Speculation: Disney Vacation Club Planning to Make Mineral King Ski Resort Finally Happen?
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Note/Warning: This article makes a lot of assumptions based on very little evidence and has little basis in reality. Should you choose to continue on, you will be obligated to take it with a grain of salt.
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online (WDPRO), the business unit responsible for maintaining the websites for Walt Disney World, Disney Vacation Club and Disney Cruise Line, has recently registered DVCUTAH.COM, inspired with little doubt to fuel speculation that something is afoot. Granted the vague domain name and the fact that domain names are reasonably inexpensive to register — not to mention it’s just the one so far — so let this is your first indication that there’s nothing to be excited about quite yet.
So begging the questions, why Utah and why a ski resort? Well the two naturally go hand-in-hand and Utah is no stranger to The Walt Disney Company, being home to its Avalanche Software division of Disney Interactive Studios as well as being the primary shooting location for the upcoming film from Walt Disney Studios, John Carter of Mars. As for a ski resort, it was a well known pet project for Walt Disney himself that the company to create an entertainment-filled ski resort in California’s Mineral King. Disney worked extensively on the project, even producing what would become the Country Bear Jamboree which was originally intended for the ski resort. Unfortunately the plans fell apart after Disney’s passing, but the dream lives on.
So is it possible that with the introduction of Aulani to Hawaii, a ski resort in Utah is just a hop, skip and ski jump away from finally being coming a reality? Only time (and perhaps a D23 Expo) will tell. Hot Dog!
Update #1: Commenter Mgbrooks reminds us that the next shareholder’s meeting for TWDC is being held on March 23, 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah, raising another eyebrow.
Categories: Business, Disney Vacation Club Tags: Disney Vacation Club, DVC, Utah
WDW Refurb Update: Pool Closure at Port Orleans Riverside, Other Resort Pool Refurb Changes
Quite a few changes have just been introduced to the refurbishment schedule for pools at various Walt Disney World Resorts.
- At Port Orleans Riverside, the Magnolia Bend leisure pool will close on February 8, 2011 and is expected to re-open on April 2.
- The Cabanas leisure pool refurb has been rescheduled. The new closing date is January 18, 2011 and the re-opening date is February 12.
- The Paddock leisure pool at Saratoga Springs has been extended one day with a new re-opening date of July 1.
- Conversely, the pool slides at Stormalong Bay will now open a few days ahead of the initial schedule with a new re-open date of February 7.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be the first to know when changes that potentially affect your trip occur by signing up with ReSearch! The only Disney Parks refurbishment schedule that covers attractions, dining and resorts, lets you drill down to your own specific dates and even emails you when your dates are affected — and it’s completely free!
Categories: Disney Vacation Club, Resorts, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: BC, CSR, POR, Refurbishments, Refurbs, Rehabs, SSR, YC
WDW Refurbs Update: Kouzzina Plus Extended Closures at Animal Kingdom, Saratoga Springs
We have four newly listed refurbishments at the Walt Disney World Resort to share with you.
First up is Kouzzina by Cat Cora at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn. The restaurant will be closed for a couple of weeks beginning on November 29 and re-opening on December 15.
Beginning December 3, the Paddock leisure pool at Disney’s Saratoga Springs DVC Resort will close for an extended refurbishment and is currently scheduled to re-open on June 30, 2011.
Finally, a couple of announcements for Disney’s Animal Kingdom which includes an extended closure for Primeval Whirl in Chester and Hester’s Dinoland, closing on January 17 and re-opening on April 6. In addition, Kali River Rapids in Asia will be closed for most of January, starting January 3 and re-opening on January 30.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be the first to know when changes that potentially affect your trip occur by signing up with ReSearch! The only Disney Parks refurbishment schedule that covers attractions, dining and resorts, lets you drill down to your own specific dates and even emails you when your dates are affected — and it’s completely free!
Categories: Animal Kingdom, Disney Vacation Club, Resorts, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: BWI, Cat Cora, Dining, Kali River Rapids, Kouzzina, Refurbishments, Refurbs, Rehabs, SSR
Disney’s Aulani Resort to Open August 29, 2011; Reservations Start August 2
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai’i, will begin accepting reservations for hotel rooms and vacation packages August 2, 2010, through the Walt Disney Travel Company.
Aulani is scheduled to welcome its first guests on August 29, 2011.
“Aulani will represent a new way for every member of the family to enjoy a vacation in Hawaii,” said Djuan Rivers, Vice President of Aulani. “It is designed so that parents, children and guests of any age can find their own kind of fun and relaxation. Families will experience the island in ways they might never have discovered before.”
