Not Another Cr Into Dvc Rumor!

[Colorado Belle]

A new poster on the DIS who uses the name "INSIDER" seems to work at the CR or at least in ressies or management onsite.
Anyway...he has been helping people with their CR ressies and reporting on the ongoing rehab and schedule updates.

He says that the north wing will be made into DVC, and that it will happen as soon as the rest of the tower rooms and the south wing have been rehabbed.
He says the bulding plan will have a walkway connection to the tower.

I hate to 'report' just another rumor, but so far this guy seems to be right on in his postings re schedules, room ressie requests etc.

:sherlock:

[KNWVIKING]

I think at this point a CR DVC is beyond the romur mill. It looks to be a done deal. Even the timing of it when you consider when they will actually start construction - should coincide with the completion of SSR.

I'm just curious if CR will abandon the Convention portion of the resort.

[tjkraz]

I think at this point a CR DVC is beyond the romur mill. It looks to be a done deal. Even the timing of it when you consider when they will actually start construction - should coincide with the completion of SSR.

Depends on how eager they are. The current CR rehabs are scheduled to be complete by August or September '06. The final buildings of SSR are scheduled to open sometime in '07. If memory serves, the Phase 2 buildings took a little over 2 years from start to finish. They began construction on Phase 3 around May or June of this year, so they will probably finish in mid-to-late '07.

I'm just curious if CR will abandon the Convention portion of the resort


I may be wrong (as is always the case), but I thought part of the reason for the rehab was to increase the appeal to business travelers. And I don't mean this just from a speculative POV...I'm fairly certain that the info that was published by Disney or the Orlando Sentinel said that the CR was still very much in the mix as a convention destination. The rehab was designed to keep Disney's convention accommodations competitive with other venues.

[KNWVIKING]

My thinking is along the line that DVC families may not want to be exposed to conventioneers. Alcohol flows farely freely at most conventions which usually leads to obnoxious adults.

Yatch club has a farely large convention complex with the adult ammenities of Boardwalk & Epcot nearby. CS has a large complex and is adding more plus the new western gate enterance drops you off right at CS.

My impression is that they are making Cont more family friendly with the upcoming south wing refurb & impending DVC announcement. But just as you stated, I'm probably wrong too ;-)

[crisi]

BW is a convention center.

I was sort of barely involved in a convention in Orlando that was not at Disney, despite the primary vendors being Disney vendors. Disney was apparently quite upset at the loss of the convention business and made that very clear to the vendors involved. They want convention business, which is a great win for them. People bring their families with them, there are expense reports, the people who don't bring their families often schedule another trip when they realize Disney is more than a big amusement park.

I've been invovled in more than a few conventions and I don't think drunks are nearly as big a problem at conventions (where people get tipsy, but its a CLM (Career Limiting Move) to let your coworkers, vendors, or competition see you plastered, as it is at weddings - which have apparently become a relatively large Disney security problem (the week before we were there, according to a conversation I was privy to with security in the Bellevue room, there was apparently dueling wedding parties where punches where thrown).

[DSNY FN]

Depends on how eager they are. The current CR rehabs are scheduled to be complete by August or September '06. The final buildings of SSR are scheduled to open sometime in '07. If memory serves, the Phase 2 buildings took a little over 2 years from start to finish. They began construction on Phase 3 around May or June of this year, so they will probably finish in mid-to-late '07.



I may be wrong (as is always the case), but I thought part of the reason for the rehab was to increase the appeal to business travelers. And I don't mean this just from a speculative POV...I'm fairly certain that the info that was published by Disney or the Orlando Sentinel said that the CR was still very much in the mix as a convention destination. The rehab was designed to keep Disney's convention accommodations competitive with other venues.

I recall reading also that the CR was gearing up to be more convention friendly and they are supposed to move the concourse steakhouse to the arcade and move the arcade to a smaller area. Chef Mickeys was supposed to expand into teh concourse steakhouse area for a larger capacity. I think I read it online in teh Orlando Sentinel if memory serves.

[KNWVIKING]

I don't recall BWI or BWV having a convention center. I know that the Boardwalk entertainment area is a popular playground for conventioneers staying at S&D and Yatch club.

It's been a couple years since my last convention and maybe things have changed, but I know a lot fewer brain cells were on the return flights home.

