What used to be on SSR's present site?

[tjkraz]

As for the treehouses "never" being removed -- "never" is a fairly strong word. Disney has made arrangements to get around wetlands conservancy issues within the WDW property in the past, and I'm sure could make similar arrangements today.

I'm inclined to agree with RC. "Never" doesn't seem to be in the Disney vocabulary.

I don't know squat about wetlands conservancy issues, but WDW / Reedy Creek doesn't seem to have much trouble accomplishing a goal when they set their minds to it.

 

[John VN]

To stay in a Tree House Villa one more time would be fantastic. They are a true Disney Hidden Delight. Was so quiet and magical when staying there and the tub is great.

John

 

[disney junky]

I was always jealous of the people who were staying in the tree houses. We stayed at PO and the former DL and would boat by them on the way to Disney Marketplace. I would see the golf carts and think how cool that would be to have a golf cart to get around in. At night, the yellow glow would be visible, and at times you could see the occupants of the houses. So peaceful.....

 

[mickeysgal]

The very first response from PKK/MJK had the answer...the Vacation Villas. There were also Club Lake Villas which might have been razed too for Phase I. We never stayed at any of the World Village Villas as the whole complex was called way back when.

This reminded me of something I heard a long time ago. Does anyone know if there was some sort of house on this property that has, up until recently, been used for VIPs, celebrities, etc? I had heard this "rumor" a few years ago and have always wondered about whether it was true or not. Maybe there was a ultra large Vacation Villa at one time?

 

[mickeysgal]

We have been going to WDW a long time.... not real often, but long enough to miss having drinks and listening to stand-up comics on the Empress Lily.... and before PI.... seems like AMC, Empress Lily and a few shops was pretty much it.

But for the life of me, I don't remember what used to be across from DTD.... maybe it's because we usually go at nite!

I remember when the Empress Lily had character breakfasts and Chef Mickey's was located at the Market Place! Brings back memories. Now that had to be late 80's/early 90's.

 

[BCV23]

This reminded me of something I heard a long time ago. Does anyone know if there was some sort of house on this property that has, up until recently, been used for VIPs, celebrities, etc? I had heard this "rumor" a few years ago and have always wondered about whether it was true or not. Maybe there was a ultra large Vacation Villa at one time?

I think you're probably talking about the Grand Vista Suites. From my oldest Birnbaum (1985):

"A quartet of ultraluxurious two and three-bedroom homes- originally designed as model homes for a development project that has been abandoned for the moment-is available for rent in the Vacation Villa area. Bed turndown service and daily newspaper deliveries are provided, refrigerators are stocked with staples when you arrive, and the furniture is first class."

The prices that year were $400/2 BR ans $475/3 BR. For comparison, a tower room at the CR was $140 and lagoon view at the Polynesian$130. No seasonal price changes in those days either.

 

[mickeysgal]

I think you're probably talking about the Grand Vista Suites. From my oldest Birnbaum (1985):

"A quartet of ultraluxurious two and three-bedroom homes- originally designed as model homes for a development project that has been abandoned for the moment-is available for rent in the Vacation Villa area. Bed turndown service and daily newspaper deliveries are provided, refrigerators are stocked with staples when you arrive, and the furniture is first class."

The prices that year were $400/2 BR ans $475/3 BR. For comparison, a tower room at the CR was $140 and lagoon view at the Polynesian$130. No seasonal price changes in those days either.

Wow - Thanks for the info. Those must have been something to see!

 

[spiceycat]

in the 70's around 75 - WDW was trying to sell houses/condo in that area - my grandmother was approached when we were staying at the Polyn.

WDW was asking a lot for that time - the DVC timeshares are much more reasonable priced. and no voting rights - that make grandmother mad.

I wasn't paying much attention...

 

[FOTM_Ring_Bearer]

Did any of you ever go to the Disney Institute? I went for a long weekend. My friend and I both LOVED it. We got to canoe on some of the protected wetlands, make a TV show, learn some cooking skills, learn some "Disney tricks" etc. I thought it was one of ME's GREAT ideas, but it just didn't seem people wanted to pay for it. (I miss it!)

