Island Tower at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

[The_MT]

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.

As someone who can book a cabin within the 7 month mark with my non-cfw direct points I appreciate the low points nights.

 

[zavandor]

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.

Sorry, I don't get this.
If the cabins had a higher points chart and lower dues, the amount paid in dues per night to book a cabin would be the same. But the initial cost would be much higher.
The problem with the cabins is that the dues are very high and owners have to pay them. The low point chart at least allows to buy in cheaply.

 

[Mikey15]

Sorry, I don't get this.
If the cabins had a higher points chart and lower dues, the amount paid in dues per night to book a cabin would be the same. But the initial cost would be much higher.
The problem with the cabins is that the dues are very high and owners have to pay them. The low point chart at least allows to buy in cheaply.

One factor dragging down the sales is that people who own direct points (or pre-‘19 resale points? Do those work?) elsewhere know they can book Cabins using their lower-dues points more economically than owning CFW points. The points per night are lower than other 1 bedrooms so arguably they had room to make the charts a little bit higher.

If the average week is, say, 120 points, and they had made it 144 points instead (napkin math here), but dues were $10.13 instead of $12.16, yes buy-in for “a week” would be higher but not everyone thinks of it that way when buying in. They’re just buying their 150 regardless. And then it wouldn’t be “cheaper” for someone to buy at Riv to stay at CFW than to buy at CFW the way it is now.

 

[Sandisw]

One factor dragging down the sales is that people who own direct points (or pre-‘19 resale points? Do those work?) elsewhere know they can book Cabins using their lower-dues points more economically than owning CFW points. The points per night are lower than other 1 bedrooms so arguably they had room to make the charts a little bit higher.

If the average week is, say, 120 points, and they had made it 144 points instead (napkin math here), but dues were $10.13 instead of $12.16, yes buy-in for “a week” would be higher but not everyone thinks of it that way when buying in. They’re just buying their 150 regardless. And then it wouldn’t be “cheaper” for someone to buy at Riv to stay at CFW than to buy at CFW the way it is now.

They can book them now because number of rooms available exceed points sold so far. If they stop adding more cabins, and sell more points, and staying becomes more difficult, people might indeed need to buy.

But, I agree that right now, given the ease that people have found with CFW booking, it’s make sense to buy direct at the other resorts, and trade.

It will be interesting to see what happens if they do ever add units at other component sites so you have the cabins and someplace else as a “home resort”…

 

[wnielsen1]

3 big issues at CFW:

1. Dues per point scare away existing members looking to add-on ("I'll take my chances at 7 months")
2. No washer/dryer
3. One bathroom for potential parties of 5-6 people? LOL

But anyway, we are talking about CFW in a Poly thread because "release the points chart already!"

 

[tidefan]

One factor dragging down the sales is that people who own direct points (or pre-‘19 resale points? Do those work?) elsewhere know they can book Cabins using their lower-dues points more economically than owning CFW points. The points per night are lower than other 1 bedrooms so arguably they had room to make the charts a little bit higher.

If the average week is, say, 120 points, and they had made it 144 points instead (napkin math here), but dues were $10.13 instead of $12.16, yes buy-in for “a week” would be higher but not everyone thinks of it that way when buying in. They’re just buying their 150 regardless. And then it wouldn’t be “cheaper” for someone to buy at Riv to stay at CFW than to buy at CFW the way it is now.

One thing to consider, however, is that the Cabins aren't really comparable to most 1 bedroom villas. For instance, the Cabins are 504 square feet whereas an SSR 1-bedroom is 712 square feet and includes a washer and dryer. The villas aren't really comparable. I think that the point cost somewhere between a studio and 1-bedroom is spot on.

What is interesting to me is that they never seemed to have an issue with the old cabins at a reasonable cash pricing that got daily housekeeping. In theory, housekeeping should be coming to the cabins now less that they are DVC than on cash, so you would think that would reduce a cost. A second thought I had was how much of the dues at CFW go to reserves.

 

[maui22]

Additional article on Island Tower. They are late to report on Moana’s outrigger, but it’s always interesting to compare photos of the construction over time.

https://blogmickey.com/2024/08/moan...ter-play-area-at-polynesian-dvc-island-tower/

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

One thing to consider, however, is that the Cabins aren't really comparable to most 1 bedroom villas. For instance, the Cabins are 504 square feet whereas an SSR 1-bedroom is 712 square feet and includes a washer and dryer. The villas aren't really comparable. I think that the point cost somewhere between a studio and 1-bedroom is spot on.

