Disney announces plans for Hawaii resort

[jmatias]

Here is the link to the article in Pacific Business News

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/10/13/daily41.html

And here is the article:

Walt Disney Parks & Resorts on Thursday unveiled a model of a resort scheduled to open on Oahu in 2011.

The mixed-used resort includes 350 hotel rooms and 480 vacation villas for Disney Vacation Club members.

The family-focused resort will be located on 21 acres at Ko Olina Resort & Marina in West Oahu.

Disney officials expect the project to generate 1,000 new jobs ranging from entry-level positions to management.

Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, declined to provide cost estimates for the project, room pricing, whether employees might have labor representation, or how much access to the property local residents will have.

The resort will feature two towers, gardens, pools, water slides, a fake volcano caldera, spa, banquet and meeting space, and wedding facilities.

Disney film characters played by humans, such as mermaids, are expected to play a regular role at the resort.

This is Disney’s first vacation club-hotel venture to be separate from its theme parks in California, Florida and Japan. Disney also operates vacation clubs in Vero Beach, Fla., and Hilton Head, S.C.

Disney announced its plans at Kapolei Hale, Honolulu’s second city hall. Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, City Councilman Todd Apo, Ko Olina developer Jeff Stone and Ihilani resort executive John Toner attended.

Rasulo said Disney is confident about the long-term prospects for Hawaii’s tourist economy, currently in the midst of one of its most serious downturns.

[mickeymorse]

Thanks for keeping us updated.:thumbsup2

[jmatias]

Here is another article from the Honolulu Advertiser:

Disney estimates the project, expected to open by late 2011, will create 1,000 new jobs. Plans call for the resort to feature an extensive water play area including a small river, water slides and several pools. The resort will also include a spa, a conference center, a kids' club and a wedding lawn.

Officials from city's Department of Planning and Permitting has been meeting Disney since April on regulatory issues. Currently, the department is processing a mass grading permit application which would allow the site work to begin.

The department said it expects to issue the permit shortly, with grading work to begin in late December or early January. A blessing and ground-breaking ceremony is planned for later this year.

"This unique project should help boost our economy and provide jobs that are badly needed, especially in the Leeward area," Mayor Mufi Hannemann said. "I was confident that Disney would create many new opportunities and become a respected and contributing member of our community."

There are also pics in the article but I don't remember how to post them.

Jen

[dvc_john]

I drove out to Ko Olina on Tuesday. So far, no constuction, no construction equipment, and no signage. However, there were a couple of surveyors on site.

I did see the quick news blurb on TV about today's press event. Hopefully, there will be more info on tonight's news or tomorrow's newspaper.

Article at www.honoluluadvertiser.com

[georgemoe]

Thanks! Need to find more photos of the scale model.

http://cll.bizjournals.com/story_image/208820-0-0-3.jpg

[jmatias]

Here is another view:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e363/alohadvc/bilde.jpg

[dwelty]

Thanks! Need to find more photos of the scale model.

http://cll.bizjournals.com/story_image/208820-0-0-3.jpg

DVCNews.com has a nice close up photo of the model here:

http://dvcnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=655&Itemid=1

Just click on the second photo to enlarge.

[jmatias]

I'm sure a Disney Hawaiian Wedding will be a big hit.

And I know my DD will be excited to see Disney Mermaids and other characters :thumbsup2

Jen

[theOCdisney]

We flew over the site last Saturday. Is it to be built in the lagoon next to the Ihilani?

[jmatias]

Yes....will share the same lagoon as the Ihilani.

Jen

[Blahnde]

This is Disney’s first vacation club-hotel venture to be separate from its theme parks in California, Florida and Japan. Disney also operates vacation clubs in Vero Beach, Fla., and Hilton Head, S.C.

Okay, so is it just me or does this article say in one sentance that the Hawaiian DVC is the first to be separate from the theme parks, and then in the very next sentance it says the exact opposite by listing VB and HHI???

