Island Tower at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

[Disdreaming479]

I’m glad there’s another DVC resort with 1 bedroom that sleep 5 with two full bathrooms. Those will accommodate a party of 3 or 4 very nicely.

 

[MerlinandtheMouse]

this debate about DVC/Disney putting too much IP into some of their resorts is nonsense. When done tastefully with classic movies and characters, it’ll always be a hit. The classics like Mary Poppins, Lion King, Moana, Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Frozen, Snow White, etc will never go out of style in a hotel/DVC room…as long as you do it tastefully.

What they did jamming the incredibles into the Contemporary was the exact opposite of tasteful. It was more along the lines of the Value Resort themes.

Absolutely. And besides, we’re on Disney property, I wanna see Disney. You ask most people what they associate the word ‘Disney’ with and 10 times out of 10 it’s going to be the movies. Why do we vilify IP from the movies when that literally is Disney.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

With direct walkway to Riviera!
Then subtly introduce Frozen elements into next Riv refurb.

Ah yes, the Nordic Riviera!
Lol I've heard worse ideas

 

[SpicyMcHaggis]

Some fun with the numbers. Might help on guesses for point charts. Using numbers from his article plus my own phone call.
@pkrieger2287

Dec 17

• PVB longhouse SV studio shows as $1238.63 on WDW website( without DVC discount), so I think it would be roughly $929 for that night.
• PVB longhouse LV studio $1505.25 (without DVC discount). Using 25% discount would be $1128.75
• Tower Duo Standard view $696.94
• Tower Duo Theme Park view $1159.88
• Tower Deluxe studio view $1271.54
• Tower 1BR standard view $1346.63
• Tower 2BR penthouse theme park view $5024.25

If I have the discount (25%) right, crazy that a duo theme park view room appears to be more than a longhouse deluxe studio lake view. I realize it is higher up and will not have its view blocked, but surprises me.

Flipping that back to points if points & price are the same approximate ratio.

Ratios seem a bit off from usual, especially the 1BR vs Tower Deluxe SV, but that's approximately what those dollar amounts would suggest given 14 points longhouse at $929/night and 19 points longhouse LV at $1128/night.

Room	Nightly	Points
Longhouse SV	$929​	14​	$ 66.36	/pp
Longhouse LV	$1,129​	19​	$ 59.41	/pp
		Avg	$ 62.88	/pp
Tower duo SV	$697​	11​	points
Tower duo TPV	$1,159​	18​	points
Tower Deluxe SV	$1,271​	20​	points
Tower 1BR SV	$1,346​	21​	points
Tower 2BR TPV	$5,024​	80​	points

 

[TinkB278]

Super disappointed in the look of these new rooms. The colors and pictures are so muted it reminds me of a hospital. I guess I’ll be using the money I’ve been saving for an add on for more riviera points or a cruise. Wishing I would’ve bought some direct VGF points instead. I just can’t believe it.

 

[CastAStone]

Now, what likely hotel theme could we shoehorn- er, lovingly integrate Frozen into

If they would just take my brilliant idea to build Disney’s Winter Kingdom outside of Buffalo we could have an Arendelle castle AND a Frozen hotel. The snow would be a bonus! Adds realism!

And it would actually be pleasant to visit in the months the kids were out of school, which, I dunno, would be neat.

Alas.

 

[Sandisw]

Flipping that back to points if points & price are the same approximate ratio:
Tower duo SV - 11 pts
Tower duo TPV - 18 pts
Tower Deluxe SV - 20 pts
Tower 1BR SV - 21 pts
Tower 2BR Penthouse TPV - 80 pts


Ratios seem a bit off from usual, especially the 1BR vs Tower Deluxe SV, but that's approximately what those dollar amounts would suggest given 14 points longhouse at $929/night and 19 points longhouse LV at $1128/night.

I don’t think you are going to see the 1 bedrooms that low because the cash side doesn’t price them the same way points are done.

I expect the 1 bedrooms and larger to be on par with RIV and VGF.

 

[Royal Consort]

Ultimately the rooms are nice. I don't love the colour palette but their layout is considered and they seem higher end.

What I don't connect with is that the rooms don't feel like Disney. There is nothing in here that connects with the original Polynesian. This seems to create an identity crisis for resort. One half wants to go in the authentic celebratory Aulani direction, other half makes a joke of it with kitsch.

 

[SpicyMcHaggis]

I don’t think you are going to see the 1 bedrooms that low because the cash side doesn’t price them the same way points are done.

I expect the 1 bedrooms and larger to be on par with RIV and VGF.

Yep, definitely agree there. Was just strictly going off of the ratio/cost per point.
Could also be that they are wanting to give people a taste of the 1BRs to get them addicted and are discounting them accordingly.

 

[mkatsy]

Ultimately the rooms are nice. I don't love the colour palette but their layout is considered and they seem higher end.

What I don't connect with is that the rooms don't feel like Disney. There is nothing in here that connects with the original Polynesian. This seems to create an identity crisis for resort. One half wants to go in the authentic celebratory Aulani direction, other half makes a joke of it with kitsch.

It's "Architectural Digest" meets "Flaming Shots" ... I just want to be there when the first person stumbles out of Trader Sam's and pulls a Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas in that pristine lobby.

