Disney's Animation Inn and Suites

[Tink rules]

My brother got an upgrade to AKL... It was his honeymoon... he asked me why I couldn't get him upgraded to the GF (I was doing his travel plans for him...) and I told him that if he got upgraded to the GF WE were going on his honeymoon with him!!!

 

[crazy4wdw]

Jim Hill is reporting (some folks don't put much faith in his facts) that Disney has recently signed contracts to start the conversion of the unfinished builidngs at Pop Century into family suites. Link: http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_h...d-s-recession-worries-starting-to-recede.aspx

 

[Condorman]

"And as the economy gets stronger & stronger, more & more blocks of rooms at Disney's Pop Century will be transformed into family suites. Until this entire WDW hotel can then be rebranded as Disney's Animation Inn and Suites."

"And how exactly did Disney Parks & Resorts execs determine that it would now be okay to go forward with the Legendary Years project? By mid-2010 (i.e. when the first of these family suites buildings will actually be ready for Guests to occupy)"

I'm quoting this from the article. I don't doubt something is in the works, but the contradictory nature of JHM's story doesn't jive with the ambitious expections of Disney. So are they finishing The Legendary Years into the AI&S, or are they rebranding "the entire WDW hotel" -- even he can make up his mind. If this is the goal of Disney, they would have to complete TLY first and shut down TCY for at least 18 months to rebrand those. They could also do it on a rotating basis, but other than taking advantage of the economy and getting cheap labor to finish the project, they will be losing money on bookings once the economy turns around. In addition, JHM claims that Disney expects TLY to be ready for occupancy by mid-2010. I don't think so. I saw their condition last month -- that's a two-year project, easy. Nothing less.

 

[mitros]

"And as the economy gets stronger & stronger, more & more blocks of rooms at Disney's Pop Century will be transformed into family suites. Until this entire WDW hotel can then be rebranded as Disney's Animation Inn and Suites."

"And how exactly did Disney Parks & Resorts execs determine that it would now be okay to go forward with the Legendary Years project? By mid-2010 (i.e. when the first of these family suites buildings will actually be ready for Guests to occupy)"

I'm quoting this from the article. I don't doubt something is in the works, but the contradictory nature of JHM's story doesn't jive with the ambitious expections of Disney. So are they finishing The Legendary Years into the AI&S, or are they rebranding "the entire WDW hotel" -- even he can make up his mind. If this is the goal of Disney, they would have to complete TLY first and shut down TCY for at least 18 months to rebrand those. They could also do it on a rotating basis, but other than taking advantage of the economy and getting cheap labor to finish the project, they will be losing money on bookings once the economy turns around. In addition, JHM claims that Disney expects TLY to be ready for occupancy by mid-2010. I don't think so. I saw their condition last month -- that's a two-year project, easy. Nothing less.

Yea, way to go Disney, add more and more rooms, more and more DVC resorts, but don't bother expanding the parks, even though there are a quadrillion more bodies on property. I wanna scream...............

 

[CanadianGuy]

"And as the economy gets stronger & stronger, more & more blocks of rooms at Disney's Pop Century will be transformed into family suites. Until this entire WDW hotel can then be rebranded as Disney's Animation Inn and Suites."

"And how exactly did Disney Parks & Resorts execs determine that it would now be okay to go forward with the Legendary Years project? By mid-2010 (i.e. when the first of these family suites buildings will actually be ready for Guests to occupy)"

I'm quoting this from the article. I don't doubt something is in the works, but the contradictory nature of JHM's story doesn't jive with the ambitious expections of Disney. So are they finishing The Legendary Years into the AI&S, or are they rebranding "the entire WDW hotel" -- even he can make up his mind. If this is the goal of Disney, they would have to complete TLY first and shut down TCY for at least 18 months to rebrand those. They could also do it on a rotating basis, but other than taking advantage of the economy and getting cheap labor to finish the project, they will be losing money on bookings once the economy turns around. In addition, JHM claims that Disney expects TLY to be ready for occupancy by mid-2010. I don't think so. I saw their condition last month -- that's a two-year project, easy. Nothing less.

Several friends in the construction industry say that with the right construction team and ample bodies, the first of these buildings could easily be ready by mid-2010 .. *IF* work starts promptly before spring of 2009. Now they did caution that if either of the existing pads of three wings had to be torn down for structural concerns OR if the Legendary Hall had to be torn down for structural reasons - that would delay the whole thing six months to a year.

In their estimation from reviewing the pictures I had posted on the Resorts Board over the last two years, they believed the concrete structures would be just fine despite some exposure to the elements. The biggest concerns they noted were around 'mold' in some areas that might not be 'sandblastable'... or might not be reachable. They couldn't say for sure without actually examining each building up close and personal.

On a side note, a recent (about 10 days ago) visitor to Pop PM'd me to indicate there were approximately 10 semi trucks & trailers on the Legendary Years side of the property. I inititally wrote that off as "mattress replacement" on the Classic Years side, but I might have got that wrong.. ?

Now there are *some* problems with Jim's story. For starts, Disney was busy from Jan 1 to 6 with Christmas 'spillover' and from the 7th to the 12th or so with Marathon guests. The real test is coming up in the next month or so..

Regardless, Jim's story does jive with at least three different sources that I had... who indicated the same basic thing. Work on the other side of the lake would begin in early 2009 and be 'opening' complete by mid 2010 with the rest of the buildings opening in staggered fashion thru the end of that year.

