Why is everyone so concerned with the new Poly tower

[hglenn]

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.

As a new member, the minimum direct buy-in is 150 points. Once you are a member (blue or white card) you can buy as little as 25/50 depending on the resort min.

 

[SarahC97]

As a new member, the minimum direct buy-in is 150 points. Once you are a member (blue or white card) you can buy as little as 25/50 depending on the resort min.

So, you can buy resale and then buy a smaller contract with Disney to get the blue card?

 

[hglenn]

So, you can buy resale and then buy a smaller contract with Disney to get the blue card?

Yes. No minimum to be a "white card" member. So you could buy a 100 pt resale contract, then add on direct in 25/50 pt increments until you got to the 150 pts min to get the blue card.

 

[SarahC97]

Yes. No minimum to be a "white card" member. So you could buy a 100 pt resale contract, then add on direct in 25/50 pt increments until you got to the 150 pts min to get the blue card.

Oh wow, I totally misunderstood that! We are in the process of buying 150 points resale, so I think we'll have to add on direct down the line. Thanks!

 

[AvidDisReader]

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.

Remember they were very vague about GFV in the beginning, Being vague means nothing. What DVC has done in the past i.e precedent should tell you everything you want to know.

 

[Tech4444]

Yes. No minimum to be a "white card" member. So you could buy a 100 pt resale contract, then add on direct in 25/50 pt increments until you got to the 150 pts min to get the blue card.

This is our plan … bought PVB resale … then we will add on direct until we earn blue card… plus they will match your use year when buying direct

 

[RoseGold]

Remember they were very vague about GFV in the beginning, Being vague means nothing. What DVC has done in the past i.e precedent should tell you everything you want to know.

They weren't vague at all about VGF. The very first press statement said it would be in the existing association, which is exactly what happened. Poly was vague.

 

[Paul Stupin]

Remember they were very vague about GFV in the beginning, Being vague means nothing. What DVC has done in the past i.e precedent should tell you everything you want to know.

The general consensus, with which I agree, is that VDH will have resale restrictions, along with Riviera. So precedent will dictate that new DVC construction, repeat, new DVC “ground up” construction, will have resale restrictions. Makes sense, doesn’t it, especially for such big investments? Anyone buying Poly1 right now assuming that they’ll be able to use their points at the new tower could very well be be sorely mistaken, and find themselves stuck staying at the studio only, outdated end of the resort. Or, having to unload a Poly1 contract right when it’s value is going down because new buyers will want Poly2 more, which Disney will price very competitively, just like they did with VGF2. (Another precedent.)

As you have said, those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

 

[AvidDisReader]

The general consensus, with which I agree, is that VDH will have resale restrictions, along with Riviera. So precedent will dictate that new DVC construction, repeat, new DVC “ground up” construction, will have resale restrictions. Makes sense, doesn’t it, especially for such big investments? Anyone buying Poly1 right now assuming that they’ll be able to use their points at the new tower could very well be be sorely mistaken, and find themselves stuck staying at the studio only, outdated end of the resort. Or, having to unload a Poly1 contract right when it’s value is going down because new buyers will want Poly2 more, which Disney will price very competitively, just like they did with VGF2. (Another precedent.)

As you have said, those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

Again we disagree. No where to go from here but to wait for an official announcement in a couple of years. One of us going to have a big I told you so. That being said, I am going to bow out of this discussion, no need to continue as you are not convincing me and I am not convincing you. There is no need to keep going over the same points.

 

[Sandisw]

Remember they were very vague about GFV in the beginning, Being vague means nothing. What DVC has done in the past i.e precedent should tell you everything you want to know.

Actually the very first announcement said new DVC coming to VGF and it would be part of the same association.

So they were clear upfront and not vague at all that those were a new phase of the resort, unlike Poly which failed to say it. Even the two titles were done differently.

I agree that what they have done in the past can lead to conclusion and they said new resorts would have restrictions. VGF was not new.

So, if you use that then the fact they didn’t say it like they did with VGF leads one to believe it will be a brand new resort.

But as you said, we are all speculating but if VDH comes out with them, then I’d venture it moves the needle that restrictions are not going away.

 

[sethschroeder]

My personal opinion, I don't see a scenario where Poly1 resale gets any cheaper than it already is considering how stagnate resales are right now combined with no rofr and the sheer amount of contracts for sale, so I think the only question you need to answer is: if Poly tower is a new association, are you going to regret having bought Poly1 now? If not, you're golden. Either way, Poly ownership is going to retain it's value.

Except if we hit a recession and you have Disney trying to sell shiny new Poly it can drive resales down further.

Additonally if the gap is close enough people who love Poly may opt for direct for a variety of reasons depending on if it's a new resort or part of the existing.

