New DVC being discussed on Mouseplanet

[Happy Birthday Cat]

This morning's WDW Park Update on Mouseplanet (Link) has some interesting rumor information on a possible new DVC.

HBC

Here is the full text:

Rumors swirl about possible new DVC resort

Rumors have been flying for a little while now about a possible new Disney Vacation Club resort to be located near the STOLport. (That's the now-decommissioned Short Take-Off and Landing airport across World Drive from the Magic Kingdom parking lot). The rumors have indicated the possibility that the resort would actually be located with a stop on the Epcot monorail beam.

Lending support to that rumor is the fact that there have been a number of surveys being done in the STOLport area recently. Further support comes from some drawings of a proposed new DVC resort near the Contemporary Resort that have recently surfaced, showing a 16-floor resort.

Does this mean that it's going to happen? No. But it certainly makes the possibility much more likely. In any case, don't expect any announcement until the Saratoga Springs Resort is just sold out. After all, if you were considering buying into DVC and only had the option to buy at Saratoga Springs, but you knew that a new Epcot monorail resort would be available in the near future, wouldn't you hold off buying to get that new resort as your home resort?

 

[Chuck S]

I would think construction would have to get underway soon for a 16 story structure to be ready to be sold when SSR sells out. That would be a BIG building for DVC. I think it is more likely that, if there is any truth to the rumors, it will be a new deluxe resort with a smaller "attached" building for DVC villas, similar to the other hotel style DVCs.

 

[kathleena]

I think it is more likely that, if there is any truth to the rumors, it will be a new deluxe resort with a smaller "attached" building for DVC villas, similar to the other hotel style DVCs.

Or maybe it would be like the BWV, where the DVC portion IS the primary portion, with a smaller hotel attached to it, and where the DVC and the hotel were designed and built together right from the start.

 

[BCV23]

Am I the only one who would lose all interest if the rumored property is a high rise. Just not my cup of tea on vacation.

Plus it would be so huge, the MK would end up even busier than it is I would think.

 

[nuts]

Go to:
FUTURE DVC SITE

 

[JimFitz]

Go to:
FUTURE DVC SITE

Is that your site?

 

[wendydarling826]

A high rise resort doesn't sound very appealing to me either, but a location on the monorail would definitely appeal.

 

[bpmorley]

We have 270 points at SSR. We would definitely buy the minimum(hopefully 150pts) if they were to build that resort. Although I don't think a 16 story bldg would impress me much. Besides wouldn't that block the view from The California Grill to MK.

 

[mrsR123]

We have 270 points at SSR. We would definitely buy the minimum(hopefully 150pts) if they were to build that resort. Although I don't think a 16 story bldg would impress me much. Besides wouldn't that block the view from The California Grill to MK.

The site being rumored is "below" (sorry I don't know the cardinal direction of the MK area) the CR; visitors pass this plot before they reach even the Wilderness Lodge, much less the CR.

 

[BCV23]

So is it going to be a highrise and will it have Epcot monorail access?

 

[corpcomp]

A building that high would definitely change the landscape and I cannot imagine WDW building anything that is taller than the castle that close to it.

I personally would not be interested is purchasing points at a high rise.

 

[mello]

The whole thing about MK and the castle is that it's the most important thing on the landscape as you approach. I think they'd be crazy to tamper with the landscape to that degree. I can't see anything any taller than the contemporary there. A gigantic highrise would be an eyesore I'd think. I do love the idea of it being on the monorail, but I wouldn't buy into an eyesore. Guess we'll have to wait and see!

 

[JimFitz]

I think they can pull it off. They could make it look very nice. Imagine the views from the top floor? Sitting on your balcony and watching the MK fireworks or Illuminations?

 

[Todd and Toni]

We were there 2 weeks ago and had a long conversation with a Disney Engineer (at least he said he was). We were talking rumors and this came up. He said the Contemporary is going to be the site of the next DVC resort. I did not ask any specific details, i.e. size, exact location.

He may have been telling me a story too.

I think the decomissioned airport would make more sense because there is more space.

My nephew asked about additions to the monorail system. We were told they would not be adding any "lines" to the system. (It would cost too much and the system goes down often during lightning.) This would not be an issue with the Contemporary but I do not know how close the Epcot monorail "line" goes to the decomissioned airport area to understand if a station feasible.

With all of the rumors I do not know what to believe .

