When and where for the next onsite DVC

[gkrykewy]

I love how two people who agreed with "stop the madness" are both BLT owners

Last one in close the door behind you?

 

[CrazyDuck]

They need to work on the "number of hotel rooms" : "number of theme parks" ratio!

 

[Brian Noble]

There is no compelling reason to add a fifth gate. New parks are justified primarily by extending the length of stay. But, the bulk of WDW visitors are still domestic, and typical domestic leisure trips are no more than 7-10 days (one full week plus a weekend). Four parks plus the minor attractions already fully occupy that time. What's more, the existing parks have plenty of room to add capacity.

Screamscape notes two competing rumors; a standalone plot by Blizzard Beach, and an addition to GF.
http://www.screamscape.com/html/walt_disney_world_resort.htm#DVC

 

[CrazyDuck]

There is no compelling reason to add a fifth gate. New parks are justified primarily by extending the length of stay. But, the bulk of WDW visitors are still domestic, and typical domestic leisure trips are no more than 7-10 days (one full week plus a weekend). Four parks plus the minor attractions already fully occupy that time. What's more, the existing parks have plenty of room to add capacity.

Ok then they should just work on the "number of hotel rooms" : "number of rides" ratio! Maybe they will build a duplicate of rides that are already there like they are doing with Dumbo. Bizarro Magic Kingdom!

 

[Brian Noble]

Well, that's the point behind Fantasy Forest. And whatever it is going on in Soundstage One in DS. *And* the reason why they are hesitant to pull down Everest for as long as it would take to fix the Yeti.

But, realistically, park attendance isn't driven by the resort rooms. No one checks into a room at a Disney resort, and then asks themselves: "Huh. What should we do while we're down here? Maybe we'll go to that theme park I heard about at check in!" Park attendance is driven by Mickey's constant marketing message---not likely to change, 'cause the investors like to see growth. What's more, as hard as it is to imagine, people do sometimes come into the Parks even if they are offsite---it's not like Joe Schmoe would cancel his family's planned trip if the Disney resorts are full.

In my view, the Parks sell the Resorts. Not the other way around.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

There is no compelling reason to add a fifth gate. New parks are justified primarily by extending the length of stay. But, the bulk of WDW visitors are still domestic, and typical domestic leisure trips are no more than 7-10 days (one full week plus a weekend). Four parks plus the minor attractions already fully occupy that time. What's more, the existing parks have plenty of room to add capacity.

Screamscape notes two competing rumors; a standalone plot by Blizzard Beach, and an addition to GF.
http://www.screamscape.com/html/walt_disney_world_resort.htm#DVC

It may not be on Screamscape...but I've heard the River Country rumor on a few occassions while surfing the DIS. Its been mentioned on both the DVC and camping boards.

 

[rstackjd]

Curious - why wouldn't they do one at a Moderate Resort? There's no reason they couldn't do a higher-end DVC attachement to a moderate. If we are not staying DVC, our favorite resort is Caribbean Beach - I'd think they could do something creative there.

But generally, I agree with the "stop the madness" sentiment - the real estate market overall is in the dumper and it would seem that letting the existing inventory sell out or get close to sold out (including Hawaii and BLT) before commiting to new construction, might be good idea. I understand lead time and all that, but it seems they have a pretty full plate right now.

 

[spiceycat]

I love how two people who agreed with "stop the madness" are both BLT owners

Last one in close the door behind you?

deb and bill own at OKW and VWL.

Tara and MinnieGirl33 - are BLT owners. that say I am too - the more DVC the better. Some of us are hoping that DVC can get big enough to do their own trading w/o RCI or II.

 

[Alexander]

I don't care if they build any more or not, as long as I can still easily book the vacations I want, I am good. (Wow that sounds self-serving!)

When DH and I took the Backstage Magic tour a couple of years ago, we were told that under no circumstances would they be building an additional ticketed park. They will continue to add-on and renovate what they have, but they are not interested in another park in FL. We were told that Disney is looking at going more global and that is where they would be concetrating their efforts in building new parks.

 

[El&Asmom]

I love how two people who agreed with "stop the madness" are both BLT owners

Last one in close the door behind you?

I noticed that too.

 

[bbluvsdis]

Since the BCV and BWV area seems to be the most popular I vote for tearing down the eyesores that are Swan and Dolphin and building new DVC there. I don't know what Disney was thinking with those hotels. I cringe every time I look at my photos of the BWV and see that "thing" sticking up behind. One can always dream!

 

[keishashadow]

I think DLH in California will get a DVC.

As for WDW, its going to have to be Poly or GF. No way they try to put a DVC on a mod site and no way they build a stand alone DVC resort unless its on Bay Lake or Seven Seas lagoon.

so do i, currently on rehab schedule, wouldn't be surprised to see a complete tower dedicated (using 2 existing rooms to make a smallish 1BR)

Curious - why wouldn't they do one at a Moderate Resort? There's no reason they couldn't do a higher-end DVC attachement to a moderate. If we are not staying DVC, our favorite resort is Caribbean Beach - I'd think they could do something creative there.

But generally, I agree with the "stop the madness" sentiment - the real estate market overall is in the dumper and it would seem that letting the existing inventory sell out or get close to sold out (including Hawaii and BLT) before commiting to new construction, might be good idea. I understand lead time and all that, but it seems they have a pretty full plate right now.

ive suggested a DVC "Lite" in the past when this idea has been posed @ either values or mods, see above methodology as to rehabing existing units. Likely, the large discounts on rack rates would be heavily curtailed in order to 'move' the units. Current DVC members could book the Lite version a few months out, but Lite couldn't book existing DVC.

how it would actually work is beyond me, imagineers would have to work out the details

 

[DebbieB]

There was a rumor a couple of months ago about a location next to Blizzard Beach.

