Name a New Resort just for Fun

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Based on a suggestion by sarhenty, I decided to pose a question. If a new DVC is built at the Contemporary Resort (which I believe will happen), what acronym would you like to see used for it?

HBC

 

[sarhenty]

I guess Villas at the Contemporary sound more exclusive

 

[Doctor P]

I think the idea of a DVC resort at Contemporary is incredibly stupid, will not happen in any forseeable time frame (IMHO), and certainly would have no interest for us. On the list of resorts at which I would have interest staying, I would have to say Contemporary would be near the bottom. That said, I think the acronym should be VCR so that we are forever reminded of how outdated and obsolete the idea really is.

 

[amandaC]

I voted for VCR. I like it because when I was little the contemporary was cool and futuristic but is now pretty dated. That is how my kids will soon view a video cassette recorder (VCR).

 

[Snowgod]

Magic Kindom Villas would be my choice

 

[sjdisneywedding]

I think the idea of a DVC resort at Contemporary is incredibly stupid, will not happen in any forseeable time frame (IMHO), and certainly would have no interest for us. On the list of resorts at which I would have interest staying, I would have to say Contemporary would be near the bottom. That said, I think the acronym should be VCR so that we are forever reminded of how outdated and obsolete the idea really is.

thats a pretty bold, harsh, incorrect statement, considering they would probably be the fastest selling dvc EVER!

however, your theory behind naming it vcr is good

 

[timC]

WDW DVC resorts typically take on the name they're themed around. Do we assume this resort will be themed after the "one-time" Contemporary Resort... Would Disney really want to build a 70's themed resort?

If they rethemed the new resort, they should give it a completely new name... Tropical Lagoon Resort, or Mars Station Alpha.

 

[BEACHCLUBVILLAS]

VAC - Villas At the Contemporary

 

[Doctor P]

thats a pretty bold, harsh, incorrect statement, considering they would probably be the fastest selling dvc EVER!

Talking about a BOLD statement, LOL. Obviously, I disagree. Unfortunately, my bet is we will never know (or not for a lot of years). I believe that Eagle Pines will be developed before anything is developed at Contemporary, and I believe that SSR will be fully built out before they begin to sell Eagle Pines. Could it happen? Of course, especially since it would be similar to the redevelopment of Disney Institute into SSR. But I have a gut feeling that DVC's business model right now is not to attach new DVC resorts to existing hotels, especially one as tired and obsolete as Contemporary. Now, if the rumor was that they were going to blow up the ENTIRE Contemporary resort and build a DVC resort adjacent to the MK, that would be intriguing and actually a bit more rational/believable. That type of resort MIGHT sell very fast, but keep in mind that MK remains the most crowded park and the one that is most heavily visited by day visitors and new visitors to WDW, and also, IMHO, the one that is most likely to see less relative appeal as people age. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out, but I stand by my original opinion if the current rumor was an accurate development idea.

 

[tjkraz]

Here are my thoughts on the CR:

First, I would have no personal desire to own there. Would I stay there? Yeah, perhaps from time-to-time, depending a great deal on what the point schedule would look like. But, as much as I appreciate the place of the CR in the history of WDW, I think it looks godawful now, and can't imagine what it might look like in another 50 years.

As to whether a DVC component will be added...I think that's really difficult to predict.

That piece of real estate may be one of the most valuable in all of WDW. It has the closest proximity, on foot, to the most popular theme park in the world. And it has monorial access to that same theme park and another.

Yet, as a testiment to occupancy levels at the resort, it has the lowest room rates among the deluxe resorts on site. Quite frankly, there isn't much "deluxe" about the CR as it exists today.

If DVC is really selling as steadily as it appears to be, then why the great need to build at the CR? If DVC is selling well enough to warrant Phase 3 of SSR, then doesn't it stand to reason that something like Eagle Pines or another fresh development would be nearly as profitable as CR?

The only real good reason I can think of to build at the CR would be that it's a solution to a problem for WDW--the rooms that would be demolished are in disrepair and DVC taking over that land would justify the necessary refurbishment. But, clearly there are other alternatives:

1. Sell the land to DVC. DVC constructs villas and WDW is virtually locked-into the CR as it exists now until 2054.

2. Maximize the value of the land, not just in a one-time DVC sale but for years to come by updating the entire resort and turn it into the best cash property on site. Basically, I'm talking about rebuilding from the ground up--perhaps still maintaining the spirit of the current resort, while modernizing the design for the 21st century.

Yes, a DVC component would be very profitable. But would it be so much MORE profitable than something like Eagle Pines to justify surrendering that land to the timeshare unit for the next 5 decades?

Again, this does necessitate removing all emotion from the decision regarding the CR's role in Disney lore. But, looking at that piece of land, it's easy to dream of the cash rates they could charge with a newly-designed, modern, deluxe resort overlooking the Magic Kingdom (fireworks and all.)

 

[rinkwide]

Maybe thay could go with an equally dated Jungle Cruise theme and call them the Contemporary Resort Adventure Properties.

 

[OneMoreTry]

Contemporary Resort Adventure Properties !

