Island Tower at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

[DVCjj]

Could someone please explain the difference
between a studio and a duo studio. I watched the video and read the info blurb but don’t understand it.

I own at Poly and do know there was a door joining 2 studios together (liked that very much when traveling with my adult daughter,, so would that be considered a duo in the new Poly?

PS: I honestly prefer paper goods over real dishes and dishwasher but I know I’m in the minority.

 

[PolyRob]

Could someone please explain the difference
between a studio and a duo studio. I watched the video and read the info blurb but don’t understand it.

I own at Poly and do know there was a door joining 2 studios together (liked that very much when traveling with my adult daughter,, so would that be considered a duo in the new Poly?

PS: I honestly prefer paper goods over real dishes and dishwasher but I know I’m in the minority.

The Island Tower duo studio is like the DLH duo studio and RIV tower studio. It's a room that only sleeps up to two guests and only has a murphy bed. No real dedicated bed. It's much smaller in square footage than a deluxe studio and the points chart reflects that. It does not connect to any other room.

The Island Tower deluxe studio sleeps up to four guests and is connected to one-bedrooms to create two-bedroom lockoffs.

The longhouse deluxe studios you mentioned sleeps up to five guests and connects to additional longhouse deluxe studios since they were previously cash hotel rooms that also connected. This is NOT a duo studio. It's a deluxe studio that connects to another deluxe studio.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Could someone please explain the difference
between a studio and a duo studio. I watched the video and read the info blurb but don’t understand it.

I own at Poly and do know there was a door joining 2 studios together (liked that very much when traveling with my adult daughter,, so would that be considered a duo in the new Poly?

PS: I honestly prefer paper goods over real dishes and dishwasher but I know I’m in the minority.

These room layouts look identical to VDH. I’d check out YouTube for some walk throughs.

 

[DVCjj]

The Island Tower duo studio is like the DLH duo studio and RIV tower studio. It's a room that only sleeps up to two guests and only has a murphy bed. No real dedicated bed. It's much smaller in square footage than a deluxe studio and the points chart reflects that. It does not connect to any other room.

The Island Tower deluxe studio sleeps up to four guests and is connected to one-bedrooms to create two-bedroom lockoffs.

The longhouse deluxe studios you mentioned sleeps up to five guests and connects to additional longhouse deluxe studios since they were previously cash hotel rooms that also connected. This is NOT a duo studio. It's a deluxe studio that connects to another deluxe studio.

Thank you SO much!!! I now understand completely.

So nice of you to take the time with such a totally clear explanation.

 

[act1980]

When do you think we'll be able to book with DVC points?

 

[pkrieger2287]

I feel empty inside now that all the news has come and gone… I hope Disney announces Reflections today. I’m going to go ask a bus driver and start a rumor.

On a serious note - Are these boards running super slow on anyone else’s phone or computer?

 

[CastAStone]

PS: I honestly prefer paper goods over real dishes and dishwasher but I know I’m in the minority.

Dishwasher is great for having very small kids who kind of need cups with lids or bottles.

 

[CastAStone]

On a serious note - Are these boards running super slow on anyone else’s phone or computer?

Problem I’ve been having is that it makes me reload the page to like or comment half the time. And opening a random ad when I click “like” a quarter of the time.

 

[JackosinDIS]

I feel empty inside now that all the news has come and gone… I hope Disney announces Reflections today. I’m going to go ask a bus driver and start a rumor.

On a serious note - Are these boards running super slow on anyone else’s phone or computer?

Don’t worry we’ve got the points charts to look forward to soon! That will keep us speculating for a month or so!

Yes, running super slow for me.

 

[RuntheMouse]

On a serious note - Are these boards running super slow on anyone else’s phone or computer?

YES! My iPad gets so bogged down on this site.

 

[Sandisw]

When do you think we'll be able to book with DVC points?

They have to actually declare the rooms into the association to begin sales. All they have done so far is update the license to sell.

My guess is sales begin late July to early August. Many of us are checking the OCC website to see when the first declaration happens. That might give insight.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

Yes to very slow website (and sketchy ads).

Only thing I don’t love so far is the overall room sizes. The 1Br gives me copper creek vibes in terms of square footage.

 

[marmentrout85]

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.

The identity crisis may not necessarily be a bad thing. At least guests now have more of a choice if they prefer one style over the other.

 

[Cfabar1]

A few thoughts... Poly is already the most aggressive points chart (as others have stated too). This is likely to continue with PVB unless they do some points reallocation between the existing room types - but I am skeptical the math could even work to do that, let alone the legal issues around that....

The rooms look very good...

Separately, I spoke to my guide a couple of days ago - I think Monday. A few takeaways from that call:
- He still would not commit to the Polynesian not having restrictions. He said something along the lines of I don't want to say something that isn't true, or mislead you.
- I get the sense DVC is not going to sell any VGF points direct until after the Poly Tower goes for sale. He didn't directly say that, but a lot of comments made me sense that is why you currently can't buy them from Disney.

 

[Sandisw]

A few thoughts... Poly is already the most aggressive points chart (as others have stated too). This is likely to continue with PVB unless they do some points reallocation between the existing room types - but I am skeptical the math could even work to do that, let alone the legal issues around that....

