Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Am hearing a whole lot of chatter about this and truly hope it's bs, but one must wonder ... this is Disney and DVC is the cash cow they won't stop milking in O-Town. There are definite plans to add DVC in 4-5 locales at WDW (three in the MK resort area alone) ... Poly has always been intended to get it, but now the word seems to be replacing most of the actual resort because those small ancient three story longhouses just aren't an easy conversion ... and Disney is finishing up a resort on Oahu so ...
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper I'd hate to see the entire thing become a highrise like BLT. If they do this I would hope the charm is retained. But at this point I'm so burnt out about WDW resorts, I almost don't care. Make it DVC if you need to, just don't lose what makes Poly, Poly.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I wouldn't want to see a high-rise there ... it would just not feel right. But there's a whole lot of people saying this is going to happen for there not to at least be something they are seriously considering.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Has WDW had occupancy problems at their Deluxe Resorts? I am noticing 30% discounts offered at the Deluxes but not the Values...perhaps this is one of the reasons for DVC expansions mentioned. Another reason for Disney to prefer timeshares is the reduced need for hotel maid-service. Another hidden cost cutting benefit for WDW and all those labor/Union issues will be magically resolved.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<I wouldn't want to see a high-rise there ... it would just not feel right. But there's a whole lot of people saying this is going to happen for there not to at least be something they are seriously considering.>> Have you heard anything on what the actual plans entail?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Has WDW had occupancy problems at their Deluxe Resorts? I am noticing 30% discounts offered at the Deluxes but not the Values...perhaps this is one of the reasons for DVC expansions mentioned.>> They've had issues off and on for the past 4-5 years now ... hence the free dining, free gift cards, free nights, etc. Still, they have very healthy load levels at their resorts on an annual basis. And the values do fill quicker simply because they are less ... I recently got an offer for either being an APer or FLA resident and it was touting rooms at the values at $89 ... I'd take a room there at about half that ... maybe. <<Another reason for Disney to prefer timeshares is the reduced need for hotel maid-service. Another hidden cost cutting benefit for WDW and all those labor/Union issues will be magically resolved. >> Absolutely. And also a reason why DVC units tend to look abused quicker than typical resort rooms. Having housekeeping once a week just doesn't cut it when you've got a family ...
Originally Posted By dshyates Eh...whatever. The sad thing is we stayed at the Poly for our first trip in 1971. It really is m first memory of being at WDW. And still the quasi-news of them replacing it with a new DVC/Hotel. My reaction is....whatever. I really just don't even care anymore. I will still go to WDW. Although I haven't stayed on site in YEARS. But truely I just don't care anymore. Disney is going to do what Disney is going to do. Take it or leave it. That said I bet the new place will be pretty cool. It will have great themeing and small rooms. Just like WL, and AKL.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Have you heard anything on what the actual plans entail?>> They all involve most of the original resort disappearing except for lobby and both pools and marina. 'Aulani Jr.' is actually what two people referred to the plans as being. I do wonder because all of the rooms were redone in the 2007-08 timeframe ... but if this is something happening say in four years (like post GF DVC) then I could very much see it happening.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<But truely I just don't care anymore. Disney is going to do what Disney is going to do. Take it or leave it.>> That's really where I am at right now. Too much crap in the real world, so why should Disney be an escape (even if it always was)? I'm a whole lot angrier at all the people who are going to lose their jobs at ABC Daytime thanks to Bob Iger's decision (and rest assured when you kill off two groundbreaking daytime dramas, it wasn't Brian Frons who made the final decision) to ax All My Children and One Life To Live today and replace them with cheap, crap TV.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Hmmm. Not sure how I feel about it. I'd have to see some plans before I pass judgment on it. I'd probably never stay at the resort anyway because of the price, but I do like to hang out there. I'd hate for it to lose what makes it special.
Originally Posted By Bolna Besides thinking a highrise building at this location and for the Polynesian theme would be really horrible, I just can't seem how replacing one of the most expensive resorts with a DVC resort makes sense from a business perspective. The cheapest room you can get at the Poly (if you don't get a discount) is $ 385 - garden view, weekday in value season. If this does not include a nice profit, I would very surprised. And it is a profit that can be made year after year. Replacing it with DVC would mean that they would get a lot of money for the few years until the resort is sold out. But then that's it! I don't believe that the revenue from those guests who will come and stay at the DVC resorts can replace the profit that can be made from renting out the hotel rooms. There are guests staying at the Poly now and hotel guests are more likely to spend more money than DVC guests I would guess: They don't have kitchens like DVC, they might stay shorter and come less often, so they are more likely to spend a lot of money during this special occasion for souvenirs etc.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I doubt it, but I'm worried because it's something they'd do for money. That said, Poly is one of the most successful hotels on prop, if not THE most successful. I wouldn't expect them to mess with that, seeing they are keen on becoming The Walt Disney Hotel Company<<<
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Why did I put quote marks around my own post? That's my own writing up there... LOL
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I wouldn't want to see a high-rise there ... it would just not feel right.<<< Yeah, but the MEGA LONGHOUSES in Hawaii for Aulani will be fine... Ugh. Talk about taking the magic and industrializing it and making it boring. The point of a Poly/Hawaii hotel is the intimate charm and grace of the longhouse... not the freaking scale of the Contemporary garnished with Tiki Decor.
Originally Posted By standor Am I right in thinking, that a DVC is a timeshare? If so, the user is an owner and has to make monthly payments. If so, then WDW is the only place you can go to for a vacation. Isn't it smarter to keep your money and only pay when you are vacationing there. It's like buying a house and making mortgage payments.
Originally Posted By tonyanton I can see them adding a highrise like the original concept back in the late '60s and claiming "this was the original vision" or some crap like that. I agree with others that the lowrise look of the Polynesian is part of why it works. If they have to put DVC there, I can imagine they could tear down and rebuild a few existing buildings at their current heights and after seeing what was done at the Beach Club, move the parking lot and squeeze an extra longhouse or two on the other side of the monorail track.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom News of the BLT had everyone excited. Removing the Poly and replacing it with a highrise DVC shocks me. DVC sales must have slowed down so much that Disney is desperate for quick cash. I would think that building a DVC on the site that Walt planned to build his oriental themed hotel would be a better location.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I would think that building a DVC on the site that Walt planned to build his oriental themed hotel would be a better location.<<< Too late. The Grand Floridian is there.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom OK, I guess I mentioned the wrong resort location. I was thinking of the location where the planned Venetian Resort ( later planned to be called Mediterranean Resort ) between the TTC and Contemporary Hotel. But just read that construction on that site would require a deep foundation. Was anything ever built on the proposed site for the Persian Resort on the west side of Bay Lake? It's kind of intresting that the Disney Company proposed all these resorts immediately around the Magic Kingdom. Later during the 80s and 90s built monster resorts dotted around the property. Now, it seems the Disney Company's plans have gone full circle and they are now building back around the Magic Kingdom again.
