Poly - What would it take for Disney to add 1 & 2 Bedroom Villas?

[AVmatt]

I'm curious if it's feasible for Disney to add 1 & 2 bedroom villas to the Poly some day. Based on the DVC/time share rules, is it possible for them to convert some of the studios into 1 & 2 bedroom units or is it possible (available space aside) to add another building with these villas? What would be the consequences of this? Are they locked into the current amount of points or are they allowed to increase capacity without upsetting the DVC/Poly ecosystem? Any insight as to why they didn't include some 1 & 2 bedroom units when they added DVC to the Poly in the first place?

 

[BillPA]

If they see a profit they will do most anything. The original plans had several new buildings, and more of the old long houses converted to DVC, inclusing the 1 and 2 BR units. How likely, not so much..

 

[Matty B13]

I think it would take a Poly 2.0 to have 1 & 2 bedrooms added. Why they deviated from the original plan with 1 & 2 bedroom units, no one seems to know really, even Tikiman.

 

[Sandisw]

I agree, they would have to add to the DVC inventory there vs. changing it up, as the original documents list the units,

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Based on the DVC/time share rules, is it possible for them to convert some of the studios into 1 & 2 bedroom units

Nope. It would have to be new units.

There is a spot they could do a Poly Tower but I don't see them doing that. If they add capacity to the resort they absolutely cannot do it without adding a pool, and that would be harder.

If they got rid of Spirit of Aloha there is land there. Not sure if it's buildable. The kind of foundation you need for SOA's small buildings and stage is markedly different than what you need for something bigger.

 

[AVmatt]

Thanks for the feedback.

I’m curious if they could expand into the parking lot next to Pago Pago and then add new parking elsewhere. or shoehorn a long house jn over by the Spirit of Aloha show. Just one building with 1 & 2 bedroom villas would make a big difference for DVC members I’d think.

I hadn’t though about a tower like Gran Destino. Not sure I would want to see that at the Poly anyway though.

When I’ve been there, the quiet pool was never busy despite the cash rooms being fully booked (I assume the DVC rooms were about the same). I wonder if just adding one more longhouse wouldn’t really require another pool.

it’s too bad the resort was built so close to the TTC in terms of expansion and isolation. It is nice having such a short walk to the monorail though.

 

[jerseyduke]

Nope. It would have to be new units.

There is a spot they could do a Poly Tower but I don't see them doing that. If they add capacity to the resort they absolutely cannot do it without adding a pool, and that would be harder.

If they got rid of Spirit of Aloha there is land there. Not sure if it's buildable. The kind of foundation you need for SOA's small buildings and stage is markedly different than what you need for something bigger.

Additionally, before they did the Poly DVC (VGF was on sale) Disney did have line of sight balloons up over by Spirit Of Aloha. (Having read Stephen King's 'It' in the 1980s, seeing red balloons that big was very eerie) I do not know if what they determined from these is what steered them away from doing a 'Poly Tower', but it could have been a factor. It was clearly something Disney at least explored/considered.

 

[AVmatt]

I agree, they would have to add to the DVC inventory there vs. changing it up, as the original documents list the units,

Are they allowed to convert more of the cash rooms into villas without creating a new separate DVC 2.0 or whatever entity? I'm curious if they were able add capacity, would they be able to lower the cost of the bungalows and transfer those points to the new villas or would the total points also have to increase with the added villas?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Are they allowed to convert more of the cash rooms into villas without creating a new separate DVC 2.0 or whatever entity? I'm curious if they were able add capacity, would they be able to lower the cost of the bungalows and transfer those points to the new villas or would the total points also have to increase with the added villas?

They did add the THVs to Saratoga later. So in theory they could add to the existing association with the same end date if they wanted. But if they were doing it 10+ years after Poly inception, it would definitely impact sales value.

They cannot convert any remaining longhouses - physically it's an issue, not talking legally. The reason the 3 longhouses that were converted were "the ones" is based on construction history. The original Poly longhouses were built like cruise ship cabins, as compartments then slid into steel framing. Each room was constructed fully off-site and each room weighed 8.5 tons. Because of the structure, they can't just bash out walls and change shapes of rooms or position of plumbing.

The three longhouses now DVC were constructed later, more traditionally, in the mid and late 1970s. They would have been more suited to such changes, but instead Disney kept the unit footprints exactly the same - so there may have been issues there as well.

A tower where Lilo's Playhouse was, or where SOA is, seem more feasible, but may have unknown structural or sightline issues.

 

[AVmatt]

Wow, very fascinating info about the construction of the longhouses! Thanks!

 

[jerseyduke]

Wow, very fascinating info about the construction of the longhouses! Thanks!

The original long houses were built by US Steel in a modular fashion. (as @_auroraborealis_ stated) As was the contemporary. It was "supposed" to be cheaper, If i remember what I read correctly, it was estimated the rooms would cost 40,000 each, but ultimately ran about 100K each (source, book - Realityland). I think the costs overruns were worse at the Contemporary.

 

[NoTime42]

Aluani shows they can make a tower that works with the general theme.
They could have more “underground” parking, like Kidani, but they haven’t on any resort since.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Kidani is further from the lagoon. This may impact general swampiness and how far down it is legit to be digging.

The original concept art for Poly, circa 1969, had a tower in the middle. I am fairly certain many heart attacks would be had if they tore down the GCH and rebuilt as a tower, re-inserting 'Ohana and Kona.

 

[RachStu]

I wonder why they don't convert the second bathroom to a bunk room. They could have a sliding door in the wall facing the main bed. It looks like there would be sufficient space to get full sized bunk beds in there. Being able to put our young kids in a separate room with a closing door would be a massive advantage for us as it would mean we could sit up at night without attempting to read or play cards in the dark!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I wonder why they don't convert the second bathroom to a bunk room. They could have a sliding door in the wall facing the main bed. It looks like there would be sufficient space to get full sized bunk beds in there. Being able to put our young kids in a separate room with a closing door would be a massive advantage for us as it would mean we could sit up at night without attempting to read or play cards in the dark!

There aren't two bathrooms, just one bathroom and a separate shower space. If you want a one bedroom, head to BLT or GFV.

 

[RachStu]

There aren't two bathrooms, just one bathroom and a separate shower space. If you want a one bedroom, head to BLT or GFV.

I was referring to the separate shower space. Poor choice of wording on my part

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I don't think they changed the footprint of the bathrooms in those longhouses at all, just configuration. So that would be part of it. The bathing and shower facilities are in the same space it was as a hotel unit.

Most of the design choice for the Poly Villas was based on not moving existing main walls or plumbing.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I don't think they changed the footprint of the bathrooms in those longhouses at all, just configuration. So that would be part of it. The bathing and shower facilities are in the same space it was as a hotel unit.

Most of the design choice for the Poly Villas was based on not moving existing main walls or plumbing.

The bathrooms in the old hotel rooms were about in the same location. We stayed in Moorea in 1997 on our first trip.