Hawaii Project: Did you see this bit of news?

[Greg K.]

From the DISBoards news ticker on the main page:

New VP to oversee Disney Hawaii project
Jun 18, 2008

Djuan Rivers has been appointed as Vice-President of the Disney Vacation Club and Resort being constructed in Hawaii.

Rivers has 20 years of experience with the company and is leaving his position as Walt Disney Parks Vice President of new business development.

Is it possible -- could it be? -- that this actually might really happen??!!

All together now:

 

[DVCLiz]

From the DISBoards news ticker on the main page:

New VP to oversee Disney Hawaii project
Jun 18, 2008

Djuan Rivers has been appointed as Vice-President of the Disney Vacation Club and Resort being constructed in Hawaii.

Rivers has 20 years of experience with the company and is leaving his position as Walt Disney Parks Vice President of new business development.

Is it possible -- could it be? -- that this actually might really happen??!!

All together now:

I thought Hawaii was a done deal that had already been announced?

 

[gkrykewy]

Joan Rivers! Interesting.

 

[tjkraz]

I thought Hawaii was a done deal that had already been announced?

It has.

In recent months many have begun to assume that Disney is having second thoughts since things have not been moving very quickly. Hard to argue with that point--since the announcement almost 9 months ago we have learned almost nothing new about the project.

Hopefully this will put some fears to rest.

 

[Tigger031266]

Darn, I was hoping to get that Job!! Lets see:

- Working for Disney (only the best company ever)
- Disney Perks - I bet they get a good AP discount
- VP - Salary has to be about 300K base plus options +???
- Hawaii project - tough place to work

Yep...worried about suntans and how long to make the bar at the DVC resort.

 

[snackyx]

The only bump in the road for this project would be if the economy continues to tank and oil prices keep climbing. I own a week at Marriott's Ko Olina resort right next door to where Disney is building (lets see: a week with Marriott, walk to the next resort a spend a week or two there--this is sounding good) and that flight every year just keeps getting more expensive. Admittingly, those who are traveling to Hawaii may be less affected about fuel prices than others mainland vacationeers but it could become a real concern. There is really only one way to get to Hawaii, and those bargin airfares everyone used to find are disappearing quickly. Transportation for a family of four (or just for two!) to Hawaii becomes a very serious line item in the vacation budget.

 

[pjharristx]

Wow, I've never been to Hawaii before - that would be great - now if the oil situation would just cooperate (LOL)

 

[Greg K.]

It has.

In recent months many have begun to assume that Disney is having second thoughts since things have not been moving very quickly. Hard to argue with that point--since the announcement almost 9 months ago we have learned almost nothing new about the project.

Hopefully this will put some fears to rest.

Some were beginning to worry it would go the way of Eagle Pines -- remember that? -- and be filed away as a DVC footnote somewhere. This does seem to indicate it might actually happen!

 

[Greg K.]

The only bump in the road for this project would be if the economy continues to tank and oil prices keep climbing. I own a week at Marriott's Ko Olina resort right next door to where Disney is building (lets see: a week with Marriott, walk to the next resort a spend a week or two there--this is sounding good) and that flight every year just keeps getting more expensive. Admittingly, those who are traveling to Hawaii may be less affected about fuel prices than others mainland vacationeers but it could become a real concern. There is really only one way to get to Hawaii, and those bargin airfares everyone used to find are disappearing quickly. Transportation for a family of four (or just for two!) to Hawaii becomes a very serious line item in the vacation budget.

There's been speculation that one of Disney's new cruise ships may be based in LA and run an intinerary to Hawaii. That may make it more manageable for some people.

 

[snackyx]

If you can afford a Disney cruise to Hawaii as your mode of transportation then oil prices are most likely not keeping you up at night. If you are in that economic strata you will be able to go where you want when you want, and I would guess the competition for THAT dollar will be great among high end resorts. I would guess Disney is going to need that middle to upper end DVC member who can afford a trip to Hawaii if the transportaion issues do not become simply out-of-reach. I am in Michigan--airfares to Hawaii generally now run about $1000 or slightly more per ticket. Two years ago you could actually find tickets around $500 if you were flexible in dates and time of year. I think its safe to say those days are over, and this upward spiral may impact the Disney decision. I hope it does not.

 

[Coach Rick]

I gotta say, 26 years ago we flew Boston to Hawaii for our honeymoon, and paid $750 per person back then. I just checked and it is only $300 more round trip than then, so that is an annual increase of $5.76 per year each way. We are planning on doing a trip in 2012 to celebrate our youngest DD high school graduation. So we will just add another $50 per person savings for that trip. Hopefully the DVC resort will be open by then. (they claim 2011) Then the trick will be getting in at the 7 month window...

 

[snackyx]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the $5.76/yr increase may speed up a bit. The historical comparision is interesting, but the cost of a barrel of oil has doubled in about the last 12-18 months, and there is speculation that crude could hit $200/barrell in 18 months! What did a barrel of oil increase in the last 26 years compared to the increase in just the last TWO years? The airlines pay approx. one million dollars A DAY more in fuel costs for each penny increase in a barrel of crude. Do the math--I hope you do not own airline stocks. The $1000-1200 RT fares to Hawaii from the east/midwest may seem reasonable in a historic comparision, but the family of four wanting to go to Disney in Hawaii will have no interest in history. What is it going to cost them today? or tomorrow? or more important, in 3-5 years? These are the numbers DVC will have a deal with, not just with Hawaii but with mainlanders who will have to figure in travel costs when making future DVC purchases. (There is an intersting, however speculative, article on micechat.com about how the energy crisis could affect WDW operations and future growth. A bit scary.)

 

[moredisneyplease]

There's been speculation that one of Disney's new cruise ships may be based in LA and run an intinerary to Hawaii. That may make it more manageable for some people.

i'm in LA and that would be the coolest thing every!!! A Disney cruise to pick me up and take me there!!!