Does anyone think Poly is a good purchase?

[kangaroodle]

I've been a DVC owner for 20 years now (Hard to believe!). We bought when OKW was THE "Vacation Club". Points were only $59 and they gave great incentives to buy. We got free passes to all the parks (except AK after it was built) till the year 2000. So for me, whenever I see the new price/point, I gasp! No other DVC resort will ever be as good a value as I got! I've more than gotten my money's worth. But 20 years from now, points may cost $400 and the Poly buyers of today will be saying the same thing!

 

[tfc3rid]

You can pretty much get most resorts at the 7 month window at different times of the year so I would expect the same here... However, larger groups who like 1 and 2 bedrooms with full kitchens won't stay here at all so they will not even consider this.

 

[nkosiek]

I've been a DVC owner for 20 years now (Hard to believe!). We bought when OKW was THE "Vacation Club". Points were only $59 and they gave great incentives to buy. We got free passes to all the parks (except AK after it was built) till the year 2000. So for me, whenever I see the new price/point, I gasp! No other DVC resort will ever be as good a value as I got! I've more than gotten my money's worth. But 20 years from now, points may cost $400 and the Poly buyers of today will be saying the same thing!

I just used one of the inflation calculators to see what your $59 is today. It would be about $95 with inflation and everything. Once you see it that way and then tack on another $65/point, plus the amount of points needed for a stay, it looks ridiculous, especially when you think they didn't have to construct new buildings for 75% of those points, only renovate.

 

[disneynutz]

I just used one of the inflation calculators to see what your $59 is today. It would be about $95 with inflation and everything. Once you see it that way and then tack on another $65/point, plus the amount of points needed for a stay, it looks ridiculous, especially when you think they didn't have to construct new buildings for 75% of those points, only renovate.

May look ridiculous to you, to Disney it's good business and another reason why Disney's CEO just got a $46.5 million dollar paycheck!

Bill

 

[nkosiek]

May look ridiculous to you, to Disney it's good business and another reason why Disney's CEO just got a $46.5 million dollar paycheck!

Bill

I know it's great business for them, doesn't mean I think it's great for the consumer.

 

[jerseyduke]

I know it's great business for them, doesn't mean I think it's great for the consumer.

It does not mean it is bad either. I do believe that the Poly will be DVD's highest profit margin property to date. It should have had a low construction cost, do the the using existing structures.

But, that is totally irrelevant when determining value to the consumer. (Again is does not mean it is a good or bad value) Something of high profit margin for the seller can certainly still be an excellent value to the consumer. Something of low profit margin can be a horrible value for the buyer.

Profit margin for the seller has nothing to do with value for the consumer.

 

[dizfan]

I just used one of the inflation calculators to see what your $59 is today. It would be about $95 with inflation and everything. Once you see it that way and then tack on another $65/point, plus the amount of points needed for a stay, it looks ridiculous, especially when you think they didn't have to construct new buildings for 75% of those points, only renovate.

For most, it's whether DVC is better than Disney hotel rates for the next several decades. Disney hotel rates have risen faster than inflation.

Supply vs demand. Converting 40% of Poly hotel rooms to DVC significantly reduced supply for the hotel side. Reduced supply means fewer discounts and ability to raise prices faster if demand stays anywhere near the current level.

Future rumors indicate WL, BC, YC, and CBR conversions are at least being considered. All these plans would reduce hotel room supply for WDW even more.

 

[nkosiek]

It does not mean it is bad either. I do believe that the Poly will be DVD's highest profit margin property to date. It should have had a low construction cost, do the the using existing structures.

But, that is totally irrelevant when determining value to the consumer. (Again is does not mean it is a good or bad value) Something of high profit margin for the seller can certainly still be an excellent value to the consumer. Something of low profit margin can be a horrible value for the buyer.

Profit margin for the seller has nothing to do with value for the consumer.

With the break-even point moving further and further out, I can't believe the value is the same today as it was 20 years ago. Also, with real wages being stagnant or even having fallen for most people in the last 20 years, I'd say monetary value has fallen, though perhaps not intrinsic value.

Let's be clear, if I hit the lottery tomorrow, the intrinsic value of having a fixed-week bungalow would be outrageously high and I'd do it as my splurge...plus a new Hyundai Elantra. As it stands now, I don't believe the Poly is a good purchase for me.

 

[DeeCee735]

From a value perspective and in our opinions, no, not a good value.

From a consumer perspective and as DVC members, we never even considered the value when we bought, we just really wanted it. To this day, not a regret....

 

[tfc3rid]

For most, it's whether DVC is better than Disney hotel rates for the next several decades. Disney hotel rates have risen faster than inflation.

Supply vs demand. Converting 40% of Poly hotel rooms to DVC significantly reduced supply for the hotel side. Reduced supply means fewer discounts and ability to raise prices faster if demand stays anywhere near the current level.

Future rumors indicate WL, BC, YC, and CBR conversions are at least being considered. All these plans would reduce hotel room supply for WDW even more.

But they are reducing the inventory of rooms that are way overpriced and not selling anyway... Very poor % occupancy for the overpriced Deluxe resorts is the reason they are doing the room conversions... DVC will guarantee these rooms are filled.

 

[dizfan]

But they are reducing the inventory of rooms that are way overpriced and not selling anyway... Very poor % occupancy for the overpriced Deluxe resorts is the reason they are doing the room conversions... DVC will guarantee these rooms are filled.

Approximately, 360 rooms removed from hotel side which was 847 rooms.
Once PVB is sold out, they will have approximately 57.5% of the rooms they had before.

