PVB Points Chart !

[Missyrose]

But the guest who could pay to stay in the bungalows isn't going to like only two real beds and four sleepers. They are going to want club access and they won't get it with a cash reservation of a bungalow. And they will want a hot tub, not a cold plunge pool.

It's looking more lose-lose for DVC on these.

Is there anything stopping Disney from giving cash reservations for the bungalows club-level access?

 

[nolanboys]

I am disappointed with the layout of the bungalows. Having only two normal beds is not great for a suite that is supposed to sleep 8. This combined with the high points for a bungalow rules the Poly out for us. Compared to other DVC resorts this is poor value. I would rather spend the points staying in a 3br villa.

Completely agree! We are a family of 6. The points ae beyond crazy high and someone would have to sleep in the living area. Not only will we not be buying points here, even though it is my dream resort, we will not splurge on even a night here.

 

[Jennasis]

Is there anything stopping Disney from giving cash reservations for the bungalows club-level access?

The walk.

 

[skier_pete]

I am absorbing all this. I agree with most on the bungalows. Those rates mean it is something designed to only appeal to the wealthy, and there is certainly a degree of that that attends to the parks.

But on top of the price they are SMALL, and while I find wealthy people have a different idea of what a "value" is, I can't picture many of them thinking "boy, this is worth $2,500 a night!" I mean, a couple with 2 old kids will NOT like that one of their kids is sleeping on a trundle or in the living room. It will be interesting to see how they book up.

The other thing this lends to me is that you could see a lot of availability at 7 months, which to me seems like it would be a disaster to Disney. To be able to get in these bungalows as owners at SSR or OKW when they open will be a mess for them. (I'm sure part of their sales pitch for the VGF is how hard it is to get in there owning anywhere else.)

OK, now the question: My curiosity is with how they will open up the resort to non-owners. We are going August/September for our first family DVC trip and shooting at booking split stay at BVC (6 nights) and BLT (4 nights). Our 7 months window open up later this month. However, if I had a shot at it, I would definitely give the Poly a try over BLT.

Now, it makes sense that there will be a window of exclusivity for new owners at the Poly, but at some point down the road, won't they HAVE to open up the Poly to availability for all DVC members? And won't they legally have to make it a 7-month window? So, let's say they let Poly buyers have exclusivity until say April 30th. The on May 1st, wouldn't all DVC folks have a shot at anything from May 2nd through December 1st all at once??? It seems to me that if they did something like that, it would be a sort of one-time opportunity in which it would be easier to get a room than any other (7 entire months opening up at once instead of a day at a time).

Or would they instead start a rolling window - On May 1st all members can book 7-months out (December 1st) but not before, leaving all those earlier dates to be new Poly members only?

I've never experienced a new resort opening as a DVC member, but even so this one is unique (practically all the rooms are studios, which will lead to better availability of studios), so does anyone have theories as to how this will all happen?

In the end, I am not so enamored with the Poly that I would be worked up not to get it...just wondering...

 

[beer dave]

I am absorbing all this. I agree with most on the bungalows. Those rates mean it is something designed to only appeal to the wealthy, and there is certainly a degree of that that attends to the parks.

But on top of the price they are SMALL, and while I find wealthy people have a different idea of what a "value" is, I can't picture many of them thinking "boy, this is worth $2,500 a night!" I mean, a couple with 2 old kids will NOT like that one of their kids is sleeping on a trundle or in the living room. It will be interesting to see how they book up.

The other thing this lends to me is that you could see a lot of availability at 7 months, which to me seems like it would be a disaster to Disney. To be able to get in these bungalows as owners at SSR or OKW when they open will be a mess for them. (I'm sure part of their sales pitch for the VGF is how hard it is to get in there owning anywhere else.)

OK, now the question: My curiosity is with how they will open up the resort to non-owners. We are going August/September for our first family DVC trip and shooting at booking split stay at BVC (6 nights) and BLT (4 nights). Our 7 months window open up later this month. However, if I had a shot at it, I would definitely give the Poly a try over BLT.

