MAJOR Announcement Tomorrow (a.k.a. Disney Springs)

[manning]

As long as they have Bingo and rice pudding, I'll be fine with Disney Springs.

Prunes, must have prunes, so we can say "oh what a relief it is."

 

[super mike b]

I am just glad that they are doing something new.

 

[BridgetR3]

Wrong thread....silly me....

 

[lockedoutlogic]

If this doesn't kill all hope for a return of the AC, I don't know what would. It seems like Disney is completely exiting the whole nightlife/partying market in Orlando (a la CityWalk) and creating a 100% family-friendly atmosphere with specialty brands in a themed setting. While I'm not arguing that this isn't a glorified shopping center (not to put it down), the theming isn't necessarily on par with your local shopping mall (unless you live next to the MoA I guess, though I don't know how well themed that actually is) and it seems like many of the potential brands are not necessarily common for local shopping mall. I for one am excited that a SHAKE SHACK is coming to Florida!

Still agree with others that the name stinks. "C'mon kids, let's go to the "Springs"!" Just not feeling it...

The whole adventurers club thing has to die...the place fit 50 people for god's sake. It had a 20 year run...but the writing was on the wall there.

I could see a restaurant type take on that perhaps returning...but only if operated third party. It would be like the old Jungle Jim's in crossroads (or worse big bamboo )...so on second thought, maybe no.

But as far as Disney "exiting" the Orlando night scene...there is no scene to exit.

Church street station is gone. I drive is junk. Citywalk has always (wisely...perhaps because of the decline of other areas) been restaurants with bars just like the West Side. Boardwalk is a ghost town.

But this is the way they're going...and it's not necessarily a bad thing. This is probably the best we can hope for. It appears to be a large project...they could have thrown up TGI Fridays like that horrid flamingo crossing shenanigan...

Could be worse. I know to the purists the reality that there will never again be Disney run comedy/boutique bars is hard. Change usually sucks.

But let's face it...downtown is still nice to go to...and contrary to quips...NOT a local shopping mall.

Retail is dying and theme restaurants have been a pretty mixed bag as far as money goes...

The fact that they are continuing IS something

 

[lockedoutlogic]

IMHO, Saratoga springs was built to generate tons of DVC ownerships as cheaply as possible. My biggest complaint is that not only do I not want to go there (due to location mostly) but the majority of SSR owners do not want to go there. It filled the DVC community with excess points desiring to stay at the premier location resorts, making them more difficult to book. Hopefully the inclusion of SSR into the new Disney Springs will draw more people to the resort. They better build the bridge connecting to SSR. They should build two.

Dead on...it's not your opinion...it's the fact (I'm not just a member...I'm also an owner in this case - like hair club for men)

Saratoga was a failed property (several times) that they used DVC to exploit and then went Ape in building 1000 units during the last economic stupidity cycle.

There are tens of thousands of points readily available for resale and I would surmise that many more were yielded back to DVC because they were purchased on credit. (As in cards, second mortgages, lines of credit, etc)

But you're right...people don't by and large choose it...they accept it when the other spots aren't available...it's too much.

For me it's the point structure...way out of whack. They built it cheap, sold it expensive, and tried to shake the points back out if the owners with a bogus point chart.

Why is it the same (basically) as wilderness lodge, beach club, and boardwalk?

Why is it not exactly the same as old key west?

The answers are "greed" and "stupidity" and they basically ****y trapped the whole DVC system with it.

Why should I be able to walk into EPCOT from beach club for one more point a night? Or boardwalk for less?

Shouldn't...it was a mistake...even to a moron like me who bought it (because it was all that was for sale new at the time)

 

[jennylyn_b]

Dead on...it's not your opinion...it's the fact (I'm not just a member...I'm also an owner in this case - like hair club for men)

Saratoga was a failed property (several times) that they used DVC to exploit and then went Ape in building 1000 units during the last economic stupidity cycle.

