Saw something interesting across generation gap bridge...

[Ihave3daughters]

Hey y'all,

Just got back from 3 nights at Pop Century. I went for a walk in the morning of October 20, and went on the Generation Gap Bridge. Looking across the lake I saw the reddish-brown unfinished buildings we've all seen pictures of. I also saw their hall with the tall, unpainted numbers, giving it that ghost town look we all know about...

However, past that, I saw a large white tent, much like what you'd rent for a wedding reception. And on the bridge itself was a facade with 2 doors, kind of reminding me of that wall with the doors they used on that HGTV home giveaway, when they gave 3 people keys and let them try to open the doors, and the one whose key worked won...

Anyone know what that's all about? Why would there be a big tent across the way on the grounds of an unfinished hotel? And a hotel that most of us think it will never be finished?

One plausible (and hopelessly optimistic) explanation I came up with was that perhaps the tent was there for the Disney brass to announce they were going to complete the project? I mean, it's not like someone would have a wedding reception or family reunion on the grounds of a half-finished hotel.

Your thoughts?

 

[Tinkerbelll]

I'm not sure about the tent, but I did speak to a CM when I was there in September and he said that all construction on The Legendary Years was halted indefinitely. He said that there was too much damage from weather/neglect, etc., that even if they wanted to continue with the project, they would have to tear it down and start over. This is obviously hearsay, but he seemed to know what he was talking about.

And FWIW, I think generation gap bridge is just plain freaky. We stumbled upon it late at night when we were browsing the hotel for DIS decorated windows and it totally had that ghost town, abandoned feeling. I just think it's creepy!

Either way, we love POP and hope they do SOMETHING with it!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I am going to join in here, because I would like to know about this too. It is sad that they have let these buildings go, that is a huge waste of money, that they could probably re-coup by turning them into family suites. That is something I would really love to see happen, for me that would mean a longer vacation to WDW. One can dream can't they?

Suzanne

 

[I Love Pluto]

I wonder if Pop management knows how badly we want family suites built on the unfinished side?

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I wonder if Pop management knows how badly we want family suites built on the unfinished side?

Probably NOT, that is why I suggested a petition. I am going to be staying at the AS Music Suites in April, so I don't know what they are like in person yet, but as quick as they sell out of them, looks like they would get the hint. I really believe they could fill them quickly. I have only stayed at Pop once, but really loved the resort, it just doesn't work well for me with out a suite. I wasn't really impressed with AS Movies, hope AS Music is better, but rather have Pop

Suzanne

 

[dreaming_of_disney__]

Wouldn't it be great if they finished the buildings, I would love to stay in the art deco themed 30's. I wonder if they could have king kong scaling the side of a building. What would the pool be in the shape of i wonder... a zepplin maybe or am I getting my decades mixed up?

There making so much profit off of DVC that they have let the value resort expansion go, Animal Kingdom Villas went up pretty fast and construction continues, its a real shame if those red buildings are unuseable.

 

[minnie61650]

Wouldn't it be great if they finished the buildings, I would love to stay in the art deco themed 30's. I wonder if they could have king kong scaling the side of a building. What would the pool be in the shape of i wonder... a zepplin maybe or am I getting my decades mixed up? .....

.

I remember reading that the original plans called for the Legendary Years' pools to be shaped like a crossword puzzle, a soda bottle and highway sign.



Here is the link to the article:

http://goflorida.about.com/cs/disneyworld/a/wdw_popcentury.htm

On another website they said:

The pool in the 1940s section is to be shaped like a highway sign, suggesting a "Route 66" motif. The pool in the 1930s will resemble a soda bottle, and the 1910s pool forms the outline of a Monopoly game board.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney's_Pop_Century_Resort

 

[dreaming_of_disney__]

I remember reading that the original plans called for the Legendary Years' pools to be shaped like a crossword puzzle, a soda bottle and highway sign.



Here is the link to the article:

http://goflorida.about.com/cs/disneyworld/a/wdw_popcentury.htm

On another website they said:

The pool in the 1940s section is to be shaped like a highway sign, suggesting a "Route 66" motif. The pool in the 1930s will resemble a soda bottle, and the 1910s pool forms the outline of a Monopoly game board.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney's_Pop_Century_Resort

Cool thanks, whats more 'pop culture' then a bottle of Coca Cola, no pun intended.


They could really go far with the theming if they wanted to.

 

[punkin1763]

I agree - it would be wonderful if they would finish (re-build) that resort. I love POP and think another value resort or family suites would be great. I love being able to stay at the deluxe or moderate resorts, but since POP opened it has become another favorite.

