Originally Posted By jmuboy Al Lutz eludes to a pending announcement of a Grand Ca Hotel expansion. The new wing will include 300 new guest rooms and 50 new DVC units!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Although that is great news for the hotels (and knowing that DLR can support so many high end rooms), it means that they are effectively removing any chance of expanding the park in that direction. While it is not nessecarily the end of the world, it really limits what the future of the park will be like, especially since they didn't really build the original park with a very compact nature like DL. I know they could always do crazy things like bridges or tunnels across the road, but I just don't see that as a very feasible solution. While this news is good for DLR in the short term, I have to wonder how good it will be for DCA, and therefor the entire resort, in the long run.
Originally Posted By jmuboy In my opinion, I never saw them expanding the park that way. That plot of land was always for the hotel expansion. Timon lot is for DCA expansion.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros What if they ever want to expand the Grizzly Peak or COndor Flats areas? Are they pretty much screwed then? Although DL has some areas like this as well (NOS, AL-even though they managed to get Indy in, Fantasyland to a certain point) they are all in areas that already have a really strong theme with several attractions to support it. With Condor Flats, the only thing there is a bathroom, a giftshop, a resturant, and Soarin'. While that is a good start (like Bear Country), it is hardly enough to really make a big impact on someone's vacation. I think that area has a ton of possibilities, but if they block off any posible expansion with a hotel, they are pretty much abandoning any chance of another desert themed area in the park, unless they completely retheme CF. While that is certainly possible, it is not really the best solution. The Grizly area is the best themed area in the park, IMO, but it still could use some help. What I think would really help it are some minor attractons that play off the theme. Although there is probably space within the mountain itself, that really limits the possibilities of what can be done there. I just hope they have thought about all this and are sure they are making the right decision.
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster Condor Flats is (supposedly) going to be annexed on to Grizzly Peak and take a more national park-like theme. I like the idea because it makes the GCH, which looms over the whole area, make more sense thematically. Expansion of the GCH makes a ton of sense. It makes a lot of money and the DVC aspect will help it make so much more money. Whatever transpires, I'm sure the park will be better for it.
Originally Posted By oc_dean Can I ask a question? Isn't this "DVC" thing a bit overhyped? I mean .. how many people really care? And how many people are there who really have the money to drop into this over the long period of time? And if WDW Resort is going to be the "comparison" .... when is Disney going to realize DLR is not WDW?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I think it's an even greater incentive to buy DVC. If a family of four vacation for about a week ech year at Disney on average, it only takes about 4 years to pay this off for about 40 years of vacationing experience. Although one can use DVC points on hotels and such, the value of the points are greater in designated DVC units. For us, we go to DLP 1 - 2 times a year, and either DL or WDW every three years or so. We also like cruising. So DVC would make sense (after we buy our next home - we need a bigger place). We can bank the points and take longer vacations. And if DVC could build out to other Disney resorts, or dude ranches, ski resorts, national park lodges etc. - it definately makes sense. We came very close to buyin last year, and if the build outs continue, I don't think it will be long before we do.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Neither Condor Flats nor Redwood Creek would be able to expand into the area where the GCH will build. The area is directly adjacent to the Paradise Pier area, specifically the "Route 66" themed section. As was pointed out above, the area in question (which is largely a parking lot right now) was always intended to be a wing of the hotel. It was not built out in the initial construction, and it seems doubtful it would be built out now were it not for the DVC factor.
Originally Posted By junglejoy I hope this is true! We were all ready to buy DVC two years ago without ever having gone to WDW. We finally went there this last year and realized to get our $$$ worth we really needed a West Coast DVC. The points just don't get us enough hotel at DL and DL is our first love. Yay! I'm ready to sign up. Just show me where!
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Can I ask a question? Isn't this "DVC" thing a bit overhyped? I mean .. how many people really care? And how many people are there who really have the money to drop into this over the long period of time?<< DVC isn't cheap by any stretch of the imagination, especially when there are several perfectly fine and VERY affordable motels right across the street. Nevertheless, there is a class of people with money to burn who won't think twice about buying into this. >>And if WDW Resort is going to be the "comparison" .... when is Disney going to realize DLR is not WDW?<< All I can rationalize is that some people would rather not fly all to way to Florida. That said, they will never be able to sell as many memberships at DLR as they could at WDW.
