Plans for finishing the 2nd part of Pop Century?

[allstar]

Does anyone know when they will be finishing the 2nd phase of the Pop Century resort?

 

[chartle]

Does anyone know when they will be finishing the 2nd phase of the Pop Century resort?

i think Disney doesn't even know

 

[DC7800]

The question which needs to be answered first is IF Disney will be finishing the second phase of Pop Century.

 

[doconeill]

Forever rumors, but no action. There was some activity a year or two ago which seemed to be to preserve the existing work, but that was it.

 

[Lewisc]

Some people think Disney will never "finish" the second phase. A couple of posters said the partially completed buildings are in such bad shape they'll have to be demolished.

Disney isn't going to add any new hotel rooms until they no longer need to offer deeply discounted rates to fill rooms.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Lots of rumors as others have noted.. the most recent was a rumor floating around that work was to begin sometime this spring.. well.. it's almost summer and no action.. no paperwork filed with the county for the construction permits etc.

As for the condition of the existing buildings.. There was a few months a few years ago where a couple of rooms had their doors left open.

That said.. it's a concrete structure that's enclosed. Why those buildings sitting unused would require being torn down.. when the buildings that have been in constant use are just fine.. is a bit of a mystery.

Mold, whatever that may have shown up in a few rooms can be sandblasted out and chemically treated before construction can continue and I can't see the concrete reinforced with embedded steel degrading to the point that they need to be torn down.

But ... who knows. Ultimately the main hall on the Legendary Years side has been in use pretty much non-stop as a staging area for maintenance and other staff so while it appears unused for these many years.. it's actually been fairly busy over there.

K

 

[KYMickey]

Supporting what CanadianGuy said, there is a hotel been finished now in North Korea that sat unfinished open to the elements about the same as the second part of Pop Century for 17 years before work was restarted. I'm willing to bet the weather there was a lot harder on the concrete than the weather in Florida.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Supporting what CanadianGuy said, there is a hotel been finished now in North Korea that sat unfinished open to the elements about the same as the second part of Pop Century for 17 years before work was restarted. I'm willing to bet the weather there was a lot harder on the concrete than the weather in Florida.

Perhaps, but I sure don't think North Korea should be setting the standard for structural engineering.

MG

 

[chartle]

I recall that the pics I saw for the most finished rooms had no interior finish work done, just bare concrete floors, block walls and plumbing stub outs.

So all they would have to do is pressure wash with some super heavy duty cleaner and dry it out or maybe sand blast.

All the issues you see with mold are for areas that you either have to rip out all the finish work to get to or is for materials that can't be pressure washed like drywall and insulation.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Here's a link to a series of pictures I took in 2007 and 2008 -- both showing the same areas..

In the 2007 pictures, you can clearly see the door left open. It's hard to see ni the picture, but there was NOTHING finished in that room and you could see all the way thru to the far side door/window. No walls.. just a pipe running in what would be the wall that separates the two rooms.

In 2008 - that door was closed.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1391731

As for Korea setting construction standards, their building was COMPLETELY exposed to the elements, no windows, no doors. These buildings have doors, windows and so forth and have since the day construction ceased. They are in essence closed with all ventilation and plumbing "stubbed" and closed off. One door on one room was left open at ground floor for a period of a few months in 2007. That's the only 'exposure' that I'm aware of. No windows are broken or damaged etc, the roof structure has been maintained on all buildings.. (they were checking this and doing some maintenance on the roof areas in 2007/8.

I've talked to a couple of structural engineers who've seen the YouTube video and the pictures I posted and one who's seen the actual buildings and the comments that came back were ... provided there was no failure in the concrete structures (fractures, slippage etc) .. they all commented that they can't see why these buildings would be any different than the existing structures... which have seen heavy use... and could just as easy have fractures, cracks, slippage ...

I trust them over the "internet" .. most days.. LOL

 

[Lewisc]

The only hotels Disney seems to be building are DVC. Bay Lake Tower is the most expensive DVC. Would it be a reach for Disney to build some kind of lower cost DVC instead of POP 2? It wouldn't look like POP. Roads and utilities are already in place.

An old rumor had Disney building the 2nd part of POP as family suites. Since they'd be building from scratch they might be able to do things a little bit different then the All Stars.

I don't remember the reason people thought the buildings would have to be demolished. I don't know if it was based on real facts or "internet" facts. I think there was a concern about partially completed plumbing. Possibly even a question if there was a change in building code. Maybe a change in the type of hotel Disney would want.

