Urban sprawl comes to WDW....Reflections, a Lakeside monstrosity.

[Mark48]

Just returned from WDW and I have to say the " Talk of the Town " is the
building of Reflections a Lakeside lodge. It is incredibly large. From the Contemporary
it looks like a huge factory building. Incredible size that will top of at 10 stories with
a width that just blows my mind. The far side of Bay Lake is overwhelmed by this
thing. The amount of guests this building will support has got to be staggering.
It goes without saying I am used to a more natural view of Bay Lake but now
that has been destroyed , just as Seven Seas Lagoon views are effected by the Poly tower.
Call me old fashioned but the waterside properties adjacent to MK are being over built
by these huge money grabs .
Opinions ?

 

[networkpro]

The original plan for the Seven Seas lagoon was for the entire shoreline to be lined with resorts, it could be much worse.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

The original plan for the Seven Seas lagoon was for the entire shoreline to be lined with resorts, it could be much worse.

Themed resorts vs buildings(and bland ones at that).

 

[JIMINYCR]

So many are saying no one is going to Dis now or will be going because of the cost of a trip along with all that goes with it and the state of the parks.... but Dis continue to build, build, build those rooms for staying guests.

 

[John park hopper]

R

The original plan for the Seven Seas lagoon was for the entire shoreline to be lined with resorts, it could be much worse.

Original plan ------that was 50 years ago guess they didn't think it was good at the time powers to be see $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ they don't care what it looks like

 

[DisneyRoy]

So many are saying no one is going to Dis now or will be going because of the cost of a trip along with all that goes with it and the state of the parks.... but Dis continue to build, build, build those rooms for staying guests.

Yes...however...these rooms they are building are not straight hotel rooms. They are DVC rooms. It's a much different thing. DVC has a capacity issue and this is how they are trying to resolve it. Normal hotel rooms you can easily find to stay in.

 

[Andrew25]

I'm not against the "sprawl" of additional hotels throughout Seven Seas/Bay Lake, but I prefer for them to be themed.

 

[nickys]

Yes...however...these rooms they are building are not straight hotel rooms. They are DVC rooms. It's a much different thing. DVC has a capacity issue and this is how they are trying to resolve it. Normal hotel rooms you can easily find to stay in.

Only around half the rooms are DVC though. Not sure if we know the exact proportions.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Yes...however...these rooms they are building are not straight hotel rooms. They are DVC rooms. It's a much different thing. DVC has a capacity issue and this is how they are trying to resolve it. Normal hotel rooms you can easily find to stay in.

How does this help with DVC capacity? Every time one of these is built they people that buy into it are now part of the DVC pool.

 

[Disstevefan1]

The original plan for the Seven Seas lagoon was for the entire shoreline to be lined with resorts, it could be much worse.

In my opinion, you cant compare those beautiful themed resorts to todays lightly themed DVC towers.

The exception in my mind is BLT. BLT, albeit a DVC tower, matches the Contemporary resort.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Yes...however...these rooms they are building are not straight hotel rooms. They are DVC rooms. It's a much different thing. DVC has a capacity issue and this is how they are trying to resolve it. Normal hotel rooms you can easily find to stay in.

They are not at capacity all times of the year. And there are some specific areas that are in higher demand because of where they are located but not all areas. Build, build, build but they are not filling up.
And we are being told no one can afford Dis prices which includes DVC owners as well as the normal guests. Being a DVC owner does not mean you are wealthy and can afford the prices Dis is asking.

 

[nickys]

They are not at capacity all times of the year. And there are some specific areas that are in higher demand because of where they are located but not all areas. Build, build, build but they are not filling up.
And we are being told no one can afford Dis prices which includes DVC owners as well as the normal guests. Being a DVC owner does not mean you are wealthy and can afford the prices Dis is asking.

DVC operates at 90-95% occupancy year round. Otherwise people are losing points by not using them.

New DVC resorts do take a few years to sell out though, during which time Disney can sell the undeclared rooms to the public. Which is probably what you are seeing as not being at capacity.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

DVC operates at 90-95% occupancy year round. Otherwise people are losing points by not using them.

New DVC resorts do take a few years to sell out though, during which time Disney can sell the undeclared rooms to the public. Which is probably what you are seeing as not being at capacity.

How many of those are people renting points?

 

[nickys]

How many of those are people renting points?

No idea. But it doesn’t affect occupancy.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Well, I would be curious if the DVC commercial owners were to have their points revoked if there were times when there was open rooms. No way to know.

 

[nickys]

Well, I would be curious if the DVC commercial owners were to have their points revoked if there were times when there was open rooms. No way to know.

They can’t revoke points. They can can certainly take action against commercial renters, such as cancelling reservations.

But you seem fixated on open rooms, and I have no idea why you think that’s relevant. Commercial renting decreases the number of unbooked rooms from DVC inventory.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

They can’t revoke points. They can can certainly take action against commercial renters, such as cancelling reservations.

But you seem fixated on open rooms, and I have no idea why you think that’s relevant. Commercial renting decreases the number of unbooked rooms from DVC inventory.

I think we are agreeing. And I'm not "fixated" on anything just talking. You don't own the forum pal

 

[nickys]

I think we are agreeing. And I'm not "fixated" on anything just talking. You don't own the forum pal

Apologies, I didn’t mean to offend you.

 

[easyrowrdw]

Yes...however...these rooms they are building are not straight hotel rooms. They are DVC rooms. It's a much different thing. DVC has a capacity issue and this is how they are trying to resolve it. Normal hotel rooms you can easily find to stay in.

How does DVC have a capacity issue? I don’t really understand what this means.

 

[cjkeating]

How does DVC have a capacity issue? I don’t really understand what this means.

It's quite a complex issue that is really based on anecdotal evidence as we have no access to the data but I'd say these are a few contributing issues
> Lack of Studios versus the multi-bedroom villas
> The cheaper room views always go first as DVC members use their points frugally not necessarily a capacity issues but can create imbalances in available inventory
> At the Poly and Wilderness Lodge the waterside cabins have a lot of points value but are frequently empty meaning the points are used elsewhere
> Saratoga and Old Key West fit in here too, whilst the resorts have their fans many will try and snag available rooms elsewhere at 7 months leaving Saratoga and Old Key West as 'the last resort' when not booking before 7 months

I would say Disney has tried to correct some of these issues with their more recent builds such as Riviera, Poly Tower, Grand Flo conversion and Reflections looks like a good inventory mix except I assume these waterside cabins will mess that up.