 

[Chuck S]

As a casual observer driving by the rumored site, it looks as if a Monorail station could be added easily here. But, site work would have to begin relatively soon, as there is no existing infrastructure at this site (power/water/waste). From that standpoint using the Contempoary North wing location makes more sense. Or even the unfinished area of POP. There is a food court/store/front desk building already in place that could be converted to include a full service restaurant fairly easily. Basic infrastructure is already in place. The unfinished POP 40s could be demolished or finished and added to the current POP, either way, it would still leave room for a seperate, new, dedicated DVC condo style resort similar to OKW or SSR. It could be themed to turn of the century to sort of blend with the theme of POP across the lake. The drawback to a location near POP would be that everything is bus transportation.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

But, site work would have to begin relatively soon, as there is no existing infrastructure at this site (power/water/waste). From that standpoint using the Contempoary North wing location makes more sense.

I agree. Considering that the last three DVC developments used existing infrastructure, the Contemporary North Wing makes all the sense in the world. Disney has a model that is making them tons of money. Why change now?

HBC

 

[BCV23]

We were there 2 weeks ago and had a long conversation with a Disney Engineer (at least he said he was). We were talking rumors and this came up. He said the Contemporary is going to be the site of the next DVC resort.

If it wasn't a "story," this eliminates the STOL doesn't it? I don't see how that could be called a Contemporary DVC. It is closer to WL and FW than the CR.

Also agree with Chuck and HBC. And it actually looks like there is plenty of room by the North Wing to make a DVC similar in size to BCV when you look at aerial maps.

Maybe Nuts name is just because he thinks we're all nuts to spend so much time speculating.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Go to:
FUTURE DVC SITE

The amateur diagram at that link is speculation by a fan, and nothing more. The diagram is clearly not an actual architect's plan — it's just something that a fan made with photo editing software and posted through a Comcast account.

Take a look at the diagram, specifically at the "Vista Blvd. remodeling." The road's new path through the ramps and into the Walt Disney World Speedway makes no sense at all! Also, when the path of a road is changed, the term is "realignment," not "remodeling." (You remodel a kitchen or a whole house; you realign a road.)

So, in my opinion, the diagram does nothing to establish the credibility of the rumor. So let's ignore the diagram for now. Let's consider the rumor itself.

Sure, it would be possible to interrupt the Epcot monorail line with a new station (serving both directions) that's in walking distance for the STOLport site. But such a station would really end up hurting the monorail experience for monorail resort guests going to Epcot. Disney wants to continue to charge high prices at the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary. It's bad enough today that guests of those resorts must wait for two trains and make multiple stops on the resort line (except for Poly guests who walk to the TTC). At least the Epcot line is an express! If one or more stations were added to the Epcot line, it would take longer, the ride would be less fun, and the value of staying at a costly monorail resort would diminish. I predict the Epcot monorail will remain an express.

And, sure, it would be possible to build a lengthy canal from the STOLport to Bay Lake. But it would be costly, and the boat ride would be long. I don't think it's going to happen either.

If somethng is on a fan podcast or a fan website, it should still be subjected to a sanity check, just as when somebody posts a rumor from a bus driver at the DIS Disney Rumors and News board.

If I had to pick a DVC monorail resort rumor to believe, I'd pick the rumor that the North Garden Wing of the Contemporary Resort will be demolished, allowing the construction of a new, purpose-built DVC resort, without the limitations of retrofitting the old wing. By combining the site of the North Garden Wing and the tennis courts, Disney Vacation Development (DVD) would have a large site for far more DVC units than would fit into the old North Garden Wing. The villas would have the right floor plans and plumbing for DVC accommodations with kitchens, washers, and so on. The new structure could be designed so that the villas have Bay Lake views on one side of the structure and Space Mountain/Magic Kingdom views on the other.

 

[TwingleMum]

Isn't the STOL right next to Richard Petty, I would not want to pay premium points costs and hear that race track whenever I wanted to relax around the pool. Someone here suggested calling it the Richard Petty Villas.

 

[rinkwide]

...the (16 floor) resort would actually be located with a stop on the Epcot monorail beam...

I heard this too. Additionally, there will be table games, 1200 slot machines and an 8,000 seat theater. It's part of a yet to be announced three-way venture between Disney Vacation Development, Donald Trump International and the Neverland Indian Nation.