Walt Disney World recently opened a hotel with a sit-down restaurant that quickly became a new favorite for Disney guests, thanks to its great food and prime viewing of Magic Kingdom’s fireworks. Some guests even make special visits to this hotel just for this restaurant.
In the near future, the restaurant will undergo some temporary changes that will impact guests who want to try it out. We share details of the eatery’s upcoming operational shifts and how guests can still plan their day around eating here. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including new 50% savings on Disney cruises for kids and Disney wanting to reduce guests’ phone use.
READ MORE – Hidden Secrets of the Disney World Hotels You Haven’t Heard Of
Refurbishment Coming to Polynesian’s Island Tower Restaurant
Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort opened in December 2024 as a new Disney Vacation Club property. It boasts picturesque lakefront views of Seven Seas Lagoon, with Magic Kingdom visible on the other side.
Disney World Ride Closure ALERTS, Major Park Changes, Secrets Revealed
Get alerts on closures, park changes, exclusive discounts, and free printables. Trusted by 100,000+ Disney fans & planners.
On the ground floor of Island Tower is Wailulu Bar & Grill, a table-service restaurant. It instantly became a fan favorite for its pleasant interior design, idyllic beachside patio seating, and tropical menu. Pictured above are the pineapple barbecue chicken sliders and macaroni salad. When it first opened, we wrote about how we loved this new sit-down restaurant for the views and food, and how surprisingly affordable it is.
When Wailulu opened, it offered walk-ups only, with no advanced dining reservations available. In December 2025, due to popular demand, the restaurant was added to Disney’s usual dining reservation system.
Disney is about to begin exterior roof work on Wailulu Bar & Grill, which will impact its operations and how guests can dine there.
Beginning April 23, 2026, and continuing through late June 2026, Wailulu Bar & Grill will remain open, but its seating areas will be closed during lunch hours. From 11 AM to 5 PM, Wailulu will only offer walk-up service, with no reservations available and no seating provided.
READ MORE – 5 Best Easy-to-Book Disney World Restaurants That Actually Have Good Food
Diners will need to take their food to go and eat it somewhere else. This may be a non-issue for guests staying at Island Tower who can take their food to their hotel room, but for guests making a special trip to Island Tower just for Wailulu, this may present a challenge.
From 5 PM to closing time, Wailulu Bar & Grill will operate full-service with all seating areas open and accepting reservations as usual.
As a result of these operational changes, dinner reservations may be more difficult to obtain during the construction period from April 23 through late June 2026.
For those wanting to time their visit with Magic Kingdom fireworks viewing, Happily Ever After showtime is currently 10 PM, but double-check during your visit using the My Disney Experience app.
WDWMagic reported the Wailulu news.
More Disney World Hotel Refurbishments
Wailulu Bar & Grill is one of many refurbishments on deck at Walt Disney World hotels. Over 20 refurbishments are ongoing or planned at Disney World hotels for 2026 and 2027, including room renovations at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort and an extended closure of a restaurant at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
In summer 2027, Disney will open its next hotel, Disney Lakeshore Lodge, on the opposite side of Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake as the Polynesian’s Island Tower.
Don’t Miss the Latest Disney News
Don’t miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips.
