Island Tower at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

[BeachClub2014]

It’s just not as prestigious in the Disney community, it’s not a bucket list resort, i don’t think that’s a very controversial opinion

That may be true for some people, and to each their own. I think the hype for Grand Floridian and the Polynesian is way overblown. It's not a knock against either, and I don't think they are all that and a bag of chips, as the saying goes.

I would also add that they aren't seemingly "bucket list resorts" as WDW offloaded parts of the legacy resorts to DVC to flip into DVC villas, suggesting they had difficulty keeping them full.

 

[Ruttangel]

All are entitled to their opinion but the points are more expensive at PVB when we go over both VGF & RIV which is what I originally pointed out.

Comparing VGF to PVB is fair enough, not sure where RIV comes in to play
My favourite resort is AKV but I’m not going to argue that’s on top of Disney community’s bucket list either

 

[BeachClub2014]

Comparing VGF to PVB is fair enough, not sure where RIV comes in to play
My favourite resort is AKV but I’m not going to argue that’s on top of Disney community’s bucket list either

Where can I find this list? I'd be interested in taking a look. It could be helpful as I might be missing something from the Disney experience.

 

[eticketplease]

Comparing VGF to PVB is fair enough, not sure where RIV comes in to play
My favourite resort is AKV but I’m not going to argue that’s on top of Disney community’s bucket list either

Riviera comes in to play as that is the original conversation as we were discussing how expensive the points are at Poly. I was showing an example where Riviera was cheaper than both Polynesian and grand Floridian for times when we visit during spring break.

It’s just not as prestigious in the Disney community, it’s not a bucket list resort, i don’t think that’s a very controversial opinion

I originally didn’t say anything about bucket list that was you.

Yeah but RIV is not at all comparable to VGF or PVB, compared to other Epcot resorts it’s very high

I stated that point charts at RIV were high just not as High.

 

[Cabius]

I've heard of Waimea, Waimanalo, Waikiki, Waianae, Wailuku.

Wailulu? What is that?

Wailulu doesn't seem to be an actual Hawaiian word? A search for "Wailulu -Disney" returns few hits, several of which seem to be related to other Polynesian islands altogether.

But... "Wai" means "water" and "lulu" means something like "calm", so I imagine it's meant to mean "calm water" (hence the fish design motif). This would be opposed to the more common Hawaiian word "Wailuku," which means "destroying water".

(I have an interest in the Hawaiian language, but do not speak more than a handful of words, so this could be one of those "Butter + Fly = Butterfly" traps, but it's the best I can come up with for what Disney is thinking here.)

 

[aka Charles]

Opening day for big pine key They were still landscaping haha it was still a construction zone.

So true!



We were in BPK on opening day, and this is what it was like two days later.
A fun wake up call each morning in our theme park view room.
(I took that picture at 6:48am)
We still had a great trip.
.

 

[intamin]

I still think it is price that sways those buyers who don’t have a particular resort in mind.

Sales for PVB tower will be strong the first few months for sure as all those who have been waiting to buy.

After that, we shall see how pricing is for the resorts and how it impacts the sales.

Yeup. It’s the price that drives what sells faster or slower.

For the uneducated buyer who doesn’t know the importance of home resort priority, I’ve seen some youtubers say what does it matter? I can use my points anywhere at 7 months not fully understanding that if you want to book Grand Cal, Beach Club or Boardwalk (standard/BW view) you need to own there.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

So if we're still thinking going on sale 10/1, and new incentives start then anyway, how long do we think the 10/1 incentives will run, until mid December or until 12/31? Something different?

 

[Sandisw]

So if we're still thinking going on sale 10/1, and new incentives start then anyway, how long do we think the 10/1 incentives will run, until mid December or until 12/31? Something different?

If I had to guess’s, until the end of the year or into January.

 

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

Disney has given me soooo much time to mull over buying Poly direct that I think I’ve come to my senses and don’t want/need to buy.

 

[MonkeyKnifeFight]

Disney has given me soooo much time to mull over buying Poly direct that I think I’ve come to my senses and don’t want/need to buy.

Still going to wait and see. But I’m perfectly happy with the animal kingdom offering this month.

 

[bbeagle]

It’s just not as prestigious in the Disney community, it’s not a bucket list resort, i don’t think that’s a very controversial opinion

I agree.

When I talk to people who have never been to Disney, or been only to the value resorts like All Star Sports, their dream vacation would be at the Polynesian or Animal Kingdom Lodge. They’ve never even heard of the riviera, much less OKW, Saratoga, wilderness, etc.

Some have heard about the Grand Floridian due to episodes of Full House.

Once people understand a bit more about WDW, then people recognize the Riviera, Grand Floridian, or the Contemporary.

Once people have been there a few times, and have researched more, then the Epcot resorts and Saratoga become known. It’s rare outside DVC or hard core people that I find anyone who has even heard of OKW, Port Orleans or Coronado Springs.

 

[davidhr]

I agree.

