Island Tower at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

[CastAStone]

How can you tell how many are still available? All I can tell is 'all sold out' or 'at least 1 is available'

If you know how to look at the source code for a web page, the number of available rooms is buried in there on the booking page with all the calendars.

 

[hockeydad21]

I think the size is unsurprising, it is I’m sure considered a quiet pool.

I just wish it had ANYTHING to say “Polynesian”.

Exactly! At the very least they could have added some lava rock formations (real or fake) to give it some character

 

[tjkraz]

Thoughts on the pool:

- The angle of this new rendering is poor in the sense that it isn't designed to showcase vegetation or theming. In the immediate foreground of the pic are the concrete pool deck and then the pool itself. If you took this sort of close up image at other Disney pools, the result would be similar. There's simply nowhere to put landscaping. Large palm trees and other vegetation are present further off in the distance, but perspective causes them to be downplayed. Here's another angle of the same resort, adjacent to same pool about 40-50' away:



- To the left of the pool rendering is about 1/2 of the pool deck which we haven't seen yet. Not sure if that's a choice on Disney's part or simply happenstance. At a minimum, there's a kids water play area which is still unrevealed and more deck space. Maybe bungalows.

- Island Tower is growing the number of resort rooms / guests by about 30%. To my eyes, this third pool is increasing the pool capacity by more than 30%. (See image below.) Maybe it's not the dramatic increase some were hoping for, but I don't think it's wildly out of line for the resort.

- There will be only one feature pool at the Poly, but that's not unique for WDW deluxe resorts: Grand Floridian, Wilderness, BoardWalk, OKW, Riviera. AKL has two feature pools...but also twice as many rooms and no "quiet pools."

- I don't see the Lava Pool getting "more crowded" simply because the number of pool chairs sets a practical limit on how many can visit.

- The Lava Pool will hold the most appeal. But if its only advantage is the slide, it's not a place that all groups will expect to camp out for hours on end. Island Tower will probably host a greater ratio of adult groups (Duo studios, DVC in general) and the water play area adds value for families. Today the Oasis pool is enjoyed by many, and this new addition seems to be a step up compared to that. Forgive the pun but water finds its own level. If the Lava pool is too full, people will go elsewhere.

 

[maui22]

The impact on the other 2 pools has me concerned. What will a 50% resort occupancy increase do? They’re already quite busy at times.

It will impact other pools, but it was always going to impact the main pool. This was always planned to be a small pool (even the original artist rendering wasn’t a large pool).

As for resort occupancy, the tower is not even doubling PVB max capacity. Original PVB max capacity is 1960.

We don’t know the number of each room type, but there have been educated guesses. Somewhere I read tower adds 1100-1200 max capacity. We know the duos sleep 2 (estimate of 34), studios sleep 4 (estimate of 97), 1BRs sleep 5 (estimate of 24), only the 2BRs (counting dedicate and kickoffs estimate of 63) sleep 9, 2BR penthouse (estimate of 4) sleep 8.

In terms of the overall Poly resort, it is probably closer to a 20% capacity increase.

 

[mkatsy]

If you know how to look at the source code for a web page, the number of available rooms is buried in there on the booking page with all the calendars.

Woah … what is this sorcery you speak of?

 

[maui22]

For 17th December all PVB longhouse dvc deluxe studios are booked but there are still 13 of the 20 bungalows available.

Interesting they are not (or were not when I checked yesterday) allowing the bungalows to be booked for cash on the Disney world hotel booking website.

 

[Salokin]

Interesting they are not (or were not when I checked yesterday) allowing the bungalows to be booked for cash on the Disney world hotel booking website.

Sorry, this is for points bookings. My mistake.

 

[MyDogTink]

Do we know how capacity for the tower compares to BLT? BLT has 5,732,762 points. IMO, the pool looks similar in size to BLT's pool. BLT's pool has a slide which gives it one advantage over the tower's pool. While BLT's pool is nothing fabulous, I haven't felt the need to leave it and venture over to the CR pool.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

Do we know how capacity for the tower compares to BLT? BLT has 5,732,762 points. IMO, the pool looks similar in size to BLT's pool. BLT's pool has a slide which gives it one advantage over the tower's pool. While BLT's pool is nothing fabulous, I haven't felt the need to leave it and venture over to the CR pool.

And nobody else has access to that pool.
This pool has three longhouses and a tower right on top of it.

 

[tjkraz]

Do we know how capacity for the tower compares to BLT? BLT has 5,732,762 points. IMO, the pool looks similar in size to BLT's pool. BLT's pool has a slide which gives it one advantage over the tower's pool. While BLT's pool is nothing fabulous, I haven't felt the need to leave it and venture over to the CR pool.