The rooms look very good...

Separately, I spoke to my guide a couple of days ago - I think Monday. A few takeaways from that call:
- He still would not commit to the Polynesian not having restrictions. He said something along the lines of I don't want to say something that isn't true, or mislead you.
- I get the sense DVC is not going to sell any VGF points direct until after the Poly Tower goes for sale. He didn't directly say that, but a lot of comments made me sense that is why you currently can't buy them from Disney.

My guide pretty much said the same thing. Until it’s been officially put in writing, they are advised not to confirm anything.

To be fair, they never came out and said BPK would not have them or that VDH would. We knew based on the updated POS once it was done.

 

[intamin]

A few thoughts... Poly is already the most aggressive points chart (as others have stated too). This is likely to continue with PVB unless they do some points reallocation between the existing room types - but I am skeptical the math could even work to do that, let alone the legal issues around that....

The rooms look very good...

Separately, I spoke to my guide a couple of days ago - I think Monday. A few takeaways from that call:
- He still would not commit to the Polynesian not having restrictions. He said something along the lines of I don't want to say something that isn't true, or mislead you.
- I get the sense DVC is not going to sell any VGF points direct until after the Poly Tower goes for sale. He didn't directly say that, but a lot of comments made me sense that is why you currently can't buy them from Disney.

I wonder if they’re being advised to do that just to try and pump the brakes on people running to go buy resale before they’ve even started direct sales.

 

[mkatsy]

I feel empty inside now that all the news has come and gone… I hope Disney announces Reflections today. I’m going to go ask a bus driver and start a rumor.

On a serious note - Are these boards running super slow on anyone else’s phone or computer?

don't shoot the messenger ... hahah .. there is a twitter rumor brewing about Poly. It's about the cultural appropriation of the Māori Tribe in New Zealand, and perhaps needing to remove the Tiki. IDK ... after a quick trip through google, I completely understand why the Tower is a culturally appropriate design.

 

[disneydad7281231]

For the fun of it... because Excel is fun. Excel and Disney.... I am like a pig in ****.

My next trip is January so went with travel period 2

Tried to comp to VGF and BLT just on their differences in point values based on room type and view.

No idea if they will have Standard (S) Preferred or Lake view (P) and Theme Park view (TP) for all room types so just through some out there.

Disclaimer: I am probably completely wrong

 

[AstroBlasters]

Moderator to stop by and delete pot stirring/thread grenade comments in 5…4…..3…..2…1……

 

[ehh]

As always, a fantastic and considerate breakdown.

I think this is a very fair assessment of the point charts. A bit jarring to think the Poly could very well have a higher point chart than WDW’s flagship but I guess VGF is different from the Grand Floridian Hotel. I wonder after the opening dust settles if cash prices will sit just below the Grand’s or will it displace its crown.

Where do you place the penthouse point value? If the regular 2bdrm TPV rooms are already more than VGF, is it close to GV points or bungalows?

There's long been a big gap between the points of a 2BR and that of a 3BR GV (or a Cabin/Bungalow). Here's the rough points ratios of a 'typical' resort:

• 1x - SV Studio
• ~1.15x - PV Studio
• ~2x - SV 1BR
• ~2.3x - PV 1BR
• ~2.7x - SV 2BR
• ~3.1x - PV 2BR
• ~6.5x - 3BR GV (or Cabin or Bungalow)

Of course there are variations for different resorts (OKW has a very low 3BR ratio, for example) and for resorts with different mixes of views, but this is roughly how things breakdown for DVC.

And there's a big gap from 3.1x to 6.5x. The Poly Bungalows are 6.76x a SV Deluxe Studio, so there's even a bit more breathing room there

Based on that longstanding void between 2BR and GV/Bungalow/Cabin and the cash rates posted by @BigBadBobbyH showing cash rates ~50% higher than 2BR TPV, here's where I expect things to land:

• Standard View Duos - ~15.75pts/night - .73x SV Deluxe Studios
• Preferred View Duos - ~17.4pts/night - .8x
• Theme Park View Duos - ~19.5pts/night - .9x
• Standard View Deluxe Studios - 21.7pts/night - 1x (existing)
• Preferred View/Lake View Deluxe Studios - 25.8pts/night - 1.19x (existing)
• Theme Park View Deluxe Studios - 31pts/night - 1.43x
• Standard View 1BR - 43pts/night - 2x
• Preferred View 1BR - 51.5pts/night - 2.37x
• Standard View 2BR - 59pts/night - 2.7x
• Theme Park View 1BR - 62pts/night - 2.86x
• Preferred View 2BR - 70pts/night - 3.23x
• Theme Park View 2BR - 83pts/night - 3.82x
• Theme Park View Penthouse 2BR - 125pts/night - 5.76x
• Bungalow 2BR - 147pts/night - 6.76x (existing)

If the cash rate hadn't been posted, I actually would have expected it to land more in the 5.0-5.5x range, but it still kinda fills the gap. If there are SV Penthouse 2BRs, then they'd be in the ~4x range.

It's also entirely possible they swing for the fences and put the TPV Penthouse 2BR on the Bungalows' points chart.