Tikiman's latest report on Poly DVC

[Missyrose]

Tikiman just reported on Facebook that the plans for the Poly DVC have been scaled way back. He will update later today.

 

[DenLo]

Not surprised. I expect the DVC wasn't interested in paying for removal of old buildings at the Poly and possibly dealing with asbestos. So only a new building will be built near the Spirit of Aloha site with no pool or additions like that. They can use the same floor plan they have already designed for VGF and just change the exterior.

 

[shortypots]

Wow a little surprised to hear that!

 

[dizfan]

Here is what Tikiman wrote elsewhere today...

Im still getting the details and I might not have it all sorted out for a few days but it seems the extra buildings are cut from the design. Tahiti will still be converted to DVC and bungalows will still go in over the water. The GCH will get gutted and the water feature will be out of the new design. Trader Sams will go in at the resort. Im still waiting for more details.

The funny part is that they went back to what one of the original plans were for adding DVC to the resort years ago. I guess that means the luau will be spared but unfortunately not brought inside like they wanted. I'm still trying to find out how the additonal pool will be affected in the new design.

 

[cbnsoul]

With the expected demand, I would have thought they would have made it larger, if anything. Kinda bummed because I'm guessing the smaller it is, the higher the points price will probably be so only those that really want it will find it worth paying for. I've sold off some points recently in anticipation that it could be coming the next few years. Hopefully Tikiman will have some more updates soon.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Not surprised. I expect the DVC wasn't interested in paying for removal of old buildings at the Poly and possibly dealing with asbestos. So only a new building will be built near the Spirit of Aloha site with no pool or additions like that. They can use the same floor plan they have already designed for VGF and just change the exterior.

Except that's not the reported plan. Only converting Tahiti and doing some of the bungalows.

Sounds like their keeping the worst parts of the plan. (Bungalows are cool don't get me wrong but I'm not certain how practical for DVC).

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I find the timing of this to be interesting.

Wouldn't a scaled back, less attractive Polynesian be a selling ploy for the currently selling Grand Floridian Villas?

All of the DVC people we saw last week actually seemed physically tired and overwhelmed by the interest in the GFV. I have no idea if that interest follows all the way through to sales...but the interest is definitely there.

 

[DVC Mike]

The original rumor is now a new scaled-back rumor, eh?

Until I see both some plans and related construction taking place, it's all just rumored possibilities.

I still think a Poly DVC is inevitable.

 

[dizfan]

I find the timing of this to be interesting.

Wouldn't a scaled back, less attractive Polynesian be a selling ploy for the currently selling Grand Floridian Villas?

My thoughts exactly. Make Poly rumors less attractive and it may boost VGF sales.

The original rumor is now a new scaled-back rumor, eh?

Until I see both some plans and related construction taking place, it's all just rumored possibilities.

I still think a Poly DVC is inevitable.

100% agree with you DVC Mike!

If we like what we see, we will add-on. If we don't like it, we won't.

 

[missycj96]

Thanks for the updates. Any poly dvc is welcome and i cant wait. I love dvc because i always have something to look forward to. Cant wait to try vgf (have 2 res) and i know my family will be thrilled with the poly. Thanks all and love to hear the news!

 

[dizfan]

Anyone know if it is required to have a small check-in desk for the shared DVC properties? (Just in case they every sell off the DVC portion from the hotel)

For example, BLT and BCV each have a small lobby area that they are staffing for part of the day.

If so, perhaps the larger Poly DVC design didn't work very well. That's a good walk from the Luau area to the Tahiti/Rapa Nui longhouses.

 

[DenLo]

Except that's not the reported plan. Only converting Tahiti and doing some of the bungalows.

Sounds like their keeping the worst parts of the plan. (Bungalows are cool don't get me wrong but I'm not certain how practical for DVC).

I think the bungalows are more of a gimmick than anything, but then the guides can use it as a sales pitch. I always thought a GV would be wonderful to stay in until I realized how many people would sleep there when the GV was the same size as my house at home. No way would I sleep 12 at my house! And the bungalows will be the Polys GVs.

I'm a little confused so the new DVC building will only be the remodeled old building-- Tahiti. Is Tahiti one of the original buildings? So DVC will be buying a 40+ old building, that DVC will remodel? How many rooms are in the Tahiti building now

Edit: I'm reading Tikimans website about the Tahiti building it looks like it was built in 1985.