I went to the Disney Institute with my Mom the first year it opened. It was really fun. We went to a cooking class where we made a Mexican meal, learned about wine tasting, made a Mickey Mouse spagnium moss topiary (just try carrying that home on the plane. ) and I took the computer animation class. We stayed in the bungaloos which used to be called the club lake villas. I always thought it was very peacefull there and the lake is really pretty.

 

[Alexander]

I remember when the Empress Lily had character breakfasts and Chef Mickey's was located at the Market Place! Brings back memories. Now that had to be late 80's/early 90's.

We had breakfast on the Empress Lily in the early 80's. I loved Chef Mickey's downtown! It was a sit down restaurant and Mickey came around dressed in a white chef's outfit. The last time we ate there was 1992 or 1993. We have never been the "new" Chef Mickey's. It's just not the same. It's just another character buffet.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Where is/was the Empress Lily? Is this now Fulton's?

 

[Patricia721]

Yes, Fulton's was the Empress Lily...a long time ago! I remember taking our son there to a character breakfast around 1980. Does anyone else remember that?

 

[colleen costello]

We used to go to WDW every summer when I was a kid and we would always go to shop at "Lake Buena Vista" on one of our last days in Florida. I liked it best when it was a a little village of shops with crafters. It was very cool. They had bohemian artsy-types making pottery and candles and you could buy the crafts or supplies to make your own. I was all of 8 or 10 and I would always go home thinking I wanted to make pottery for a living.

The Empress Lilly was the niftiest restaurant at WDW, along with "Top of the World" at the top of the Contemporary. My family didn't try these because you had to dress up! I guess this was in the late 1970's. I still can't believe sometimes that Downtown Disney USED to be that quiet little shopping village.

 

[iankh]

I remember character breakfasts at the Empress Lilly. I went there my very first trip to WDW in I think 1979 or 1980. It was also not called Downtown Disney then, it was Lake Buena Vista Village, wasn't it?

 

[BCV23]

There were actually 3 restaurants on the Empress Lily. One was The Empress Room...a fine dining restaurant with jacket required for men. We never dined there as our children were too young.

Steerman's quarters and Fisherman's Deck were the other two. We liked them both but especially Fisherman's Deck. Both were full service restaurants with good food and service.

I think there was also a longe on board.

 

[PKK/MJK]

So----in summary (LOL!!) the answer to the original question is the Vacation Villas. Those Villas were turned into the Disney Institute--which , as we all know, didn't do too well---so thus we now have Saratoga Springs. The Club House Villas and the Tree House Villas were behind the Vacation Villas--it was definitely the VV which were directly across from DD. Our first trip to WDW was in 1982 and I, too, remember the Empress Lilly(such a beautiful name compared to Fulton's Crab House) and taking my 'little ones' there for a 'character breakfast'; the Marketplace when it was only a few, quaint shops; Chef Mickey's when it was located in that area. What wonderful memories--wish I could go back.

 

[iankh]

The Empress Lilly was named after Walt's wife.

Lake Buena Vista Village as indeed charming. It was a quiet, peaceful and uncrowded retreat from MK and Epcot.

 

[arcruiser]

That's why we didn't mind buying SSR - or should I say, why we wanted SSR....

Ever since our trip in '85, we have always gravitated toward the DD area - even before it was DD!

I still miss the laid back atmosphere (for the evening comedy and drinks) on the Empress Lily most out of all the changes.

 

[scottb8888]

We stayed in the "Vacation Villas" and the "Club Lake Villas" many times and really enjoyed them. We heard that they were going to be removed and SSR was in the plans. We waited to purchase for that reason, we love the location.

Back by the Fairway Villas were a half a dozen homes, I think they called them Vacation Homes. Does anyone know what happed to them?

 

[tjkraz]

Back by the Fairway Villas were a half a dozen homes, I think they called them Vacation Homes. Does anyone know what happed to them?

The Fairway Villas are set to be demolished, and the area will be home to another 3 or 4 SSR buildings.