DVC at The Polynesian?

[jlnten17]

We are looking at purchasing DVC for the first time. Our preferred resort is the Polynesian. We have only stayed in the hotel rooms not the DVC rooms. They appear to be equally as suited to our needs based on online photos/tours/reviews. My first question is does anyone have negative reviews of those rooms compared to the hotel lagoon view double queen rooms? My second question is it worth it to pay for the polynesian as home resort or should we purchase something cheaper like ssr and take our chance at the 7 month mark? We prefer to travel in the off season Jan-feb and our schedule is fairly flexible. Finally, if we buy resale say 150 points at one resort and 150 at a different can we book either resort at the 11 month mark?

 

[disneynutz]

PVB is too new to determine future availability so the need to buy there is a guess at this point. 11 month home resort priority allows you to book your home resorts at 11 months or to combine the points at the 7 month mark.

Bill

 

[pangyal]

Hi there!

Those are all very good questions, and you can find the answers here:

http://www.disboards.com/threads/★-☆-★-the-dvc-information-center-★-☆-★.3436037/

Happy reading!

 

[ktmo]

One difference is a studio at the Poly has one queen, a pull-out sofa and a "small" Murphy bed.

 

[Dean]

We are looking at purchasing DVC for the first time. Our preferred resort is the Polynesian. We have only stayed in the hotel rooms not the DVC rooms. They appear to be equally as suited to our needs based on online photos/tours/reviews. My first question is does anyone have negative reviews of those rooms compared to the hotel lagoon view double queen rooms? My second question is it worth it to pay for the polynesian as home resort or should we purchase something cheaper like ssr and take our chance at the 7 month mark? We prefer to travel in the off season Jan-feb and our schedule is fairly flexible. Finally, if we buy resale say 150 points at one resort and 150 at a different can we book either resort at the 11 month mark?

I think it's likely that you could own elsewhere and still stay the the Poly if you wanted if you're as flexible as you say. IMO it's worth the chance. Maybe just buy 150-200 at SSR and see how it goes. If you still feel the only way ago get the Poly that you need is to own there, do an add on. Still MUCH cheaper both short term and long term.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

DVC rooms have a queen bed, a queen sleeper sofa and bunk size murphy bed. It has an additional shower/sink room and a small kitchenette. But the lakeview DVC rooms have the Bungalows right in front of them. If you get a high floor it's ok but low floor is more of a bungalow view than what you may be used to on the hotel side. If you really are flexible for anytime in Jan and Feb you will likely be able to book there at least some of the time even if you buy elsewhere.

Each resort retains it's own ownership. So if you bought 150 points at SSR and 150 points at BLT you'd have 150 points at SSR at 11 months to book with and 150 points at BLT to book with. At 7 months though they all can be used at any resort.

 

[JWigs]

From what I've been seeing, Poly has been pretty popular and many wanting to rent there (with owners not really wanting to rent out).

I think you might be able to get 7 mos out but looks like partial available and not the full time. So maybe if you are wanting to split a stay I think 7 mos is safe but if you want to book a peak time of year you might need to home there. We recently bought DVC and we did both BLT and GCV as they both are high demand properties and we travel to both WDW and DL.

 

[msjprincess]

From what I've been seeing, Poly has been pretty popular and many wanting to rent there (with owners not really wanting to rent out).

I think you might be able to get 7 mos out but looks like partial available and not the full time. So maybe if you are wanting to split a stay I think 7 mos is safe but if you want to book a peak time of year you might need to home there. We recently bought DVC and we did both BLT and GCV as they both are high demand properties and we travel to both WDW and DL.

May I ask what dates you're checking? I'm showing availability for all of July and August except for 7/3 &7/4.

Personally I would take my chance and buy somewhere like SSR. Unless you absolutely have to stay at Poly at a very busy time of they year.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

And if you DO want Poly at a busy time of year, buy the fixed week.

 

[Dean]

From what I've been seeing, Poly has been pretty popular and many wanting to rent there (with owners not really wanting to rent out).

