News New Polynesian Resort DVC villas building to open 2024

[Sirwalterraleigh]

We have RR as one of the last few for my kid to stay. He and my husband have VGF (doing June) SSR snd RR. We visited with a friend in June and it was fine. Reminded me too much of BLT on the grounds. My kid and I don't love the skyliner too. Maybe a short trip?

I do not get that vibe from the tower concept myself for what I hope will just be PVB

I’m surprised you haven’t stayed at all these places 6 times over at this point.

Been busy?

 

[LuvtheGoof]

We did a split stay recently and just tacked on 4 nights at Poly. It was fine for the 4 of us in a studio for 4 nights but I think longer would have been more of an issue for us. I think it also depends on your style of vacation. I tend to go to WDW less frequently than a lot of DVC owners but I stay longer when I do go. If it’s a 10+ day trip you will usually plan to spend more time in the room relaxing than on a 3 or 4 day one. When we went to Universal over Spring Break a few years back we only stayed 2 nights and it was a studio hotel room but we just slept there. We spent no time relaxing in the room so it really didn’t matter.

We also vacation a lot differently than most. The parks are not the be all end all for our visits, having been so many times. We prefer to relax and enjoy the resort amenities more than most do. For us, the room isn't just a place to sleep.

 

[TikibirdLand]

If you’re putting those three brands in the same category, I’m not sure you understand what they offer and what their standards are. Marriott and comfort and are different ends of the spectrum. Holiday Inn is between the two but closer to Comfort. So let’s get this straight before comparing to poly DVC, which is also a timeshare.

I've stayed at all three. Maybe I'm not sophisticated enough. But, I didn't really see much difference in them. The pool at the Marriott was better though.

 

[rawisericho]

The Poly tower isn’t that ugly, at least based on the art. It’s certainly a step up from Riviera or Swan Reserve. It’s also nice they left gaps in the building for some Polynesian quirks, rather than saturating every inch with rectangular villas.

Still, it’s certainly blander than the longhouses and follows trends that could be sprouting up anywhere else.

It also further cuts into the tranquil space that once separated Poly and GF (and was always built into the plans for Seven Seas & Bay Lake hotels). That negative space made all the monorail resorts feel more special, whereas now this’ll just be another corridor of towers and blocky buildings.

Let's be fair, the Poly tower looks miles better than the Swan Reserve. The Swan Reserve could literally exist anywhere, its an ugly, ugly building and it totally ruins the symmetry of the Swan and Dolphin.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Let's be fair, the Poly tower looks miles better than the Swan Reserve. The Swan Reserve could literally exist anywhere, its an ugly, ugly building and it totally ruins the symmetry of the Swan and Dolphin.

I thought the design was odd…but then again…Disney is not really observing exterior design continuity anymore either

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Let's be fair, the Poly tower looks miles better than the Swan Reserve. The Swan Reserve could literally exist anywhere, its an ugly, ugly building and it totally ruins the symmetry of the Swan and Dolphin.

Oh I agree - there’s some shared DNA between each of these towers (many have already noted the links between this, Reflections, and the DLH project), but some are worse than others.

My issue with Poly is more breaking up the separation between it and GF. Had they taken the opportunity to place a themed tower where GCH currently stands, which would at least pay homage to that iconic concept art, I’d probably feel warmer toward it.

 

[castlecake2.0]

Oh I agree - there’s some shared DNA between each of these towers (many have already noted the links between this, Reflections, and the DLH project), but some are worse than others.

My issue with Poly is more breaking up the separation between it and GF. Had they taken the opportunity to place a themed tower where GCH currently stands, which would at least pay homage to that iconic concept art, I’d probably feel warmer toward it.

My thoughts exactly. Put this where GCH is or in the parking lot in front of it. Keep some space between the resorts. Add a new long house there if you really have to, I just hate how it’s getting wedged in here, wish they had done the same with the GFV, it’s not ugly but hate the location

 

[correcaminos]

I’m surprised you haven’t stayed at all these places 6 times over at this point.

