Where's the big news?

[vonpluto]

Thanks! Looks like the rumors of the DVC announcement were not valid after all.

I think the DVC rumors are valid, what wasn't valid was all this hoo-ha about a "big announcement".

We created all the hype about the big announcement. It was just an internet phenomenon-non.

Here's another rumor I came across: If and/or when another stand alone DVC is built at WDW, it will be Eagle Pines.
Source: The Internet. Oh boy!

 

[MJMcBride]

Thanks! Looks like the rumors of the DVC announcement were not valid after all.

I'm stunned.

 

[mitros]

I think the DVC rumors are valid, what wasn't valid was all this hoo-ha about a "big announcement".

We created all the hype about the big announcement. It was just an internet phenomenon-non.

Here's another rumor I came across: If and/or when another stand alone DVC is built at WDW, it will be Eagle Pines.
Source: The Internet. Oh boy!

Yes, I suppose you do recall the big announcement about Eagle Pines before SSR was announced. They had all of these signs up on property, and one of them was right near those giant golf balls on the humongous tees, remember that? Then all of a sudden the signs were down. They even started a road back there. Could they be reviving that idea? That would would put a real damper on the CR and AKL rumors, wouldn't it.

Horace: Do you recall the reason that they scrapped the plan at Eagle Pines? I recall a post, but do not recall the info.....

 

[crazy4wdw]

Ohio family gets Disney park to themselves for morning

The Associated Press
Posted October 4, 2006, 1:54 PM EDT

LAKE BUENA VISTA -- Walking hand-in-hand on a red carpet, Raymond and Tammy Spangler and their two children seemed unsure of their steps today at Walt Disney World.

The Magic Kingdom was eerily quiet, with only the chirping of birds, piped in orchestra music and the sound of their footsteps filling the 125-acre park. They were about halfway up the red carpet to the Cinderella Castle when all that dissolved and 1,500 mouses, maids, baseball players and princesses came streaming out of hiding to welcome them.

"There were like thousand and thousands of people in the streets all of the sudden," 13-year-old Derick Spangler said.

The Spanglers, of Randolph, Ohio, were the first to win a marquee prize in Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration. One of 50,000 online entrants, they were rewarded with a morning of the Magic Kingdom all to themselves -- and a VIP tour.

By noon the family had been on Space Mountain, to the Dumbo attraction, on a carousel filled with Disney characters and on the Jungle Cruise, where 11-year-old Ashley Spangler got to drive. All were free of lines, of course.

Other prizes to be awarded in Disney's contest include a chance to be the first to stay overnight in the Cinderella Castle, trips around the world as grand marshal in the Disney parade, a membership to the Disney Vacation Club and more.

Some, like a pass allowing guests to skip lines at attractions for the day, will be awarded at random to unsuspecting guests visiting a Disney park. All the company's worldwide properties are participating, but the biggest prizes are at Disney World and Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.

Prize values range from $3.83 to $83,701 for the vacation club package, which provides annual points that can be redeemed for stays at Disney properties.

The Spanglers had been to Disney World before, but didn't plan on coming to Orlando now. They only found out three weeks ago that they won, but said it was no trouble to get work and school off.

"The kids' principal was like, 'Well I'd pull my kids out too!"' Tammy Spangler said.

The Magic Kingdom opened to the rest of the public at 10 a.m. Wednesday, an hour later than usual. Different sections of the park were opened to all guests after the Spanglers moved through.

 

[Lewisc]

Eagle Pines was never officially announced so any reason for scrapping it is speculation.

The rumor is Disney found it was cheaper to build where they didn't need to also pay as much for infrastructures improvements. Building near existing resorts, or in the case of SSR converting an old resort, reduces the expense of building roads, utilities etc. Building next to existing resorts also provides amenities like restaurants without having to build new restaurants.

Horace: Do you recall the reason that they scrapped the plan at Eagle Pines? I recall a post, but do not recall the info.....

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Yes, I suppose you do recall the big announcement about Eagle Pines before SSR was announced. They had all of these signs up on property, and one of them was right near those giant golf balls on the humongous tees, remember that? Then all of a sudden the signs were down. They even started a road back there. Could they be reviving that idea? That would would put a real damper on the CR and AKL rumors, wouldn't it.

