Island Tower at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

[hockeydad21]

Just read a report that a guide has said point charts and pricing coming out Tuesday…two weeks before the speculated October 1st sale date!

Great work sandisw!

 

[mkatsy]

Just read a report that a guide has said point charts and pricing coming out Tuesday…two weeks before the speculated October 1st sale date!

Corporate taxes are due Monday for those of us that filed an extension. They probably got their financials back from accounting. “SELL ISLAND TOWER - NOW!”

 

[supercarrie]

Great work sandisw!

Thanks for the sleuthing sandisw! I called it! It’s two weeks out from Oct. 1st, and two weeks out is consistent with the last few DVC properties. They all released their point chart and on sale date two weeks in advance, but we had to wait for base price for Cabins two days in advance and then incentives for all were released on the actual on sale date. For VDH, we had point chart and base pricing two weeks in advance.

(For point chart, technically we had VGF in advance, but for VDH and CFW, it was two weeks out.)

Exciting stuff!

 

[supercarrie]

Oh wow! Just looking at this now. Definitely seems tight in the kitchen and living space when compared to VGF and RIV’s 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom layouts. Also, the master bedroom and bath looks smaller as does the studio side bathroom. I applaud them for adding the additional bathroom, but it sure does take away a lot of usable space. Would it have killed them to make the entire tower 10-15 feet wider, so each side could have another 5-8 feet to work with? Just seems tight given the premium we know DVC is going to charge.

I agree. The lens on the virtual tour camera may distort this a bit, but it feels very similar to VDH. The 1 bedroom in VDH feels much smaller than Riviera. The VDH bathroom area is lovely but the actual bedroom feels tiny to me, and this tour looks like they went that route here.

The other thing I worry about is that maintenance reports keep coming up about VDH, a year in. Things appear to be made pretty cheaply, although they are beautiful on the surface. Perhaps all the carvings in Island Tower means it won’t suffer the same fate, but we will see.

 

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

So if and when Poly points ever go on sale, when can you start using those new points at other resorts? As soon as you buy them? Or are those new points not good until the Island Tower actually opens? … For example, can you buy Poly points on Oct 1 and immediately book for 7 months later at Grand Floridian or Aulani, etc? Could you use them at other resorts in November???

 

[Spivey378]

What kind of sponges will the Island Tower have?

 

[Phatscott25]

So if and when Poly points ever go on sale, when can you start using those new points at other resorts? As soon as you buy them? Or are those new points not good until the Island Tower actually opens? … For example, can you buy Poly points on Oct 1 and immediately book for 7 months later at Grand Floridian or Aulani, etc? Could you use them at other resorts in November???

Usually they are usable as of the date the resort opens for points bookings. So possibly December 17.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I agree. The lens on the virtual tour camera may distort this a bit, but it feels very similar to VDH. The 1 bedroom in VDH feels much smaller than Riviera. The VDH bathroom area is lovely but the actual bedroom feels tiny to me, and this tour looks like they went that route here.

The other thing I worry about is that maintenance reports keep coming up about VDH, a year in. Things appear to be made pretty cheaply, although they are beautiful on the surface. Perhaps all the carvings in Island Tower means it won’t suffer the same fate, but we will see.

We stayed in a VDH 1BD and my wife said the resort has the facade of being nice, but won’t hold up well.

I think most of the comment was because of the cheap “ikea” furniture in the room.

It appears PolyT has the exact same furniture….

 

[AstroBlasters]

Usually they are usable as of the date the resort opens for points bookings. So possibly December 17.

But the “resort” is open because the points also work at the Longhouses….

 

[Phatscott25]

But the “resort” is open because the points also work at the Longhouses….

Yeah good point! I wasn't thinking of that. I was going by my experience with other new sales like RIV.

 

[eticketplease]

But the “resort” is open because the points also work at the Longhouses….

I think it is when the new tower opens. I believe it was @Sandisw explained it before regarding VGF that they are not useable elsewhere until it the actual BPK was opened. This was because points going out ie booking SSR has to have someone booking at the new location. If the location is not open then it is not possible.

 

[Sandisw]

But the “resort” is open because the points also work at the Longhouses….

The units that the deeds are written off of must be open in order for the points to be used.

So, any new contracts written for PVB tower will not be able to be used anywhere until the date they say points bookings start, which we assume will be December 17th.

I expect that all new contracts will come from the tower, just like all new VGF contracts came from BPK.

 

[ehh]

Might be worth clarifying, exactly, how usable the points are. I've spelled out a few hypothetical scenarios below with member purchasing starting Oct 1st and owner booking hypothetically starting Oct 2nd, @Sandisw do you mind commenting on which are likely to be permissible, based on VGF2/BPK?

1. Purchase points Oct 1. On Oct 2nd, book stay for Nov 1 - 5, 2024 at non-PVB resort.
2. Purchase points Oct 1. On Oct 2nd, book stay for Nov 1 - 5, 2024 at a PVB Bungalow or longhouse Studio.
3. Purchase points Oct 1. On Oct 2nd, book stay for Apr 1 - 5, 2025 at non-PVB resort.
4. Purchase points Oct 1. On Oct 2nd, book stay for Sep 1 - 5, 2025 at a PVB Bungalow or longhouse Studio.
5. Purchase points Oct 1. On Oct 2nd, book stay for Sep 1 - 5, 2025 at a PVB Island Tower Studio or Villa.
6. Purchase points Oct 1. On Dec 18th, book stay for July 18 - 23, 2025 at non-PVB resort.
7. Purchase points Oct 1. On Dec 18th, book stay for Nov 18 - 23, 2025 at a PVB Bungalow or longhouse Studio.
8. Purchase points Oct 1. On Dec 18th, book stay for Nov 18 - 23, 2025 at a PVB Island Tower Studio or Villa.

