Regarding timing of announcing new DVC properties...

[WoodysRoundup]

Since we are relativley new to DVC, I have a question. For the other DVC properties that were built, how far along were they before they were announced as a DVC property? Was it different for each resort? I, like many others, am awaiting some announcement of CRV. Thanks to those who keep posting construction updates, we can see that it's really moving along. I'm just trying to speculate on when an announcement might be made - so I was wondering when the other properties were announced. I realize there are those who believe that DVD might be waiting until the last minute b/c they don't want an announcement to affect sales at SSR and AKV. I'm curious though......how LONG can they wait??

 

[tjkraz]

I can't speak to some of the older properties, but *IF* the Contemporary is DVC, waiting this long to make any sort of statement appears to be completely unprecedented.

All recent resorts (SSR, AKV, Grand Californian, Hawaii) were announced either before construction began or just as the work started. SSR was announced in January '02 and it didn't open until May '04. AKV was announced around October '06 just as the room conversions were beginning and they had not yet broken ground for Kidani Village. GCV was announced as construction began and work still hasn't even started on Hawaii.

There have even been properties that were announced yet cancelled. The two that come to mind are the proposed resort near the Eagle Pines golf course (announced September '01 and cancelled a couple months later) and Grande Vista (?) in California (announced about 10 years ago only to be cancelled and the land sold to Marriott.)

The Contemporary remains a huge mystery. IIRC, the North Garden Wing closed to guests back in September '06 so we're going on 15 months of work without any real comment from Disney.

The main justification people are using now for the lack of an announcement is that it would cannibalize sales elsewhere. But that same logic could apply to all of the other scenarios here, yet that didn't stop Disney from making the projects public knowledge.

Guess we'll all just have to stay tuned.

 

[Caskbill]

We first purchased in 1993 when OKW was the only DVC resort. As far as I can recall, EVERY subsequent DVC resort was announced before any construction actually took place.

Besides Eagle Pines and California, DVC also announced New York City. All three of those were cancelled. There was also Colorado, but I don't recall if that was ever officially announced.

If you just look at the three most recent resorts, AKV, GC at DL, Hawaii Ko Olina, all three were announced well ahead of time. In fact, I'm not sure if any construction has even started yet in Hawaii.

 

[1000th happy haunt]

The Contemporary remains a huge mystery. IIRC, the North Garden Wing closed to guests back in September '06 so we're going on 15 months of work without any real comment from Disney.

Now, Tim. We know the North Garden Wing was closed for asbestos removal.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

The Contemporary remains a huge mystery. IIRC, the North Garden Wing closed to guests back in September '06 so we're going on 15 months of work without any real comment from Disney.

The main justification people are using now for the lack of an announcement is that it would cannibalize sales elsewhere. But that same logic could apply to all of the other scenarios here, yet that didn't stop Disney from making the projects public knowledge.

Guess we'll all just have to stay tuned.

True about that same logic could apply to all the other scenarios as well....unless, of course, they really think this is the "be all and end all" DVC property. Still, it puzzles me and makes me wonder if it won't be DVC at all..............I'm looking for answers I know I just can't get right now. It's just so strange to have this huge bldg. developing along with this huge mystery. We will not be buying any points anywhere until this thing is announced. As a matter of fact, we really don't think we'll add on period unless the CR bldg. is a DVC property!

 

[Diznut84]

The Contemporary is not going to be DVC. It's going to be the first of the Disney fractionals. Spend 3 months with 1 ownership interest!

 

[tjkraz]

The Contemporary is not going to be DVC. It's going to be the first of the Disney fractionals. Spend 3 months with 1 ownership interest!

Interesting suggestion. That's what Four Seasons is doing over on the old Eagle Pines land.

So, is this just your speculation or did you actually her that from someone who would be in a position to know?

 

[spiceycat]

the bcv was half way build before it was announced I think. was so wrong about that one....

anyway do believe it will be a CRV - maybe DVC fears that SSR and AKV will stop when it is announced. but considering how different both SSR and AKV are from CRV - I don't believe that - so having a problem with DVC believing that.

just don't think the top management has made up its mind. It should be a DVC - the plans we saw here - was for a DVC. but the CR is the first of the wdw resorts. It opened on opening day. I think the Polyn opened a few days later.

some management may not want to allow even a fraction to DVC. even here - again why? DVC is definitely a good money earner for Disney and even helps the parks.

so my guess is it will be a dvc and announced next May - (that is per the frog) - but they can't start selling it until 70% is done. that won't be until 2009.

so there is no really rush to announce something that may not go to sales for over a year.

It may not go to sales until 2010. (that would work much, much better for me - but really believe it will be 2009)

 

[tjkraz]

the bcv was half way build before it was announced I think. was so wrong about that one....

I don't believe that is accurate.

