PVB Tower Charts, Sales Date and more!!!

[eandt]

FYI, if you are a DVC member you can call DVC member services and book via cash. There is a 30% discount for members. This is what we used for the opening. Prior to this, I had never used DVC member services for cash bookings. Wasn't until someone else posted about this 30% discount earlier this year that I learned about it.

Note: it's possible they will wait until the 7 month mark to allow booking.

Anyone called MS about cash discounts lately? Any better than current AP discounts?

 

[mkatsy]

Anyone called MS about cash discounts lately? Any better than current AP discounts?

I haven’t called for a cash booking, but I did just use membership magic to buy 24 OTU points for $240 ~ not too shabby ~

 

[maui22]

I saw someone had a TPV room at the tower where they could only see the theme park from the extreme side of the balcony. The decorative walls that extend out on the lake side blocked their view. They complained and Disney agreed. Reduced their points from TP view to Preferred view.

This sounds much like the issues when BLT opened. I believe it was 2010 or 2011 when they reclassified several rooms from TPV to SV. During that reclassification, I believe they increased the Lake View point charts to offset things. Some consider that to have been done illegally.

My question is might we see a reclassification happen with PVB? For years, people speculated the bungalow point charts could drop and the rest of the rooms could increase.

 

[JackosinDIS]

I saw someone had a TPV room at the tower where they could only see the theme park from the extreme side of the balcony. The decorative walls that extend out on the lake side blocked their view. They complained and Disney agreed. Reduced their points from TP view to Preferred view.

This sounds much like the issues when BLT opened. I believe it was 2010 or 2011 when they reclassified several rooms from TPV to SV. During that reclassification, I believe they increased the Lake View point charts to offset things. Some consider that to have been done illegally.

My question is might we see a reclassification happen with PVB? For years, people speculated the bungalow point charts could drop and the rest of the rooms could increase.

It seems like some of the rooms will have to be reclassified if reports are accurate that they just don’t have theme park views.

The problem is, if they add points to either the resort or preferred views, they would presumably have to do this across both PVB original and PIT.

 

[zavandor]

I saw someone had a TPV room at the tower where they could only see the theme park from the extreme side of the balcony. The decorative walls that extend out on the lake side blocked their view. They complained and Disney agreed. Reduced their points from TP view to Preferred view.

This sounds much like the issues when BLT opened. I believe it was 2010 or 2011 when they reclassified several rooms from TPV to SV. During that reclassification, I believe they increased the Lake View point charts to offset things. Some consider that to have been done illegally.

My question is might we see a reclassification happen with PVB? For years, people speculated the bungalow point charts could drop and the rest of the rooms could increase.

Like you said, I believe they are not allowed to move points from one unit to another.
But in this case, since the resort is still in active sales, could they lower the points for certain units without offsetting them somewhere else? They can certainly do it for undeclared units, just declaring them in another category. It's more difficult for declared units. Maybe they can just avoid selling all the points and offset the point charts with their developer's points.
Anyway those solutions mean DVC will sell fewer points for the resort, not sure how eager they are to do that.

 

[DebbieB]

Like you said, I believe they are not allowed to move points from one unit to another.
But in this case, since the resort is still in active sales, could they lower the points for certain units without offsetting them somewhere else? They can certainly do it for undeclared units, just declaring them in another category. It's more difficult for declared units. Maybe they can just avoid selling all the points and offset the point charts with their developer's points.
Anyway those solutions mean DVC will sell fewer points for the resort, not sure how eager they are to do that.

When the Treehouse Villas were added to SSR, they were the same points as a 2 bedroom. After a couple years when the treehouse points sold out, the Treehouses went up and the 2 bedrooms went down.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

Theme park view rooms that fundamentally can’t see the theme park should be amended immediately.

 

[ehh]

I saw someone had a TPV room at the tower where they could only see the theme park from the extreme side of the balcony. The decorative walls that extend out on the lake side blocked their view. They complained and Disney agreed. Reduced their points from TP view to Preferred view.

This sounds much like the issues when BLT opened. I believe it was 2010 or 2011 when they reclassified several rooms from TPV to SV. During that reclassification, I believe they increased the Lake View point charts to offset things. Some consider that to have been done illegally.

My question is might we see a reclassification happen with PVB? For years, people speculated the bungalow point charts could drop and the rest of the rooms could increase.

I think it's telling that the frontline CMs handling the TPV complaints all seem to say the same thing: all the rooms facing the lagoon are TPV. No mention of actually seeing Magic Kingdom.

But DVC couldn't call them Lagoon View, since they wanted to create a points tier above the existing Lake View that the longhouses had (which they did).

