Island Tower at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

[Sykes]

Eh. I don't agree with this. The space is small so only because of space constraints. Alcoholic drinks have some of the highest profit margins of anything you can serve in a restaurant. Besides maybe limited edition cups. I do agree that many folks who are Disney fans like to feel like they're getting an exclusive or special experience. But Disney offer lots of other ways to get that outside of a themed bar

It's more of a cost thing. Building a new, larger Trader Sam's would be expensive because of how interactive the whole place is. Plus They'd have to figure out whether or not to keep the old one.

They could make a bigger one and fill every seat, but IMO it would absolutely ruin the charm. Almost every good tiki bar out in the world is a tiny hole in the wall, built far smaller than they could fill if they wanted to. While I'm a big fan of tiki bars, I'm not a tiki purist by any means but I still wouldn't want to see it in a significantly larger venue. I could see them maaaaaybe doubling the size, but I wouldn't want it any bigger than that. This reminds me a bit of my significant disappointment with The Edison in Disney Springs--The Edison in Los Angeles is (was? I guess it's re-opening soon though) a beautifully-themed bar and restaurant in a charming and awkward space that feels truly special. The Edison in Disney Springs is a warehouse built for efficient dinner service on which they slapped a steampunk facade. I don't want to see Trader Sam's lose its charm in service of serving more people (and I very much trust the 2014 design/imagineering teams more than I trust the 2024 ones).

 

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

Starving for actual Poly news

 

[accm]

They demo'd the one at HS back when it was always packed. It was my kids' favorite part of that park, and then it was gone. (when they got rid of half the park to build starwars)

I suspect it sort of got lost in time, but they got rid of what was sort of the play area in MK and replaced it with the inside playground at Dumbo. Because they don't really advertise it, I don't think many families of littles think of it as a play area or realize how great it is. When the new Dumbo opened we would go spend an hour or two in there every afternoon, relaxing while the kids got to play in the A/C.
EPCOT still has the play area in the exit area of Mission Space - another that I don't think people with littler kids realize is there or it would be crazy packed.

I forgot about those. The Dumbo one was closed when we stopped by on our last trip. And I always forget about the Mission Space one until my older son wants to ride the ride. I also remembered that there's the small Wall-E playground by Creations.

Sorry for the off topic conversation. Would love to get some official Poly Tower news....

 

[hockeydad21]

I wonder about this very thing too. However, I think it is possible that Disney doesn’t want to expand Trader Sam’s. Ever. As long as it is small it is hard to get in, it is much more exclusive. For that reason people keep trying to go. If it was expanded and became something most could easily do it might just become another “ho-hum” Disney vacation stop and no longer a must-do.
Neither my DH or I are drinkers - but you can bet we stood in line once and bought drinks in expensive souvenir mugs. I am not sure we would have if it wasn’t as exclusive as it is right now.

Ehhh, I’m of the belief if Disney can make more money from it, Disney will do it. Trader Sam’s would likely still be a wait (although not nearly as long) even if they doubled the space and seating capacity. I know I’d absolutely go if the wait was 20-30 minutes vs hours. You can’t pay me to waste time on my vacation waiting in line before it opens to enjoy drinks hours from now. Maybe I’m stubborn, but I just find the entire idea sorta ridiculous.
The cocktails at the lounge, on trader Sam’s patio, and by the pool taste equally as good but just don’t come with some light show. Oh well

Also, I’d love to see a kids play area in each park. I loved the honey I shrunk the kids playground at Hollywood Studios/MGM Studios, and sad to see it go. Would love if they could find a way to fit in a themed playground (Toy Story, Star Wars, muppets, or literally any other Disney movie) at HS. They’re cool, cheap to build, and great time killers for parents with little ones.

 

[Sandisw]

Well, still seeing nothing. Based on previous timelines of declaration to sales, looking more like October 1st, when current incentives end.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

You can try and post the link. If the link shows as ****** then we can’t discuss it. If the link shows in full without ***** then no problem.

