An honest to God rumor that even Scoop may like!!!

[DVC-Landbaron]

OK folks! It don’t happen often, so I want EVERYONE to take notice!! The LandBaron is about to post an honest to God rumor!!! (drum roll please)

RUMOR:

The Institute is being dismantled!! And in it’s place is going to be a new resort, unnamed sources, very close to this reporter, said late this evening on the promise of anonymity. Here are all the salient facts!!

Price range - I haven’t got a clue!!

How big - I haven’t got a clue!!

Transportation - I haven’t got a clue!!

Theme - NEW YORK hotel!!

Reliability - I REALLY haven’t got a clue!!

That’s the story. If it’s true it really SUCKS!!!!

Any thoughts?

 

[Luv2Roam]

DH & I rode the riverboat ride from DTD to POR and back several times. The CM's mentioned this quite often -- every trip I think.
We don't really recall all the details now, but DH thought that at the Disney Institute it was mentioned only one building was going to be left back, except for those treetop villas nearby.
And across from DTD (Marketplace) the buildings will be razed and replaced with new top of the line (DVC?) condos.
We didn't pay that much attention to be honest, since we have never been to the DI and are not DVC members.
We were also told more upscale stores would be on that side of the new villas. Almost sounded like a little self contained resort area all on it's own.
I also noticed the boat CM usually didn't mention ME's name in a friendly, chirpy tone. (Almost like he spat it out sometimes. ) Who could blame him?
Is this along the lines of what you heard? I figured this was all pretty common knowledge.

 

[Tik Tok]

Another Hotel?? Aren't there enough for right now at WDW - do they really think they can fill yet another one? How about giving us some new reasons to come, like new attractions or something, before adding yet another hotel.

You know, sometimes I wonder if those in charge of WDW remember just why it is they can fill all those fancy hotels located in the middle of the state of Florida???

 

[HorizonsFan]

Which part of the Instititute are you talking about? Everything I've heard says that the existing condos across the lake from DTD will be DVC units...

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

Dave,

Just like anything else about this rumor, other than the theme:

I haven't got a clue!!

Seems this reporter was sooooo upset about the theme that he forgot to ask anything else (although there is a good chance the source didn't know anything more)!!

I'll let you know the next time I talk to my daugh... source!!

 

[Lesley]

The rumor doesn't seem to match much with what we already know is happening at the site of the Institute.....the preparation for construction of the new DVC resort, which will reportedly be called the Saratoga Springs resort.

Now, I wouldn't doubt that they'd build a non-DVC portion of the resort (like they did with the BWV/BWI) But New York seems a rather bad pairing with what's already planned....

Curious where your "source" picked up this info....cm's, guests, management, other??????

 

[Werner Weiss]

It's essentially true, but allow me to clarify a few points.

It's somewhat old news. At the beginning of this year, Disney announced that the old townhouses at The Disney Institute would be replaced by four buildings with a total of 192 Disney Vacation Club units. At the time, they didn't announce a theme or a name.

But Disney announced that the new DVC resort would use facilities from the former Disney Institute. This core complex, which opened in 1996, includes the Spa & Fitness Center, Seasons Dining Room, Cinema, Performanence Center, and Amphitheater. This part of the Disney Institute is not being dismantled. In fact, all indications are that this complex will be the "town center" of the new DVC resort, as Conch Flats is the town center of OKW.

These core Disney Institute buildings were designed by noted architect Thomas Beeby, dean of the Yale School of Architecture from 1986 to 1991. They have a classic, small town look, reflecting that the Disney Institute was based on the Chautauqua Institution in New York state.

Because a major architect designed this complex, the buildings won't get a new style or theme. After all, architecture is Art, at least when a famed architect is involved. I'm sure a few buildings will be used differently, but the architecture won't change. Thus, the theme of the new DVC resort is dictated by this complex. The good news is that the style involves idealized interpretations of classic small town America buildings, suggesting schools, farms, and civic buildings. It's peaceful and comfortable -- and it should be a very nice theme for a DVC resort.

Please note that the New York theme is an upstate New York theme, not a New York City theme.

There's been a subsequent press report confirming the Chautauqua / upstate New York theme.