Really shot themselves in the foot.

I recall 3 categories of complaints I've seen so far:

1. Some/most/all first-floor TPV rooms can't see the Magic Kingdom at all.
   • A portion of which have questionable view of fireworks due to tree or Grand Floridian obstruction.
2. Some east-facing TPV rooms can't see the Magic Kingdom easily due to decorative walls
   • I haven't seen actual proof of this, is this the 8x38 rooms?
   • I took this photo* from the far corner of a Premium View Duo (8x06), which kinda demonstrates it.
     • However, Space Mountain peeking over the treeline technically satisfies the "Theme Park View" label that this room doesn't get. Of course, this was from the far corner of the balcony. This room would not have a view of the fireworks
     • Of note, the Premium View Duos should be much worse in this regard than any of TPV rooms.
   • I think the big question here is how bad is the angle?
   • Maybe the standard here should be that all occupants in the room should be able to see Magic Kingdom from the balcony without stacking everyone in a trench coat.
3. North-facing TPV rooms primarily have a view of Grand Flo, but also can see Magic Kingdom
   • In my opinion these complaints are overblown, except for the first-floor rooms (and maybe second floor), as MK is visible when looking straight-on and I've argued the fireworks view is the 2nd best of the three TPV angles

Are there other types of complaints I've missed?

As for what to do about it, I see a few solutions, but I also get why DVC did this in the first place...all of the solutions cause their own problems:

1. Reclassify the specific problematic rooms to the next tier down, "Preferred View"
   • Suddenly these become the most coveted Preferred View rooms, generating room requests, though on balance this problem is less bad
   • Now that the resort has launched, some points will need to be shuffled via points chart, but this is doable.
   • Someone will need to judge which rooms get the demotion, can it not be the person who decided this originally?
2. Rename the entire view category from Theme Park View to Premium View, aligning with the Duos
   • I hate this. It solves the "Theme Park View" problem without changing any individual rooms or points charts, but in my opinion, this cure is worse than the disease.
   • The tandem of "Preferred" and "Premium" sound way too similar, abbreviate similarly, and don't have any implicit hierarchy.
     • In a world where TPV is renamed to Premium view, people are going to hear that they need to book Premium to see fireworks and book Preferred instead and then be majorly disappointed.
   • Honestly, a name scheme of "Good View", "Better View", and "Best View" would be better than Resort-Preferred-Premium as it has implicit hierarchy.
3. Rename the entire view category from Theme Park View to something else, such as "Fireworks View", similar to Wilderness Lodge
   • I'm open to this!
   • I think there are still a couple of rooms that might need to be reclassified into Preferred? Speciifcally some tree-obstructed first-floor TPV rooms and maybe the 8x38 rooms.
4. Reclassify the specific problematic rooms to a new tier with the same points charts as TPV, naming it something like "Lagoon View"
   • This resort does not need more room categories lol.
   • No points chart reshuffling.
   • Honest descriptions of all the rooms, aligns with current CM positioning.
   • Immediately become the unwanted rooms leftover at 7m.

Of all the above solutions, only #1 and #3 are the two I don't have an instant negative reaction to. #1 feels like the right thing for DVC to do, even if it means more headaches for themselves. #2 or #3 feel like the probable thing, sadly.

* Photo - Far corner of a balcony on Premium View Duo

 

[disneylandtour]

I went through the tower in December, on opening day. I was also at Poly this past weekend for four tday, though in a longhouse. I saw the sightline problems, which in some cases are real. In May I have five nights in the tower--but in a resort view. If I knew I'd have a good view, I'd be happy to go the extra points to bump up. But I think I'd mostly be irritated in a theme park view room without a view of the theme park. I'd be much happier in a room with a so-so view and lower points--at least that seems equitable. Views are going to be a huge problem--the back side will remain a construction zone as Floridian Way is widened (my guess this won't be finished until sometime in 2026). And even then, there's a parking lot and a road to look at before the golf course. And on the front side, most of the higher rooms have good views. But some of the recessed studios don't, due to extended walls around the balconies, and in the lower rooms, the palms are in the way (which will only get worse as these trees grow in height and mature). My general belief here is that after the newness of the tower wears off (maybe in two years), the real battle will be for the low-point duo resort rooms and for the longhouse studios. I think that, with the elevated point chart, a lot of people will prefer the larger longhouse studios over the higher-point tower studios. The new pool (Cove Pool) is mostly empty all day, but the Lava Pool remains full. Simply, most go from the tower to the main pool. I think the Tower pool is the least interesting pool area at any DVC at WDW. And Wailulu isn't really filling a deep need. It's similar to Kona's. Some are clearly eating at Wailulu. It's not bad. But I see far larger crowds, most all day, at Cpt Cook's. That is, I think a lot of people are leaving the amenities of the Tower for those around the Ceremonial house. Also, suggesting that a chunk of the crowd trying out the tower will soon be vying for the longhouses again. But we'll see.

