DVC Plans After SSR?

[DarthGoofy]

I was wondering if anyone had heard what the plans will be for DVC resorts after SSR is complete. Will they go ahead with the Eagle Pines Resort?

My vote would be for AKL Villas

 

[dvc_john]

Don't know how accurate this info is, but my brother was takling to one of the people at a DVC booth, and he said that Eagle Pines was next, and that some minimal preliminary ground work has already started. Also, that the name was going to be changed to something other than Eagle Pines.

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

We went to the SSR open house last Friday. In one of the rooms a DVC person told us that the four buildings were 3/4 sold out already, so Disney was going ahead with the plans for Eagle Pines. Of course, there are going to be more than 4 buildings at SSR, but they were selling at great paces, so the plans for Eagle Pines were going ahead.
Dont know how true that was, just what we were told!

 

[Caskbill]

Originally posted by dvc_john
Don't know how accurate this info is, but my brother was takling to one of the people at a DVC booth, and he said that Eagle Pines was next, and that some minimal preliminary ground work has already started. Also, that the name was going to be changed to something other than Eagle Pines.

Hey John, you stole my thunder...

<i>dvc_john is my brother.</i>

Yes, I was told on 3 separate occassions by 3 different CM's that Eagle Pines was next. One CM even volunteered information that preliminary ground work has already begun.

 

[happyrebster]

Cool. So Eagle Pines will be over by the golf course of that name, right? Any other information on themeing? I am assuming a golf club/country club theme, but just curious if anyone else had heard something different. Excited by all the choices, for sure!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Artist's rendering of the DVC at Eagle Pines: http://www.themeparks.com/library-06/wdw/dvc/eaglepines.htm

July 19, 2001, press release about the DVC at Eagle Pines: http://www.themeparks.com/wdw/eaglepinesdvc.htm

A few things to keep in mind:

-- This DVC resort does not have an official name. It's located at Disney's Eagle Pines golf course, but it's not named Disney's Eagle Pines Villas or anything like that. I assume the real name will reflect the early 20th Century Florida resort theme.

-- The press release mentions, "a main Inn building encompassing a check-in area; accommodations; restaurant/lounge; theme pool with feature slide; retail space; arcade; common living room area and a health club." That does not mean that this resort is a combination hotel and timeshare like BWI/BWV. It just means the DVC resort will have a main building and villa buildings.

-- The DVC resort at Eagle Pines was announced before SSR (which also didn't have an official name when it was first announced). It was supposed to open in spring 2004. But when the Disney Institute campus and residential sites became available after September 11, 2001, DVC halted work on Eagle Pines in favor of SSR.

-- While it's likely that the plans for Eagle Pines will be dusted off and construction will begin before SSR sells out completely, that could still be many years off.

-- There's been conjecture on this board that Disney will add DVC villas to an existing deluxe resort, in the tradition of VWL and BCV, before building the DCV resort at Eagle Pines. But there's never been any reason to believe that this is anything other than wishful thinking.

 

[SamS]

I remember in prior discussions some speculation that SSR would take ten years to sell out. That doesn't sound accurate any mor in light of this post. Or am I missing something? What is the current estimate of sell-out time?

 

[pmcpmc]

but it will never be as cheap as OKW.

 

[canwegosoon]

Our guide mentioned that Disney thought it would take 5 years to be sold out...but perhaps they are selling faster than first expected.

 

[tjkraz]

I don't think there is any question that SSR is selling faster than expected. The recent price increase is proof enough. But consider the fact that a full 25% of the resort (3 of 12 buildings) sold out BEFORE the property even opened.

Three buildings at SSR represents 138 guest rooms. If memory serves, that's actually a couple MORE rooms than in all of VWL. Would ANYBODY have predicted that DVC would sell that many points in SSR, sight-unseen, in 10 months time?!?!

IMO, DVC's big mistake in recent years was letting themselves get into a position where they had NOTHING to sell for the better part of a year. BCV sold out in the Fall of '03. Here we are nearly at Summer '04, and SSR is finally set to open.

