Any guesses on where a Caribbean DVC would be?

[kimberh]

We were at St. Maarten last July '06, there is a section of the Island on the Dutch side that a hurricane destroyed... a Timeshare resort...just waiting to be rebuilt. Good shopping, good food, good beaches, we did enjoy this Island.

 

[tidefan]

We were at St. Maarten last July '06, there is a section of the Island on the Dutch side that a hurricane destroyed... a Timeshare resort...just waiting to be rebuilt. Good shopping, good food, good beaches, we did enjoy this Island.

Kimberh,

That would be the Mullet Bay Resort. It has sat useless for about 12 years as the ownership company and the owners reached a settlement. It is my understanding that this process should be completed by the end of the year and then the property can be sold to whomever. I think that this would be a great location. For those of you who haven't been to St Maarten in the past couple of years, there have been quite a few upgrades in the tourism arena.

First, Front Street in Philipsburg (the main shopping street) was basically completely torn up and was entirely redone in cobblestone and palm trees. Many upscale stores (i.e. Tiffany, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, etc.) have moved into this area. Also, traffic was shut off to this street for most of the day. Secondly, a new cruise terminal was constructed so that passengers would no longer have to tender. Last, but perhaps most important for this discussion, a brand new International Airport opened last year that is so much better than the old airport I don't know where to even start on that one. Let's just say that it is much more like an airport in the States now. That could be a draw to Disney, as it would be easy to get numerous international flights in and out of there.

Here is a picture of the improved Front Street.

 

[Tinkerdreams]

I hear there are a lot of trade outs for Aruba. This could be a potential destination for Disney. I know a lot of people that rave about Aruba and go on a yearly basis.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I hear there are a lot of trade outs for Aruba. This could be a potential destination for Disney. I know a lot of people that rave about Aruba and go on a yearly basis.

Aruba would be my 2nd choice, after the US Virgin Islands! They are my two favorite ports of call on Eastern/Southern Caribbean cruises!
Bobbi

 

[tomandrobin]

The biggest problem with Aruba is first the distance. Being at he far end of Caribben makes it an expensive destination. Second, is the Natalie hangover and that negativity that still lingers with that destinantion.

Other then that Aruba would be a great choice.

Never heard of the Mullet Bay Resort. What happened that is forcing them to sell the resort and took 12 years to settle?

 

[Cruiser1969]

Kimberh,

That would be the Mullet Bay Resort. It has sat useless for about 12 years as the ownership company and the owners reached a settlement. It is my understanding that this process should be completed by the end of the year and then the property can be sold to whomever. I think that this would be a great location. For those of you who haven't been to St Maarten in the past couple of years, there have been quite a few upgrades in the tourism arena.

First, Front Street in Philipsburg (the main shopping street) was basically completely torn up and was entirely redone in cobblestone and palm trees. Many upscale stores (i.e. Tiffany, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, etc.) have moved into this area. Also, traffic was shut off to this street for most of the day. Secondly, a new cruise terminal was constructed so that passengers would no longer have to tender. Last, but perhaps most important for this discussion, a brand new International Airport opened last year that is so much better than the old airport I don't know where to even start on that one. Let's just say that it is much more like an airport in the States now. That could be a draw to Disney, as it would be easy to get numerous international flights in and out of there.

Here is a picture of the improved Front Street.

Oh, I would love a DVC in St. Maarten . . . such an interesting and friendly island!!!!

We stayed at Mullet Bay in '94 before the hurricane . . . such a shame . . . after that, we stopped in again a couple times cruising and drove through the grounds. What a mess!! It's been a while since we've seen it!

 

[musical2]

I hear there are a lot of trade outs for Aruba. This could be a potential destination for Disney. I know a lot of people that rave about Aruba and go on a yearly basis.

Aruba is a very nice place to vacation. Plus Aruba is outside the hurricane belt in the Caribbean. However, isn't it getting built up too along the beaches? Is there room left on the good beach side of the island for another resort?