Is there data somewhere that indicates they never exceed 57.5% occupancy levels during any time of the year at Poly?

 

[jerseyduke]

Approximately, 360 rooms removed from hotel side which was 847 rooms.
Once PVB is sold out, they will have approximately 57.5% of the rooms they had before.

Is there data somewhere that indicates they never exceed 57.5% occupancy levels during any time of the year at Poly?

I HIGHLY doubt it.

They are going to charge more per room now on the cash side.

Rooms were converted for time and money. I highly doubt occupancy had a whole lot to do with it.

Poly was obviously the next choice for DVC, and if they had rebuilt, there is a good change VGF would sell out before Poly was ready.

 

[dizfan]

They are going to charge more per room now on the cash side.

This was my point.

If they charge more per night for Poly hotel rooms going forward, it will take fewer years to save money buying PVB points.

 

[jerseyduke]

This was my point.

If they charge more per night for Poly hotel rooms going forward, it will take fewer years to save money buying PVB points.

I know, I was (trying to) reinforce.

They are putting a lot of money into that resort right now. It is not to lower prices!

 

[dizfan]

I know, I was (trying to) reinforce.

They are putting a lot of money into that resort right now. It is not to lower prices!

Sorry, I misunderstood.

I agree with you on all the money into the resort.
CR and GF saw nothing close to this resort wide renovation when DVC was added.

 

[corpcomp]

I know it's great business for them, doesn't mean I think it's great for the consumer.

Well I looked at booking a room at Beach Club and GF versus BCV. For the time I was looking at, One week in BC was about $5000 versus the $1700 maintenance fee I pay. That made me feel good about the maintenance fee and my point purchases which ranged from $80 to $95 at BCV. The $80 was for a 30 point contract 2 years ago when prices were still down. The overall deal was good for me and my family and we are going both at Spring Break in March and for New years week in Jan.

But the Poly, no way I would spend that much for studios. I would buy at VGF first.

 

[disneynutz]

Well I looked at booking a room at Beach Club and GF versus BCV. For the time I was looking at, One week in BC was about $5000 versus the $1700 maintenance fee I pay. That made me feel good about the maintenance fee and my point purchases which ranged from $80 to $95 at BCV. The $80 was for a 30 point contract 2 years ago when prices were still down. The overall deal was good for me and my family and we are going both at Spring Break in March and for New years week in Jan.

But the Poly, no way I would spend that much for studios. I would buy at VGF first.

A cost savings for you but a locked in customer for Disney who will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of a full term ownership.

If you plan on vacationing every year for 50 years at Disney without DVC then DVC makes a lot of sense. My guess is that DVC makes us vacation at Disney more often than we would have without the DVC which is another win for Disney.

Pretty smart Mouse!

Bill

 

[corpcomp]

A cost savings for you but a locked in customer for Disney who will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of a full term ownership. If you plan on vacationing every year for 50 years at Disney without DVC then DVC makes a lot of sense. My guess is that DVC makes us vacation at Disney more often than we would have without the DVC which is another win for Disney. Pretty smart Mouse! Bill

Well we do go there at least annually although I don't have to.

I have no idea how middle class families whose income has dropped over the last 6 years can even afford to come to Disney let along buy into DVC. Those that own DVC are very very fortunate. And we can always sell when we want to.

 

[ziravan]

I'm going to bite and state my opinion on all of this. I have read all the posts here and on other dvc forums. There is huge negativity about the PVB, and even some blatant name calling of people who would consider buying there. I think that people who own DVC need to keep in mind that the target audience for PVB is not likely people who are already members. It is people like myself.

We are a young, 30 something couple with three young kids. We have been to WDW anywhere from 1-3 times a year over the last 10 years and most always stayed at the poly. We have tried a few other DvC properties, namely BCV and AKL. While the extra space at these resorts were great, we our hearts belong to the Poly.

We know all about the issue of no one or two bedrooms, and we have no intention of ever staying in a bungalow unless its pixie dusted to us. Down the road we may use a one bedroom at some point in another resort, but I doubt it.

We are ok with the studios. I don't like to cook on vacation, so no kitchen doesn't phase me. I also don't like to do laundry on vacation, so this also doesn't phase me and I think many in my generation are like this. We are perfectly happy getting two connecting studios. I feel that we may eventually be priced out of the regular rates, and we like the idea that we have locked in years of vacations at our favourite resort. I think when people are calling this a " debacle" or that heads will roll over this decision, they need to keep in mind who the target is. Disney knows their target- and I am sure it will sell to families just like us. People who never would have bought into DVC otherwise.

I agree.

IF Disney were listening to member feedback, they'd take half the 360 studio rooms and convert the shower room to a full fridge, microwave, counter space, and W/D. In those rooms, make the current kitchenette more storage space. Then, make connecting rooms a category and have two single options: kitchenette w/ W/D or shower room. Connecting rooms would have both options.

They could charge more points for kitchenettes or more practical considering points have already been declared, raise prices to $180. It'd sell more quickly if you ask me.

It would solve many of the problems members are complaining about. Connecting rooms (with a shower room on one side and kitchenette with W/D on the other) would be de facto 1 BR +plus. The shower rooms would be much less in demand but would fill based on both connecting rooms and "just happy to have a room".

 

[rocketriter]

I should add I think the whole name calling thing is just silly regarding purchasing Poly.

Do you know how many non-Disney lovers would call us all crazy if they saw this site?

Oh yes. We've been members long enough to remember when BWV was out of favor. Then BCV was getting beaten up for supposedly horrible maintenance. Buy where you want to stay. And enjoy--for years to come!