What I would change in the new Poly studios

[bianca]

I realize that most people touring the new PVB studios love what Disney has done and that my little opinion won't change any minds. However, we did the Poly presentation this past week and came away with a few observations that could have been a game-changer for us.

First off, the presentation itself was quite nice. Disney really worked the magical memories angle and I know there were more than a few folks that walked away without dry eyes. They rolled out some decent appetizers and a pineapple slushie. If alcohol had been in that slushie, perhaps my view could have been swayed.

The studios were nice. Three things stood out, that had Disney addressed these, I believe we would have bought. With all the extra square footage that was boasted about in these studios, there is no reason that they could not have put a king size bed in the room, a washer/dryer and some drawers or some sort. You're talking about an extra 50-60 square feet to accommodate all three of those. Instead, it's a queen bed with suitcase storage underneath (we don't work out of suitcases and like drawers) and one laundry room to accommodate 360+ studios. We felt that $160 pp could be justified if they addressed those concerns.

I guess they were serving the wrong kind of kook-aid while we were there.

 

[Dean]

I realize that most people touring the new PVB studios love what Disney has done and that my little opinion won't change any minds. However, we did the Poly presentation this past week and came away with a few observations that could have been a game-changer for us.

First off, the presentation itself was quite nice. Disney really worked the magical memories angle and I know there were more than a few folks that walked away without dry eyes. They rolled out some decent appetizers and a pineapple slushie. If alcohol had been in that slushie, perhaps my view could have been swayed.

The studios were nice. Three things stood out, that had Disney addressed these, I believe we would have bought. With all the extra square footage that was boasted about in these studios, there is no reason that they could not have put a king size bed in the room, a washer/dryer and some drawers or some sort. You're talking about an extra 50-60 square feet to accommodate all three of those. Instead, it's a queen bed with suitcase storage underneath (we don't work out of suitcases and like drawers) and one laundry room to accommodate 360+ studios. We felt that $160 pp could be justified if they addressed those concerns.

I guess they were serving the wrong kind of kook-aid while we were there.

I'm sure they had their reasons and it's their choice so no need to be upset with them but I agree there are things they could have done. That's esp true give the large number of studios with no 1 BR units. First, I'm on record as saying that the studios in general fall below standards. I compare them to the Marriott lockoff studios where they have a King bed and real kitchen supplies including plates, silverware and cooking options. I also see a lot of hotel conversions and studios from other companies and a more robust mini kitchen possibly with a micro convection, slightly larger fridge and even a small 2 burner top would have been doable. Or even two queens instead of the one and pull out or possibly 2 queens AND a pullout. I've also seen many places that had the all in one W/D that do not require a vent, all you have to have is hot/cold water access. Of course one would have expected an even higher points cost had they make those changes, say 10-15% more than currently set.

 

[sleepydog25]

I've only seen pics and video of the new rooms, but I didn't need to see them to realize a PVB purchase wouldn't be in our future. While we occasionally stay in a studio for a short stay, we more often enjoy 1BRs as we appreciate the kitchen, the washer/dryer, and the storage space. At some point, we might try a PVB studio, but that will suffice. Bungalows are out of the question due to the point totals needed. Further, as you attest, the storage space in the new studios will be severely limited. We stayed in a VGF studio a few months ago, and while lovely, it has a similar set-up which meant being very creative in terms of storing clothes. Certainly, what swayed DVC's construction choices was the bottom line: money. By converting standing buildings and using the existing footprints, they saved oodles of money, created a must-have product for Poly lovers, and started a new paradigm where 5-person studios reign and newcomers to DVC won't know how wonderful 1BRs can be. I think they built exactly what they intended.

 

[quirty30]

I guess they were serving the wrong kind of kook-aid while we were there.

I've heard about not drinking the kool-aid. But I'm sure as heck not drinking kook-aid.

