Island Tower at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

[Einstein509]

I wonder how PVB dues will be affected by the new tower? Any thoughts?

 

[maui22]

I wonder how PVB dues will be affected by the new tower? Any thoughts?

Good question. Looking forward to reading the answers.

On one side of the argument, lots more points and smaller land footprint added should lower dues.

On the other hand, I think the tower increases the quality of PVB. I fear the longhouses and bungalow full rehabs in 5+ years could be more expensive.

 

[Sandisw]

I wonder how PVB dues will be affected by the new tower? Any thoughts?

It depends on the shared expenses. One method they use is occupancy and now that PVB has more rooms, they will share in more of that.

However, they are also adding more rooms to split it up for PVB owners. I think that They will increase but not in a major way.

 

[Mikey15]

Some of the lowest dues in the system are towers, or self-contained buildings (VGF), which makes sense as you don’t have a bunch of separate buildings and a bunch of separate maintenance, groundskeeping, mousekeeping between them. It’s more efficient to manage the smaller footprint.

Its possible dues increase at Poly over time is fairly well contained by the tower addition. But there can be some noise in the first couple of years depending on how they estimate it.

 

[supercarrie]

With the new incentives running through Sept. 30th, what do you think this means (if anything) for Poly news? The reason I ask is the timeline of previous new resorts seems to line up with a new resort going on sale to members towards the end of an incentive cycle (for VDH/VGF at least, Cabins were at the beginning of a cycle!) versus smack in the middle.

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

With the new incentives running through Sept. 30th, what do you think this means (if anything) for Poly news?

I asked my guide this same question - no insight given whatsoever, but he said the same thing you posted about previous history of selling new resorts.

 

[maui22]

I'm feeling like Disney might miss an opportunity here. July 3rd/4th are so popular at Polynesian resort that they close the beaches to people not staying at the resort.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

Geez, September 30th, that means IPT going on sale 10/1 would be the start of the new fiscal year and they'd be kind of defeating defeat on 2024 DVC sales, no? CFW haven't sold hardly at all. The OKW fire sale was great for a month, but now it's over. Riviera seems to be steady but not gangbusters, as is VDH.

Do we really think presales for 10/1? IDK what to think of that, especially if it's open for cash booking 12/17ish already. You think they're just banking on a killer 2025 year of DVC sales and writing off 2024?

Plus, if presales are 10/1, I'm thinking points for booking won't start until February vacation maybe? I'm trying to figure this out and am open to more experienced minds than mine, for sure. IPT has me stumped!

 

[achinforsomebacon]

I'm feeling like Disney might miss an opportunity here. July 3rd/4th are so popular at Polynesian resort that they close the beaches to people not staying at the resort.

Is the 3rd definitely closed for non Poly guests this year? We were trying to avoid the beach anyway since it's crazy on a normal night but wanted to know our options just in case.

 

[BrianLo]

Count me as someone also confused on the Poly sales timeline. The incentives are also ‘good’ for this coming quarter, which is not what I suspected if the Tower was on sale.

In addition the holiday marketing launch for WDW was just rolled out yesterday with parties on July 2nd. This really seemed like the time it was supposed to happen.

Could we not see it be declared until next year? Maybe the cash sales were stronger than anticipated.

 

[LadySarathano]

Some of the lowest dues in the system are towers, or self-contained buildings (VGF), which makes sense as you don’t have a bunch of separate buildings and a bunch of separate maintenance, groundskeeping, mousekeeping between them. It’s more efficient to manage the smaller footprint.

Its possible dues increase at Poly over time is fairly well contained by the tower addition. But there can be some noise in the first couple of years depending on how they estimate it.

This makes sense, but then how do we explain Riviera being third-highest in WDW? Is the Skyliner more expensive to operate than the much older (and assumedly less efficient) Monorail? Or is it just because it’s new and still normalizing the data?

 

[maui22]

Is the 3rd definitely closed for non Poly guests this year? We were trying to avoid the beach anyway since it's crazy on a normal night but wanted to know our options just in case.

Given how little the beach is now that the tower has closed that side, it would seem strange to not close it. However, anything is possible. I would recommend check Tikimans fb page for information.

I think he is supposed to be part of someone’s podcast or webcast this week.

