Rumor: DVC Resort at Lighthouse Point

[SpaceMountain77]

Several websites are suggesting that the Walt Disney Company will be announcing the construction of a new resort, similar to Aulani, at Lighthouse Point. The Bahamian government approved the sale of this area to Disney Cruise Line earlier this year. An announcement is anticipated at D23.

 

[Chuck S]

I'd be very surprised. I'd expect them to build DVC in Paris before the Bahamas. Locations away from a park aren't blockbusters for DVC, even Aulani. Then add in the cost of transportation to/from for members and I just don't see it.

 

[Bellecruiser]

It’s a fun rumor tho!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Getting there now is a struggle. While I'm sure they must be improving the roads in past the Princess Cays, even getting to the point you can get on that road is a challenge. You either fly into Nassau and take a puddle hopper to Governors Harbour or North Eleuthera Airport, or there are limited flights from Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. And we're not talking daily service either.

Once you're at NLH (North Eleuthera) it is about a 2-2.5 hour drive to Lighthouse Point. GHB is a little shorter, but it's still about 2 hours.

I doubt they're going to be able to add a robust airstrip to that part of the island under the development agreement AND get commercial service that is worth poo to it.

 

[DLgal]

Getting there now is a struggle. While I'm sure they must be improving the roads in past the Princess Cays, even getting to the point you can get on that road is a challenge. You either fly into Nassau and take a puddle hopper to Governors Harbour or North Eleuthera Airport, or there are limited flights from Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. And we're not talking daily service either.

Once you're at NLH (North Eleuthera) it is about a 2-2.5 hour drive to Lighthouse Point. GHB is a little shorter, but it's still about 2 hours.

I doubt they're going to be able to add a robust airstrip to that part of the island under the development agreement AND get commercial service that is worth poo to it.

They may bring people via cruise ship. I can see them using one of the older ships for this purpose. They could have an overnight at this resort included in the cruise. I expect them to go all out and make this not only another "private beach", but also a place passengers can get off and stay a night or 2. That would be pretty unique in the cruise industry.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

They may bring people via cruise ship. I can see them using one of the older ships for this purpose. They could have an overnight at this resort included in the cruise. I expect them to go all out and make this not only another "private beach", but also a place passengers can get off and stay a night or 2. That would be pretty unique in the cruise industry.

But that would not be DVC.

 

[DLgal]

But that would not be DVC.

Oh, right. LOL. I don't think it will be DVC. There isn't enough nearby in the way of services to support a "home away from home" type resort. No large grocery stores, no Costco, no Target or Wal Mart type stores, etc.

 

[Drewferin]

You did make me google this resort Wonder if the resort was failing and sold themselves at a cheap rate to Disney? Not sure if this is Disney's way of doing things, however maybe it would work out who knows. Aulani is a great resort as I was there for 8 nights in June. The resort was 100% sold out granted this is almost prime season. The lack of a close airport would be a deal breaker unless a cruise ship picked up and dropped off 100% of the travelers.

 

[Chuck S]

No one has said Aulani isn't a beautiful resort, but a DVC resort, to still be in sales mode this far after opening (2011) is pretty much unheard of. And DVC is still writing new contracts. Vero sales were so slow, that the resort was never built out to the original plans, that is why you have dues subsidies on older original contracts. Given just the logistics of just getting to/from the Bahamas, it really won't work as a profitable DVC timeshare. A cash resort based upon cruise ship transportation would be almost impossible, unless you have ships stopping for two or more night continuously, one after the other.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You did make me google this resort Wonder if the resort was failing and sold themselves at a cheap rate to Disney?

No, this involved a development agreement with the government. Pretty complicated.

More likely to be something to relieve Castaway than a stand alone resort. Just too hard to reach.

 

[sjones88]

I would love for this to happen, especially as like an add on with the cruises

 

[DLgal]

You did make me google this resort Wonder if the resort was failing and sold themselves at a cheap rate to Disney? Not sure if this is Disney's way of doing things, however maybe it would work out who knows. Aulani is a great resort as I was there for 8 nights in June. The resort was 100% sold out granted this is almost prime season. The lack of a close airport would be a deal breaker unless a cruise ship picked up and dropped off 100% of the travelers.

There is nothing there right now. It is undeveloped land that Disney leased after coming to a development agreement with the local island government.

There IS a different resort by the name Lighthouse Point on a different island in the Bahamas (Grand Exuma, I think). This area that Disney is developing is on the island of Eluthera.

 

[Drewferin]

I didnt realize there was another resort with the same name as the property that Disney bought. Here is a good article with a little more info:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.or...nnounce-at-next-weeks-d23-expo?media=AMP+HTML

 

[AvidDisReader]

The truth is while the Government has approved, it is subject to an environmental report. There is supposed to be a beautiful coral reef right where the pier would be built. There are several groups fighting this project, so it is not even a sure bet anything will be built. As for a DVC, that is a big no. If Disney has learned anything it is DVC resorts not by a theme park do not perform well.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The truth is while the Government has approved, it is subject to an environmental report. There is supposed to be a beautiful coral reef right where the pier would be built. There are several groups fighting this project, so it is not even a sure bet anything will be built. As for a DVC, that is a big no. If Disney has learned anything it is DVC resorts not by a theme park do not perform well.

To make the beach friendly to the average cruiser would be a major project that would take it from natural to essentially man-made.

 

[lorenae]

Lighthouse Point is one of my favorite places on earth. Pristine, with caves and coral reefs, and at the very tip when the tide comes in, the Atlantic and bight side waters collide. I didn't realize it was purchased- I always thought that it was a reserve and not land that could be sold.
As much as I would love to visit it again and again, I hate the idea of this pristine wilderness to be ruined. Some places should be left undeveloped, just for the raw beauty, the wildlife, and to preserve the coral reefs and our oceans.

 

[BillPA]

With DVC unable to sell Hawaii, they would be foolish trying to build in the Bahamas.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Lighthouse Point is one of my favorite places on earth. Pristine, with caves and coral reefs, and at the very tip when the tide comes in, the Atlantic and bight side waters collide. I didn't realize it was purchased- I always thought that it was a reserve and not land that could be sold.
As much as I would love to visit it again and again, I hate the idea of this pristine wilderness to be ruined. Some places should be left undeveloped, just for the raw beauty, the wildlife, and to preserve the coral reefs and our oceans.

It was not purchased so much as licensed, much as Castaway is licensed/leased

 

[disney1474]

I thought I read a good deal of DVC owners are from the Eastern US? If true, I can see a DVC resort in the Bahamas work. Flying to Hawaii from Ct is expensive. Not so much to the Bahamas.
I guess we'll see, you never know!
Hey...what about a DVC crusie ship??!!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I thought I read a good deal of DVC owners are from the Eastern US? If true, I can see a DVC resort in the Bahamas work. Flying to Hawaii from Ct is expensive. Not so much to the Bahamas.
I guess we'll see, you never know!
Hey...what about a DVC crusie ship??!!

It is a lot easier to get into Honolulu and across Oahu than it is to get into Eleuthera island and then across it. Entirely different levels of development and access, and it would be challenging to have the free market handle it on Eleuthera.