![\"2015-01-09](\"images\/stories\/DVC\/2015-01-09_8-02-38.png\")
<\/a>It has been more than 2 years since Steve Seifert began spreading the word that Disney Vacation Club would be developing Villas at the Polynesian Resort. Many people knew Steve was a trustworthy source while others doubted the news and brushed it off as just another rumor. Regardless of which group you belonged, the discussion boards on many of the popular Disney related websites were flooded with posts from individuals trying to gain more information and speculating what may come to this amazing resort on the monorail loop. Every time Steve created a post offering new details, the message boards lit up like a fire out of control creating record numbers of views and replies. With the Polynesian being one of the most anticipated DVC developments in history, anxiety among prospective buyers began raging out of control. Concerns and excitement regarding the changes coming to the resort such as the new lobby, new name, pool refurbishment, accommodation types, required vacation points per night, and cost per point have been flooding the internet on a daily basis. Now that we are reaching the finish line of this journey, the picture Steve has been painting in our minds all this time has materialized and the long awaited dream has come true. It is now a fact, Disney Vacation Club has arrived at Disney\u2019s Polynesian Village Resort and many people are rushing to become members of this Magical community. Allow me to analyze the numbers and provide a detailed explanation of the costs involved with purchasing an ownership at Disney\u2019s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows.<\/p>\nWelcome Home<\/h3>\n
<\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n After plugging in the numbers, we have determined that your actual cost as a DVC member for a week long stay in a Lake View Studio will total $1842.74 during the summer of 2015. This sounds like quite a bit of money to pay for a room since you are part of \u201cDisney\u2019s Best Kept Secret\u201d and are supposed to be saving money. If you were a cash paying guest securing accommodations at the rack rate for a Lake View Studio Villa, how far would Mickey be digging into your wallet? The numbers are easily computed below.<\/p>\n <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not only would you save money, you would save a considerable amount of money. To be exact, you would be saving about 59%<\/strong> during most vacations. From time to time, Disney does offer room discounts when attendance is below expected levels but DVC members still end up paying less for accommodations than cash paying guests. The percentage of savings will just be lower. As a reminder, there are many other costs involved with a Disney World vacation such as park tickets, dining, merchandise purchases, and airfare. DVC members do currently receive exclusive benefits which are referred to as \u201cPerks\u201d. These Perks offer DVC member discounts on park tickets, dining, merchandise, tours, special events, and much more but they are not a promise and may be eliminated at anytime. The one thing you will receive for the life of your contract at Disney\u2019s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows will be discounted accommodations. Purchasing an ownership is simply a way of prepaying your DVC resort accommodations at a discount for the next 50 years. Being a member is not inexpensive but it does enable you to create magical memories with family and friends for many years to come at a reduced rate. -Duane <\/p>\n Owners of Polynesian DVC will be allowed to start booking for April 1 and later on February 11. Other DVC members will be able to start booking on February 25.<\/p>\n Points went on sale for current DVC owners January 12 at $160 a point. Points for non-DVC members will go on sale February 9 at $165 a point.<\/p>\n For more information on DVC or a place to make comments and ask questions you can visit two sites that have many knowledgeable people.<\/p>\n DVCnews.com<\/a> and Mouseowners.com<\/a><\/p>\n For more information and details about the Polynesian Villas and Bungalows, visit my DVC pages. Information is being added all the time and full longhouse maps showing all the room layouts are being created. Keep checking back for more photos and information. Tikiman’s DVC pages<\/a><\/p>\n For a place to look at purchasing or selling DVC, visit DVC Magic Resales<\/a><\/p>\n For me until the middle of the resort is back open where the pool area is, it would not be the same resort experience to me. That is because this is the area of the resort that I use the most. I think since the lobby opened up and the walls came down it makes things much better. DVC will be wrapping up in the next few months but the pool area is still months away. Originally they were shooting for completing to be March. A few months ago the construction schedule was updated to say that final details would be in mid April. I don\u2019t see the pool opening earlier than that date and it would not surprise me if it finished a few weeks late. I think mid May is still a good target to expect the pool to be open. Rumors have gone around that they are going to be months late but so far no good sources can confirm that.<\/p>\n Once the Nanea pool is reopened as the Lava Pool, the East pool will close along with the Tangaroa Terrace building and that area around it. The East pool will reopen as the Oasis or Leisure pool that will be a re-themed pool with new features along with a bar and grill. Both pools when completed will be surrounded by a fence that you will need key access to enter the pool area. Also DVC pool hopping privileges will not be allowed at Polynesian Village Resort pools. The Oasis pool will be completed sometime in late 2015 or early 2016.