Why is everyone so concerned with the new Poly tower

[DVC Doctor]

For me, having only Studios is the main reason I chose not to buy Poly, but now with larger units, it will be awesome to own there

 

[Paul Stupin]

For me, having only Studios is the main reason I chose not to buy Poly, but now with larger units, it will be awesome to own there

But if it’s in the same association and you have to compete with a zillion Poly1 owners for the only non studio accommodations, would you still regard Poly2 as awesome?

 

[DVC Doctor]

But if it’s in the same association and you have to compete with a zillion Poly1 owners for the only non studio accommodations, would you still regard Poly2 as awesome?

Yes, because those owners bought with the intention of booking studios or bungalows

Sure, some will want 1 or 2 or 3 bedroom units, but my guess is that this will not be as bad as people think. Now when the 7th month mark hits, this place will sell out very fast for larger rooms, so owning there will have advantages.

We have similar debates whenever a new DVC location is announced, and most of the time, things are not as bad as people fear

 

[Paul Stupin]

Yes, because those owners bought with the intention of booking studios or bungalows

Sure, some will want 1 or 2 or 3 bedroom units, but my guess is that this will not be as bad as people think. Now when the 7th month mark hits, this place will sell out very fast for larger rooms, so owning there will have advantages.

We have similar debates whenever a new DVC location is announced, and most of the time, things are not as bad as people fear

Good point. Everyone is saying the sky will fall down for one or two bedroom bookings at VGF, with new owners buying points to use for a finite amount of non studio accommodations. They say availability will become difficult, but at 8-11 months I truly doubt it.

 

[AvidDisReader]

But if it’s in the same association and you have to compete with a zillion Poly1 owners for the only non studio accommodations, would you still regard Poly2 as awesome?

A rhetorical question, "does Disney really give a hoot if existing Poly owner will be now trying to book stays at the new tower squeezing out the new owners?" Or to phrase it another way "does Disney only care about making money/profits on a new DVC property?" This goes to Sandi's statement that it will be a stand alone so can have resale restrictions, but in response I would say how many current owners will want to add on to Poly tower to have the availability to book at the new tower? A significant number of purchases are by existing owners. After a naive person buys into DVC, they usually become very aware of things like resale restrictions. So if a newbie bought RIV, and wants to add without restrictions, along comes Poly tower as part of the original Poly and you have a pretty good demand. How does DVC spin this, well they say we have the precedent of GFV, Animal Kingdom, and Saratoga.

 

[Royal Consort]

A rhetorical question, "does Disney really give a hoot if existing Poly owner will be now trying to book stays at the new tower squeezing out the new owners?" Or to phrase it another way "does Disney only care about making money/profits on a new DVC property?" This goes to Sandi's statement that it will be a stand alone so can have resale restrictions, but in response I would say how many current owners will want to add on to Poly tower to have the availability to book at the new tower? A significant number of purchases are by existing owners. After a naive person buys into DVC, they usually become very aware of things like resale restrictions. So if a newbie bought RIV, and wants to add without restrictions, along comes Poly tower as part of the original Poly and you have a pretty good demand. How does DVC spin this, well they say we have the precedent of GFV, Animal Kingdom, and Saratoga.

If someone wants to add on for Poly tower under the same association, they add on via resale and save thousands!! Disney gets $0. This doesn't work.

 

[lovethesun12]

I'm really curious about one thing though regarding whether it's restricted or not. I've heard this called "Reflections 2.0" multiple times. If Disney didn't want to bring this resort under the same umbrella as the first resort, why build it here? Why didn't they just go ahead with Reflections instead?

I'm really just interested so asking the question; I can't really offer anything towards why they would or would not do that.

 

[Royal Consort]

I'm really curious about one thing though regarding whether it's restricted or not. I've heard this called "Reflections 2.0" multiple times. If Disney didn't want to bring this resort under the same umbrella as the first resort, why build it here? Why didn't they just go ahead with Reflections instead?