 

[Chuck S]

Since the BCV and BWV area seems to be the most popular I vote for tearing down the eyesores that are Swan and Dolphin and building new DVC there. I don't know what Disney was thinking with those hotels. I cringe every time I look at my photos of the BWV and see that "thing" sticking up behind. One can always dream!

Do you know the history of the Swan & Dolphin? Originally, before Eisner, all resorts except the original MK area resorts, were going to be run be companies other than Disney. There was even talk of leasing out the MK are resorts to outside operators. Disney did not want to be in the Hotel business. That deal for the Swan/Dolphin was already cut when Eisner came to the company. Eisner changed the game plan, and built almost all the imaginative Disney resorts we know today. But he could not reclaim the Swan/Dolphin properties. As they are not Disney operated hotels, and they have lengthy contracts, DVC will not be using those properties for new developments.

 

[robertdangelo]

Disney is finishing what was to be "Legendary Years" at Pop century... new "Art of Animation" resort. They are creating "Family Suites". There has been some speculation they may sell "Value DVC" memberships.
http://thedailydisney.com/blog/2010...hotel-dubbed-disneys-art-of-animation-resort/

 

[y2kdave]

I'd love to see a Poly Resort but agree that therre is a space issue there.

 

[robertdangelo]

Yacht Club Villas could be a nice option if only they had the space to expand there. Stormalong Bay would need to be expanded to handle more guests too if they did this.

 

[Alexander]

Disney is finishing what was to be "Legendary Years" at Pop century... new "Art of Animation" resort. They are creating "Family Suites". There has been some speculation they may sell "Value DVC" memberships.
http://thedailydisney.com/blog/2010...hotel-dubbed-disneys-art-of-animation-resort/

Yuck! Value resorts and DVC just don't belong in the same category!

Most families who stay in the value resorts are not necessarily the ones who have the money to invest in something as expensive as DVC. I cannot see "Value DVC" working.

 

[csharpwv]

Since the BCV and BWV area seems to be the most popular I vote for tearing down the eyesores that are Swan and Dolphin and building new DVC there. I don't know what Disney was thinking with those hotels. I cringe every time I look at my photos of the BWV and see that "thing" sticking up behind. One can always dream!

I totally agree with you about the architecture of the Swan & Dolphin.
I am even a lover of obscure architecture - and I think the Swan & Dolphin are 'cool' but with their proximity to what I consider the three most sophisticated of all the Disney Resorts, Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Boardwalk.

The Swan & Dolphin aren't even 20 years old and they are horribly dated. Yes, Michael Graves if a wonderful designer and has contributed a considerable amount to modern architecture and design - however - the real-estate lost to those two non-Disney eye sores - is a shame! With the proximity to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios - Disney could have built a really fantastic resort on the grounds - along with an indoor water park - and an extended monorail line - and the EPCOT resort area could have been as iconic as the Magic Kingdom Resort area.

I think it really goes to show that Walt's original concept about the design of the Magic Kingdom was not considered when the resort continued to expand. When EPCOT opened there wasn't an EPCOT resort area - when the Magic Kingdom opened (or soon there after) there were three resorts - The Contemporary, The Polynesian, and the Disney Inn.

There was seemingly no thought put into an Animal Kingdom 'resort area' - for crying out loud- there isn't even a 'direct route' to AK from AKL. Can we please get a light rail line or something??? Please?

I think there are so many things that Disney could do - many of them with big price tags that would take quite a few years to recover from. But these projects need to be done to improve guest experiences.

Finally before I click "Post" I have to say that I think Walt would be horrified at the Disney Bus and parking lot tram system. Walt saw the future of group transit as independent of - and not relying on roads and single family transportation.

The cost and environmental impact of running that many buses/trams, that many miles and hours - is huge. When visiting Hollywood Studios this past spring I really saw how they could have built a people-mover system in the parking lot that would have afforded guests the opportunity to board anytime - and return to their car anytime without having to board a tram, or wait in line for a bus.

If Disney isn't going to extend the monorail - they really need to think about the future and consider the sustainability of bus service to so many area - at such frequent intervals.

Buses are not the answer - with the number of buses and how full they are even at off peak times - I can't help but think how unfortunate it is that Disney didn't have a master transportation plan for the 'Florida Project' that lived after Walt died.

Sorry for taking such a long departure!

 

[silmarg]

Yuck! Value resorts and DVC just don't belong in the same category!

Most families who stay in the value resorts are not necessarily the ones who have the money to invest in something as expensive as DVC. I cannot see "Value DVC" working.

While I agree that I don't see DVC being built onto a value, don't assume folks who stay in values cant afford DVC. I know several folks who don't have a pot to pee in stay at deluxes and others who could easily afford deluxes stay in values.

I have stayed in all categories, but while the kids are younger I couldn't justify the price of the deluxes. I have instead decided to stay mostly at mods and values of late and go more often. But with the kids getting older, I think the time has come to trade up for more space and we decided, instead of paying rack rates for deluxes, to go straight to the DVC route. Our trip in 2 weeks will likely be our last in a value (bounce back free dining was too hard to pass up).