 

[doconeill]

Occupancy rates have not been such that building more CRO rooms has needed to be necessary, otherwise they would have done so.

DVC however has remained in demand.

One of the problems with building a "value DVC" is the valuation of points involved. If they build a "DVC POP" or whatever they want to call it, and they sell the points cheaper, then it essentially devalues the points already in the system because at the 7-month mark everyone's points are the same.

They'd have to do things differently - sell the points for the same amount, charge less per night for the room, and have a lower buy-in for example if they wanted to go after people with stricter budgets.

As for the demolishing, I think at the time not a lot of people (myself included) knew how the rooms had been constructed, or how complete they are. If they are truly just concrete shells with no finishing work, then there really isn't any problem. Bleach and TSP or sandblasting would take care of any mold problems since they really wouldn't be able to infiltrate the material like they would with wood. Since then we know more, but the rumors persist.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm not suggesting a "bargain basement" DVC. PP has it right. The points would cost a little less. The points necessary to book a room will also be less.

Presumably Disney would charge DVC less for the land accross the lake from POP then they charged for access to the Contemporary and AK.

Disney doesn't, currently need rooms but Disney might be happy if they think they can sell enough points to get the project started.

Do we think Disney cares what happens when the 7 month window opens up? A discount would help sell POP DVC. 7 month window gives them a chance to book other properties. It might impact resale market. Guests who want to stay at the Contemporary would understand there might not be any inventory available at 7 months. Those people would buy at the Bay Lake Tower and at the second Bay Lake Tower.

 

[allstar]

Here's a link to a series of pictures I took in 2007 and 2008 -- both showing the same areas..

In the 2007 pictures, you can clearly see the door left open. It's hard to see ni the picture, but there was NOTHING finished in that room and you could see all the way thru to the far side door/window. No walls.. just a pipe running in what would be the wall that separates the two rooms.

In 2008 - that door was closed.



As for Korea setting construction standards, their building was COMPLETELY exposed to the elements, no windows, no doors. These buildings have doors, windows and so forth and have since the day construction ceased. They are in essence closed with all ventilation and plumbing "stubbed" and closed off. One door on one room was left open at ground floor for a period of a few months in 2007. That's the only 'exposure' that I'm aware of. No windows are broken or damaged etc, the roof structure has been maintained on all buildings.. (they were checking this and doing some maintenance on the roof areas in 2007/8.

I've talked to a couple of structural engineers who've seen the YouTube video and the pictures I posted and one who's seen the actual buildings and the comments that came back were ... provided there was no failure in the concrete structures (fractures, slippage etc) .. they all commented that they can't see why these buildings would be any different than the existing structures... which have seen heavy use... and could just as easy have fractures, cracks, slippage ...

I trust them over the "internet" .. most days.. LOL

Thanks for the info. You seem to know a lot. I am new.Registered in 2008 but only started on the discussion boards a few days ago. Still trying to figure out the system.

 

[DC7800]

Those people would buy at the Bay Lake Tower and at the second Bay Lake Tower.

What second Bay Lake Tower???

 

[doconeill]

What second Bay Lake Tower???

The rumored second Bay Lake Tower...

 

[DC7800]

The rumored second Bay Lake Tower...

Is there anything at all - no matter how sketchy or unreliable - to substantiate this? Only thing I've ever heard about similar rumors was nothing more than 'blue-sky' fanboy dreaming.

Somebody have something against garden wings?

 

[doconeill]

Is there anything at all - no matter how sketchy or unreliable - to substantiate this? Only thing I've ever heard about similar rumors was nothing more than 'blue-sky' fanboy dreaming.

Somebody have something against garden wings?

Nothing to substantiate, other than people who think that the Contemporary demands symmetry

 

[Lewisc]

Symmetry. Contemporary had two wings. Contemporary needs two towers to regain the symmetry it used to have.

Everything I've read suggest sales are going good. Does anyone think Disney will leave money on the table?

I don't remember where I read the rumor but I thought it was a given. Parking might be an issue but I'm sure it can be solved. A valet lot can be moved to a variety of places.

This is the rumor board. If not a second Contemporary tower where would the next DVC go. GF? Poly?

 

[KYMickey]

While there's certainly no proof I think the obvious choice of the next DVC is certainly a second tower. Parking, while something to consider could easily be handled with the construction of a parking garage. Of course with Magic Express and other initiatives underway I wonder what the percentage of visitors with cars is? My bet is it's probably lower than it was in the past.