Why is everyone so concerned with the new Poly tower

[lovethesun12]

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 really don't get the Animal Kingdom Lodge ranking. I'd definitely put it behind OKW and SSR, most moderate resorts and maybe even the values in terms of transportation.

One of my favourite resorts but convenient really isn't something I would call it.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

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 don't consider a 20 minute walk to be more convenient than a 10 minute bus ride, particularly when you consider that Central Florida is prone to both extreme heat and extreme rainfall.

And I sure as hell don't consider 45 minutes from GF to Epcot to be "convenient" just because it doesn't involve a bus.

Grand Floridian versus Animal Kingdom Lodge transit times:

Magic Kingdom: 10 / 18
Epcot: 40 / 17
Studios: 20 / 16
Animal Kingdom: 25 / 15
Disney Springs: 25 / 20

Unless you spend an inordinate amount of time at MK, you're going to spend a lot longer in a week of commuting from VGF than AKV.

 

[RKS03]

For me with a stroller avoiding buses is huge. Plus wait times for buses can be extensive.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I really don't get the Animal Kingdom Lodge ranking. I'd definitely put it behind OKW and SSR, most moderate resorts and maybe even the values in terms of transportation.

One of my favourite resorts but convenient really isn't something I would call it.

If you have a car, OKW and SSR are much more centrally located on property and have very convenient parking. If you don't have a car, the internal bus loop that you have to complete at each of those properties (and all mods except POFQ) adds at least 10 minutes to every gate-to-gate transit time.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

For me with a stroller avoiding buses is huge. Plus wait times for buses can be extensive.

Wait times AND extremely crowding during popular times. I will do just about anything to avoid buses if I can.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

I don't consider a 20 minute walk to be more convenient than a 10 minute bus ride, particularly when you consider that Central Florida is prone to both extreme heat and extreme rainfall.

And I sure as hell don't consider 45 minutes from GF to Epcot to be "convenient" just because it doesn't involve a bus.

Grand Floridian versus Animal Kingdom Lodge transit times:

Magic Kingdom: 10 / 18
Epcot: 40 / 17
Studios: 20 / 16
Animal Kingdom: 25 / 15
Disney Springs: 25 / 20

Unless you spend an inordinate amount of time at MK, you're going to spend a lot longer in a week of commuting from VGF than AKV.

We travel in January for the most part so heat is not an issue.

We actually spend most of our time in Epcot and HS.

But the bigger issue is that this assumes the bus is there waiting for you when you arrive and immediately whisks you off to your destination. In my experience we wait around, it’s crowded, bus eventually comes, it’s crowded, and then we slowly make our way to the park, only to take forever to unload. I’d much MUCH rather be in control of my own destiny.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

We travel in January for the most part so heat is not an issue.

We actually spend most of our time in Epcot and HS.

But the bigger issue is that this assumes the bus is there waiting for you when you arrive and immediately whisks you off to your destination. In my experience we wait around, it’s crowded, bus eventually comes, it’s crowded, and then we slowly make our way to the park, only to take forever to unload. I’d much MUCH rather be in control of my own destiny.

This seems to be a post in favor of Beach Club, not VGF, which is what I thought you were defending. I don't dispute that Beach Club and Boardwalk are top-tier convenient. But monorails and boats have waits too. In the case of boats, often longer waits than buses.

 

[lovethesun12]

I don't consider a 20 minute walk to be more convenient than a 10 minute bus ride, particularly when you consider that Central Florida is prone to both extreme heat and extreme rainfall.

And I sure as hell don't consider 45 minutes from GF to Epcot to be "convenient" just because it doesn't involve a bus.

Grand Floridian versus Animal Kingdom Lodge transit times:

Magic Kingdom: 10 / 18
Epcot: 40 / 17
Studios: 20 / 16
Animal Kingdom: 25 / 15
Disney Springs: 25 / 20

Unless you spend an inordinate amount of time at MK, you're going to spend a lot longer in a week of commuting from VGF than AKV.

Those numbers are nice but AKL felt like triple that time when you're on a crowded bus with kids in your arms. Mine can stand now but still can't bring myself back (because of the transportation) though I did love the resort.

To be fair, we do spend a lot of time at MK. Even then though I'd pick BCV for the transportation in a second over AKL. To each their own; I'd rank it last. I know many people agree and disagree with this assessment, I think the timing of the visit has a lot to do with it.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Those numbers are nice but AKL felt like triple that time when you're on a crowded bus with kids in your arms. Mine can stand now but still can't bring myself back (because of the transportation) though I did love the resort.

To be fair, we do spend a lot of time at MK. Even then though I'd pick BCV for the transportation in a second over AKL. To each their own; I'd rank it last. I know many people agree and disagree with this assessment, I think the timing of the visit has a lot to do with it.

I guess I've just been lucky. I've never encountered any of these nightmare bus scenarios that people talk about in dozens of trips from the Northeast and several years as a local. My wife and kids always have seats, I don't mind standing, other people on the bus are usually friendly and pleasant, it's never nightmarishly crowded, and I've never had an insane wait other than a string of bad luck I had at SSR one time with scooters.

 

[Paul Stupin]

This seems to be a post in favor of Beach Club, not VGF, which is what I thought you were defending. I don't dispute that Beach Club and Boardwalk are top-tier convenient. But monorails and boats have waits too. In the case of boats, often longer waits than buses.