Over on the DIS DVC board, the word is that the DVC resort now has a name. The unconfirmed name is the Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa -- or someting along those lines. (There have been several variations.) Saratoga Springs is a town in New York state. I've never been there, but looking at http://www.saratoga.org/ , it seems like an attractive place. And it town's name sounds good.

I'll be interested to hear whether Disney Vacation Development brought in Thomas Beeby to design the new DVC buildings.

 

[Lesley]

Thanks for the clarification, Werner. I hadn't yet seen it all written out so clearly.....makes sense when you put it all together.

(Though, being from PA...I'm wondering why upstate NY is supposed to appeal to me....lol....I live in small town America already!)

 

[DVC-Landbaron]

(Though, being from PA...I'm wondering why upstate NY is supposed to appeal to me....lol....I live in small town America already!)

THAT - is what got me sooooo upset!! With all the wonders of the world to chose from and we get - - THIS!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

 

[Werner Weiss]

It's now in the Orlando Sentinel! See Disney unveils time-share plans, dated September 14, 2002.
I've quoted three paragraphs and added comments:

For example, the pool area at the resort will be designed without the usual Disneyesque water slides -- focusing instead on a natural spring look with bubbles foaming up among rocks.

Interesting! Over on the DVC board, the subject of "there's no slide at OKW" keeps coming up. This usually leads to a debate about whether the lack of a slide makes OKW a substandard DVC resort, and whether OKW owners who don't want a slide are cheapskates who don't want to pay for a slide or the lifeguards that a slide requires. The Saratoga Springs Resort Spa won't have a slide either.

The resort will include 184 new units and about 300 remodeled apartment-style rooms in older buildings that were part of the Disney Institute..

Interesting! Until now, it seemed that the old residential buildings at the Villas at the Disney Institute would be torn down a replaced by new, high quality, well-themed DVC buildings with all the DVC amenities, such as large luxury bathrooms. But now they're planning to recycle old buildings too. With a mish-mash of different floor plans and views, that should make for an interesting DVC point chart.

The campus-style buildings that contain the older rooms may also be enhanced to reflect the upstate New York theme, said Mariska Elia, a spokeswoman for Disney's time-share operation, called Vacation Club..

They "may also be enhanced" -- not "they will be enhanced?" Let's hope that Disney does something with those bland, old 1970s buildings to make them worthy of the DVC designation.

 

[Lesley]

Well, my friend, Main St. USA is based on small town America too....so I'll reserve judgement until I see how its done. I can walk 2 blocks here and see an intersection that is in some ways similar to Main St. ...older ornate buildings, etc....we have a coffee house and antiques shops, a B&B and a bank....our optometrist's office has antique optometry equipment on display. Its quite quaint. It has atmosphere. And the KKK Obviously in other ways its not the same at all!

Could be they're once again taking the easy way out...knowing that the location next to DTD will be a draw for some and the theme can be less than spectacular. But then again perhaps this could be something good. And we do have to consider the aesthetic blend that would be optimal for the location. And I don't think a "Persian" theme would work here ("Asian" maybe.......water, neon, a volcano in the background...okay, that's cheesy...I apologize!) (and yes, I realize those resorts belong on Seven Seas Lagoon... )

As always, my feelings are mixed on this one (I have either a curse or talent for seeing things from many angles at once...hence my difficulty at times in posting to this forum) ....my original comment was made in mild amusement and nothing else....

BTW, Werner....I've been hoping beyond hope that the treehouses will be renovated and made into DVC too. I've dreamed of staying in one for years! When I got married I said we'd take my parents and our kids with us in 10 years and stay in one of the treehouses. Its been 10 years and as it happens, we're staying at the BWV instead!

 

[hopemax]

THAT - is what got me sooooo upset!! With all the wonders of the world to chose from and we get - - THIS!!!

Now DVC, I don't think that's very fair. How would you like it if I said, "Monorails are mundane transportation, I could have used it every day for 6 years if I wanted to. Disney is right not to add more monorails." Or "Can't they come up with anything better to model a hotel around than a Western National Park Lodge?" If they would have listened to me, everyone else would have missed out on the best themed hotel on property.

