Island Tower at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

[foodiddiedoo]

$3500/ night? is that for the SV PH?

No standard 2 bedroom. I asked twice and he said no but it was a theme park room. I laughed and said I'd keep BLT for 14k with my theme park view. He then said he agreed and I could come 2x for that much money!

 

[maui22]

Wait, was there a DVC discount on cash bookings and was it only for yesterday? I tried calling to enquire about room rates for next year and they said there is no discount on the cash. I feel like I'm either imagining things or going crazy.

There is (or at least was) a DVC discount when calling through DVC member services.
Perhaps the person answering the phones was unaware the DVC member service price already has the discount?

 

[intamin]

The new Poly rooms are a better location at a more immersive resort. If we can stay in one of those rooms, and get on and off the monorail before the VGF folks, walk to the TTC to go to EPCOT, and enjoy the whole Poly vibe (while still being able to walk or boat to VGF to get our fill of its ambiance), I'm not sure why we would use the same number or more points to stay at VGF -- unless we were either in love with the Beaches or Courtyard pools or really valued the mile-long walk to MK (which, yes, is still better than no ability to walk).

I think that's part of what tilted us more toward Poly over VGF. VGF is only one stop away from MK, but that also means it's the last resort to get picked up for the monorail. It also means it's the furthest stop from the TTC on the resort loop. If we valued the walkability of VGF to MK maybe we would've considered VGF but at heart we're still Epcot people even when staying in an MK area resort. VGF is an amazing resort, from top to bottom but yeah I don't know, there's something about Poly..

 

[lilsonicfan]

I think their popularity stems from just that, their point cost is lower. It's for the couple who is in town for the weekend and wants to be able to return to their hotel room quickly but also spend as much time as possible in the park or the pool and other amenities of a deluxe resort. I wouldn't spend a prolonged amount of time in a room like that for like a week or anything but 2-3 nights as a quick getaway? Sure, why not. I know they're not as good of a deal as standard studios are when scaled up but if it's a brief trip I'd be tempted to save the points.

For us who travel from across the pond every 18 months or so lower points = longer stays. They wouldn’t suit us right now but would be suitable for a single occupant such as my mum who already feels guilty about needing a studio to herself and the points expense that comes with that.

It does make me chuckle that the two posts are so different - it's for the couple in town for the weekend, or, it's for us b/c we are there for longer I appreciate the perspective! We mostly stay in 1BRs and I love having a kitchen so it's hard for me to even consider studios for more than a couple of days!

 

[maui22]

DVCNews has a good article on the room categories and speculating the room count.

https://dvcnews.com/wdw-resorts/pol...egories-confirmed-speculation-on-villa-makeup

 

[Salokin]

It does make me chuckle that the two posts are so different - it's for the couple in town for the weekend, or, it's for us b/c we are there for longer I appreciate the perspective! We mostly stay in 1BRs and I love having a kitchen so it's hard for me to even consider studios for more than a couple of days!

Ha I thought that when I saw the other post, just shows the variety of different members needs!

 

[TheDailyMoo]

There is (or at least was) a DVC discount when calling through DVC member services.
Perhaps the person answering the phones was unaware the DVC member service price already has the discount?

Ah perhaps. I'll try again thank you

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

For us who travel from across the pond every 18 months or so lower points = longer stays. They wouldn’t suit us right now but would be suitable for a single occupant such as my mum who already feels guilty about needing a studio to herself and the points expense that comes with that.

I'm thinking the same if I can ever get my mom and/or dad to come sometime. For many reasons, them having their own space to sleep and have privacy at Riviera/Poly tower/duo studios while we vacation in a nearby 1B/2B makes sense. We can be on vacation together at the same resort, but still have a little breathing room for cheap points.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

DVCNews has a good article on the room categories and speculating the room count.

https://dvcnews.com/wdw-resorts/pol...egories-confirmed-speculation-on-villa-makeup

Ok so I’m concerned if preferred view means either the pool (+ likely some MK) or golf course.

 

[kristenabelle]

I haven't been in the DVC world for very long so forgive what may be blasphemy but it seems really weird to me that duo studios or tower studios are at all popular. I mean I get that they may be lower points and of course low point rooms are the first to be snapped up. But they are tiny! Seems somewhat incongruous with deluxe accommodations.

I don't mind them as a single pringle traveler. It's nice to have a bigger space, but I'm hardly in the room and don't cook/do laundry on vacay.

Mostly it's because we'll save points for family trips in 2BRs, etc. and I'll sometimes get duo studios for cash at better rates than larger studios. If I can stay longer and more frequently and pay less, I'm all for it.

 

[Sandisw]

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.

I think it’s just to make sure that all the legal documents that cement things have been officially updated.

