New Contemporary DVC Resort

[William Marsden]

On March 11 under Resort News and Rumors this website wrote about the "long abandoned STOL airport near to the Transpotation and Ticket Centre set to be turned over to Imagineering...It is speculated that this large area will be used as a staging area for a huge construction project at the Conterporary Resort. Rumors link the construction project to a possible introduction of a Disney Vacation Club wing."

I heard the same rumor from a DVC representative about a year ago. I was thrilled to hear that there may indeed be a new DVC property coming and that it may be connected to a monorail resort but I need a little help on this one. Just where is this "long abandoned STOL airport"? If you're in the Contemporary Resort, is it closer to the TTC or to the Magic Kingdom? If you were going to catch the monorail would it be closer to walk to the stop at the Contemporary Resort or to the TTC. Would it be within easy access to the TTC so that both Epcot and the Magic Kingdom would be only a short monorail ride away?

I've also seen photos of the new refurbished rooms of the Contemp. Resort that look FABULOUS!! Will this new DVC resort be furnished the same way with flat panal TV's, gorgeous looking tiles, or will it be similar to the other DVC resorts. For that matter, it looks like the refurbished rooms at the Polynesian Resort and the new family suites at the Pop Century Resort have some of the same updated amenities. Will all the resorts eventually be gettiing these niceties including the DVC properties. Am I asking premature questions or are there any hard fast answers?

 

[mousermerf]

Stolport is kind of between the TTC parking and the Contamporary, moreso running along the side of the TTC parking. The landing strip ends before you reach the road that leads into Wilerness Lodge.

I'm assuming with others it would be moreso a staging area than a construction site, as it's not really right by the Contemporary. It's beyond the water bridge.

 

[PhilharMagician]

As far as I understand it is all still speculation. If a wing is added to The Conteporary for DVC it will be next to the exiating structures. The STOLPORT is said to be the staging area for equipment and materials not hte site of the resort addition. The STOLPORT is located near the MK toll barrier, so this would be to far away from The Contemporary and then you have the canal between The Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. The new wing just can't be on the other side of the canal.

I hope this helps.

 

[PhilharMagician]

You beat me merf.

 

[GoofyFreek]

Sorry for the link. But if you look for the smal white strip to the right of the speedway, thats it.

http://www.disneypix.com/potw/032803.htm

 

[steviej]

didn't Eisner use that a lot for his helicopter? Could've sworn I heard that somewhere

 

[KumbaRider]

didn't Eisner use that a lot for his helicopter? Could've sworn I heard that somewhere

From what I understand, some VIPs still use it, but it is only operational for minutes at a time....trucks sit on the runway, clearing long enough only for something to land, then move back into position.

 

[GoofyFreek]

From what I understand, some VIPs still use it, but it is only operational for minutes at a time....trucks sit on the runway, clearing long enough only for something to land, then move back into position.

Considering there is a monorail pylon at the end of the runway, I doubt anything but a helo could land there. And since WDW already has 2 helo ports(Epcot, Admin area) I doubt any helo's would be landing there either. And to top it off thats allot of trucks and allot of weeds growing through the cracks not making an ideal landing area.

 

[KumbaRider]

I just remember seeing something about a landing in February of this year on the it...not sure if it's true or not but it from somewhere on these boards.

 

[KumbaRider]

Considering there is a monorail pylon at the end of the runway, I doubt anything but a helo could land there.

That's what I thought....and that's also why it stopped operating when the EPCOT expansion was built.

But supposedly only super VIPs ever go there.

 

[marni1971]

The STOLport would make an awful location for a resort anyway - 3 views of swamps, one view of the MK autoplaza and World Drive!

If this is to be a new build and not a wing conversion, they may be going back to the original Kingdom Suites Resort plans from the late 80`s; 2 or 3 story building(s) on the shore of Seven Seas, in the style of the Contemporary itself. Today this would be the large parcel of land bound by the Seas, the MK bus station and the north end of World Drive west of the Contemporary.

BTW; here is an aerial of the STOLPort from 1973 - note the `not in use` crosses

 

[KumbaRider]

The STOLport would make an awful location for a resort anyway - 3 views of swamps, one view of the MK autoplaza and World Drive!

If this is to be a new build and not a wing conversion, they may be going back to the original Kingdom Suites Resort plans from the late 80`s; 2 or 3 story building(s) on the shore of Seven Seas, in the style of the Contemporary itself. Today this would be the large parcel of land bound by the Seas, the MK bus station and the north end of World Drive west of the Contemporay

I thought that was supposed to be the site of the 4th MK loop resort? That is interesting about the Suites Resort, although I'm not entirely sure that would be appropriate today. To suddenly have small buildings on the shores of the lagoon would take away the 'stun' effect that the other 3 create. This new addition will most likely be on site of the tennis courts, correct?

 

[marni1971]

The 4th loop resort site is south of this location (Venitian, Meditteranean, sinking land) and south of the viaduct - Kingdom Suites were going directly between the Contemporary and Seven Seas. I think the buildings would have fitted quite well - styled after the garden wings of the Contemporary, and so when viewed from anywhere on Seven Seas they`d blend into the tower building behind. Hypothetical of course! Once again, via the magic and wonderment of google earth, the MK Resort area:

 

[ryguy]

A few years back I was talking to a cast member who was driving the monorail. As we were coming out of the Contemporary heading towards the TTC there was a drilling truck. I asked if there were any building plans for that location and he said they would like to put another hotel but they haven't been able to because the land always fails the Sink Hole test. Does anyone know if this sounds legitimate? It makes good sense to me, I know sink holes can be a problem in Florida. However, it was a cast member saying it, so I always take it with a grain of salt.

 

[artvandelay]

A few years back I was talking to a cast member who was driving the monorail. As we were coming out of the Contemporary heading towards the TTC there was a drilling truck. I asked if there were any building plans for that location and he said they would like to put another hotel but they haven't been able to because the land always fails the Sink Hole test. Does anyone know if this sounds legitimate? It makes good sense to me, I know sink holes can be a problem in Florida. However, it was a cast member saying it, so I always take it with a grain of salt.

That's what has been posted here in the past. The soil is not suitable for development.

 

[Magic Maker]

This was posted in the Disney Vacation Club section of our boards.

Again, it is an exciting rumor, but at this point it is just that.
As a DVC Cast Member I have heard nothing, and would never say anything unless the Company tells me I can. Just remember that Saratoga is still the current product and will be so for a while.

 

[marni1971]

That's what has been posted here in the past. The soil is not suitable for development.

The land was actually cleared in 1990 for development of The Med - then it was found to be too unsafe. For now.