Polynesian's Sunset Pointe set to close for DVC

[Rumors Rocks]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/resorts/dis...o-guests-ahead-of-dvc-villas-construction.htm

Disney's Polynesian Resort Sunset Pointe to be closed to guests ahead of DVC Villas construction

Sunset Pointe at Disney's Polynesian Resort is expected to become unavailable to guests in the near future as work begins on building the new Disney Vacation Club Villas at the resort.
Silt fences and utility markers are already in place around the East side of the resort, and Disney last week confirmed to the media that DVC villas will be opening in 2015 at the Polynesian Resort.

Sunset Pointe is a popular overlook providing Magic Kingdom views for resort guests and is also used for wedding ceremonies. There is no word yet on whether Sunset Pointe will reopen at a later date, or if the closure will be permanent.

 

[Planogirl]

I understand that they plan to build rooms over the water which will effectively block the views that people have become accustomed to at this resort. It appears that on that side only DVC owners will have a view which seems like an odd choice.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

It appears that on that side only DVC owners will have a view which seems like an odd choice.

DVC memberships guarantee annual business, overhead contributions, and require almost no
Housekeeping...

Membership is magical and has its privileges...so it would seem

 

[Planogirl]

DVC memberships guarantee annual business, overhead contributions, and require almost no
Housekeeping...

Membership is magical and has its privileges...so it would seem

I agree to some extent. However continually luring new visitors who happily pay the Polynesian Resort's inflated prices might make them even more money. I don't think that this is going to be a popular choice but we'll see.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I agree to some extent. However continually luring new visitors who happily pay the Polynesian Resort's inflated prices might make them even more money. I don't think that this is going to be a popular choice but we'll see.

And I agree with you to some extent.
But the problem with your counter argument is a 7 day stay - even if you pay exhorbinant $550 a night rooms - becomes completely useless to Disney on the 8th day...aka there's no guarantee you're coming back and disney doesn't have any interest in that.

I know what people will be thinking:
"$7850 to Disney isn't enough to get the view I want?!?!"

And the answer is: nope... Not even scratching the surface.

 

[Planogirl]

And I agree with you to some extent.
But the problem with your counter argument is a 7 day stay - even if you pay exhorbinant $550 a night rooms - becomes completely useless to Disney on the 8th day...aka there's no guarantee you're coming back and disney doesn't have any interest in that.

I know what people will be thinking:
"$7850 to Disney isn't enough to get the view I want?!?!"

And the answer is: nope... Not even scratching the surface.

And to counter your counter point , you could also say that Disney stands to make a lot of money all at once with the DVC but that income eventually disappears for the most part (at least when it comes to resorts) and in the long term they can continue to make a lot of money from weekly visitors. Also there are those who pay a lot for Disney weddings and I understand that Sunset Pointe was a popular spot for those.

I thought for sure that they would put the new area to the west of the resort. That area is empty so it seemed to make sense.

 

[tjkraz]

The question is whether this will be any sort of "tipping point" (or Tipping Pointe) which prompts either group to alter their spending.

Will people who would have otherwise visited WDW no longer do so simply because the view of Sunset Pointe becomes obstructed? It may prompt some people to choose a different view or different resort, but I cannot imagine this is the difference between "yes, let's go!" and "I have no desire to visit Walt Disney World."

Will people who would have otherwise booked a Disney wedding no longer do so because Sunset Pointe isn't available? See above. If folks have their hearts set on a Disney wedding, I'm not sure that Sunset Pointe is a do-or-die location.

In fact, once the bungalows are complete and Sunset Pointe re-opened, their presence may add to the ambiance of a wedding set in that location.

 

[raeolight]

We're scheduled to stay at the poly Nov 10-16th and we're upset because this is our first time to stay there and it maybe our last. We're trying to see if our TA is able to negotiate either a discount or upgrade since all the good views are slowly getting blocked.

 

[beer dave]

I understand that they plan to build rooms over the water which will effectively block the views that people have become accustomed to at this resort. It appears that on that side only DVC owners will have a view which seems like an odd choice.

How else are they going to sell Poly points at 200 a point?

 

[vandy]

And to counter your counter point , you could also say that Disney stands to make a lot of money all at once with the DVC but that income eventually disappears for the most part (at least when it comes to resorts) and in the long term they can continue to make a lot of money from weekly visitors. Also there are those who pay a lot for Disney weddings and I understand that Sunset Pointe was a popular spot for those.
.

