Pop Century Legendary Years - 03/2007 & Updated 06/2008!

[suzimar57]

i'd stay out of the "wild west world" though - don't need a gun-toting yul brynner audio-animatronic coming after me....

 

[Hedy]

The Latest Rumor That I'm Hearing : I heard from at least two different sources while in Florida that Iger wants something done with Pop Century and that *something* will probably involve retheming of the Legendary Years side. Concerns apparently remain about having a decade for the Depression and the War Years. One idea I heard floated was repeating 1950 to 1990 again.. another was going from 2000 to 2050 on the Legendary Years side... obviously some 'futuristic intent' would be behind that notion.

Wouldn't they need to rename the resort Pop Half-Century, then, though?

 

[minnie61650]

I wrote to WDW and suggested if WDW finished the 2ed half of Pop they should call the new section Pop Games and have a monopoly section, with a monopoly game board shaped pool etc.

Just an idea.

 

[doconeill]

I wrote to WDW and suggested if WDW finished the 2ed half of Pop they should call the new section Pop Games and have a monopoly section, with a monopoly game board shaped pool etc.

Just an idea.

It sounds like a great idea - but the licensing fees would probably be far too high...

 

[spiceycat]

just wish they do something!!!

tear it down. Finish it. make it be family suites - something.

but guess right now the economy is probably stopping them.

should be happy - BLT - is finally coming. Hope it is DVC. waited since 1999 for this one!

 

[daannzzz]

Awesome photos! Thanks for sharing them. And ITA on re-thinking the theming... I love the nostalgia of Classic Years, but don't think the Depression Era makes for a fun resort. I wish they would go way back beyond that, maybe a pioneer or old west themed resort. Kind of Fort Wilderness-y, but as an actual resort and not a campground. I would really like the old west theme, too.

Of course, one of my favorite movies EVER is still "West World," and to this day I have never been able to choose between Medieval World, Roman World, or West World as where I would go if that movie concept were real.

You mean like Disney's Hotel Cheyenne in at Paris Disney;and?

http://www.attractionland.com/en/di.../hotels/disney-hotel-cheyenne/photos/334.html

 

[minnie61650]

It sounds like a great idea - but the licensing fees would probably be far too high...

I tought about that but one of the pools they had already planned for Ledgendary years was a Monopoly pool.

 

[drallab96]

Just joined disboards and wanted to comment about POP. As far as theming, you could go back at least until the thirties with Disney movies. Snow White was groundbreaking when it came out in 1937, and then Bambi came out in the 40's. Steamboat Willie was in the 20's.

Can you imagine all of us parents with little princesess of our own, staying in the Snow White rooms, etc? I get excited just think about it...

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Snow White rooms - now that would be fun!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Snow White rooms - now that would be fun!

Would that mean that the rooms would be a mess when you first check in, but then some nice girl comes in and cleans it while singing and whistling?

 

[bytheblood]

I have a friend who works for WDW and he told me this:

Pop Century was supposed to open earlier than it did but 9/11 happened and Disney figured attendance was going to drop off. They finally opened the classic years about 3-4 years ago.

But basically construction was halted due to 9/11. I'm not sure if he told me if they were going to finish it or not.

That is what Wikipedia says, but I do not believe that is accurate.
Pop Century was opened in 2003, legendary years was a 2nd phase.

I understand it to be a deeper issue than that; a problem between Disney Corporation and the Contractors.

Actually, it would not make sense that Disney would cease construction on it for a slow-down in tourism yet build more DVC resorts, Kingdom Towers, etc which will cost even more money in this poor economy. A legal issue actually makes more sense to me as well.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

If it ever does open, hope they keep the Legendary Theme - even during the Depression musicals were made and were big hits - those were the days when entertainment took folks away from everyday life.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Actually, it would not make sense that Disney would cease construction on it for a slow-down in tourism yet build more DVC resorts, Kingdom Towers, etc which will cost even more money in this poor economy. A legal issue actually makes more sense to me as well.

There is a little more to it...

Hotels have a much longer pay back and lower net present value to them. They also provide some challenges in terms of a steady stream of income in a rough economy.

On the other hand, DVC's actually pay for themselves a lot quicker then hotel rooms and pass more risk from Disney onto the owners of the DVCs. Sold DVCs (which there doesn't seem to be an issue of them selling much yet) basically pay for the construction as soon as all new sales are complete. Resales really have no bearing on profit/pay back/NPV.

 

[TerrytownGrl]

In addition to the classic Disney characters like Snow White, Bambi and Pinocchio, I think the 10s theme could have a turn-of-the-last-century feel...you know Gibson girls and barber shop quartets. The 20s could have a jazz theme, the 30s was the Golden Age of Hollywood with movies like Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, the 40s could show the patriotism from the Homefront during the WWII years.

I think the Legendary years could be done very well, especially as family suites.

Just my .02

 

[minnie61650]

That is what Wikipedia says, but I do not believe that is accurate.
Pop Century was opened in 2003, legendary years was a 2nd phase.

I understand it to be a deeper issue than that; a problem between Disney Corporation and the Contractors.