Only one bathroom for 5-6 is not ideal but the real dealbreaker for us is the lack of washer/dryer. Being able to toss a load in before heading out to the parks is so convenient and allows us to travel with 1/2 the luggage. I still want to try them out at some point, but don’t see it being part of our regular rotation.

 

[NY Pirate Princess]

Just back from my first stay at the poly. I am in love with the long houses, the landscaping, the monorail, and the location. I never thought I would like it so much.

I am in serious trouble.

 

[TheDailyMoo]

Just back from my first stay at the poly. I am in love with the long houses, the landscaping, the monorail, and the location. I never thought I would like it so much.

I am in serious trouble.

I say this about every resort I stay at but if I could only choose one going forward it would probably be Poly. Just the best overall feel.

 

[Phatscott25]

Yes Poly is my favorite as well, although RIV is a close second!

 

[pkrieger2287]

So what's the over/under that we get some news this week? I've got a good feeling... Oh and also this could be old news but Tower rooms are now displaying in the points calculator...

 

[MonkeyKnifeFight]

So what's the over/under that we get some news this week? I've got a good feeling... Oh and also this could be old news but Tower rooms are now displaying in the points calculator...


View attachment 887612

I noticed this initially on Friday. Still doesn’t calculate yet…. Hopefully this means it’s coming very soon.

 

[Mai Ku Tiki]

So what's the over/under that we get some news this week? I've got a good feeling... Oh and also this could be old news but Tower rooms are now displaying in the points calculator...


View attachment 887612

Thx, Paul...But where to access that page?

 

[maui22]

Definitely was there over the weekend. IIRC someone posted something about this awhile back.

 

[maui22]

Thx, Paul...But where to access that page?

https://disneyvacationclub.disney.g...esort-in-florida,disney-vacation-club-resorts
If you click on Polynesian Villas and Bungalows "View Points chart" link it brings it up.

 

[Sandisw]

Good find…getting closer!!

 

[Mai Ku Tiki]

https://disneyvacationclub.disney.g...esort-in-florida,disney-vacation-club-resorts
If you click on Polynesian Villas and Bungalows "View Points chart" link it brings it up.

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

But, I agree that right now, given the ease that people have found with CFW booking, it’s make sense to buy direct at the other resorts, and trade.

I must be unlucky because I am not finding it easy to book the CFW cabins unless I look all the way to 7 months out. I only intend to buy a CFW fixed week during December and sincerely hope I can stay off peak easily using the rest of my SAPs.

It will be interesting to see what happens if they do ever add units at other component sites so you have the cabins and someplace else as a “home resort”…

During the member update last week at SSR, one of the guide was speculating that Reflections will be added to CFW (like the Poly Tower and PVB) and become an enhancement to CFW. I thought it was unusual to hear a guide say that when other guides have been extraordinarily tight lipped about future development that has not already been announced officially.

3 big issues at CFW:

1. Dues per point scare away existing members looking to add-on ("I'll take my chances at 7 months")
2. No washer/dryer
3. One bathroom for potential parties of 5-6 people? LOL

1 - If someone is shopping for their next 1000 points, I get it. But at 150 points or less, does the math on those incrementally higher dues really make a difference? If it does, it makes me wonder about the buyer.

2 - Having stayed at the cabins for 20 years paying cash, I always found the proximity of the comfort stations in every loop to be convenient for washer/dryer and additional restroom facilities/showers. Well maintained and inviting decor. That said, a setup like that is never going to be universally appealing.

3 - Comfort stations are great for extra facilities if/when needed, but a setup like that is never going to be universally appealing.

 

[CastAStone]

If someone is shopping for their next 1000 points, I get it. But at 150 points or less, does the math on those incrementally higher dues really make a difference? If it does, it makes me wonder about the buyer

It makes me wonder a lot more about the buyer if they aren’t checking every penny to make sure the math works.

$375 in dues can absolutely be the difference in the math working or not working versus just renting points. And $375 per year for 50 years is a lot of money.

In any case, the reason many people think the dues are too high, is because the dues are too high.