DVC Polynesian 100 pts direct

[Isabelle12345]

This. The only property I’d buy direct at this point is OKW. 2057 end date. $156 a point. Fantastic point chart. It’s actually a decent deal. You have freedom to stay at all the resorts and OKW is one of my favourite properties.
That $245 price tag would be a non starter for me.

Consider this: you say now that Poly is your favourite, you’ll always stay there, but that’s probably not true. The family will age and you’ll want a one bedroom, you want to book something last minute, so you may stay elsewhere.

If you are hungry for the blue card OKW is a sound option. Don’t knock it. I own 900 points and wish I owned at OKW. Mine are at AKV and SSR. But I’ve stayed at every resort.

That’s an interesting point of view... I haven’t even considered OKw as an option... I will think about it
Thanks for sharing!

 

[quandrea]

That’s an interesting point of view... I haven’t even considered OKw as an option... I will think about it
Thanks for sharing!

I truly love it there. Booked in a grand villa for June at only 447 points or thereabouts for a week. Quick access to DS, a wonderful vibe. Studios have two real beds, one bedrooms sleep five and won’t be much more in points than your Poly studios.

 

[CraigInPA]

Buy where you want to stay, or don't mind staying. As DVC continues to add points to the system by building new resorts, the competition for studios (especially) will only increase at 7 months. Today, if you're travelling in the high season (September through mid January), your chances of getting any studio anywhere at 7 months are very small. As a result, you'll be booking your home resort at 11 months and will likely be staying there.

My wife and I like the Poly, and stayed there pre-DVC about 10 times, but ultimately chose BLT. Yes, the studios are smaller than the Poly, but there are 1 bedrooms, affordable (i.e., non-bungalow) 2 bedrooms, and grand villas (still cheaper than bungalows) available when we need more space. We do miss the tropical vibe of the Poly, but don't miss the dash in the rain from the grand ceremonial house to our long house.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

We do miss the tropical vibe of the Poly, but don't miss the dash in the rain from the grand ceremonial house to our long house.

The dash in the rain is part of the tropical theme.

 

[jerseyduke]

The Direct price at the Poly is flat out insane.
When the poly went on sale it was 171 I think? The marketing material read *save up to 50% on future****
obviously they have some formula that gives them that number and what they can legally state there, and price per point is a factor.

At 235 a point, I wonder if said formula would even yield a positive number!

Poly resale is so much cheaper its incredible.

 

[Splash Mountain Fan]

This is something I put together that gives a high-level idea of the cost broken down in “year 1” based upon Disney’s current pricing and maintenance fees. This notably doesn’t factor in borrowing cost(s), closing cost(s), etc. This also obviously doesn’t estimate for costs in later years since maintenance fees fluctuate and “cost of money” isn’t factored. As I have said before, “cost of money” can be a materially large component to overall cost over the life of the contract. This is based upon my calc and info I found...please let me know if something looks off.

 

[Isabelle12345]

This is something I put together that gives a high-level idea of the cost broken down in “year 1” based upon Disney’s current pricing and maintenance fees. This notably doesn’t factor in borrowing cost(s), closing cost(s), etc. This also obviously doesn’t estimate for costs in later years since maintenance fees fluctuate and “cost of money” isn’t factored. As I have said before, “cost of money” can be a materially large component to overall cost over the life of the contract. This is based upon my calc and info I found...please let me know if something looks off.

WoW thanks for sharing!
Just to clarify, if I understand correctly, is the fixed $ per point the initial $/point divided by number of years on the contract? That puts everything in perspective (meaning the $/point is not everything but also has to be weighed against no of years...)
That is very helpful in my decision making!!!

 

[Splash Mountain Fan]

WoW thanks for sharing!
Just to clarify, if I understand correctly, is the fixed $ per point the initial $/point divided by number of years on the contract? That puts everything in perspective (meaning the $/point is not everything but also has to be weighed against no of years...)
That is very helpful in my decision making!!!

That’s is correct. You can also see the impact of the annual maintenance fees for each resort. Wish there was a crystal ball for predicting that one...Time value of money / interest rates are another...

 

[Heather07438]

I read above about not buying at Poly counting on your kids liking the pulldown one forever, but they do have the couch pullout, too. I only have the one kiddo (and that's the plan forever - heh) so I imagine she'll transition to the couch bed when bigger. Not sure if your kids are going to want to sleep in the same bed... Poly only had studios and insane bungalows, so that is something to think about. But you can always trade out points to stay at other resorts with two bedrooms/more room when you need it! The daybed is small... maybe a few inches shorter than a twin mattress? I can fit, but I don't want to sleep there at 5'4"

And definitely like another poster said you can rent out your resale points and use cash at new resorts. Or buy direct at another resort with more room configurations and trade into Poly or any new resorts down the line with points. I love that DVC is so flexible that you can actually never stay at your home resort and just keep trying new places.

