What's so bad about Poly?

[MountainMouse]

So the only affordable option at the Poly are the studios, what's so bad about that? If you have connecting studios you have the square footage and point costs of a 1BR (albeit an expensive 1BR). You get two real beds when you get two studios. You're walking distance to TTC. You've got a walkway to the GF. Lakeview 3rd floor has the best over water views of the magic kingdom in my opinion (though the bungalows are a bit in the way). My main complaints would be the distance to the GCH and the lack of a signature pool and the point cost per night. I still think the pros outweigh the cons and I'm wondering what I'm missing.

 

[crisi]

If you think the pros outweigh the cons, then go for it.

We found we use both the kitchen and washer dryer. Shocked me when I realized it, but it wouldn't be the same without eggs in the mornings and throwing in a load of wash.

We do a two bedroom at the BW - so for a little less than the cost of your two studios, we add the kitchen, which we use, the living room - gives us a place to hang out as a family, and the washer dryer. For us, that's a lot of pluses.

 

[dizfan]

IMHO, it all comes down to personal preferences.

After a bad experience with an adult on a sofa bed at a resort, we refuse to plan on an adult sleeping on a sofa bed. For us, that leaves us with 2BR or two studios. Since we like the monorail, our options are BLT, PVB, and VGF. We own at BLT and PVB, both work well for us, but certainly are not for everyone.

To me, the biggest issue with PVB studio is the wasted space in the main bathroom or even used that space in the living area. They could have put in a stackable washer/dryer in that wasted space, which would have made them a super studio (Dean, I really liked your term for this). They could have made a super kitchenette.

Another downside with PVB is only 4 washing machines to be shared by 360 studios. Once the resort is fully declared and rooms are mostly occupied by owners, this could be a problem.

 

[DVC Doctor]

no King size beds

 

[Dean]

So the only affordable option at the Poly are the studios, what's so bad about that? If you have connecting studios you have the square footage and point costs of a 1BR (albeit an expensive 1BR). You get two real beds when you get two studios. You're walking distance to TTC. You've got a walkway to the GF. Lakeview 3rd floor has the best over water views of the magic kingdom in my opinion (though the bungalows are a bit in the way). My main complaints would be the distance to the GCH and the lack of a signature pool and the point cost per night. I still think the pros outweigh the cons and I'm wondering what I'm missing.

At almost quadruple the price of say SSR or AKV up front (more points and more per point to buy there) and triple the price of BLT bought resale looked at long term. I'll also point out that the connecting rooms is not a guarantee though likely to work out.

 

[Minniesgal]

Firstly 2 studios might not be connecting as it is not guaranteed for me that is a big downside. Would really ruin my trip to find we are not together.

Secondly no 1 and 2 bedrooms is a major down for me. We use the kitchen, we also use the Laundry but we would really miss the lounge area as we spend a lot of time there relaxing.

Most of all we would really miss having the King Master to ourselves.

Add to that no Signature restaurant I think it might be the only Deluxe without one.

For us the setup at the Poly is a massive step down and doesn't give us what we bought DVC for.

 

[disneynutz]

Studios only and the number of good views from the rooms will keep us from staying there.

I get the feeling sometimes that DVD thinks that if they build it, they will come. It doesn't matter what they build, how much they charge, or where they build it. I guess for the most part they are correct.

Bill

 

[Dean]

Studios only and the number of good views from the rooms will keep us from staying there.

I get the feeling sometimes that DVD thinks that if they build it, they will come. It doesn't matter what they build, how much they charge, or where they build it. I guess for the most part they are correct.

Bill

Sure, just look at SSR which proves this point for WDW. Off property I think they've still had that philosphy in the past and been proven wrong, see VB & HH.

 

[MountainMouse]

Thanks for the feedback, there were a couple of things I hadn't given full consideration to yet. The lack of a washer/dryer is a negative to me and while it isn't now I think the lack of a cooking kitchen could be a deterrent in the future though neither issue is a deal breaker. The no king bed is a negative, but I would trade a king for two queens. The uncertainty with whether your studios would be connecting is also a major negative. I can't compare connecting studios to a 1BR unless I know they will be connecting. Someone said it comes down to personal preference and that is 100% true and those preferences can change over time so I'm trying to balance my decision some for now and some for the future. Right now I'm an owner at BLT, love the place for our family with a 4 year old. I'm considering an add-on and I'm not sure if I want to increase my buying power at BLT or gain an 11 month window and possibly a fixed week at Poly.

