Another Rumor About The Closure Of PO and Disney Institute....

[Brer-Rabbit]

Just got off the phone with another DISer who is in WDW. She said she was talking to a CM at AK who told her that the Disney Institute was the property that was sold to the government and that they would have possession of it mid summer. She also said that Port Orleans was orginally supposed to be sold to Sheraton and that the deal fell through.

Amazing some of the stuff that CM's say isn't it? I have no idea what validity these rumors have, I just thought that I would share them.

[MiknMinMouse]

Hmmm. which still leaves me to wonder IF the DI closes what effect that will have on the DI spa, which, IMHO is the best spa on Disney property :-)

[CinderellaPrincess]

Interesting...Thanks for the info!

[jenpooh]

If they've really sold DI, it might explain why, after announcing it would be the site used for the new "expanded" intimate weddings, they've just announced that it will no longer be available for those weddings after all.

[JeffJewell]

...just last week, our IllumiNations Cruise skipper, Captain Mike, told us about the monorail that was originally supposed to run through the Swan and Dolphin.

I'm implying neither that CM's in general don't know what they're talking about nor that they are purposely trying to fool people, but the simple fact is that CM's sometimes tell you things that are flat-out wrong.

Jeff

[DVCDAVE]

I don't get this Swan, Dolphin and Monorail rumor at all. If you look at those buildings and concentrate on those 'Black' areas that the monorail would supposedly pull in to, they are not deep enough for the monrail to fit all the way in !! The monorail train would have cars hanging out of the buildings. I think this is one of those wishfull rumors that we would all like to see be true, but the logistics don't support it at all.

[gary]

Sorry, folks, I've missed something. Would somebody please tell me why the government would by the DI property? (I can see the headlines now - "Government opens Mickey Mouse operation in Orlando").

Gary

P.S. I love the monorail rumor that wouldn't die!

[raidermatt]

Regarding the Sheraton thing, there is a poster on another one of the Dis boards who claims to be a Universal insider, and former Disney insider, and says that Disney has at least been seriously considering selling more of its resorts to outside hotel operators.

Not saying the info is valid, but since half of the name of this board is rumors, I thought I'd pass it on.

[mikek]

first i thought the defense department had a 99year lease on the shades of green. (fee simple is too fancy for me to have a clue on...is that waht you ment MR.Scoop?)?

also- i dont know about all these rumors about disney selling resorts. I have read in several places (non web- like WSJ print or books) that it is a major irritation to mikey and the other higher ups, that ALL the swan and dolphoin income isnt theirs. And that the only reason they permitted the deal in the first place was beacuse the company was cash strapped at the time and needed someone elses pocket to finance it. Is that not the case?

[salmoneous]

I have no idea what validity these rumors have, I just thought that I would share them. I don't think either will come true :)

[paulh]

SSR is built on the old DI site so are disney selling it of?
Paulh

[EUROPACL]

SSR is built on the old DI site so are disney selling it of?
Paulh

Read the dates of the post...this is an old thread(2001) that someone dug up and posted to in an effort to be.....funny????

The OP was right after 9-11 and PO did close for "refurbishment" ($$$ -due to lack of attendance in the parks) DI was the source of many rumors for years...until they suckered some more DVC dollars out of the place.

[mitros]

Read the dates of the post...this is an old thread(2001) that someone dug up and posted to in an effort to be.....funny????

The OP was right after 9-11 and PO did close for "refurbishment" ($$$ -due to lack of attendance in the parks) DI was the source of many rumors for years...until they suckered some more DVC dollars out of the place.

Sheeesh, I thought I was the only one that noticed the date.......

[pixie08]

Hmm yes an old post.

I belive most of the Disney institute is what is now ssr. I think the property currently in question is rivercountry water park and the tree top villas which the government forced disney to close but will not let them rip down because of preservation issues:confused3 I am not sure what is going on with that but i know that is land which is just sitting around.

Also yes, Disney just sold a whole lot of land to The Four Seasons hotel group who will be putting a resort on the osprey ridge golf course from what I have heard.

[EUROPACL]

I think the property currently in question is rivercountry water park and the tree top villas which the government forced disney to close but will not let them rip down because of preservation issues:confused3 I am not sure what is going on with that but i know that is land which is just sitting around.


Disney is the Goverment of Reedy Creek so the "goverment" hasn't forced Disney to do anything.

[ParrotBill]

The version I heard of the monorail and Swan and Dolphin was not a station in each hotel but that it would pass through each hotel, with a station on some kind of glass skyway connecting the two hotels.. so the train would be parked between the two hotels in midair... kinda cool idea.

[EUROPACL]

The version I heard of the monorail and Swan and Dolphin was not a station in each hotel but that it would pass through each hotel, with a station on some kind of glass skyway connecting the two hotels.. so the train would be parked between the two hotels in midair... kinda cool idea.

No.

Edit...

Just incase you heard this one also....Walt Disney is not frozen either.

[DancingBear]

Disney is the Goverment of Reedy Creek so the "goverment" hasn't forced Disney to do anything.Yes, but...I don't believe anyone made Disney close the treehouses, but apparently Federal or state wetlands or similar restrictions prevent Disney from doing some other significant development where the treehouses are located.