The BCV press release is dated May 25, 2000. According to a story on Laughingplace.com dated November 2000, groundbreaking was scheduled for "last month" or roughly October 2000.

http://www.laughingplace.com/News-PID501440-501462.asp

Even if the LP article is not entirely accurate, it shouldn't be off by much. BCV opened in July 2002 which means there was about 26 months from the press release to opening. It shouldn't have taken much longer than that to build from start to finish. Kidani Village, a much larger project, is only looking to take about 30 months from announcement to opening.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

The Contemporary is not going to be DVC. It's going to be the first of the Disney fractionals. Spend 3 months with 1 ownership interest!

Can you explain about this further? Not sure how this works? And, is this pure speculation or based on something you've already heard?

 

[tjkraz]

Fractionals normally have about 4 owners per unit with each owner getting roughly 1/4 of the year. Costs can range from $100,000 to more than a quarter million.

Four Seasons is building fractionals as part of their forthcoming WDW development. If memory serves, the Eagle Pines and Osprey Ridge golf courses are being combined into a single 18-hole course and the excess land in that area will be the site of the Four Seasons hotel / fractional TS. No pricing has been announced but, well, you do the math. Buying enough points for 1/4 year in a Two Bedroom Villa at SSR would cost nearly $400,000 at current DVC prices.

 

[John VN]

CRV is a DVC.

Take a deep breath and just be patient for the announcement.

They are building it and the masses will come.

 

[Olaf]

The Contemporary is not going to be DVC. It's going to be the first of the Disney fractionals. Spend 3 months with 1 ownership interest!

If that's the case, there will be some wailing around here.

 

[pilferk]

On the flip side:

Has any hotel expansion/massive renovation/addition taken place on WDW property without an announcement?

 

[sjdisneywedding]

On the flip side:

Has any hotel expansion/massive renovation/addition taken place on WDW property without an announcement?

exactly, you might as well throw your logic out the window, this project has not followed any typical rules or timelines

 

[tjkraz]

On the flip side:

Has any hotel expansion/massive renovation/addition taken place on WDW property without an announcement?

I don't recall there being any other hotel construction since Iger / Jobs took over and clamped down on the rumor mill. When it comes to attractions, they have been VERY tight-lipped in recent years. Things like the new Nemo ride at Epcot, the subs at DL and even Toy Story Mania were well underway before an announcement was made.

But that didn't keep them from making a big deal out of the recent DVC expansions.

 

[50 years Too!]

Has anyone heard anything about when Grand California DVC will be for sale, or when the initial stays will begin?

Deb

 

[sjdisneywedding]

I don't recall there being any other hotel construction since Iger / Jobs took over and clamped down on the rumor mill. When it comes to attractions, they have been VERY tight-lipped in recent years. Things like the new Nemo ride at Epcot, the subs at DL and even Toy Story Mania were well underway before an announcement was made.

But that didn't keep them from making a big deal out of the recent DVC expansions.

since Iger/Jobs? your talking about dvc construction rumors from Eisners time
but limiting the hotel rumors to the Iger/Jobs era?

and actually the DL and Hawaii projects both include non dvc portions so doesnt look like they had problems announcing that

as for new rides--Soarin & Everst come to mind--so dont see any tight lipped actions going on there either

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Fractionals normally have about 4 owners per unit with each owner getting roughly 1/4 of the year. Costs can range from $100,000 to more than a quarter million.

Four Seasons is building fractionals as part of their forthcoming WDW development. If memory serves, the Eagle Pines and Osprey Ridge golf courses are being combined into a single 18-hole course and the excess land in that area will be the site of the Four Seasons hotel / fractional TS. No pricing has been announced but, well, you do the math. Buying enough points for 1/4 year in a Two Bedroom Villa at SSR would cost nearly $400,000 at current DVC prices.

Thanks for the explanation. I have to say that if CR was one of these "fractionals", I'd be flaming mad. Disney would alienate many loyal guests in creating this grand property that only corporations or the elite wealthy could afford comfortably.

 

[tjkraz]

since Iger/Jobs? your talking about dvc construction rumors from Eisners time
but limiting the hotel rumors to the Iger/Jobs era?

and actually the DL and Hawaii projects both include non dvc portions so doesnt look like they had problems announcing that

as for new rides--Soarin & Everst come to mind--so dont see any tight lipped actions going on there either

Soarin and Everest were both projects approved by Michael Eisner. His SOP was to have a big announcement before such projects had even begun, with countless pieces of concept art, attraction details and such leaked throughout development.

By comparison, "Millionaire" closed at MGM last August and it wasn't until January '07 that Toy Story Mania was revealed. The same was true of the new Nemo ride-thru, DL subs and others.

We could keep going round and round with "except-buts" on the Contemporary, but it's clear Disney management is treating it much differently than other recent DVC resorts. AKV was announced before work had even begun (including Kidani), they haven't even completed concept work on the Hawaii resort, and ground clearing had just begun in California for the GC expansion.

Whether these variations have anything to do with the intended use of the resort or if they are simply tied to DVC marketing strategy remains to be seen.