There's been some scuttlebutt about sight balloons being spotted over the Polynesian Resort.
Before you start getting excited about a Polynesian themed Characters in Flight experience, you should know that Disney uses the white balloons to gauge sight lines and building heights. A few weeks ago, sight balloons were spotted over Fort Wilderness prompting wild DVC speculation. DVC, for those not in the know, is short for Disney Vacation Club, which is Disney's system of timeshare rentals.
So, what do we know?
- The Poly is the only monorail/Magic Kingdom Resort that does not have a DVC property.
- The Grand Ceremonial House is purported to have asbestos problems and cannot be refurbished. Rumors have been floating around for at least two years that the building will start undergoing refurbishment sometime in 2013, but so far we have no confirmation of this.
- The Poly has the most gorgeous grounds of any of the resorts and is a guest favorite. Disney knows that a DVC property at this resort would be wildly popular.
- DVC is most successful for Disney when there's new inventory available, which means releasing new properties every 3 to 4 years.
So, what do we think?
- Building a 6-8 story tower is doable and could be located on the opposite side of the monorail in the parking lot.
- Support and ancillary services, like check-in for DVC and the Poly could be built in the new tower.
- New signature restaurants could be built on the first and second floor of the tower (you could also move Ohana, Kona and Captain Cook's to the new building).
- Tear down the Grand Ceremonial House and build a Polynesian Islands inspired pool area and some modern and ultra-deluxe Polynesian rooms with views of the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom.
- But, rumor is that the Grand Floridian DVC will not open until at least 2014. At that point, you'll need at least two years of sales before Disney wants to open up another property, otherwise the market will be flooded, so it's possible that the Poly rumor is just that.
- Finally, keep in mind that studies of an area, even filing plans with the county, do not guarantee anything. This could all be nothing at all.
What do you think?
8 comments:
I would be disappointed if they did anything drastic to the Poly, especially the GCH. When I walk in there, I know I'm in WDW. :)
Yuck~
there goes the nieghborhood
I would be HORRIFIED if they tore down the Great Ceremonial House!!! I agree with Kimberly...When we walk into the GCH, we're walking into Disney paradise!!
Mary--I love the GCH, too, but I would love to see a facility that offered a more modern dining experience (same style as Ohana but a better layout) and more space in Captain Cook's.
While I totally understand and sympathize with the "horror" that other posters have mentioned, I can't help but think that if the GCH has asbestos problems we had better reconcile ourselves to its eventual replacement.
And on top of that, I find it totally do-able to let my optimism run wild when it comes to wait and see just how good a job, the Disney team can do on a project like this. Nothing gives me more scope for imagination than a proposed Disney project. lol.
OH,,, and I've always been somewhat tempted by DVC and ended up thinking, "if there were a Poly DVC property, THEN I couldn't resist." LOL
As a DVC member I think the expansion of DVC resorts needs to slow down.
This is typical! People who have the $$ to stay at the Poly pissed because us regular folks might get access to your precious Poly. I bought DVC exactly for this reason. I spent my childhood wanting to stay at poly and contemp, im glad disney is giving me a way to afford it. Turn your nose up if u like but we comin.
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