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks for the feedback, there were a couple of things I hadn't given full consideration to yet. The lack of a washer/dryer is a negative to me and while it isn't now I think the lack of a cooking kitchen could be a deterrent in the future though neither issue is a deal breaker. The no king bed is a negative, but I would trade a king for two queens. The uncertainty with whether your studios would be connecting is also a major negative. I can't compare connecting studios to a 1BR unless I know they will be connecting. Someone said it comes down to personal preference and that is 100% true and those preferences can change over time so I'm trying to balance my decision some for now and some for the future. Right now I'm an owner at BLT, love the place for our family with a 4 year old. I'm considering an add-on and I'm not sure if I want to increase my buying power at BLT or gain an 11 month window and possibly a fixed week at Poly.

IMO the fixed week works well if you anticipate limited availability at 11 months for room size or category. I don't know if PVB will require it. I know that VGF does due to it being such a small resort and the limited number of lake view rooms there. We bought a fixed week at VGF for early December and it works well for us.

Bill

 

[drusba]

Things wrong with Poly:

1. Very high point per night and high price per point cost.

2. No 1BRs or 2BRs and no washer/dryer in room.

3. Connecting studios are not guaranteed.

4. The "Treehouse" issue. When the Treehouses had too much demand DVD raised their points needed to reserve by about 15% year round and lowered other rooms at SSR by a small amount. Few can afford the bungalows. If bungalow demand is low, nothing stops DVD from doing an adjustment that lowers bungalow and raises studio points needed per night.

 

[coastalhh]

The main problem is a obvious one in my opinion. 20% of the points are bungalows with about 2% of the contracts able to book the bungalows for more then a night or two

So the resorts is essentially 18% oversold meaning you will not be able to make a reservation many times of the year and at the very least be making it at 11 months on the dot to lock someone else out from being able to make a reservation. What good is it to own somewhere you can't boom consistently at hot times? Ask the VGF studio owners how it is booking in early December.

Unless you have a fixed week..then you have no issues.

 

[supersnoop]

4. The "Treehouse" issue. When the Treehouses had too much demand DVD raised their points needed to reserve by about 15% year round and lowered other rooms at SSR by a small amount. Few can afford the bungalows. If bungalow demand is low, nothing stops DVD from doing an adjustment that lowers bungalow and raises studio points needed per night.

That's not entirely true. There is a threshold in the declarations that requires rooms to be available below a certain number of points per night. So there is something that holds back the number of points that the studios can increase, at least in one season.

 

[disneynutz]

Things wrong with Poly:

1. Very high point per night and high price per point cost.

2. No 1BRs or 2BRs and no washer/dryer in room.

3. Connecting studios are not guaranteed.

4. The "Treehouse" issue. When the Treehouses had too much demand DVD raised their points needed to reserve by about 15% year round and lowered other rooms at SSR by a small amount. Few can afford the bungalows. If bungalow demand is low, nothing stops DVD from doing an adjustment that lowers bungalow and raises studio points needed per night.

I never understood the THV demand reallocation excuse. IMO DVD used the low point requirement to sell the additional THV points just like they used the low Aulani and BLT dues rate to sell those points until they got caught at Aulani.

Bill

 

[MountainMouse]

IMO the fixed week works well if you anticipate limited availability at 11 months for room size or category. I don't know if PVB will require it. I know that VGF does due to it being such a small resort and the limited number of lake view rooms there. We bought a fixed week at VGF for early December and it works well for us.

Bill

If VGF were still available I think that is where I would go, fixed week studio (probably Thanksgiving, maybe December). I'd likely cash out those points most years and put them toward a stay in either January or the summer. Would like that high demand fixed week primarily to help hold long term value.

