Did you know that the Four Seasons will be opening on Disney property?

[icydog]

The Four Seasons will be opening a new hotel, residence club, and luxury homes right on Disney property at Walt Disney World. This is a first for Disney and I, for one, am psyched.

 

[gmarine]

I remember that from a while back. There was a thread on it maybe 18 months ago or so when the plan was first announced. I think it is at the northern border of the Disney property.

 

[Twinkstarr]

It was announced sometime last year.

 

[gjw007]

Yes, it is near where Disney had originally announced the Eagle Pines DVC resort but after 9/11 decided not to build.

 

[bnoble]

Also, the residence club is going to be fractional, not timeshare. I'm not sure if that's the same as the others (e.g. FSA) or not.

 

[Twinkstarr]

Also, the residence club is going to be fractional, not timeshare. I'm not sure if that's the same as the others (e.g. FSA) or not.

I think other than the AZ and SoCal resorts, all the other FS's are fractionals.

 

[icydog]

I think Eagle Pines was supposed to be near Old Key West a DVC property. Is that correct? What amazes me is that Disney is allowing anyone other than their own hotel on their site. The Swan and the Dolphin are the only hotels that share Disney property with Disney Inc and I think that was a gigantic mistake that Disney regrets.

 

[Twinkstarr]

I think Eagle Pines was supposed to be near Old Key West a DVC property. Is that correct? What amazes me is that Disney is allowing anyone other than their own hotel on their site. The Swan and the Dolphin are the only hotels that share Disney property with Disney Inc and I think that was a gigantic mistake that Disney regrets.

I would have to look at a property map, but I think EP is in the same area as OKW/SSR.

I think those were Eisner's ideas back in the 80's, before Disney started building all their own resorts. They certainly are an eyesore imho.

 

[icydog]

I agree with you, but if they had to be built, they could only have been built at Disney World. Anyplace else and they would have been torn down years ago. In WDW the garish is sometimes acceptable. Look at the Pop Century, All Stars Sports, All Star Movies etc.

 

[rickandcindy23]

When is this resort opening? And does fractional mean no exchanges?

 

[Twinkstarr]

I agree with you, but if they had to be built, they could only have been built at Disney World. Anyplace else and they would have been torn down years ago. In WDW the garish is sometimes acceptable. Look at the Pop Century, All Stars Sports, All Star Movies etc.

But they really do clash with the BW/YC/BC look.

I've seen pictures of the values, never been to them and hopefully never will. :rofl:

 

[Twinkstarr]

When is this resort opening? And does fractional mean no exchanges?

That would be my guess, I've never seen any of the other FS's other than AZ or CA show up in II.

It will be interesting to see what they come up with in regards to amenities like transportation to the parks etc.

I think I read 2010 or 2011 as an opening date.

 

[Steve]

When is this resort opening? And does fractional mean no exchanges?

Hi Cindy,

Unfortunately, it probably means no exchanges through II or any other outside exchange company. If you purchase a week at Aviara or Scottsdale through Four Seasons directly, or through an approved reseller, then you have the option of exchanging into the newer fractional properties through the Four Seasons internal exchange.

I own a week at Four Seasons Aviara, but I did not purchase through the resort nor through an approved reseller. So I can't exchange into the Four Seasons in Jackson Hole, and almost certainly won't be able to exchange into Orlando, either. It's a bit of a bummer. I wish that all Four Seasons resorts exchanged in II in addition to their internal exchange, but the company has decided that doesn't fit their exclusive image. It's disappointing and it's a major departure from the original vision Four Seasons had for their Residence Clubs, but that's the direction they have decided to go.

Steve

 

[ralphd]

Based on the last info I received from my Disney sources and from memory:

The Four Seasons Resort will be a hotel with an attached fractional share resort. The Eagle Pines Golf Course will be sold to the developer. I believe that they said the property will be de-annexed by the Reedy Creek Development Authority, which means the property will not be a part of Disney.
I think the fractional shares will be sold as quarter shares and I heard a price of around +/- $250,000 (=/-).
They will not be a timeshare or part of any timeshare exchange program.

I am fairly certain the developer did buy the property, as opposed to the Swan/Dolphin long term lease deal. Those resorts were built by the developer, but ownership will revert to Disney at the end of the lease.

 

[bnoble]

Yes, it will absolutely be de-annexed, at least for the fractionals and whole-ownership. The last thing that Disney wants is folks with voting rights in RCID who are not Disney employees.

A quarter million per quartershare sounds way too low---a 1BR DVC unit comes close to 1M/year if you add it all up, and I have to believe that these will cost more.

 

[ralphd]

They are developing some land on SR429 between the Turnpike and I-4 into a shopping center, hotels and restaurants. This land is a part of Reedy Creek and is not going to be de-annexed. The owners will have a vote at the annual meeting, but will be a very small minority.
The land is on SR429 and the connector road into WDW. I think they said the hotels will be economy priced, but the shops and restaurants will be selected to attract business from the surrounding area.

 

[bnoble]

The owners will have a vote at the annual meeting, but will be a very small minority.

As I understand it, the only people with votes are people who live within the district, plus a few select landowners. It is very cleverly set up. I would be extremely surprised if anyone not on Disney's payroll ever had a vote:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reedy_Creek_Improvement_District#Current_status

 

[bnoble]

The quasi-governmental status of RCID also explains the rather baroque setup that DVC has as a "deeded leasehold." It was set up that way essentially to make sure that the Members had no standing in electing RCID officials.

 

[icydog]

Based on the last info I received from my Disney sources and from memory:

The Four Seasons Resort will be a hotel with an attached fractional share resort. The Eagle Pines Golf Course will be sold to the developer. I believe that they said the property will be de-annexed by the Reedy Creek Development Authority, which means the property will not be a part of Disney.
I think the fractional shares will be sold as quarter shares and I heard a price of around +/- $250,000 (=/-).
They will not be a timeshare or part of any timeshare exchange program.

I am fairly certain the developer did buy the property, as opposed to the Swan/Dolphin long term lease deal. Those resorts were built by the developer, but ownership will revert to Disney at the end of the lease.

So for a million I could stay all year! I wish I had a million:annoyed: I don't, but a lot of folks do.

 

[ralphd]

A quarter million per quartershare sounds way too low---a 1BR DVC unit comes close to 1M/year if you add it all up, and I have to believe that these will cost more.

The last time I talked to anyone about it the amount was not set, but that was the 'prelim talk' amount. The real unknown may be the contract requirements and the annual fees?