Where we will see it has no restrictions is when they filed the updated POS for PVB and the multi site POS.

They don’t want someone to come back and say they thought one way or the other because guides said something.

 

[hockeydad21]

It does make me chuckle that the two posts are so different - it's for the couple in town for the weekend, or, it's for us b/c we are there for longer I appreciate the perspective! We mostly stay in 1BRs and I love having a kitchen so it's hard for me to even consider studios for more than a couple of days!

I think it all comes back to the duo’s filling a need. While they don’t work for most people visiting Disney, they will work for a small percentage of people.

Take for instance my family - last year we could get by comfortably in a studio. Next year we’ll likely need a 1 bedroom. In about 7-10 years when kids are old enough and not wanting to share beds then we’ll need a 2 bedroom. And then when the kids are in high school/college and they don’t want to come anymore, then my wife and I could do a duo. And then when my kids have their own kids we may need a grand villa or a bunch of 1 bedrooms. It’s all about that moment in time, what you can afford, and how you want to enjoy it.

 

[Jwaire]

The duos are marketing just like the grand villas and bungalows/cabins are. Most people will never stay in them, but it's options on a list if they ever wanted to.

 

[DonMacGregor]

The duos are marketing just like the grand villas and bungalows/cabins are. Most people will never stay in them, but it's options on a list if they ever wanted to.

But they do fill up at RIV…

 

[Cabius]

But they do fill up at RIV…

A better comparison might be the 'Value' rooms at AKL -- out of reach for most people because they are too popular, rather than too expensive.

 

[Sykes]

I love the Duo Studios. It's just me or my wife and I, and we always travel with other families but don't want to share a bedroom. We book either the cheapest studio (duo where available), or we go in together on a 2BR or GV.

 

[Mai Ku Tiki]

I haven't been in the DVC world for very long so forgive what may be blasphemy but it seems really weird to me that duo studios or tower studios are at all popular. I mean I get that they may be lower points and of course low point rooms are the first to be snapped up. But they are tiny! Seems somewhat incongruous with deluxe accommodations.

Perfect for solo travelers (and there are LOTS) or a couple with no need of a kitchenette & just want a room & balcony.

 

[ehh]

What season are you looking at for comparison?

Multiplying 21.7 (standard) or 25.8 (lake view) by 7 doesn't give me the weekly rates for any existing seasons, so I'm trying to figure out how to compare this to existing charts.

I do think you ratios are broadly right, albeit those multipliers aren't consistent across all seasons (Lakeview has a much higher premium in season 1 than in other seasons, while bungalows are relatively much cheaper in seasons 6/7).

The biggest question for me, as you point out, is whether they slot the 2BR Penthouses somewhere between a 2BR and Bungalow (the latter already being the most expensive room on property) or whether they discount it somewhat.

I use average of the entire year (not an average of the seasons, but an average of all 365/366 individual nights). These #s are from the 2024 points chart and calendar.

You're 100% right that seasonality impacts the ratio, sometimes really large swings, so that's why I generalize to 'average night' across the entire year.

 

[CastAStone]

I use average of the entire year (not an average of the seasons, but an average of all 365/366 individual nights). These #s are from the 2024 points chart and calendar.

You're 100% right that seasonality impacts the ratio, sometimes really large swings, so that's why I generalize to 'average night' across the entire year.

I always do my calculations with a night-weighted average of the first 6 tiers. The Christmas/holiday tier is so insanely high at some resorts that it just makes the data worse, unless you’re planning to stay during those days, which most of us won’t.

 

[maui22]

Ok so I’m concerned if preferred view means either the pool (+ likely some MK) or golf course.

I always feel bad for the hotel staff and member services when it's not an obvious decision on these categories. Management makes the decision and they have to deal with the consequences.

Take PVB longhouse lake view for example. Roughly 70% of those first floor rooms only see the lake (shore to the bungalows). It's why almost everyone complains and asks to be moved to a higher floor.

Just my opinion, which I 100% guarantee Disney will NOT do.

• Everything on the monorail side may be parking lot view (standard). In theory the higher floors could fall into preferred view. Saying this because BLT floors 1-4 or maybe it's 1-5 facing the parking lot are standard view. Literally the floor above this is theme park view. (When BLT opened, I think standard view was floors 1-2. So many complaints they changed things and modified the point charts).
• Theme Park view seems likely to be lake side. Higher floors will have unobstructed views. Not sure if lower floors should classify. For example, 1st-3rd may have palm trees and the island obstructing their view. Someone did mention GF may block some of these rooms from seeing MK.
• Rest fall into what I'm just guessing is preferred view. Not bad enough to call a standard/parking lot view. Not good enough to classify as a theme park view.