The Poly as a DVC Moderate

[disBOBney]

I know the Poly certainly has its fan following, and I suspect deservedly so, but hasn’t the Poly always been considered the monorail moderate by Disney standards? As such, with debates of the possibility of a Caribbean Beach DVC and if DVC could or would do a moderate class resort, with the Poly being 95% studios, doesn’t that make it the first attempt at being a DVC Moderate?

 

[Missyrose]

I know the Poly certainly has its fan following, and I suspect deservedly so, but hasn’t the Poly always been considered the monorail moderate by Disney standards? As such, with debates of the possibility of a Caribbean Beach DVC and if DVC could or would do a moderate class resort, with the Poly being 95% studios, doesn’t that make it the first attempt at being a DVC Moderate?

Studios or not, I don't see DVC putting the per-night points price at a "moderate" level.

 

[drusba]

Always considered a moderate by whom? Disney has never treated it as a moderate since it is a monorail resort, has significantly larger rooms than any moderate (and actually larger than other premier resorts) and its rental price has always been in the premier resorts range.

Moreover, once DVD releases the price per point and points per night, I am betting you are not going to find anyone who will consider it a "moderate." The almost all studio concept is basically a recognition of a mistake with VGF, which has only 47 studios, and the fact that point price combined with points needed per night has gallopped way beyond any concept of inflation in the last several years to the point that most who are buying new resorts now are buying only enough points to get studios, thus making demand for them extremely high in relation to other rooms, e.g., you can easily get a dedicated 2BR or GV at VGF at 7 months out much of the year (that even included Christmas week in 2014) while studios are becoming difficult to get at times even at exactly 11 months out (owners have found themselves blocked out at 11 months out at some times for October 2015, Nov 2015, and now Dec 2015). Poly is not a "moderate" concept, it is "modern" concept brought about by Disney's having raised prices astronomically in the last several years.

 

[tjkraz]

...hasn’t the Poly always been considered the monorail moderate by Disney standards?

No. Far from it. The DVC Poly Studios will be the largest Studios in the program. Expect first class amenities across the board, similar to VGF. There will be a split bathroom with a tub/shower combo in one room and a second stand-alone shower. Bathrooms will be ceramic tile / granite / marble. It may even be the first DVC Studio with a king-size bed.

Poly hotel rates are second only to Grand Floridian. Contemporary, Beach Club, Boardwalk and all other Deluxes are priced lower.

If any Deluxes are considered inferior to others, they are typically Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge due to the small room sizes (and corresponding lower rates.)

 

[DizBub]

With the trend to cram 5 in a studio I can understand why people might feel this way. Nothing "moderate" about the price and I agree with the others that the point requirements to stay in the studios will be quite high. None of this feels like DVC to me.

 

[jerseyduke]

The all studio concept (save for the bungalows) I argue came about for 2 reasons:

1. The "Grand Floridian Dilemma"
2. Using existing structures.

There will not be a hint of anything moderate when the price per point and point chart is released.

Disney is really testing what the market will bare with its pricing on membership.

 

[Msmithmd]

With the trend to cram 5 in a studio I can understand why people might feel this way. Nothing "moderate" about the price and I agree with the others that the point requirements to stay in the studios will be quite high. None of this feels like DVC to me.

I tend to agree, but still suspect it will sell even quicker than VGF has done. There's an almost cult-like affection among repeat Poly guests, and I don't mean for any negative to be implied by saying that.

A large number of new DVC members are going to buy in, simply because they will do the math and see how quickly they can break even versus paying for repeated cash reservations. All the while continuing to stay at the same resort that they have for years.

These are the folks that DVC is chiefly targeting, not so much the veteran members who appreciate a one bedroom- rather the droves of wealthy Poly addicts who are accustomed to their hotel rooms. Those people will be, by and large, very pleased with "only studios."

 

[Sandisw]

I tend to agree, but still suspect it will sell even quicker than VGF has done. There's an almost cult-like affection among repeat Poly guests, and I don't mean for any negative to be implied by saying that.

A large number of new DVC members are going to buy in, simply because they will do the math and see how quickly they can break even versus paying for repeated cash reservations. All the while continuing to stay at the same resort that they have for years.

These are the folks that DVC is chiefly targeting, not so much the veteran members who appreciate a one bedroom- rather the droves of wealthy Poly addicts who are accustomed to their hotel rooms. Those people will be, by and large, very pleased with "only studios."

I tend to agree. And, to be honest, we are interested in seeing how the connecting studio units actually play out. We don't use the kitchens but book the larger units when we have guests with us so we can all be together.

But, DH and I only book studios when we go because that is really all we need and are very comfortable with what they offer.

Having the option to connect to another studio may prove beneficial down the road...of course, its going to all depend on the points charts and how it compares to the cost of a 2 bedroom.

Prior to DVC, we always booked our family of 5 in the deluxe rooms and we were fine with it...I can certainly see those that love the Poly as much as they do being fine with what they are offering!!!

