Lighthouse Point to welcome guests in Summer 2024

[TrainsOfDisney]

I wonder if it’s logistically possible for them to build a Disney port somewhere in the US? I get that there are unique considerations involving the ecosystem on these islands and even bringing in increased electricity and water lines can disrupt that. For more of a Disney-fied experience, the existing infrastructure in the US might make sense, while leaving the Bahamas as ports for untouched natural beauty.

One advantage of having a private island outside of the USA is you can have cruises that only stop at the private island. Since cruise lines are not US businesses - they must stop at an international place on the cruise.

Nothing is really stopping Disney from developing the islands more.

 

[DisneyHead123]

Nothing is really stopping Disney from developing the islands more.

I’m not clear on the environmental issues involved so was just spitballing. I know RC did do Coco Cay and I don’t see any articles about that being a horrible thing for the environment, so not sure.

 

[MR.Dis]

One advantage of having a private island outside of the USA is you can have cruises that only stop at the private island. Since cruise lines are not US businesses - they must stop at an international place on the cruise.

Nothing is really stopping Disney from developing the islands more.

There was a very detailed agreement signed by Disney with the government on what could and would be done. You can google it if you are interested. As of now, what I see is nothing close to what the final product is supposed to look like.

 

[SplashJacket]

If you’re interested in how much they budget cut the island, here’s the concept from 2020 and then the other concept from 2019.

Notable changes include:

• Adventure Camp becomes “Future Expansion”
• Adventure Camp gets downsized
• South Family Beach becomes “Future Expansion”
• Spa & Wellness becomes “Future Expansion”
• Pedestrian trail gets moved to less interesting location
• REMOVAL OF TRAMS FROM PIER

Notably, none of the cabanas were cut, instead the East Cabanas that were originally “Future Expansion” remained as such.

Also notably, the opening day activities like the Adventure Camp didn’t just get pushed to future expansion, instead they downgraded it to future expansion AND made that future expansion worse, whereas other plans that got downgraded to future expansions like Spa & Wellness weren’t downgraded (likely because they’re paid).

Unlike Castaway (which got its expansion to accommodate the larger Dream class of ships), I don’t see Lighthouse getting its expansion, since I don’t expect a new class of larger ships, unless people really, really hate it.

Embarrassing. Absolutely embarrassing.

 

[Disone]

The more I look at details the less interested I am in going.

Yeah, the beach is the star of the show, but genuinely everything else looks genuinely bad. Bad execution, bland architecture. What a dud. We should expect more given DCL’s prices.

I don't get all the EPCOT criticism when this exists.

I disagree. I do not think it looks genuinely bad. It matches the artist rendering. Truthfully in my opinion the Bahamas do not have a strong identifiable architectural style.

I do see where they built really very ordinary buildings and then colored them up and put fancy roofs on them. But honestly I'm okay with the end result. The buildings at castaway key are certainly not super expensive. And yes the beaches at LHP are absolutely the Stars here. But quite honestly castaway key beaches are nothing to sneer at either. Although recently they have ruined serenity Bay, Way too much sand Bank resulting in a very steep Sun lounging experience.

I do think DCL should have been ahead of the mark with that long Pier. They needed to come up with a better plan than what they did. There were options and they decided that guest walking would be okay for most of the guests. They knew they were wrong and they knew they were saying it to to justify not spending the money to do it right. And now here we are.

Perhaps less anticipatable, was the fly problem. Genuinely grossed out by that. Although I hear it's getting better quickly, they really need to eradicate that problem immediately and not quickly.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

REMOVAL OF TRAMS FROM PIER

Thank you! On the map above you can clearly see the tram turnaround originally planned for the pier.

The fact that this, of all things, was cut from this project is really upsetting.

 

[Disone]

Thank you! On the map above you can clearly see the tram turnaround originally planned for the pier.

The fact that this, of all things, was cut from this project is really upsetting.

Value engineering at its finest. Or should I say finance. Value engineering at its finance.

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

Just watched a ton of videos. Horrid.

 

[DisAl]

No trams? Not at all interested in having to walk a half mile on a concrete pier and then another mile (hopefully a tram) just to get to the edge of the development. Lighthouse Point may end up being just as successful as the Galactic Starcruiser... They would probably have been much better off adding another dock and developed area at Castaway.

 

[MoonRakerSCM]

The isldand has a tram to take you from the east shore to the west shore. But man is it bleak.

That half mile long unthemed concrete pier walk is not going to be a happy place in the late afternoon in August with no breeze. Nothing like you last memory of the place being a death walk.

Man... they got themselves a friggin AMAZING beach on the east shore... but their execution of getting you to it is beyond laughable. Even the lounge chairs for the beach aren't actually on the beach... parents have been commenting it's a downright ridiculous and nonworkable setup for kid watching.

 

[jme]

Notable changes include:

• REMOVAL OF TRAMS FROM PIER

Thank you! On the map above you can clearly see the tram turnaround originally planned for the pier.

The fact that this, of all things, was cut from this project is really upsetting.

Value engineering at its finest. Or should I say finance. Value engineering at its finance.

