A couple of rumors.

[Dean]

First, let me say these rumors come second hand but from a direction I consider a very reliable source. They come from a friend at work who is good friends with someone on the inside at Disney. I have always found the info provide in this manner to be reliable but you can take it however you wish. Three issues. One is that SSR is really not going well from a sales standpoint, not just below expectation, but not well at all. The second was that CR is a go though apparently the decision has not been made whether to tear down the existing structures and start from scratch or not. And they will wait until SSR is further along before they will make any announcement. Also EP is truly on the back burner with no beginning in sight.

One can take it however they like. A CR is against my predictions but as I noted previously, I'd rather be wrong.

 

[RachaelRol]

What EP and CR?

 

[mom2alix]

What EP and CR?

EP = Eagle Pines Rumored DVC resort with golf theme
CR = Villas at the Contemporary Resort (monorail DVC! )

 

[DebbieB]

What EP and CR?

EP = Eagle Pines. A DVC resort that was announced a few years ago but was put on the back burner when they decided to build SSR

CR = Contemporary Resort. A rumored new DVC resort.

How far are they on phase 3 of SSR? I wonder if they would scrap it or scale it down? I think the problem is SSR just does not have the appeal of the DVC resorts that are close to parks - BWV, VWL, BCV. I know there's nothing that would interest me to stay there.

 

[Dean]

EP = Eagle Pines. A DVC resort that was announced a few years ago but was put on the back burner when they decided to build SSR

CR = Contemporary Resort. A rumored new DVC resort.

How far are they on phase 3 of SSR? I wonder if they would scrap it or scale it down? I think the problem is SSR just does not have the appeal of the DVC resorts that are close to parks - BWV, VWL, BCV. I know there's nothing that would interest me to stay there.

I think they've started most if not all the buildings in phase 3 so I doubt they would scale it down. IMO, DVC is notorious for having high expectations of sales. Even VWL and BCV took longer to sell out than they expected and we could discuss VB and Hh all night.

 

[childsplay]

None of those particularily suprise me, and if I had to pick one that stands out it would be the slow sales of SSR, not that I thought they were red hot, but rather I guess I didn't think they were horrible either...EP is no surprise, I just never thought they would go from a monster like to SSR to one almost as big as the next in line...CR is exactly what I predicted before SSR sales started when I qualified that prediction with the disclaimer that CR or something similar would be the next if SSR's contract had a longer end date than the other exsisting properties...which it does.
Dean, I don't imagine you see any of those as a real big surprise either?

 

[Dean]

Dean, I don't imagine you see any of those as a real big surprise either?

Not at this point. The largest surprise to me is CR but given all the speculation and rumors the last year or so, it is less so. I suspect EP is dead in the water but we shall see and it is a shame as I think the potential was so much more than SSR in many ways. My impression of SSR sales was slower than DVC inflated expectations but OK overall so the degree of negativity coming from an insider in the know did surprise me somewhat.

I'll add that nothing of likelihood for AKL and though they would like to do a DL DVC, just not enough space to do one it appears. You know Disney and DVC would be drooling to build a DVC at DL if they could.

 

[Sammie]

Unless something has changed recently I was told that CR was a definite, but no time table on it.

Guess we will see.

 

[lizziepooh]

Why are they raising the price of points if SSR isn't selling well? I guess I don't understand the thinking on that.

 

[mx3man123]

Just did a tour of SSR this morning. Yes it's not near the aprks but it is a beautiful place, phase three will be done by the end of the year. Our guide told us it was 75% sold already. The rooms are unbelieveable. The spa is top notch, the workout room is great. Internet is available in every room not like the boardwalk. the bathrrom is designed differently as well, boardwalk for example is spilt in two, one side toilet and standup shower and the other side is the big tub, in SSR the toilet is it's own room, the stand up shower is in it's own room and the big tub in it's own room. SSR is a great resort, we are going to take the plunge and buy into it this week.

 

[childsplay]

I suspect EP is dead in the water but we shall see and it is a shame as I think the potential was so much more than SSR in many ways.

Agreed. I really think they bite off too much with SSR, not that it can't/won't be a great resort...there was just no real need to make it that enormous to start with, they could have let it mature and then added more villas later.

 

[lisareniff]

Thanks for passing along your rumours Dean. It's nice to get these little glimpse of the future.

CR - Well it goes along with what others have been saying. It's good to add another source to the rumour. I'm happy to have another different DVC added to the mix.

