Proposed DVC next to Wedding Pavillion

[kjg5]

^ Apparently, even though they're having a hard time filling hotel rooms, they aren't having any problems selling DVC. Supposedly, BLT is almost sold out, so they're ready to add another property. I say 'apparently' and 'supposedly' because that's just what I've heard from those with more insider knowledge than I, but I have no confirmation either way.

Thanks for the info Princess SarahK!

 

[One_Song]

I'm an October bride, and to be honest I'm a little panicked. I'm emailing my planner now-- if anyone gets more information, please post!

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I was rather disappointed when I first heard this.


But, on the bright side, future brides will be able to take advantage of the villas to accommodate their guests, and it might make it easier for brides and their families to stay at the GF if they are having their wedding at WP.

It just sucks for those brides who will have construction during their wedding.

BUT.... Disney does a great job of hiding their construction. If any of you have been to MK recently, you'll see all of the false facades covering the restoration of the buildings on Main Street, as well as the cute construction walls on Main Street USA. I think noise would be a bigger concern than appearance.

 

[One_Song]

FI and I searched for more info and found a permit document called "Project 2011-1 Environmental Resource Permit Modification". I'll post a link at the bottom of this post, although there isn't much interesting/helpful detailed information in it. I find it significant because the document is almost 250 pages long-- to call this a rumor, as the DFTW office apparently did last week, is incredibly misleading. Extensive preparations have already been made; I think for Disney to call this a "rumor" and not a "plan" is just plain wrong. Not to say the whole thing couldn't fall through, as many past Disney plans have, but it doesn't seem likely at present. The document cites stages of planning to have begun no later than last summer (so those "rumors" have been flying around with good reason.)

I hope to hear from my planner tomorrow to learn more about what we upcoming brides can expect in terms of inconvenience, eyesore, noise, parking, etc. In this moment, it's hard for me to verbalize how upset I am. Knowing that Disney knew about this project when I signed my contract but they didn't tell me... I am not a happy camper.

Link: http://www.scribd.com/doc/51199610/110307-4-drainage-report86187

 

[Sccrmnky2005]

I talked to Pam over the weekend about this and they really don't have the "info" or aren't ready to share it. I'm sooo hoping this will not happen but it looks like it will. I again will be very disappointed if there is construction going on during my wedding.

 

[Desnik]

I hate to put it this way, but if you all are expecting anyone at Disney to tell you the truth about this before they are ready to you are kidding your selves. They denied BLT was a go even when it was almost fully constructed! It was like, pay no attention to that huge building we have going up, DVC, no way! It was comical! From the paperwork filed, it is pretty much a given that something is being built there and it will affect future brides at the WP. If I was planning a wedding there I would be pissed and really concerned.

When we had our vow renewal at the WP and the GF in Nov 2009 there was construction going on at the GF. The lobby was in the process of getting new floors and there was rumors that the WP was getting new carpeting. Trying to find an answer of what was going on and when was like pulling teeth. No one knew anything when I called the GF directly. My wedding planner swore the GF floors were already done.(I had planned to have all my pictures taken inside the GF so construction was a big concern for me). Well, we check in and sure enough there was construction going on inside the GF! Thankfully it didn't affect us, but still it was so annoying to just not get a straight, honest answer!

My heart really goes out to you all who are planning an event at the WP. I know I would be a wreck. The up side is maybe the construction won't be an issue for another year or so?

 

[Mindy5767]

Disney cannot fill its hotel rooms but it is doing very well selling DVC. In these recessionary times, people are buying DVC because they believe that they are getting more value. Disney doesn't have to worry about whether or not people can get financing or not because Disney can do the financing themselves. Afterall, Disney has more money and credit than most banks. People can't get loans right now to buy real estate, but Disney can fix this problem on its own. People will buy DVC, which is an actual real estate interest. The part of DVC dues which go to real estate taxes are deductible on your taxes if you itemize and the deduction is still available to you.

I can't imagine that a false back-drop would be acceptable for wedding pictures. Disney has a lot of 'splaining to do!! I hope you all get answers. However, if I were getting married at WDW.... I'd demand real answers.. NOW!! You Go ladies!!!

 

[One_Song]

I just got off the phone with an assistant in the wedding office. She gave me the basic line about not having much information but will inform us asap, but she did not try to tell me it was a rumor. She said "We know the Grand Floridian is getting an expansion, but it will not effect the weddings in any way." She actually mentioned that last part twice because I started asking questions about noise levels. Whether this is rose-tinting things or not, I don't know. Part of me has to hope that Disney will take care of us. I'm still going to call my planner when she's back in the office, but I thought I'd share.

 

[Harley_Quinn1986]

I just got off the phone with an assistant in the wedding office. She gave me the basic line about not having much information but will inform us asap, but she did not try to tell me it was a rumor. She said "We know the Grand Floridian is getting an expansion, but it will not effect the weddings in any way." She actually mentioned that last part twice because I started asking questions about noise levels. Whether this is rose-tinting things or not, I don't know. Part of me has to hope that Disney will take care of us. I'm still going to call my planner when she's back in the office, but I thought I'd share.

Thanks for the update/follow up. I really hope it's not going to affect weddings but that's hard to believe... Darn, and we just signed our LOA and the deposit has already gone through

 

[pixie921]

I just got off the phone with an assistant in the wedding office. She gave me the basic line about not having much information but will inform us asap, but she did not try to tell me it was a rumor. She said "We know the Grand Floridian is getting an expansion, but it will not effect the weddings in any way." She actually mentioned that last part twice because I started asking questions about noise levels. Whether this is rose-tinting things or not, I don't know. Part of me has to hope that Disney will take care of us. I'm still going to call my planner when she's back in the office, but I thought I'd share.