 

[Disdreaming479]

Has anyone posted nighttime pics of their view (maybe during fireworks) that they were dissatisfied by during the day?

 

[Lorana]

I have 1 night in a Theme Park View 2BR Lockoff in February, and I admit I will be most unhappy if I don't actually have a view of the Theme Park / Fireworks from my room, since that's the whole reason I paid extra for the theme park view was to get a view of the fireworks.

This discussion on theme park view makes me think of the issue with Aulani as well -- how I booked an Ocean View room and ended up in room where I could only see the ocean if I leaned out over the balcony railing and looked right. I certainly could not see the ocean straight on, or without effort.

 

[maui22]

I think it's telling that the frontline CMs handling the TPV complaints all seem to say the same thing: all the rooms facing the lagoon are TPV. No mention of actually seeing Magic Kingdom.

But DVC couldn't call them Lagoon View, since they wanted to create a points tier above the existing Lake View that the longhouses had (which they did).

Really shot themselves in the foot.

I recall 3 categories of complaints I've seen so far:

1. Some/most/all first-floor TPV roomscan't see the Magic Kingdom at all.
   • A portion of which have questionable view of fireworks due to tree or Grand Floridian obstruction.
2. Some east-facing TPV rooms can't see the Magic Kingdom easily due to decorative walls
   • I haven't seen actual proof of this, is this the 8x38 rooms?
   • I took this photo* from the far corner of a Premium View Duo (8x06), which kinda demonstrates it.
     • However, Space Mountain peeking over the treeline technically satisfies the "Theme Park View" label that this room doesn't get. Of course, this was from the far corner of the balcony. This room would not have a view of the fireworks
     • Of note, the Premium View Duos should be much worse in this regard than any of TPV rooms.
   • I think the big question here is how bad is the angle?
   • Maybe the standard here should be that all occupants in the room should be able to see Magic Kingdom from the balcony without stacking everyone in a trench coat.
3. North-facing TPV roomsprimarily have a view of Grand Flo, but also can see Magic Kingdom
   • In my opinion these complaints are overblown, except for the first-floor rooms (and maybe second floor), as MK is visible when looking straight-on and I've argued the fireworks view is the 2nd best of the three TPV angles

Are there other types of complaints I've missed?

As for what to do about it, I see a few solutions, but I also get why DVC did this in the first place...all of the solutions cause their own problems:

1. Reclassify the specific problematic rooms to the next tier down, "Preferred View"
   • Suddenly these become the most coveted Preferred View rooms, generating room requests, though on balance this problem is less bad
   • Now that the resort has launched, some points will need to be shuffled via points chart, but this is doable.
   • Someone will need to judge which rooms get the demotion, can it not be the person who decided this originally?
2. Rename the entire view category from Theme Park View to Premium View, aligning with the Duos
   • I hate this. It solves the "Theme Park View" problem without changing any individual rooms or points charts, but in my opinion, this cure is worse than the disease.
   • The tandem of "Preferred" and "Premium" sound way too similar, abbreviate similarly, and don't have any implicit hierarchy.
     • In a world where TPV is renamed to Premium view, people are going to hear that they need to book Premium to see fireworks and book Preferred instead and then be majorly disappointed.
   • Honestly, a name scheme of "Good View", "Better View", and "Best View" would be better than Resort-Preferred-Premium as it has implicit hierarchy.
3. Rename the entire view category from Theme Park View to something else, such as "Fireworks View", similar to Wilderness Lodge
   • I'm open to this!
   • I think there are still a couple of rooms that might need to be reclassified into Preferred? Speciifcally some tree-obstructed first-floor TPV rooms and maybe the 8x38 rooms.
4. Reclassify the specific problematic rooms to a new tier with the same points charts as TPV, naming it something like "Lagoon View"
   • This resort does not need more room categories lol.
   • No points chart reshuffling.
   • Honest descriptions of all the rooms, aligns with current CM positioning.
   • Immediately become the unwanted rooms leftover at 7m.

Of all the above solutions, only #1 and #3 are the two I don't have an instant negative reaction to. #1 feels like the right thing for DVC to do, even if it means more headaches for themselves. #2 or #3 feel like the probable thing, sadly.

