Tree House Villas, Any Info?

[clkelley]

The reason they run the AC and keep the electricity on is for some slight maintenance. If they didn't, it would get so hot in there and things would deterioate further and quicker.

You turn off the HVAC and the electricity, and don't have frequent cleaning and/or maintenance and a structure deteriorates even faster.

Another subject OT, but related. If they ever decide to finish the other side of Pop Century, they will probably have to tear down the partial buildings that are there due to weeds/bugs critters taking over the no electric, no windows, no HVAC buildings.

Carol

 

[Cheryl-Feb06]

Hi! My family stayed there when I was in 6th grade, back in 1987!! We were there for a few nights before our room at PR was avail. I have very good memories. It was great to be in a townhouse with more space to run around in. And I remember the luggage guy giving us a ride with our bags in a golf cart. I always thought that would be a fun place to stay if we ever traveled with another family to WDW. I was actually trying to find rates there a couple of years ago and was so dissapointed they were gone. I didn't know they were still standing until I read your message, I assumed they were knocked down for another hotel. They were a great place....does anyone know why they shut them down? Are there any places to build something new there?
thanks for the memories!!

 

[Disney_Queen34]

Just from that picture posted on this thread alone, if they were still open they'd be my next choice of resort on my next trip.

I love the theming and think that with a little sprucing up it could be a cute resort! Make it like a rainforest theme, like the Rainforest Cafe!

 

[Mr. Bildo]

Back in circa 2001, our family had reservations for the tree houses. I believe they were considered a Home Away From Home resort at the time. About 4 months before our vacation, they informed us that the resort was closing for renovations or something.

Our kids were really disappointed. They were excited about them from watching one of the vacation videos.

It's sad, because they were nice and if I recall, one of the least expensive resorts vs. size of accommodations.

--Bildo

 

[Geoff_M]

The reason they run the AC and keep the electricity on is for some slight maintenance. If they didn't, it would get so hot in there and things would deterioate further and quicker.

One word: "Mildew". My dad inherited his parents' retirement home in Leesburg north of Orlando. The mildew was so bad when he'd periodically visit the home after being gone for a couple of months (with the AC off and the everything shut up) that he had to sell the property. He's allergic to mildew.

 

[Jaybrad]

We stayed at the Treehouse Villas in '86 and there is no better spot on property!! We stayed at the Villas again in '98 when they had changed the name to Villas at the Disney Institute. I am sure $$$ caused the change!
"Don't Drink The Beverly!"
1973 - Holiday Inn
1977 & 79 - Dutch Inn
1982 - Royal Plaza
1984 - Hilton (downtown Disney)
1986 - Treehouse Villas
1988 - Hilton (downtown Disney)
1990 - Offsite
1991 - Dolphin
1992 - Wyndham LBV
1996 - Dolphin
1997 - Yacht Club Resort (2 Visits)
1998 - Villas @ Disney Institute
1999 - Yacht Club Resort (2 Visits)
2000 & 2001 - Offsite
2001 - Hilton (downtown Disney)
2002 - Grosvenor
2003 - Old Key West (2 Visits)
2004 - Old Key West
2004 - All Star Music
2005 - Beach Club Villas

 

[kjs1976]

Anyone have any indoor pics to go with those fond memories????

Thanks to all who have shared so far! I was interested to hear stories since we just stayed at POFQ and would see them on our DTD excursions. I remember going to DTD on a PO boat in '96 and having people wave to us from the balcony. I thought that I wanted to make sure I stayed there someday when I got settled and could afford it...no such luck as they closed the year of our honeymoon!

 

[jcemom]

We were told by a CM just this month that they couldn't make any changes to the outside due to the protected wetlands...can't tear them down, can't make them handicapped accessible. He said they would not reopen because they could not reopen them if they weren't made handicapped accessible, and that couldn't be done without making changes to the outside, which couldn't be done due to the wetlands.

 

[Claroquesi]

DH was THRILLED to find this thread! Thought his parents may have lied to him about where he stayed as a little boy, or as a 4-year old he may have made the whole thing up!

 

[Magnetic]

Re: accessibility, they don't need to be made handicapped-accessible because they were built around 1971, long before handicapped accessibility laws were enacted. They would be grandfathered in under their original construction dates, provided they're renovated and not torn down.

As I posted above, when we stayed at Saratoga Springs 2 weeks ago, the front desk there told us they would eventually be renovated and become part of Saratoga Springs, because the land they're sitting on has been allocated to Phase 3 of SSR (the Phase 3 plat of survey even shows all the treehouses on it -- someone's linked it on this board in another thread.) They also said everything that's been said here about wetlands and needing to leave the structures standing in order to do anything with that area, but added that it could be a while.

I took some time today and wrote Disney a letter (a real one, not an email) expressing how much I would really like to stay in the Treehouse Villas and hope that they renovate/reopen sometime in the future. Perhaps if others who feel the same let them know, their place in the priority chain of things might improve. Who knows?