I'm really just interested so asking the question; I can't really offer anything towards why they would or would not do that.

Because the brand of "Polynesian" sells.

Reflections was also a cash hotel with a DVC component. Post pandemic Disney decided they do not need such a property any longer. Basically they don't want to spend or do not think it would be required.

 

[Sandisw]

I'm really curious about one thing though regarding whether it's restricted or not. I've heard this called "Reflections 2.0" multiple times. If Disney didn't want to bring this resort under the same umbrella as the first resort, why build it here? Why didn't they just go ahead with Reflections instead?

I'm really just interested so asking the question; I can't really offer anything towards why they would or would not do that.

Because Reflections was supposed to be both a new DVC and a new deluxe resort. It was going to be a much bigger project. By putting this DVC only tower at the Poly Resort, guests will have access to not only the new things being built with it, but also all the current amenities that are at the Poly.

So, adding a second DVC resort, located within the grounds of the Poly Village Resort, would allow them the best of both worlds. Now, whether they go that way or not? No one knows. As I have shared, the lack of commitment out of the gate that this would be just an addition to PVB was done for on purpose. They certainly didn't have any issue stating that those new resort studios at VGF would indeed not be a new resort, but a second phase for VGF.

What were those reasons? None of us know. What we do know is that DVD made the move prior to the pandemic, and the scrapping of Reflections that resale restrictions was the new way forward for the DVC product.

IMO, it is going to take a lot for them to backtrack on that decision and I just don't think what they did with VGF is enough of a hint. Now that RIV sales see are starting to come back up into a decent range, I am more inclined to think, if it continues, for them to stay the course.

 

[Brian Noble]

would you still regard Poly2 as awesome?

Everything is awesome!

 

[AvidDisReader]

If someone wants to add on for Poly tower under the same association, they add on via resale and save thousands!! Disney gets $0. This doesn't work.

Except there would not be enough resale for the demand in my opinion.

 

[Sandisw]

Except there would not be enough resale for the demand in my opinion.

Maybe not, but plenty of other resale around to buy and take your chances at 7 months. Restrictions and a new association knock out all resale contracts, not just Poly...

So, from DVD's standpoint, knocking out resale completely from booking Poly tower makes direct an even better option for those who truly want to be able to stay there.

Another thing to remember is that in addition to resale restrictions, some think RIV's location is an issue. Poly won't have that issue so while RIV may have suffered some loss of sales because of restrictions, I don't think the same will be true for Poly.

It could also be why VGF sold well the first time around, and is selling well this time around...its location to MK.

 

[Tech4444]

I don't know why everyone thinks RIV's location is not good. Stayed there last month during cheer week and the Skyliner to 2 parks was amazing. I feel like it is on par as far as transportation/location to PVB and VGF. Maybe the opinionated ones are the ones that have never stayed there.

 

[Sandisw]

I don't know why everyone thinks RIV's location is not good. Stayed there last month during cheer week and the Skyliner to 2 parks was amazing. I feel like it is on par as far as transportation/location to PVB and VGF. Maybe the opinionated ones are the ones that have never stayed there.

I didn’t think I’d like it and boy, I was wrong! It’s my top! But, everyone has different tastes.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I don't know why everyone thinks RIV's location is not good. Stayed there last month during cheer week and the Skyliner to 2 parks was amazing. I feel like it is on par as far as transportation/location to PVB and VGF. Maybe the opinionated ones are the ones that have never stayed there.

Grand Floridian is middle-of-the-road convenient among all Disney resorts and bottom-tier among deluxes. Not as bad as Old Key West or Saratoga Springs, but worse than Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Yes it's the #2 easiest resort to Magic Kingdom but it is BY FAR the worst resort for getting to Epcot, and it's also very bad to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs.