Been busy?

VGF has been a fight to get the others to agree to stay. It's well known my dislike of the resort theming, so I didn't fight for it much. RR is due to covid really. Opened in 2019 and our 2020 were canceled on us. We did visit it in June. Just not a huge fan of the place. So not pushing that.

SSR is much the same. I hated it there for ages. Last stay was before it was done and it just left me feeling cold on the inside when in the rooms. Really surprising at the time as we loved OKW and assumed we'd like it and the location. The refurb pics looked great to me so I did a stay for a few nights. Now it's back on the list.

We spent far too many years doing repeats and just stayed repeatedly same spots. Trying to fix that lol.

Some places will always have my heart like PVB. Which is why I am a lover of the expansion.

 

[correcaminos]

View attachment 628502View attachment 628504
Recent Marriott and Hyatt hotels... Add a little detail and palm trees, and suddenly it is the Polynesian?
Sheraton just bui
lt a hotel in New Caledonia which should have been the inspiration....
View attachment 628505View attachment 628507

I don't agree on the top two looking enough like the drawings. But that's me.

The bottom while cool is not going to work either. A little dark too for my tastes. As much as people hate it, to add enough rooms it will have to be taller.

 

[correcaminos]

My thoughts exactly. Put this where GCH is or in the parking lot in front of it. Keep some space between the resorts. Add a new long house there if you really have to, I just hate how it’s getting wedged in here, wish they had done the same with the GFV, it’s not ugly but hate the location

Removing the GCH? Now that's about the worst idea I've heard to date. A single long house has roughly 100 studios. You'd need more than one if doing 1-3 bedroom mixes

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

My thoughts exactly. Put this where GCH is or in the parking lot in front of it. Keep some space between the resorts. Add a new long house there if you really have to, I just hate how it’s getting wedged in here, wish they had done the same with the GFV, it’s not ugly but hate the location

In my ‘armchair imagineering’ days (back when I was a lot more optimistic about what could happen at WDW), I always thought north of the existing resort/convention center would be a perfect spot for GF’s DVC expansion.

Was horrified they chose the main GF beach - miss this view so much.

Clearly there was room for things to slide even further.

Removing the GCH? Now that's about the worst idea I've heard to date. A single long house has roughly 100 studios. You'd need more than one if doing 1-3 bedroom mixes

Not our idea - it comes from early resort concept art. That’s what would make it a neat reference, instead of the easiest possible build.

Obviously wasn’t going to happen after they redid the entrance and monorail station, but it could have been an inspired take. Also people have generally been less attached to the GCH after the waterfall was stripped.

 

[correcaminos]

I completely agree that with little kids, the Poly isn't necessarily the best choice for a stay. Doesn't mean it's any less of a resort. It's just the 2 of us for most visits as our kids are grown and married. If we take one of them, we get a 2 bedroom. With both families, a grand villa. I would never think of staying at the Poly with us and the kids.

If one is used to sharing with family it's an ideal location for little kids tbh. When doing in the past we did connecting rooms (pre DVC too) for a reason though. I think the only ball dropped was omitting 1 and 2 beds in 2015. Though then we wouldn't be willing to do 1 beds due to the sofa. That's changed now.

In my ‘armchair imagineering’ days (back when I was a lot more optimistic about what could happen at WDW), I always thought north of the existing resort/convention center would be a perfect spot for GF’s DVC expansion.

Was horrified they chose the main GF beach - miss this view so much.

View attachment 628519

Clearly there was room for things to slide even further.


Not our idea - it comes from early resort concept art. That’s what would make it a neat reference, instead of the easiest possible build.

Obviously wasn’t going to happen after they redid the entrance and monorail station, but it could have been an inspired take. Also people have generally been less attached to the GCH after the waterfall was stripped.

