DVC Poly Announcement

[BWV Dreamin]

The more points you need, the more points they sell.

If the Poly doesn't have 1 bedrooms, we won't be buying or staying there.

Bill

Exactly. We definitely will not be buying. I view this new DVC phase of all studios as cheapening the DVC brand. I see absolutely nothing deluxe about an all studio resort.

 

[disneynutz]

Exactly. We definitely will not be buying. I view this new DVC phase of all studios as cheapening the DVC brand. I see absolutely nothing deluxe about an all studio resort.

DVD builds to sell, not to make existing members happy.

Their sales research pointed them in the direction of building studios.

Bill

 

[nkosiek]

Depending upon how the kitchenette was set up, they could possibly do the w/d all-in-one like many Europeans use. It would be smaller but it's only one machine and would probably do for most people in Disney.

 

[MountainMouse]

According to Tikiman, the Moorea Longhouse studios will be 465 square feet. See http://www.tikimanpages.com/poly/tahiti. The Pago Pago and Tokelau Longhouses also have 465 square foot studios. I trust Tikiman's information more than other sources when it comes anything to do with the Polynesian Village Resort. Part of the confusion about the size of the Poly studios may come from the fact that some of the other Poly longhouses have smaller rooms. For example, Aotearoa Longhouse rooms are only 415 square feet in size. But these longhouses with the smaller rooms are not being converted to DVC studios. There is no washer/dryer or hybrid kitchen in the new studios. Tikiman has a floor plan for the studios and the is no washer/dryer and the kitchenette is the standard DVC kitchenette we see in most resorts (BLT excluded).

The DVC studios (if all estimates hold) are going to be 91 sqft larger than VGF studios. For those math challenged, that's 25% larger and means if the studio is 13 ft wide you get an extra 7 feet of length. To me that's a lot, I'll be interested to see what they do with it. I didn't have good resolution on Tikimans floor plan but it looked like the bathroom was pretty large. Maybe it will just be open area l, but with all that extra space I would love to see something useful and unique that sets the poly studios apart from all others. I mean if your resort is going to be the first to be mostly studios and they are going to be so large wouldn't you think it would have something the others don't?

 

[lovin'fl]

Tikiman confirmed NO washer/dryer. I am fine with no real kitchen but I really like the washer/dryer.

I too think they'll justify the price and point costs by saying they are the largest studios and they can be connecting (not to mention you can get next door to each other where that is near impossible at all other DVC). And you can sleep 5 in each (or 10 in 2 connecting).

Even with no washer/dryer, I'd still like to stay there. We'd have 5 or 6 in the 2 connecting studios. But I would NEVER be interested in buying (or using my other points there) if the 2 studios cost more points than booking a 2BR (and my home resorts are OKW, BWV and AKV which are the cheapest point costing 2BRs).

 

[mjillard]

We will know more when they try to pitch us. There was a lot of razzle dazzle in the GFV pitches, which made me immediately distrustful. I'm not sure they know just how pointless a tv in the bathroom mirror is to most people, but they really thought that would get people to buy there. The fixed week was the most tempting part but they barely mentioned that.

 

[tjkraz]

I view this new DVC phase of all studios as cheapening the DVC brand.

What does that mean? Do you think DVC values will fall across the board because Poly is all Studios?

I'm not particularly interested in Studio stays either. Occasionally for an adults-only trip, but not for our family of 4.

But what exactly do you mean when you say that it cheapens the brand?

 

[Minniesgal]

The Poly studios will be the largest studios in the DVC system, even larger than OKW's studios. If I recall correctly, the Poly studios will be about 460 square feet in size. Connecting studios might be very attractive to families. The parents could occupy one studio while the kids occupy the connecting studio.

I suspect families would be better off with a 2 bedroom elsewhere but we will have to wait and see

 

[Minniesgal]

I think it's a pretty safe bet that the studios will be the highest point cost studios available. A wild guess would be 10% more than VGF cost. They'll promote the additional space and features (washer/dryer maybe?) and it will be what it is. They won't have a problem filling it and they likely won't have a problem selling it. The selling depends on the cost, I don't think they can go above VGF but that doesn't mean they can't raise VGF.

I dunno Grand Floridian is the flagship resort makes sense for it to be the most expensive. I suspect just below the VGF.

 

[Minniesgal]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the Poly rooms were for the most part, the largest rooms at WDW. My guess is that every room is still the same size, just configured differently. Does anyone know otherwise?

Unless they completely redid the internal partitions as part of the refurb.

 

[wdrl]

I suspect families would be better off with a 2 bedroom elsewhere but we will have to wait and see

The decision whether to book a two-bedroom or two connecting studios can be swayed by so many different factors. For some families, full kitchens and washer/dryers have little appeal. I've heard parents, especially moms, who say they are on vacation and have no intentions of spending their valuable time cooking dinners and doing laundry. Others say they get the dining plans and eat all their meals outside the room. A studio's microwave and mini refrigeration is adequate for their needs. As long as the parents and the kids are sleeping in separate rooms during their vacation, some families are happy. The kids can be put to bed at their normal bedtime, while mom and dad can stay awake and have some privacy for a few extra hours.

Until the PVB's point chart is released we won't know the cost of its studios. But my gut feeling is that two PVB studios will be cheaper than a two-bedroom in most resorts.