He can’t talk about new details but he may have info on July 3rd beach policy.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

This makes sense, but then how do we explain Riviera being third-highest in WDW? Is the Skyliner more expensive to operate than the much older (and assumedly less efficient) Monorail? Or is it just because it’s new and still normalizing the data?

I read somewhere here that they purposely built more cushion into Riviera to prevent the whole snafu that happened with Aulani I think? But they have increased at a lower rate year over year compared to several others so yeah, probably still stabilizing.

 

[bdrex28]

Same! We were so excited about the new tower because of our love for the original Poly aesthetic. Then they released the video...
Also very concerned about the radio silence regarding transportation updates, and how this might affect our beloved Grand Floridian

Ok out of curiosity how would the new tower affect transportation for VGF?

 

[SugarSweetLee]

Ok out of curiosity how would the new tower affect transportation for VGF?

More people on the monorail and boats.

 

[intamin]

Ok out of curiosity how would the new tower affect transportation for VGF?

VGF definitely gets the short end of the stick here particularly with regard to the monorail early in the morning even more than it already does. For boat transportation it should still be first to be picked up before going to Poly and then back to MK so should still be okay for boats but still more crowded on there.

Fortunately we're not really rope drop/park close type of people for the most part since we prefer to watch the fireworks from our hotel/during dinner but for park commandos at either resort it's definitely not ideal

 

[CastAStone]

Is this a sure thing, or could they defer point-based bookings until January 2025 in order to avoid giving any 2024 points?

That wouldn’t help as best as I can figure. Anyone getting like a May UY would still need to be started with 2024 points, whether they bought in Dec 2024 or Jan 2025.

I wonder how PVB dues will be affected by the new tower? Any thoughts?

Great question! I’ve been wondering the same.

Some of the lowest dues in the system are towers, or self-contained buildings (VGF), which makes sense as you don’t have a bunch of separate buildings and a bunch of separate maintenance, groundskeeping, mousekeeping between them. It’s more efficient to manage the smaller footprint

High point charts also help with dues per point.

OTOH Poly has had no costs to replace major appliances, unclog kitchen sinks, clean under kitchen tables, supply in room laundry detergent, etc. Now they will.

 

[DKZB]

I’ve been mulling over Island Tower pricing. My guesses:

1. No idea on when sales will actually start. Could see in 2024, could wait til 2025. Hard to say at this point.

2. Top line pricing before incentives will start at the same price as all of the other WDW resorts

3. Pricing WITH incentives for existing members adding 250-300 pts will drop below $180pp (before magical beginnings) whether during the members only “pre-sale” or after the initial sales wave washes through.

4. Resale contracts will fall to around $140pp

Thoughts?

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

I’ve been mulling over Island Tower pricing. My guesses:

1. No idea on when sales will actually start. Could see in 2024, could wait til 2025. Hard to say at this point.

2. Top line pricing before incentives will start at the same price as all of the other WDW resorts

3. Pricing WITH incentives for existing members adding 250-300 pts will drop below $180pp (before magical beginnings) whether during the members only “pre-sale” or after the initial sales wave washes through.

4. Resale contracts will fall to around $140pp

Thoughts?

I don’t see any chance of them selling Poly Tower anywhere near $180 before MB unless the point chart blows VGF out of the water, at least not during the first wave.
1. Why would they sell it for less than VDH and practically at parity with RIV and AUL?
2. Why would they ROFR at $150ish just to resell it at for a few dollars more after MB?

 

[zavandor]

That wouldn’t help as best as I can figure. Anyone getting like a May UY would still need to be started with 2024 points, whether they bought in Dec 2024 or Jan 2025.

Great question! I’ve been wondering the same.

High point charts also help with dues per point.

OTOH Poly has had no costs to replace major appliances, unclog kitchen sinks, clean under kitchen tables, supply in room laundry detergent, etc. Now they will.

But 1BR sleep the same as the old studios and have double the points (presumably), so average occupancy per point is lower.
Depending on the views distribution (the longhouses have mostly standard rooms), average point cost per room/square footage will be higher, especially if they create a theme park view.
Compact floor plans help with housekeeping costs (see the opposite in the cabins).
Studios have only one bathroom, which I presume is quicker to clean.
They have to increase busses and boats at peak time, but during the day the current ones are not full, so the same amount will just transport a few more people.
I think it could go either way and probably stay around the same. I don't think it'll be noticeable from a normal yearly increase.