Poly Room Category Thoughts?

[Sparrow624]

With all of the complaints about Poly being studio only, how long until either of the following happen:

-1st floor lake/bungalow view get renamed as standard view?

-They re-allocate bungalow points, etc. And create an adjoining studio room category for booking?

 

[Kaigler]

I believe the ones complaining about a lack of one and two bedroom, are in the minority. Studios are the most popular booking category. You'll always find complaints magnified on forums because the ones upset are likely to be the most vocal about it.

We just bought at Poly a few days ago. I've always gone to Disney and had wonderful times in the standard hotel resort rooms. It suits our needs. Others might need or want a little more space. But for most people, the standard hotel sized room is just fine.

So for those reasons, I don't see either of those things changing.

 

[Pirate Granny]

Only standard view I would think is Pago Pago facing the parking lot. The lake views will never be readjusted.

 

[cvjw]

Only standard view I would think is Pago Pago facing the parking lot. The lake views will never be readjusted.

No, both sides of Pago Pago are standard view, as is the non-lake side of Morea. I am not sure about the classification of the studios in the new building that opened this summer.

When I talked to a DVC manager about our less than stellar stay in 2 connecting studios in Pago Pago, she said the biggest complaint they get is the parking lot views. They should not be the same amount of points as other standard view studios. That was one of our complaints. The studios in Pago Pago are all the same amount of points, while one side of the building looks out on a very busy and noisy parking lot just feet from your balcony, and the other side looks out on a tropical paradise. Not worth the same amount of points in our book.

 

[jerseygal]

No, both sides of Pago Pago are standard view, as is the non-lake side of Morea. I am not sure about the classification of the studios in the new building that opened this summer.

When I talked to a DVC manager about our less than stellar stay in 2 connecting studios in Pago Pago, she said the biggest complaint they get is the parking lot views. They should not be the same amount of points as other standard view studios. That was one of our complaints. The studios in Pago Pago are all the same amount of points, while one side of the building looks out on a very busy and noisy parking lot just feet from your balcony, and the other side looks out on a tropical paradise. Not worth the same amount of points in our book.

It is my understanding that Tokeleau which opened this summer are all standard studios..

 

[DenLo]

I think DVC did make a mistake with the parking lot views of Pago Pago. DVC members don't like parking lot views, but lower the points and call them standard or value and the demand skyrockets. If DVC had done that to start with and raised the garden & pool views a little to offset the lost points then many of the complaints would go away.

 

[Kaigler]

I think DVC did make a mistake with the parking lot views of Pago Pago. DVC members don't like parking lot views, but lower the points and call them standard or value and the demand skyrockets. If DVC had done that to start with and raised the garden & pool views a little to offset the lost points then many of the complaints would go away.

I agree with this. I'd never want a parking lot view. Doesnt seem equal to the folks receiving garden or pool views (when it's completed).

 

[cvjw]

We aren't opposed to parking lot views - we stay in BWV standard view villas all the time. The difference is that there is a natural "buffer" between the villas and the parking lot at BWV. The points are also a little less to make up for the parking lot view.

Our connecting studios in Pago Pago looked right out onto the parking lot, after requesting "not parking lot" We could not use our balconies because the parking lot was so noisy, as was the busy road just beyond the parking lot. The parking lot was literally just feet from our balcony. We could read the lips of the people parking in the handicapped spots, of course we could also hear their every word.

The difference in the Poly studios that have a parking lot view and a garden view is huge, and the points should reflect the discrepancy.

The DVC manager said she had heard the same complaints from many, many members.

 

[Granny]

The DVC manager said she had heard the same complaints from many, many members.

I would think that a barrage of contact e-mails with Member Satisfaction would be helpful if this is a big issue. Phone calls and conversations are helpful but most large entities like Disney react more to documented, quantifiable complaints.

 

[jerseygal]

CVJW, when you were assigned those connecting rooms, was there nothing else available, as an alternative? Were they at full capacity and connecting studios are more difficult to get? Hope that you enjoyed your stay other than the parking lot view.

 

[joannjoe]

I think DVC did make a mistake with the parking lot views of Pago Pago. DVC members don't like parking lot views, but lower the points and call them standard or value and the demand skyrockets. If DVC had done that to start with and raised the garden & pool views a little to offset the lost points then many of the complaints would go away.

I totally agree!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

From the maps it

With all of the complaints about Poly being studio only, how long until either of the following happen:

-1st floor lake/bungalow view get renamed as standard view?

-They re-allocate bungalow points, etc. And create an adjoining studio room category for booking?

It appears that Tokeleau has rooms that would have lake views and could either be added to that category to replace the first floor Moorea or to offset for a new parking lot category. I think the first is more likely than the second though.

I think the bungalows will have the potential to require a downward allocation but would not expect it for several years if ever.

The connecting room category was a surprise to not have but is only going to happen if they start having issues in meeting that request and are ending up with lots of unhappy families with small children where parents need to separate and each take a child or two. Of them all its the easiest to change though.