Now, it makes sense that there will be a window of exclusivity for new owners at the Poly, but at some point down the road, won't they HAVE to open up the Poly to availability for all DVC members? And won't they legally have to make it a 7-month window? So, let's say they let Poly buyers have exclusivity until say April 30th. The on May 1st, wouldn't all DVC folks have a shot at anything from May 2nd through December 1st all at once??? It seems to me that if they did something like that, it would be a sort of one-time opportunity in which it would be easier to get a room than any other (7 entire months opening up at once instead of a day at a time).

Or would they instead start a rolling window - On May 1st all members can book 7-months out (December 1st) but not before, leaving all those earlier dates to be new Poly members only?

I've never experienced a new resort opening as a DVC member, but even so this one is unique (practically all the rooms are studios, which will lead to better availability of studios), so does anyone have theories as to how this will all happen?

In the end, I am not so enamored with the Poly that I would be worked up not to get it...just wondering...

I think they started with owners having a 4 month booking window and all others a 3 month for the first time period... maybe 6 months? I guess this doesn't work in this instance, since April 1 is less than 4 months away... isn't that when they open?

 

[DebbieB]

VGF opened in October 2013. Sales opened in May. They gave VGF owners a 1 month exclusive. For the 2013 dates, non-VGF owners could only book at 4 months. Starting 1/1/14 date of stay, the regular 7 month applied to non-VGF owners.

 

[Pirate Granny]

So, Pago Pago has a whole side that will face the parking lot and not be value? How can that be considered standard compared to the othe side face garden views, which will be considered standard. I wouldn't be a happy camper with the luck of that draw.

 

[DebbieB]

So, Pago Pago has a whole side that will face the parking lot and not be value? How can that be considered standard compared to the othe side face garden views, which will be considered standard. I wouldn't be a happy camper with the luck of that draw.

At VGF you have standard rooms facing the top of a roof, others facing the monorail, others facing part of the lake and GF.

 

[Syndrome]

So, Pago Pago has a whole side that will face the parking lot and not be value? How can that be considered standard compared to the othe side face garden views, which will be considered standard. I wouldn't be a happy camper with the luck of that draw.

Probably why they categorized them as standard view, instead of garden view. At least that parking lot view would also have a monorail view .

The only reason some of the rooms at AKV are categorized as "value" is due to the size of the room , not the location or view. Even some of the "value" rooms at AKV are savanna view !

 

[WMorganS]

So, Pago Pago has a whole side that will face the parking lot and not be value? How can that be considered standard compared to the othe side face garden views, which will be considered standard. I wouldn't be a happy camper with the luck of that draw.

I'm sure they'll plant bushes in the parking lot.

Sigh. Sorry for being cynical. I'm just really disappointed in this offering. Aside from the cost, there are no 1BR DVC villas at all, and the bungalow doesn't even sleep 9. No matter how you slice it this is just broken.

Why wouldn't they allocate at least a few bays as 1BR?!?

 

[Msmithmd]

I'm sure they'll plant bushes in the parking lot. Sigh. Sorry for being cynical. I'm just really disappointed in this offering. Aside from the cost, there are no 1BR DVC villas at all, and the bungalow doesn't even sleep 9. No matter how you slice it this is just broken. Why wouldn't they allocate at least a few bays as 1BR?!?

My suspicion is that PVB is DVC's response to the gross mistake they made with VGF. Namely, making the resort so extremely expensive and making the point chart so steep that a large number of members only bought enough points to secure a studio. The number of VGF members with enough points for a week in a two bedroom has to be small.

