Any of you ever stay in the Treehouse Villas?

[Colson39]

When I was a kid, we used to stay in these quite a bit when we had large groups of families going. They are next to Downtown Disney (although that wasn't there then obviously). You can actually still see them if you take the boats from the Riverside/Port Orleans to Downtown Disney. They were multi-level rooms, full kitchens, meant for larger groups or large families. You really did feel like you were in a big treehouse.

Well, they've been closed for a while (and were being used by college students in recent years).

But guess what, they are tearing them down and rebuilding them!!! They are going to put in 60 brand new units, and they are reported that you will be able to stay there! Hopefully they don't make it a DVC thing (I think there are PLENTY enough already), as I would be the first in line to say in the Treehouses again!

I remember there were also docks down on the river (Sassagoula), so we would leave the treehouses and then go spend all day swimming in the river. Oh how times were different back then

If you've never seen them, these were the Treehouses (they are smack in the middle of the woods, very rustic feel about them). You can actually see the dock in the background.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Some friends and I stayed there when we graduated HS(Boca High class of 88, right near Colson). It was a blast, we had one mom come with us, but for the most part it was just a group of 18y/o girls who grew up going to Disney with their families finnaly getting to go as grown ups. I felt so cool getting to stay in the treehouse insted of the old family motorhome(remeber when nobody ever heard of a slide room)

 

[BigDaddyRog]

I had heard of them, but this is the first picture Ive ever seen...man, they look GREAT....I would LOVE that!!!! And it is smack dab in the woods, aint it....I hope they do rebuild them...Im up for a few nights there!!!

 

[des1954]

Yeah.... they've been used to house students the past 7-10 years. They are really decrepid looking now. I used to think they were "da bomb"! Whenever we hopped the boat at POR to go to DTD, I loved going past the Treehouses.

It's kinda sad though to think they'll be gone.

 

[wdwbound]

Our first trip to FW, we were told by DH's cousin to go to Port Orleans and take the boat to DD. We did see the Tree house villas and were very impressed. Heard that they were condemned and that they were going to tear them down but I also saw in the All Ears report that they are going to resurrect them. Hope they do.

Nancy

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Somewhere around here I have like a '79ish Treehouse Villa magnet! I thought they were so cool! I had kind of forgotten about them until we stayed at POR a couple years ago~it was kinda like seeing an old friend! It will be sad to see them go, but I'd love to stay in the new ones!

 

[Doggmeat]

use to go there and spend time with my brothers collecting golf balls from the woods around lbv courses

 

[jenseib]

Where did you hear that info? It has been said in the past ,and lots of talks on this board that they cannot rebuild in that spot as it is protected land now. Nothing can be built there, but they can refurbish them. But they are in such bad shape it is said to cost more to refurbish them thant to build new. So it was siad they are just letting workers stay in some of them for now. It is also said they have a major gator problem in them now too. So I don't know if that is true or not. But thst is what I have read on here.

 

[Colson39]

This isn't like those times before, Disney got permission to rebuild from the district (mainly because they are raising the sites so they will be higher than before). They were denied in the past, but they finally were able to convince them to allow them to build there. This will not be a refurbishment, they are tearing them all down and building new Treehouse Villas.

Workers no longer stay in the Villas as of January. Disney removed all workers from the Villas and moved them to other housing. So at this point, this doesn't appear to be just another rumour, this is actually happening.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-disneytree1908feb19,0,2123960.story

Disney officials haven't made much of the villas for years, and even now they aren't willing to discuss their plans in any detail. The company sought and received permission from the South Florida Water Management District recently to tear down the villas and replace them. Disney World spokeswoman Andrea Finger said at least some of the new units would be available for use by resort visitors -- the first time any of the Treehouse Villas have been open to the public in several years

Here are some cuts from the documents they submitted to the Water District.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

How Neat is that?? I can't wait to see the results! I would really enjoy checking them out

 

[momoffive]

Having a family of 7 makes it difficult to find a place to stay. I hope it is affordable. Looks great> Just might have to combine 2 trips to stay there 1 time.
momoffive

 

[F4disneyfan]

When I was a kid, we used to stay in these quite a bit when we had large groups of families going. They are next to Downtown Disney (although that wasn't there then obviously). You can actually still see them if you take the boats from the Riverside/Port Orleans to Downtown Disney. They were multi-level rooms, full kitchens, meant for larger groups or large families. You really did feel like you were in a big treehouse.