 

[luckyman_apd]

I would love to stay there sometime, but I'm very underwhelmed. I know the trend is to have each room cost more points per night....as they will sell more points that way, but I've never been a poly groupie, so between the GFV, PVB, and BLT....I will choose BLT every time. Less points, easier to get to the Epcot Monorail (although it's not a far walk to the TTC from Poly) and I do like to walk to the MK from BLT sometimes. Granted....BLT isn't always the best "resort" option.....It's just a short ride away to the others. We are point stretchers and studios work just fine for us, so I have no complaints about lack of 2br or 1br. If we used those and were poly fans, then yeah I'd be upset, but I'm not.

In all, I just can't justify the points cost for any of the resorts these days (well....maybe beach club it had a longer expiration date )

 

[gmi3804]

I think DVC studios are pretty crappy accommodations to begin with, so comparing what one has over what the other doesn't have is not setting the bar too high. The Poly units are lovely, but they devoted much too much floor space to the bathrooms, probably because that's what existing plumbing dictated; but now we're left with the same problem as the BLT studios, with 30% of the already small room devoted to bath/wasteful kitchen, and the sleeping area at less square footage than a Value room. The under bed luggage storage is meant to be in the blank space under the foot of the beds, not in the drawers built into the bed under the head, so that was a thoughtful design.

 

[dizfan]

one laundry room to accommodate 360+ studios.

From what our guide told us. There is one laundry room in each longhouse, total of 3 free laundry rooms. There is also the non-free resort laundry room and the resort offers a (not free) laundry service.

The Poly units are lovely, but they devoted much too much floor space to the bathrooms, probably because that's what existing plumbing dictated; but now we're left with the same problem as the BLT studios, with 30% of the already small room devoted to bath/wasteful kitchen, and the sleeping area at less square footage than a Value room.

I have not seen the PVB rooms, but I know for a fact the rooms in these longhouses are much larger room than BLT studios.

 

[gmi3804]

I have not seen the PVB rooms, but I know for a fact the rooms in these longhouses are much larger room than BLT studios.

I've seen them (or the models, at least), and am disappointed by how much space, relative to the overall square footage, is allocated to the bathrooms. This same problem occurs in the BLT studios. The toilet/tub-shower bathroom has lots of wasted floor space. Surely the space that the two parts of the bathrooms take up could've been better designed. Because of all the space the baths take up, the sleeping room itself is quite a bit smaller than the sleeping rooms of the regular Poly rooms, but nowhere near as small as those at BLT.

 

[dizfan]

I've seen them (or the models, at least), and am disappointed by how much space, relative to the overall square footage, is allocated to the bathrooms. This same problem occurs in the BLT studios. The toilet/tub-shower bathroom has lots of wasted floor space. Surely the space that the two parts of the bathrooms take up could've been better designed. Because of all the space the baths take up, the sleeping room itself is quite a bit smaller than the sleeping rooms of the regular Poly rooms, but nowhere near as small as those at BLT.

I don't doubt they could have used the space differently. Basically, they seem to have followed the VGF concept with the split bath. The big difference being PVB rooms are larger so the bath uses a smaller percentage of the room than VGF.

One benefit of the longhouses they converted is the rooms are larger than the other longhouses. Excluding specialty rooms.

 

[DebbieB]

The living space is much bigger than BLT. At BLT, the bed and sofa are crammed together. When I stayed at VGF with friends, we liked the split bath.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I've seen them (or the models, at least), and am disappointed by how much space, relative to the overall square footage, is allocated to the bathrooms. This same problem occurs in the BLT studios. The toilet/tub-shower bathroom has lots of wasted floor space. Surely the space that the two parts of the bathrooms take up could've been better designed. Because of all the space the baths take up, the sleeping room itself is quite a bit smaller than the sleeping rooms of the regular Poly rooms, but nowhere near as small as those at BLT.

I too think that they allocated too much of the space to the bathrooms. Sure, there's time spent in them but in general we prefer to sit and sleep out in the living room area. If nothing else this was certainly a resort that could have used 2 real beds plus seating (sofa) and it seems like it would have easily fit.