So... Where is the next DVC resort going to be?

[CrazyDuck]

So we got the WDW resorts and VB in Florida, HHI in South Carolina, VGC in at DL, and soon Aulani in Hawaii. Where is the next DVC resort going to be built? Are they going back to WDW even though there are still a few unsold resorts? Do they try another at DL even though they can't sell out the current 50 unit offering. Maybe another island in Hawaii (Maui maybe) even though they have no idea how well Aulani will sell? Do they go international next to one of their other parks (Paris, HK Tokyo) and would current DVCers support a resort built so far away? How about another vacation spot in the US; Colorado, Utah, Salt Lake (even though not as popular year round), Vegas or NY (not very kid centric), Grand Canyon, Yellowstone or some other national park (is there enough to do for 7+ days)? Just curious what everyone wants...

 

[TLPL]

and would current DVCers support a resort built so far away?

But the goal is attract NEW DVCers, not just setting add-ons to current DCVers. There is a whole world of people out there, outside of these people who are on here.

 

[WRWDisney]

In no particular order, Washington DC and Tokyo and on Bay Lake. Why you say? Well, Disney has already announced that they will be building a 500 room hotel at National Harbor (just across the river from DC). Their current model seems to be to incorporate at least a small DVC component in each new hotel, so...

On Bay Lake, I would anticipate that they will build a sister tower to BLT, where the other garden wing currently stands. If that is not possible (stability of the ground to support a tower), then I would look for them to build/convert some rooms at the Poly or the Grand Floridian (no inside info, it just seems that as the only two Deluxes left w/o a DVC component, that they would be the next logical choice. If that were to take place, I would anticipate that we will have a BLT repeat (i.e., "We don't know what you mean...there is no construction going on over there....no that giant tower rising from behind the construction fence is a figment of your imagination." I would not expect an announcement till AKV was almost sold out (given how the BLT sales have cut into AKV sales pace and price--I do not expect them to make that mistake again).

Finally, I think the westward expansion has been very intentional on DVC's part. The Asian market is huge and tremendously important to them. I think you will find that atleast half of the Hawaii contracts sold will be for large point allocations and be bought with Japan, Korea and China on the return address labels. Think about it, if you have a DVC in Tokyo (where there is already a park) Hawaii and California, then why not come over and drop a few bucks in Florida, since you are so close.

Alright, the Mighty Kreskin will now put away his crystal ball now.

 

[papertraveller]

The point about attracting Asian buyers in Hawaii is a very smart one strategically. Expand your pool of customers, create distinct product, and in the process expand your cachement area too. Nice..
For the next location, I would suggest that they try to expand the European exposure at DLP ... we're hoping to get there next year, and are looking at using Marriott points to get into their timeshare.
And then, of course, if they were to add something at the Poly, I'd be so in.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Where do I THINK the next one will be-at a Disney park. Depending on the success of the Villas at Grand Californian, it may be in Tokyo, or it may be at WDW (think Polynesian). Where do I WANT the next one to be built-someplace that's not so tropical, with a winter season. I love the idea of the Yellowstone area, but I don't think so. Maybe Colorado, northern New York or New England.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

I was thinking about what they will do next in Florida when I was at BLT last month. With the sucess of BLT and the incentive of being on the monorail, I was thinking they could build between GF and MK. It would be a mirror image of BLt but just on the other side of the lake. There is plenty of room. Since there is no existing rsort, the monorail could stop right inside the lobby instead of having to cross a bridge. I think it would be cool.

 

[rutgers1]

I am not so sure that monorail access will play into their plans. They have already shown that they can sell out places with no monorail access. I just hope that, if they build one in a place with no theme park direct access, that they don't make the mistake they did with SSR. The are a bunch of problems with SSR, but the main ones are that it is HUGE, not near a park, and the theming is just "ok." If you are going to build a resort away from the parks, it has to be themed beyond comparison.

 

[silmarg]

I dont think Tokyo would get a DVC as Disney does not own that park.

Paris is more likely.

 

[SnowWhite2]

they don't make the mistake they did with SSR. The are a bunch of problems with SSR, but the main ones are that it is HUGE, not near a park, and the theming is just "ok."

That's your opinion. My family loves SSR. There are not endless corridors to navigate to get to my room....after I've walked a mile from the parking lot! It may be huge but I don't have an entire hotel full of guests walking past my room. The theming is a nice break after the in your face characters all day. The fact that SSR is close to DTD and a bunch of retail, restaurants and entertainment suits me fine.

