Will the NEW Art of Animation Resort have any DVC units?

[kapeman]

I am curious to see how this will affect DVC sales though, since many people take the plunge due to the need for larger accommodations due to family size.

I would be willing to bet that it will not have a great affect.

One of the major draws for DVC is the deluxe aspect, something the new resort will not have.

 

[TDC Nala]

Hey, it'll probably also share buses with Pop Century...so much for the last resort with one-stop buses.

I do not see anything anywhere stating they will be retheming the existing Pop Century. Am guessing they won't. Technically I guess they should rename it Pop Half-Century.

New resort is going to be a value, not a deluxe - those who want deluxe accommodations and amenities will still go with DVC. Plus there is the option to take cruises, stay at Disneyland, etc.

 

[Tara]

Hey, it'll probably also share buses with Pop Century...so much for the last resort with one-stop buses.

If the two resorts share buses, then I feel very, very sorry for anyone staying there during full occupancy. Once complete, they will combine to house approximately 22,000-23,000 guests.

 

[dizfan]

If the two resorts share buses, then I feel very, very sorry for anyone staying there during full occupancy. Once complete, they will combine to house approximately 22,000-23,000 guests.

At one point, I was told each All Star has 2000 rooms, totaling 6000 rooms. This was before the family suites were put in.

My understanding is Pop Century only has 2880 rooms. Adding 2000 rooms at the new resort seems like it may be similar to the three All Stars.

I suspect they will operate buses similar to the All Stars buses. If a resort can fill a bus, it will not go to the next resort (unless some people need to get off at the next resort).

 

[canda]

My kids are dying to stay at the Nick family suites, the only reason is because of the waterplay area and the green slime. I am much to loyal and tell them to like the DVC water slide.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Disney announced on their facebook page, yesterday, that they will be building a new value resort at Walt Disney World. Located on the spot where construction was started and later halted at Pop Century, the project is called Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. It will feature family suites and hotel rooms designed around themes from the animated feature movies The Lion King, Cars, Finding Nemo and The Little Mermaid.

After leaving the construction of "The Legendary Years" section of Pop Century dormant for so long because there was no demand for the extra rooms, Disney obviously thinks there will be a resurgence of visitors in the next few years. The new resort is scheduled to open by the end of 2012.

Do you think they're just balancing out the demand for family suites at value resorts, or will they be starting additional projects at all price levels? With four DVC resorts currently for sale (SSR, AKV, BLT, GCV) and a fifth in the pipeline (Hawaii), do you think there is a Florida DVC expansion being worked on an imagineer's desk somewhere, or are we at a DVC sales saturation point?

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

I'm sure there is a plan for another DVC resort in Florida, but I imagine it won't come very soon. BLT just opened up after all. I bet we would see a new DVC resort in Florida sometime in 2013 or so.

Disney must be seeing signs of the economy improving if their going to open another resort on property though, which is a good sign.

 

[CarolMN]

I do not think the new project will include any DVC units.

I think that Disney sees the economy improving, saw more demand than they could meet for the value suites that they have and also noticed the success of the Nickelodeon suites down the road.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

deleted

 

[Chuck S]

Just a note that post #26 to post #29 were merged into this thread, as they were both discussing the Art of Animation resort.

 

[Tara]

I think it's hard to link this new value resort with the possibilities for other DVC resorts simply because the demand for values is so very high. While I'm sure they have an integrated lodging strategy that considers occupancy and revenue at a high level, I'm even more convinced they also have very specific strategies at each resort category/level. I think it could be more likely that other resort development WON'T happen right away specifically BECAUSE this value is being built, i.e., they've prioritized adding value rooms.