 

[Donna M]

After staying there, I think there needs to be a lake view, garden view and then standard (parking lot) view. We had a second floor lake view where we saw more bungalow than lake and I wouldn't take a chance on a standard view if I would have to use the same amount of points and end up looking out at cars. The grounds are beautiful.

 

[cvjw]

CVJW, when you were assigned those connecting rooms, was there nothing else available, as an alternative? Were they at full capacity and connecting studios are more difficult to get? Hope that you enjoyed your stay other than the parking lot view.

No, they were at full capacity. I was at the front desk multiple times trying to get 3 out of 4 showers in our studios to work. Two didn't drain and 1 only worked on the hottest setting. Honestly, we were just happy to leave the Poly and move into our BLT lakeview dedicated 2 bedroom - that cost almost the same amount of points as those 2 standard Poly studios. Not even a close comparison in our opinion!

The DVC manager did give us back about 20 points, but between the view, the showers that didn't work and the construction workers starting work before 7:00 am right outside our studios, we aren't in a huge rush to go back to the Poly!

 

[Dean]

With all of the complaints about Poly being studio only, how long until either of the following happen:

-1st floor lake/bungalow view get renamed as standard view?

-They re-allocate bungalow points, etc. And create an adjoining studio room category for booking?

It's unlikely they'll change the booking category anytime soon and it's dramatically unlikely they will add a booking category that is for the connecting rooms. It's a major issue to reallocate points but that may happen down the road and it would be the opportunity to change the booking category at the same time. I think there's a good chance they'll reallocate at some point and lower the bungalows but the ultimate determination is going to be the demand as determined by actual bookings. The problem is they only have 3 villa sizes to fit the points into because the total for the resort for a year must remain the same. Of course they do have the different seasons but that isn't a lot of help. It take an across the board increase of 3 points per studio to lower the bungalows 60 points which likely isn't going to be enough. A 100 point across the board reduction in the bungalows would raise the studios 5 points each if spread evenly. That's a big pill to swallow. Of course they could change only certain seasons or raise different view types by different amounts. All of that to say that it's problematic to make such changes. You'd got to fit them together like a jigsaw puzzle and be CERTAIN it's correct which costs money, money the members there will pay.

 

[DenLo]

If they lower the points for the bungalows the studios will end up being ridiculously high. The points don't just go away. So they raise the points for the studios per night and less members book 360 studios instead of 20 bungalows. How does that improve things? You forget that one reason studios are popular is that they are lower priced. DVC could easily over price the studios at PVB.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

You forget that one reason studios are popular is that they are lower priced. DVC could easily over price the studios at PVB.

And perhaps if they had made them a "premier" studio with washer/dryer and possibly more kitchen features they could have since they don't have the 1 & 2 BR's. But just another possibility that was not done.

Many of the DVC decisions are interesting and I think often leave money on the table. For example with fixed weeks I'd have thought a straight upcharge of 10% would still have sold well to those who want that guarantee and been a straight out gain vs the decision to "charge" 10% more points if you use the fixed week but then have the full 110% of points available if you cancel. At the Poly the double bathroom with one side that leaves quite a bit of un-utilized space is another. They could have given Poly diehards and potential a very interesting reason to purchase by building studios with additional amentities like I mention above. Priced between a studio and a 1BR it could have been very popular. Or even doing it in one of the buildings as an option vs all standard DVC studio. They virtually gutted the rooms and flooring from construction pictures posted so adding another water line and drain for a washer/dryer and another outlet or two would have been minimal cost with potential greater profit and marketing interest.

 

[Sparrow624]

I think they messed up big time at Poly. I know of 6 people, myself included, who would have jumped at Poly if it were more than just studios. My friend regularly visited Poly with his wife for years. They began saving money to purchase Poly as soon as they heard there would be DVC. They now have kids and it literally crushed them that there were no 2 bedrooms or at least adjoining studios as an option. They will still pay cash to visit poly, but probably pay for 2 rooms next to each other as the kids get older and the actual hotel will regularly do for them already.

If there were an adjoining room category, I probably would have purchased 150 points to use every other year, but can't bring myself to do it without that garuntee.

 

[Dean]

If they lower the points for the bungalows the studios will end up being ridiculously high. The points don't just go away. So they raise the points for the studios per night and less members book 360 studios instead of 20 bungalows. How does that improve things? You forget that one reason studios are popular is that they are lower priced. DVC could easily over price the studios at PVB.

I've stated before I think they should have made different choices. I suspect they're happier having open studios than the 2 BR. No doubt they've painted themselves into a corner to a degree.

 

[dizfan]

I wonder if the bungalows were built with a deluxe option for RCI exchanges in mind.

If DVC has a bunch of points exchanged to RCI and places a bungalow (maybe WL cabins too) into the exchange, the bungalows looks much more reasonable to other timeshares. Disney has to give up fewer rooms.

I would be very curious to hear what Dean (and others who know other timeshares), think about any unused bungalows possibly being used for exchanges. Would people consider using their RCI points (costing much less than DVC) to book a PVB bungalow?