 

[DenLo]

Here's some information about the Tahiti Building from the Tikiman Pages website:

Pros: This longhouse is my favorite non-club level building when it comes to Lagoon view or Theme Park view rooms. The rooms on the lagoon side have a great view of the Magic Kingdom but do look over the island on in the lagoon. The beach is much more quiet and private. These rooms are slightly larger (see layout on the room page) and all the bathrooms have double sinks. You are very close to the Transportation and Ticket Center. The path to the TTC is right out the entrance to the longhouse. There are balconies on 2nd and 3rd floors.

Cons: You are the farthest longhouse from the Great Ceremonial House but the walk is only about a 5 minute walk. The views in the standard view rooms are nice but not the best you can get. They look into the garden area between Tokelau and Rapa Nui and some can be some what surrounded with plants. There seem to be the most maintenace problems at this longhouse.

I am a little disappointed if this is all they will build as a Poly DVC. Tahiti has just under 75 rooms based on Tikiman's Tahiti longhouse floor plan. There would be even less 2 BR villas.

 

[Dean]

Anyone know if it is required to have a small check-in desk for the shared DVC properties? (Just in case they every sell off the DVC portion from the hotel)

For example, BLT and BCV each have a small lobby area that they are staffing for part of the day.

If so, perhaps the larger Poly DVC design didn't work very well. That's a good walk from the Luau area to the Tahiti/Rapa Nui longhouses.

There is no requirement to have separate common facilities of any type. If there were a spinoff you'd see an agreement to share the current facilities or a scramble for something workable. I can't think of a resort that it'd be that big of a deal to run separately with minimal cooperation. BWV would be likely the most difficult but the struggle would be more for the Inn side than the Villas in all likelihood.

 

[Dean]

This rumor does seem to make one think whether GF is selling as fast as they thought. If so, they could either scale the Poly back or use the rumor to speed sales, I'd favor the former between the 2 in terms of the more likely option.

 

[hakepb]

Here's some information about the Tahiti Building from the Tikiman Pages website:



I am a little disappointed if this is all they will build as a Poly DVC. Tahiti has just under 75 rooms based on Tikiman's Tahiti longhouse floor plan. There would be even less 2 BR villas.

Is that just 1 floor?
I thought I saw a 140 type number somewhere.
If its done somewhat like Jambo, a 2BR lockoff takes 3 rooms so that still I'm the 60 unit range + the on water "Grand villas"

 

[cwdefouw]

Another reason for a scaling back being rumoured is because they may need to be able to build it out faster. If VGF is selling faster than they thought it would, then they need to fast track the next resort to be able to continue to have something new to sell at WDW. Converting a building is undoubtably the fastest way to get DVC into the mix at the Poly. They could be going to do this somewhat like AKL where they converted existing rooms, started selling and then built the additional building and the other new pieces to go with it.

 

[mckryan]

No more water feature in the GCH?!! Noooo I love hearing the water when I walk in there and have breakfast at Kona Cafe.

 

[crisi]

This rumor does seem to make one think whether GF is selling as fast as they thought. If so, they could either scale the Poly back or use the rumor to speed sales, I'd favor the former between the 2 in terms of the more likely option.

I wonder if DVCs numbers show that the bulk of their fast and easy sales are to EXISTING owners wanting to own a little bit everywhere. For the purposes of new sales, they may be discovering that a larger portfolio of properties to offer (i.e. every resort) may be more appealing to new owners, and cheaper for them to get their hands on (via ROFR vs. a huge capital project). If they are feeling like they've reached market saturation, and are seeing the original OKW and BWV owners selling out as they age, they may be starting to realize the benefit of having the supply demand equation skewed to limited supply.

 

[nolanboys]

Another reason for a scaling back being rumoured is because they may need to be able to build it out faster. If VGF is selling faster than they thought it would, then they need to fast track the next resort to be able to continue to have something new to sell at WDW. Converting a building is undoubtably the fastest way to get DVC into the mix at the Poly. They could be going to do this somewhat like AKL where they converted existing rooms, started selling and then built the additional building and the other new pieces to go with it.

this seems logical to me. From these boards, I thought VGF was selling well. Does anyone know if that is the case? Not just existing owners but from new owners as well? Since it is a small resort, they will need something else to offer new buyers in the not so distant future.