<\/p>\n Other projects still not completed are the redesign of the entrance to the Great Ceremonial House. No start or completion date is listed. Also expect some closure of \u2018Ohana and Kona for the kitchen to have some work done. There will also be menu changes coming to \u2018Ohana and Captain Cook\u2019s in the near future. Trader Sam\u2019s Grog Grotto is trying to open by April 1.<\/p>\n Tokelau should open as the final DVC studios in Summer of 2015. There was some rumors that a fitness center and laundry would be added for DVC but the fitness center that will be available to Polynesian guests will still be the same one that is now. The Grand Floridian Spa and fitness center is for both resorts and is actually as close to Polynesian rooms as it is to most Grand Floridian rooms. The laundry will be available in a laundry room located in each longhouse. Bungalows have their own washer and dryer. Between Tokelau, Moorea and Pago Pago DVC longhouses will be a leisure lawn with a BBQ pavilion. I believe this is an area where you can book a BBQ to use.<\/p>\n I assume I don\u2019t know about every project that might happen at the resort so there may be other things going on that I don\u2019t know about.<\/p>\n<\/a>If you are one of the many who would love to make the Polynesian Villas and Bungalows your new \u201cHome\u201d in Walt Disney World, the purchase of a time-share contract with Disney Vacation Club will be necessary. Current DVC members can buy in at $160 per point. The maintenance fees for this year are $6.02 per point. For most people, these numbers do not make a lot of sense and buyers do not understand exactly how much they will be paying for their ownership or if they will actually be saving money. Individuals currently buying in to the Polynesian Villas and Bungalows will have 50 years to enjoy their contracts. In a previous article on this website, I created a mathematical formula to calculate DVC member costs for accommodations versus rack rates to determine how much, if any, money will be saved. Allow me to analyze the numbers and provide a detailed explanation of the costs involved with purchasing an ownership at Disney\u2019s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows.<\/p>\n<\/a>Now that DVC has announced the price per point, maintenance fees, rack rates, and required vacation points per night, we can crunch the numbers and determine the advantage or disadvantage of ownership. Will it be less expensive to be a DVC member or to pay cash for your future accommodations at the Polynesian Villas and Bungalows? Get out your calculators and prepare to learn the truth!<\/p>\nDo my Dollars Make Sense?<\/h3>\n
Regardless of how many points a DVC member chooses to purchase, the price per night for accommodations remains relatively the same. Those who own more points will mainly have the ability to experience more nights of vacationing per year. To make our comparisons, we will create a scenario which consists of securing accommodations in a Studio Villa for a week long vacation during the summer. If you prefer traveling to Disney World within a different season, have no fear. The percentage of savings or losses will be very close to the season we are about to discuss. Vacation point requirements and rack rates typically increase and decrease during the same time periods. When vacation points per night are high, rack rates are high. When vacation points per night are low, rack rates are low. Since a week long stay in a Lake View Studio Villa requires 199 points during the summer season, we will plan to purchase a 200 point contract. The purchase of 200 points at $160 per point totals $32,000. We will assume that no financing is needed so the purchase will be completed without interest charges. You will also have to pay $426.50 closing cost so your \u201ctotal buy in cost\u201d<\/strong> will be $32,426.50. Is everything easy to understand so far? Since you are purchasing an ownership during the opening of this DVC resort, you will have a full 50 years worth of points to enjoy. To calculate your \u201ctotal remaining contract points\u201d<\/strong> for the life of the contract, simply multiply 50 years times 200 points and get a total of 10,000 points. The current \u201cmaintenance fees\u201d<\/strong> are $6.02 per point. As a reminder, the \u201cpoints required for accommodation\u201d<\/strong> are 199 points. To determine your actual cost per night versus the rack rates, we will need to plug our numbers into the formula below.<\/p>\nXX<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/h3>\n
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Should I Take “The DVC Plunge”?<\/h3>\n
DVC ownership savings are most effective when securing accommodations in DVC resorts at least once very year or two for many years to come. Although a DVC membership allows its owners to use their points for accommodations at other locations aside from DVC resorts, it is not cost wise and can cause you to lose money with your purchase. Looking at the calculations, it is quite clear to conclude that being a DVC member at the Polynesian will save you money with your accommodations. If you subtract the \u201cWeek Long Rack Rate Total\u201d and \u201cYour Actual DVC Member Room Cost\u201d<\/strong>, the exact savings can be determined. Take a look below.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nConstruction News<\/h2>\n
<\/a>The biggest question I get is still asking what construction will be going on and when will it all be done.<\/p>\nRoom sizes<\/h2>\n