What is/was Disney Institute?

[cornflkgrl]

I was reading something and it refered to the "now defunct Disney Institute." What is/was the Disney Institute, if anyone knows? Just curious.

 

[CastMemberDWA]

In the area where Saratoga Springs has recently been built exsited the Disney Institute. It was a resort area (originally Lake Buena Vista Villas) that offered classes during your stay. My husband and I participated in a couple of animation classes in April 1998. It was great. The only original part of it left is the fitness club house that is now part of SSR.
The idea of a "learning vacation" just never seemed to catch on I guess.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I always wanted to do the Disney Institute thing and was SO bummed when they discontinued it. They had classes for animation and cooking I know for sure and I think a couple other things. I wanted to do the animation one. It was such a great idea, I was surprised it didn't do better and they closed the institute.

Does anyone remember what the other classes were besides animation and cooking. Maybe gardening?

 

[webmomom]

We did the cooking and container gardening classes. It was great. there was a couple different cooking classes. We really enjoyed both classes we took and was dissppointed then discontinued them.

 

[hogwartsdropout]

I remember they used to have special guest teachers as well.

 

[Feralpeg]

They also did classes for professional people on subjects such as communication, team building, etc.

 

[Lancer]

Just to add for what its worth, I took the Back Stage Magic tour in February and the cast member was wearing a Disney Institue shirt. In addition, unlike most tours, we were asked to complete a survey by way of e-mail instead of at the completion of the tour.This e-mail and survey was from the Disney Institute. So, it must still exist in some form.

 

[Feralpeg]

Just to add for what its worth, I took the Back Stage Magic tour in February and the cast member was wearing a Disney Institue shirt. In addition, unlike most tours, we were asked to complete a survey by way of e-mail instead of at the completion of the tour.This e-mail and survey was from the Disney Institute. So, it must still exist in some form.

I believe they still do the corporate seminars.

 

[Twinprincesses]

We stayed there when it first opened. We did not do any of the classes though. Nice place but it just did not feel Disney enough for me.

 

[Linzybrooke]

There is a big billboard on I-35 in Dallas about Disney Institute doing a seminar here later this month. If anyone is local you might want to check it out!

 

[Leota]

I was bummed when it closed. DH & I always wanted to do either a cooking or gardening vacation there when our son was older. Now he's older & DI is no longer....

 

[CallaLily]

I always wanted to do the Disney Institute thing and was SO bummed when they discontinued it.

It was such a great idea, I was surprised it didn't do better and they closed the institute.

Me too. As a kid, I loved the idea of it and desperately wanted to try some classes on the next family trip. Unfortunately, it closed before that could happen. Ironically, the concept of "learning vacations" has been gaining popularity over the past few years. Maybe it was an idea ahead of its time.

 

[hulagirl87]

I was sad too when I found out that Disney Institute closed. My mom and I had taken a vacation there several years ago and split our time between the institute and GF. It was a great vacation! We took classes the first part of the week and then did the parks the rest of the week. I got to go rock climbing, took canoeing (in the pouring rain!!), and built a Mickey topiary. It was a blast. It's too bad that it didn't catch on.

 

[bgdiznee]

Our family all got to partipate in 1997. I believe that may have been the initial start-up year(?). Anyway, we all loved the experience. It was setup so the whole family could participate on their age appropriate level. My DH and I did adult classes(cooking;wine tasting) DD and older DS did classes geared towards teenagers(animation;communication and a class with a Disney Imagineer!) while the little DS spent the day in a "day camp" setting and got to do a behind the scenes tour at MGM which he loved lol he wanted to go again the next day! We were sad when we heard it had been discontinued. Oh they also had a great Day Spa as well.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I also always wanted to stay in the treehouses but now they lay vacant. I think it would be such a peaceful vacation to spend all day around noise and people and excitement and to go back to you peaceful little treehouse. The last rumor I heard is that they're going to reopen as a DVC thing (part of SSR I would figure) eventually.

 

[Feralpeg]

I also always wanted to stay in the treehouses but now they lay vacant. I think it would be such a peaceful vacation to spend all day around noise and people and excitement and to go back to you peaceful little treehouse. The last rumor I heard is that they're going to reopen as a DVC thing (part of SSR I would figure) eventually.

They aren't vacant anymore. They are being used as housing for foreing students participating in the college program.

 

[BZall]

The Disney Institute was originally the Disney Village, a very early sort of planned Disney community then far out of the mainstream of the theme park hubbub. The plan called for a series of townhouses, which existed until the recent construction of Saratoga Springs on the same site. We had a 2-bedroom model a few years ago and it had great advantages: the rooms were huge, there was a separate upstairs and downstairs (think DVC Grand Villas but much, much bigger), and the kitchens and bathrooms were full-size. And it was cheaper than Ft. Wilderness trailers, DVC rentals or other "at-home" options. We baked pizzas one night, and had full breakfasts.

Green- and brown-stained plywood exteriors in our section with a 60's look; other sections were orange and other colors. Lots of narrow parking circles with a bit of foliage in between; park in front of your villa and walk into a shared foyer. Almost exactly like an apartment complex of the era. Many ponds, some with masses of very friendly ducks -- who were quite used to being fed by guests and so would wander right into your living room. It was homey enough that my teenagers would simply curl up in front of the TV and watch whatever was on, while I wanted to go to the parks!

It was quite isolated, sort of like Ft. Wilderness, but not as forest-y. Much more like you might think a Celebration of that era might have been.

When they ran the classes at the Institute, there was no pressure to attend, and no penalty for being a non-attender. There also was almost no marketing, and very little scheduling information, so I imagine the "drop-in" rate for non-reserved attendees was minimal.

Unfortunately, in recent years, the townhouses suffered somewhat from age and lack of maintenance; our heat pump (this was in January when it was working hard even in Orlando) kept making very loud screeches when it started. Though maintenance was called, they said there was nothing they could do, and it continued to screech throughout our stay.

Plus, at the end of the Institute era, there were no dining options. You basically went to DD for anything. One time we took the boat across the lake (which was the way to get there unless you wanted to walk), and I mentioned to the CM running the boat that I had forgotten something and needed to go back. He got very upset, largely forgot how to speak English, and began sputtering at me frantically. I thought he would thow me out of the boat! But, in the end, we arrived at DD safely and without getting an unexpected swim.

 

[lauran cameron]

http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/wdwguide/4_Accommodations/VDI_photo_tour.htm

here's this link...I always found it quite interesting...you can really see the likeliness of SSR