Well, they've been closed for a while (and were being used by college students in recent years).

But guess what, they are tearing them down and rebuilding them!!! They are going to put in 60 brand new units, and they are reported that you will be able to stay there! Hopefully they don't make it a DVC thing (I think there are PLENTY enough already), as I would be the first in line to say in the Treehouses again!

I remember there were also docks down on the river (Sassagoula), so we would leave the treehouses and then go spend all day swimming in the river. Oh how times were different back then

If you've never seen them, these were the Treehouses (they are smack in the middle of the woods, very rustic feel about them). You can actually see the dock in the background.

Apparently these villas and the land were deeded into the SSR purchase so anything going foreward would ultimatley be for the use in conjunction with SSR and DVC this is how it was explained to us at one of the DVC meetings we attended when the question was asked a couple years ago. So my guess is unless Disney purchased them back from DVC I know goofy setup but hey this is Disney the goofy mouse company LOL then SSR and DVD/DVC owns the rights to the land and the villas old or new.

 

[bradisgoofy]

You might want to read this

 

[Escape Artist]

Apparently these villas and the land were deeded into the SSR purchase so anything going foreward would ultimatley be for the use in conjunction with SSR and DVC this is how it was explained to us at one of the DVC meetings we attended when the question was asked a couple years ago. So my guess is unless Disney purchased them back from DVC I know goofy setup but hey this is Disney the goofy mouse company LOL then SSR and DVD/DVC owns the rights to the land and the villas old or new.

When the treehouses are rebuilt, if they're DVC and you want to try them, you'll probably still be able to rent some of them thru CRO, just really expensively. And if you want to stay there and save a few bucks, you can rent points from DVC members without joining DVC. There's a great points rental board right here at the DIS, as well as another website dedicated to the subject, it just costs more there vs. here.

And of course there has to be availability...I'm guessing they're going to be really popular, which will make them reeeeeally expensive, in points or dollars!

Have fun!

Sue in Texas
...renting a nice guy in NY's points for my August trip...

 

[tim5055]

This is just a guess/opinion, but I would think that DVC/Saratoga Springs would want to divest itself of these units. Can you imagine the yearly upkeep on 60 detached units in the woods?

 

[Colson39]

Apparently these villas and the land were deeded into the SSR purchase so anything going foreward would ultimatley be for the use in conjunction with SSR and DVC this is how it was explained to us at one of the DVC meetings we attended when the question was asked a couple years ago. So my guess is unless Disney purchased them back from DVC I know goofy setup but hey this is Disney the goofy mouse company LOL then SSR and DVD/DVC owns the rights to the land and the villas old or new.

I just read the other link, and it seems that while DVC is involved with this, there is nothing definite right now pointing to the Villas being run by DVC. I guess it would fit in with their model though, since they have "Villas" right outside other major Disney resorts.

I have nothing against the DVC, but it's starting to seem like every new resort that comes up at Disney is some kind of DVC thing. If it goes DVC, and the price isn't crazy, I would consider a rental from a DVC member easily, I just hope it won't go to that stage.

In the end, I'm just glad they're bringing them back, whoever owns them. I'm just hoping it's not DVC (and this is still sooooooo far out that no one really knows...lol )

 

[F4disneyfan]

I just read the other link, and it seems that while DVC is involved with this, there is nothing definite right now pointing to the Villas being run by DVC. I guess it would fit in with their model though, since they have "Villas" right outside other major Disney resorts.

I have nothing against the DVC, but it's starting to seem like every new resort that comes up at Disney is some kind of DVC thing. If it goes DVC, and the price isn't crazy, I would consider a rental from a DVC member easily, I just hope it won't go to that stage.

In the end, I'm just glad they're bringing them back, whoever owns them. I'm just hoping it's not DVC (and this is still sooooooo far out that no one really knows...lol )

I agree I would love to stay there I had a girlfriend in highschool who used to go and stay in them every march break she always talked about the place. I was not interested in Disney at that time but after having gone by them by bus car and boat I have come to appreciate what they offer and would love a chance to stay there.

 

[Mmketeer]

Oh wow, yeah boy this brings back memories. I use to be a Disney Village/ Disney Instute nut. We stayed there almost every year for our Christmas get together (until DCL came about that is). Anyway, I only stayed at the Tree House Villas once, cause it's living room area was a bit tight for all of us and the second bedroom had that funky barrel tub thing for a bath. I didn't care for that thing at all. LOL!

Glad to hear they are bringing them back though!