Trip comments/news 8-23

[ZHoyt]

Just got back from a quick trip from 8/17-8/20. Here's what I gathered that may or may not be news, mostly about the DTD area as the parks have been pretty well reported on already.

-Saratoga Springs won't finish construction until 2008, this probably means the DVC won't be expanding beyond this till at least 07, if at all. It may be so large as to put the DVC at critical mass.
-The Disney Institute is being demolished
-The reason the old Treetop Villas are standing empty and won't change is because of a federal wetlands protection law, and another conflicting law I can't remember
-To make way for Saratoga Springs, the original buildings (houses) of EPCOT (the city) are going to be demolished. You can see them on the cruise to and from DTD to either Port Orleans or Old Key West.
-The big tarp serving as the queue for La Nouba was ripped out by the storm.
-There were 30+ trees blocking the canal to DTD the morning of the storm.
-One of the ways Disney catches Gators is by stuffing chickens full of marshmallows. I thought this was great!
-The far left singing bust in the HM is very dim in contrast to the others.


There was a lot more I intended to report on, but it has mostly slipped my mind. Hope some of this is informative.

 

[AllThatsJoey]

"-To make way for Saratoga Springs, the original buildings (houses) of EPCOT (the city) are going to be demolished. You can see them on the cruise to and from DTD to either Port Orleans or Old Key West."

What do these look like, do you have pictures?

 

[venooch333]

I never knew those building existed :hammer: :king:

 

[ZHoyt]

"-To make way for Saratoga Springs, the original buildings (houses) of EPCOT (the city) are going to be demolished. You can see them on the cruise to and from DTD to either Port Orleans or Old Key West."

What do these look like, do you have pictures?

I didn't have time to snap pictures, but they are small average looking houses, the one I remember was white. If I hadn't been told about it, it would've gone unnoticed, you have to be sharp in looking for them. If anyone is familiar with the CM Donald who I've had pilot a boat on two different trips now, he is the one who told us about them. He also told us about a special Japanese tree donated to WDW by Japan many many years ago completely uprooted by Charlie.

 

[Bagheera]

Most likely, we're talking about what were known as the Fairway Villas.

 

[ZHoyt]

What exactly were the fairway villas? Sounds possible since these were right by the golf course. Only thing is I only saw one or two buildings, and it seems odd to have a name like that for only a couple of buildings.

 

[Dayma]

Just got back from a quick trip from 8/17-8/20. Here's what I gathered that may or may not be news, mostly about the DTD area as the parks have been pretty well reported on already.

-Saratoga Springs won't finish construction until 2008, this probably means the DVC won't be expanding beyond this till at least 07, if at all. It may be so large as to put the DVC at critical mass.
-The Disney Institute is being demolished
-The reason the old Treetop Villas are standing empty and won't change is because of a federal wetlands protection law, and another conflicting law I can't remember
-To make way for Saratoga Springs, the original buildings (houses) of EPCOT (the city) are going to be demolished. You can see them on the cruise to and from DTD to either Port Orleans or Old Key West.
-The big tarp serving as the queue for La Nouba was ripped out by the storm.
-There were 30+ trees blocking the canal to DTD the morning of the storm.
-One of the ways Disney catches Gators is by stuffing chickens full of marshmallows. I thought this was great!
-The far left singing bust in the HM is very dim in contrast to the others.


There was a lot more I intended to report on, but it has mostly slipped my mind. Hope some of this is informative.

OHH YUMMM. That would catch me too!