Thinking of buying Poly DVC

[SomDayMyPrnceWillCom]

So we are more than likely about to purchase Poly DVC and will take our first trip in May/June 2017 using points. We've been 4 times previously and have stayed on property so fairly familiar with the property and such, but have never stayed at Poly or know what to expect with rooms, DVC etc. Yes, we're doing our research, but sometimes if you don't even know the questions to ask or research, you never know what to expect IOW. LOL

So any tips, advice, must-knows for about to be first time DVC buyers for next summer? We probably won't worry about the room views and just get a standard view studio (or possibly 2 depending on how many are coming with us for this trip - which will either be 5 - 2 of which will be infant and toddler or 8 with another adult and 2 teen boys if they decide to go with us). We plan to stay for 8 nights/9 days and will drive as we are on MS Gulf Coast and it's about 10 hours for us. We haven't decided when the next trip will be yet, so not sure if we'll get annual passes or not. However, it may still be worth it for the discounts that come with the annual pass. I'll have to do the math.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Is Poly where you will want to stay the majority of the time? Will you be making trips at least every other year? Are studios going to satisfy? Will you always or almost always going to be booking during the home resort priority period of 7-11 months out from your stay? Have you considered what your preferred times of travel will be and given consideration to UY?

 

[SomDayMyPrnceWillCom]

We will probably try other resorts along the way, but I think Poly will be the one we gravitate to the most. We will be making trips at least every other year as my daughter is now expecting her first child and wants to take her daughter at least once a year or every other year at the most. Preferred times of travel are currently as soon as school is out since I'm a teacher which is generally right before Memorial Day but it may change somewhat several years down the road and I won't always go with her every year necessarily, but will probably be along for the majority of the trips. And I hope to book at the 7 - 11 month window from our stay but things happen sometimes and it could change and a spontaneous trip could also occur.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

And you've considered the pros/cons of direct vs resale since you think you'll stay elsewhere at times? Or some Poly points and some resale for your non-Poly stays if minimizing the cost of DVC is important.

For a direct purchase they will likely point you towards the UY they are currently selling so if you do have a time of year that you think you'll be most likely to travel the majority of the time, such as the summer, then be prepared to request the UY that will give you the greatest time to use points in case of a last minute cancellation. With travel possibly being every other year that allows you to buy fewer points and use banking/borrowing for your trips. It's very easy to add on later should you discover you are consistently short. If you do move forward with a direct purchase but it's closer to the time of travel you can ask your guide for assistance with your first reservation if the room type you wish to reserve is "sold out" for point stays. They can get access to the DVC owned inventory. It's not always possible but often can be done.

 

[SomDayMyPrnceWillCom]

And you've considered the pros/cons of direct vs resale since you think you'll stay elsewhere at times? Or some Poly points and some resale for your non-Poly stays if minimizing the cost of DVC is important.

For a direct purchase they will likely point you towards the UY they are currently selling so if you do have a time of year that you think you'll be most likely to travel the majority of the time, such as the summer, then be prepared to request the UY that will give you the greatest time to use points in case of a last minute cancellation. With travel possibly being every other year that allows you to buy fewer points and use banking/borrowing for your trips. It's very easy to add on later should you discover you are consistently short.

Thank you for that advice. We'll look into those options.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'd also recommend to keep on reading threads about buying - especially in the Purchasing DVC forum. You may find some asking specific questions that might be the ones you hadn't thought of.

 

[SomDayMyPrnceWillCom]

yes, ma'am. I'm definitely reading through all the threads as I can. Thanks again for your help. And welcome any other advice about buying DVC, specifically at the Poly.

 

[Vader-was-framed]

For the poly you should probably buy direct from Disney. The resales are just a little savings for that resort and if you financing through disney they have lower 10 yr rates then resale lenders. And try to get a April or June use yr since you like to go when school gets out

 

[Vader-was-framed]

My wife and I also looked into adding on at the poly with 65 point contract to go every other year in the fall for a week in a standard view.(130 points)it's a very beautiful resort with probably the best convenience factor for travel

 

[Disn3yVision]

We recently bought Poly direct and I wrote a post giving my reasons why I thought it was the best choice for our family. Link below if you're interested

http://www.disboards.com/threads/wh...from-disney-instead-of-buying-resale.3503415/

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

yes, ma'am. I'm definitely reading through all the threads as I can. Thanks again for your help. And welcome any other advice about buying DVC, specifically at the Poly.

And is there anything that you're not feeling you understand or would like clarification on? Just another note - a possibility with PVB is to purchase a fixed week although personally I am not a proponent of this if you won't personally be looking to always go during a popular time and even then I'm not certain I would do it as PVB has lots of studios. Only a lakeview during a very popular time might have a small chance to entice me, but, for example, not if I was planning on summer trips.

 

[disneynutz]

Bottom line, be prepared to sell if you find out that DVC isn't what you thought it was, if buying the poly without staying there first turns out to be a mistake. I get the feeling that some new owners just stick it out and do a work around after ending up with a resort that isn't what they expected.

Booking at 7 months is getting more challenging and planing an expensive Disney vacation hoping to get the resort and or room category that you want doesn't make sense to me but that is what happens if you don't buy your favorite resort.


