Crews continue to prepare the land on the southwestern shoreline of the Seven Seas Lagoon for a Disney Vacation Club tower that will be part of the Polynesian Village Resort. The work included the demolition of the Spirit of Aloha building, and now the relocation of a popular banyan tree.
We’ll start with an overview of the site and a look at the work taking place along the former beach that ran between Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Before we get to that, here’s a look at the concept art for the new DVC tower.
Here’s a look at the area from roughly the same angle earlier today.
In the center of the site, land clearing and preparation look to be nearly complete.
Crews are working on adding some water barriers to the Seven Seas Lagoon as work along the shoreline picks up.
Speaking of the shoreline, there used to be a walkway between Polynesian Village and Grand Floridian, but it has been cut off due to construction and rerouted. The walkway consisted of the last remaining Walk Around the World bricks, but those are now being removed.
Other work taking place on the site seems to be in support of the relocation of a popular banyan tree.
As we can see in this aerial photo from bioreconstruct, it looks like crews will be relocating the tree about 200 feet away next to the Aotearoa building.
We can see a pit has been dug for the relocation and crews are still working on preparing the new location for the banyan tree.
In the foreground of the photo below, we can see a statue remaining that used to be used as a marker for guests walking to the Spirit of Aloha show.
Here’s a look back at the area before the construction.
Back to the banyan tree. Here’s another look at the work crews have done to prepare it for a move to a new location.
Finally, here’s another look at the vast amount of space that Disney is working with. In the photos below, we can see the monorail track that passes by the site. Disney will not add a new monorail stop at the DVC tower and guests will be encouraged to visit the Great Ceremonial House, or use the walkway that joins up at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and then on to Magic Kingdom.
Here’s an even wider view from a compressed panorama.
For a look back at this whole area, check out our article below that contains photos from before the construction and demolition started.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
It appears that they are planning to also relocate the Spirit Of Aloha statue. Let’s hope so.
The entire situation is just so sad.
Not really going to feel very village-like with that skyscraper now part of the resort. Figure a resort name change is in the making?