I think you might be able to get 7 mos out but looks like partial available and not the full time. So maybe if you are wanting to split a stay I think 7 mos is safe but if you want to book a peak time of year you might need to home there. We recently bought DVC and we did both BLT and GCV as they both are high demand properties and we travel to both WDW and DL.

If you're looking at a rental site like Davids it might be that they aren't getting the points to rent rather than there not being availability.

 

[jlnten17]

DVC rooms have a queen bed, a queen sleeper sofa and bunk size murphy bed. It has an additional shower/sink room and a small kitchenette. But the lakeview DVC rooms have the Bungalows right in front of them. If you get a high floor it's ok but low floor is more of a bungalow view than what you may be used to on the hotel side. If you really are flexible for anytime in Jan and Feb you will likely be able to book there at least some of the time even if you buy elsewhere.

Each resort retains it's own ownership. So if you bought 150 points at SSR and 150 points at BLT you'd have 150 points at SSR at 11 months to book with and 150 points at BLT to book with. At 7 months though they all can be used at any resort.

This is another concern of mine - - - The Poly being our preferred resort (for at least most visits) There is only one building that has any lagoon view rooms. Of that building my understanding is first floor is really "bungalow view" second floor has no balcony and third floor would be TPV. Is this correct? If so there would be VERY FEW rooms there that meet our criteria as a good view is a high priority for us. Perhaps I will check out VGF on rental or BLT if they have more options with TPV.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

This is another concern of mine - - - The Poly being our preferred resort (for at least most visits) There is only one building that has any lagoon view rooms. Of that building my understanding is first floor is really "bungalow view" second floor has no balcony and third floor would be TPV. Is this correct? If so there would be VERY FEW rooms there that meet our criteria as a good view is a high priority for us. Perhaps I will check out VGF on rental or BLT if they have more options with TPV.

All the DVC buildings have the balcony on both 2nd and 3rd floors so you don't need to worry about that. Most report that you can see over the Bungalows from the 2nd floor but 3rd would be better and I'd think most request are for that so there's quite a bit of competition for that floor. Still, the bungalows are right there. Most will mention that the TPV at BLT has the parking lot in the foreground. And there the lower floors will be ok for fireworks but are not as great as the higher floors.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

TPV is not a bookable category at Poly DVC. The only DVC with TPV as a bookable category is Bay Lake Tower. VGF does not have TPV as a bookable category, either.

In general, if a view is not a bookable category, you cannot be confident in getting that view consistently via room request.

 

[jlnten17]

Thank you both! That is a big help!

 

[MrPTato]

Had lake view at Poly last week, Moorea room 2021. No concerns with the view at all on the second floor. Clear shot to the Magic Kingdom and could see wishes with no problem! Balcony, but when you sit in the chairs, the upper rail obstructs the view of across the lake. Take a room chair out and you will be fine to sit and watch.

 

[freediverdude]

If you're concerned about it, I've stayed on the second floor, and yes it does have a balcony and has a perfect theme park view. The castle view is above the bungalows from the second and third floor rooms. So either of those floors should make most people happy, I certainly was.

 

[jlnten17]

Thanks for all the insight. I think its between Poly or GF. I guess we need to stay at GF before we decide but I am eager to get something purchased as opposed to spending more money renting points. Wish we lived closer to WDW so I could go for just a night or two and check out every resort.

 

[freediverdude]

It's true that you don't always know which resort you'll end up liking until you stay there. I didn't think I would like VGF and ended up liking it, and thought I would really like BLT and ended up not really liking that one as much.

 

[Shanti]

The Poly Villa Studios are the nicest rooms I've ever stayed at in WDW. You can't go wrong with them unless you need room for more than 3 people.

 

[PlutoFan10]

Have you ever stayed in a 1 bedroom villa? Once we did, a studio became a second choice only. Poly has only studios and bungalows (too many points). If Poly is to be your home resort (11 month booking advantage), make sure you don't fall in love with a 1 bedroom villa.