But to repeat LockedoutLogic, Disney doesn't have the expense to upkeep the DVC resort like they do on the regular resort. The annual dues paid by members is for upkeeping the resort whereas the room rentals at the regular resorts go towards the upkeep and day to day operational expenses. DVC does not have the daily operating expenses a regular resort does (such as housekeeping) so operating expenses should be less. Should the operating expenses go up, DVC members pay for it with an increase in dues. Also keep in mind that a certain number of points/rooms are kept by Disney for cash-paying, non-DVC guests at all DVC resorts.

Also, to say that the dollars eventually disappear at the resorts from DVC members compared to the regular resorts is not a valid comparison. DVC is a timeshare and timeshare make their profits from the continual sale of memberships, unlike a regular resort which makes it profit from the daily rentals of rooms. As far as an operation, as long as you continue to pay your annual dues I am sure Disney doesn't care at all if you use your membership points and stay at a resort. Their profit for the resort has been made at the point of the timeshare sale. This business model switches the profitability from the resorts to members spending their money at the parks and restaurants. A regular resort on the other hand is concerned with getting as many guests to stay each night as possible. That is where their profitability will come from and a completely different profit strategy than DVC.

 

[Planogirl]

But to repeat LockedoutLogic, Disney doesn't have the expense to upkeep the DVC resort like they do on the regular resort. The annual dues paid by members is for upkeeping the resort whereas the room rentals at the regular resorts go towards the upkeep and day to day operational expenses. DVC does not have the daily operating expenses a regular resort does (such as housekeeping) so operating expenses should be less. Should the operating expenses go up, DVC members pay for it with an increase in dues. Also keep in mind that a certain number of points/rooms are kept by Disney for cash-paying, non-DVC guests at all DVC resorts.

Also, to say that the dollars eventually disappear at the resorts from DVC members compared to the regular resorts is not a valid comparison. DVC is a timeshare and timeshare make their profits from the continual sale of memberships, unlike a regular resort which makes it profit from the daily rentals of rooms. As far as an operation, as long as you continue to pay your annual dues I am sure Disney doesn't care at all if you use your membership points and stay at a resort. Their profit for the resort has been made at the point of the timeshare sale. This business model switches the profitability from the resorts to members spending their money at the parks and restaurants. A regular resort on the other hand is concerned with getting as many guests to stay each night as possible. That is where their profitability will come from and a completely different profit strategy than DVC.

I understand that. My point is that the profitability does switch from the resorts to members as you pointed out. I would think that Disney would be just as interested in resort profits in the long term as quick profits from DVC. The Polynesian Resort may go on as always with the visiting public but it seems counterproductive to make the resort less appealing to the casual visitor.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

And to counter your counter point , you could also say that Disney stands to make a lot of money all at once with the DVC but that income eventually disappears for the most part (at least when it comes to resorts) and in the long term they can continue to make a lot of money from weekly visitors. Also there are those who pay a lot for Disney weddings and I understand that Sunset Pointe was a popular spot for those.

I thought for sure that they would put the new area to the west of the resort. That area is empty so it seemed to make sense.

Well played...

though disney's goal with vacation club is not room revenue or even upkeep (though thats a nice kick in). It's about guaranteed bodies and visas to sell the merchandise....that is where the profit is and that is the goal behind everything they do...even my 10 am ride on little mermaid i just booked on 11/20

Hotel revenue is not a profit center...even at their rate...
i know...ridiculous. its a "revenue" source...not a "profit source"

profit is made 90-95% in the giftshop...and that only happens when people are guaranteed to be in them. They'll gladly block the fiji lodge if it means 100% occupancy in a 300 unit DVC...and that is a 101% certainty barring the collapse of the world economy (not as laughable as we want to consider tucked into our snuggles)

 

[lockedoutlogic]

How else are they going to sell Poly points at 200 a point?

Over under 185

 

[lockedoutlogic]

We're scheduled to stay at the poly Nov 10-16th and we're upset because this is our first time to stay there and it maybe our last. We're trying to see if our TA is able to negotiate either a discount or upgrade since all the good views are slowly getting blocked.

This year?

your way way way ahead of the construction curve. next year maybe not. They're still tuning up the grand floridian unit as we speak and likely will still be doing so til around 11/1 (opening 10/23).

I would expect any kind of excavation or heavy construction till after jan 2 when the peak season is over...as they had to do work on the lakes/lagoons for both the Contemporary tower and the grand floridian to do construction...

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The question is whether this will be any sort of "tipping point" (or Tipping Pointe) which prompts either group to alter their spending.

