Grand Floridian Construction

[CWO4DVC]

We are all thinking the construction at GF is going to be GFVs. Can anyone who visits post some pictures or bus driver rumors to keep us up to speed!

 

[Dizny Dad]

With the current executive environment, I would bet the construction is put on hold to let the dust settle.

 

[L.C.Clench]

Anyone have a timeline of how previous resorts were constructed? From when walls were put up to when the announcement was made to when the resort opened? Excluding Aulani. Just wondering when we might hear about this officially?

Can't wait, I'm sure it will be beautiful!

 

[dizfan]

You may want to check out this thread...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2680692

As far as the timing, Tim at DVCNews in the past mentioned a 2-3 year time frame, unless they decide to convert some of the existing GF rooms to VGF (similar to the AKL Jambo conversion to the original AKV Jambo rooms). I believe Tim has posted that it took under 1 year for the AKL rooms to be converted to AKV rooms.

 

[Sammie]

I am guessing the end of 2013.

 

[Sammie]

With the current executive environment, I would bet the construction is put on hold to let the dust settle.

I don't think it will. Disney has seriously angered many brides that have rearranged their weddings around this construction. A delay would be a huge PR mistake.

DVC does not need any more bad publicity.

 

[GoofItUp]

I don't think it will. Disney has seriously angered many brides that have rearranged their weddings around this construction. A delay would be a huge PR mistake.

DVC does not need any more bad publicity.

Don't you feel sorry for the wedding planners that came away from the meeting where it was announced that they'd have to move/change their bookings for that time period? You know they were looking at each other and thinking..."this ought to make for a fun afternoon!"

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

I'm leaving today I will attempt to check it out !

 

[L.C.Clench]

Hey all,
I thought this was interesting...
A friend of mine works at a print shop down in kissimmee. They do a lot of different print work for various divisions of the company. Anyways, he sent me some photos of what I believe is the concept art for the new villas. It looks like they are right up against the water. Not sure about the angle though, the firework in the picture looks weird. I guess if they have this done then an announcement could come soon?

I am not sure how to link the pictures in this post, but here is the link to the dropbox to DL them.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/40673762/GFV2.bmp

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/40673762/GFV2.bmp

 

[drusba]

Hey all,
I thought this was interesting...
A friend of mine works at a print shop down in kissimmee. They do a lot of different print work for various divisions of the company. Anyways, he sent me some photos of what I believe is the concept art for the new villas. It looks like they are right up against the water. Not sure about the angle though, the firework in the picture looks weird. I guess if they have this done then an announcement could come soon?

I am not sure how to link the pictures in this post, but here is the link to the dropbox to DL them.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/40673762/GFV2.bmp

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/40673762/GFV2.bmp

Unfortunately, if those are pictures of the new villas, you better tell your friend to start looking for a new job and the print shop better start damage control immediately or otherwise face the possibility that Disney will never hire it again. One thing that Disney deplores from companies it works with on designs and schematics for new resoprts is anyone releasing anything to someone outside the applicable company before Disney says it can.

 

[sweetdana]

Unfortunately, if those are pictures of the new villas, you better tell your friend to start looking for a new job and the print shop better start damage control immediately or otherwise face the possibility that Disney will never hire it again. One thing that Disney deplores from companies it works with on designs and schematics for new resoprts is anyone releasing anything to someone outside the applicable company before Disney says it can.

BOY IS THAT AN UNDERSTATEMENT!

 

[Sammie]

Isn't that the summer house in the foreground, left of the photo, that would not be in the right place though.

And that is Narcossee's to the right under the fireworks.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't think it will. Disney has seriously angered many brides that have rearranged their weddings around this construction. A delay would be a huge PR mistake.

DVC does not need any more bad publicity.

Considering what happened, I think it would be wise if the new DVC management steps back and carefully looks at existing projects rather than going full speed ahead with plans created by Jim Lewis. A few angry brides is better than having state regulators after them and another Aulani mess.

 

[Sammie]

Considering what happened, I think it would be wise if the new DVC management steps back and carefully looks at existing projects rather than going full speed ahead with plans created by Jim Lewis. A few angry brides is better than having state regulators after them and another Aulani mess.

I agree and I feel sure they are examining everything.

 

[castleri]

Except for the construction walls, and large shrubbery that has been added in places between GF and the bridal chapel there does not seem to be any signs of any construction and the whole area seems rather small for any DVC of any size. Someone this week (not a bus driver) said they were going to have to drain the lake to add land to build on. I would think this is a stretch although they may find some way to add additional land for the project. I didn"t take any pictures but may make a monorail trip tomorrow to do so as we don't really have anything planned for then. Should have done it while we were at BLT instead of now while at AKV Kidani.

 

[hakepb]

I think "draining" would be near impossible. That would pretty much shut down all boat traffic (and we know monorail is not reliable enough) docks would be in too shallow of water. The water "bridge" between Bay Lake and Seven Seas would be stopped... I would think that would take a month or so, even with huge New Orleans pumps..

The photo looks nice. With kids on the beach, that is not a pure wedding suite building. Although I'm trying to figure the difference between a 1BR and studio unless a 1BR is 2 balconies.

 

[Sammie]

I think "draining" would be near impossible. That would pretty much shut down all boat traffic (and we know monorail is not reliable enough) docks would be in too shallow of water. The water "bridge" between Bay Lake and Seven Seas would be stopped... I would think that would take a month or so, even with huge New Orleans pumps..

The photo looks nice. With kids on the beach, that is not a pure wedding suite building. Although I'm trying to figure the difference between a 1BR and studio unless a 1BR is 2 balconies.

I would imagine they are going to build some type of damn or barrier and then drain or dredge the area where they are going to expand out.

 

[deebits]

My question is how are they going to build this around the monorail. The monorail is going right through where the walls are up. It is exciting to watch this all come together like BLT.

 

[Sammie]

My question is how are they going to build this around the monorail. The monorail is going right through where the walls are up. It is exciting to watch this all come together like BLT.

The actual building will set between the monorail and lagoon, but yes some rooms will have up close and personal view of the monorail.

 

[wdrl]

I would imagine they are going to build some type of damn or barrier and then drain or dredge the area where they are going to expand out.

As Sammie points out, only a tiny part of the Seven Seas Lagoon has to be drained for the project. The diagram below, which was submitted to the South Florida Water Management District, shows how much of the project's footprint extends into the Lagoon.

Also, the diagram shows there is plenty of room for the monorail to pass through the area. BTW, the entire construction site next to the Grand Floridian is only 13.53 acres.