Convenience alone, the tiers are something like this:

1. Riviera when it's not storming

2. Beach Club, Boardwalk

3. Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian (walking to the TTC), Contemporary

4. Animal Kingdom Lodge, Grand Floridian, Polynesian (monorail to the TTC), Riviera when it's storming

5. Old Key West, Saratoga Springs

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Grand Floridian is middle-of-the-road convenient among all Disney resorts and bottom-tier among deluxes. Not as bad as Old Key West or Saratoga Springs, but worse than Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Yes it's the #2 easiest resort to Magic Kingdom but it is BY FAR the worst resort for getting to Epcot, and it's also very bad to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs.

Convenience alone, the tiers are something like this:

1. Riviera when it's not storming

2. Beach Club, Boardwalk

3. Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian (walking to the TTC), Contemporary

4. Animal Kingdom Lodge, Grand Floridian, Polynesian (monorail to the TTC), Riviera when it's storming

5. Old Key West, Saratoga Springs

I’m curious why you rank Riviera over Beach and Boardwalk for convenience. You are required to take transportation to 2 parks, whereas with B/B you walk or boat to one and walk, boat, or take the same transportation to the other. So you have all of the same plus MORE options.

Wilderness Lodge is boat to MK, so by definition it’s harder to get there than anything walkable.

Contemporary walk to MK is slightly easier than VGF, but you don’t have the option to walk to the TTC unless you go all the way around.

Convenience alone, which I define as not having to rely on transportation, I would tier:
1. BC/BW - 2 parks
2. VGF - walkable to TTC and MK
3. Contemporary/Poly - easier walk to MK (contemporary) vs easier to get to TTC to Epcot while still walkable ro MK (Poly)
4. Riviera - skyliner to both parks
5. OKW/SSR/AKL - transportation to everything, though I guess walkable to DS puts AKL last.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

I’m not hating on Riviera. I just don’t like the idea that you are fully reliant on the skyliner system.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Though clearly #1, by a landslide, has to be the Grand Californian. I LOVE that back entrance to DCA and easy walk to DL. Plus with park hopper I just walk through because I can.

 

[DVCsloth]

Grand Floridian is middle-of-the-road convenient among all Disney resorts and bottom-tier among deluxes. Not as bad as Old Key West or Saratoga Springs, but worse than Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Yes it's the #2 easiest resort to Magic Kingdom but it is BY FAR the worst resort for getting to Epcot, and it's also very bad to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs.

Convenience alone, the tiers are something like this:

1. Riviera when it's not storming

2. Beach Club, Boardwalk

3. Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian (walking to the TTC), Contemporary

4. Animal Kingdom Lodge, Grand Floridian, Polynesian (monorail to the TTC), Riviera when it's storming

5. Old Key West, Saratoga Springs

I'm a big fan of Riviera, going to Epcot is really good. Going to HS for rope drop can be pretty crowded when transferring to HS gondola. VGF to MK is pretty easy 3 different options. Walking back after MK close is really nice. We also walk to TTC from VGF for monorail to Epcot. Always had good bus service to HS from GF. All of the resorts have pro's and con's

 

[Royal Consort]

I’m curious why you rank Riviera over Beach and Boardwalk for convenience. You are required to take transportation to 2 parks, whereas with B/B you walk or boat to one and walk, boat, or take the same transportation to the other. So you have all of the same plus MORE options.

Wilderness Lodge is boat to MK, so by definition it’s harder to get there than anything walkable.

Contemporary walk to MK is slightly easier than VGF, but you don’t have the option to walk to the TTC unless you go all the way around.

Convenience alone, which I define as not having to rely on transportation, I would tier:
1. BC/BW - 2 parks
2. VGF - walkable to TTC and MK
3. Contemporary/Poly - easier walk to MK (contemporary) vs easier to get to TTC to Epcot while still walkable ro MK (Poly)
4. Riviera - skyliner to both parks
5. OKW/SSR/AKL - transportation to everything, though I guess walkable to DS puts AKL last.

I'm onboard with this ranking completely. I put higher subjective preference to MK and so VGF walk is worth more to me.