I read on these boards about horrendous bus waits at AKL.

 

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

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?

Are there really a zillion Poly1 owners?

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Are there really a zillion Poly1 owners?

Give or take

 

[Royal Consort]

I read on these boards about horrendous bus waits at AKL.

Bus ride from AKL/ flight home to Australia: much of a muchness.

 

[Paul Stupin]

Are there really a zillion Poly1 owners?

I think it’s actually a tad more, but I rounded it down.

 

[RoseGold]

As to why Disney didn’t use the Reflections name, DVC actually released sales material and art about Reflections. It’s why it’s in all the recent contracts about how you didn’t really expect any of that, even though it’s dead. RIP. I can’t imagine the lawyers being thrilled with a completely different thing of the same name instead of just scrapping the (not very good) name.

 

[SLThomas318]

We own at Poly and bought knowing it was only studios and bought points knowing we were booking studios... I would imagine most poly owners did this, so I don't think you are going to have a zillion poly owners going for 1 and 2 bedrooms at the 11 month booking window causing a big issue IF this becomes the same association. Sure the 7 month window will be tricky if resale owners are allowed to book there, but the 7 month window is already tricky... depending on villa size and time of year it is hard to switch to other resorts.

It'll be interesting to see point charts and number of villas in the new tower. I know everyone knocks poly 1 for being all studios, but studios seem to be the most problematic at other resorts... especially higher point resorts. Most buyers buy enough points for studios and those book first. I haven't paid much attention to Riviera, but I assume standard view studios go fast? If this is a new association, then I see the same issue happening. If this becomes part of poly 1, then at least there are a large number of studios. Yes, there will be competition for the shiny new studios, but there should be plenty of studios to go around. And at some point, ALL rooms stop being new and shiny.

As a current poly owner, I'm more concerned about the influx of guests IF they don't add decent food/pool options at the new tower. I'm remaining cautiously optimistic

 

[AvidDisReader]

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.

DVC also manipulated the market. They totally stopped selling GFV for several month prior to the new offering. Also, they increased their ROFR on GFV in the resale market. Again, this is your blue print to Poly. Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. If I was interested in the new Poly Tower, I do believe I would take that leap of faith and buy resale now. Again, just my opinion so do not hold to it if I prove to be incorrect.

 

[Sandisw]

DVC also manipulated the market. They totally stopped selling GFV for several month prior to the new offering. Also, they increased their ROFR on GFV in the resale market. Again, this is your blue print to Poly. Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. If I was interested in the new Poly Tower, I do believe I would take that leap of faith and buy resale now. Again, just my opinion so do not hold to it if I prove to be incorrect.

Of course they did. But not sure why what they did with VGF means the new Poly will go the same way.

The lack of announcement of same association is a big one. They went in to VGF with the plan to make it a new phase vs a new resort.

No one knows what they are going to do but I just think it’s way too earlier to tell.

And converting a building to a resort studios is just not the same as building what they are now which play a role in what is to come.

As I said, the lack of info and the reference only to Poly Village resort vs PVB means they purposely didn’t want to say what they are planning.

I think in a few months, we will have more info to make better predictions.

But I still think that low number right now for new buyers is enough for them to make no changes yet for resale restrictions if they are looking for something to justify that decision for Poly tower.

 

[RoseGold]

Another factor for Poly, VGF and RIV is just sheer cost of buy in. As point charts have inflated, and minimum purchase went up, this became a $30,000 + $1,200/year discussion -- and that's barely a week in a RIV studio, depending on view and time.

Even before Covid, that was a lot of money and a tough sell. Most people just don't have that kind of money sitting around. I would expect the Poly Tower chart to inflate, or at least match VGF, and Poly will have the same problem. As the charts keep going up and prices keep going up, eventually there will be a point where people quit buying. A $30,000 buy is maybe a tough one to make on impulse before your Ohana reservation. Or maybe all they need is enough buyers to build every five years, flip a few rooms in the middle, and higher pricing and slower sales are worth it for them. I'm cool with that, I plan to sell soon!

 

[SLThomas318]

Another factor for Poly, VGF and RIV is just sheer cost of buy in. As point charts have inflated, and minimum purchase went up, this became a $30,000 + $1,200/year discussion -- and that's barely a week in a RIV studio, depending on view and time.

Even before Covid, that was a lot of money and a tough sell. Most people just don't have that kind of money sitting around. I would expect the Poly Tower chart to inflate, or at least match VGF, and Poly will have the same problem. As the charts keep going up and prices keep going up, eventually there will be a point where people quit buying. A $30,000 buy is maybe a tough one to make on impulse before your Ohana reservation. Or maybe all they need is enough buyers to build every five years, flip a few rooms in the middle, and higher pricing and slower sales are worth it for them. I'm cool with that, I plan to sell soon!

I've also wondered how much increasing the min. buy in has affected sales. I don't remember, but is the min. buy in direct from Disney only to get "blue card benefits"? Can you still buy less than the 150 direct from Disney as a first time owner and just not get "blue card benefits"?

We joined in 2018 and I think the min. was 75... we went with 100 pts thinking we would only go for 4-5 nights a year or bank/borrow and skip some years for longer trips. I'm laughing as I type this because we have since added on multiple times, BUT the lower buy in got us in the door and allowed us to experience the product. I feel like if we were looking at joining today, it would be a harder sell.