With age specific programming planned for ages 3-10, tweens, teens, adults, and the entire family, there will be something for everybody. From pool parties with Disney characters to excursions into the rainforest and surf to learning how to prepare Hawaiian cuisine with local chefs, days and nights will be filled with the magic of Disney in the beautiful setting of Hawaii.
Introductory room rates start as low as $399 per night. Guests may choose from a variety of room options, including ocean or garden views.
The resort, built adjacent to a crystal blue lagoon and a white-sand beach, features 359 hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas. Rooms are housed in two 15-story towers with commanding views of the ocean, mountains and magnificent grounds. On-site are two restaurants, a wedding lawn, a conference center and extensive water activities, including a feature pool, 900-foot tube floating watercourse, wading pool, body slides, sunset-facing hot tubs, a quiet adult pool, a snorkel lagoon, and a conservation pool. Aulani will also include a signature kids’ club – Aunty’s Beach House – where kids can explore Hawaiian culture through fun and games (including interactive touch table games) and arts and crafts. They can also enjoy the enchanted fireplace, “make it rain” in order to start movie time, and enjoy many other experiences created just for them.
Aulani is located on the western side of Oahu, upon 21 acres of oceanfront property in the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development. The resort is located 17 miles from Honolulu International Airport and features convenient access to a 330-slip marina and a Ted Robinson-designed 18-hole championship golf course.
To make a reservation at Aulani, or to learn more about the resort, guests may visit www.disneyaulani.com or call (866) 44-DISNEY.
Categories: Disney Vacation Club Tags: Aulani, DVC, Hawaii
Disney Vacation Club’s Aulani Resort Accepting Sales Beginning Today
Disney Vacation Club began selling real estate interests for the company’s first family-friendly destination resort in Hawai`i today. Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawai`i, is scheduled to open its first phase in fall 2011 and will mark the eleventh resort for Disney Vacation Club.
“We are thrilled to give families joining Disney Vacation Club a new resort option in one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world,” said Disney Vacation Club President Jim Lewis. “Once Aulani opens, families will be able to immerse themselves in the culture of Hawai`i while knowing that they will get the quality vacation experience only Disney can deliver.”
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai`i, is planned to include 481 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas and 360 traditional hotel rooms upon its completion. Other family friendly resort amenities are scheduled to include an 18,000 sq. ft. spa, two restaurants, a wedding lawn, a kids’ club, a conference center and a pool area complete with a feature pool, wading pool, tube slides, sunset-facing hot tubs and a snorkel lagoon.
Built adjacent to a crystal-blue lagoon and a white-sand beach, Aulani is located on 21 acres of oceanfront property in the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development, near the existing Ko Olina Marina and a Ted Robinson-designed, 18-hole Championship Golf course. Located on the western side of O`ahu, the resort will also offer easy access to other points of interest on the island, such as the North Shore area and Pearl Harbor.
Disney Vacation Club offers families unparalleled flexibility and is designed to accommodate changing vacation needs, as families are able to determine where to go, when to visit, how long to stay and what size of accommodations best suits their needs on each trip.
To begin, Disney Vacation Club members are able to choose from among a variety of exciting vacation destinations, including a stay at any Disney Vacation Club resort, a trip on one of the Disney Cruise Line ships, a guided vacation with Adventures by Disney or a jaunt to one of more than 500 other destinations around the world. Plus, members staying at Disney Vacation Club resorts truly get “more room in the room,” as they can choose from four sizes of accommodations that sleep from four people up to 12 and range from 350 sq. ft. to more than 2,000 sq. ft. Additionally, vacations at a Disney Vacation Club resort can last any length of time, from one night to several weeks.
“Families can experience diverse destinations around the world with their Disney Vacation Club membership,” Lewis said. “Plus, Disney Vacation Club can be enjoyed by generations of family members, allowing families to continue to experience the magic of memorable Disney vacations year after year.”
Disney Vacation Club revolutionized the timeshare industry in October 1991 when it introduced a flexible, vacation points-based model. Today, more than 450,000 individual members from approximately 100 countries and all 50 states have discovered the joys of membership with Disney Vacation Club.
To learn more about Disney Vacation Club and Aulani, call 800-500-3990 or visit www.disneyvacationclub.com.
