Whatever happened to the Disney Institute?

[grumpymakesmehappy]

We stayed at the Disney Institute in the early 90's. It is my understanding that they changed the Disney Institute to SSR. I am just a little curious as to why this was done and how is SSR different? We enjoyed the Institue and being so close to DTD. I would love to know the story behind the change, and has anyone out there stayed at both DI and SSR? Thanks.

 

[gppnj]

Disney Institute was not a financial success, so it was closed. It's as simple as that. I guess people wanted to go to the parks while at WDW rather than take classes. I kind of liked the idea of the Disney Institute, though I never took any classes there.

SSR is a timeshare - part of the Disney Vacation Club. Completely different from Disney Institute.

 

[mjkaferle5]

I believe SSR was built next to the area where the Disney Institute was at.

 

[Feralpeg]

SSR is built where Disney Institute used to reside. There are still a few of the original buildings in place. The spa area, a few classroom sites and the main building were there from the beginning.

Not only were the classes not that successful, Disney can crowd a lot more people into what is now SSR than they could in the buildings that made up the Disney Institute. SSR buildings are several stories high. I have no idea how many rooms are in each building, but I'm betting a good number. The buildings for Disney Institute were much smaller. The building I stayed in, a bungalow, had two apartment like rooms. The treehouses were part of the DI as were a few houses that served as villas.

I did take several classes at DI. I thought they were great, but they were expensive.

 

[ccw]

When we stayed at DISNEY INSTITUTE many moons ago, I remember an AWESOME gym/indoor basketball court. I assume that area is now the spa (I was just at the spa but no one knew the answer and I did not have time to explore the resort to figure it out myself). Anyone know if in fact the spa is where the basketball court used to be or is the b'ball court still there somewhere?

 

[All Aboard]

As I've heard it told, the Disney Institute was the brainchild of Michael Eisner's wife, Jane. The way the story goes is that she wanted a place that "people like her" would be interested in going. Cultural symposiums, hands on educational experiences and the like. I believe the idea was spawned when the couple visited the Chatauqua Institute in New York. Jane aparently loved the place, wanted to make one, and figured people would flock to it. She turned out to be wrong.

 

[Brina]

As I've heard it told, the Disney Institute was the brainchild of Michael Eisner's wife, Jane. The way the story goes is that she wanted a place that "people like her" would be interested in going. Cultural symposiums, hands on educational experiences and the like. I believe the idea was spawned when the couple visited the Chatauqua Institute in New York. Jane aparently loved the place, wanted to make one, and figured people would flock to it. She turned out to be wrong.

The Eisners also have a house in Aspen and are big supporters of the Aspen Institute.

 

[Feralpeg]

As I've heard it told, the Disney Institute was the brainchild of Michael Eisner's wife, Jane. The way the story goes is that she wanted a place that "people like her" would be interested in going. Cultural symposiums, hands on educational experiences and the like. I believe the idea was spawned when the couple visited the Chatauqua Institute in New York. Jane aparently loved the place, wanted to make one, and figured people would flock to it. She turned out to be wrong.

The classes I attended were totally full. In fact, there were ones I wanted to take, but could not get in. I think they were counting on a lot more corporate groups. I saw one session while there, but most of the time the large corporate area was empty. IMHO, they saw they could make so much more money with DVC.

 

[LvsTnk]

DS took a couple of the kids classes and they were well worth the money! My DD really missed out on this.

The classes were kinda hard to get into, always full as well.

 

[puffkin]

The tree houses are still there, just not used. I guess they are still trying to figure out what to put in that area.

The rest of the grounds were demolished for SSR. They kept a few of the buildings and remodeled/converted them into some of the common areas for SSR.

 

[Feralpeg]

The tree houses are still there, just not used. I guess they are still trying to figure out what to put in that area.

The rest of the grounds were demolished for SSR. They kept a few of the buildings and remodeled/converted them into some of the common areas for SSR.

I saw another thread recently that said the treehouses were to be used for housing for the college program.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

I really hate that Disney did away with the Institute. I loved the concept of it. As a child, I thought it was a pretty neat place. It will be interesting to go back this year and check out SSR and see the difference. I knew if there was a story behind the concept of DI, this would be the place to find out. Thanks!

 

[puffkin]

I saw another thread recently that said the treehouses were to be used for housing for the college program.

Maybe.....I would think they would need a lot of work done to them though. They look pretty dilapidated, especially since the hurricanes went through last year. At least the ones you can see from the road look pretty bad.....

We are staying at SSR next week. Maybe I can get a better look when we are there to see if they are currently being used or if they are fixing them up for the college kids.

 

[Dogslider]

Disney Institute was our first and favorite resort at Disney. We were sad to see it go. We have since stayed at the Swan, AKL, Poly and OKW and well all great in there way just not the same for us. Though OKW is close, I miss the short walk to DTD

 

[Feralpeg]

The trip we stayed at the Disney Institute was one of our favorite trips as well. We rented a golf cart. They had plugins to recharge them right by our room. We could drive a short distance to DTD where they had special parking with plugs for the golf carts or across the bridge and through the golf course to the west side. We spent an afternoon running around the DI in the golf cart. DD thought it was so much fun! We took animation classes and cooking classes together. DD took a class with other kids where they got to go backstage at Beauty and the Beast and meet the cast. The went behind the scenes at Haunted Mansion. They got to makeup a resume and have a headshot taken. DD had a blast.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Wow, Freralpeg, thanks for sharing those memories...my DD (she is almost 7) would have loved to stay somewhere like that! I remember hearing about the institute when I was in my early 20s and thinking that "one day" I would like to check it out...but I guess I waited too long...bummer!

Now, when WDW offers something special (I am thinking of things like the Princess Tea Party at the GF) I jump on it...things do come and go at Disney.

 

[Melora]

Our first trip we stayed at the Institute. I can still remember how wonderful the lobby smelled when we arrived. My first memory of WDW.

We stayed in a 2 bedroom villa right across from DTD and just loved it. We could walk there every evening.

 

[DisFlan]

The DI accommodations - the Club Suites, Club Villas, Townhouses, Fairway Homes and Tree Houses were there long before the "Institute" part was added. We stayed in one of the Club Suites back in 1984. They were similar to the present 1-bd DVC units, but with a kitchenette like the DVC studios have now. (They were actually bigger than most of the DVC 1-bds. They had a similar feel to OKW.) The Townhouses and Fairway Homes were just flat out smashing! Huge. More like staying in one of the DVC Grand Villas - but better. The larger homes slept up to 18 guests. And great landscaping and water views everywhere you looked. Huge pine trees, beds of flowers and wildlife all around. (We collected a few big fat pine cones for Christmas on almost every trip.)

We stayed in a number of differing units over the years until SSR was started, and we enjoyed every stay. We could rent electric golf carts for $10 (!) a day to scoot back and forth to DTD (it was the Village back then). We were VERY sorry to see it all go. That's when we finally joined DVC - but not at SSR. We bought points at BWV instead. We just didn't like what replaced DI as much as what had been there. Too many great memories, I guess. I don't think anything on site today offers what the "old" DI had to offer, and probably never will again. It was truly unique.

DisFlan

 

[cobbler]

The Treehouse villas are housing some of the international college students. Someone asked this at our annual SSR condo meeting and the GM from Saratoga said that is currently what they are being used for.

There was also mention that they would be doing something to them but wouldn't say what, only what they are currently being used for. She said they would be cycling the college kids through for the next 2 years.