Tree House Villa's to Reopen..

[senecabeach]

Some of us "old timers" would likely remember these Disney Treehouses (by SSR/DTD) and looks like they are coming back. Ah...memories and certainly a fun stay..many years ago. They are now being used for foreign student CM housing. Has anyone else heard anything??

Per my Intercot newsletter:

"Disney's Tree-house Villas to Re-Open

The Walt Disney World resort has started to file paperwork to renovate Disney's Tree-house Villas, a community of 60 two-story units. The three-bedroom villas are scattered throughout a wooded back road between Lake Buena Vista Golf Course and a ferry canal. Although officials have not released details of their planned use for the units, Disney World spokeswoman Andrea Finger stated that "We are bringing them back as a popular option for our guests" confirming they will be re-opened to the public."

You can read more here: http://www.intercot.com/discussion/s...d.php?t=126796

 

[PrincessPaczki]

I can't wait! We stayed in them many times when I was growing up, and it really brings back some great memories. I can't wait to see what they will be charging for them now. Thanks for the update!

 

[ConcKahuna]

That link is now dead, so the story may have been removed. From what I've heard from some Disney folks I know, the cost of renovating the THV's would be very high. They would require ADA compliance (and with those it would have to be elevators), rewiring of all of the electricity, and probably asbestos removal. Doing all of that in the tight quarters of a Cypress forest (cypress trees are protected by FL law) would be very difficult as well.

Not saying that it isn't possible, it is Disney after all, but I would start planning your vacation for them any time soon

 

[senecabeach]

That link is now dead, so the story may have been removed. From what I've heard from some Disney folks I know, the cost of renovating the THV's would be very high. They would require ADA compliance (and with those it would have to be elevators), rewiring of all of the electricity, and probably asbestos removal. Doing all of that in the tight quarters of a Cypress forest (cypress trees are protected by FL law) would be very difficult as well.

Not saying that it isn't possible, it is Disney after all, but I would start planning your vacation for them any time soon

Hummmmmm...... Yes, I agree there aren't too many left..maybe they will be a part of SSR??
Go here..Its on the home page:
http://www.intercot.com/default.asp

 

[Forever a Princess]

I have always wanted to stay in these. Had the chance a few years back but didn't. Still kicking myself on that one.

 

[sherry8253]

I heard the same thing about Disney re-doing the tree houses but I don't remember where I read it. I know it wasn't Intercot. always make my DH play golf at LBV so I can ride past them. In Jan '08 it appeared CM's were still staying in at least some of them because we saw some people sitting outside.

 

[colonialtinker]

I heard it on the pod cast.

 

[CoolPool]

Well there's gonna be more options for larger families in there I think. The one I stayed in years ago as a child was huge.

 

[tiggersmom2]

I am really hoping this is true. Some of my most treasured memories took place there.....I would love for my children to experience it.

 

[stacy6552]

I've stayed in one and don't get all the hoopla. The grand villas sleep more people and unless there was a sleeper sofa we just didn't use, a 2 bedroom villa sleeps more. I like the newer villas much better.

 

[Hopefully]

I loved the Treehouse Villas when we stayed in them years ago. We brought a family friend who used the downstairs bedroom and he had a degree of privacy and space from the rest of us.
At that time they were truly unique, I think we stayed there even before OKW was built. They were the only multilevel accomodations and the only place with 3 bedrooms and a washer and dryer.
Sitting on the deck, in the trees, was peaceful and beautiful. We had peacocks that visited daily.
Having the full kitchen was great, and the Master Bedroom was wonderful. We rented a golf cart too, and we would ride through the LBV Golf Course to the restaurant at the club house.
My memories of our stay at the Treehouse Villas are some of the best early memories of our WDW trips that I have.
We have stayed at OKW, BCV and BWV in the recent past and none are the same as the old Treehouses. I think the treehouse had more room.
I welcome their return.

 

[precious pixie]

I stayed at them too. I thought they were nice, not my favorite, but still nice. I read on the Kingdom Tower thread that when Disney put in for the license to sell KT timeshares they applied for something with the treehouse villas so hopefully they will be coming back.

 

[sassyat30]

Knox (CanadianGuy) had a very long thread on this a few weeks ago.

Maybe you could find that?

And from the details listed in that thread, THV are definitely coming back.

 

[MUDisneyCouple]

I have never stayed at or heard of these....sounds like something we would really like!!! I'm guessing that no one has any pics of these? I'm going to try to find the thread that you are talking about, sassyat30. This looks like something very interesting....

 

[MeMom]

From our Christmas trip. This is from the water taxi from POFQ to DTD.

 

[MUDisneyCouple]

WOW! That is pretty cool...my DH will love these!

 

[mickeybrat]

It looks like some CM's made videos on YouTube of the villas. And the orlando sentenial (sp) has a couple good articles on the rebuilding questions? I am curious to know what's going on too!!!

 

[TisBit]

That link is now dead, so the story may have been removed. From what I've heard from some Disney folks I know, the cost of renovating the THV's would be very high. They would require ADA compliance (and with those it would have to be elevators), rewiring of all of the electricity, and probably asbestos removal. Doing all of that in the tight quarters of a Cypress forest (cypress trees are protected by FL law) would be very difficult as well.

Not saying that it isn't possible, it is Disney after all, but I would start planning your vacation for them any time soon

This has been widely reported that the plans have been approved for the rehab of the units. I doubt that any issues that would actually kill the renovation would not have been addressed before they drew up architectural designs and been submitted for approval.

The plans submitted actually show the complete removal of the old units, withe exception of the main support pole and rebuilding of the units. It was approved because the footprint in the flood planes would actually be smaller. Demolition and removal wouldn't be hard, since they already have existing roads to each villa and it appears that the units going in (I know sites like DVC news have published the pics) show that they maybe constructed in a modular format to ease the building process. There are even several theories on how the ADA compliance could work without the use of elevators (switchback ramps, etc on units that sit lower to the ground, i believe the number sited would only require 4 with ramps)

It will be interesting to see how they are marketed, but from the designs it appears it would be family units or DVC units...not designed for employee usage, which was their most recent use.

 

[KevGuy]

I'm expecting these to be new reservation categories at SSR, yaaa!!

 

[twinklebug]

As a kid camping in Ft W. with my family we visited friends staying at these - I was SO excited to see them.... I must say I was hugely disappointed to find out they were not true to their name and the playgrounds in the campground had more authentic tree houses (these are long gone). Humph.