When I talk to people who have never been to Disney, or been only to the value resorts like All Star Sports, their dream vacation would be at the Polynesian or Animal Kingdom Lodge. They’ve never even heard of the riviera, much less OKW, Saratoga, wilderness, etc.

Some have heard about the Grand Floridian due to episodes of Full House.

Once people understand a bit more about WDW, then people recognize the Riviera, Grand Floridian, or the Contemporary.

Once people have been there a few times, and have researched more, then the Epcot resorts and Saratoga become known. It’s rare outside DVC or hard core people that I find anyone who has even heard of OKW, Port Orleans or Coronado Springs.

I'd say the same about pretty much every WDW resort besides the values. Just people that are somewhat more familiar with Disney World than the average guest know those resorts. I do agree that more people know about the Polynesian than others, yes. But most WDW visitors don't know about resorts.

I was there last week with a large group of extended family that has been 2-3 times before, and on one of the days off I took them for a monorail resort "trip". That was their first time ever realizing there were actually hotels around the lagoon. Previously they hadn't noticed it because the buses from value resorts drop them so close to MK they didn't even see the resorts.

 

[matt and beth]

That may be true for some people, and to each their own. I think the hype for Grand Floridian and the Polynesian is way overblown. It's not a knock against either, and I don't think they are all that and a bag of chips, as the saying goes.

I would also add that they aren't seemingly "bucket list resorts" as WDW offloaded parts of the legacy resorts to DVC to flip into DVC villas, suggesting they had difficulty keeping them full.

I wouldn't quite go to offloading status. Poly alone sold over 4 million total points. Multiplied by $200 (at today’s price) that would be over $800 million dollars. Thats a huge padding to the yearly stock holders

 

[eticketplease]

I wouldn't quite go to offloading status. Poly alone sold over 4 million total points. Multiplied by $200 (at today’s price) that would be over $800 million dollars. Thats a huge padding to the yearly stock holders

Did Disney make money? Yes they did but they took inventory from the cash side that wasn’t selling and offloaded that inventory and converted the rooms to DVC to do so. Those 4 million points came from the existing longhouses.

 

[Cabius]

Disney has given me soooo much time to mull over buying Poly direct that I think I’ve come to my senses and don’t want/need to buy.

Right? I think a couple of months ago I would've pulled the trigger on another 150 direct points to move up to 2BR range (I currently have 350, a mix of direct and resale).

But now, I'm thinking about the fact that I can probably get 250-300 points at CCV or SSR for the same price, and weighing whether it makes more sense to just have two larger contracts that I leapfrog (banking/borrowing and using each one every other year).

Decisions, decisions...

 

[matt and beth]

Did Disney make money? Yes they did but they took inventory from the cash side that wasn’t selling and offloaded that inventory and converted the rooms to DVC to do so. Those 4 million points came from the existing longhouses.

It’s an accountant trick with money. It pads their yearlies and pushes it forward. They still take in roughly $200 a night when you factor points and dues. And I can regularly book villas at DVC resorts that “sold out” with cash. They play a wise game

 

[eticketplease]

It’s an accountant trick with money. It pads their yearlies and pushes it forward. They still take in roughly $200 a night when you factor points and dues. And I can regularly book villas at DVC resorts that “sold out” with cash. They play a wise game

ok not an accountant but they don’t make money once they have sold the points. The dues are not really making money but they do help with the fact that Disney is no longer responsible for all of the staffing and upkeep of the resort.

The rooms that you can book at sold out DVC is because Disney is renting the 2% of points they are required to hold and points acquired if someone exchanged for a cruise or the Disney collection.
If you look at these sold out resorts online a lot of the accommodations are not available to use cash for.

 

[Kailunkat]

ok not an accountant but they don’t make money once they have sold the points. The dues are not really making money but they do help with the fact that Disney is no longer responsible for all of the staffing and upkeep of the resort.

Of course they make money after they have sold the points! They had Cash room inventory previously that now have 100% occupancy. Let's say the average unsold inventory on the cash side was 10%. They can make 10% more food revenue, drink/alcohol revenue, souvenir revenue and can hold people in/at the parks for longer to keep spending that money - all with zero overhead because of the dues/MF. I think they come out way ahead with DVC. Yes, it's less of a price gouge than the cash rooms - but it's also a different market/demographic.

 

[hockeydad21]

Of course they make money after they have sold the points! They had Cash room inventory previously that now have 100% occupancy. Let's say the average unsold inventory on the cash side was 10%. They can make 10% more food revenue, drink/alcohol revenue, souvenir revenue and can hold people in/at the parks for longer to keep spending that money - all with zero overhead because of the dues/MF. I think they come out way ahead with DVC. Yes, it's less of a price gouge than the cash rooms - but it's also a different market/demographic.

There's a reason why Disney is only building DVC accommodations, and not cash...It acts as a financial safety net even during bad times. In addition, it's an immediate financial benefit to the bottom line by pulling those cash bookings forward in the form of large contracts. They know at the end of the day they've got those rooms "occupied" for the next 40+ years, and now they can make up the cash hotels by getting you with tickets, merch, food, and whatever other revenue streams the future may hold.