DVC National Harbor MD?

[dvcnewgirl]

Has DVC National Harbor MD been officially announced? I may have missed it. I was on a Potomac River cruise this weekend and the Crew on the boat announced that Disney was building a resort in National Harbor.. I thought DVC, but maybe it is a regular resort. Does anyone have any info? Thanks!

 

[Doug7856]

Disney purchased land about two years ago. No announcement has been made about a DVC or hotel project, but the National Harbor people are using it for all it's worth to build up their business! We hope it becomes a reality, but nothing official.

 

[CMOORE185]

I was talking to a DVC guide last week who said DVC has never considered nor will they consider a DVC component at National Harbor. He said it would never generate enough interest to be worthwhile. It is funny to have a guide be so outspoken on a subject like this. I did not even ask him either, he volunteered this information all on his own.

 

[JimMIA]

I was talking to a DVC guide last week who said DVC has never considered nor will they consider a DVC componet at National Harbour. He said it would never generate enough interest to be worthwhile. It is funny to have a guide be so outspoken on a subject like this. I did not even ask him either, he volunteered this information all on his own.

Well, there's no question that Disney bought land there. Whether they build a resort there is another question, and I really doubt if DVC timeshare salesmen are in the loop on that decision-making process.

Personally, I think there's a lot to dislike about that location -- the primary attraction seems to be that the land was cheap, and I suspect Disney bought the land more on speculation than anything else. It's a LONG way from everything, with no way to get there from here. Certainly not a great location for a Washington, DC visit base.

But Gaylord has a big hotel there and Wyndham has a big timeshare resort there, so you never know.

 

[DMKEDM]

I go to Harbor Place for a convention every year...haven't been since last Sept (the time of the convention), but at the time there were signs up in front of the empty land saying Disney/DVC is coming...

 

[dwelty]

Well, there's no question that Disney bought land there. Whether they build a resort there is another question, and I really doubt if DVC timeshare salesmen are in the loop on that decision-making process.

Personally, I think there's a lot to dislike about that location -- the primary attraction seems to be that the land was cheap, and I suspect Disney bought the land more on speculation than anything else. It's a LONG way from everything, with no way to get there from here. Certainly not a great location for a Washington, DC visit base.

But Gaylord has a big hotel there and Wyndham has a big timeshare resort there, so you never know.

I have been to the Gaylord National Harbor twice now for
trade shows and found the location excellent for touring. On one trip I brought my 17 year old son along who was able to take a ferry right from national harbor to Mt. Vernon, Alexandria, and D.C. If I ever take my younger kids to D.C. For vacation, The Gaylord would be my first choice, as I hate driving in D.C. And from National Harbor I can get anywhere.

 

[Lynne M]

I remember reading an article in the Times years ago about how Disney was planning to build hotels (not DVC) in cities like NY and Washington DC. The idea was to cater to the family tourism market, with hotels that offered a lot of activities for kids. It sounded like a great idea to me. It's hard to think of any hotels in Manhattan that are really family-friendly in the way that the WDW Disney resorts are.

When Disney bought the land in National Harbor, I figured it was part of this project. Was DVC ever officially mentioned in connection with National Harbor? Did the signs mention DVC, or just Disney? I'm thinking people assumed if Disney's building a resort outside of WDW, it must be a DVC resort.

 

[csharpwv]

I think the National Harbor is the PERFECT location for a Disney Resort AND DVC component.

I have been banging pots and pans and rattling chains ever since Disney bought the land.

Disney wouldn't build Downtown - it's not 'safe' enough.
Disney WOULD however build @ the National Harbor because it's isolated, it's safe, and there is controlled traffic flow in and out.

If Disney doesn't build a resort, conference center, and indoor water park on this land - they are missing out on a HUGE opportunity.

For drivers from the New England states this would be a PERFECT stop off point. I realize a lot of folks fly now, but still - there is a contingency that drives - especially larger families.

The fact that the National Childrens' Museum is going to be built directly across from the Disney property is yet another indicator that WOW - this could be a REALLY great opportunity for Disney.