So yes, I think they are responding to that specific demand. Adding a value is a great thing financially - they have set expectations lower so the staff requirements are lower. Plus those guests are all going to the same parks and shopping and dining in the same places. Perhaps they're spending to a lesser degree, but still - if 1 value guest spends $25 a day in shops and 1 resort guest spends $50, there are still a LOT more value guests. Who knows how it averages out, but their spending power as a collective is mighty IMO - but they won't spend as much if Disney doesn't get them on property and keep them there. And they have much less chance of converting them to moderate, deluxe or DVC customers if they don't experience the "magic" of on-site first. And I'm VERY curious about the numbers - are value resort guests more likely to purchase a dining plan, even if it's just the QSDP? I'm convinced the DP in general is a big money maker for Disney, so increasing the number guests who are then able to purchase the dining is ideal. (And let's not forget it's yet another way to lock people into staying on property 24/7.)

Anyhow, the short answer is that I do think we're at a temporary saturation point for DVC, but that will change as the economy changes and as Disney expands its resort guest pool. Getting more guests on-site is their best strategy for getting new DVC buyers. And I'm sure when they feel the time is right to expand, be at the the moderate, deluxe or DVC level, they will have no shortage of plans already in the works from which they can choose.

 

[corpcomp]

I'm more concerned about what this will do for the crowds. Another couple thousand rooms, at least another 8000 guests per day - they will need to come up with a solution for those that don't want to stand in line for hours.

My solution would be another park. But then again there go the ticket prices whch I bet go to $83 in the next month now that they have reported record profits.

 

[jstarcze]

A couple of scenarios some not so good for loyal DVC members. A previous post mentioned that Disney must be anticipating the economy to pick up and therefore project a need for the additional rooms based on the popularity of value accommodations. If their projection is correct besides more crowds in the park, there is a benefit for us - less incentives like "free dining." But if Disney is wrong with the demand prediction for the additional rooms we will likely see more of incentives like "free dining" to cover the overhead of building and staffing these additional rooms. Just a thought. A new park would help keeping the parks from being overcrowded.

 

[La2kw]

I read today that a new "Art of Animation Resort" will be built at WDW... it says that it will be geared towards families... Will this house any DVC Units? Any other thoughts?

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/05/disneys-art-of-animation-resort-unveiled/

I certainly hope not! That would really de-value DVC.

 

[La2kw]

I concur. Perhaps they think the Fantasyland expansion will cover these additional guests? Hmmmm......

Ha ha! I doubt that one new ride, a new restaurant, and some character meet and greets are going to pack them in.

 

[Tara]

I don't think we're going to see the mystical 5th gate for quite some time. (if ever) By my very rough calculations, Disney can house about 100,000 guests and this new resort will add less than 10% of that figure. They'd need to add a lot more on-site guests to make the investment of a new park worthwhile. IMO.

 

[Sammie]

It has already been noted by Disney that this will not be DVC. I don't think it will hurt DVC sales at all, but could possibly take away some DVC renters.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Ha ha! I doubt that one new ride, a new restaurant, and some character meet and greets are going to pack them in.

There's only ONE new ride in the Fantasyland expansion?! That highlights yet another item that our original guide misled us on during our Bay Lake Tower sales meeting. She said, "They are quadrupling the size of Fantasyland. The walls just went up. Did you see them?" Well, of course, we saw the walls, so we believed her. UGH!!!

 

[tmgandolph]

It looks like it would be quadruple the size, and cannot be missed if you have a daughter.
Some nice concept art of the size of the expansion.
http://www.operationpixiedust.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/fantasyland-expansion-concept-art.png

 

[La2kw]

There's only ONE new ride in the Fantasyland expansion?! That highlights yet another item that our original guide misled us on during our Bay Lake Tower sales meeting. She said, "They are quadrupling the size of Fantasyland. The walls just went up. Did you see them?" Well, of course, we saw the walls, so we believed her. UGH!!!

They are copying the Little Mermaid ride from California Adventure, building a Beast's castle restaurant and adding meet and greets for Cinderella, Aurora, Little Mermaid, and Belle. They are also moving Dumbo and adding a second Dumbo spinner (really just moving and re-themeing Aladdin's carpets), and re-themeing Goofy's coaster. They are removing all of Toontown (including Mickey's house, Minnie's house, Donald's Boat, the Judge's tent and the play area), Pooh's Playground, and Ariel's meet and greet and well as Aladdin's carpets.