Grand Californian Expansion and Time Share Permits Filed

[Barnum01]

Walt Disney World filed permits with the city of Anaheim last week for demo work at GCH and conversion work for a mock-up unit, here is a link to Anaheim's Building Division, where you can look up the permits:

City of Anaheim Building Division

Demo for expansion permit = bld2007-01716
Remodel permit = bld2007-01721

Click on "Inquire about a Building Permit" and enter the above numbers in the first blank.

Normally, WDW doesn't deal with Anaheim, for obvious reasons, so this is more than just a rumor now. The remodel is of the existing DVC sales location located between the DLH and PPH, so it may just be to reflect the new AKV, but if so, why the expansion permit at GCH? We may be in for one heck of an announcement pretty soon! I'm still sticking to my guns regarding a DLR DVC before the CRV announcement, unless they decide to announce them both at the same time. Heck, they could sell out both GCV and CRV before AKV are sold out and still keep selling AKV interests.

Regards

 

[Ksp]

This is great! Thanks for sniffing this out!

 

[Barnum01]

This is great! Thanks for sniffing this out!

I have to admit I saw the information on a site that will remain address-less, but the links there didn't work so I made sure the ones I posted here do!

Then I was checking out some of the threads I've missed over the weekend and SquidMo has given all of this information already elsewhere here, so thanks and props need to go where they are deserving and it's not to me!

Regards

 

[ACDSNY]

For more chatter check out this thread from last week. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1535564

 

[Barnum01]

For more chatter check out this thread from last week. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1535564

Ack! You must have posted while I was linking to the other thread, but regardless, this is still news worthy of mentioning more than once!

 

[ACDSNY]

Yes very news worthly! I'll be one of the first in line for GC DVC.

 

[dwelty]

Normally, WDW doesn't deal with Anaheim, for obvious reasons, so this is more than just a rumor now.
Regards

Actually all permits pulled at DLR since 2001 say Walt Disney World Co. This is when DLR was merged with WDW to create the Parks and Resort division under one head Director. I do agree however that the permits indicate a pending announcement.

 

["Got Disney"]

I want this to happen.....

We use most of our pts there and figured it would be a matter of time since the new ships are coming out. Must say that we have been wanting fr this to happen, WE have 400 pts and want 600 so will get that if it happens

the only thing we worry about is that we can always get a room short notice because it is not DVC....that may all change if it converts.
WE have been able to get a room as short as 1 week....can't see that continuing after that.

 

[Longhairbear]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";20153903]

I want this to happen.....

We use most of our pts there and figured it would be a matter of time since the new ships are coming out. Must say that we have been wanting fr this to happen, WE have 400 pts and want 600 so will get that if it happens

the only thing we worry about is that we can always get a room short notice because it is not DVC....that may all change if it converts.
WE have been able to get a room as short as 1 week....can't see that continuing after that.[/QUOTE]

After joining DVC, and being CA residents, we always thought the DVC, and cruise line would be a natural evolution for DLR.
If the GC DVC is only 50 units to start, then getting last minute rooms will be impossible. My guide started a call list months ago, in case DLR got a DVC, and we are at the top of the list. We need the 11 month window, and need to plan ahead, to be sure to get a DVC unit when we want it.

 

["Got Disney"]

After joining DVC, and being CA residents, we always thought the DVC, and cruise line would be a natural evolution for DLR.
If the GC DVC is only 50 units to start, then getting last minute rooms will be impossible. My guide started a call list months ago, in case DLR got a DVC, and we are at the top of the list. We need the 11 month window, and need to plan ahead, to be sure to get a DVC unit when we want it.

I never thought about getting wait listed to buy there...thanks fr that I will call my guide today

I wonder if they will also continue doing what they are doing know as far as using the reg hotel for studios so they have more rooms. They use them know for that anyway

I am also assuming that for the most part it will be us Westeners that will want to purchase here. Seems if I lived back east I would purchase more there for WDW.

Either way they need DVC here and I am planning on purchaing unless it is priced unreasonably....

 

[ACDSNY]

[quote="Got Disney";20159779]I am planning on purchaing unless it is priced unreasonably....[/quote]

Yes, I'm hoping the price and MF are reasonable too.

 

[dwelty]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";20159779]

I wonder if they will also continue doing what they are doing know as far as using the reg hotel for studios so they have more rooms. They use them know for that anyway

[/QUOTE]

I do not think this will be the case at the GCH. They did it at AKL because occupancy rates were lower there than at the other deluxe WDW resorts. (I am assuming due to it's isolation). The GCH has a 90% occupancy rate. I don't think Disney Parks and Resorts would want to let go of those cash rooms. No matter how much pull DVC has. I think they will add the additional DVC units in a new wing, and when they sell out, start construction on a new DVC resort behind Paradise Pier.

 

[Mtnman44]

IF they are beginning to build a DVC soon at GC, anyone have any educated guesses on when sales would begin??? Are we talking this year, next year, or later?

 

[SuzanneSLO]

The most important factor for me will be the points chart. I expect that the cheapest studio will be fewer than the current rate of 24 points per weekday & 39 points per weekend. If it is not, then we will let the rest of you buy these points and reserve these rooms.