 

[Judique]

The decision whether to book a two-bedroom or two connecting studios can be swayed by so many different factors. For some families, full kitchens and washer/dryers have little appeal. I've heard parents, especially moms, who say they are on vacation and have no intentions of spending their valuable time cooking dinners and doing laundry. Others say they get the dining plans and eat all their meals outside the room. A studio's microwave and mini refrigeration is adequate for their needs. As long as the parents and the kids are sleeping in separate rooms during their vacation, some families are happy. The kids can be put to bed at their normal bedtime, while mom and dad can stay awake and have some privacy for a few extra hours.

Until the PVB's point chart is released we won't know the cost of its studios. But my gut feeling is that two PVB studios will be cheaper than a two-bedroom in most resorts.

I agree with what you say.

Also, the Poly has a following of people similar to the Grand who go there every year. I used to be one of them, until I bought at Boardwalk and BCV.

I may buy points at Poly and I haven't bought points since the early 2000's because there was nothing that interested me enough. But for Poly I would like to have the 11 month advantage and I would stay in a studio. I often now go to WDW and will have family with me for the weekend, then they fly home, so studio works for me.

I absolutely love the Poly. (Except for the parking.)

 

[MountainMouse]

But I would NEVER be interested in buying (or using my other points there) if the 2 studios cost more points than booking a 2BR (and my home resorts are OKW, BWV and AKV which are the cheapest point costing 2BRs).

I've got a feeling you're going to be passing on the poly then. A 2BR savannah at AKV in magic season is 372. That would mean that the poly lakeview studios would have to be under 186. Currently GFV lakeview studios in Magic season are 199.

 

[MountainMouse]

I suspect families would be better off with a 2 bedroom elsewhere but we will have to wait and see

Depends on your families preferences. If you're ok with bus rides from further out resorts, then you will likely pay a little less for a 2BR than connecting studios at poly. If you would also prefer the 2BR layout and I think most would, then you'll get more space for your points at the further out resorts. Larger families that need the space may be better off not to stay at poly, but smaller families could sacrifice space for convenience.

 

[MountainMouse]

DVD builds to sell, not to make existing members happy. Their sales research pointed them in the direction of building studios. Bill

Absolutely agree. Factors such as build cost also went in. Spend less and make more.

 

[Judique]

Depends on your families preferences. If you're ok with bus rides from further out resorts, then you will likely pay a little less for a 2BR than connecting studios at poly. If you would also prefer the 2BR layout and I think most would, then you'll get more space for your points at the further out resorts. Larger families that need the space may be better off not to stay at poly, but smaller families could sacrifice space for convenience.

It's not all about sacrifice, space or convenience.

I'd take a studio at the Poly over a one bedroom at Saratoga Springs any day. Not because I dislike Saratoga - I really like the rooms there. Or at least I did when they were new - haven't stayed in maybe 3 years.

I just like the Poly grounds and the general vive and atmosphere at the Poly better.

 

[DVC Mike]

I'd rather stay at VGF and take the short walk down the beach if I want to experience the Poly "vibe".

 

[beer dave]

The decision whether to book a two-bedroom or two connecting studios can be swayed by so many different factors. For some families, full kitchens and washer/dryers have little appeal. I've heard parents, especially moms, who say they are on vacation and have no intentions of spending their valuable time cooking dinners and doing laundry. Others say they get the dining plans and eat all their meals outside the room. A studio's microwave and mini refrigeration is adequate for their needs. As long as the parents and the kids are sleeping in separate rooms during their vacation, some families are happy. The kids can be put to bed at their normal bedtime, while mom and dad can stay awake and have some privacy for a few extra hours.

Until the PVB's point chart is released we won't know the cost of its studios. But my gut feeling is that two PVB studios will be cheaper than a two-bedroom in most resorts.

I really hope so. Here is how I see it-- the current resorts are cut up into blocks-- the points increase according to how many blocks you are reserving-- studio is 1, one bedroom is 2, two bedroom is 3. The GV is 6. If the poly studio is a bit bigger than standard, it may be worth 1.5 blocks. If so, the cost for one will be between a studio and a 1 bed, and the cost for 2 will be about the same as a 2 bedroom. And then there is the adjustment for the resort location, or view.

 

[OKW Lover]

Until the legal docs are filed and the license to sell the project is granted, they are restricted on what they can say and do.

Bill

Exactly. Because of some shady marketing tactics by some early time-share promoters (not Disney) in FL there are some pretty restrictive regulations regarding what can be said at this time. Disney isn't being secretive about this, they are just following the law.

 

[MountainMouse]

I really hope so. Here is how I see it-- the current resorts are cut up into blocks-- the points increase according to how many blocks you are reserving-- studio is 1, one bedroom is 2, two bedroom is 3. The GV is 6. If the poly studio is a bit bigger than standard, it may be worth 1.5 blocks. If so, the cost for one will be between a studio and a 1 bed, and the cost for 2 will be about the same as a 2 bedroom. And then there is the adjustment for the resort location, or view.

I agree with the blocks, the point allocation at each resort isn't exact but it's close and you can make this comparison. Problem is it's resort specific and we don't have a baseline for poly yet. Closest you can get is VGF and you would expect VGF to be more per block than any other because they are the premier resort. Using your example the poly studio could be more than a VGF studio because it's more blocks and I agree with this. Some folks think poly will come in lower than VGF but I just can't see it, I don't think that's how Disney thinks. It's not about what's fair, they will set the cost at what they believe they can get and not a penny or point less. If the poly studios were exactly like VGF, I would say they would be cheaper. They're not the same, they're bigger and DVD recognizes this and I believe will price accordingly and my opinion is the cost will be higher. I also believe they will have no problem finding buyers, depending on how it ends up I may be one of them and then years down the road I may sell because my needs and preferences changed.