EP - It never really appealed to me, but neiter did SSR. I'm ok with that decision.

SSR - I never had the impression from reading the board that it was going slow so this is a surprise. I think SSR might have done better if the units were of bigger size, adding to the attraction of staying farther from the parks. Creating a destination resort. Similar to how people feel about OKW.

DL- I had been thinking they would work something out but have never even seen DL so should be considered clue less.

Q- Any hints about Hawaii? I would love to see another off site DVC.

 

[vascubaguy]

Why are they raising the price of points if SSR isn't selling well? I guess I don't understand the thinking on that.

Could be for marketing purposes.... raise the price, offer a bigger incentive and end up selling it at the same price as what it was already selling for!

 

[manning]

Why are they raising the price of points if SSR isn't selling well? I guess I don't understand the thinking on that.

So they don't lose as much when they have to offer incentives. It's amazing when people won't buy something for a buck but raise it to 1.25 and put it on sale for a buck they come out of the woodwork. Or instead of giving a 25 percent discount it is buy three and get the fourth one FREE.

My uncle's father use to own a grocery store. He use to do it all the time. I cracked up laughing when my uncle told the story about an item his father was trying to sell for twenty five cents each. He had them at the front of the store as you came in for two weeks and didn't sell a one. Finally he puts a sign up saying limited time only three for a dollar. Sold every one of them in a day.

 

[Beca]

My thoughts on this:

1) I think a DVC DL is going to happen. DL acquired the "strawberry fields" late last year. I know execs were out at DL last month going over the possibility of a 3rd DL park where the fields are now. I heard DVC people were out there as well, looking at designing a DVC attached to the 3rd park. I think if a 3rd park actually happens, a DVC resort will happen there as well.

2) I think one of the reason they keep raising the price of SSR is to get it "in the range" of where they would need to sell CRV. I look for the price to continue to creep up, but the discounts will keep it pretty much where it is. Then, the CRV can be offered at only a slightly higher price, but with no discounts, and very few people will be any the wiser.



Beca

 

[KJHawley]

I thought EP stood for Epcot!!! There are too many abbreviations around here!

As to Hawaii and other off-property resorts: they just introduced Adventures by Disney, wouldn't they want to focus on AbD for now? How about special Member adventures or discounts (tours for X amount of points), or stuff like that.

 

[Caskbill]

Why are they raising the price of points if SSR isn't selling well? I guess I don't understand the thinking on that.

For one thing, it's related to construction costs. When you purchase DVC, you're paying for the construction of the resort.

I'm sure it's costing them more to build a building at SSR today than it did in 2004. Salaries go up, material costs go up, fuel costs go up. They already own the land so that shouldn't be a factor.

If you went to a builder in 2004 with house plans and got a quote, and then went back to the same builder today with the same plans, you know the quote would be higher, simply due to raising costs.

The same would be true for sales costs: salaries, utilities, vehicle expenses, etc. They would all increase year to year, and I'm pretty certain sales costs come from the initial DVC sales. I know they don't come from annual dues.

 

[jimmytammy]

If you went to a builder in 2004 with house plans and got a quote, and then went back to the same builder today with the same plans, you know the quote would be higher, simply due to raising costs. Qouted by Caskbill

Hey Caskbill, Im glad you know this as truth, but most of the folks I build for dont believe it

IMO, SSR is a wonderful resort that in time will be a great additon to DVC. Right now, with construction going on and being able to see the outside world so close by, it does take away some of the appeal of being at WDW. You can see Hotel Plaza Blvd in plain sight. I figure eventually they will plant trees to try and block some of this.

I hope Dean is right on this and CR becomes a DVC resort. Keeping fingers crossed!

 

[doombuggy]

I am in agreement with Caskbill on this. I was looking to build a home here last year and the costs have gone up. Yes, part of it is the housing market, but I would estimate that the bulk is the building materials - and this was before Katrina, Rita & Willma.

The only rumors I have heard have been on this board. I just got an email from my dad that he is coming down 3/26, so hopefully we can have our purchase lined up by then!

 

[snowbunny]

Any hints about Hawaii? I would love to see another off site DVC.

I can't imagine that the Vero and HH experiences point to building a DVC in Hawaii right now. Especially as - yes I'm a broken record on this - airline fuel costs and plane fares across 3000 miles of water are only going to increase.