 

[Tagrel]

While VCR is probably more appropriate, I would have to guess CVR!

The contemporary is a signature property that needs help, but I highly doubt it will EVER be leveled. While it may not be everyones favorite resort, I know lots of people that LOVE that resort. And I don't care what anyone says - the monorail running through the tower is STILL very cool!

If Disney DOESN'T flatten the place and isn't currently filling all the rooms, - why would they NOT lock in a full to nearly full resort for the next 50 years? As to selling it out, I'm positive it would sell out faster than any other DVC resort depending on the final number of units available. I've talked to countless DVC and non-DVC owners that would buy tomorrow if it was available!

While SSR and Eagle Pines hold zero interest for our family, a Monorail DVC would be a sure sale. Even in 20 years, how cool is it to take the grandkids and stay THAT close to the MK? And have the monorail SO accessible?

 

[zulaya]

It would be nice if they could have a different, but possibly related theme. I think a Tomorrowland related theme, something space oriented, would be appropriate given the closeness to Tomorrowland, "contemporary" and fun.

While I personally don't care for the Contemporary as it is today, if it was updated to a more "contemporary" theme, I would consider points there.

Being on the monorail is a huge perk and I think for that alone, if this property came to be DVC, it would sell very very well.

Remember, so many people preach location, location, location. There will be many people who will think walking distance to MK AND monorail access are the biggest selling points they could have.

 

[spiceycat]

okay did I miss something....

I though that WDW is currently rehab and completely fixing up the Cont - so they are kepting it - Or did I miss something else????

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

okay did I miss something....

I though that WDW is currently rehab and completely fixing up the Cont - so they are kepting it - Or did I miss something else????

SC,

You didn't miss anything. The CRV or VCR or whatever were just popping up on the rumor mill so much that week that I decided it was time to name the darn place.

HBC

 

[tjkraz]

While it may not be everyones favorite resort, I know lots of people that LOVE that resort. And I don't care what anyone says - the monorail running through the tower is STILL very cool!

I don't disagree with either point. But the fact is that the CR has the lowest rack rates of all the WDW Deluxes (and is also the lowest AP discounted rate), yet it sits on what I believe to be the single most attractive piece of real estate in the entire resort.

IMO, the best thing they could do would be to redesign the CR to MAINTAIN the monorail throughway and other signature aspects of the current resort, while at the same time modernizing it for the next century. You could charge $400 per night for a modern room with a view of "Wishes" and Space Mountain.

If Disney DOESN'T flatten the place and isn't currently filling all the rooms, - why would they NOT lock in a full to nearly full resort for the next 50 years? As to selling it out, I'm positive it would sell out faster than any other DVC resort depending on the final number of units available. I've talked to countless DVC and non-DVC owners that would buy tomorrow if it was available!

Don't disagree here either. But the point is WHY take such a wonderful piece of land and use it in a one-time cash grab via DVC? Couldn't Disney make many times more money by properly utilizing the space for cash rooms?

12-18 months ago when everything WDW did reeked of short-term thinking (poor maintenance, staffing cutbacks, etc.), putting DVC rooms at the CR seemed (to me, at least) like an easy solution to a problem. But in the last 6 months or so Disney began acting more toward fostering its long term interests (new vacation plans, new meal plans, new ticket plans that reward you for purchasing more days.)

And, I'm also hung up on this "Phase 3" at SSR. It was announced in May '04, with projected opening for sometime in 2007. 2.5-3.5 years would have been pleanty of time to build villas at the CR if all parties were so hot to make it happen.

I just get the sense that the likelihood of this project happening is slowly slipping away.

While SSR and Eagle Pines hold zero interest for our family, a Monorail DVC would be a sure sale. Even in 20 years, how cool is it to take the grandkids and stay THAT close to the MK? And have the monorail SO accessible?

I don't think anyone would argue that it isn't a viable project that would be attractive to many, many current and potential owners. But, let's put a different spin on DVC sales. I'll concede that SSR is not a property of choice for many members, and that Eagle Pines would not be either. Yet SSR sales continue to outpace construction schedules. Phase 3 at SSR was announced in response to DEMAND for the resort.

It's not even worth debating the issue of whether people are buying SSR to stay at SSR or not--the fact is, people ARE buying it.

As long as that trend continues, there is no great NEED to building at a location-of-choice like the CR.

To summarize, if I were running Disney, I'd put the cash resorts on the best pieces of land on property and give DVC its pick of the rest. Attracting the occasional guest to WDW to pay cash for a night in one of 20,000+ on-site rooms is a whole lot more valuable to the bottom line than we diehards who occupy +/- 1500 rooms per night.

 

[robinb]

I voted for CRV since VCR is so hokey. I would buy at CRV in a heartbeat. I happen to like the CR as it is with the exception of the pool which I think is lame. I love being able to walk to the MK and I like the restaurants.

 

[gopherit]

How about "Deluxe Villas at Contemporary"... then it would officially be the
"DVC DVC" (or DVC2).

 

[canwegosoon]

Maybe thay could go with an equally dated Jungle Cruise theme and call them the Contemporary Resort Adventure Properties.

That is too Funny...I would still love to see a monarail resort