First, a sincere thanks to
@danlb_2000 and
@P_Radden for their hard work breaking that crazy (but true!) gondola story and Disney's rush to get ahead of their resort plans (massive as they were described to me) and changes coming and rushing out the Coronado tower and admitting changes were coming to CBR, just not with a new transport system, a new DVC deluxe resort and reduced capacity at CBR.
All of this has allowed me to only be a dozen or so pages behind on my own thread.
What exactly is going on you ask?
Well, the CBR is being contracted in size. And a DVC resort will be going there (I am fairly certain on theme, but am holding back for a bit because I still recall my teepee art at the WL that wound up being cabins ... I still like the teepees better!)
Why gondolas?
Because it is the absolute cheapest transportation Disney could add there beyond more buses. And they will be used to tout the area's direct connection to the SWE when it opens in 2019 ... or 2020 (no, I don't really care what Iger said as he often lies publicly, even on opening dates!) This is designed to make the area more desirable and give Disney (they hope) the ability to sell more rooms at higher price points (see those $49 rooms at the All Stars or $145 rooms at DAK Lodge right now if you think more rooms is what Disney needs).
This will also bring about the long planned idea of dropping the 'value', 'moderate' and 'deluxe' categories and allow for them to sell based on location and desire. You want direct transport to that outpost on the edge of space at whatever Disney-MGM's corpse will be called? Well, would you pay $250 a night to stay at Pop Century? $400 for CBR? Yes, this IS the thinking behind this. And it will be property wide. You can already smell those $1200 a night standard rooms at the Poly for Christmas, right?
More Gondolas elsewhere?
Down the road, maybe. Right now, no.
How does Coronado fit in?
The resort will be seeing an expansion yet again at the convention center to make up for the loss at the Contemporary (timeshare is more valuable than conventions, apparently). So a need for deluxe inventory will get moved over to this resort, which will see even more upgrades and much higher price points.
Does this mean no DVC at Coronado Springs?
Not 100% sure, but it looks that way.
But there has to be more DVC coming?
Hell yeah. At least three resorts right now, including new builds at CBR and in EPCOT resort area.
Is Coronado the only place where actual new non-timeshare inventory will be added?
No. They are looking at multiples. But the big one is that the EPCOT resort I first broke here years ago appears to be on again as a full blown, very pricey, very deluxe resort. Yes, this is the one at the entrance that was planned as DVC. I still believe the resort will be part hotel/part timeshare, but conflicting talk on that.
There also are plans for a Star Wars themed resort of some type. But it would appear to be so top secret that it isn't worth discussing yet.
No timeshare with this one.
Should I be excited by this?
No, not unless you are such an addict to a BRAND that you want to pay 5-star dollars for 3-star rooms and services.
Why all this stuff now when we've had next to nothing for years?
Simple. Star Wars, WDW's 50th and ... Pandora.
Chappie and The Weatherman expect WDW attendance to go up BIGLY in the next 5-6 years. They believe demand will outpace supply and that you will pay Four Seasons prices for a Disney motel if it is sold/targeted correctly. They may be right with many of you. I am largely over WDW and admit that. I am excited by DAK and very little else, except CM 40% dining discounts. But if you are an addict or a newbie, maybe you will pay those prices. Even if they excite me, I'll simply use my DVC points. Barring a parks renaissance that I don't see happening.
