Future Resorts?

[tidefan]

Ironically, non-WDW DVC expansion creates de facto reservation restrictions. And as Aulani still is actively selling, every new Aulani Direct sale slightly reduces the WDW 7 month availability for Direct owners overall.

I actually think the actions of the past few years have really increased demand at the non-park resorts, especially with the lack of AP's at the parks. Just looking at our stays, since COVID, we've done 2 weeks at VB, a week at HHI, three separate weeks at Aulani, 2 4-night stays at BLT (for Boo Bash and MNSSHP), a 2 night stay at OKW (for MVMCP) and a 4-night stay at GFV that our DD and her friends used. As I was looking back on it, I was really surprised just how much our usage changed without AP's.

I know it wasn't popular with some, but I was really on board for Reflections. The concept art for the rooms and main areas, the mid-century theming, the lazy river, the proximity to Fort Wilderness, the lakeside restaurant, the view.

If they had gone ahead with it, we likely would have bought there instead of VGF.

And it would have sold well. An entire generation who grew up camping at the Fort that now has money to spend... The nostalgia factor would have been huge.

I'm sure it's dead now, but you asked what we were hoping for. The resurrection of this resort would be my wish.

I am all for a resort over by the Fort, however, I think that Disney should put a lot of thought into it to integrate it more into the "vibe" of the Fort. FW is beloved by the RV community and I would hope that they would not infringe on that. Maybe make it themed to fit in with the Settlement area of FW so that the area has a consistent look.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I cannot see Disney investing a billion dollars to build a theme park in Texas or Arizona. They are already facing increasing seasonal issues in Florida (hurricane disruption in fall, Satan's armpit in July). Arizona is not really workable several months of the year, and if part of the growing water issue is the southwest. Texas also has seasonal swings that are increasing and create a lot of business risk.

 

[BeachClub2014]

I would definitely like some better/cheaper options for spending my points but I can't visualise how this would work, unless it was entirely separate from the current DVC model.

If the points themselves were cheaper then people would just buy them as SAP. If the rooms were all low point values this could lead to very high dues. I can't imagine that the actual day to day maintenance of a moderate resort is that much cheaper than a deluxe but the owners would have those charges spread over fewer points.

It would be great for the rest of us though, as we could stay there for long periods at our current rate of dues!

As the other poster said I feel like they’d have to almost make a separate group of resorts and include everything moderate and below. If those members wanted to stay in a deluxe make it for a surcharge so that current DVC members don’t feel almost cheated. But Port Orleans, Coronado, all of the All Stars, AoA, Carribean Beach could be included in that value group.

One single moderate DVC resort in a group of deluxes wouldn’t be a good idea.

Good points about the blending of points. I think it would be easy enough for them to develop a whole moderate "DVC 2" scenario with just moderate resorts in the portfolio. Seems easy enough to do.

 

[tom1944]

I wonder if Vegas was not so close to Disneyland if that would be a feasible location.

As mentioned in an earlier post the water issues are going to be a problem in the west and southwest.

 

[intamin]

I wonder if Vegas was not so close to Disneyland if that would be a feasible location.

As mentioned in an earlier post the water issues are going to be a problem in the west and southwest.

I think not only it being close to Disneyland but the fact that it’s Vegas.. I don’t envision the Walt Disney company wanting their brand to be associated with casinos and strip clubs. I can honestly see the headlines now in a period when Disney has become known for nickel and diming people. As someone who’s lived in Vegas previously the time that they could’ve done it was in the late 80s- early 90s. Back when MGM Grand Adventures was around and Treasure Island had a real arcade and was family oriented. Vegas shifted to adults only a long time ago unfortunately.

Edit: Sure there are some more adult oriented resorts on WDW property like Riviera and VGF but at the heart of it all they still feel family oriented if that makes sense? But what do I know lol

 

[havoc315]

What are your “Blue Sky” hopes for future DVC resorts?

I’d love to see a DVC at Disneyland Paris…

Would also love to (though doubt it would happen) see DVCs in NYC, London, and at Tokyo Disney….

I also hope that DVC keeps the overall flavor of the program and not adopt a “points trust” program starting in 2043… I’m very worried that’s the direction they will go….

Considering the weak sales at Aulani, I don't really expect any more non-theme park DVCs.

I'd love to see DVC in at Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney, etc -- But I really don't know how compatible DVC is with their various laws. Dealing with the complexity of their laws may make a DVC timeshare impractical.

I strongly do suspect that we will see further expansion of DVC at Disneyland even beyond the new tower. Between now and 2042, I'd further expect to see 1-3 new resorts at WDW.
DVC sales do seem to be slowing, but Disney will likely always have a WDW property that is open for sale. Riviera/GFV/Poly will take them through 2027 or later. That still suggests something new by 2028-2029... then something else by 2034-2035. Maybe a 3rd by the late 2030's. And then in the early 2040's, recycle the expiring resorts.

 

[sethschroeder]

Would also love to (though doubt it would happen) see DVCs in NYC, London, and at Tokyo Disney….

No no no no no

Those would be terrible. If you want to stay there the trade your points or better yet just rent a room.....

The only reason DVC holds its value so well is its not some random timeshare in random places in the world and instead is by a vast majority locked to Disney property with a short walk or ride to the most popular theme parks and some the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

 

[sethschroeder]

Will there be future parks to build resorts at?

Texas or Arizona come to mind as possible locations.

Even Mexico

Thing is anywhere they buy are they going to buy enough land to make it inconvenient to stay "offsite". Thats the whole thing with WDW. They own so much land insulating them a ton against any other option especially when those offsite locations need to provide transportation to 4 parks for their 100-500 rooms compared to a new theme park where they would build a hotel and only need to transport guests likely to a single theme park.

I could see the future resorts not participating in BVTC, and being part of their own program. You could probably even allow Direct Owners of DVC2 to participate with an exchange INTO BVTC properties, and possibly into DVC1.

But, at the very least, I could see them going totally into a points system that you buy the points, and have the deed to a nebulous amount of points. This is how systems like Hyatt Residence Club Portfolio works.

Original owners still are deeded at their resorts, but unless you buy resale, you buy the points and access into Portolio, and that is what you are guaranteed. You don’t have a home resort per se.

Why? What benefit does it get Disney? How are they making more money off this?

I think a more "moderate" DVC would sell like crazy. A lower price point for moderate resorts to capture a broader market.

Brought it up a long time ago. I think they should convert a part of POP or AOA into DVC and have the point charts lower than AKV Value. I suspect a ton of people would lock that in.

 

[havoc315]

Why? What benefit does it get Disney? How are they making more money off this?

This. For all the fear about Disney making fundamental changes to the program, like starting a DVC2 that is separate from DVC1.... Such plans wouldn't benefit Disney. The basic current structure of DVC is a huge selling point. That buying at 1 resort gives you access to over a dozen other resorts.
Of course they are constantly making changes to improve profitability, to push people towards direct purchase, etc.
But changing the fundamentals of the program simply doesn't help Disney.
Start a DVC2 -- one resort -- No ability to trade into any other resorts. What's the advantage of that to Disney?

If and when DVC stops selling, Disney will stop expanding DVC. And they very well might do something new. But the "new" won't just be a variation of DVC, it would have to be totally different. For example, Golden Oak type different.