Will people who would have otherwise visited WDW no longer do so simply because the view of Sunset Pointe becomes obstructed? It may prompt some people to choose a different view or different resort, but I cannot imagine this is the difference between "yes, let's go!" and "I have no desire to visit Walt Disney World."

Will people who would have otherwise booked a Disney wedding no longer do so because Sunset Pointe isn't available? See above. If folks have their hearts set on a Disney wedding, I'm not sure that Sunset Pointe is a do-or-die location.

In fact, once the bungalows are complete and Sunset Pointe re-opened, their presence may add to the ambiance of a wedding set in that location.

first class...as always


especially about weddings....having some intimate knowledge of weddings...i can tell you that sunset point was very popular...but limited to small parties...which means thats not where the bucks come from. thats at the other points around that lagoon and in epcot.

what could be possible...after DVC...is that they have an even better spot to shoot weddings...maybe something similar (but different concept/theme) to the gazebo at yacht (hate that) and the boardwalk overlook.

Fairytale Extortions isnt' going to suffer on this one...rest assured

 

[Planogirl]

Well played...

though disney's goal with vacation club is not room revenue or even upkeep (though thats a nice kick in). It's about guaranteed bodies and visas to sell the merchandise....that is where the profit is and that is the goal behind everything they do...even my 10 am ride on little mermaid i just booked on 11/20

Hotel revenue is not a profit center...even at their rate...
i know...ridiculous. its a "revenue" source...not a "profit source"

profit is made 90-95% in the giftshop...and that only happens when people are guaranteed to be in them. They'll gladly block the fiji lodge if it means 100% occupancy in a 300 unit DVC...and that is a 101% certainty barring the collapse of the world economy (not as laughable as we want to consider tucked into our snuggles)

But why not have it all? Why not build the DVC units on the other side of the resort and continue to lure other visitors partially with the view of THAT castle? I don't see why Disney wouldn't be trying to stuff as many people into the Polynesian Resort as possible no matter what the method is.

I can't say for certain that the weddings are a source of good income but the point that getting people into the gift shops being the primary goal is understood. However I see the wedding participants and visitors as potential shoppers too. Maybe this group isn't large enough to care about but I would think that a large portion of them would have quite a bit of disposable income.

The thought that hotel revenue at this resort is not a profit center does blow my mind. I don't doubt you but it seems...bizarre.

 

[mikek]

Been to disney at least once a year for about 20 years now. Poly is my wife's favorite. We've stayed at the Poly at least 5-6 times. It's the resort we stay at most often if paying cash. (disclaimer - We own DVC). A couple of those times have been concierge. Oh and perhaps i should have led with we stayed at the poly for two weeks for our honeymoon.

I can sum this up with one question: What/where is sunset pointe?

I literally don't know.

So not sure this will matter all that much to the general public. Sounds like the most serious poly fans will be offended though, but i'm not sure how many of those there are. And someone posted above i'm not sure that alone will be a deal breaker for those folks.

If it's the bump in front of everything seems the concierge rooms would have he biggest gripe since i think only those have real water/castle views? I wonder if those folks are more apt to go DVC now a days anyway then they were in years past?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Been to disney at least once a year for about 20 years now. Poly is my wife's favorite. We've stayed at the Poly at least 5-6 times. It's the resort we stay at most often if paying cash. (disclaimer - We own DVC). A couple of those times have been concierge. Oh and perhaps i should have led with we stayed at the poly for two weeks for our honeymoon.

I can sum this up with one question: What/where is sunset pointe?

I literally don't know.

So not sure this will matter all that much to the general public. Sounds like the most serious poly fans will be offended though, but i'm not sure how many of those there are. And someone posted above i'm not sure that alone will be a deal breaker for those folks.

If it's the bump in front of everything seems the concierge rooms would have he biggest gripe since i think only those have real water/castle views? I wonder if those folks are more apt to go DVC now a days anyway then they were in years past?

LOL...

as you pointed out...its not a big deal. just a little manicured spot of beach on a little spit that had a path with some lights (if I remember correct)

it had become a place that was popular with "intimate" weddings (max 14 people...I believe).

but its highly replaceable.

 

[freediverdude]

Why put it there? There it blocks the view of the rooms in the building behind it. If they put it to the west, it would be between the Polynesian and the spa/wedding pavilion, providing easier access to those, and probably closer to the GCH and the monorail. As well as being much closer to the luau. All it does in the eastern location is block the view of those $700/night rooms so they'll have to reduce those to water/garden view. Once again I fail to see the logic behind Disney's room and building placement, lol.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

All it does in the eastern location is block the view of those $700/night rooms so they'll have to reduce those to water/garden view.

Surely...yee jest