There is a large chance that Poly slips in years 2-5 before rebounding.

 

[sethschroeder]

Remember they were very vague about GFV in the beginning, Being vague means nothing. What DVC has done in the past i.e precedent should tell you everything you want to know.

What? They weren't at all it was stated from the start it was part of the existing association.

So I am not sure what you are talking about. They basically announced with the building they will convert approximate number of rooms, and that it was going in the existing association.

Also it will not matter if its in the same association or not POLY is going to take a hit on resale. Disney has already shown they are willing to discount. Resale typically sells for 70% of the value of direct which for POLY is higher than it will be come the new building.

Additionally as called above I would expect much of DVC resale to stagnate or possibly retreat in pricing slightly over the next couple years:

• 50th will end
• Inflation
• Cost of living increase
• Possible recession more likely
• Disney ever increasing price (pricing out some of the "budget" minded group that looks at DVC resale as a cheap way to get by)
• If DLT launches locked down with resale restrictions it will further push on the fringe buyers to go direct with Disney even in WDW if they think they might want to use that in the future

There will still be people to buy but just less people. The hope would be for sellers that Disney keeps up pressure on ROFR to drive the price up.

 

[DVC Doctor]

I personally think the new Poly Tower will be separate from the Poly, just like CCL is separate from BRL (VWL)

 

[Jwaire]

I personally think the new Poly Tower will be separate from the Poly, just like CCL is separate from BRL (VWL)

I'm not sure that has worked out well for them, but I guess we'll see. BRV is obviously the red-headed step child of Wilderness Lodge and it's caused a lot of confusion (and a huge disparity in terms of upkeep and maintenance).

As for the Villas at Disneyland Hotel, California is just an entirely different beast (legal wise, customer mix wise, etc.). It actually wouldn't surprise me if it didn't have restrictions.

Restrictions would matter the least there as most people aren't going to purchase a contract at Disneyland Hotel and use it at a WDW DVC property.

On the other hand, you have built-up demand from WDW DVC members who would love to use their points at Disneyland Hotel (and I'm sure at a higher point per night cost). DVC knows this and has even waved conversion fees in the past.

With Parks wanting to entice more visitors to DLR, instead of in-state passholders, it may make more sense to waive restrictions there.

But again, we'll see.

 

[Paul Stupin]

I'm not sure that has worked out well for them, but I guess we'll see. BRV is obviously the red-headed step child of Wilderness Lodge and it's caused a lot of confusion (and a huge disparity in terms of upkeep and maintenance).

As for the Villas at Disneyland Hotel, California is just an entirely different beast (legal wise, customer mix wise, etc.). It actually wouldn't surprise me if it didn't have restrictions.

Restrictions would matter the least there as most people aren't going to purchase a contract at Disneyland Hotel and use it at a WDW DVC property.

On the other hand, you have built-up demand from WDW DVC members who would love to use their points at Disneyland Hotel (and I'm sure at a higher point per night cost). DVC knows this and has even waved conversion fees in the past.

With Parks wanting to entice more visitors to DLR, instead of in-state passholders, it may make more sense to waive restrictions there.

But again, we'll see.

Yes, we’ll see. I think, though, that it would seem random and confusing to the community to have resale restrictions on some new construction, but not on others. (I don’t regard VGF2 as new construction.) It makes more sense to me that Disney will just stick with the strategy they started on Riviera, whose sales, as I’ve learned on these boards, actually aren’t too bad…but let’s not debate about that.

Since there is so much pent up interest in VDH, from WDW DVC members and Disneyland fans on both coasts, I don’t think resale restrictions will prevent anyone from buying. That’s all the more reason that the new tower will have them.

They’re not going to invest hundreds of millions of dollars on the first new DVC accommodations in years at Disneyland so they can make no money and allow every DVC member to book at 7 months.

 

[xdan0920]

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

FWIW Poly 1 is not “only studios”.

 

[Paul Stupin]

FWIW Poly 1 is not “only studios”.

But it is only studios, isn’t it? Unless you’re counting the bungalows, which in my opinion are not worth the points, and are even pricier than the superior cabins at Copper Creek. (Only my opinion, of course, don’t mean to offend Poly owners!) So personally I factor them out.

 

[xdan0920]

But it is only studios, isn’t it? Unless you’re counting the bungalows, which in my opinion are not worth the points, and are even pricier than the superior cabins at Copper Creek. (Only my opinion, of course, don’t mean to offend Poly owners!) So personally I factor them out.

You have to count the bungalows. DVC sold those points.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

The bungalows are pretty amazing.

 

[SLThomas318]

Yes, I know there are bungalows too. I’m just assuming the majority of poly owners were/are not buying points for week long bungalow stays…