Soooooo, I guess DVC Hawaii is the first, with the exception of VB and HHI???

Clearly I know better, but it sounds like the Pacific Business News needs a new copy editor. Makes you wonder what else in the article (or the rest of their paper!) is completely wrong. Y'know it is sort of like saying the 9/11 events were the first attacks on US soil ... oh, except for Pearl Harbor!

Blahnde

[SoCalDCLfan]

Thanks for the update and photos! It looks AWESOME!!! we're so excited to buy there :yay:

[Kuzco]

Thanks for the info!

Disney film characters played by humans, such as mermaids, are expected to play a regular role at the resort.

I wonder who or what, other than humans, could play the Disney film characters... :eek:

[tjkraz]

Okay, so is it just me or does this article say in one sentance that the Hawaiian DVC is the first to be separate from the theme parks, and then in the very next sentance it says the exact opposite by listing VB and HHI???

Soooooo, I guess DVC Hawaii is the first, with the exception of VB and HHI???

Clearly I know better, but it sounds like the Pacific Business News needs a new copy editor. Makes you wonder what else in the article (or the rest of their paper!) is completely wrong. Y'know it is sort of like saying the 9/11 events were the first attacks on US soil ... oh, except for Pearl Harbor!

Blahnde

It says that this is the first "vacation club-hotel venture" not at a theme park and that the Vero and HHI resorts are "vacation clubs."

It's a pretty narrow distinction, though, since guests can pay cash to stay at Vero and HHI. But Disney doesn't market either as being big tourist destinations. When Hawaii opens they'll have a greater challenge with 300+ rooms to fill every night.

[disneymom8589]

This is so exciting to see a model of the resort! :goodvibes

[ACDSNY]

I think I see another Hawaii trip in our future (hopefully in 2012). Thanks for the info and pics!

[Blahnde]

It says that this is the first "vacation club-hotel venture" not at a theme park and that the Vero and HHI resorts are "vacation clubs."

It's a pretty narrow distinction, though, since guests can pay cash to stay at Vero and HHI. But Disney doesn't market either as being big tourist destinations. When Hawaii opens they'll have a greater challenge with 300+ rooms to fill every night.

Okay, so a "vacation club-hotel venture" would mean that there are cash hotel rooms available, not just point villas, right? And since there are hotel (Inn) rooms at Vero Beach, wouldn't it be the first "vacation club-hotel venture"?

I'm really not trying to be argumentative, but I think regardless of how you "classify" VB and HHI, DVC Hawaii is not the first of its' kind.

Blahnde

[jmatias]

Here is an bit of the write up at www.kgmb.com There is also a video there.

This small scale model represents a big change for West Oahu. A Disney Resort with no theme park.
The two towers at Ko Olina will have more than 800 hotel rooms and timeshare units.

"We plan to of course to offer the opportunity for our guests to vacation in a completely new way," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. "Very differently than they do at our theme park resorts."

Disney Executives say the landscape and architecture will reflect the Hawaiian culture. They've been working with the community and cultural consultants.
Highlights include a taro field, a canoe hale, a volcanic waterslide with special effects, and a salt water lagoon.

"So the guests can swim with the tropical fish as well as while they're snorkeling there will be some elements of Disney characters swimming by as elements of surprise," said Wing Chao, executive vice president, Master Planning Architecture & Design, Walt Disney Imagineering.

[WDWLVR]

Thanks everyone for the article and photos. Definitely looking at adding KoOlina to our ownership. Wonder if they will be making use of the existing wedding chapel that is already there. We thought it was really beautiful.

[simzac]

Pictures look fantastic. Now I only hope we can get there someday:goodvibes

[mickeymorse]

Thanks for the info!



I wonder who or what, other than humans, could play the Disney film characters... :eek:

:laughing:

I think I see another Hawaii trip in our future (hopefully in 2012). Thanks for the info and pics!

We are looking at 2012 as well.:)

[georgemoe]

Here is an bit of the write up at www.kgmb.com There is also a video there.