[Gallery not found]Categories: Disney Vacation Club, Resorts, Theme Parks Tags: Aulani, Disney Vacation Club, DVC
Former Disney Cast Member to Serve Time for Stealing Credit Card Info from DVC Guests
Next month, former Walt Disney World cast member Ana Rosa will begin serving out a two year+ prison sentence as part of a plea bargain for identity theft according to a report from WFTV in Orlando. Although Rosa insists she never used the stolen credit card information, she does admit to purchasing and using a skimming device (using theme park tickets as part of payment) and to selling the information to an outside source who was known to use the information.
According to investigators, Rosa was responsible for over $80,000 in losses and was in possession of fifteen skimming devices. Rosa would hook up the device to the hotel’s check-in computer which she used for a period of four months at the Saratoga Springs and Old Key West resorts. A total of 173 guests were known to have been affected by the scam.
Walt Disney World is said to have taken increased measures in order to prevent events like these to occur again. In recent years, Disney resort guests had fallen victim to a phone scam in which the perpetrator (not a Disney cast member) would overhear the guest’s name and room number and use that information to contact the guest over the phone to gain access to credit card information. As a result of that scam, the resorts began placing warning signs inside the rooms and introduced a policy forbidding cast members to announce room numbers.
Categories: Disney Vacation Club, Legal, Resorts, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: DVC, Scam
WDW Refurb Update: Stormalong Bay Slide Closure in May
The pool slide at Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht Club and Beach Club will close on May 2 for refurbishment. At this time we do not have an exact re-opening date other than ‘late May’ so we are assuming May 31 for the time being.
Although the pool and play areas other than the slide will remain open during this time, guests are invited to use the pool and slide at the Boardwalk Inn if desired.
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Be the first to know when changes that potentially affect your trip occur by signing up with ReSearch!
Categories: Disney Vacation Club, Resorts, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: BC, Beach Club, Closures, Refurbishments, Refurbs, Rehabs, SAB, Stormalong Bay, Yacht Club, YC
Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Sanaa, ESPN Wide World of Sports Rank Amongst Nation’s Top Uniforms
Announced during the 2010 North American Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD) Convention and Expo in Las Vegas, Walt Disney World took home top prizes for its uniforms (costumes) during the Image of the Year Awards.
“From the officer who arrests criminals to the doorman who greets you when you arrive at a hotel, uniforms are an integral part of any customer-facing business,” said Richard Lerman, President and CEO of the NAUMD. “This year’s winners are a dynamic group of companies who have created a competitive edge in their businesses by placing a strong focus on the image of their staff.”
For more than 31 years, the NAUMD’s Image of the Year Awards honor uniform manufacturers and distributors that have mastered the concept of fashion and function within image and market planning. Specifically designed to assist in identifying staff and professionals, imagewear can also extend a company’s brand, increase safety, enhance interior décor and improve employee morale. Winners in each category represent apparel programs with distinct purposes or functions within their industry.
Sanaa, located at the Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Kidani Village resort, took the award for the Restaurant Fine Dining category while the newly re-named ESPN Wide World of Sports complex took honors in the Sports Arena or Facility category.
Categories: Disney Vacation Club, Resorts, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Awards, Costumes, Jonas Brothers, Uniforms
Win an Walt Disney World Kidani Village Vacation for Four from John Tesh
Dial Global Radio Networks and Tesh.com are offering one winner a 4 day/3 night vacation stay for four at a one bedroom villa at Walt Disney World’s Kidani Village. The package also includes four 4-day Magic Your Way passes with park hopping, roundtrip air, air to hotel ground transfers and $2,900 in cash.
Eligible individuals may enter once between now and February 7. For full rules and to enter, visit the John Tesh Family Flyaway sweepstakes.
Categories: Contests, Disney Vacation Club, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: AKL, Contest, John Tesh, Kidani Village, Sweepstakes
Walt Disney World Satellite Maps by Robo Updated
It’s been over a year since the incredibly popular Walt Disney World Satellite Maps by Robo section has been added to Stitch Kingdom and it was long due for an update. Thanks to Robo, many of the maps have now been updated to reflect changes in the resort over the past year as well as some additional maps added, most notably those for Downtown Disney and individual lands in the Magic Kingdom.
I also took the opportunity to address the fact that users needed to click Search in order to view all maps initially. Now all maps will be shown automatically by default while still allowing users to filter by category and optional subcategory.
You can view our extensive collection of maps here.
Please note that in the case of updated maps, the filenames have remained the same so your browser may have cached the older versions if you have viewed them recently. If the maps you look at do not appear to be updated, please try clearing your browser’s cache first.
Categories: Animal Kingdom, Disney Vacation Club, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Downtown Disney, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Resorts, Stitch Kingdom News, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: Maps, Robo, WDW
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