Here goes nothing, electrical parade rumors on this threads:
Post in thread 'MSEP ending at Disneyland on Sept 1, WDW return in 2023?'
https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads...ept-1-wdw-return-in-2023.978090/post-10988987

 

[PrincessGidget]

Are we allow to link to “rival” message boards here? There is a board where Len Testa is active and also has a lot of purported insiders who leak— several people there feel very confident WDW is going to answer the launch of Epic Universe with a new light parade, seemingly at MK—but I only recently discovered the board and cannot in anyway vouch for the credibility of the rumor.

My experience from that site is rumors tend to be pretty accurate, except the ones about me.

 

[maui22]

Well, still seeing nothing. Based on previous timelines of declaration to sales, looking more like October 1st, when current incentives end.

This would set a new record for fewest days before opening that sales begin.
It's common for them to wait 3-4 weeks after existing member sales and new member sales.

Only showing the two resorts with a shorter timeline than we know right now. We are down to 152 days before opening.

Values in parenthesis are comparison to days until Island tower opening
PVB

• 84 days before opening master declaration released (September 24)
• 83 days before opening sales information released (September 25)
• 79 days before opening sales to existing began (September 29)
• 51 days sale to new members began (October 27)

CCV is the other association where Disney didnt release the master declaration by now.

• 146 days before opening master declaration released (July 24)
• 138 days before opening sales information released (August 1)
• 131 days before opening sales to existing began (August 8)
• 103 days sale to new members began (September 5)

Personal opinion, I think Disney has tons of information to know contracts take anywhere from 10 days to 3 months before they officially close. I think they make a mistake in their Q1 financials if they wait until October 1.

 

[CarolynFH]

This would set a new record for fewest days before opening that sales begin.
It's common for them to wait 3-4 weeks after existing member sales and new member sales.

Only showing the two resorts with a shorter timeline than we know right now. We are down to 152 days before opening.

Values in parenthesis are comparison to days until Island tower opening
PVB

• 84 days before opening master declaration released (September 24)
• 83 days before opening sales information released (September 25)
• 79 days before opening sales to existing began (September 27)
• 51 days sale to new members began (October 27)

CCV is the only one where it didn't have the master declaration released by now.

• 146 days before opening master declaration released (July 24)
• 138 days before opening sales information released (August 1)
• 131 days before opening sales to existing began (August 8)
• 103 days sale to new members began (September 5)

Personal opinion, I think Disney has tons of information to know contracts take anywhere from 10 days to 3 months before they officially close. I think they make a mistake in their Q1 financials if they wait until October 1.

What about the VDH timeline? That’s the only one I can think of where the resort opened to cash stays before it opened to points stays. Could DVD want to make owners wait longer to stay there, i.e., first point reservations not until 2025?

 

[maui22]

What about the VDH timeline? That’s the only one I can think of where the resort opened to cash stays before it opened to points stays. Could DVD want to make owners wait longer to stay there, i.e., first point reservations not until 2025?

My understanding of the VDH timeline - resort opened 9/28/23

• 280 days before opening the master declaration showed up (December 22, 2022)
• 163 days before opening we had sales information (April 18, 2023)
• 149 days before opening sales started to existing members (May 2, 2023)
• 121 days before opening sales began to new members. (May 30, 2023)

Here was an earlier post I had. (I fixed some typos I had and double checked some things. Pretty sure this is accurate information I posted).
https://www.disboards.com/threads/island-tower-at-polynesian-villas-bungalows.3945907/post-65599189

Since 2009, I don't believe DVD has ever started sales for new and existing members at the same time. Would Disney really delay existing members from buying until October 1? I used to hold the the theory of waiting for the existing promotion to end before starting new sales. Disney didn't follow that approach for CFW, so I'm not sure that approach holds anymore.

I believe DVD's new approach is to realize not everyone will buy the new resort, so it's a benefit to keep the current incentives running past the start of PVB2 sales starting date.

CFW started sales on 1/16/24. Incentives and a price increase for Aul, VDH, and Riviera ended on January 30.
https://dvcnews.com/dvc-program-men...-before-price-increase-current-incentives-end

Edit: just realized I didn't put the link to DVCNews story showing the current incentives ending January 30, 2024 for those resorts.

