before the resort opens to the public.
Fun Fact: On the 29th of December 1974, John Lennon, one of the legendary members of The Beatles, signed the official documents that marked the end of the band. Interestingly, he did this in the comfort of his corner Hawaii (now Samoa) longhouse hotel room #1601 at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. This room number has been confirmed by a number of sources, but there still remains no documentation confirming the actual room number. If you have more information, let us know!
The Polynesian Village Originally Opened Eight Longhouses
Bali Hai (now Tonga)
Bora Bora (now Niue)
Hawaii (now Samoa)
Fiji (unchanged)
Samoa (now Tuvalu)
Tahiti (now Aotearoa)
Tonga (now Hawaii)
Maui/Maori (now Rarotonga)
In the late 1970s, three new longhouses were added: Moorea, Oahu, and Pago Pago. Moorea later changed to Tahiti, and then reverted to the original ‘Moorea’ name when that longhouse became DVC. Oahu eventually became Tokelau. Pago Pago later changed to Rapa Nui, and then also reverted to the original ‘Pago Pago’ name when that longhouse became DVC. The names of the longhouses were updated to better represent their precise geographical locations in relation to one another.
In the September 1971 photo above, a remarkable aerial view captured the Polynesian/TTC area just before the grand opening of Walt Disney World. Despite some ongoing construction, it’s incredible how everything was completed in time for the highly anticipated opening day at Walt Disney World.
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