Polynesian Studio vs. Swan and Dolphin

[cruisehopeful]

I've been researching rooms and I keep confusing myself. I think I have narrowed it down to either buying 50 Polynesian points for a stay every 2-3 years, or just staying at the Swan and Dolphin. I've never stayed at either and am hoping for some comparison from those that have. This is what I think I would be getting:

Polynesian studio:
2 areas for showers (2 people can get ready at same time) extremely important to me
Lots of things to do onsite - very important
Love the theming (am crazy for Disney and for Hawaii)
Should be very easy for me to stay solo, double or in rare occasions, bring my adult children if they can't afford their own room
Plenty of evening activities, but to the point where it's never really quiet

Swan and Dolphin:
I think I'd have to book a suite to get 2 showers (major bummer)
Walking distance to a couple parks (I hate waiting for transportation)
Lots of places to eat onsite and maybe not feel locked into only eating Disney food
Easier to have a quiet place on property than Polynesian

Am I wrong on any of that? For those who have stayed at both, which did you prefer and why? I am really torn because I think Swan and Dolphin would be awesome for the money and I like having some downtime. Yet, I think I'd enjoy the Polynesian much more and would feel more comfortable solo there.

 

[AliceIn]

Poly for sure. I have stayed at both. S/D feel like a hotel anywhere. The Poly is definitely a Disney experience with immersive teeming.

It sounds like you prefer Poly.

 

[SG131]

I mean these are two very very different options. It sounds like you really like the poly, the bigger question is are you ready for a timeshare? Are you talking about buying direct or resale (not sure you can buy only 50 points direct)? Small contracts tend to go for a higher price resale and I think direct you need to buy more than 50 points initially. Poly is fairly easy to get at 7 months out if you have flexible dates so you may not need to buy there to always stay there. How long are you hoping to stay? 50 points won't get you very far at poly and right now there is a borrowing restriction where you can only borrow 50% of future year's points. That is expected to continue indefinitely, hopefully it disappears in a post covid world, but no guarantee. That means the most you would have is 125 points to use which would only give you a week at the two cheapest seasons of the year. I'm wondering if you go enough for it to be worth committing to the timeshare, how does the math work out for the purchase?

 

[cruisehopeful]

I'm wondering if you go enough for it to be worth committing to the timeshare, how does the math work out for the purchase?

I used to own VGC, so I definitely know what I am getting into. I could pay cash right now for the 50 point contracts that I see for sale right now. The annual dues ($350ish) is no problem at all. I can't buy at the 125 point direct price and I would never stay for a full week. I am looking at a 4-5 night stay.

I would potentially use points for VGC or Aulani if I was ever able to book a stay at 7 months if I didn't want to travel to Florida. I've been waiting for the Disneyland Hotel DVC to go on sale, but I'd want a tiny contract there, too. Part of the thought of owning Poly now is that it may give me a chance to buy a small contract at Disneyland Hotel. I am driving distance from DL in California.

I do want to visit WDW every few years, though. I look at renting points from owners and it really adds up when considering fairly regular visits. I've read so many great things about Swan and Dolphin, that I started to think I should just book there and save the money, but I also don't want to sit at my hotel thinking about how fun it would have been to stay somewhere else.

 

[NothingClever]

I actually just returned from a trip where I stayed at the Swan the first two nights and then 4 nights at Poly. I definitely preferred the room at the Poly over my room at Swan - not only are the two showers nice, but the general layout of the room is just much more comfortable and a smart design (I kept feeling like I was tripping over suitcases at Swan). However, with respect to the amenities, location, and things to do, I actually much preferred the Swan: better pools, tons of activities, not as sprawling of a complex, and the ease of walking to HS, Epcot, and BW cannot be beat. The biggest difference (and this is big) is that I've never gotten the "Disney" feeling at Swan. As someone else said above, it's really just a nice hotel/resort that could be located anywhere in the country. For me, though, that's not enough to justify the exorbitant increase in price for the Poly.

 

[SG131]

I used to own VGC, so I definitely know what I am getting into. I could pay cash right now for the 50 point contracts that I see for sale right now. The annual dues ($350ish) is no problem at all. I can't buy at the 125 point direct price and I would never stay for a full week. I am looking at a 4-5 night stay.