 

[spiceycat]

well one site says that it was to start back in Oct. this is Oct. so maybe!!!

the building will be build to the originally plans. no suites.

I think that was part of the hold up - Disney and contractor were suing each other. the contractor wanted to build the building they had signed up for - Disney wanted the suites. (if you find this lawsuit would love to see it)

if this rumor is correct then Disney loss.

that doesn't mean that before they open this section of Pop - that they won't have suites. just means that the building will need to be completed then add the suites.

 

[Shorty82]

I've heard that part of the reason nothing has been done with that side is cost. It would be prohibitively expensive to repair or tear down the buildings because of damage from hurricanes and general neglect. The area isn't completely unused, the parking lots are used for bus driver training I understand.

 

[spiceycat]

The area isn't completely unused, the parking lots are used for bus driver training I understand.

Gaylord uses it for their overflow parking at times. So it is earning money for Disney.

most of it was not complete. if you go look at the over photos - you can see very, very few building. mostly the underground pipes, which I don't believe can be easily hurt.

Search results for "disney's pop century"
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=disney's+pop+century&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=32.748002,59.238281&ie=UTF8&ll=28.352687,-81.546541&spn=0.002219,0.003616&t=k&z=18&om=1

Disney's Pop Century Resort - Classic Yrs.
1050 Century Dr., Lake Buena Vista, FL
(407) 938-4000

 

[minnie61650]

well one site says that it was to start back in Oct. this is Oct. so maybe!!!

the building will be build to the originally plans. no suites.

I think that was part of the hold up - Disney and contractor were suing each other. the contractor wanted to build the building they had signed up for - Disney wanted the suites. (if you find this lawsuit would love to see it)

if this rumor is correct then Disney loss.

that doesn't mean that before they open this section of Pop - that they won't have suites. just means that the building will need to be completed then add the suites.

Jim Hill is prediting Family Suites for the Ledenday years at Pop and thinks the unfinished section of Pop will be finished the end of 2009.

........
Well, given that occupancy rates for WDW's value resorts have finally climbed back up into the high 80s / low 90s, I'm told that the retrofitting of these partially completed structures could begin as early as in late 2008. With the "Legendary Years" section of Pop Century finally accepting reservations sometime in 2009.

Here is a link to the article:

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_h...ly-rename-mgm-disney-s-hollywood-studios.aspx

Disclaimer: As with ALL things Disney we (the common folk) hardly ever know what Disney plans to do until a project is under way.

 

[suzimar57]

can't open that jim hill article.....

 

[huge mickey fan]

On another website they said:

The pool in the 1940s section is to be shaped like a highway sign, suggesting a "Route 66" motif. The pool in the 1930s will resemble a soda bottle, and the 1910s pool forms the outline of a Monopoly game board.

/QUOTE]

I think this other source has their pools mixed up because Monopoly came out in the 30's during the depression and I believe Coke was introduced around the time of WW1 making it the 1910's. Sorry to get crazy about this but I hope these rumors are true and that they do finish this resort. I would love to stay near the Monopoly board pool!!

 

[Ihave3daughters]

Disclaimer: As with ALL things Disney we (the common folk) hardly ever know what Disney plans to do until a project is under way.

That was my original point of my post. What's up with that white tent? It looked like a special event tent in the middle of the legendary years parking lot. Anyone have any guess as to what it might mean?

It's not a place where someone would hold a Bar Mitzvah... Come on, let's have some speculation, people!

 

[dreaming_of_disney__]

That was my original point of my post. What's up with that white tent? It looked like a special event tent in the middle of the legendary years parking lot. Anyone have any guess as to what it might mean?

It's not a place where someone would hold a Bar Mitzvah... Come on, let's have some speculation, people!

A Haunted Halloween Party!!

 

[suzimar57]

i'll be at Pop saturday - will report back if the mystery "tent" is still up!

 

[spiceycat]

still hoping that means Disney is finally ready to start on the legend years.

hey maybe they took this site certainly and as planning a haunted Pop party!!! go around and see the what would have been. Going to happen only on Oct 31....

of course it could be just tent for the Gayload guest to wait until for their shuttle to come..... Hope not.

 

[nitsirk]

As rumor has it, a Pop Century CM told me that they were going to begin or "finish" construction on the Legendary Years after the hurricane season was over.

Granted, this just a rumor and may not be a reliable source. I will be there in mid-Dec so I will report back with any exciting follow up.

But I agree, the legendary years should be finished. I would love to see what they could do with those decades.