I've never been anywhere near upstate New York so theme wise it sounds appealing to me (depending on execution). We've all been exposed to different things. And remember one of the foundations Walt built his park on was to celebrate America. I would hate to see Disney ignore America just because it would be like home to a portion of WDW's visitors. The exception would be building a Florida resort in Florida, but New York isn't Florida....

 

[OnWithTheShow]

Here is what I know:

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa a 184 unit Disney Vacation Club Resort opening in Spring 2004.

 

[Lesley]

Hope, they do have a Florida themed resort in Florida....Old Key West. Any comments Mr. Landbaron? Especially considering that I don't think you call yourself the DVC Landbaron without a reason.....

 

[Mai Ku Tiki]

Hi All!

Check out the DVC board for links to articles in the Orlando Sentinel (with pic) and an Albany, NY newspaper for the latest DVC resort: Saratoga Springs!!!

 

[TiggerFreak]

Thee has been much speculation and rumors regarding the pool area at Saratoga Springs Resort. These rumors revolve around creating a pool with features to rival Stormalong Bay. Speculation has it that this would be available for "Pool Hoping" to DVC members staying onsite with points at sister DVC resorts. The rumor goes futher saying that this would end all DVC pool hopping to ANY resort other than this new pool area, including sister DVC resorts. Example: staying at OKW you could use any pool at OKW and "Pool Hop" to Saratoga Springs, and thats it.

Maybe this would keep everybody happy. If they implemented some strategy to keep the much touted local pool crashers out of the resort pools, then the cash guests would not have to deal with ANY outsiders using their pools. DVC members would get a disirable pool to call exclusively their own, not open to outsiders. Personally I could live with a such a plan.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by TiggerFreak
These rumors revolve around creating a pool with features to rival Stormalong Bay. Speculation has it that this would be available for "Pool Hopping" to DVC members staying onsite with points at sister DVC resorts

The Orlando Sentinel article makes it a point to spell out that "the pool area at the resort will be designed without the usual Disneyesque water slides -- focusing instead on a natural spring look with bubbles foaming up among rocks." In other words, it won't be a mini-waterpark in the tradition of Stormalong Bay.

I think the original rumor was just wishful thinking. Keep in mind that at a timeshare resort, the owners are responsible for all the operating costs. That means the owners of the Sarasota Springs Resort Spa will pay for the cost of operating the pool. So you really can't have a pool that costs a fortune to operate.

Stormalong Bay is another matter because it was built for a resort hotel complex with very expensive room rates. The fabulous pool area helps justify the room rates, and, in turn, the room rates generate the revenue to operate Stormalong Bay. But imagine what it must cost for all the lifeguards, cleaning, water quality processing, liability insurance and mechanical maintenace, given the size and scope of Stormalong Bay.

I'm sure the new pool at the Sarasota Springs Resort Spa will be wonderful -- even if there's no slide. It seems it will be more along the lines of the feature pool at OKW, although with bubbles. By the way, the main pool at Marriott's Cypress Harbour in Orlando has bubbles. The bubbles are fun; they don't require lifeguards; and I would imagine there's not the liabilty insurance issue that you have with a slide.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Is there a slide at Wilderness Lodge? Because this pool sounds sort of like that one.

And...as a native New Yorker who grewup in a small old beach town in western Suffolk County...I'll be glad to see and stay at a resort modelled after a quaint town in upstate New York. I might even get an add-on there if the initial buy in deal is good.

However...what's missing in Disney is an urban setting...Disney should take a look at the Paris Hotel or New York New York in Las Vegas for their next effort! A hotel (or DVC) could satisfy everybody! Put the lush las vegas style pool in the back and small 5th gate on the roof...in place of the casino put in another indoor theatre for traveling broadway shows.

hmmm....i was joking but now im afraid disney will read this...

 

[hallie]

I think it sounds like a great idea! If it does happen I'd stay at it.

 

[Bob O]

I would much perfer that wdw spend the money improving their parks rather than another resort when their hotel occupancy is way down, they have to stop building on a new one and close others. They may misplaced priorties is this rumor is true!!