Once the bulk of the heavy-construction is done, the landscaping and pools are complete and the external walls and facades are complete, the remainder of the interior work can be done on each successive building without bother to the guests in completed, adjacent buildings.

Yea, way to go Disney, add more and more rooms, more and more DVC resorts, but don't bother expanding the parks, even though there are a quadrillion more bodies on property. I wanna scream....

And I do not see this work evolving into a DVC resort of any stripe - rumors on this and other boards aside. Ultimately, whether you agree with it or not, these are planned rooms that were to have originally been built almost 8 years ago now.

Add to that, both DHS and Animal Kingdom are still underperforming their long-term goals. Yes, I agree both of those parks still need some work. Apparently the rumor boards say that *something* is coming for AK and we've already see several large additions to DHS this year. I believe you will see at least one more major announcement for DHS this year (2009).

And are you cursing as loudly, the massive number of off-site developers continuing to build resorts and vacation villas that will also feed Disney parks?

Knox

 

[RustManFan]

I think Disney could pick up reservations for parties of 5 or more by completing the suites. There are very limited places onsite for such families or groups now. 5 can stay at POR but that is about it unless you are talking about a DVC suite or multiple rooms. (some suites at All Stars, I know too)

Get the rest of the resort finished and then those of us that have less than 5 people in our group can get back our rooms at POR Alligator Bayou!

 

[Condorman]

Two points:

1.) It still doesn't clear up whether they have nixed the idea of The Legendary Years and instead will make this into the Animation Inn & Suites, or, once they are done, will The Classic Years also be turned into the AI&S? I have no issue with them completing TLY and changing the original theme into this new venture. Fine, whatever. But I don't see the financial gain in shutting down the existing Pop for 8-18 months to refurb it with a new theme.
Why not have both? Maybe they will and it's too soon to know.

2.) Just because WDW has been packed for the past two weeks, and even if it remains packed for the next two months, does not mean Disney is turning a profit. They have cut way too many deals, i.e. 4+3, free dining and the gift card nonsense in so that anyone visiting WDW is actually getting the better end of the deal. I test-booked a vacation for the end of January and it came to half the price as the exact same vacation booked for the beginning of December, 2008. Oh, there may be 2-3x the number of guests at WDW but I think it's just enough to keep the regular operating hours and CMs on the payroll. Nothing more. Disney is coasting, nor soarin'.

 

[mitros]

Two points:

1.) It still doesn't clear up whether they have nixed the idea of The Legendary Years and instead will make this into the Animation Inn & Suites, or, once they are done, will The Classic Years also be turned into the AI&S? I have no issue with them completing TLY and changing the original theme into this new venture. Fine, whatever. But I don't see the financial gain in shutting down the existing Pop for 8-18 months to refurb it with a new theme.
Why not have both? Maybe they will and it's too soon to know.

2.) Just because WDW has been packed for the past two weeks, and even if it remains packed for the next two months, does not mean Disney is turning a profit. They have cut way too many deals, i.e. 4+3, free dining and the gift card nonsense in so that anyone visiting WDW is actually getting the better end of the deal. I test-booked a vacation for the end of January and it came to half the price as the exact same vacation booked for the beginning of December, 2008. Oh, there may be 2-3x the number of guests at WDW but I think it's just enough to keep the regular operating hours and CMs on the payroll. Nothing more. Disney is coasting, nor soarin'.

Whether they sre making enough money or not, they are craming too many people into to small a space. It reminds me of an old Honeymooners episode. Where Alice tells Ralph that he was doing an impression of putting 5 pounds of baloney into a 2 pound bag. {something about him trying to get into clothing that no longer fits.}
Same thing at WDW. Too many people on sight, not enough stuff in the parks, not enough restaurants to feed the masses.

 

[Jason71]

But I don't see the financial gain in shutting down the existing Pop for 8-18 months to refurb it with a new theme.
Why not have both? Maybe they will and it's too soon to know.

I thought the gist of the original Jim Hill story (and going just on memory here) was that "The Disney Animation Inn" would be a "moderate" resort, perhaps a nicer moderate at that. So the financial gain would be higher room rates, at least when the economy picks back up.

Also, didn't Hill say some of the existing rooms would be refurbed into suites? I guess the assumption being that even converting all of the LY will not create enough. The All-Stars did a number on the cheap hotels on 192, maybe WDW has decided to take a bite out of the "vacation home/condo" market around Kissimmee next.

 

[Condorman]

Whether they sre making enough money or not, they are craming too many people into to small a space. It reminds me of an old Honeymooners episode. Where Alice tells Ralph that he was doing an impression of putting 5 pounds of baloney into a 2 pound bag. {something about him trying to get into clothing that no longer fits.}
Same thing at WDW. Too many people on sight, not enough stuff in the parks, not enough restaurants to feed the masses.

No argument here. What does Disney care if we're shoulder-to-shoulder? The problem they fail to recognize is just because they let 67,000 into the MK, doesn't mean those people are all buying souvenirs, eating or spending. If they lowered capacity at MK and forced their "captive" (i.e. people who use Magical Express, don't rent cars, don't leave WDW property) into DHS and AK, then everyone would have a better experience and likely spend more. But Disney doesn't think that way. They believe 60k @ MK is good business. Well, if I didn't buy a plush animal the sixth time I saw it, why would I buy it the 22nd time I saw it? Build more restaurants, and provide new shops with new merchandise, geniuses.

I don't see them building a 5th gate anytime soon, so let's hope the rumored expansions of AK and Fantasyland come about sooner rather than later.