Horace: Do you recall the reason that they scrapped the plan at Eagle Pines? I recall a post, but do not recall the info.....

Eagle Pines was never officially announced so any reason for scrapping it is speculation.

Actually, the Eagle Pines project was officially announced — but it was never officially "unannounced."

On July 23, 2001, Disney Vacation Development (DVD) issued an official press release for a new DVC resort at the Eagle Pines Golf Course. DVD never announced a name for the DVC resort at the Eagle Pines golf course. Here on the DISboards, it's been called Eagle Pines or EP, but that's really only the site, not the resort name.

There was no media event or other hoopla, and the only signs for it were near the site (essentially glorified construction signs). There was no effort at the time to advertise the planned DVC resort to the general public or to Disney resort guests — that effort was reserved for Disney's Beach Club Villas Resort, which was then in the active sales phase.

After the tragic events of September 11 (less than 2 months after the announcement) and the downturn in attendance at WDW, Disney shut down the already floundering Villas at the Disney Institute. The public Disney Institute offerings had already ended. So the former Disney Institute site became available, and the Eagle Pines plan was sidetracked. DVD was still on target to open a huge, new DVC resort spring/summer 2004, but it would now be at the former Disney Institute site. That became Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa.

Although Disney never announced any official reasons for sidetracking the Eagle Pines site in favor over the Disney Institute site, I can think of three good reasons:

1. Construction cost savings through the reuse of the relatively new, Thomas Beeby-designed Disney Institute campus as the core of the DVC resort, as well as reuse of some resort infrastructure.
2. A higher visibility location near Downtown Disney.
3. A way to quietly bury the failed Disney Institute project rather than having a shuttered facility serving as a constant reminder of the business failure.

DVD probably cared about reasons 1 and 2. I imagine there were Disney executives who cared about reason 3 — especially because the Disney Institute initiative was hatched by then-CEO Michael Eisner.

As far as reviving the plans for a DVC resort at Eagle Pines is concerned, I think it's very likely — some day. The WDW master plan shows a DVC resort overlooking the fairways of the Eagle Pines golf course, just as OKW overlooks the fairways of the Buena Vista golf course. There's no reason to think that the master plan has changed or that Disney will never want to develop a DVC resort at the Eagle Pines site. It remains to be seen whether DVD dusts off and tweaks the old plans from 2001, or whether DVD rethinks the entire project and develops new designs.

My guess is that the next DVC resort at WDW will be attached to a deluxe resort. If I were a bettin' man, I have my money on the Contemporary.

Here's the Eagle Pines announcement:

Disney Vacation Club Announces Plans for Largest Ownership Resort to Date At Walt Disney World Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 23, 2001--Disney Vacation Development, Inc., operators of Disney Vacation Club (DVC) -- Disney's innovative vacation ownership program -- announced today that it will expand its timeshare resort presence at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida (subject to obtaining necessary approvals) by building a seventh DVC property. This latest development for the growing Disney Vacation Club product marks the Company's largest ownership resort project to date.

The announcement heralds a time of exciting growth for Disney Vacation Club, which now boasts a membership of nearly 60,000 member families from over 60 countries.

The proposed 600-unit ownership development is slated to occupy a 61-acre site along the award-winning Disney's Eagle Pines Golf Course at Walt Disney World Resort. All rooms will feature either a pool, golf course or forest view. Initial plans call for the construction of a main Inn building encompassing a check-in area; accommodations; restaurant/lounge; theme pool with feature slide; retail space; arcade; common living room area and a health club, as well as Villa buildings containing vacation home accommodations. Development will begin this fall with an estimated opening in Spring/Summer 2004.

"We are very excited to expand the Disney Vacation Club concept to an entirely new resort area here at Walt Disney World Resort," said George Aguel, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Disney Vacation Development, Inc. "I am confident that this new offering will be a successful addition to the dynamic vacation options we provide."