I would potentially use points for VGC or Aulani if I was ever able to book a stay at 7 months if I didn't want to travel to Florida. I've been waiting for the Disneyland Hotel DVC to go on sale, but I'd want a tiny contract there, too. Part of the thought of owning Poly now is that it may give me a chance to buy a small contract at Disneyland Hotel. I am driving distance from DL in California.

I do want to visit WDW every few years, though. I look at renting points from owners and it really adds up when considering fairly regular visits. I've read so many great things about Swan and Dolphin, that I started to think I should just book there and save the money, but I also don't want to sit at my hotel thinking about how fun it would have been to stay somewhere else.

So you know what you're getting into, you're able to pay cash, and you've already found the perfect contract. Sounds like you should go ahead and pull the trigger before that contract is gone. I haven't priced out swan or dolphin lately, how much do you project that you would save going that route? If you want a way in to getting a smaller point DL contract, it sounds like the benefit of that would negate any savings from staying at the swan.

 

[TTA Rider Matt]

If you were to buy 50 points at PVB, let’s just say it’ll cost you about $160 a point, which is conservative because it’s likely going to cost more for a smaller contract. 160 x 50 = 8,000, plus about $500 in closing fees, so it’ll cost you $8,500 to buy in. I’m not going to account for increase in dues either, so let’s say you also will owe $350 a year in dues for 45 years. That total price comes to $24,250.

Now, if you go every 3 years for 5 nights, that will be 16 visits before the 2066 PVB contract expiration. 16x5 = 80 nights. 24,250 divided by 80 = $303 per night. If you go every 2 years for 5 nights, that will be 23 visits before 2066. 23x5 = 115 nights. 24,250 divided by 115 = $210 a night. Basically, since DVC is a fixed cost concept, the more you use it, the more worthwhile it is.

As far as the S/D go, you are generally looking at around $300 a night, plus $30 hotel fee, if you are paying cash. However, you can also get the Marriott Bonvoy credit card. Between the bonus points I got when I signed up, and what I accrued in spending, I was able to stay at the Swan for free (not including the $30 hotel fee), for 5 nights in 2018, and I have enough points to do the same this coming summer. So for my 5 nights in 2018, I paid $150 (plus the $95 card annual fee). You may not be able to get every trip for free, but if you are going every 2-3 years, you can most likely get every other trip free. Comparing to the Poly’s 2066 expiration, your $95 annual card fee over the course of 45 years is $4,275. If you go every 3 years for 5 nights, you can probably accrue enough points in the 3 years in between to stay for free, paying $150 each trip for hotel fees. For 16 visits, that is $2,400, plus $4,275 = $6,675. If you go every 2 years for 5 nights, let’s say you can stay free every OTHER trip. So that’s 23 trips, let’s say 12 you pay cash. Averaging $350 a night including hotel fees, you’re at $21,000, plus the other 11 trips you’re paying the $150 ($1,650), that’s $22,650 total.

I’m sorry for all these numbers and for this long, boring post lol. I actually had fun breaking this down, so thanks for bearing with me. Ultimately, if I were you, if I bought the DVC, I’d just make sure I got my use out of it and went more frequently than every 3 years, because you’re paying the same amount no matter what. If you are really going to only go once every 3 years, I would say DVC probably doesn’t make the most sense for you.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I’m not going to account for increase in dues either, so let’s say you also will owe $350 a year in dues for 45 years. That total price comes to $24,250.

Thanks for doing that math! It makes a big difference to project long term and I hadn't penciled it all out, yet. A year ago, I almost purchased a VGC contract that would have taken a significant chunk of our savings and after penciling out everything, believe it or not, I actually decided that I was better off paying the rack rates and renting from other owners. I already had other DL trips planned for March and May of that year and the parks shut down on the day I was to check into a week long stay. Needless to say, I'm really glad that I didn't buy the VGC contract. My break even point was way too far out and I actually only want one or two nights per stay there.

Reading all the responses so far, it really sounds like I will enjoy Poly more. As much as I would love to walk to parks from the Swan and Dolphin, I could still stay there on occasion, especially if I end up using my points for a VGC stay at 7 months.

You've all been very helpful.