BLT 428 villas vs Island Tower 268. Comparatively, Island Tower also benefits from having no 12/13 person grand villas and several dozen 2-person Duo Studios.

If the estimated room mix for Island Tower proves to be accurate, IT will host fewer than half the number of guests as BLT. I have max occupancy of IT at 1175 vs 2697 for BLT.

And nobody else has access to that pool.
This pool has three longhouses and a tower right on top of it.

True. But if the new pool didn't exist, those longhouse guests would be visiting one of the other two pools. Proportionally, this looks like a net gain for the resort, regardless of whether people think it looks "small."

 

[maui22]

Sorry, this is for points bookings. My mistake.

It's so strange that bungalows are available for points, but not cash.
However, studios are not available for points, but are available for cash.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

Proportionally, this looks like a net gain for the resort

No way.

And btw, if there isn’t a QS added, VGF owners can look forward to added load on GG.

 

[MyDogTink]

BLT 428 villas vs Island Tower 268. Comparatively, Island Tower also benefits from having no 12/13 person grand villas and several dozen 2-person Duo Studios.

If the estimated room mix for Island Tower proves to be accurate, IT will host fewer than half the number of guests as BLT. I have max occupancy of IT at 1175 vs 2697 for BLT.


True. But if the new pool didn't exist, those longhouse guests would be visiting one of the other two pools. Proportionally, this looks like a net gain for the resort, regardless of whether people think it looks "small."

Any chance they could make this pool exclusive to DVC (both tower and original longhouses and bungalows)?

 

[maui22]

If they have a hot tub at the island tower, it will absolutely be a gain for the resort. We have given up on getting into the lava pool hot tub because it's generally 1-2 adults and the rest is filled with kids. Oasis pool hot tub is generally available and tends to be quieter and more relaxing for adults. Island Tower hot tub would provide a good adult option on that side of the Polynesian resort.

 

[maui22]

Any chance they could make this pool exclusive to DVC (both tower and original longhouses and bungalows)?

When BLT opened, they did this exact policy. People staying at CR could not use the BLT pool. BLT guests could use the CR pools.

 

[CWTC]

It's so strange that bungalows are available for points, but not cash.
However, studios are not available for points, but are available for cash.

I’m not sure it’s that strange. Disney owns about 2% of points but I doubt that’s enough to block a significant amount of bungalows. If PVB owners trade out to a cruise or something then Disney has those points. Otherwise they have to wait until the breakage period (60 days) to offer them as cash. Or at least that’s my understanding.

When we stayed 8 nights in a bungalow last year, it seemed like most were empty. We saw neighbors for 1 or 2 nights and rarely saw anyone else on the boardwalk. I’d love to know occupancy statistics on them.

 

[tjkraz]

No way.

Increasing the maximum number of resort guests by 25-30% while going from 2 pools to 3 pools is at least neutral, if not net gain IMO. So we may have to agree to disagree on that one.

And btw, if there isn’t a QS added, VGF owners can look forward to added load on GG.

To some degree, yes. Past resort development suggests DVC owners aren't huge quick service users. Every room has a full kitchen or kitchenette. DVC quick service options are historically pretty limited. (Goods to Go only one at OKW, BoardWalk Deli, Beach Club Marketplace, Kidani has no QS.)

I'm expecting grab-and-go items from the resort gift shop. Table service dining seems all but confirmed, and I think there's high probability for a pool bar. Pretty much every Disney pool has a bar nearby, and many offer quick service food (Grand Flo, Riviera, Hurricane Hannah's, Cove Bar, etc.) Perhaps mobile orders from the TS restaurant as well.

 

[Sandisw]

Screenshots from the DVC website are not allowed, relating to availability or other password protected information are not allowed.

 

[Salokin]

I’m not sure it’s that strange. Disney owns about 2% of points but I doubt that’s enough to block a significant amount of bungalows. If PVB owners trade out to a cruise or something then Disney has those points. Otherwise they have to wait until the breakage period (60 days) to offer them as cash. Or at least that’s my understanding.

When we stayed 8 nights in a bungalow last year, it seemed like most were empty. We saw neighbors for 1 or 2 nights and rarely saw anyone else on the boardwalk. I’d love to know occupancy statistics on them.

Sounds a fab stay - presume you enjoyed it? One and done or would you do it again?

 

[CWTC]

Sounds a fab stay - presume you enjoyed it? One and done or would you do it again?

Loved it. We are awaiting ROFR on a chunk of BLT points that we intend on using as SAP points for the bungalows and Aulani. The plunge pool is amazing! We never went to any of the other pools!