Fairfield said that they are building a timeshare resort right in Epcot?

[luckytso]

Has anyone heard this?

I just heard from this sales guy that they are building a resort called "Bonnett Creek (sp?) right inside of Epcot? He said it will be completed by 2004.

Can this be right?

 

[CarolMN]

It's not inside EPCOT or on WDW property, but it will be near to EPCOT. They are building on a piece of property that Disney doesn't own. Believe WDW property borders that piece of property on three sides.

 

[Lucky4me]

I think it's near Epcot, not in it. There may be a thread about this on the Rumors board.

 

[vbfamily]

We saw several signs that said "Bonnett Creek Construction" when we were at WDW in October.

We saw these signs on the bus ride to DD and the bus ride to the BW.

I thought it was something being built by Disney. It is very close to other Disney resorts-at least it looked like it. I thought maybe it was going to be another DVC resort while we were there and then I didn't see any more info on it.

 

[RobDoc]

Work on the construction entrance to the "Bonnett Creek Resort" is being completed right now. It appears to be accessible from Buena Vista Drive near Epcot and is located on the opposite side of Bonnett Creek Parkway from OKW. (OKW is bordered by Community Drive (where the entrance to OKW is located) and Bonnett Creek Parkway (the entrance to PO is also on BCPkwy) and Buena Vista Drive.

 

[Lisa P.]

The new Fairfield timeshare resort is not on Disney property. It borders Disney property on three sides, with Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort on one side. Projected opening is in 2004.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Here's the official press release from last year:

http://www.timesharebeat.com/2002/ts/june/0628-04t.htm

The property is right next to Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort.

 

[luckytso]

Do you think this will affect DVC's resale or rental prices?

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by luckytso
Do you think this will affect DVC's resale or rental prices?

NO, I do not expect it will have an affect.

 

[KNWVIKING]

How did this parcel of land not get bought up by WDW and why has it taken nearly 30 yrs for someone else to develope it ?

 

[Werner Weiss]

Quoting a July 18, 2000, Orlando Sentinel article (reprinted by TheTimeshareBeat), "According to documents filed with the Orange County planning department, the land was acquired as an investment in 1962, several years before Walt Disney started his quiet shopping spree that netted 27,000 Central Florida acres." Adding to the mystery, the article also states, "But exactly who the owner is remains a little unclear." The article goes on to mention public records that indicate secretive ownership.

As to why neither Walt Disney nor subsequent Disney management ever bought the property, I can only assume that the owner preferred not to sell, at least not at whatever Disney was willing to pay -- if the owner could even be reached.

It seems that almost 40 years after acquiring the land in 1962, the owner finally decided to bring in a devlopment company, Brooksville Development.

I can only hope that Brooksville will strive to develop this land with the same high standards of design, landscaping, ambience, and overall quality with which Disney does development.

And, who knows? As DVC owners, we might wind up with some new, nearby restaurant and entertainment choices. After all, the Fairfield timeshares are only one small part of the Bonnet Creek development.

 

[KNWVIKING]

I think I'd be very concerned about the additional traffic this is going to create on BVD as it is the only access into the project. Maybe WDW should but in a toll booth.

 

[luckytso]

Werner, you are amazing, how did you find these things?!!!!

If they are that close to CBR, how can they prevent their guests from taking Disney's bus system? If will be interesting to watch as the project unfolds.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by luckytso
If they are that close to CBR, how can they prevent their guests from taking Disney's bus system?

First, 482 acres is a big piece of land. Much of the site won't be particularly close to CBR.

But more importantly, consider how Disney develops their resorts. Technically, OKW and Port Orleans are right across the street from each other; only Community Drive separates them. But given the locations of the entrances and the lack of walkways, nobody from OKW would think of using Port Orleans' bus service, or vice versa.

I don't think it will be easy for guests on the Bonnet Creek property, such as Fairfield owners, to get to the CBR bus stops. And, besides, the resorts on the Bonnet Creek property will almost certainly have their own bus service.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I just found something cool!

Take a look at http://www.guybutlerarchitect.com/page10.htm

It's the architect's plan for the Bonnet Creek Development, superimposed on an aerial photograph showing the nearby Disney resorts, attractions, roads, and waterways. Wow!!!