Now, we see thread after thread here about VGF members unable to book studios at eleven months. It's worse in the DVC groups on FaceBook. Almost daily, you see someone complaining. I believe that the DVC development team realized the gravity of the problem and designed Poly this way intentionally. One could see that at $160 a point with a very steep daily rate chart, the same problem would recur if they didn't dramatically change the composition of the resort's rooms. Almost all studios (with a few ridiculously priced bigger rooms for those with more money than sense) seems to fit that bill.

One wonders if this is the "new DVC," i.e. whether this will be the way all future resorts will be designed- or if maybe they will offer another non-near-park less expensive option. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

 

[DebbieB]

I agree the demand for studios seems to be higher plus I think the renovation costs to go from regular hotel rooms to studios was much cheaper. Plus the original "leaked" plans had 2 towers, which probably had the 1 and 2 bedrooms.

 

[Pirate Granny]

BLT has standard which are 1/2 parking lot views...I believe you will see a reshuffling of points once people complain about getting a parking lot view, monorail view, hummmm not on the first or second floor, and if I'm not mistaken some of those don't even have balconies....

 

[Syndrome]

BLT has standard which are 1/2 parking lot views...I believe you will see a reshuffling of points once people complain about getting a parking lot view, monorail view, hummmm not on the first or second floor, and if I'm not mistaken some of those don't even have balconies....

These are the newer Poly buildings that have balconies on all floors. Its the old ones that dont ...........those are still on the hotel side of the poly.
If I remember, isnt that one of the required ammenities for every DVC room .......to have a balcony or patio ???

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I agree the demand for studios seems to be higher plus I think the renovation costs to go from regular hotel rooms to studios was much cheaper. Plus the original "leaked" plans had 2 towers, which probably had the 1 and 2 bedrooms.

Stayed tuned on that...

Tower construction or more conversion by 2016...if I were a betting man

 

[dizfan]

My suspicion is that PVB is DVC's response to the gross mistake they made with VGF. Namely, making the resort so extremely expensive and making the point chart so steep that a large number of members only bought enough points to secure a studio. The number of VGF members with enough points for a week in a two bedroom has to be small.

Now, we see thread after thread here about VGF members unable to book studios at eleven months. It's worse in the DVC groups on FaceBook. Almost daily, you see someone complaining. I believe that the DVC development team realized the gravity of the problem and designed Poly this way intentionally. One could see that at $160 a point with a very steep daily rate chart, the same problem would recur if they didn't dramatically change the composition of the resort's rooms. Almost all studios (with a few ridiculously priced bigger rooms for those with more money than sense) seems to fit that bill.

One wonders if this is the "new DVC," i.e. whether this will be the way all future resorts will be designed- or if maybe they will offer another non-near-park less expensive option. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Personally, I believe the issue at VGF is too many bought thinking they would go during the Holiday season to enjoy the decorations. If 20% of VGF owners only want to stay at VGF in late November through mid-December, it means some people will not be able to book at 11 months.

 

[dizfan]

Stayed tuned on that...

Tower construction or more conversion by 2016...if I were a betting man

I agree.
It made financial sense for them convert existing units into studios. it didn't require knocking down walls between room. Put studios into the rehabs and then put 1BR and 2BR units into new construction. Saves money, saves construction time, and generates revenue while they build a new building.

I think it would be funny if they announced tomorrow that an additional phase with 1BR and 2BR will be built. Many would go from definite no to buying.

 

[tidefan]

At VGF you have standard rooms facing the top of a roof, others facing the monorail, others facing part of the lake and GF.

You mean like this?

 

[WMorganS]

You mean like this?

oh, they should really put some shrubs up there and call it a garden view ;-)

 

[wdrl]

I think it would be funny if they announced tomorrow that an additional phase with 1BR and 2BR will be built. Many would go from definite no to buying.

Perhaps. But how much do you think a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom would cost point-wise? At least as much as VGF, if not a little more? If, as some people are alleging, the one- and two-bedrooms are not in great demand at VGF because of the point requirements, then would the situation be duplicated with a PVB tower full of one- and two-bedroom villas?