The theme of the proposed DVC resort will complement and enhance the beautiful setting found at Disney's Eagle Pines Golf Course. The new resort will be inspired by the architecture of Addison Mizner, a celebrated early 20th century architect who led the renaissance of Florida resort design. The property's design will reflect a variety of motifs found in indigenous Florida buildings of this era, including Spanish, Moorish, Romanesque and Gothic forms. The atmosphere and elegance found in the coastal communities of southeast Florida (including West Palm Beach and Boca Raton) will be found in the resort's architecture, ranging from tile roofs to fountains to lush, tropical landscaping.

Commissioned to design the resort was renowned architect Graham Gund, who created the architectural look for such Disney projects as Disney's Coronado Springs Resort and Disney's Vero Beach Resort -- another Disney Vacation Club property. Gund designed the resort to take advantage of the pristine setting found at Disney's Eagle Pines Golf Course while maintaining the integrity of the existing golf course. Guests at the resort will have views to Disney's Eagle Pines Golf Course but golfers' view of the property will be buffered, with resort buildings "stepping down" in height as they near the golf holes.

The new resort is scheduled to open in phases, with the first phase consisting of the Inn building and five Villa buildings for a total of 360 units. The Inn and one Villa building are currently expected to open in Spring/Summer 2004, with the four additional Villa buildings opening throughout the remainder of that year. The final phase of five additional Villa buildings containing 240 units are currently anticipated to open by Spring/Summer 2005.

As Disney Vacation Club approaches its decade mark on October 1, 2001, the Company is celebrating a number of achievements, including the expansion of its resort collection through the proposed addition of the new resort at Disney's Eagle Pines Golf Course and the completion of Disney's Beach Club Villas, which is currently under construction at Walt Disney World Resort next to the popular Disney's Beach Club Resort (expected opening in September 2002).

"These latest expansions of our successful vacation ownership program will allow us to provide still more magical experiences for our guest and member families," added Aguel.

The current collection of Disney Vacation Club Resorts includes Disney's Old Key West Resort; Disney's BoardWalk Villas and The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge -- all located at the Walt Disney World Resort -- as well as Disney's first resorts beyond the Disney theme park locations; Disney's Vero Beach Resort on Florida's Atlantic Coast and Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort in South Carolina.​

 

[Kitty-chan]

Here's a link to a news story about the Ohio family's morning at MK, including a brief video

(Note: the video didn't work for me in Firefox, I had to use IE.)

 

[mitros]

Actually, the Eagle Pines project was officially announced — but it was never officially "unannounced."

On July 23, 2001, Disney Vacation Development (DVD) issued an official press release for a new DVC resort at the Eagle Pines Golf Course. DVD never announced a name for the DVC resort at the Eagle Pines golf course. Here on the DISboards, it's been called Eagle Pines or EP, but that's really only the site, not the resort name.

There was no media event or other hoopla, and the only signs for it were near the site (essentially glorified construction signs). There was no effort at the time to advertise the planned DVC resort to the general public or to Disney resort guests — that effort was reserved for Disney's Beach Club Villas Resort, which was then in the active sales phase.

After the tragic events of September 11 (less than 2 months after the announcement) and the downturn in attendance at WDW, Disney shut down the already floundering Villas at the Disney Institute. The public Disney Institute offerings had already ended. So the former Disney Institute site became available, and the Eagle Pines plan was sidetracked. DVD was still on target to open a huge, new DVC resort spring/summer 2004, but it would now be at the former Disney Institute site. That became Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa.

Although Disney never announced any official reasons for sidetracking the Eagle Pines site in favor over the Disney Institute site, I can think of three good reasons:

1. Construction cost savings through the reuse of the relatively new, Thomas Beeby-designed Disney Institute campus as the core of the DVC resort, as well as reuse of some resort infrastructure.
2. A higher visibility location near Downtown Disney.
3. A way to quietly bury the failed Disney Institute project rather than having a shuttered facility serving as a constant reminder of the business failure.

DVD probably cared about reasons 1 and 2. I imagine there were Disney executives who cared about reason 3 — especially because the Disney Institute initiative was hatched by then-CEO Michael Eisner.