-- The Fairfield timeshare resort will be built around a lake (nice views!). It will be right next to the CBR, but I really doubt you'll be able to walk between them.

-- There's an 18-hole golf course planned just east of the Pop Century Resort.

-- There are four hotels planned in addition to the timeshare resort.

-- You can see OKW at the top of the plan, just west of Pleasure Island.

-- I can't make out the text on the forested parts of the Bonnet Creek plan. I don't think that the forested areas will remain undeveloped.

 

[Caskbill]

I don't think it will be easy for guests on the Bonnet Creek property, such as Fairfield owners, to get to the CBR bus stops. And, besides, the resorts on the Bonnet Creek property will almost certainly have their own bus service.

I'll bet that Disney even puts up a fence between the two properties. And I doubt Disney will offer their bus service at all. Why should they? They don't offer bus servce to any other non Disney Timeshare in the area that I'm aware of.

Fairfield will be in direct competition with DVC. I can't see Disney offering them any services at all.

Fairfield will probably have their own bus service, just like many other hotels in the area provide service to the WDW area. (Werner is that what you meant or did you really mean you think Disney busses will serve the resort?)

 

[Lisa P.]

Thank you so much for posting that link. I saved the picture as a bitmap image to "paint" so that I could see the fine print.

The tiny text identifies a red area directly below the center of the timeshare's lake as "tennis courts." The two hotels closest to the timeshare are each to be a "4 star hotel."

The hotel at the far right is not identified by a star rating and it has a small section just above it that says "timeshare" in tiny print. Perhaps that's the additional parcel that Fairfield has a future option to develop or perhaps its an entirely different property.

The hotel at the very bottom is identified as a "5 star hotel" with "tennis courts." The wooded area between the canal and I-4 says "wildlife conservation."

Overall, I think it looks like a potentially lovely layout for the development - not densely developed and with plenty of greenspace. Compare the spacing of the buildings with CBR and OKW and you will see what I mean. Also, 4 star & 5 star hotels normally offer restaurants. Hopefully, this will mean some more good dining options in the area.

It would certainly be a long walk to CBR, if it's even possible at all. I agree with Werner. With a total of 4 separate hotels and at least 1 timeshare resort (containing 744 timeshare units - how many are at OKW?), it's pretty likely that the Bonnet Creek development will have all their own bus shuttles.

Like the shuttle service available at the Hotel Plaza Blvd hotels, this would minimize car traffic in the area. AFAIK, Disney does not provide the bus shuttles to those Good Neighbor hotels, but rather those hotels collectively contract with an outside company to service the route every half hour. It makes sense to me that the same may apply to this development, with its common entry road. JMHO.

 

[Lisa P.]

In looking over the architect's online resume, it's interesting to note that his work has included many themed projects before. The Bonnet Creek development is described as a "themed hospitality" project.

His resume includes master plans, ride theme concepts and remodelings of entertainment projects, theme parks and water parks in other countries and in Florida. It lists the themed remodeling of certain restaurants and clubs at Swan, Dolphin, Universal Studios, Splendid China and parts of Pleasure Island. And it includes the master plan for the Hilton Grand Vacations Club resort in Las Vegas, NV, which is supposed to be very beautiful and lush.

He would certainly appear to be capable to design an attractive development to fit in well with the area... so close to Disney's nicely themed resorts. Doesn't look like it will detract from the area. That's encouraging, I think.

 

[KNWVIKING]

This property has always been basically landlock, why did WDW suddenly give access to BVD ?
Personally I don't see this resort as a threat to DVC's popularity simply because most us bought DVC because we want to be on-property. Off-property- regardless of its location- is still off-property.

 

[SheriB]

We stayed at CBR last July and the construction had been started then. You could see it as you drove down the main road to the resort. I find it odd that Disney would not own that relatively small chunk of land-they own everything surrounding it. We thought it was another Disney hotel when we saw it. It never occurred to us that it would be non-Disney, considering the area.

I also don't think the guests of this resort would be able to use CBR's bus system. The main drives are parallel to each other, but the other resort seems to be set in quite a bit off the main road. Plus, if I'm not mistaken, I think there is a small stream or canal that runs between the two roads (can't remember exactly, though). It may even be a ditch that would be impossible to cross.

Sheri