Disney announces plans for Hawaii resort

[jmatias]

Here is the link to the article in Pacific Business News

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/10/13/daily41.html

And here is the article:

Walt Disney Parks & Resorts on Thursday unveiled a model of a resort scheduled to open on Oahu in 2011.

The mixed-used resort includes 350 hotel rooms and 480 vacation villas for Disney Vacation Club members.

The family-focused resort will be located on 21 acres at Ko Olina Resort & Marina in West Oahu.

Disney officials expect the project to generate 1,000 new jobs ranging from entry-level positions to management.

Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, declined to provide cost estimates for the project, room pricing, whether employees might have labor representation, or how much access to the property local residents will have.

The resort will feature two towers, gardens, pools, water slides, a fake volcano caldera, spa, banquet and meeting space, and wedding facilities.

Disney film characters played by humans, such as mermaids, are expected to play a regular role at the resort.

This is Disney’s first vacation club-hotel venture to be separate from its theme parks in California, Florida and Japan. Disney also operates vacation clubs in Vero Beach, Fla., and Hilton Head, S.C.

Disney announced its plans at Kapolei Hale, Honolulu’s second city hall. Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, City Councilman Todd Apo, Ko Olina developer Jeff Stone and Ihilani resort executive John Toner attended.

Rasulo said Disney is confident about the long-term prospects for Hawaii’s tourist economy, currently in the midst of one of its most serious downturns.

 

[mickeymorse]

Thanks for keeping us updated.

 

[jmatias]

Here is another article from the Honolulu Advertiser:

Disney estimates the project, expected to open by late 2011, will create 1,000 new jobs. Plans call for the resort to feature an extensive water play area including a small river, water slides and several pools. The resort will also include a spa, a conference center, a kids' club and a wedding lawn.

Officials from city's Department of Planning and Permitting has been meeting Disney since April on regulatory issues. Currently, the department is processing a mass grading permit application which would allow the site work to begin.

The department said it expects to issue the permit shortly, with grading work to begin in late December or early January. A blessing and ground-breaking ceremony is planned for later this year.

"This unique project should help boost our economy and provide jobs that are badly needed, especially in the Leeward area," Mayor Mufi Hannemann said. "I was confident that Disney would create many new opportunities and become a respected and contributing member of our community."

There are also pics in the article but I don't remember how to post them.

Jen

 

[dvc_john]

I drove out to Ko Olina on Tuesday. So far, no constuction, no construction equipment, and no signage. However, there were a couple of surveyors on site.

I did see the quick news blurb on TV about today's press event. Hopefully, there will be more info on tonight's news or tomorrow's newspaper.

Article at www.honoluluadvertiser.com

 

[georgemoe]

Thanks! Need to find more photos of the scale model.

 

[jmatias]

Here is another view:

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[dwelty]

Thanks! Need to find more photos of the scale model.

DVCNews.com has a nice close up photo of the model here:

http://dvcnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=655&Itemid=1

Just click on the second photo to enlarge.

 

[jmatias]

I'm sure a Disney Hawaiian Wedding will be a big hit.

And I know my DD will be excited to see Disney Mermaids and other characters

Jen

 

[theOCdisney]

We flew over the site last Saturday. Is it to be built in the lagoon next to the Ihilani?

 

[jmatias]

Yes....will share the same lagoon as the Ihilani.

Jen

 

[Blahnde]

This is Disney’s first vacation club-hotel venture to be separate from its theme parks in California, Florida and Japan. Disney also operates vacation clubs in Vero Beach, Fla., and Hilton Head, S.C.

Okay, so is it just me or does this article say in one sentance that the Hawaiian DVC is the first to be separate from the theme parks, and then in the very next sentance it says the exact opposite by listing VB and HHI???

Soooooo, I guess DVC Hawaii is the first, with the exception of VB and HHI???

Clearly I know better, but it sounds like the Pacific Business News needs a new copy editor. Makes you wonder what else in the article (or the rest of their paper!) is completely wrong. Y'know it is sort of like saying the 9/11 events were the first attacks on US soil ... oh, except for Pearl Harbor!

Blahnde

 

[SoCalDCLfan]

Thanks for the update and photos! It looks AWESOME!!! we're so excited to buy there

 

[Kuzco]

Thanks for the info!

Disney film characters played by humans, such as mermaids, are expected to play a regular role at the resort.

I wonder who or what, other than humans, could play the Disney film characters...

 

[tjkraz]

Okay, so is it just me or does this article say in one sentance that the Hawaiian DVC is the first to be separate from the theme parks, and then in the very next sentance it says the exact opposite by listing VB and HHI???

Soooooo, I guess DVC Hawaii is the first, with the exception of VB and HHI???

Clearly I know better, but it sounds like the Pacific Business News needs a new copy editor. Makes you wonder what else in the article (or the rest of their paper!) is completely wrong. Y'know it is sort of like saying the 9/11 events were the first attacks on US soil ... oh, except for Pearl Harbor!

Blahnde

It says that this is the first "vacation club-hotel venture" not at a theme park and that the Vero and HHI resorts are "vacation clubs."

It's a pretty narrow distinction, though, since guests can pay cash to stay at Vero and HHI. But Disney doesn't market either as being big tourist destinations. When Hawaii opens they'll have a greater challenge with 300+ rooms to fill every night.

 

[disneymom8589]

This is so exciting to see a model of the resort!

 

[ACDSNY]

I think I see another Hawaii trip in our future (hopefully in 2012). Thanks for the info and pics!

 

[Blahnde]

It says that this is the first "vacation club-hotel venture" not at a theme park and that the Vero and HHI resorts are "vacation clubs."

It's a pretty narrow distinction, though, since guests can pay cash to stay at Vero and HHI. But Disney doesn't market either as being big tourist destinations. When Hawaii opens they'll have a greater challenge with 300+ rooms to fill every night.

Okay, so a "vacation club-hotel venture" would mean that there are cash hotel rooms available, not just point villas, right? And since there are hotel (Inn) rooms at Vero Beach, wouldn't it be the first "vacation club-hotel venture"?

I'm really not trying to be argumentative, but I think regardless of how you "classify" VB and HHI, DVC Hawaii is not the first of its' kind.

Blahnde

 

[jmatias]

Here is an bit of the write up at www.kgmb.com There is also a video there.

This small scale model represents a big change for West Oahu. A Disney Resort with no theme park.
The two towers at Ko Olina will have more than 800 hotel rooms and timeshare units.

"We plan to of course to offer the opportunity for our guests to vacation in a completely new way," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. "Very differently than they do at our theme park resorts."

Disney Executives say the landscape and architecture will reflect the Hawaiian culture. They've been working with the community and cultural consultants.
Highlights include a taro field, a canoe hale, a volcanic waterslide with special effects, and a salt water lagoon.

"So the guests can swim with the tropical fish as well as while they're snorkeling there will be some elements of Disney characters swimming by as elements of surprise," said Wing Chao, executive vice president, Master Planning Architecture & Design, Walt Disney Imagineering.

 

[WDWLVR]

Thanks everyone for the article and photos. Definitely looking at adding KoOlina to our ownership. Wonder if they will be making use of the existing wedding chapel that is already there. We thought it was really beautiful.

 

[simzac]

Pictures look fantastic. Now I only hope we can get there someday