* Photo - Far corner of a balcony on Premium View Duo
View attachment 931916

From what they provided, the room was a deluxe studio. Room 8438. It’s just above the decorative overhang area. From the image they provided, can see the castle from the extreme right of the balcony. Problem seems to be this is adjacent to the angle of the next section and that is out further.

I understand the idea of reclassified down becoming in demand. We book standard view at BLT because they can have fireworks view and it can also be one floor below the high priced theme park views (niece received this in June). Our disappointment in our first room at BLT TPV (now standard view) is why we will not book BLT TPV.

Tough balancing job for Disney. More money if they call a first floor room TPV. Unhappy customer though if they are aware of what a higher floor TPV room looks like. Heck, if they go to the terraces people may well say they have the best of both worlds booking a Resort View and then coming to the terraces. Better than the questionable rooms for many.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

For our upcoming Poly-Riv split stay, I originally booked standard view at Poly. Then the bloggers with their perfect opening day views came out and I’m like wow this is incredible! Hit the Upgrade button!!

And then the truth that it’s a mixed bag comes out. You can count the number of non-TPV-TPV rooms, or 2nd class TPV rooms, for yourself on Touring Plans. Ratio of bad to spectacular too narrow for my meager budget. I’m sure if I could guarantee an upper floor, I’d hand Disney the car keys. Until they sort this out and do right by the membership… I’ll stay resort view or elsewhere.

 

[aka Charles]

For what is worth, this is what I think they should do...

Rooms facing the Monorail -
Floors 3 and below - Resort View
Floors 4 and up - Preferred View

Rooms facing the Pool -
Floors 3 and below - Resort View
Floors 4 and up - Preferred View

Rooms facing the Lagoon or VGF -
Duo Studios stay as Premium View (but should get a different name, in order to avoid the possible confusion mentioned earlier)
Floors 3 and below - Preferred View
Floors 4 and up - TPV if it qualifies (see below), otherwise Preferred View

In order to qualify as a TPV room, a guest should be able to see the castle while sitting in a chair in the exact center of the balcony.
Not from the side of the balcony, standing up at the rail, and/or leaning out.
Also, in the future, if a TPV room's qualifying view of the castle becomes blocked by anything, i.e.- a growing tree, additional construction, etc., it should be downgraded to Preferred View immediately.

.

 

[maui22]

For what is worth, this is what I think they should do...

Rooms facing the Monorail -
Floors 3 and below - Resort View
Floors 4 and up - Preferred View

Rooms facing the Pool -
Floors 3 and below - Resort View
Floors 4 and up - Preferred View

Rooms facing the Lagoon or VGF -
Duo Studios stay as Premium View (but should get a different name, in order to avoid the possible confusion mentioned earlier)
Floors 3 and below - Preferred View
Floors 4 and up - TPV if it qualifies (see below), otherwise Preferred View

In order to qualify as a TPV room, a guest should be able to see the castle while sitting in a chair in the exact center of the balcony.
Not from the side of the balcony, standing up at the rail, and/or leaning out.
Also, in the future, if a TPV room's qualifying view of the castle becomes blocked by anything, i.e.- a growing tree, additional construction, etc., it should be downgraded to Preferred View immediately.

.

Great list. Really aligns well with what BLT eventually did 2010/2011.

For me, the key is that TPV has to live up to what people expect. As far as I can tell, this is the best list/description. If Disney did this, theme park view becomes worth the points all the time.

I thought of another resort where they made a change to views after it opened. My understanding is BWV didn’t originally have all 3 view categories.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

For what is worth, this is what I think they should do...

Rooms facing the Monorail -
Floors 3 and below - Resort View
Floors 4 and up - Preferred View

Rooms facing the Pool -
Floors 3 and below - Resort View
Floors 4 and up - Preferred View

Rooms facing the Lagoon or VGF -
Duo Studios stay as Premium View (but should get a different name, in order to avoid the possible confusion mentioned earlier)
Floors 3 and below - Preferred View
Floors 4 and up - TPV if it qualifies (see below), otherwise Preferred View

In order to qualify as a TPV room, a guest should be able to see the castle while sitting in a chair in the exact center of the balcony.
Not from the side of the balcony, standing up at the rail, and/or leaning out.
Also, in the future, if a TPV room's qualifying view of the castle becomes blocked by anything, i.e.- a growing tree, additional construction, etc., it should be downgraded to Preferred View immediately.

.

Love this.

Here’s my rub — 15 out of the 35 TPV 1BR’s are floors 3 and below per Touring Plans. That’s an even worse ratio than Moorea Lake View studios (which I love). Waaaaaay too many points for that risk!