Disney's Animation Inn & Suites

crazy4wdw

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Jan 3, 2001
Walt Disney World recently filed a construction permit to develop model rooms for "Disney's Animation Inn & Suites". If the resort is constructed, the rumor is that it will be be located accross the lake from Pop Century, where phase II of the resort was planned to be built. It will be interesting to see if Disney actually proceeds with another resort given the current economy.

Anyone have further info?

Edit: Here's a link to the permit: http://or.occompt.com/recorder/eagleweb/viewDoc.jsp?node=DOC338S11052
 
A little more info on the "Animation Inn & Suites". The rumors are that Disney is going to rebrand the entire Pop Century Resort. The new section accross the lake would be all suite units and the original Pop Century buildings would be rethemed to different Disney and Pixar animated movies. Supposedly, Pop Century's occupancy levels do not come close to those at the All Stars and Disney is looking for a way to improve reservations at the resort.
 
A little more info on the "Animation Inn & Suites". The rumors are that Disney is going to rebrand the entire Pop Century Resort. The new section accross the lake would be all suite units and the original Pop Century buildings would be rethemed to different Disney and Pixar animated movies. Supposedly, Pop Century's occupancy levels do not come close to those at the All Stars and Disney is looking for a way to improve reservations at the resort.
That sounds awesome!
 


And I have heard that people LOVE to stay at POP Century. The suite idea is fantastic. There is little place on property for groups of 5 or more to stay unless at DVC properties or FW cabins (6 max, I believe).

The people that love Alligator Bayou section at POR and have less than 5 people have often been disappointed to get a Mansion room. I'm hoping not to be one of these next November.

Now that my kids are grown and I probably someday will have a SIL and DIL and grandkids along, a suite would be amazing!!!
 
From another board -

Just because a room model is being mocked up does not mean that actual construction will be proceeding, yet it's still very interesting and something to keep an eye on.
 


Supposedly, Pop Century's occupancy levels do not come close to those at the All Stars and Disney is looking for a way to improve reservations at the resort.


That pretty much amazes me. I found that very suprising, if true.


edit: Now that I read the Jim Hill article, it does make sense. but I dont know of any of the resorts that are really 'disney themed' If you know what I mean, so that part I didnt quite go along with.
 
Pop Century was 99% sold out when we stayed there, according to the CM we spoke with. Of course, it was during the free dining promotion.
 
The Jim Hill Media article was pretty interesting.

Pop Century has always had zero appeal to me. It's the only resort at Disney that I've never even taken the time to look at. Maybe I'd change my mind if I did. But I remember looking at pictures of (then) Dixie Landings and saying, "Wow... I gotta go see that." I look at pictures of Pop Century and they just have no such appeal.

The animation theme? Maybe. They'd have to dress it up right... not just fill it with giant plastic Lady & Tramp statues. How about making each area actually look like it's from the animated film? Make the buildings look like you're in Lady & The Tramp, Beauty & The Beast, etc...

Then try to blend them together, so it's an easy segue from each area (like in the Magic Kingdom). In other words, you shouldn't go directly from the cobblestones of Hunchback to the carpet of Buzz and Woody's bedroom.

I also like the suite idea. Disney needs more larger "rooms" for groups of 5 or 6 (other than DVC).
 
While I dont put a lot of stock in what Jim Hill thinks is going to happen, I saw the filing on another site as well. While I'm sure Disney builds "test" things all the time, like a mock room, my guess is this is a little further along in the process than what he usually reports on. Going through the time and expense to construct a mock room is a little more credible than reporting that one imagineer said to another "What do you think about "Disney's Animation Inn" which is often what ole Jimmy seems to report on...;)
 
It's interesting that Disney would be thinking of a resort themed to its animated classics while at the same toning down the Disney elements in the decor of its Deluxe resort rooms.
 
Could this be DVC? Wondering why they would have a model room.
I would tend to doubt it. I have to think that Disney would do all family suites there in order to fill a need that has existed for years. Many families head to WDW but have trouble finding good accomodations, for a decent price, for their families if there are more than 4 in the group.
I can see Disney doing something with the other side of the lake at POP. It has stood half finished and empty for too many years now. But, I seriously doubt that POP is going to be rehabbed because it has not reached full capacity in the past. POP always seems to be bustling with people. If it wasn't full, or at least a good percentage full, they would just close down a bldg rather than put a few guests in it. That's what they have done at other resorts. POFQ was shut down due to renovations, but it seems that it remained closed due to much fewer guests.

Here's hoping they put in some kind of family suites at POP-the Classic Years.
 
I have only stayed at Pop once, but we had a lake view of the unifinished section. There is so much potential over there and this sounds like a GREAT way to finish it and still be in theme with the current side of Pop. Based on what I read here, the ASMu suites seem VERY popular and that would be a great idea for that section as well. :thumbsup2
 
FTR, all large hotel and hospital construction projects incorporate a "mock up" room into their plans. The interiors are typically paid for by the subcontractors and the designers/end users make final decision based on the way those rooms look. It's easier to change the finishes if only one room has been completed.
 
If you read the Jim Hill article, you'll notice he doesn't say they definitely are going to do this, just that they will most certainly do something with the undeveloped area, and this is one possibility.
He points out that they made mock ups of the Animal Kingdom lodge rooms seven years before the resort actually opened!
 

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