This small scale model represents a big change for West Oahu. A Disney Resort with no theme park.
The two towers at Ko Olina will have more than 800 hotel rooms and timeshare units.

"We plan to of course to offer the opportunity for our guests to vacation in a completely new way," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. "Very differently than they do at our theme park resorts."

Disney Executives say the landscape and architecture will reflect the Hawaiian culture. They've been working with the community and cultural consultants.
Highlights include a taro field, a canoe hale, a volcanic waterslide with special effects, and a salt water lagoon.

"So the guests can swim with the tropical fish as well as while they're snorkeling there will be some elements of Disney characters swimming by as elements of surprise," said Wing Chao, executive vice president, Master Planning Architecture & Design, Walt Disney Imagineering.

Very nice. Thanks. Here is the direct link to the article and video.
http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/10545/40/

[georgemoe]

DW and I honeymooned in Hawaii 18 years ago so for our 25th in 2015 we plan to be there.

[dpuck1998]

Clearly I know better, but it sounds like the Pacific Business News needs a new copy editor. Makes you wonder what else in the article (or the rest of their paper!) is completely wrong. Y'know it is sort of like saying the 9/11 events were the first attacks on US soil ... oh, except for Pearl Harbor!

Blahnde

Not to be nit picky, but Pearl Harbor wasn't US soil at the time. If we count territories then we can talk about embassies and ships at sea, etc. Sorry..carry on ;)

[nikkistevej]

Wow, those pics look awesome!!!!:lovestruc

[donmil723]

Okay, so a "vacation club-hotel venture" would mean that there are cash hotel rooms available, not just point villas, right? And since there are hotel (Inn) rooms at Vero Beach, wouldn't it be the first "vacation club-hotel venture"?

I'm really not trying to be argumentative, but I think regardless of how you "classify" VB and HHI, DVC Hawaii is not the first of its' kind.

Blahnde

Disney considers the Boardwalk Resort at WDW to be a vacation club-hotel venture because one side is the Boardwalk Inn which is exclusively operated by Disney as a hotel but it is combined with the Boardwalk Villas on the other side which is operated by DVC but can be reserved on a cash basis if members trade out their points for other vacations.

Hilton Head and Vero Beach are DVC resorts that can be booked on cash if rooms are available due to members trading out.

Not a huge distinction but I think that is what the article was referring to and in that case, the Hawaii resort would be the first vacation club-hotel venture not at a theme park.

Looking at the Hawaii plans, I would suspect one tower will be a Disney hotel and the other tower will be DVC villas which would corroborate their statement that the Hawaii resort will be the "first vacation club-hotel venture not at a theme park."

JMHO.

[bookwormde]

Posted this on another thread but it looks like much more than 1 tower will be DVC

Any one surprised as to how much of the room “space” is DVC with the size of DVC villas if you just use a 1br equivalent then it is about 75% DVC by floor space.

bookwormde

[tjkraz]

Posted this on another thread but it looks like much more than 1 tower will be DVC

Any one surprised as to how much of the room “space” is DVC with the size of DVC villas if you just use a 1br equivalent then it is about 75% DVC by floor space.

bookwormde

I don't see how there's enough information available to make that determination yet.

Disney's press materials site 480 villas but offers no specifics. Is a lockoff counted as one or two villas in that number?

Is there are larger proportion of Studio and One Bedroom villas in the DVC count than we may be used to?

Are the hotel rooms the same +/- 350 sq ft units we are used to seeing at the Disney parks? What percentage of them are suites?

How much space in each building is occupied by support services (backstage areas, concierge lounge, restaurants, luggage storage, child care, etc.)?

The building on the right looks to be about 40-45% larger than the one on the left. Without answers to some of the above questions, it's hard to tell if that's enough space for the greater number of villas or not. But the style of BWI/BWV suggests that its designers saw some logic in putting the hotel on one side and timeshare on the other.

