[Ready2Go]

From: Disney unveils new time shares - Orlando Sentinel : Business


Disney time shares are coming to the Animal Kingdom, with a plan for 458 units, the company said Wednesday.

According to Disney, the time shares will be a mix of new construction and renovated accommodations in part of the Animal Kingdom Lodge. They'll feature African-inspired details and most will offer views of a savannah inhabited by a variety of animals.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas will be the company's eighth time-share property -- the sixth at Walt Disney World -- and was hailed Wednesday as a smart business decision.

"It's a major plus," said Michael Hewell, a former Disney employee who now escorts guests through the parks with his company, Michael's VIPs, and owns the online Web site, TourGuideMike. "Disney's going to sell every single one of them."

As for the choice of Animal Kingdom, Hewell said, "It's the true retreat," and added, "For those people who want to rest away from the theme park madness, they now have a choice."

Time shares have long been popular in Central Florida, but more so in recent years. In 2001, 10 percent of Orlando visitors stayed in time shares. Last year, that number had increased to 15 percent.

From 2001 to 2005, the number of time-share units jumped 26 percent, from 15,157 to 19,099, according to the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Hotel-room growth, on the other hand, grew only 2 percent during the same five-year period.

Disney's entry into the time-share market was a big help to the industry, said Robert J. Webb, a veteran real estate and time-share industry attorney with the Baker Hostetler law firm in Orlando.

"Disney's entry was part of a paradigm shift" in the 1990s, Webb said, when brand names such as Marriott and Disney entered the time-share field, long dominated by small operators. "It helped bring a lot of credibility to the industry."

The expansion of the Disney time-share holdings is a reflection of the strength of the industry and Disney's commitment to its resort business, said Webb, who has represented Disney as an outside counsel in the past.

"It's an excellent example of the evolution," Webb said, of hospitality companies relying on a mix of hotels and time shares for accommodating guests.

Disney historian Michael Broggie said the new time shares are a continuing affirmation of Walt Disney's decision to build in Central Florida.

"It also is a reflection of the confidence that [Disney chief] Bob Iger has in Central Florida and investing the company's assets there," Broggie said.

Development of the Animal Kingdom Villas is scheduled in phases, with units to begin opening in fall 2007. The project is scheduled to be completed by spring 2009.

The first phase will include 134 remodeled accommodations on the fifth and sixth floors of the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and additional phases will include the building of 324 vacation properties in a new building at the resort.

[WishUponAStar]

Hmmm, and people didn't believe me, I KNEW it!!!

All I have to say is....

YYYYYEEEESSSSS!
I am SOOOOO excited!!!

[mrflorida74]

Excellent news

[DayDreamer]

Wow I know that's going to be beautiful.

[ingamba]

OK Disney, I get the hint. You want me to join DVC. Ok, ok, I may just relent soon. Keep baiting and tempting me with these changes Disney, and you might just have me.

[mrflorida74]

You won't regret it ingamba.

Your mission, should you wish to accept it, is to find a DVC member on this site that doesn't feel joining up was one of the best decisions they made.



I do not work for Disney Vacation Club (unfortunately!!)

[chris24]

i wonder what they are going to be doing at the contemporary then......

[wdwspider]

Contemporary will get it too. Including a bridge connecting to the main building.

But AKL is the one I got my eye on now.

[bethishooked]

Anyone heard of when we can sign up? I've been on the fence for quite some time, but just told DH we are doing it! I would imagine I need to schedule a quick weekend trip once they are available. Not sure how fast they will go!

[wdwspider]

I'm hearing between 2007 and 2009 released in phases like Saratoga Springs.

[spike]

GREAT NEWS! Maybe this will make it a little easier to get a room at BCV at the 7 month window.

[mickey]

No offence, but what kind of statement is this?

"It's a major plus," said Michael Hewell, a former Disney employee who now escorts guests through the parks with his company, Michael's VIPs, and owns the online Web site, TourGuideMike. "Disney's going to sell every single one of them."

Of course they are, they have sold every single one of the WDW DVC units built so far. Way to go out on a limb Mike.

The fact that they are removing units from the AKL to build DVC units is just proof of how unpopular the resort actually is. It is also proof that the resort is horribly expensive to run, and they realized that they needed a DVC wing to help share the costs. I honestly don't think this is as much a decision based on the desires of the public as much as a decision based on the desire of corporate to make AKL a success.

As a DVC owner, it is nice to have another option to choose from, but had they decided to build the Contemporary DVC instead, my guess it that would have been sold out almost immediately.

[KingOMiami]

WOO HOO!!!!!

I just called DW and we are going to plan for purchasing next year!!!!

We had been hoping to purchase at SSR now, but our need to purchase a home/condo has now superseded all else finance wise, so I thought it would have to wait until next year. But with this, the wait is all the better!!!

[ingamba]

Originally Posted by mickey

As a DVC owner, it is nice to have another option to choose from, but had they decided to build the Contemporary DVC instead, my guess it that would have been sold out almost immediately.

Good points about the AKL Mickey. I had always suspected that the resort wasn't the success they had hoped for when it was being planned and built.

But as far as the Contemporary DVC goes, forgive me, I'm out of the DVC loop, isn't that plan still going to go through?

[gcbdad]

Originally Posted by mickey

No offence, but what kind of statement is this?



Of course they are, they have sold every single one of the WDW DVC units built so far. Way to go out on a limb Mike.

The fact that they are removing units from the AKL to build DVC units is just proof of how unpopular the resort actually is. It is also proof that the resort is horribly expensive to run, and they realized that they needed a DVC wing to help share the costs. I honestly don't think this is as much a decision based on the desires of the public as much as a decision based on the desire of corporate to make AKL a success.

As a DVC owner, it is nice to have another option to choose from, but had they decided to build the Contemporary DVC instead, my guess it that would have been sold out almost immediately.

I never thought of it that way before. We visited AKL once but DW was not that impressed by it. It seemed to far away from everything for her. I guess we would eventually try it but I don't think I would buy there.