 

[hockeydad21]

Absolutely. And besides, we’re on Disney property, I wanna see Disney. You ask most people what they associate the word ‘Disney’ with and 10 times out of 10 it’s going to be the movies. Why do we vilify IP from the movies when that literally is Disney.

Exactly!

Ah yes, the Nordic Riviera!
Lol I've heard worse ideas

if they ever do expand the RIV area by taking some of Caribbean beach, then I hope they turn it into an Aegean themed hotel with some Hercules and/or Aladdin IP pumped into it with greek and middle eastern inspired restaurants.

 

[kungaloosh22]

I love the new rooms! While some hate the muted colors, I like the soft colors and woods, and I want the print on the studio murphy bed in my home. I do love the original rooms, too, but I like having a choice of different styles on the 2 sides of the resort, and I plan to stay at both regularly.

The cost and point projections for the duo studios do surprise me. We'll see where the actual points end up, but I'm not sure I'll ever bother with that room type, even when traveling solo.

ETA: I'm also really happy to have a small dishwasher and real dishes in a studio.

 

[GoingSince1990]

Flipping that back to points if points & price are the same approximate ratio.

Ratios seem a bit off from usual, especially the 1BR vs Tower Deluxe SV, but that's approximately what those dollar amounts would suggest given 14 points longhouse at $929/night and 19 points longhouse LV at $1128/night.

Room	Nightly	Points
Longhouse SV	$929​	14​	$ 66.36	/pp
Longhouse LV	$1,129​	19​	$ 59.41	/pp
		Avg	$ 62.88	/pp
Tower duo SV	$697​	11​	points
Tower duo TPV	$1,159​	18​	points
Tower Deluxe SV	$1,271​	20​	points
Tower 1BR SV	$1,346​	21​	points
Tower 2BR TPV	$5,024​	80​	points

Wow. Seeing the cash rates and points side by side really brings home why many people like to rent points at $20/pt or so.

 

[mamaofsix]

I won't be buying, so I guess it doesn't matter my opinion, but . . . I'm on team "meh." This is really beige and boring. The finishes do not look high end either.

I just hope they don't end up re-theming the original longhouses to match the new tower during the next refurb. That would be a tragedy.

 

[I Run Long]

I always find this take fascinating when we have DVC resorts that have 7 bus stops with few amenities and practically no theming at all.

But carry on.

I admit my view goes against the grain for how most view the Poly. With Disney, there is a resort for everyone’s tastes. But if we are talking transportation, it was a real failure for us when we stayed there, just google monorail breakdown on Sept 20, 2019 and it will become clearer. There were other issues too which admittedly tainted my view of the resort overall. That being said, we love all the resorts but the Poly, due to that particular stay, will remain at the bottom of our list. I do love the interior designs of the new tower which does give me pause

 

[Sandisw]

Yep, definitely agree there. Was just strictly going off of the ratio/cost per point.
Could also be that they are wanting to give people a taste of the 1BRs to get them addicted and are discounting them accordingly.

If you look at the cash pricing of the current resorts, you’d see that the ratio is not the same

So, this is not unique to the tower and why it can coordinate for the studios but not 1 bedrooms, since 1 bedrooms are almost double the points but not double the cash rate.

The plus for us is we do like 1 bedrooms so maybe, once enough inventory is declared and non owners have a shot at booking, o hope to try!!

 

[Jwaire]

ETA: I'm also really happy to have a small dishwasher and real dishes in a studio.

I guess. I'd rather had a washer/dryer though. I can always wash dishes in the sink.

 

[Einstein509]

A few of things:

1. The decorative design Imagineering here is pretty good. It's classy with Disney IP mixed in. I think it will please most.

2. Getting up and making coffee in a studio with that kitchenette layout and the murphy bed down won't be fun.

3. Dishwasher in studio is pretty cool, although I would like a washer/dryer as someone else mentioned.

4. Lastly, $600-$1,200 per night for a studio is just plain crazy ya'll! Can't believe people are willing to throw down that much money for just a room. Disney CL is around $1,000 per night and that comes with food and booze. Heck, a cruise is cheaper and you get food, booze and entertainment, plus locales. People are nuts!

 

[CastAStone]

Flipping that back to points if points & price are the same approximate ratio.

Ratios seem a bit off from usual, especially the 1BR vs Tower Deluxe SV, but that's approximately what those dollar amounts would suggest given 14 points longhouse at $929/night and 19 points longhouse LV at $1128/night.

Room	Nightly	Points
Longhouse SV	$929​	14​	$ 66.36	/pp
Longhouse LV	$1,129​	19​	$ 59.41	/pp
		Avg	$ 62.88	/pp
Tower duo SV	$697​	11​	points
Tower duo TPV	$1,159​	18​	points
Tower Deluxe SV	$1,271​	20​	points
Tower 1BR SV	$1,346​	21​	points
Tower 2BR TPV	$5,024​	80​	points

Those 1BRs will be half the points of the 2BR. The 1BRs everywhere are wildly overpriced on points, as evidenced by the prices they charge in cash.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Those 1BRs will be half the points of the 2BR. The 1BRs everywhere are wildly overpriced on points, as evidenced by the prices they charge in cash.

So what’s the point guess on the Penthouses?