Will the expansion pad next to Aulani ever be used?

[scoobdoo]

Here now and really dislike the ascetics of scrub land right next door.

 

[OKW Lover]

Ever? Do doubt. Soon? Substantial doubt.

 

[mort1331]

much better than a huge hotel. Was supposed to an Atlantis,,,could you imagine looking at that.

 

[jimmymc]

I assume any plans for it were cancelled due to Covid. It will take a while before anything goes there.

 

[scoobdoo]

much better than a huge hotel. Was supposed to an Atlantis,,,could you imagine looking at that.

Atlantis > scrubland

 

[Sydnerella]

No thank you! I would prefer nothing go there as it would add too many people in the lagoon area.

 

[J-Dog]

Yes. Atlantis was scrapped during Covid. I personally would much rather have a nice open field than more buildings. But it will absolutely be built-up at some point.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It's not Disney-pwned, keep in mind.

 

[Paul Stupin]

The Chinese company that was developing the Atlantis resort next to Aulani sold the land to an unnamed buyer. I think it will be years before anything happens, if ever, but if they ever do start construction, it’s going to be three years of intrusive construction noise.

 

[Paul Stupin]

This group bought other nearby Ko Olina land owned by the Atlantis developer:

https://www.kitv.com/news/business/...cle_150550e0-6155-11ed-b4e1-6b9243ba6888.html

 

[peder]

I still think Disney should acquire this plot and largely build what Atlantis was planning:



There's even another plot (or two) by the Marriott where Disney could really start to create their own bubble here. Could be a mini island-themed Disney World TBH.

 

[scoobdoo]

someone needs to develop that pad, it’s a terrible look as-is

 

[Paul Stupin]

After Atlantis didn’t pan out, and the land was sold, I read a while back that the new owners were planning on two boutique hotels. Sooner or later something will get built there, but it could take years and years. I’d rather the land sit empty than have some developer start construction and then run out of money, leaving an even more unsightly pile of dirt and idle equipment.

 

[OKW Lover]

I still think Disney should acquire this plot and largely build what Atlantis was planning:

View attachment 892795

There's even another plot (or two) by the Marriott where Disney could really start to create their own bubble here. Could be a mini island-themed Disney World TBH.

Disney has no need to expand their footprint in Hawaii. The island itself is a big attraction.

 

[peder]

Disney has no need to expand their footprint in Hawaii. The island itself is a big attraction.

I think Aulani would have sold faster if the Disney bubble there were larger (and probably also if there were more Disneyland DVC resorts).

 

[Paul Stupin]

I think Aulani would have sold faster if the Disney bubble there were larger (and probably also if there were more Disneyland DVC resorts).

But why would Disney ever build multiple hotels in a brand new location without testing the market first?

 

[peder]

Chicken and egg thing, but also a "knowing your customer" thing. They know their customers like the bubble, and they should have known from Vero and Hilton Head that their customers bought for Disney World. Aulani was too far away for an overpriced timeshare way out on a literal island. You can't always take an incremental approach, sometimes you gotta bet big.

 

[Paul Stupin]

Chicken and egg thing, but also a "knowing your customer" thing. They know their customers like the bubble, and they should have known from Vero and Hilton Head that their customers bought for Disney World. Aulani was too far away for an overpriced timeshare way out on a literal island. You can't always take an incremental approach, sometimes you gotta bet big.

So you think they should have built a theme park on the beach in Hawaii next to Aulani? Really? I think the idea was, and is, that the island itself is the attraction.

 

[peder]

Nah, not a theme park, just something “more” that could have driven sales.

But also yes, obviously if they had a full theme park there they’d do brisk DVC business, even though I don’t think that’s appropriate here.

 

[WinterSolider]

Nah, not a theme park, just something “more” that could have driven sales.

But also yes, obviously if they had a full theme park there they’d do brisk DVC business, even though I don’t think that’s appropriate here.

You're misunderstanding the business strategy behind Aulani.

The purpose of Aulani wasn't to sell Aulani.

The purpose of Aulani was to sell Copper Creek and VGF and Polynesian and Riviera and VDH and Fort Wilderness Cabins and every future DVC resort.

Go walk around the parks and look at the sales brochures on display at any of the DVC kiosks. 9 times out of 10, they'll be open to the pages for Aulani, Animal Kingdom Lodge, or Disney Cruise Line, because those are the most spectacular and eye-catching experiences in the portfolio. "Buy where you want to stay" is a unique phenomenon to the resale community and super well-informed message board posters. Most people don't buy DVC for their home resort, they buy DVC for access to the DVC portfolio. Their home resort is more of an afterthought. Aulani is a big, sexy, aspirational jewel for the sales agents to pitch to prospective buyers even if the buyers aren't interested in owning an Aulani contract.

Mom really wants to buy DVC but Dad isn't convinced. "I don't know... do you really think we're going to want to go to Disney World every year for the next 45 years?" he asks. Mom reminds him of what the sales agent said, "we wouldn't have to! We can bank and borrow points to do a 2-bedroom Ocean View Villa at Aulani when the kids are a little older [or go on a cruise, or ABD, or transfer to various international properties through Interval, etc.)"