Any Info on DVC at Disney Institute?

[Ashley'sDad]

I know that they announced DVC at the Institute, but have there been any real details released?

What I am really interested in knowing is if there will be (or maybe there already is) a boat (like at OKW) to get to Downtown Disney. It would sure be nice to easily get over to Downtown Disney from Institute, so does anyone know if that is planned? I would imagine so, but what do I know.

Also, I am new to the DVC and still learning the ropes, so I hope this isn't a dumb question: Are there babysitting services at DVC? Please don't get the wrong idea, I love spending time with Ashley, but it would be nice to be able to go see a movie, or even just read a book for a few hours.

Thank you all again for always being so friendly and helpful. I am so glad that I found this forum!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

<font color=993333><font face="comic sans ms">WELCOME HOME!</font></font>

And welcome to the Dis!

Sorry, I don't have answers to your questions.

 

[klwally]

All I heard was that the DI was going to be flattened to make way for villas, I haven't heard or seen any plans or layouts.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by Ashley'sDad
I know that they announced DVC at the Institute, but have there been any real details released?

There have been no additional official announcements since the initial January 24, 2002, announcement. We'e still waiting to see any artist's renderings or detailed descriptions.

Originally posted by klwally
All I heard was that the DI was going to be flattened to make way for villas, I haven't heard or seen any plans or layouts.

Actually, the new construction will replace only 16 acres of the Disney Institute complex, which takes up hundreds of acres. One of the reasons to build at the Disney Institute location is to use existing infrastructure and facilities.

There have been three recent threads on this board about the new DVC resort at the Disney Institute site:

• And the Theme of the New DVC Resort at Downtown Disney Is...
• Disney Institute Progress
• Timescales for Eagle pines+Disney Institute?

 

[Tony P. IL.]

has a little info about this on page 26.

 

[Beth]

In case you don't have access to the magazine, this is what it says:

"...Back east, DVC has tapped the Disney Institute property at WDW as the site of its next resort. With 192 studios and villas spread among four main buildings, the lakefront development will overlook Downtown Disney. Construction begain in the spring and is expected to take two years. Visit dvc.disney.go.com for details about the club."

PS - Welcome, Neighbor! You're REALLY going to enjoy DVC living so close to WDW. We use our membership quite differently than those who don't live here - we go over for many short stays during the year. Case in point, we're leaving in just a few hours to go over an spend just the one night -- with plans to catch up on our movie-watching! (Not going NEAR the parks with the holdiay crowds!!) Welcome Home!

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by Beth
In case you don't have access to the magazine, this is what it says:

"...Back east, DVC has tapped the Disney Institute property at WDW as the site of its next resort. With 192 studios and villas spread among four main buildings, the lakefront development will overlook Downtown Disney. Construction began in the spring and is expected to take two years. Visit dvc.disney.go.com for details about the club."

The item in Disney Magazine is based on the January press release. It doesn't contain any new information. For the complete press release, see http://www.thetimesharebeat.com/2002/ts/jan/0125-02t.htm

Well, I guess there was one bit of "new" information in the Disney News article. They updated the tense of the verb begin. The press release said, "Development will begin this spring..." but the article said, "Construction began in the spring..."

This raises the following question: Has anyone been to Downtown Disney lately and looked across the water to the old townhouses? Have they been torn down? Is site preparation underway?

 

[Ashley'sDad]

Thanks so much for the info!

I am looking forward to purchaing Institute as an add-on to compliment my new Beach Club membership. I figure we can take a week once a year, then do long weekends here and there. Isn't the next DVC after Institute supposed to be on a golf course? Not so sure that's for me, so I'd better get DI as soon as I can!

 

[Mattsmom]

We asked our guide about DI DVC when last at WDW (5./4-5/8). She said they hadn't been told anything.

They have been surveyed on what they would like to see built. She said she answered her survey based on what most of her DCV buyers asked for or about.

Of course, they are all hoping DI will be finished by the time BCV sells out.

 

[madcoco]

There used to be a ferry(pontoon boat) from DI bungalows to DTD.(you used to catch it in front of Reflections coffee house)
It is a short walk to the Marketplace from the townhomes area at DI where the DVC is being built.When we use to stay at DI we had a golfcart and there were trails going to DTD Marketplace and the DTD Westside.I hope maybe they will keep golfcart rentals avail when the new DVC there opens. WELCOME HOME!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by madcoco
It is a short walk to the Marketplace from the townhomes area at DI where the DVC is being built.

But it could be even better. You can see how close the new DVC resort is to Downtown Disney on the diagram at http://www.resortdeveloper.com/home/viraj02rn.htm -- that's the Marketplace (oldest) section of Downtown Disney in the lower right, the Westside parking lot in the lower left, and part of Pleasure Island at the bottom.

I'd like to see two new pedestrian bridges to Downtown Disney at opposte ends of the four new DVC resort residential buildings. It would then be possible to walk all the way around the lagoon -- through all of Downtown Disney and back to the DVC resort. With the adddition of two such bridges, the new DVC resort would truly have an "A+" location.

 

[madcoco]

It sure can.I have seen some posts on wether the DI DVC (or whatever it will be called) will be a success or not. I know we are adding on when it becomes avail. We haved stayed in all the types of units at DI except the Treehouses and loved the convenience to DTD and the peacfulness of DI(guess thats why we fell in love with OKW) Admit the townhomes were needing to have something done with them. I wonder what it is store for the FairwayVillas, GrandVistaHomes,Bungalows,Treehouses? The DVC is only taking the place of townhomes so far. Hopefully DI will finally find an identity. A lot of the units had been recently refurbished.Can't wait for the details.

 

[Beth]

Werner,

We rode the boat from OKW to DD just yesterday afternoon, and could see no obvious construction going on - other than the fact that the villas were clearly vacant of all furniture.

 

[ErinC]

We ate lunch at Fulton's Thursday. I asked a cast member about the construction. You could see the villas were empty, but it appeared that they were replacing hand rails on the balcony's. We all thought this was strange if they were getting ready to tear them down. Maybe this is not the correct section of the property, but it seemed like place I had looked at on the map. Erin