According to the public meetings from April 2021, that I linked earlier in this thread, the pier was narrowed due to the Environmental Impact Assessment findings. Here's the quote along with a screenshot of the image she's referencing (which are the 2019/2020 photos posted in higher-res above) *Note - Image on far left was a different land proposal from a different company for the same land

The middle is where we were in 2019 and you can see, the biggest difference between that and the far right, which was in late 2020, is in this Northwest quadrant where we discovered some sensitive habitats and cultural ruins, and as a result, moved some of this work to the eastern side of the property. We also narrowed the pier. We've heard from many, many stakeholders that minimizing the marine impact was critically important and narrowing the pier has allowed us to reduce the impact by about 25%.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Interesting - to me the disruption is going to be the actual construction of the pier which would be the same either way.

I definitely think it was a mistake. I’m also wondering why Disney wanted to work with the Bahamas if they were going to be so picky - why not just buy another island?

 

[DisAl]

Interesting - to me the disruption is going to be the actual construction of the pier which would be the same either way.

I definitely think it was a mistake. I’m also wondering why Disney wanted to work with the Bahamas if they were going to be so picky - why not just buy another island?

Galactic Bahama Cruiser... Good idea poorly executed.

 

[Disone]

According to the public meetings from April 2021, that I linked earlier in this thread, the pier was narrowed due to the Environmental Impact Assessment findings. Here's the quote along with a screenshot of the image she's referencing (which are the 2019/2020 photos posted in higher-res above) *Note - Image on far left was a different land proposal from a different company for the same land
View attachment 794208

Thank you.

 

[HauntedPirate]

So "many, many stakeholders" thought that having a pier that was twice as wide (so maybe 40 feet wide instead of 20 feet, I'm not sure of the exact width of the pier), which would have meant two sets of footings instead of one, at worst, was worth throwing out the "environmental impact" card? This sounds like extortion, at worst, and an egomaniacal exertion power over a multi-billion dollar global corporation that was willing to spend a LOT of money on your little island, at best. Or else someone at the bargaining table got very nervous and capitulated.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

so maybe 40 feet wide instead of 20 feet, I'm not sure of the exact width of the pier)

The pier measures about 35’ on google maps (or is it the dock? What the ship goes up against it). The tram lane turnaround at Epcot is about 70’ - so yes it would be about double the width.

I agree with you - this seems very odd.

 

[jme]

Interesting - to me the disruption is going to be the actual construction of the pier which would be the same either way.

I definitely think it was a mistake. I’m also wondering why Disney wanted to work with the Bahamas if they were going to be so picky - why not just buy another island?

The EIA looked at longer term impacts than just those from construction, i.e. shade cast by the pier killing off coral (some species of which are endangered), or the build up of sand at the pilings impacting the sea floor, etc.
Here you can read the Full Report which is very thorough and detailed into their findings and mitigations. Likewise you can read the full Environmental Management Plan which details their long-term post-construction efforts, which includes things like species relocations, debris cleanup, etc.

As far as other islands, I'll quote my earlier post:

Earlier in the same Public Meeting they also talk about why they chose Lighthouse Point, Eluthera noting that they looked at several other locations nearby, including Egg Island in Eluthera and Morgan's Bluff in Andros and some locations in the Berry Islands - and after initial EIA they didn't want to move forward with those because they would all require dredging and destruction of coral reefs.

Edit to add: I misread - all of those other properties are within the Bahamas. I'm not sure if non-Bahamian islands were considered.

 

[ToTBellHop]

The EIA looked at longer term impacts than just those from construction, i.e. shade cast by the pier killing off coral (some species of which are endangered), or the build up of sand at the pilings impacting the sea floor, etc.
Here you can read the Full Report which is very thorough and detailed into their findings and mitigations. Likewise you can read the full Environmental Management Plan which details their long-term post-construction efforts, which includes things like species relocations, debris cleanup, etc.

As far as other islands, I'll quote my earlier post:


Edit to add: I misread - all of those other properties are within the Bahamas. I'm not sure if non-Bahamian islands were considered.

I presume they wanted to stick with a place close to the east coast of Florida, since itineraries from there are their bread and butter. So it’s Bahamas or bust.

I’m sure these early hiccups will smooth over with time. I’m interested to learn what the current active construction is for. New bike paths but what else?

 

[asianway]

The EIA looked at longer term impacts than just those from construction, i.e. shade cast by the pier killing off coral (some species of which are endangered), or the build up of sand at the pilings impacting the sea floor, etc.
Here you can read the Full Report which is very thorough and detailed into their findings and mitigations. Likewise you can read the full Environmental Management Plan which details their long-term post-construction efforts, which includes things like species relocations, debris cleanup, etc.

As far as other islands, I'll quote my earlier post:


Edit to add: I misread - all of those other properties are within the Bahamas. I'm not sure if non-Bahamian islands were considered.

There’s boucoup tax benefits in the Bahamas, so….

 

[Disone]

The pier measures about 35’ on google maps (or is it the dock? What the ship goes up against it). The tram lane turnaround at Epcot is about 70’ - so yes it would be about double the width.

I agree with you - this seems very odd.

Couldn't they have just made it wider at only the point the tram needed to turn around?

Kept everything else narrow, just wide enough to have a tram lane and a pedestrian Lane.

Maybe they didn't think of that option? Minimizing the environmental also no doubt helped to minimize construction costs. So those two things lined up very nicely and so now we have what we have. I guess if I go I'm bringing an umbrella regardless of what the weather looks like.