 

[jerseyduke]

With the trend to cram 5 in a studio I can understand why people might feel this way. Nothing "moderate" about the price and I agree with the others that the point requirements to stay in the studios will be quite high. None of this feels like DVC to me.

It has been said, that in a way, DVC is prepaying a hotel room. There is some truth to that for sure. But, the addition on kitchens, washers, driers, etc certainly makes it more like a vacation home on property.

The Poly is truly going to be prepaying a hotel room.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

I'm entertained by the idea of the Poly as a moderate.

 

[DizDaD7]

At almost $600 a night for some rooms, I highly doubt that this is a moderate.

 

[tjkraz]

At almost $600 a night for some rooms, I highly doubt that this is a moderate.

Rack Rate for Poly Theme Park View rooms edges over $1000 per night for some holiday periods in 2015.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney makes money selling points and the higher the DVC point requirement the more points they sell.

IMO each resort to be built will have some feature(s) that will generate higher point sales.

Hard to believe that Disney makes more money taking cash rooms at the Poly and converting them to DVC units. Apparently they still turn enough rooms over for cash guests to keep everyone happy and Disney more money.

Bill

 

[bobbiwoz]

Last night we were in a boat on the Seven Seas Lagoon to see the special Fantasy in the Sky fireworks at MK. Because of where the fireworks are launched from, all boats were corralled into an area in front of the Poly bungalows. I never thought I would want to even stay in one, until I viewed the view they would have all the time! Wow!

We could see standing ladders in the lit, unfinished part of some bungalows. They are a work in progress, but I think they are worth waiting for!

Bobbi

 

[disneynutz]

Last night we were in a boat on the Seven Seas Lagoon to see the special Fantasy in the Sky fireworks at MK. Because of where the fireworks are launched from, all boats were corralled into an area in front of the Poly bungalows. I never thought I would want to even stay in one, until I viewed the view they would have all the time! Wow!

We could see standing ladders in the lit, unfinished part of some bungalows. They are a work in progress, but I think they are worth waiting for!

Bobbi

Problem is unless you buy a fixed week, there is going to be heavy competition for popular vacation times and the 20 unit number could be reduced with fixed weeks if offered.

I also think that the point requirement will be close to a grand villa.

Bill

 

[DizDaD7]

Rack Rate for Poly Theme Park View rooms edges over $1000 per night for some holiday periods in 2015.

Wowser, even worse than I thought....but seriously I highly doubt that a Dvc mod would even be in the same conversation..lol

 

[Msmithmd]

Disney makes money selling points and the higher the DVC point requirement the more points they sell. IMO each resort to be built will have some feature(s) that will generate higher point sales. Hard to believe that Disney makes more money taking cash rooms at the Poly and converting them to DVC units. Apparently they still turn enough rooms over for cash guests to keep everyone happy and Disney more money. Bill

I had seen some discussion about long-term low occupancy at the deluxes. Relevant, I think, was this article from 2011, written right as AOA was being opened. It goes into how Wall Street was lowering earnings projections for TWDC based on the fact that their moderate and deluxe bookings were soft, and they were simultaneously opening a huge new value property.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...-resort-hotel-rooms-average-nightly-room-rate

That's probably about the time the execs were working on upcoming DVC strategy that we are seeing play out right now. It seems like their choices for the deluxe hotels were to lower cash room rates; take sectors out of inventory; or to sell off the excess inventory to the one group that guaranteed them a 98% occupancy year-round. Obviously now we see where we are, and it isn't surprising- when is the last time you saw TWDC make a meaningful permanent price drop on anything?

By what they've done to Poly, the hotel side percent occupancy is quite likely to increase as the available rooms shrink. And if they report PV as one unified property, the numbers will look even better with the constantly full DVC. A theme that will repeat itself in the future if rumors about BC, WL, and YC ever come true.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Anybody that's interested in taking the over on the Poly becoming a DVC moderate, I'm up for the under if anybody's interested. Just let me know what your pain threshold is.

 

[beer dave]

Last night we were in a boat on the Seven Seas Lagoon to see the special Fantasy in the Sky fireworks at MK. Because of where the fireworks are launched from, all boats were corralled into an area in front of the Poly bungalows. I never thought I would want to even stay in one, until I viewed the view they would have all the time! Wow!

We could see standing ladders in the lit, unfinished part of some bungalows. They are a work in progress, but I think they are worth waiting for!

Bobbi

The bungalows sound great-- The line about where the fire works were launched is definitely a line fed to the captains and crew by Disney-- They want to show everyone the view from the bungalows as a sales promo-- and it worked!

 

[beer dave]

Problem is unless you buy a fixed week, there is going to be heavy competition for popular vacation times and the 20 unit number could be reduced with fixed weeks if offered.

I also think that the point requirement will be close to a grand villa.

Bill

Depends which GV--- if it is the OKW GV pricing, that is quite doable. I think they will be a little more than the 2beds at GF.