Based on comments above, I believe scenarios 3-8 are permissible, with scenario 1-2 being off the table.

 

[Sandisw]

Might be worth clarifying, exactly, how usable the points are. I've spelled out a few hypothetical scenarios below with member purchasing starting Oct 1st and owner booking hypothetically starting Oct 2nd, @Sandisw do you mind commenting on which are likely to be permissible, based on VGF2/BPK?

1. Purchase points Oct 1. On Oct 2nd, book stay for Nov 1 - 5, 2024 at non-PVB resort.
2. Purchase points Oct 1. On Oct 2nd, book stay for Nov 1 - 5, 2024 at a PVB Bungalow or longhouse Studio.
3. Purchase points Oct 1. On Oct 2nd, book stay for Apr 1 - 5, 2025 at non-PVB resort.
4. Purchase points Oct 1. On Oct 2nd, book stay for Sep 1 - 5, 2025 at a PVB Bungalow or longhouse Studio.
5. Purchase points Oct 1. On Oct 2nd, book stay for Sep 1 - 5, 2025 at a PVB Island Tower Studio or Villa.
6. Purchase points Oct 1. On Dec 18th, book stay for July 18 - 23, 2025 at non-PVB resort.
7. Purchase points Oct 1. On Dec 18th, book stay for Nov 18 - 23, 2025 at a PVB Bungalow or longhouse Studio.
8. Purchase points Oct 1. On Dec 18th, book stay for Nov 18 - 23, 2025 at a PVB Island Tower Studio or Villa.

Based on comments above, I believe scenarios 3-8 are permissible, with scenario 1-2 being off the table.

Here would be my guess.

Sales start October 1st....beginning somewhere from October 2nd to October 5th, bookings for PVB owners opens for use at the tower for stays Dececember 17th (assuming points based stays start that day) up until the 11 month window. This gives all PVB owners a modified "home resort period".

I think owners will need to call in and they will only be able to use PVB points to book stays in the tower, even if the dates are within 7 months....even if they own points elsewhere, because initial bookings are considered "home resort"

PVB tower owners (as soon as they have points) can begin bookng other resorts for stays starting December 17th and beyond up to the 7 month date.

Beginning somewhere between mid October to November 1st, all owners will have access to the PVB tower following the regular 7/11 month booking and online bookings will begin. for dates December 17th and beyond.

 

[maui22]

I can’t remember if this was posted. Here are more photos on the construction. Good to see trees are planted around the pool so they have 3+ months to root/grow and fill in. They are getting ready for more concrete around the pool. Pocket gardens receiving more plants so they can root and fill in before opening.

Sorry, I forgot the link
https://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/th...ion-updates-as-terrace-gardens-take-shape.htm

 

[maui22]

Here would be my guess.

Sales start October 1st....beginning somewhere from October 2nd to October 5th, bookings for PVB owners opens for use at the tower for stays Dececember 17th (assuming points based stays start that day) up until the 11 month window. This gives all PVB owners a modified "home resort period".

I think owners will need to call in and they will only be able to use PVB points to book stays in the tower, even if the dates are within 7 months....even if they own points elsewhere, because initial bookings are considered "home resort"

PVB tower owners can begin bookng other resorts starting December 17th and beyon up to the 7 month date.

Beginning somewhere between mid October to November 1st, all owners will have access to the PVB tower following the regular 7/11 month booking and online bookings will begin. for dates December 17th and beyond.

When do you think sales begin for non-owners?
Disney used to wait for bookings until non-owners had a chance to purchase. Did they change that with BPK or another association?

 

[The_MT]

I can’t remember if this was posted. Here are more photos on the construction. Good to see trees are planted around the pool so they have 3+ months to root/grow and fill in. They are getting ready for more concrete around the pool. Pocket gardens receiving more plants so they can root and fill in before opening.

I think you left off the photos or link to the photos

 

[Sandisw]

When do you think sales begin for non-owners?
Disney used to wait for bookings until non-owners had a chance to purchase. Did they change that with BPK or another association?

I am thinking that they won’t be doing an early member sales period this time…given how close it is to opening day.

If they do, I then I think it will be one week, with bookings starting October 8th, the same day sales open for non members.

 

[aka Charles]

Just read a report that a guide has said point charts and pricing coming out Tuesday…two weeks before the speculated October 1st sale date!

That figures.

I will be on the Disney Magic all next week.

I hope the guides on the Magic are in the loop, as I will have lots of questions and ALL DAY to ask them. lol
.

 

[VGCgroupie]

We stayed in a VDH 1BD and my wife said the resort has the facade of being nice, but won’t hold up well.

I think most of the comment was because of the cheap “ikea” furniture in the room.

It appears PolyT has the exact same furniture….

Having stayed there, 100% agree.