As far as reviving the plans for a DVC resort at Eagle Pines is concerned, I think it's very likely — some day. The WDW master plan shows a DVC resort overlooking the fairways of the Eagle Pines golf course, just as OKW overlooks the fairways of the Buena Vista golf course. There's no reason to think that the master plan has changed or that Disney will never want to develop a DVC resort at the Eagle Pines site. It remains to be seen whether DVD dusts off and tweaks the old plans from 2001, or whether DVD rethinks the entire project and develops new designs.

My guess is that the next DVC resort at WDW will be attached to a deluxe resort. If I were a bettin' man, I have my money on the Contemporary.

Here's the Eagle Pines announcement:

Disney Vacation Club Announces Plans for Largest Ownership Resort to Date At Walt Disney World Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 23, 2001--Disney Vacation Development, Inc., operators of Disney Vacation Club (DVC) -- Disney's innovative vacation ownership program -- announced today that it will expand its timeshare resort presence at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida (subject to obtaining necessary approvals) by building a seventh DVC property. This latest development for the growing Disney Vacation Club product marks the Company's largest ownership resort project to date.

The announcement heralds a time of exciting growth for Disney Vacation Club, which now boasts a membership of nearly 60,000 member families from over 60 countries.

The proposed 600-unit ownership development is slated to occupy a 61-acre site along the award-winning Disney's Eagle Pines Golf Course at Walt Disney World Resort. All rooms will feature either a pool, golf course or forest view. Initial plans call for the construction of a main Inn building encompassing a check-in area; accommodations; restaurant/lounge; theme pool with feature slide; retail space; arcade; common living room area and a health club, as well as Villa buildings containing vacation home accommodations. Development will begin this fall with an estimated opening in Spring/Summer 2004.

"We are very excited to expand the Disney Vacation Club concept to an entirely new resort area here at Walt Disney World Resort," said George Aguel, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Disney Vacation Development, Inc. "I am confident that this new offering will be a successful addition to the dynamic vacation options we provide."

The theme of the proposed DVC resort will complement and enhance the beautiful setting found at Disney's Eagle Pines Golf Course. The new resort will be inspired by the architecture of Addison Mizner, a celebrated early 20th century architect who led the renaissance of Florida resort design. The property's design will reflect a variety of motifs found in indigenous Florida buildings of this era, including Spanish, Moorish, Romanesque and Gothic forms. The atmosphere and elegance found in the coastal communities of southeast Florida (including West Palm Beach and Boca Raton) will be found in the resort's architecture, ranging from tile roofs to fountains to lush, tropical landscaping.

Commissioned to design the resort was renowned architect Graham Gund, who created the architectural look for such Disney projects as Disney's Coronado Springs Resort and Disney's Vero Beach Resort -- another Disney Vacation Club property. Gund designed the resort to take advantage of the pristine setting found at Disney's Eagle Pines Golf Course while maintaining the integrity of the existing golf course. Guests at the resort will have views to Disney's Eagle Pines Golf Course but golfers' view of the property will be buffered, with resort buildings "stepping down" in height as they near the golf holes.

The new resort is scheduled to open in phases, with the first phase consisting of the Inn building and five Villa buildings for a total of 360 units. The Inn and one Villa building are currently expected to open in Spring/Summer 2004, with the four additional Villa buildings opening throughout the remainder of that year. The final phase of five additional Villa buildings containing 240 units are currently anticipated to open by Spring/Summer 2005.

As Disney Vacation Club approaches its decade mark on October 1, 2001, the Company is celebrating a number of achievements, including the expansion of its resort collection through the proposed addition of the new resort at Disney's Eagle Pines Golf Course and the completion of Disney's Beach Club Villas, which is currently under construction at Walt Disney World Resort next to the popular Disney's Beach Club Resort (expected opening in September 2002).

"These latest expansions of our successful vacation ownership program will allow us to provide still more magical experiences for our guest and member families," added Aguel.

The current collection of Disney Vacation Club Resorts includes Disney's Old Key West Resort; Disney's BoardWalk Villas and The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge -- all located at the Walt Disney World Resort -- as well as Disney's first resorts beyond the Disney theme park locations; Disney's Vero Beach Resort on Florida's Atlantic Coast and Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort in South Carolina.​

Thanks for refreshing my feeble memory Horace