Should WDW put rooms IN the parks, esp Epcot?

[stellablue]

This reminds me of a friend taking her first trip to Disney World. She was staying on-site, at one of the moderate resorts. When she got there, she was extremely disappointed. She thought that she'd actually be staying IN the parks. She complained, and they put her in the Poly, so it would at least be easier to get to the parks.

Maybe her dream will come true

Did Disney upgrade your friend to Poly free of charge when she complained or did she have to pay the difference?

 

[wendy darling]

Backstage is backstage for a reason! And while you may think there is "empty" space back behind the countries that's not really the way it is.

Well said, it is backstage for a reason and CPer'sMom is correct in saying that the "empty space" is not "empty space"- believe me I've been back there!!

It is an interesting concept though!!

 

[jayandstacey]

Well said, it is backstage for a reason and CPer'sMom is correct in saying that the "empty space" is not "empty space"- believe me I've been back there!!

It is an interesting concept though!!

Disney has the right to build up and down as well as out.

There is a road that runs around the outside of world showcase, as well as a canal. The east and west side pavillions have other properties that make it difficult - but the American and others on the south end have trees on the other side of the canal, and in the france area there is already parking.

Remember, I'm talking very small hotels here, 50 rooms or less. The fact that a road exists (and that very road goes beneath guest areas over by international gateway) means there is room to build- the limitation is really more about profitability. The road could go above or beneath (or through!) the hotel, and other service elements could be moved / reconfigured.

My point is that in the real world, this doesn't happen. But in WDW, they have both the ability to name their price AND be creative in implementing it - think utilidors.

So I'm not saying it will happen, rather that it could.

 

[minnie61650]

Disney has the right to build up and down as well as out.

...... But in WDW, they have both the ability to name their price AND be creative in implementing it - think utilidors.

So I'm not saying it will happen, rather that it could.

Just an FYI:

The Utilidors that are beneath the Magic Kingdom, are not a basement; they are actually the ground level of the Magic Kingdom. The park is actually the second level.
This is the same with small Utilidors at Epcot.

In California DL was able to build a walkway under the railroad when they added ToonTown to the park. But because of the water table in WDW the land must first be built up before they can build down.


EDIT TO ADD:
As others have said it is a fun idea but at this late point rooms would be quite hard to add to the exsisting parks.

 

[Becky_Boop]

Did Disney upgrade your friend to Poly free of charge when she complained or did she have to pay the difference?

I'm not sure. If it was free, it would be extremely unfair to the more informed tourists. Makes ya wanna be clueless, huh?

 

[Nanu57v]

Maybe I should assume a new name and try it!

 

[wilda]

I can imagine anywhere from 25 to 100 rooms at each of the countries around world showcase. Likewise rooms overlooking sunset blvd in the studios, and others elsewhere.

The popularity of the castle suite shows there's some demand there. Further:
- Disney is already servicing a single room in the castle - the least efficient way to run a hotel
- many hotel services, like food and laundry, already exist in the parks- the only change would be to make their hours match the rooms.
- and park admissions might need to be adjusted - for instance, world showcase would never close (a la the boardwalk) but would have a 24 hour guard at the international gateway - during park hours, they would look for park tickets, after hours - room keys. Also, the lobby of each hotel might be accessible from the exterior of world showcase.
- Booking a room in the park would likely cost a TON, but might also come with free admission to that park for all nights stayed.

thoughts? I have to believe Disney is at least looking at this...

Never thought about that but what a very creative idea! Are you sure your not an imagineer?

 

[jayandstacey]

Never thought about that but what a very creative idea! Are you sure your not an imagineer?

hehe - quite sure. But I do have a job that requires forward planning and budgeting on a fairly large scale.

Do you think the castle suite would ever be available for a price? I suspect not, but I wonder when they will use it for other things than the YOMD promotion give-aways. For instance; corporate sponsorship use, employee giveaways, executive retreats, etc. The promo value would still be there, so Disney will always get some 'value' in return for someone staying there.

Making a YOMD giveaway a random event (ie, given away on random days but not everyday) would retain the promo value of that effort.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

This reminds me of a friend taking her first trip to Disney World. She was staying on-site, at one of the moderate resorts. When she got there, she was extremely disappointed. She thought that she'd actually be staying IN the parks. She complained, and they put her in the Poly, so it would at least be easier to get to the parks.

Maybe her dream will come true

She thought she would be in a park!?!? Not really a planner, is she? I have to say that I am disappointed in WDW, that they would give away a deluxe room to someone who wasn't even interested enough in the trip to find out anything about the place

 

[minnie61650]

......Do you think the castle suite would ever be available for a price? I suspect not, but I wonder when they will use it for other things than the YOMD promotion give-aways. For instance; corporate sponsorship use, employee giveaways, executive retreats, etc. The promo value would still be there, so Disney will always get some 'value' in return for someone staying there. .....
.

The rumor is that the Castle Suite will be offered to the Make a Wish foundation.