Attack of the Lakeshore Lodge

[Brian Noble]

Not only has the "future resort" langauge been there forever, it is (as I understand it) required by FL timeshare law. You can't market a current resort based on an unbuilt resort.

 

[DoubleBaconBLT]

This is the difference between a "hotel" and a "resort". Hotels are about efficiency; resorts are about leisure. Riviera feels more like a big, upscale hotel than a resort (and the same could be said for the Island Tower, aside from it piggybacking on the original Poly).

Disney's recent philosophy seems to be that people come for the parks and lodging just offers a bed with the usual hotel amenities. Disney still cares about opening good hotel restaurants, because they're money-makers, but look at the recent pools; Riviera's pool is plain, Island Tower's pool is plain, and I predict the pools at LSL will be plain.

Yeah, I'm inclined to agree. They'll put together an incredible plan with some amazing imagineered artists renderings. Then when it comes time to budget and pay for it all, they'll pare it back, and it won't be nearly as cool as it could have been. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Philsfan77]

This is the difference between a "hotel" and a "resort". Hotels are about efficiency; resorts are about leisure. Riviera feels more like a big, upscale hotel than a resort (and the same could be said for the Island Tower, aside from it piggybacking on the original Poly).

Disney's recent philosophy seems to be that people come for the parks and lodging just offers a bed with the usual hotel amenities. Disney still cares about opening good hotel restaurants, because they're money-makers, but look at the recent pools; Riviera's pool is plain, Island Tower's pool is plain, and I predict the pools at LSL will be plain.

I think the issue here is Walt Disney World, is the resort. The places we stay at, are simply lodging within the resort. I do quite a few golf trips each year, most are labeled resorts (Pinehurst, Kiawah). Still took us 15 minutes to get from our lodging on Kiawah to the Ocean Course (similar to what it would take to get to Magic Kingdom from most properties). Main pool area with kids pool/splash pad and slides was about 10 minutes from our lodging. Spa/Dining, same thing. Similar to Disney, you use shuttles/busing to get everywhere on property. The point of a resort as a whole is that you don't have to leave their property and they take care of getting you from point A to point B once you are there, to do what you are there to do. These are hotels within a massive resort facility if you want to be technical.

You say recent philosophy, but honestly this has almost always been the philosophy with DVC properties with the exception being OKW and SSR. BRV is 31 years old (going on 32). The pool there is plain, the lobby is simple, it's a place to sleep within a larger property that has a signature pool and all the amenities you need (no different than the Island Tower is to the Polynesian). BCV is going on 24 years old...Dunes Cove Pool is basic. I don't think this is anything new/recent. It's par for the course with how they build DVC properties within other properties (DLH is the same). I expect the new resort to have its own signature pool, pool bar and all the frills of other signature pools since it will be it's own property. I have a hard time saying Riviera's pool is plain, and it's definitely a step up from a traditional hotel pool (just stayed at the new hotels at Universal for instance, and I'd take Riviera's pool area over Helios or Stella Nova). It's not the best on property, but overall it's better than your average hotel pool.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

I think the issue here is Walt Disney World, is the resort. The places we stay at, are simply lodging within the resort. I do quite a few golf trips each year, most are labeled resorts (Pinehurst, Kiawah). Still took us 15 minutes to get from our lodging on Kiawah to the Ocean Course (similar to what it would take to get to Magic Kingdom from most properties). Main pool area with kids pool/splash pad and slides was about 10 minutes from our lodging. Spa/Dining, same thing. Similar to Disney, you use shuttles/busing to get everywhere on property. The point of a resort as a whole is that you don't have to leave their property and they take care of getting you from point A to point B once you are there, to do what you are there to do. These are hotels within a massive resort facility if you want to be technical.

You say recent philosophy, but honestly this has almost always been the philosophy with DVC properties with the exception being OKW and SSR. BRV is 31 years old (going on 32). The pool there is plain, the lobby is simple, it's a place to sleep within a larger property that has a signature pool and all the amenities you need (no different than the Island Tower is to the Polynesian). BCV is going on 24 years old...Dunes Cove Pool is basic. I don't think this is anything new/recent. It's par for the course with how they build DVC properties within other properties (DLH is the same). I expect the new resort to have its own signature pool, pool bar and all the frills of other signature pools since it will be it's own property. I have a hard time saying Riviera's pool is plain, and it's definitely a step up from a traditional hotel pool (just stayed at the new hotels at Universal for instance, and I'd take Riviera's pool area over Helios or Stella Nova). It's not the best on property, but overall it's better than your average hotel pool.

Could yesterday have gone any worse for our teams?