Island Tower at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

[ehh]

All this talk about 1BR and 2BR availability…but don’t forget Duos are also going to be limited based on declarations and the new Low Points Magnets!

Everyone who already has budgeted for PVB Studios can afford Duos with the same points budget and length of stays. Not every OG PVB owner can afford 1BR/2BR with their points budget and desired length of stay.

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

Heard some interesting rumors/tidbits today from a guide on property after my member update at SSR:

1. Tower point sales to members will happen in October, coinciding with the beginning of the new fiscal year
2. Year ended 9/30 will be one of the worst ever for DVD
3. CFW sales have missed expectations by more than any estimates they made before now, and not to be surprised if October 1 incentives are better (hope that is true as I have signed my CFW fixed week contracts and postponed closing until I know whether next round is better)

How much is fact vs opinion? Who knows. My view from my room at VGF includes the tower - will post pictures on progress tomorrow.

 

[CastAStone]

Heard some interesting rumors/tidbits today from a guide on property after my member update at SSR:

1. Tower point sales to members will happen in October, coinciding with the beginning of the new fiscal year
2. Year ended 9/30 will be one the worst ever for DVD
3. CFW sales have missed expectations by more than any estimates they made before now, and not to be surprised if October 1 incentives are better (hope that is true as I have signed my CFW fixed week contracts and postponed closing until I know whether next round is better)

How much is fact vs opinion? Who knows. My view from my room at VGF includes the tower - will post pictures on progress tomorrow.

Having watched COVID, I have trouble believing number 2, but it may be true vs expectations, or maybe they just take a pass for that one (which, fair enough I suppose).

#3
How dumb did they think we all are?

 

[MyDogTink]

Heard some interesting rumors/tidbits today from a guide on property after my member update at SSR:

1. Tower point sales to members will happen in October, coinciding with the beginning of the new fiscal year
2. Year ended 9/30 will be one the worst ever for DVD
3. CFW sales have missed expectations by more than any estimates they made before now, and not to be surprised if October 1 incentives are better (hope that is true as I have signed my CFW fixed week contracts and postponed closing until I know whether next round is better)

How much is fact vs opinion? Who knows. My view from my room at VGF includes the tower - will post pictures on progress tomorrow.

Thanks for the info. Any word on when model rooms will be available to tour or what UYs will get current points?

How are the crowds? Fingers crossed, we arrive tomorrow.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

Thanks for the info. Any word on when model rooms will be available to tour or what UYs will get current points?

How are the crowds? Fingers crossed, we arrive tomorrow.

Same! Sunday we’re storming the beach

 

[vdangelo239]

Thanks for the info. Any word on when model rooms will be available to tour or what UYs will get current points?

How are the crowds? Fingers crossed, we arrive tomorrow.

Been at GFV since Tuesday - weather has been awesome and crowds very manageable! . Island tower is really coming along too. Interiors look much more done from monorail view than I expected.

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

Been at GFV since Tuesday - weather has been awesome and crowds very manageable! . Island tower is really coming along too. Interiors look much more done from monorail view than I expected.

I’m at Big Pine Key - I think magic kingdom has been absurdly busy based solely on how full the parking lot looked. Heat has been typical but I beach myself at the pools so I don’t care. California Grill was perfect for watching the Not So Scary Halloween party fireworks.

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

Thanks for the info. Any word on when model rooms will be available to tour or what UYs will get current points?

How are the crowds? Fingers crossed, we arrive tomorrow.

I asked those questions ~ either he didn’t know or wouldn’t say.

 

[zavandor]

All this talk about 1BR and 2BR availability…but don’t forget Duos are also going to be limited based on declarations and the new Low Points Magnets!

Everyone who already has budgeted for PVB Studios can afford Duos with the same points budget and length of stays. Not every OG PVB owner can afford 1BR/2BR with their points budget and desired length of stay.

Agreed. Duo studios at the Poly will be as difficult to book as AKV value studios.

 

[JackosinDIS]

Thanks for the info. Any word on when model rooms will be available to tour or what UYs will get current points?

How are the crowds? Fingers crossed, we arrive tomorrow.

Crowds are pretty low and weather fantastic! Did MK yesterday (party day) and pretty much everything was 20 minute wait or less (7DMT we had to wait 30 mins!). Have been here since Tuesday and only used one LL for FOP. Very minimal wait times for everything else. Have a fab time!

 

[maui22]

Having watched COVID, I have trouble believing number 2, but it may be true vs expectations, or maybe they just take a pass for that one (which, fair enough I suppose).

#3
How dumb did they think we all are?

Guides should be required to read the discussion you and @tjkraz had regarding when sales show up in the financials.

 

[tjkraz]

Year ended 9/30 will be one of the worst ever for DVD

The quarter is barely half over. If there's any truth to that statement, it probably extends far beyond DVC point sales alone. Riviera is actually stringing together its most impressive run since before the pandemic.