Actually, it would not make sense that Disney would cease construction on it for a slow-down in tourism yet build more DVC resorts, Kingdom Towers, etc which will cost even more money in this poor economy. A legal issue actually makes more sense to me as well.

Although Pop Centurary opened in 2003. Construction began in 1999 with a projected opening of the first half the end of 2001. By September 2001 the first half was almost finished and construction of the 2ed half begun.

Then after 9/11 construction stopped. By late 2003 tourism was picking up and again and WDW put the finishing touches on PC and closed the bridge to the 2ed half and opened up PC just before the winter holiday crowds came.


I have more info on page 1 this thread,post # 10.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

I don't understand the big deal about the theming of the Legendary Years. Sure, there was war and the Depression in that era but is that any worse than the racial and civil unrest of the 60s? How about all of the drugs and free loving going on during that time. Not to mention the Vietnam War. The 70s weren't exactly shining years for America, either. 80s had the Cold War. Yadda yadda yadda.

Each decade has it's good points and bad points. You choose the best moments (the most Disney friendly ones) and use those. I like the idea of finishing the resort that way it was intended. It would be cool. I'd also LOVE to see more Family Suites. I've written Disney more than once saying so.

It's fun speculating about how this will turn out. I do hope they do something with it. It would be a shame not to.

 

[FoundNemoLostDori]

Anyone have any new news? I would love to see this completed. It seems so sad and forlorn!

 

[Debbie]

Each decade has it's good points and bad points. You choose the best moments (the most Disney friendly ones) and use those. I like the idea of finishing the resort that way it was intended. It would be cool. I'd also LOVE to see more Family Suites. I've written Disney more than once saying so

I agree. I still like the 'Legendary' theme of the second half of POP. They could focus on some of the music and movies that kept the spirits up during the Depression and the war years. 20's/30's could be It's a Wonderful Life type of thing, and the Fantasia theme could be the 40's. I think that it could go, and I'd be excited to see what DOES come of this!

 

[andys]

I don't understand the big deal about the theming of the Legendary Years. Sure, there was war and the Depression in that era but is that any worse than the racial and civil unrest of the 60s? How about all of the drugs and free loving going on during that time. Not to mention the Vietnam War. The 70s weren't exactly shining years for America, either. 80s had the Cold War. Yadda yadda yadda.

Each decade has it's good points and bad points. You choose the best moments (the most Disney friendly ones) and use those. I like the idea of finishing the resort that way it was intended. It would be cool. I'd also LOVE to see more Family Suites. I've written Disney more than once saying so.

It's fun speculating about how this will turn out. I do hope they do something with it. It would be a shame not to.

ITA with this. I hope if they do finish it they stick with the original Legendary Years plan, I love that period of our history, for the way we came through them. There were hard chalenging times, but pleasent things during those times to.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Frankly.. I just posted the rumors I have heard.. I'm not sure I believe all those things.

As for any rumored problems with the contractor - I don't believe that seven years later that's still true. For starters, there should be a case winding its way thru the courts and you can't take the name Disney before a judge without making news. Disney tends to either get a matter before a judge in an expedient manner or settle quickly if they think they can't win in court. (see the Winnie the Pooh litigation for examples of this)

I haven't heard a peep on this front; and I've been actively looking. I think back when the work stoppage occurred the contractor may have had issues. But I think that contractor would have quickly realized that if they ever wanted to get some work from the mouse again, they'd best settle or shut up. I would think that contractor wouldn't be well served by holding this matter out for seven years and passing on all the construction projects that have come and gone since then.

As for finishing what stands today, Disney would, I presume, be looking at this strictly from a business case scenario and the truth of the economic environment since 2001 is that the current value resorts sell out for a few weeks a year. Maybe as many as 13 but far less than 52.

One thing to keep in mind, if Disney started construction again today, it would be probably 2 to 3 years before complete and operational. The economic environment could be very different then (much worse or better who knows..)

I would say once oil calms down and Disney has a concensus on the 'whats next' for the economy, we'll see some action on this. Ultimately Disney would have to see demand for on-site value lodging as 'increasing' before they would take this plunge.

By way of interesting numbers.. Pop Century, "The Classic Years" is valued for tax purposes at $174 million dollars. Of that, $95 million is the value of buildings etc.

You have to presume that finishing Legendary Years would cost at LEAST that much. Big investment.

As for Disney leasing that land, I think that rumor's author is confused with leased land for 'value style' lodging happening with the Western Development on the far west edge of Disney property. I've never heard any source internal or external of Disney repeat that rumor. It would be unlikely for Disney to lease 1/2 of the resort given that Classic Years already shares some housekeeping and maintenance and other staff with Caribbean Beach. Disney already has the infrastructure to support the Legendary Years.. so leasing that land out to anyone else.. just seems HIGHLY unlikely unless Disney undertook a program of leasing all of their resorts to another operator.

That's not outside the realm of consideration, but given the HUGE profits that Disney can realize currently ... and the complete control over the guest experience they now enjoy, it just seems less than likely in my book.

Knox