Disney World Expansion Means More Disney Timeshares
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Disney announces the timeshare expansion we predicted months ago.
In November of 2006, I wrote about Disney’s planned expansion on the western perimeter of it’s Orlando, Florida, Walt Disney World Vacation property. On March 1, 2007, the management at Walt Disney World Resort made the announcement official. Their “Western Way” development plan calls for approximately 4500 timeshare condos and hotel units, as well as a retail shopping village that will include restaurants, grocery stores, and shops.
This mixed-use tourism district will focus primarily on value-priced lodging and numerous services will be directed both at tourists and at the many Disney employees. Workers at Walt Disney World go by the title of “cast member” and currently number about 60,000 people in the Central Florida area.
Disney also announced plans for a luxury resort to be developed on the northeastern side of their sprawling property, in partnership with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. The land for the expansion will include the current Eagle Pines and Osprey Ridge golf courses (two-eighteen hole courses) that will be replaced with a luxury hotel, one eighteen hole championship golf course, fractional ownership vacation properties, and single and multi-family vacation homes.
Walt Disney World president Meg Crofton says, “…we are thrilled to be able to bring Four Seasons to our resort.” Kathleen Taylor, president and chief operating officer of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts says, “the resort will have all the ingredients needed to create memorable vacations: gracious and caring staff; beautiful surroundings that are thoughtfully designed; and services and amenities that make every experience one to cherish.”
Recently I mentioned the World Travel Trends Report 2006/07, which revealed that today’s traveler has fewer vacation days, but demands higher standards of luxury and service. When Disney adds a 5-star Four Seasons Hotel to their Orlando family vacation destination, you can assume they are also aware of this trending toward upscale accommodations.