There is a Wyndham timeshare development in the area already, there is also one just across the Anacostia in Alexandria - so to say that there wouldn't be a market is a bit of an understatement.

Would Disney have to sell this property differently? YES, they would - the average family that is touring the National Mall isn't going to want to jump on board a bus and head over to tour a DVC resort - UNLESS, they give free water park tickets.

The fact that there isn't an indoor water park ANYWHERE in the Baltimore/DC Metro area is a huge indicator that it could be a GREAT tourist destination.

The problems that most families have with a vacation in the DC area is that it really can be a little too 'dry' if the age spread in your family is big.

Adventures By Disney already has a tour that covers the high points in DC as part of a Mid-Atlantic tour, but imagine one that was just focused on DC and included all of the things that most families don't get to do (The White House, Capitol Tour etc)

I think Disney should build a Mid-Sized resort with an indoor water park, and a DVC component about the size of the Villas at the Grand Californian. Not huge, small enough for it to be exclusive and primarily targeted at current owners who would want an 11 month booking advantage for holidays, holiday weekends, and school breaks.

Disney and DVC would be missing the mark if they don't build at the National Harbor - there are SO many reason to build there - and with the name recognition that Disney has, I am confident that it would be successful.

Also a large theater experience like Cirque Du Soleil would be huge in the DC area.

Disney just has to be unique, realistic, and unconventional in the development of the resort.

I am sure that nothing will happen until the fanfare of Aulani has passed, BUT - I am definitely crossing my fingers for a DVC resort closer to home.

DC is about 4 hours from us - and I KNOW there would be a huge market for it where we live!

 

[erionm]

I go to Harbor Place for a convention every year...haven't been since last Sept (the time of the convention), but at the time there were signs up in front of the empty land saying Disney/DVC is coming...

Please post a picture that shows a sign with DVC. All of the ones posted so far have only said Disney was coming.

 

[shalom]

Personally, I think there's a lot to dislike about that location -- the primary attraction seems to be that the land was cheap, and I suspect Disney bought the land more on speculation than anything else. It's a LONG way from everything, with no way to get there from here. Certainly not a great location for a Washington, DC visit base.

I'm surprised to hear that; a lot of Timesharers are really excited about the Wyndham there, I think because the units are much larger than the Wyndham in Alexandria. In terms of hotel units, yeah, it's way out there, but when it comes to cities and timesharing, you're either in tiny units with no real kitchen right in the middle of things, or in bigger units where it's a good hour or more to the city center. From that perspective, and assuming roomier condos (which admittedly is not a DVC thing), National Harbor's a pretty good deal.

My theory is that the Powers That Be decided, after buying the land, that Wyndham and others are better at handling resorts in most other popular family locations, and that DVC can't compete real well outside of DL and WDW. I'm guessing the Hawaiian resort is tied in through cruises, and of course it makes sense to have some beach resorts relatively near WDW. I'm probably forgetting somewhere...

I wonder if DVC owners wouldn't be better served if Disney came up with a direct trading system with someone like Wyndham and Marriot, something like the "Select Connections" thingie the Shell Vacation Club and Bluegreen have going, than with their RCI membership. From what I hear, it'd sure be a more consistent vacationing experience than trading into RCI. RCI goes from resorts that are consistently very good to resorts that are consistently very bad , and (especially with a fairly recent transfer of owndership) their rating system doesn't always know the difference.

 

[Brian Noble]

As a Wyndham owner, I'd rather stay at Alexandria than National Harbor, because Alexandria has much better connectivity to the rest of the area via Metro.

I suspect the land purchase was made when it was because the economic conditions of the time had the National Harbor developer in a semi-panic trying to figure out how to fill space with tenants. So, one sweetheart deal later, Disney has a plot of land that might be valuable down the road, without committing a ton of capital to it.

