announces that the site will be used for a new Value Resort, dubbed "The Art of Animation". ; With mainly suites, not regular rooms. ; Opening 2012. http://thedailydisney.com/blog/2010/05/disney-to-build-2000-room-hotel-dubbed-disneys-art-of-animation-resort/ (From the Orlando Sentinel)
Good to hear the confirmation of this rumor that's been floating around for a while. ; The suites will be a big draw for families. I knew something was up when I talked to Disney reservations last year - they asked me to confirm that I was staying in the Classic Years section of Pop. ; ("No, I'm camping out in one of the unfinished Legendary buildings.")
Good to see they're finally going to do something with those buildings. ; Its nice to see them build something that focuses on animation too.
Wow...Tim, that was fast. ; You got your own private jet you've been holding out on us? ; ;D Frankly, I am just happy to see these mothballed buildings get put to use. ; Why it has taken Disney this long to figure out a family suite resort is a good idea is beyond me.
Because after the 2001 recession and travel impacts in the last quarter, all of TDLBV's accountants had their world turned upside down. ; They previously thought there would be NO WAY that the hotels at Disney would ever go below 90% occupancy. ; Period. ; Nothing. ; Nada. And they were wrong. Then it was followed by the coup attempt by Gold-Disney, and then spike in gasoline prices caused a shiver in travel to WDW. Then the Great-Recession came. ; Bringing all projects to a halt. ; But at least now they know that NOW is the time to expand - to be ready for the hopeful better recovery. ; The article calls it correctly - right now they are in a proverbial {redacted} standoff with customers. ; Disney thinks it's time to pull the plug on promotions (I'm guessing that we'll see in a 1-2 months actually Buy 4 nights, get 3 free WITH free dining plan for the "slow period" at WDW) while consumers disagree.
I know all that but I think a family suite resort would have been a better investment then so they would be ready now and not in 2012. ; My wife is a Disney TA and it is hard to get families to stay on property if they have more than two kids or are bringing friends with them on vacation. Sadly, I know DVC's are much more profitable for them as they had no trouble building them. ; Well, running the world's largest entertainment complex is not my forte. ; At least it is coming. ; I expect it will be a huge success and you will see more in the future.
In the past, yes. ; However I don't think they have greenlit any other DVC units beyond Oahu. ; I really think the Texas rumor will be a DVC complex with maybe an inside waterpark, albeit it small. ; We'll see. ; When the DVC discounts end, then you'll know that they are ramping up again. It will be and it should have been completed a long time ago. ; But that's what happens when you concentrate on pleasing stockholders and not making the best of business decisions. ; It was additionally really bad show to leave the buildings like they were. For the time being I don't think you'll see anything other than value resorts being built.[nb]Statement excludes DVC.[/nb] ; Heck, just look at which of the three hotels in SoCal are usually always available with rooms? ; And which one is the most expensive?[nb]Excludes the concierge level floors at the original tower[/nb]
Which ones are that. ; From what I was told when we tried to book our rooms at DL in May, the availability was indirectly proportional to the price. ; In other words, the more you pay the less availability. We had to play with the dates to get into the Grand Cali, but could've had our choice at Disneyland Hotel and even more with Paradise Pier
It's usually Grand Cali that is available; I know for our (now bumped up) July trip Grand Cali OR suites at the other two were the only ones with rooms left. ; And that's happened before....I wonder if they hold rooms for certain agencies and then release them closer to the date. ; I do recall that May is a "slow" period for DL. ; Since the River won't be back up until almost Memorial Day, and DCA is without a night....entertainment experience until WoC opens. Heck I just noticed that Indy is going to be down for the first few days of our trip.
Interesting because the past two years we've had trouble getting the Grand Cali. ; But also the past 2 years DL has been running the buy 3 nights get 2 nights free promotion which makes the Grand Cali quite attractive when compared to the cost per night outside the promotion
Hmmm. ; Maybe I've just been unlucky for my dates of travel. ; We're staying an extra night now since the flight was $25 per person cheaper (so I saved $100 on the change fees), and the hotel is a little closer to the park and costs the same as the one I previously booked for 6 nights (getting 7 instead). ; Rental car was a little cheaper too. ; Now we have an incentive to go to Legoland at least. ; (only got a 5 day hopper)
