NON-DVC timeshares on Disney Property and More...

[3DisneyKids]

From another thread here on the DIS....

A little over a year ago Disney announced a large project for a Four Seasons resort, condominiums, timeshares and potential homes to be built on the northeast corner of WDW property. It was discussed here on the DVC boards for a bit.

An article appeared in today's Orlando Sentinal discussing the project in more detail. I felt compelled to create this thread because like all of you I'm a WDW fanatic. The article gives the impression more homes than originally planned will be built. Which is very alarming to me.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busin...,2316702.story

The fact that Disney will allow million dollar and multi-million dollar homes to be built on a large portion of their property disturbs me. Let's face it, only the rich will be able to afford these homes. This does not fall within Walt's vision at all. He wanted his Disneyland & Disney World to be for everyone, for all families to enjoy. By segregating the rich I feel like the execs at Disney are selling out, part of Walt's vision is lost. In my opinion that can't be good for the company in the long run.

What's worse is we are saying goodbye to one, and possibly two of Disney's premier golf courses. Eagle Pines will have homes built on it and another could be privatized. I know Eagle Pines has been closed for a while now and that was a very nice course.

Looking at the WDW map this project will take up a pretty big chunk of land. There is so much going wrong with the use of this land, in my opinion; Disney selling out to the rich, more 3rd parties building a resort, great golf course(s) going to waste.

Anyway, I wanted to get my feelings about this out and was curious what other DISers (and DVCers in particular) thought of this. I hope the podcast crew will discuss this during an upcoming show in either the news or a short segment because to me hearing this will happen makes for a sad day.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yes, and I guess that means DVC/Eagle Pines is definitely defunct now! Too bad, because it was a nice concept and would have kept the golf course.

 

[disneynutz]

Link doesn't work.

 

[mla973]

There's a link on the rumors board and some discussion over there.

 

[Caskbill]

From what I understand it's no longer Disney property but was sold to Four-Seasons. It's not Disney making the developemnt, it's Four-Seasons.

But Disney is a partner somehow, so not exactly sure how it's going to work.

There's also plans for lower priced housing, hotels, shopping areas etc., all over by Western Way. In that area Four Seasons is going to also develop a new golf course.

 

[Chuck S]

As Bill said, the property is being de-annexed from Disney and Reedy Creek. I'm sure there will be deed restrictons on usage, and Disney may retain the right for final approval of the developments. It really has no impact on DVC at all.

 

[Brian Noble]

Let's face it, only the rich will be able to afford these homes.

Who is and isn't rich depends very much on your perspective. It is not as though DVC is a mass-market offering...

 

[pilferk]

I don't have an issue with this.

First off, it's not Disney property anymore. Or it won't be by the time the development process begins.

Second, even if it was....I'm not willing to say the "ultra-luxury" are a demographic that should be LESS catered to than the value, moderate, deluxe, or DVC demo. And right now, lets face it, as far as Disney offerings go...they are.

This helps both sides: It allows Disney to "cater" to that demographic without actually "catering" to them. They allow Four Seasons to do what they do best, and Disney reaps the financial benefits of having an offering to that demo VERY close to their property.

It eliminates a golf course...one that Disney has long considered radically changing or eliminating...and I don't see that as a big deal (as nice as EP was). It seems like it's going to replace another course (privatising one, while opening up another down along the Western Beltway development). Again, I dont' see that as being a huge deal.

I don't think it will effect DVC at all. The two products (incremental/fractional ownership of multi-million dollar houses vs timeshare ownership) seem to cater to two completely different market segments. I doubt you'll see competition for owners on all but the THINNEST of levels between the two..and I certainly don't see this product doing anything to DVC resale values.

So, in the end....I just don't see much to get worked up over with this. It seems like a sound business decision, that carries very little risk for Disney, but has the chance for a pretty good sized "up side". It doesn't hurt the existing customers, resorts, etc by taking any of Disney's resources away from them....Seems like a win/win to me.

 

[Lynne M]

Let's face it, only the rich will be able to afford these homes. This does not fall within Walt's vision at all. He wanted his Disneyland & Disney World to be for everyone, for all families to enjoy.

If that were true, Walt wouldn't have charged admission to Disneyland. The Disney company is a profit-making enterprise, and always has been.

Sorry, but the argument just doesn't hold up for me. You could make the same argument about DVC, or the Grand Floridian, or Victoria and Alberts, and say that they are so expensive that they exclude some families, and Walt wouldn't have wanted that. To be honest, even a one-day pass is beyond the reach of many, many people in this country.

 

[casper]

I guess I will get a little more concerned when I know more about it. Or in the finding out, become less concerned. My main concerns are how will it affect the sky-line of other Disney resorts, will it be an eye-sore for those of us who stay at Disney property as a means of escaping the "real" world? Those things I just don't know yet.

On the other hand, having something so close to the other Disney resorts may force the hand of Disney to shape up where they have been a little sloppy lately (like mousekeeping at DVC).

Most change is difficult. Especially when the change may effect what we have grown to love so much. I'm still adjusting to the fact that from Adventureland I can see a huge tower being built in the sky. I may own at that tower someday, but it is a change I'm not really liking for the moment. The human mind learns to accept and even get use to change.

 

[Mtnman44]

I think we can all agree that the Walt Disney Company and in particular the their theme park business has been, despite some ups and downs, very successful over the past 60 years.

While I don't always understand everything, I have confidence that they know what they are doing.

I for one hope they will continue to do whatever is necessary to grow the company and and make the most profit, thereby insuring that they will be around for years to come, have the best themeparks, and have plenty of money to get the best staff, etc, etc.