 

[Mikey15]

I agree, but truthfully I’ve only ever seen a few kids running around in the dig site, and many times I’ve seen no one, but maybe I’ve visited at the wrong times. Honestly, I love the dig site, I wish I could play in it lol (and splash pads, I’d love one of those for adults) but we always skip it because it’s too hot or raining or we have other places to be. It looks great and adds really great kinetic energy to the area but the weather in Florida is rough like 8-9 months of the year- what they should do is create more child friendly spaces like the indoor playground in Fantasyland. I don’t have kids but I’ve taken my nieces and nephews there and it’s always been full of kids and parents, cooling off and burning energy. My point is not that they shouldn’t exist, I agree with you, there should be more of them, but that doesn’t negate the fact that the many of these places seem underused (again, maybe I’ve visited at the wrong times )

We went with friends & their 5 year old last year in November. AK was her first Disney day ever, and she must have spent more than 2 hours at the Dig Site! (Hour in morning, hour+ in late afternoon after meeting Moana nearby)

It was very busy with kids when we were there too. My wife had a mini-panic attack in the morning though when she lost sight of the child... there's a bridge that goes across to a separate area that she didn't know about at first. You don't even really notice it walking by compared to the tall play structure on the entry side that the bridge is attached to, so kids could be playing there that you don't even see!

But that was a 10/10 first WDW day for a young kid. She got to play in the dig site with dad and aunt while others went over and rode Everest!

 

[CarolynFH]

Since 2009, I don't believe DVD has ever started sales for new and existing members at the same time. Would Disney really delay existing members from buying until October 1? I used to hold the the theory of waiting for the existing promotion to end before starting new sales. Disney didn't follow that approach for CFW, so I'm not sure that approach holds anymore.

It seems like many things related to DVC sales have changed in the last few years. Having several resorts in active sales at the same time, opening to cash reservations first, not to mention the trust - interesting times, for sure!

 

[maui22]

It seems like many things related to DVC sales have changed in the last few years. Having several resorts in active sales at the same time, opening to cash reservations first, not to mention the trust - interesting times, for sure!

I completely agree!!!

Success of cash reservations (Aulani, Riv, VDH, CFW, and now IT@PVB) makes sense. That may have been what they planned when they opened Kidani, THV, BLT, and VGC in 2009 (only other time I remember 4 brand new resorts in active sales)

I guess the new model works as long as a great recession doesn't happen.

 

[tx911]

Maybe they are waiting until after D23, when numerous expansion projects plus a 5th gate at WDW will be announced and detailed!

Then they open Poly tower to a rush of eager new DVC buyers willing to pay top dollar

 

[MyDogTink]

All this waiting is making me explore DCL and making me reconsider if I need more points. Additionally, if I need more points, could I live with adding on resale to my existing contracts.

I don’t think DVC holding off on selling Poly is helping them sell RIV or CFW.

I am wondering if they are holding off to monitor the economy and if the Fed will lower interest rates in Sept. Economic outlook could be tied to the election.

 

[mkatsy]

Caribbean beach resort main pool has gone to wrist band access … here’s to hoping our beloved Poly is next

 

[Sandisw]

Caribbean beach resort main pool has gone to wrist band access … here’s to hoping our beloved Poly is next

Wow! I am going there next week for a few days! Maybe they will do the same with RIV???

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

Caribbean beach resort main pool has gone to wrist band access … here’s to hoping our beloved Poly is next

Treehouse Villas pool next!!!

 

[DonMacGregor]

Wow! I am going there next week for a few days! Maybe they will do the same with RIV???

Hoping they do it to every feature pool at every resort.

 

[StarCruzer]

Caribbean beach resort main pool has gone to wrist band access … here’s to hoping our beloved Poly is next

Honestly, makes sense since the Skyliner was installed. Pretty easy for folks at AoA or Pop to swing buy if their pools are overcrowded, or even just for a change of page. As @Sandisw mentioned...it's likely Riviera will be next.

I'm kind of surprise that DVC allows any pool hopping at all at this point. It's a weird "perk" that I doubt most people are even using.