Bill

 

[Deb & Bill]

We will probably try other resorts along the way, but I think Poly will be the one we gravitate to the most. We will be making trips at least every other year as my daughter is now expecting her first child and wants to take her daughter at least once a year or every other year at the most. Preferred times of travel are currently as soon as school is out since I'm a teacher which is generally right before Memorial Day but it may change somewhat several years down the road and I won't always go with her every year necessarily, but will probably be along for the majority of the trips. And I hope to book at the 7 - 11 month window from our stay but things happen sometimes and it could change and a spontaneous trip could also occur.

How spontaneous is spontaneous? Less than seven months out is getting much harder to book. So if you are thinking a month out or a week out, plan on being disappointed. Unless you plan only a night or two for that spontaneous trip.

 

[Dreamin192]

We just bought at Poly and honestly I'm now wishing we went with someplace with 1 bedrooms. I was able to book BLT 1 bedroom for a week in January under the 7 month mark, so you can go other places but it's never guaranteed. We are a family of five and at the time studios seemed ok but as we were planning and thinking about it more we realized a 1 bedroom would be better if we could get it. Everyone vacations differently though and you may be fine in a smaller room, I know my kids need room to play and run, even just in the morning while we're getting ready.

 

[McCrae]

We just bought at Poly and honestly I'm now wishing we went with someplace with 1 bedrooms. I was able to book BLT 1 bedroom for a week in January under the 7 month mark, so you can go other places but it's never guaranteed. We are a family of five and at the time studios seemed ok but as we were planning and thinking about it more we realized a 1 bedroom would be better if we could get it. Everyone vacations differently though and you may be fine in a smaller room, I know my kids need room to play and run, even just in the morning while we're getting ready.

This highlights a key weakness of the Poly offering.... Is it really that much different from a typical hotel room?

Over time your needs may change, especially if you have kids. Having access to a 1 or 2 bdr option becomes increasingly important until the young ones leave the nest.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We just bought at Poly and honestly I'm now wishing we went with someplace with 1 bedrooms. I was able to book BLT 1 bedroom for a week in January under the 7 month mark, so you can go other places but it's never guaranteed. We are a family of five and at the time studios seemed ok but as we were planning and thinking about it more we realized a 1 bedroom would be better if we could get it. Everyone vacations differently though and you may be fine in a smaller room, I know my kids need room to play and run, even just in the morning while we're getting ready.

With more space, you also have to be more concerned about your neighbors. They might be sleeping while your kids are playing and running in the morning while you are getting ready.

 

[Dreamin192]

With more space, you also have to be more concerned about your neighbors. They might be sleeping while your kids are playing and running in the morning while you are getting ready.

Absolutely. Unfortunately my kids are 5, 2, and 2. They aren't going to sit still. We don't let them run around and scream or anything like that but it is nice to have a bigger area for them to watch TV, play with toys, etc.

 

[js]

Im just giving my opinion somce you are looking for pros and cons:

We are a family of four. Kids get older. My kids are now 18 and 22. A boy and a girl. They still want to go to Disney with us when school allows but they would NEVER want to be all in the same room together. At the end of the day (or middle) we all need a little space, even my dh and I. The Poly has two bathrooms but only one toilet. I cant see that being fun in the morning either, especially with my group lol

We purchased SSR with the thtinking when kids are older or whem dh and I go alone we can all access DTD easily for nightlife. If kids end up going on their own when they get bigger its a walk to bars and restaurants.

The studios do not have washers and dryers in them. While its not my favorite thing to do on vacation, Ill throw in a load or two at night once back in the villa. If Im in a studio, I have to carve out laundry time.

We only do two bedrooms and GVs but 2 bedrooms are the minimum. We had an option for a studio at BWVs over Christmas/New Years trip but my kids and dh quickly vetoed it. I would have stuck it out for that trip but we wouldnt want to travel like that for all our vacations. I may as well rent a hotel room.

I stayed at Poly last September before meeting my mom at GFVs (2 bedroom for three of us) and while the Poly was nice, I wouldnt purchase there. However, I did get to stay there using my $77 per point SSR resale from about 8-9 years ago. That's another thing to think about, that of you plan on trying other resorts, purchasing premium Poly points isnt the best use of what you are buying them for to begin with.

Good luck and let us know when you take the plunge!

 

[Disn3yVision]

We just bought at Poly and honestly I'm now wishing we went with someplace with 1 bedrooms. I was able to book BLT 1 bedroom for a week in January under the 7 month mark, so you can go other places but it's never guaranteed. We are a family of five and at the time studios seemed ok but as we were planning and thinking about it more we realized a 1 bedroom would be better if we could get it. Everyone vacations differently though and you may be fine in a smaller room, I know my kids need room to play and run, even just in the morning while we're getting ready.

I'm sure as a fellow owner you know this but 2 studios at the Poly are about the same price as a 1 bedroom at BLT and you can connect them. And for about the same amount of points you get 4 bathrooms and can sleep 10. We are also hoping to be a family of five and for us it's nice to know if we have to stay in a studio to have a longer vacation at least Poly has the biggest and 2 bathrooms. I think BLT is worse because a studio is NEVER an option for more than 3 people. I'd rather have the option of connecting studios or one studio everybody can stay in relatively comfortably than having to choose between 1 bedroom and up. Sometimes we would rather stay in a studio for 10 days rather than a 1 bedroom for 6 and thats really not an option at BLT. Plus 1 bedrooms usually fill up last so they're easier to get at other resorts than studios. I feel like if my family has to do 5 in a studio Poly, VGF, and OKW are the only place you can pull that off, at least until the oldest is 10 or 11. After that it's definitely connecting studios or one bedrooms.