 

[kimberh]

We went to Aruba in March , right before Natalee Holloway disappeared in May, we loved the Island, but after how they botched the investagation, we will never go back. My college age son would hang out with the locals, that could have been us dealing with the Police. My husband said, "Never! I can get a trade there for nothing. We have Bluegreen points. It is so disappointing.

Thanks for the name of the destroyed resort on St Maarten. It has a lot of Land just waiting for development. We drove all through it July '06. I was in St. Maarten 2 weeks ago on a cruise. It is so nice. The water is beautiful, shopping still good. I had so much, we had to make a trip back to the ship. We had found the good shops when we stayed the week.

 

[simzac]

Nobody told me when I joined DVC that there would be a test. The answer is in the Caribbean, right

 

[CarolA]

I don't see the Castaway Cay "day trip" as feasible right now. The island is "staffed" with DCL crew members when you dock. The "COST" to fully staff that every day would probably be too high. (You think your MFs are high NOW??? LOL!)

(As for Natalie Holloway, that would not keep me from Aruba. That could have happened anywhere. There are LOTS of botched police investigations in the US too. And, hopefully I have reached the age where I know better then to drink too much and wander off with strange men. Plus we all know stories of local pols etc who got "special treatment" AKA See Ted Kennedy LOL!))

 

[KevGuy]

I vote for Jamaica mon!! Somewhere in Negril, it's one of the most beautiful places in the carribean.

 

[Jaaron2]

Being from the east coast the Caribbean would be totally cool. I am real excited about the Hawaii announcement and plan to travel there when it opens (and probably visit several times) but probably will not buy there. The Caribbean would be ideal...I have been to the Bahamas (two years ago) and it was nice but... it can get on the chilly side at times. I little further south would be nice. Went to Ochio Rios and the weather there was great. Far enough south where it stays pretty warm all the time.

St Thomas or Aruba both would be awesome (Athough I think St. Thomas would be a loooooooong shot to become a DVC resort area)

My question would be not only where but when?

 

[tidefan]

The biggest problem with Aruba is first the distance. Being at he far end of Caribben makes it an expensive destination. Second, is the Natalie hangover and that negativity that still lingers with that destinantion.

Other then that Aruba would be a great choice.

Never heard of the Mullet Bay Resort. What happened that is forcing them to sell the resort and took 12 years to settle?

Found this article, but note it is from early 2005:

Mullet Bay

Arriving at St. Maarten - during the last seconds of the airplane's approach, the visitor is exposed to a shocking sight: roofless ruins of two-level building littering a large golf course between one of the island's most beautiful beaches and an especially charming branch of Simpson Bay Lagoon.

The once spectacular Mullet Bay Resort has been closed '95 after Hurricane Luis and never reopened. The 18-hole golf course is open to the public, but not maintained to great standards.
St. Maarten offers now the unusual pleasure of golfing amongst- what appears to be - bombed out ruins.

The Mullet Bay Resort had been the island's flagship institution, even though is was not a financial success. Hotel specialists tell me that de-centralized resorts are difficult to operate on a profitable level.

There is an ongoing legal battle between the individual owners of the condominium units and the former managing company. Insurance money had been released after the 95 disaster, but the managing company blocked reconstruction of the unprofitable concept, while the individual unit owners wish to have the former layout restored.

The result of this battle is the fact that a large part of Dutch St. Maarten looks like a war zone - an area the equivalent of the size of Texas relative to the US. How the local government has been manipulated to turn a blind eye to this huge problem is a matter of speculation and rumor.

One has to admire the many new investors who started the present building boom, even though every visitor looking out of the approaching air plane sees these terrible ruins as a first impression. Would the legal battle of Mullet Bay have been resolved in due time, the island would have pulled out of its decade long recession 5 year earlier.

It is my understanding that all of this has finally been settled (i.e., the developer had some financial settlement with the owners) and that the property will be able to be bought at the end of the year. This is a prime location on St Maarten as there is a golf course, though while not in great shape now, with a little TLC, could be great, and you would be within walking distance to the Maho Shopping Area which now also includes a grocery store.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see what develops...