 

[Dean]

The main problem is a obvious one in my opinion. 20% of the points are bungalows with about 2% of the contracts able to book the bungalows for more then a night or two

So the resorts is essentially 18% oversold meaning you will not be able to make a reservation many times of the year and at the very least be making it at 11 months on the dot to lock someone else out from being able to make a reservation. What good is it to own somewhere you can't boom consistently at hot times? Ask the VGF studio owners how it is booking in early December.

Unless you have a fixed week..then you have no issues.

To a degree. I'm also not sure how they compensated for the additional points that could be in play with the 10% additional points for a fixed week, maybe they have and I'm just not aware. However, the limitation on the number of fixed weeks, fact that historically they haven't hit this minimum and that many who bought a fixed week will use it will mean the potential impact of the fixed weeks will only be in the 1-2% range and easily fall within the unsold points held by DVD.

That's not entirely true. There is a threshold in the declarations that requires rooms to be available below a certain number of points per night. So there is something that holds back the number of points that the studios can increase, at least in one season.

Maybe we're looking at the same info from different angles but as I recall, the POS doesn't directly limit the number of villas available at any season but rather what the points would be if the seasons were abolished. To a degree it might be the same thing but in thoery they could raise the costs 10 times for any season if they wanted as long as they compensated in other areas.

I see no reason to not buy a fixed week for any resort where it's available if one is remotely close to the number of points required to do so. That's even if the fixed weeks is nothing related to when one would normally travel though a good week for travel for that person would be far preferable.

I never understood the THV demand reallocation excuse. IMO DVD used the low point requirement to sell the additional THV points just like they used the low Aulani and BLT dues rate to sell those points until they got caught at Aulani.

Bill

IMO it was a mistake not to make the THV a separate resort but I chose to think it wasn't a planned move to reallocate only after sales were set.

 

[cvjw]

Our three nights in May at the Poly in connecting studios was 180 points for the standard view. For the same weekend, the lake view studios would have been 216 points. Those same three nights in a 1 bedroom lakeview at BLT would have been 164 points, and in a 2 bedroom lakeview was 212 points.

For some times of the year, 2 connecting Poly studios cost more than a BLT one or two bedroom.

We tried the Poly in 2 connecting studios and then moved over to a BLT 2 bedroom for a week. For us, there was no comparison. The points are very similar, but you get so much more space and amenities in the BLT 2 bedroom.

 

[DenLo]

First of you cannot compare in 2BR to two studios. You need to compare studios to studios.

The square footages for WDW studios:

AKV Kidani - 366
Jambo - 365
Value - 316
BCV - 365
BLT - 339
BWV - 359
OKW - 390
PVB - 447
SSR - 344
VGF - 374
VWL - 356

The Poly studios square footage is much larger than any of the other resorts. However, a larger portion of the square footage was used for the split bathroom. The rooms are wide enough that even with the murphy bed open there is much more room between the queen bed and the murphy. Tikiman does a comparison of the one at PVB versus VGF. Definitely more walk around space. https://www.facebook.com/Tikimanpages/photos/pcb.934413719936636/934413703269971/?type=1&theater

And the bonus is that it is definitely possible to get connecting studios.

But these rooms still only have one queen bed and a queen pull out couch whereas OKW has two queen beds.

The other downside is the point cost per night. Like others have pointed out they are high, comparable to only VGF.

 

[Minniesgal]

For me the point about the King was a little missed. We love the 1 bedrooms because of the privacy of the King master not just for the bed size but as a place to retreat as a couple from the kids

 

[suebeelin]

I don't think the poly std point cost is too crazy.

For adventure season:
Poly std studio wkdy- 16pts
BCV/BWV/WLV wkdy- 15pts
BLT lake view wkdy: 17pts
GFV std: 17pts

At least for wkdys, it's pretty reasonable imo

Here are the weekend points per resort.
BLT: 19
GFV: 20
Poly: 19
BWV/WLV/BCV: 16

The big difference is the weekends, but for the monorail resorts it's in line with the others.

Then again, SSR is 12/15, Okw is 10/13, AKL is 11/13 or 14/16, depending on the view. So I guess I understand the sticker shock. However, for a near park resort, the point expectations are not unreasonable.