Island Tower at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

[DonMacGregor]

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.

They don't...

 

[StarCruzer]

They don't...

They absolutely do. DVC WDW AND Vero Beach guests can pool hop to AKL/KV, Saratoga Springs, and Old Key West. I was actually surprised when I saw that Vero Beach guests have the ability to go to WDW Resort pools. Weird.

It's also a perk that's listed as still be available to resale folks, which I was surprised to see as well.
https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/discounts-perks-offers/recreation-relaxation/pools

 

[MyDogTink]

They absolutely do. DVC WDW AND Vero Beach guests can pool hop to AKL/KV, Saratoga Springs, and Old Key West. I was actually surprised when I saw that Vero Beach guests have the ability to go to WDW Resort pools. Weird.

It's also a perk that's listed as still be available to resale folks, which I was surprised to see as well.
https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/discounts-perks-offers/recreation-relaxation/pools

Pool hopping is still suspended,

 

[StarCruzer]

Pool hopping is still suspended,

That's so weird that they still list it as an active perk. The only place I see it mentioned, after a quick search, is planDisney.

Edit:
And the small, seemingly easy-to-miss text on the pool hopping page

 

[MyDogTink]

That's so weird that they still list it as an active perk. The only place I see it mentioned, after a quick search, is planDisney.

They should just take it off the list of perks. I doubt it will ever resume.

 

[TinkB278]

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.

This is me! I was saving up to buy poly but they took so long, and then the rooms were so beige, so I booked a DCL cruise instead! I keep asking myself if I should reconsider and add on dvc points but now that I’ve had time to get excited about cruising, I think I’ll just stick with what we have points-wise and try to fit in a cruise every year or two instead.

 

[DonMacGregor]

That's so weird that they still list it as an active perk. The only place I see it mentioned, after a quick search, is planDisney.

Edit:
And the small, seemingly easy-to-miss text on the pool hopping page

This easy-to-miss text?

 

[StarCruzer]

This easy-to-miss text?

View attachment 877921

All I can say in my own defense is for some reason when the page loaded for me, it loaded from the bottom instead of the top no idea why

 

[Mikey15]

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.

AoA pool is massive & Nemo themed though. What’s the big deal about hopping to CBR. A slide?

I suppose people could be parking at DHS and riding to CBR for a midday pool break without staying there, but that feels like a stretch. Maybe it’s not, idk.

 

[CWTC]

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

This also needs to happen at GF.

 

[Sandisw]

This also needs to happen at GF.

I think this is a good sign we will see it applied to more pools!

When I am there next week reviewing CBR I’ll see what info I can get!!!

 

[Stormalong Smiths]

I think this is a good sign we will see it applied to more pools!

When I am there next week reviewing CBR I’ll see what info I can get!!!

It would be great to see this implemented property-wide. Can't wait to hear what you learn, Sandi! Have a great trip!

 

[Brian Noble]

plus a 5th gate at WDW will be announced and detailed!

 

[Cabius]

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

Disagree about a 5th gate. Instead, I think they'll announce a whole new 3rd resort in the US, probably in the Texas triangle. (Hey, if we're making up stuff we wish would happen but definitely won't, why not dream big?)

 

[tx911]

Disagree about a 5th gate. Instead, I think they'll announce a whole new 3rd resort in the US, probably in the Texas triangle. (Hey, if we're making up stuff we wish would happen but definitely won't, why not dream big?)

Yes, anything in Texas, bring it on!

 

[Mikey15]

Disagree about a 5th gate. Instead, I think they'll announce a whole new 3rd resort in the US, probably in the Texas triangle. (Hey, if we're making up stuff we wish would happen but definitely won't, why not dream big?)

I mean, they will need a 5th gate eventually. It’s now been as long since AK opened as it was from MK->AK. Epic Universe looks amazing and is going to put a lot of pressure on. The main thing holding back Florida expansion would be the targeting by the state government, and wanting to wait for a more cooperative business environment. FL makes a lot more sense than a third resort elsewhere in the US.

At least Island Tower (hey, topic!) will be a reasonable drive to Epic Universe when it opens next year!

 

[tx911]

I mean, they will need a 5th gate eventually. It’s now been as long since AK opened as it was from MK->AK. Epic Universe looks amazing and is going to put a lot of pressure on. The main thing holding back Florida expansion would be the targeting by the state government, and wanting to wait for a more cooperative business environment. FL makes a lot more sense than a third resort elsewhere in the US.

At least Island Tower (hey, topic!) will be a reasonable drive to Epic Universe when it opens next year!

The tricky thing about a 5th gate is that it has to actually draw new people to Disney, both immediately and into the foreseeable future.

In other words, if people just go to the 5th gate and decrease their time at the other 4 parks, it's a net no-change for Disney's wallet, and they don't recoup the cost of the park.

I think that's a pretty tall task for Disney, because there's a lot a people that are already going to Disney as much as their time and finances will allow.

 

[Tatebeck]

They will either need a 5th gate OR to expand all of the parks which is the more likely route (and seems like the current plan with tropical Americas and beyond big thunder already announced). It's easier to expand since they wouldn't need as much staff increases as a full new park (no new entrance security, guest services, parking staff, new transport staff, etc). They would mostly just need the experiences in the new area staffed.

They really just need more experiences in general. They keep opening more on-site hotel/DVC rooms like the Island Tower and sometimes have trouble filling all of them. Expanding the parks is essential to keep the rooms filling and allow for more rooms being built, and I think they should expand both perks for staying on-site like early entry, early multipass booking, extended evening hours, etc and also direct DVC perks to encourage staying on-site and staying DVC/deluxe

 

[tx911]

They will either need a 5th gate OR to expand all of the parks which is the more likely route (and seems like the current plan with tropical Americas and beyond big thunder already announced). It's easier to expand since they wouldn't need as much staff increases as a full new park (no new entrance security, guest services, parking staff, new transport staff, etc). They would mostly just need the experiences in the new area staffed.

They really just need more experiences in general. They keep opening more on-site hotel/DVC rooms like the Island Tower and sometimes have trouble filling all of them. Expanding the parks is essential to keep the rooms filling and allow for more rooms being built, and I think they should expand both perks for staying on-site like early entry, early multipass booking, extended evening hours, etc and also direct DVC perks to encourage staying on-site and staying DVC/deluxe

 

[Brian Noble]

I mean, they will need a 5th gate eventually.

Not really, and @tx911 gives good reasons why. The primary goal of a separate gate is to take up more vacation time. But the average US vacation is about four days and getting shorter---the set they have is already about as big as US vacation patterns allow.

Foreign visitors stay for quite a bit longer, but that's probably not a large enough segment to justify the investment.

OR to expand all of the parks

...which is exactly what they've been doing, dating back to New Fantasyland in MK, and including: the Pandoraverse in AK; Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story Land in DS; the France expansion, the third Soarin' theater, and arguably Guardians in EP; and Tron in MK. This is continuing with the South America updates in AK plus Beyond Big Thunder in MK, assuming those both happen.

Some of those updates may not have added theoretical capacity, but definitely added "practical capacity" by replacing unpopular things with more popular updates. A high-capacity attraction that doesn't draw well does not help the park meet its capacity goals because there are not people on it/in line waiting for it, and those people are somewhere else doing something else instead.