[EUROPACL]

Yes, but...I don't believe anyone made Disney close the treehouses, but apparently Federal or state wetlands or similar restrictions prevent Disney from doing some other significant development where the treehouses are located.

If I'm reading this correctly Reedy Creek (Disney) selected those areas for Wetland use....it was their choice. Its sorta like saying that a state or local town wants a building delcared a historic landmark and then saying the Goverment won't let them tear it down after they grant it historic status.


A five-member Board of Supervisors governs the District, elected by the landowners of the District. These members, high-up employees of The Walt Disney Company, each own undeveloped five-acre (20,000 m²) lots of land within the District, the only land in the District not technically controlled by Disney or used for public road purposes. The only residents of the District, also Disney employees, live in two small communities, one in each city. In the 2000 census, Bay Lake had 23 residents, all in the community on the north shore of Bay Lake, and Lake Buena Vista had 16 residents, all in the community about a mile north of Downtown Disney. These residents elect the officials of the cities, but since they don't actually own any land, they don't have any power in electing the District Board of Supervisors.

The District headquarters are in a building in Lake Buena Vista, east of Downtown Disney. Everything publicly run is run by the District; the cities are a formality. This is reflected in recent land acquisitions by Disney towards the west; these were added to the District but not Bay Lake. The District runs the following services, primarily serving Disney:

-Fire protection and emergency medical services: through four fire stations

-Environmental protection: Many pieces of land have been donated to the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation and the South Florida Water Management District as conservation easements, and the District collects data and ensures that large portions remain in their natural wetland state.

-Building codes and land-use planning: The "EPCOT Building Codes" go above and beyond state building codes. Most buildings are built to withstand 200 mph winds, and sustained only minimal damage from the 2004 hurricanes Charley and Frances. Although the codes are ostensibly updated on a three-year cycle, the most recent and currently-used version of the EPCOT Building Codes is the 2002 version.[1]
-Utilities: wastewater treatment and collection, water reclamation, electric generation and distribution, solid waste disposal, potable water, natural gas distribution, and hot and chilled water distribution, through Reedy Creek Energy Services, which has been merged with the Walt Disney World Company
-Roads: Many of the main roads in the District are public roads maintained by the District, while minor roads and roads dead-ending at attractions are private roads maintained by Disney; in addition, state-maintained Interstate 4 and U.S. Highway 192 pass through the District, as does part of the right-of-way of County Road 535 (formerly State Road 535).

[G8RFAN]

Not that I believe this rumor, but Florida has concurrency laws that basically state that a developer must set aside an equal amount of "protected wetlands" for every developed area of wetlands. RC may have limited areas of designated spots. I do find it difficult to believe that particular area that is surrounded by developed property and in itself developed with improvements was selected as protected wetlands.

[thefirebuilds]

Regarding the Sheraton thing, there is a poster on another one of the Dis boards who claims to be a Universal insider, and former Disney insider, and says that Disney has at least been seriously considering selling more of its resorts to outside hotel operators.

Not saying the info is valid, but since half of the name of this board is rumors, I thought I'd pass it on.


Maybe that will give a kick in the *** of their service at the resorts if it was managed by a 3rd party and overlooked by the big D. Happy B Day to your website, btw.

[DancingBear]

As to the RCID as a whole there are a combination of issues, including both conservation set-aside areas (which were "voluntary" but made way back when in exchange for development rights) and federal and state wetlands regulations which affect any landowner and developer regarding whether you can develop certain areas that are wetlands or within a certain distance of wetlands (and you'd be surprised at everything that can be a protected wetland).

My vague recollection as to the treehouses is that they are entitled to remain as grandfathered improvements (that is, they existed when certain restrictions were adopted), but they can't be significantly modified, I assume due to their proximity to wetlands. Or something like that.

[YoHo]

Remember also that the location of Animal Kingdom comprises the bulk of the original wetlands set aside. When Disney developed that, they had to scramble to redesignate other areas for the use. So that's probably why the treehouses are in a wetland area. If I remember correctly, Disney actually bough additional land to offset some of the construction. Offsite. I may be making that part up though.

[DancingBear]

I don't think they'd be able to designate the treehouse area for conservation area after the fact. But it is true that Disney bought a bunch of land to serve as substitute conservation area for the AK site--the Walker Ranch property:

http://disney.go.com/disneyhand/environmentality/environment/preserve.html

[raidermatt]

Happy B Day to your website, btw.


Thanks, but its Disneyland that deserves the big "Happy Birthday!" today. (The site is only two months old)

[thefirebuilds]

Thanks, but its Disneyland that deserves the big "Happy Birthday!" today. (The site is only two months old)

You should re-register it today. that would be hot. :wizard:

[ParrotBill]

No.

Edit...

Just incase you heard this one also....Walt Disney is not frozen either.

Wow, that was kind of rude. This board is a place to discuss rumors, not make sarcastic digs at other people's posts.

I will add by telling you where I heard this rumor.. twice in fact, about 8 years apart. The first time was on a Disney Institute Architecture class, where we toured buildings and learned their origins and little know "facts."

The second was a boat captain, last January, while riding back from MGM.

[crazy4wdw]

Since this thread is off topic and people are posting comments which are argumentative, I'm closing the thread down.