There are tens of thousands of points readily available for resale and I would surmise that many more were yielded back to DVC because they were purchased on credit. (As in cards, second mortgages, lines of credit, etc)

But you're right...people don't by and large choose it...they accept it when the other spots aren't available...it's too much.

For me it's the point structure...way out of whack. They built it cheap, sold it expensive, and tried to shake the points back out if the owners with a bogus point chart.

Why is it the same (basically) as wilderness lodge, beach club, and boardwalk?

Why is it not exactly the same as old key west?

The answers are "greed" and "stupidity" and they basically ****y trapped the whole DVC system with it.

Why should I be able to walk into EPCOT from beach club for one more point a night? Or boardwalk for less?

Shouldn't...it was a mistake...even to a moron like me who bought it (because it was all that was for sale new at the time)

We have three SSR contracts and LoVe SSR! It always annoys me when ppl rip it apart. I know plenty of ppl who own there and love it too. It's nearly sold out now and there is a wait list so we aren't allow in loving it.

Your opinion of SSR is opinion not fact.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

We have three SSR contracts and LoVe SSR! It always annoys me when ppl rip it apart. I know plenty of ppl who own there and love it too. It's nearly sold out now and there is a wait list so we aren't allow in loving it.

Your opinion of SSR is opinion not fact.

You're right...there are people such as yourself who love it...as with anything.

However, look up timeshare resales and take a look...

Or better yet go to any calendar date of the year and call or go on the online booking system and track what's available. Any day of the year.

The proof is there.

And it's not just a matter of size...because if that were true there would be some points where it maxed out over ak, old key west etc.

If the desire was there...which does not seem to be the case.

Are you saying that if I call up DVC right now and ask for 100 points of Saratoga they won't have it?
I do find that hard to believe...unless its alot less than what they're selling elsewhere...which would make sense - but doesn't mean the demand would be to use them at Saratoga...merely to buy them and use them at beach club or bay lake...like everyone else.

 

[WDWChloe]

My 2cents...


I'm not a huge fan of this expansion so far. The only thing that interests me is the WOD expansion. Other than that, I'm not thrilled. I feel like they could be using this $$ and energy in other areas in the World rather that DD (I like that name too ). I don't understand their logic sometimes.

Does anyone think their will be a charge, Or will it remain to be free? Maybe even a low cover charge for the entire area?

 

[Hyperspace Hoopla]

All of the changes that have been reported are an effort to generate more money for Disney - which is fine...this is business.

But at the same time, they want people to shell out $80+ a day to visit their theme parks, at least three of which are in dire need of expansion/enhancement/investment. I'd prefer they spend their money to enhance my enjoyment, not their revenues.

I no longer visit DTD unless my son wants a toy I can only get there, or wants to go to T-Rex or something. It seems to take forever to get there, as the WDW busses always get caught in traffic, or go all the way around the back way past the old Disney Inn to get there.

DTD needs a draw - a reason for me to give up my park time to go there. There are a number of character dining venues that are out of the way, but people flock there (try making a 7AM resi at Ohana if you're not staying in the MK loop). Why not add an exclusive Character dining experience to draw people in?

 

[nuts]

Or better yet go to any calendar date of the year and call or go on the online booking system and track what's available. Any day of the year.

I tried to book at SSR for a couple days last week (booked in early January). None was available, so I booked at Boardwalk (strange but true).

 

[jordanri]

even though i don't live down in orlando anymore, many of my friends do and i am just excited for the aspect of parking garages.... that lot is a nightmare

 

[jennylyn_b]

Are you saying that if I call up DVC right now and ask for 100 points of Saratoga they won't have it?
I do find that hard to believe...unless its alot less than what they're selling elsewhere...which would make sense - but doesn't mean the demand would be to use them at Saratoga...merely to buy them and use them at beach club or bay lake...like everyone else.