With all of that said, does any of this really matter? Have we already reached the point of deciding that one "side" of the resort is better than the other? :rotfl:

[bookwormde]

I just saw a local news feed that specifically stated that the 480 were 2br units, which would bring it to 80%.

I know that you have to take all news reports with a grain of salt but his one had a fair number of details, which seemed very in line with the model. Also this source seamed to have non “pool” pictures of several of the Disney executives which appeared to be from the day of the model unveiling so it gave a good indication that the reporter had some direct access.

bookwormde

[tfc3rid]

Interesting models and water area... Reminds me just a little bit of Atlantis...

[jmatias]

Some nice pics and more written info at the Star Bulletin.

Here is the link: http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20081017_800M_development_plan_unveiled.html

Especially thought this was interesting:

The company said it plans to complete the necessary paperwork and begin selling time-share memberships before its 2011 opening, though a date has not been determined.

Aloha,
Jen

[mello]

I don't see how there's enough information available to make that determination yet.

Disney's press materials site 480 villas but offers no specifics. Is a lockoff counted as one or two villas in that number?

Is there are larger proportion of Studio and One Bedroom villas in the DVC count than we may be used to?

Are the hotel rooms the same +/- 350 sq ft units we are used to seeing at the Disney parks? What percentage of them are suites?

How much space in each building is occupied by support services (backstage areas, concierge lounge, restaurants, luggage storage, child care, etc.)?

The building on the right looks to be about 40-45% larger than the one on the left. Without answers to some of the above questions, it's hard to tell if that's enough space for the greater number of villas or not. But the style of BWI/BWV suggests that its designers saw some logic in putting the hotel on one side and timeshare on the other.

With all of that said, does any of this really matter? Have we already reached the point of deciding that one "side" of the resort is better than the other? :rotfl:

But it does look like there's a small pool outside of the north building.

[jmatias]

On the front page of the morning Honolulu Advertiser it states:

Scheduled opening: Late 2011

Employees: 1000

Hotel rooms: 350

Two Bedroom Villas for DVC: 480

Full Service Spa: 18,000 square feet



It seems to say that there indeed will be 480 units of 2-bedroom villas. Of course, things can change from now until completion.

Jen

[donmil723]

With all of that said, does any of this really matter? Have we already reached the point of deciding that one "side" of the resort is better than the other?

By speculating that one side of the resort would be villas and the other side hotel rooms, I did not mean to imply that I thought one "side" was better than the other. Just pointing out the similarities between the Boardwalk Resort and the printed reports of the Hawaii Resort.

[bookwormde]

This is actually a very unique configuration for DVC/disney since the number of hotel guests will only be a relatively small percentage of the total guest population.

I really liked the look of the “flowing” river, which looked very waterparkie. I also thought the salt water “lagoon” with live fish was a neat idea also

bookwormde

[dvc_john]

I haven't read everything yet, so this may have already been posted, but...

Groundbreaking and blessing of the site is scheduled for Nov 19.

Opening has been listed as both late 2011, and as 'less than 3 years'.

[WolfpackFan]

I am very excited to see progress being made with the Hawaii resort. I didn't realize that it was going to be part hotel and part DVC resort. This is actually good IMO. DW and myself are planning a trip to Hawaii in 2012 (I know that's a long way off, but I like to plan ahead :)). I'm planning on a week long cruise (assuming NCL America is still in business then) and then a week at the Disney resort. I was concerned about whether I could stay on points (figuring 7 month ressies might be difficult), but at least I should be able to pay money and stay in the hotel part if nothing else.

[Golden Rose]

It looks like it will be very nice, but I wish more of the rooms had ocean views. It appears that the majority of the views are going to be pool views, which would be decidedly a second choice for us.

I'm really glad it looks like they are going ahead with it. We're certainly not going to try to go every year, but we'll definitely go from time to time. Wonder if we'll need to buy points there to get Ocean View... I consider it likely.