During our recent Oct trip - stayed at BCV - there was a large IT convention at S&D. HP threw them a privite party at PI till 10 pm.

I don't doubt that many convention guests bring their families if the convention is at WDW. But I still see a lot of unemcumbered conventioneers who consume a lot of alcohol.

[tjkraz]

I don't recall BWI or BWV having a convention center. I know that the Boardwalk entertainment area is a popular playground for conventioneers staying at S&D and Yatch club.

The Boardwalk has a rather large "Conference Center" of its own. Here's a link to the map on Allearsnet:

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/bwalk2.jpg

The entire area in red is convention / conference space.

There must be no shortage of demand for the facilities. At the deluxe level, you've got conference space at the BW, YC/BC and Contemporary, and within the last year they expanded the facilities at Coronado Springs in the moderate class. From what you're saying, it sounds like the Dolphin and Swan have their own facilities, too.

I don't doubt that many convention guests bring their families if the convention is at WDW. But I still see a lot of unemcumbered conventioneers who consume a lot of alcohol.

No question about that!!! :ale:

I spent a dozen years working for a company that had close ties with a vendor that annually held a conference somewhere in the US. Everyone from the president of our company on down viewed it as primarily an event designed to let our hair down, build relationships and "network" with other folks in our industry. Certainly we're not talking about lampshades on the head, but there was nothing objectionable about staying out until 2am with a drink in hand.

[KNWVIKING]

... but as bizzare as this may sound, that pic doesn't look right to me. It's been awhile since I explored BWI/BWV but I just don't recall the conference center. I'll have to do a little more exploring in Dec.

Disney uses conventions as a way to help fill resort rooms. Part of my thinking is that you don't need - or at least shouldn't need - any other incentive to fill an icon resort like Cont. With the north wing becoming DVC ( I know, still a rumor ) the south wing under going a massive rehab ( perhaps family suites ) and the Tower being the ultimate onproperty draw, why not encourage conventioneers to stay elsewhere ? Granted, not all the people attending a convention are actually staying at the hosting resort, but they do tend to fill up the lounges and restaurants at that resort.

Mixing vacationers with conventioners isn't always the best use of space. IMO the Cont should be able to stand on it's own strictly as a vacation resort.

ETA: Just checked Disney's official website. BWI does have a conference center, but it's by far the smallest on site at only 20,000 sq ft. By comparison, the one at GF is 40k.

[dianeschlicht]

I have never thought of CR as a "kids" place. It has always had an adults only air about it for me. Maybe even a stuffiness that I don't care for. Even the new room designs say "adults only" to me. Seems kind of funny to have that kind of place a stone's throw away from the MK.

[spiceycat]

the annual meeting use to be in BWV convention.

it is directly across from the self parking area.

[jaysue]

I have never thought of CR as a "kids" place. It has always had an adults only air about it for me. Maybe even a stuffiness that I don't care for. Even the new room designs say "adults only" to me. Seems kind of funny to have that kind of place a stone's throw away from the MK.

I thought that way too - having said that, the one stay that my DS#1 remembers the most in terms of hotel rooms, was his stay at the CR (aka The Toaster Hotel) - he loved the monorail swooishing through the building, the airy open concourse area and seeing the monorail from the CS restaurant

Plus he loved the idea of the pool being right next to the lake and being able to walk over to the MK

I still think it is an adults targetted type of property but my now 6yr old would disagree and would love for us to stay there again

cheers
jaysue

[DarthGoofy]

jaysue

My DS6 is the same way. We stayed there during his 1st trip to WDW. Every time he sees it in pictures or on TV, he still says "There is our hotel"

[WDWSTAR]

I wonder if that was the same CM that checked me in last christmas, he said the same words.....DVC north wing....after the tower & south wing are rehab......

[Rozzie]

I would be stoked for CRV, as others had said, Poly would be a "died and gone to heaven". For some reason though, I am really falling in love with the more remote resorts lately, and would really be "easily talked into" something at AKL. I wonder what the point cost would be at CRV, anyone dare to guess? I say if it is in late 2007 $110. Just a guess. :sherlock:

[tjkraz]

OK, here's another log to throw on the fire.

I just read a second-hand report that DVC Guides have been told about the CR in some official capacity, and that a formal announcement may occur sometime in January.

Guess we'll have to keep our ears open for any potentially corroborating statements from other folks in the coming weeks.