With regard to the future, I'm inclined to agree with most of Horace's comments. When you hear people talking about ground prep work being completed for Eagle Pines, that may be a reference to work that was actually completed YEARS ago, prior to the decision to accellerate SSR.

More recently, the "hot" rumor was a DVC wing at the Contemporary Resort. An add-on DVC component to an existing resort means that a lot of resort infrastructure (pool, registration, dining, utilities, sewage, etc.) already exists and does not have to be constructed. It also means that WDW can begin to share the operating expense of those facilities with DVC (via member dues). And, it likely means that the DVC component can be constructed much faster than an entirely new resort.

I also would not think it unreasonable to find DVC considering additional buildings at SSR. There will still be a lot of undeveloped property there after 12 buildings are erected.

The announcement of a new property could have a profound impact on current sales, which is why I believe DVC will tread very lightly. For example, if the next DVC resort is to be at the Contemporary, I can easily see people declining to buy SSR if they know that DVC CR will be available in 18-24 months.

It will definitely be interesting to see what DVC's next move might be. But take rumors with a grain of salt until there is an official announcement. If sales continue at current levels, SSR could sell out in the next 2 1/2 to 3 years. Given that it took about 2 years to construct SSR, I'll be surprised if we don't see an announcement by the end of 2004, or first quarter of '05.

 

[tiggerguy2000]

I would like to see a DVC resort on the mono rail before a golf resort.I know alot of you are golfers so that would be great but im not one of those and we already have a golf resort.I would like to see them put the resort along side the Poly or GF.They could add one at the spot they had planned for the Persian just after the Contemporary or just before at the venetian location. The Contemporary would be awesome and they have plenty of space to build on.That would be my next add-on and what a wonderful thing it would be for the Contemporary resort.
tiggerguy2000

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd have to agree that, other than OKW, the trend has seemed to be building where there are already soem existing facilites, rather than starting from the ground up. This has been true in the case of VWL, BWV, and BCV. SSR too, to a slightly lesser degree...there wasn't a full service hotel there, but there was the spa area with restaurants etc...the main building area, if you will...so hey weren't starting completely from square one.

My guess is that one will go over near the MK with monorail access (maybe an add-on at the Contemporary???), or maybe the AK to draw more folks over to that end of the world, before you see another golf resort.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by Disney Doll
I'd have to agree that, other than OKW, the trend has seemed to be building where there are already soem existing facilites, rather than starting from the ground up. This has been true in the case of VWL, BWV, and BCV.

BWV was also built "from the ground up," but BWV was built at the same time as BWI. That's why BWV and BWI fit so well together. In comparison, VWL and SCV were "afterthoughts," although both were added very skillfully.

Originally posted by Disney Doll
My guess is that one will go over near the MK with monorail access (maybe an add-on at the Contemporary???), or maybe the AK to draw more folks over to that end of the world, before you see another golf resort.

Disney had the opportunity to design AKL with a DVC resort as part of the plan -- either to be opened at the same time as AKL or at a later date. Disney didn't do so. There really isn't a good way to connect a DVC resort into the existing lobby or to provide views from a new DVC structure into the existing animal compound. A DVC resort would need to sit on the current parking lot or around a quarter mile away, beyond the existing resort wings.

 

[chainkid]

In the case of the BWV they were never an add on but were part of the original construction...everything had to be completed at once.

 

[crisi]

I also think that because of their issues with animal health, you won't see major construction near the Savannah.

WL had property set aside for Villas from its origin. So it wasn't an afterthought, though it certainly isn't integrated as BWVs are to the BWI.

Apparently, much of the unbuilt land around the MK is unsuitable for building (land isn't stable). I wouldn't be suprised to see them convert the Garden Wings to DVC at some point in time - but it would be a major undertaking to put in multi room units.

 

[Stitch 03]

Over on the resorts board there is a thread regarding the North Wing at the CR. The consensus appears to be that the building was looking 'worn'. It sounds like that building is in need of a major refurb (similar to what was done at the Poly). Is anyone aware of a timetable for this happening?