Honestly, I'm sure they don't think it will have any effect on weddings. They're not taking into account the way the construction will make things look outside (I'm sure there will be walls up like when they built BLT), but they figure that's not an issue since it's not technically going to interfere with the actual ceremonies taking place inside the Pavilion (potential construction noise notwithstanding).

They really probably don't see what all the fuss is about.

 

[PinkSleepingBeauty]

Man, this sucks big time. Just what I always wanted, to get married at a building site

 

[One_Song]

Honestly, I'm sure they don't think it will have any effect on weddings. They're not taking into account the way the construction will make things look outside (I'm sure there will be walls up like when they built BLT), but they figure that's not an issue since it's not technically going to interfere with the actual ceremonies taking place inside the Pavilion (potential construction noise notwithstanding).

They really probably don't see what all the fuss is about.

Right, but I'm sure they know all too well how emotional and obsessive brides can be about details. I picked the WP because it is a gorgeous, romantic building, and it had the "feel" I was going for. Suddenly my guests and I will be walking by a demolition/construction site? Maybe with lots of noise going on? That is not the service I thought I was purchasing. Disney is expensive, but I decided it was worth if for that special Disney experience. This compromises the experience of my ceremony.

 

[PinkSleepingBeauty]

Right, but I'm sure they know all too well how emotional and obsessive brides can be about details. I picked the WP because it is a gorgeous, romantic building, and it had the "feel" I was going for. Suddenly my guests and I will be walking by a demolition/construction site? Maybe with lots of noise going on? That is not the service I thought I was purchasing. Disney is expensive, but I decided it was worth if for that special Disney experience. This compromises the experience of my ceremony.

I totally agree!

 

[pixie921]

Right, but I'm sure they know all too well how emotional and obsessive brides can be about details. I picked the WP because it is a gorgeous, romantic building, and it had the "feel" I was going for. Suddenly my guests and I will be walking by a demolition/construction site? Maybe with lots of noise going on? That is not the service I thought I was purchasing. Disney is expensive, but I decided it was worth if for that special Disney experience. This compromises the experience of my ceremony.

Oh, I agree and I totally get it! I'm just saying Disney probably doesn't.

In our dealings with them before cancelling our VR, dh and I came to the conclusion that you could ask them for a Mickey ice cream bar, and they'd smile and hand you crap on stick wrapped in a bow and tell you how magical you'll feel while you eat it.

It's the corporate mindset. They hype the magic, but a lot of times, they don't seem to "get it".

 

[Nommi]

I emailed my planner Saturday about this and got a very prompt response saying that GF will be undergoing an expansion, but that they have only just found out and will pass on further information as and when they have it.

I'm quite gutted too, especially considering the amount we are paying to even fly out!

 

[PinkSleepingBeauty]

I emailed my planner Saturday about this and got a very prompt response saying that GF will be undergoing an expansion, but that they have only just found out and will pass on further information as and when they have it.

I'm quite gutted too, especially considering the amount we are paying to even fly out!

Hi, how's everything going? This is a bit of a gutter isn't it?! The WP is so lovely and private, such a shame.

 

[One_Song]

In our dealings with them before cancelling our VR, dh and I came to the conclusion that you could ask them for a Mickey ice cream bar, and they'd smile and hand you crap on stick wrapped in a bow and tell you how magical you'll feel while you eat it.

LOL! Thanks for that-- I needed a laugh on this stressful day.

 

[pixie921]

LOL! Thanks for that-- I needed a laugh on this stressful day.

Glad I could give you a giggle. I really hope they make the effort to minimize the effects on weddings.

 

[Nommi]

Hi, how's everything going? This is a bit of a gutter isn't it?! The WP is so lovely and private, such a shame.

Hey! Good thanks, how about you? Yeah I just keep feeling bad that we'll have made everyone fly 9 hours to Florida to see us get married next to a building site!!
I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens!

 

[LittleMissMagic]

Here's more news on the GF addition: http://dvcnews.com/index.php/other--proposed-resorts-resorts-96/1531-more-grand-floridian-rumors

I'm really wishy-washy about how I feel about this.

In one light, I am very aggravated that they are turning the beautiful GF into a DVC resort. I have been completely fine with all DVC additions... until this!!! I'm annoyed that this new building has the potential to destroy views of and from the WP, and honestly, I don't really like the idea of the resort booking up. I've been able to get great last-minute deals for the GF in the past because it's such a difficult resort to fill. I have a feeling that DVC is going to make it much more difficult to get into the GF. In the past four or five years, I have never had any trouble making a reservation there, and now DVC is going to add all of this hype... it's going to be much more difficult during peak season.

Now, on the other side, DVC has never appealed to me in the past because I like to stay at the monorail loop. BLT was a nice addition, and I stayed there (not on points), but I didn't like how crowded the studio was, and although it was a good location, the theming of the Contemporary just isn't my favorite. I'd much rather stay at the GF or Poly. Also, the value of DVC points is seriously diminished when you trade out to other resorts and even other Disney resorts and cruises.... But since DVC has added the Grand Californian resort at DL, BLT, Aulani, and now possibly (most likely) the GF, DVC looks a heck of a lot more appealing!!!