To be fair those beaches wouldn't be the same anyway now.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

To be fair those beaches wouldn't be the same anyway now.

That’s a fair point, but they also clearly didn’t take sightlines from Poly in mind when designing the villa building. Its flat boxy shape and obstruction of the main building are hideous.

(Coming from someone who knows the inside is perfectly nice)

 

[LuvtheGoof]

That’s a fair point, but they also clearly didn’t take sightlines from Poly in mind when designing the villa building. Its flat boxy shape and obstruction of the main building are hideous.

(Coming from someone who knows the inside is perfectly nice)

All of the Grand Floridian buildings are "boxy" in shape. The DVC just mimics that design. And yes, the inside and rooms are excellent!

 

[correcaminos]

That’s a fair point, but they also clearly didn’t take sightlines from Poly in mind when designing the villa building. Its flat boxy shape and obstruction of the main building are hideous.

(Coming from someone who knows the inside is perfectly nice)

I honestly have little care for GF as a whole. It's a stop on the monorail to me. I really haven't given it much look to have noticed. They looked similar to me Don't hate me for that either. I just don't like the place. Yes staying in June lol.

 

[castlecake2.0]

Removing the GCH? Now that's about the worst idea I've heard to date. A single long house has roughly 100 studios. You'd need more than one if doing 1-3 bedroom mixes

The GCH is basically a prefabricated box with a pointy roof if you really look at it. If they built that now people would all be complaining “it’s just a box”. I’d 100% rather have them put a new mid century modern tiki inspired tower here like the original concept than tacking it to the side of the resort where it makes no sense.

 

[castlecake2.0]

In my ‘armchair imagineering’ days (back when I was a lot more optimistic about what could happen at WDW), I always thought north of the existing resort/convention center would be a perfect spot for GF’s DVC expansion.

Was horrified they chose the main GF beach - miss this view so much.

View attachment 628519

Clearly there was room for things to slide even further.


Not our idea - it comes from early resort concept art. That’s what would make it a neat reference, instead of the easiest possible build.

Obviously wasn’t going to happen after they redid the entrance and monorail station, but it could have been an inspired take. Also people have generally been less attached to the GCH after the waterfall was stripped.

That view. I weep.

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I honestly have little care for GF as a whole. It's a stop on the monorail to me. I really haven't given it much look to have noticed. They looked similar to me Don't hate me for that either. I just don't like the place. Yes staying in June lol.

All of the Grand Floridian buildings are "boxy" in shape. The DVC just mimics that design. And yes, the inside and rooms are excellent!

This is why Disney’s getting away with quality cuts: because to most people, including their captive audience paying big bucks for timeshare, the details and care of the past don’t matter.

No one can tell me there’s not a clear difference between these two vistas:

Enjoy the GF, though! I get why people don’t care for it, but I’ve had a soft spot for it since the mid-90s.

 

[correcaminos]

The GCH is basically a prefabricated box with a pointy roof if you really look at it. If they built that now people would all be complaining “it’s just a box”. I’d 100% rather have them put a new mid century modern tiki inspired tower here like the original concept than tacking it to the side of the resort where it makes no sense.

You're talking to the wrong person. I'm not upset about the drawing. But I mostly agree with you. Though not wanting to do tiki vibe to it but just pacific island vibes.

 

[correcaminos]

This is why Disney’s getting away with quality cuts: because to most people, including their captive audience paying big bucks for timeshare, the details and care of the past don’t matter.

No one can tell me there’s not a clear difference between these two vistas:

View attachment 628522

View attachment 628524

Enjoy the GF, though! I get why people don’t care for it, but I’ve had a soft spot for it since the mid-90s.

Don't use me as an example please. I really just don't care about one specific resort in this case to bother to look. I can see what you are saying. I just couldn't be bothered to care before. Its theming is not for me is all. Nothing against it otherwise. The grounds are nice and food options are good. I enjoy being able to walk between the two resorts. Just none of us are pressed too much to stay there.