 

[bbluvsdis]

I would love to see something at GF! I am not interested in the theming at BLT and would love the close proximity to MK. They could convert some of the rooms already there so the investment wouldn't be as great.

 

[crewmatt]

DVC is coming to the national harbor in DC. The wife and I were there the other night, it seems like it'll be an interesting setup.

 

[crewmatt]

Idk, I like the sprawling resort style, but probably because I'm a runner and the trails at POR were just gorgeous. But we also stayed close to the main building. We're doing BWV in a few months, and then AKV in January. I'd say I hope they do more setups like Beach/Yacht/Boardwalk where resorts are walkable to each other. Just because I think its so nice to be able to resort hop with little or no effort. You can goto any of those main restaurants and just stumble back to the hotel. most nights in our last trip involved transferring in downtown disney after dinner to get home. Plus it has easy access to epcot.

 

[NewDCLGuy]

I'll be shocked if the next resort isn't BLT II

 

[silmarg]

i think it would be Poly over GF.

 

[DVCconvert]

So... Where is the next DVC resort going to be?

Perhaps it will be.....

Disney's Lunar Tic Bay Resort

 

[kristie03]

DVC is coming to the national harbor in DC. The wife and I were there the other night, it seems like it'll be an interesting setup.

Is there any construction going on at the National Harbor site?

 

[Dean]

That's your opinion. My family loves SSR. There are not endless corridors to navigate to get to my room....after I've walked a mile from the parking lot! It may be huge but I don't have an entire hotel full of guests walking past my room. The theming is a nice break after the in your face characters all day. The fact that SSR is close to DTD and a bunch of retail, restaurants and entertainment suits me fine.

SSR is a nice resort but it's relative demand compared to the other resorts is less. IMO, it's important to the health of the DVC system that new resort have at least an average OVERALL demand compared to the other resorts and even better if the demand is above average. That means that a new resort needs to have a higher overall demand than SSR, VB and HH, OKW would be included in this group were it not for the lower points. This is difficult to do as a Disney destination if not a park associated option. Even HI may not meet those goals and is even less likely to meet the sales goals unless a fundamental change in sales tactics is made.

There are other mistakes DVC has made in the non WDW options as well including cutting corners on land prices and ending up with a resort that was less than it could have been. They did avoid that mistake for HI I think so hopefully that will help. The other issue is that they have had overly optimistic sales projections for off property options and this has led the 2 previous off property options to fall into the failure category from a sales standpoint in DVC's eyes. IMO, they set themselves up for what they got.

As for National Harbour, I won't believe it'll happen as a resort until walls go up (beyond signs and stakes). I won't believe it'll have a DVC component until I see it in writing from a Disney source.

HI sales will be interesting because in order to sell the resort there they will have to do things they have not done before to get guests to tour (promo stays, tour incentives, phone calls to guests, etc) and will need to be at least somewhat more aggressive on the sales side than they have been traditionally.

I'm truly hoping they are able to successfully expand the DVC system because it gives us more options as members but I think there are certain realities that many overlook.

 

[nunzia]

Didn't they have some sort of survey a year or so back? If I remember correctly, it seems that Tahoe and Vegas were mentioned.

 

[Dean]

Didn't they have some sort of survey a year or so back? If I remember correctly, it seems that Tahoe and Vegas were mentioned.

Vegas is overbuilt for timeshares but it is not as seasonal as many places.

 

[hakepb]

I am not so sure that monorail access will play into their plans. They have already shown that they can sell out places with no monorail access. I just hope that, if they build one in a place with no theme park direct access, that they don't make the mistake they did with SSR. The are a bunch of problems with SSR, but the main ones are that it is HUGE, not near a park, and the theming is just "ok." If you are going to build a resort away from the parks, it has to be themed beyond comparison.

DVC did choose overwhelming themeing on their next resort, AKV. I think AKV has been sucessful, but does not seem to be a runaway sales hit. It really does seem to take a little more to convince someone to stay at AKL/V the first time (in part because Disney always promoted Deluxes on location and transportation) Even when you look at WDW travel guides, AKL is always a top deluxe recommendation. Most people love AKL/V after they try it (I did!)

The combination of very different and less than perfect location seems to be less of a slam-dunk than BLT with location, location, location.

On a side note, DVC is/has corrected many of the SSR weaknesses. They added Turf Club for sit-down dining. They added Grandstand with a kids play area at the pool, with pool bar. They added a desireable and unique THV and they are now adding a 2nd major water theme area with food service to the more "remote" Paddock and near Carousel...