Because if it is scheduled to happen then that will pretty much kill the DVC rumor once and for all (a least for several years). If there is no timetable for a refurb then that means a few possibilities:

1) Disney knows a refurb is necessary and plan to do it, but there is not timetable as of yet.

2) No final decision has been made regarding DVC. Until a decision is made no significant investment will be made into that building.

3) DVC at the CR is a go (just will not be announced until the time is right). One thing for sure is that Disney will put no significant money into that building if the DVC plan is a go.

So I suggest that people keep there eyes on the CR North Wing.

As far as Eagle Pines is concerned, all the conjecture about it being next may just be old news. Yes, SSR may have just bumped EP, but there is also a good chance that SSR replaced it. This wouldn't mean that EP will never happen, just not anytime soon.

My two cents.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by Stitch 03
As far as Eagle Pines is concerned, all the conjecture about it being next may just be old news. Yes, SSR may have just bumped EP, but there is also a good chance that SSR replaced it. This wouldn't mean that EP will never happen, just not anytime soon.

True. There is no guarantee that the next DVC resort will be built along the fairways of Disney's Eagle Pines golf course.

None of us who are outside of Disney Vacation Development (DVD) know what the plans are. And even if DVD's internal plans currently include Eagle Pines, those plans could change until construction at Eagle Pines is substantially underway. The next DVC resort could actually be at the Polynesian, or in the Epcot parking lot, or in downtown Billings, Montana. And the Eagle Pines site could be used for a WalMart store.

That said, the DVC resort at Eagle Pines has been on the WDW master plan as a Disney timeshare site for many years. It's a perfect site for a DVC resort. And DVD has already invested in plans and initial site prep work.

So, I'd guess the chances to be as follows:
-- 80% chance that the next DVC resort will be at Eagle Pines;
-- 10% chance that the next DVC resort will be attached to a deluxe WDW resort;
-- 7% chance of a standalone resort elsewhere on WDW property;
-- 2% chance of DVC resort away from WDW (such as at Disneyland in California);
-- 1% chance that SSR is the final DVC resort, and no others will be built.

 

[Stitch 03]

Do not get me wrong. It is not that I think that EP will not happen next. In fact I would not be suprised if it was next. At the same though, time I would also not be suprised if CR or somewhere else was next.

The number one arguement for EP is that the plans exist, that investments have been made, and prep work has been done. But it needs to remember that these are sunk costs. None of this stopped DVD from moving onto SSR.

Yes, I know what some have said. DVD was offered the site where SSR now stands, and it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

So if DVD could skip over EP once, what would stop them from doing it again. The answer is nothing, if the right opportunity comes along.

I find it hard to believe that if DVD was offered a shot at the CR (or somewhere else) that they would turn it down.

To put it bluntly no one knows what will happen next. I am pretty confident that DVD already knows, or at least a very good idea. But they will choose there timing of an announcement very carefully. For when the next location is announced it will put a drag on SSR sales as some will choose to wait for the next property (whether it is EP, CR, or somewhere else).

Have to admit though it is fun speculating.

 

[Caskbill]

I'll simply repeat my original post.

Last Week, on 3 separate occassions, 3 totally different CMs all said they were told that EP was next, and one of them said that they just recently started doing some new ground work.

Call it a rumor if you want (and it may be just that), but I find it difficult to think that 3 different people would say the same thing. In February we couldn't get any CM to even admit EP existed, and now they freely say it's the next DVC resort.

As far as the timeline goes, I'm sure EP (or whatever they wind up naming it) could go up much faster than doing something brand new at one of the existing resorts such as the Contemporary.

SSR is selling faster than predicted. It's not current members buying add-on's but more brand new members per discussions with some SSR sales staff. With a new building opening every month, they could definitely sell-out and not have anything to sell for several months. That makes it imperative they do something now in regards to the next resort.

We're going back to WDW in a couple of weeks (currently in South Florida). If nothing official has been announced by then I'll see if I can dig up anything more concrete.

Bill

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Caskbill
We're going back to WDW in a couple of weeks (currently in South Florida). If nothing official has been announced by then I'll see if I can dig up anything more concrete.

..................thanks Bill.