SSR and Beyond

[eporter66]

Since SSR is reported to be the biggest DVC resort yet, I assume that demand for DVC is high. I am not sure of the schedule, but when SSR is fully completed, does anyone see more DVC resorts at WDW?

Where might they be located? Seems like Animal Kingdom Lodge would be a great theme, just like WL has VWL right next door, they could do the same there

Are there rumors that there may be another DVC resort in the works?

Also - any chance of another Vero Beach or Hilton Head type DVC resort being built somewhere?

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

A DVC resort at the Eagle Pines golf course has already been announced. In fact, I think it was announced prior to SSR. They even had drawings posted on the DVC web site at one time. Not sure if they are there any more or if it is still in their plans.

There have been many rumors about other locations including one for one of the wings of the Contemporary. But these are only rumors.

HBC

 

[pirateeast]

The information given to me was that after SSR they would then start on Eagle Pines. They had change plans on Eagle Pines and did SSR instead do to fact of the time frame of getting Eagle Pines ready to go compaired to getting SSR up and running before they were all sold out at all other resorts. Now with the size of SSR the plans for Eagle Pines may have changed all together but it seems with the sells of SSR going what seems to be pretty good I would think it is still on the boards but will not be acted on till SSR gets closer to being fully compleated.

Far as all the other rumors of other places, I believe it is all wishfull thinking, but if Disney thinks it can make money, anything is possible.

 

[tjkraz]

Rumors are pleantiful--hard facts are difficult to come by.

The most popular rumors involved the Contemporary. But we've also seen the Poly and AKL mentioned as possible DVC sites.

But with each rumor comes more reasons why those same areas may not be feasible. Some people claim that the ground is too unstable for further construction at the Poly. Others claim that Disney is afraid to put money into the Contemporary because they don't know what they will do with the resort over the next 50 years.

So take anything you hear with a grain of salt.

I've always thought that adding onto an existing property made a lot of sense from the Disney's POV. They don't have to construct things like the check-in building or recreation areas (pool, boat dock, etc.) Yet when the DVC component of the resort opens, they begin to split the operational costs of these areas of the resort. But again that's just my opinion. I'm sure there are drawbacks as well.

As I understand it, the Eagle Pines resort was actually announced before Saratoga Springs. However at some point in the development it was determined that the old Disney Institute was too run-down to continue operations. Rather than sinking millions into a Disney-funded rehab, or leave the resort sitting unused (right across the lake from Downtown Disney), they moved SSR ahead of EP on the slate. The rest is history.

It stands to reason that Eagle Pines would be the next dedicated DVC property given all of the development work that has already occurred. There may have even been some land prep work performed in anticipation of construction, but the site has been sitting dormant for some time now.

All signs indicate that there is still a strong market for DVC ownership at WDW. Certainly they will eventually reach some point of saturation, but only sales figures will determine that.

Off-site resorts are currently not on the radar.

Final note: Eisner did appoint a new head to the DVC program back in the fall. With new management comes new ideas. It has yet to be determined when/if this appointment might change the overall direction of the program.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The July 2001 press release about the Eagle Pines location is still posted at http://www.themeparks.com/wdw/eaglepinesdvc.htm

The Eagle Pines site was on the WDW master plan as a site for a Disney timeshare resort years before it was announced. There's no reason to think that those plans won't be dusted off once there is a projected sell-out date for SSR. DVD probably spent millions drawing up the plans for the 600-unit development. The plans may be updated somewhat, based on the lessons learned from SSR.

The only question is whether DVD would first want to build a DVC wing on an exisiting deluxe resort before embarking on another freestanding resort.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

The only question is whether DVD would first want to build a DVC wing on an exisiting deluxe resort before embarking on another freestanding resort.

That certainly might move people who decided against the SSR to purchase DVC. It would be a good marketing move to spur interest toward the end of SSR sales as opposed to another free standing resort.

HBC

 

[PamOKW]

Eagle Pines wasn't going to be entirely free-standing. It had a hotel component presented in the plans. It seemed it would be along the lines of Vero but they never made it clear whether the hotel would be available on points or just for Disney's use.

I think Eagle Pines would be a way for them to go after the golf vacation market. They've done that somewhat at OKW but EP was even going to look like a golf course country club. I hope they do get to it eventually.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by PamOKW
Eagle Pines wasn't going to be entirely free-standing. It had a hotel component presented in the plans. It seemed it would be along the lines of Vero but they never made it clear whether the hotel would be available on points or just for Disney's use.

Looking at the full press release (see the link that Horace posted), I don't see anything that would lead me to believe that the "600-unit ownership development" on Eagle Pines Golf Course would also include a hotel.

The following paragraph talks about a "main Inn building," but that just seems to be a larger building, which has the lobby, restaurant, shop, and exercise room, in addition to accomodations. In contrast, the Villa buildings only have accommodations. If you look at the picture in the press release, I would assume that's the "main Inn building."

Quoting from the press release:
<blockquote>The proposed 600-unit ownership development is slated to occupy a 61-acre site along the award-winning Disney’s Eagle Pines golf course at Walt Disney World Resort. All rooms will feature either a pool, golf course or forest view. Initial plans call for the construction of a main Inn building encompassing a check-in area; accommodations; restaurant/lounge; theme pool with feature slide; retail space; arcade; common living room area and a health club, as well as Villa buildings containing vacation home accommodations. Development will begin this fall with an estimated opening in spring/summer 2004. </blockquote>

 

[Dean]

EP had a lodge component from what I recall but it would all be DVC. I got the impression somewhat like HH but not VB but that was from limited info and as I said, was my impression.