We bought direct at one of the most currently expensive direct resorts because we are emotional animals. Sigh. DVC marketing worked on my mom and I. We are even FL residents, so we already get the Gold pass option. I guess we really wanted to feel like we were part of the club, and the option to attend moonlight magic or whatever other things that may come down the line. And my mom wanted for her granddaughter to have the direct membership passed on years down the road. Definitely not a smart financial decision - this was 100% intangible/emotional. Though it does bring me great joy to gaze upon the blue card and sign up for the MM events.

And it helps that you split the burden between the 2 of you. Personally you only needed to buy 50 points direct to qualify for privileges.

 

[bcuinohio]

My kids are currently 2 and 5 so I think we would use that daybed for a while still (unless it is that small?)

My 23 year old son slept in the daybed on our last trip. He is about 5'10" tall. He is very slim but he said the daybed wasn't bad.

 

[E626]

How is the typical availability at the Poly during Spring Break? If I'm booking at 11 months, will I run into problems?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

How is the typical availability at the Poly during Spring Break? If I'm booking at 11 months, will I run into problems?

At 11 months you will be fine. There is really no time all year that you have risk at 11 months and I do not foresee any points chart changes that could make risk happen .

 

[RaymOOOnd]

I've noticed an increase in a week-long lakeview studio stay during cheap season has increased to $153 from $148 (2020-->2021). Looks like they're separating September from early Dec/Jan. Sucks to do this to people with 150pt contracts, but I guess it made another group happy elsewhere in the chart

 

[RoseGold]

How is the typical availability at the Poly during Spring Break? If I'm booking at 11 months, will I run into problems?

Poly has over 350 studios. At 11 months, you are fine.

 

[eandt]

Legally, they are not able to do that.

They already have put restrictions on those that don't have blue cards so not sure what you mean here.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

They already have put restrictions on those that don't have blue cards so not sure what you mean here.

I mean that they put restrictions going forward, based on the terms under which Riviera joined BVT.

They cannot retroactively change the terms under which the O14 are members of BVT.

 

[eandt]

Thanks again for these precisions
I must say it is quite attractive to see those resale contracts at a fraction of the cost...
I just can’t seem to get my head around the fact that I am afraid DVC will limit options for people who don’t have the blue card, so I guess to have this peace of mind I will start with buying direct the minimal amount and work around that. I really want to buy at a resort I am excited to stay at so I think it will be Poly. (Although all of what I am saying right now may change when I make the decision)
If buying direct, with a UY in December, my understanding is that I will have 100 points from 2019 banked (is that right?)... if it is the case, do I have to pay dues on those points for 2019 or just the ones they add in 2020?

We are struggling with the same decision on direct vs resale. I see the significant savings on resale but there are also significant restrictions. One thing that we have added in to our equation is that we would probably want to stay at Riviera, Reflections and any other new properties that might come along at some point. Resale would not allow this. That will be come a bigger issue as 2042 when some resorts come to the end of their lives to be re-sold most likely with the same restriction on resale buyers as the new resorts now. Not sure if I am seeing things correctly or not but that extra $ spent direct is a probably more valued by those of us that do not yet have a blue card than by those owners that do.

 

[RoseGold]

One thing that we have added in to our equation is that we would probably want to stay at Riviera, Reflections and any other new properties that might come along at some point.

This might not even happen for direct points. Disney could build some new fancy pants California property, or whatever, and restrict it to just to those owners.

They've already created three classes of members, blue card, white card, and whatever color RIV-resale card will be. What difference is another few classes?

 

[Philsfan77]

This. The only property I’d buy direct at this point is OKW. 2057 end date. $156 a point. Fantastic point chart. It’s actually a decent deal. You have freedom to stay at all the resorts and OKW is one of my favourite properties.
That $245 price tag would be a non starter for me.

Consider this: you say now that Poly is your favourite, you’ll always stay there, but that’s probably not true. The family will age and you’ll want a one bedroom, you want to book something last minute, so you may stay elsewhere.

If you are hungry for the blue card OKW is a sound option. Don’t knock it. I own 900 points and wish I owned at OKW. Mine are at AKV and SSR. But I’ve stayed at every resort and truthfully, The Poly is one that I won’t book again.

OKW I believe went up to $165 a point...still a decent deal though

 

[Heather07438]

We are struggling with the same decision on direct vs resale. I see the significant savings on resale but there are also significant restrictions. One thing that we have added in to our equation is that we would probably want to stay at Riviera, Reflections and any other new properties that might come along at some point. Resale would not allow this. That will be come a bigger issue as 2042 when some resorts come to the end of their lives to be re-sold most likely with the same restriction on resale buyers as the new resorts now. Not sure if I am seeing things correctly or not but that extra $ spent direct is a probably more valued by those of us that do not yet have a blue card than by those owners that do.

That's true but there still is the option for resale-only owners to rent their restricted points and then use that money to rent points at a restricted property. Even if that trip costs a few hundred more this method, it's offset by the original thousands in resale savings. Buying direct only for the purpose of gaining restricted resort access isn't really necessary. If there's other things about being Blue Card that make it feel worthwhile, then it's worth considering.