Iger did mention the "mini-resort" model, and I suspect Aulani is the first foray into that market. The success (or failure) of Aulani---both as a timeshare *and* as a conventional hotel---may determine what happens with that plot in National Harbor.

 

[HebeJebe]

National Harbor is only a 15 minute cab ride from one of the metro stops and Reagan airport so it really isn't that far from the rest of DC. They are planning on having water taxis run to and from DC.

There are many hotels already there. The sign there announcing Disney is coming simply says Disney and nothing else.

Also, they are putting in an outlet mall soon.

 

[shalom]

As a Wyndham owner, I'd rather stay at Alexandria than National Harbor, because Alexandria has much better connectivity to the rest of the area via Metro.

True, but Alexandria doesn't have any 3 BRs and the other units are smaller, I believe (I know the 1 BR National Harbor has a full kitchen and the 1 BR Alexandria does not). The other thing that excites some about National Harbor is that it's got much better pools, including a children's pool. I admit I'm of the "further out with more room and on-site amenities" school, myself, so maybe I'm hearing that perspective more, but at any rate it's out there.

 

[thepops]

the Crew on the boat announced that Disney was building a resort in National Harbor..

As any good DVC'er knows ... if it comes from a bus driver or a boat Crew, it MUST be true!

 

[Brian Noble]

True, but Alexandria doesn't have any 3 BRs and the other units are smaller, I believe (I know the 1 BR National Harbor has a full kitchen and the 1 BR Alexandria does not).

The directory claims that there is a 3BR Presidential at Alexandria, but either way, for my family of four, the 2BRs are fine. There are also two different 1BRs at Alexandria. The regular ones do not. The 1BR Dlx do have full kitchens. None of them have washer/dryer in-unit in Alexandria. The Presidentials at National Harbor have W/D, but the regular units do not. That's a bummer, but we can make do if need be.

A smaller unit with a better location is also the modus operandi of DVC at WDW---at least for the 2nd Generation resorts of VWL, BCV, BWV, and SSR. Those units are positively tiny compared to the "typical" Orlando-area resort.

Edited to add: took another glance at the Directory. The 2BR DLX units at Alexandria are 1,155 sq. ft. At National Harbor, they range from 1,052-1,108. The 2BR Presidentials at National are bigger: 1,312-1,462.

 

[JimMIA]

National Harbor is only a 15 minute cab ride from one of the metro stops and Reagan airport so it really isn't that far from the rest of DC.

It may be only a 15 minute cab ride to the nearest Metro station (through a not-quite-elegant area, I might add), but I think it's a lot farther trip than that to the airport. If you talking about Metro-ing to the airport, it's probably more than an hour trip including the cab ride. Even just into DC, it's another 15-20 minute ride (or more) once you actually board a train.

 

[BeesKnees]

My roofer told me that the property was going to be converted into a cemetary and Walt Disney's remains are going to be moved there. DVC will sell 50 year burial plots.

Disney is coming.

 

[shalom]

My roofer told me that the property was going to be converted into a cemetary and Walt Disney's remains are going to be moved there. DVC will sell 50 year burial plots.

Hah! Your roofer knows nothing. My roofer assures me Walt's remains will stay right where they are -- in the secret catacombs under Cinderella's castle.

 

[JimMIA]

I don't think the Wyndham at National Harbor is doing very well. I just checked availability for Columbus Day weekend (THIS year...less than 4 months away) and had my choice of 1,2,3, or 4 bedrooms, including rooms with balconies and Presidentials.

 

[csharpwv]

It's important to remember that the National Harbor development is less than 1/2 complete - there are still a good number of undeveloped land plots there, and some that have been sold but are awaiting development.

The last time I drove through the National Harbor development - ground hadn't been turned on the National Childrens' Museum yet, so that's something that will definitely drive traffic into the area.

A Convention Center is not a stead income stream, so the Gaylord has faced some very lean times since it was finished - but on the tail end of the worst economy since the great depression - it's not hard to imagine why the convention business was really down, and it's easy to see how an uptick in the economy will definitely breathe life into the National Harbor development.