We would probably be considered cheapskates, but we only stay at the Disney hotels at DL Resort when great AP rates come out. The rate for points are just too high. Given a choice between using 102 points for 2 weekend nights at PP concierge or spending $389 total, I'll spend the cash.

-- Suzanne

 

[tjkraz]

I do not think this will be the case at the GCH. They did it at AKL because occupancy rates were lower there than at the other deluxe WDW resorts. (I am assuming due to it's isolation). The GCH has a 90% occupancy rate. I don't think Disney Parks and Resorts would want to let go of those cash rooms. No matter how much pull DVC has. I think they will add the additional DVC units in a new wing, and when they sell out, start construction on a new DVC resort behind Paradise Pier.

The decision could hinge on the grander plans that Disney has for the resort property. Even with the high occupancy, we keep hearing that the Disneyland Hotel is going to undergo a massive refurb that will take large blocks of rooms out of service for months. Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

If Disney has unannounced plans to build one or two brand new hotels on property--perhaps even with split DVC/cash accommodations--then it wouldn't be so far-fetched for DVC to get some of the existing cash rooms at the GC.

 

[dwelty]

The decision could hinge on the grander plans that Disney has for the resort property. Even with the high occupancy, we keep hearing that the Disneyland Hotel is going to undergo a massive refurb that will take large blocks of rooms out of service for months. Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

If Disney has unannounced plans to build one or two brand new hotels on property--perhaps even with split DVC/cash accommodations--then it wouldn't be so far-fetched for DVC to get some of the existing cash rooms at the GC.

This is possible, however, they better announce that a new standard hotel is under construction before they do this. There are so few rooms avaliable on property, and GCH has such a loyal following, that an announcement indicating that there will be even FEWER rooms would cause a public relations nightmare for Disney. The original rumor about DVC at the GCH said that they would expand by the Hotel by 300 rooms, and 50 of those would be DVC. I would not be suprised if they announce 100 or so DVC rooms and no aditional hotel rooms. They have about 3 1/2 acres to build on and with a 5 story wing, they could do it.

 

[squidmo]

IF they are beginning to build a DVC soon at GC, anyone have any educated guesses on when sales would begin??? Are we talking this year, next year, or later?

Over on MiceChat, there was a poster who said they had been on some sort of tour for a college class and that Disney had said they were planning on GCV construction to be done next spring. Now, I'm not quite sure how this would be possible, so I'm wondering if he misunderstood OR perhaps they meant principle construction (exterior walls and such). However, I do think that Disney is likely to "fast-track" this construction because there are two new timeshares opening in Anaheim next year- Worldmark in spring 2008, and Westgate in the Gardenwalk. Both are within walking distance, and I would think they would be perceived as a threat by DVC. My guess is they will want things to be far enough along that they can start sales for GCV before these two properties are ready to start accepting guests.

 

[dwelty]

Over on MiceChat, there was a poster who said they had been on some sort of tour for a college class and that Disney had said they were planning on GCV construction to be done next spring. Now, I'm not quite sure how this would be possible, so I'm wondering if he misunderstood OR perhaps they meant principle construction (exterior walls and such). However, I do think that Disney is likely to "fast-track" this construction because there are two new timeshares opening in Anaheim next year- Worldmark in spring 2008, and Westgate in the Gardenwalk. Both are within walking distance, and I would think they would be perceived as a threat by DVC. My guess is they will want things to be far enough along that they can start sales for GCV before these two properties are ready to start accepting guests.

Good point Squidmo, even though Orlando is the "timeshare capital of the world" they are so far off Disney property that DVC has a real advantage. Not so with Disneyland. Just a few years ago there were no timeshares in Anaheim, but since the resort expansion in 2001, they have been popping up everywhere, and they are within walking distance of the park.



P.S. Found any new permits on GCH DVC lately?

 

[squidmo]

P.S. Found any new permits on GCH DVC lately?

Not yet, but believe me- I'm checking frequently! As soon as anything interesting pops up I'll post it.

Oh, but I do have one small additional piece of info on the two permits from last week- Anaheim's system is letting me do the search on permit fees again, and I was able to see that the permit for the timeshare mockup was submitted by the same architect as the permit for the Grand Californian extension permit. I googled the architect name and address, and found that the firm is Morris Architects, and here is their website:

http://www.morrisarchitects.com/index.html

 

[dwelty]

Not yet, but believe me- I'm checking frequently! As soon as anything interesting pops up I'll post it.

Oh, but I do have one small additional piece of info on the two permits from last week- Anaheim's system is letting me do the search on permit fees again, and I was able to see that the permit for the timeshare mockup was submitted by the same architect as the permit for the Grand Californian extension permit. I googled the architect name and address, and found that the firm is Morris Architects, and here is their website:

http://www.morrisarchitects.com/index.html

I think the fact that they are the same firm removes any possibility that the remodel of the model units is going to be AKL.
It is also interesting to note that they have offices in Orlando, and Los Angeles. I wonder if they have done any work for WDW in the past?