Yes we were there in Nov 2011 and SSR was at 100% capacity per the check in manager. Also, we added on in Aug 2012 for our third SSR contract and our guide told us he had to see if they had the inventory as SSR was nearly sold out. He did have it for the amount of points we were adding and our use year but he had a few ppl on wait lists for larger amounts.

You are right that some ppl buy SSR and don't stay there but that can be said about a lot of dvc resorts. Some buy OKW or hhi and use them elsewhere. What upsets me is the attitude that SSR is garbage and no one ever wants to stay there. That is opinion not mine but its a valid opinion. We find the resort relaxing. We love the space and quiet. We love the boat downtown and the Turf Club, etc.

 

[FirstTimeDisneyVisit]

Please don't start destroying stuff before I get there one last time.....

Ditto !

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I tried to book at SSR for a couple days last week (booked in early January). None was available, so I booked at Boardwalk (strange but true).

Get out of town...

But admit it: You were shocked by that...like as if you woke up the today with your head sewn to the carpet.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Yes we were there in Nov 2011 and SSR was at 100% capacity per the check in manager. Also, we added on in Aug 2012 for our third SSR contract and our guide told us he had to see if they had the inventory as SSR was nearly sold out. He did have it for the amount of points we were adding and our use year but he had a few ppl on wait lists for larger amounts.

You are right that some ppl buy SSR and don't stay there but that can be said about a lot of dvc resorts. Some buy OKW or hhi and use them elsewhere. What upsets me is the attitude that SSR is garbage and no one ever wants to stay there. That is opinion not mine but its a valid opinion. We find the resort relaxing. We love the space and quiet. We love the boat downtown and the Turf Club, etc.

Well, i'm not saying that they couldn't be at 100% capacity...i'm saying it is typically the last resort. Especially November...which has a couple of very crowded weeks in there.

But i'm also not saying saratoga is "garbage"...there are alot of things i like about it.
What i'm saying is that it was ill conceived, over built and the point chart is wrong/ makes it totally unappealing.

They made 35% of their inventory at a location that wasn't attached to a gate. Big mistake.

They also made it to pricey in terms of DVC "cost"...the non-park locations can't be the same price (points) as those located close to parks. That was a recipe for failure.

That's what I'm saying. Not that there isn't good things about Saratoga...just that they misfired on some key factors.

 

[super mike b]

even though i don't live down in orlando anymore, many of my friends do and i am just excited for the aspect of parking garages.... that lot is a nightmare

 

[Sparkly]

There's tons of places for families..why not areas for adults to go and enjoy themselves. I guess it's all about the ~princess magic~

 

[lockedoutlogic]

There's tons of places for families..why not areas for adults to go and enjoy themselves. I guess it's all about the ~princess magic~

They did that...they were called pleasure island and boardwalk...

Disney did not get
Out of it what they want.

They prefer
Restaurants with bars/ night activity potential...preferably third party operated

 

[RescueRanger]

Well, i'm not saying that they couldn't be at 100% capacity...i'm saying it is typically the last resort. Especially November...which has a couple of very crowded weeks in there.

But i'm also not saying saratoga is "garbage"...there are alot of things i like about it.
What i'm saying is that it was ill conceived, over built and the point chart is wrong/ makes it totally unappealing.

They made 35% of their inventory at a location that wasn't attached to a gate. Big mistake.

They also made it to pricey in terms of DVC "cost"...the non-park locations can't be the same price (points) as those located close to parks. That was a recipe for failure.

That's what I'm saying. Not that there isn't good things about Saratoga...just that they misfired on some key factors.

I have to agree with this. The point chart is why I haven't tried SSR yet. There are just too many better choices for the same or almost the same amount of points. The resort does not really appeal to me, but I would be tempted to try it if the points required were not so high. Even on short notice, I can usually find a much cheaper alternative at AKV.

 

[jtwibih]

I know this is off topic but why is AKV's point chart less than most? Number of available rooms vs other DVC options?