Originally Posted By junglejoy I'm one of those crazy people. And I don't have $$$ to burn but for us it really makes sense. We would love to have a larger space to stay in that's on-property, with an in-room washing maching/dryer, kitchen, great facilities - something you just don't get from a hotel. We would probably go to WDW more too because our room would already be "paid" for. I know it really doesn't make financial sense now, but in a few years I imagine it would. And our kids can use it with their kids when the time comes. And I have dreams of hosting larger extended family gatherings too. My DH thinks financially it's a nutty idea too, but does see the benefit of the facilities. To him it only makes sense if you can pay cash and we wouldn't purchase until we could pay cash - so it may never happen. But I can dream! So yeah, I'm nuts. But if we're going 2-3 times a year and paying for a hotel each time, we may as well get a nicer/larger place to stay where we've already taken care of the cost. To me the huge disadvantage would be if my children grew tired of going to Disney for a few years. If this happens, we can always rent points to others or use the points (at a financial loss) to visit other places around the world.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>DVC isn't cheap by any stretch of the imagination, especially when there are several perfectly fine and VERY affordable motels right across the street. Nevertheless, there is a class of people with money to burn who won't think twice about buying into this.<<< Or in our case, I live in motels and hotels and it's the last thing I want to see when I am on vacation. Whereas an all encompassing themed experience is totally worth it to me. If I worked a job where I spent every night in my own bed, then a Candy Cane Inn or HoJos would be fine and dandy. And snobbyness aside, they are. But the cost of DVC ownership is quite reasonable over time if you get married to the mouse.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Typically a one bedroom apartment for one week a year will run at $17,000 over 45 years.
Originally Posted By ploeb909 When I stayed with my children over the holidays, we went to the GC for breakfast and there were Alot of big-wigs there. You could tell the restuarent was trying to impress them...maybe they have and thats why they have decided to build these rooms. It will be interesting to see the rooms and the outcome. I am one of the crazys that really like Cal. Adventure, so, anything thats doen there is good by me-except highher $$$$! LOL!
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Typically a one bedroom apartment for one week a year will run at $17,000 over 45 years.<< I was under the impression that the 17K was just the buy in, and that there were annual fees on top of that (about 500-750 per year). At least thats what I read at allearnsnet.com (maybe DLR is cheaper?) <a href="http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/dvc.htm" target="_blank">http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/ dvc.htm</a> >>Or in our case, I live in motels and hotels and it's the last thing I want to see when I am on vacation. Whereas an all encompassing themed experience is totally worth it to me.<< Face it dwb, you are one of those people "with money to burn"
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Good point, there are fees. ">>Or in our case, I live in motels and hotels and it's the last thing I want to see when I am on vacation. Whereas an all encompassing themed experience is totally worth it to me.<< Face it dwb, you are one of those people "with money to burn" " I don't know if I'd go that far, but I do work hard to give my family things I went without as a kid. For me, I'd rather go on vacation less often but really splurge, than go one several shoe string budget vacations all the time. But that's just me. I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't buy designer clothes (except Disney), we don't go clubbing or to movies. We only dine out as a family about once every 10 weeks or so. Therefore, after paying the bills and spoiling the kids, we travel (mainly to Disney). That's us. What my mom spends a year on cigarettes would more than pay for DVC for us. And sadly, $17,000 is not going to make much difference in getting us a bigger house.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Oh, and if Disney trips were a quick weekend thing to me like a number of people here, then no, it would not be worth it. But when you save for 2 years and travel for 20 hours to get to a resort, an All Stars or Hojo's just doesn't seem worth it.
Originally Posted By pitapan16 I love the Grand and look forward addition, even though I always liked the wide open lawn with Redwood surrounding it. I wonder what types of amenities (if anhy) will be built with this expansion?
Originally Posted By jmuboy o give you an idea of cost - I paid $10k for 150 points in 2000 with $550 in annual dues.