If any truth, it's probably more about additional expenses DVD is incurring. That requires insight to their financials that none of us have. They're building the Poly tower, in the process of replacing 360 cabins, building a new lounge at MK, renovating the lounge at Epcot, running the Welcome Home Weeks promotion. Also things like conducting Welcome Home member meetings, giveaways like MagicBand sliders, the sales center at the Poly is being updated, the sales center at Disney Springs just opened a mini member lounge, a new sales center just opened at Disneyland. Some of that is undoubtedly amortized. Still it's a lot of financial outlay and some of it is surely hitting the bottom line now.

 

[downeyland]

Does DVD share detailed corporate financials with guides?

 

[OKW Lover]

Does DVD share detailed corporate financials with guides?

I seriously doubt it. No reason for the guides to have it.

 

[ehh]

The quarter is barely half over. If there's any truth to that statement, it probably extends far beyond DVC point sales alone. Riviera is actually stringing together its most impressive run since before the pandemic.

If any truth, it's probably more about additional expenses DVD is incurring. That requires insight to their financials that none of us have. They're building the Poly tower, in the process of replacing 360 cabins, building a new lounge at MK, renovating the lounge at Epcot, running the Welcome Home Weeks promotion. Also things like conducting Welcome Home member meetings, giveaways like MagicBand sliders, the sales center at the Poly is being updated, the sales center at Disney Springs just opened a mini member lounge, a new sales center just opened at Disneyland. Some of that is undoubtedly amortized. Still it's a lot of financial outlay and some of it is surely hitting the bottom line now.

Does DVD share detailed corporate financials with guides?

I have the same question as @downeyland.

@tjkraz absolutely knows more about what guides know than I do (I haven't ever had a conversation with one outside of discussing an in-progress purchase), but I wouldn't expect a frontline/guest-facing employee to have macro expenditure information, and I consider guides as frontline/guest-facing.

Of course, some localized, back of the envelope expenditure calculations are possible (e.g., the popcorn cart sales person probably can work out how much it costs to run the cart, likewise the recreation CMs at resorts are probably aware how much their activities actually cost, etc.). But nothing macro like construction, or marketing initiatives, etc.

I would expect them to know their individual, team, and possibly org's sales figures and goals (to be measured against). And in that light, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they were falling short this fiscal year by more than in any recent year (assuming FY20 goals were reset when COVID hit). VDH sales have been modest post-opening, CFW sales have been abysmal, RIV has been solid but not spectacular to the point of covering for other shortfalls, and they opted to do a semi-fire sale at OKW (a potential sign of soft sales).

 

[CastAStone]

Does DVD share detailed corporate financials with guides?

It’s common for organizations to give their sales teams somewhat detailed top line results (the guides almost certainly either have direct access to or are regularly presented with specific sales numbers by month by resort, for example), but only vague bottom line results (e.g. “we had record profits”, or, “we’re hurting on the bottom line this year”), likely presented from management in occasional all hands meetings.

I do think people in a sales organization get a pretty good pulse on the performance though, through either stray comments from their leaders or cross functional partners, or from specific asks of their leaders. - if you’re being told to pivot customers to CFW, you know that it's not selling well. If you’re being told that you need to justify a new pencil, you know there’s a bottom line issue.

 

[OKW Lover]

Of course, some localized, back of the envelope expenditure calculations are possible (e.g., the popcorn cart sales person probably can work out how much it costs to run the cart, likewise the recreation CMs at resorts are probably aware how much their activities actually cost, etc.).

I'm not sure I'd agree with this. The CM's might be aware of how much they sell but I don't know why they would be able to calculate the cost of their product. I doubt any of them have experience in buying goods at the scale Disney does.

I would expect them to know their individual, team, and possibly org's sales figures and goals (to be measured against).

For the guides themselves I'd expect them to know goals in terms of points sold. Not sure they would need to know the total value of those sales. OTOH, the DVC execs would certainly want to track that info.

 

[tjkraz]

It’s common for organizations to give their sales teams somewhat detailed top line results (the guides almost certainly either have direct access to or are regularly presented with specific sales numbers by month by resort, for example), but only vague bottom line results (e.g. “we had record profits”, or, “we’re hurting on the bottom line this year”), likely presented from management in occasional all hands meetings.

I do think people in a sales organization get a pretty good pulse on the performance though, through either stray comments from their leaders or cross functional partners, or from specific asks of their leaders. - if you’re being told to pivot customers to CFW, you know that it's not selling well. If you’re being told that you need to justify a new pencil, you know there’s a bottom line issue.

Agree with this. When you work for a large, closely managed organization, even front line employees usually have some sense as to the direction things are going in their division. Management will often drop hints when belt tightening is viewed as necessary ("we aren't doing X this quarter because of Y".) Overall point sales seem decent, but they can't be pleased with early reception for the cabins.

 

[DebbieB]

Cabins needed replaced, making them DVC will help pay for it. They will gladly rent them for cash.

With the recent rumors of the reviving Reflections, I think the cabins may be part of a long term plan to combine.

 

[Mikey15]

Cabins needed replaced, making them DVC will help pay for it. They will gladly rent them for cash.

With the recent rumors of the reviving Reflections, I think the cabins may be part of a long term plan to combine.

All true.

But they made a mistake with the points chart. It’d be a bit more appealing (to at least sell some of them) with a higher points chart which would mean lower dues per point.