DVC resort coming to the Polynesian

 

DVC fans are rejoicing as Disney as officially confirmed that a DVC resort is coming to the Polynesian Resort in the Magic Kingdom area at Walt Disney World.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, construction is set to begin shortly (some initial construction may already have begun) with completion expected sometime in 2015.  This is the 13th DVC resort and is the final Magic Kingdom-area resort to have a DVC connection.  This new DVC resort area will be located where the stage for the Spirit of Aloha show was originally located.

Disney also announced they would be renovating other parts of the Polynesian Resort, though the company did not give any further details.

So with the completion of the Polynesian DVC, which DVC resort would you most like to stay at? What is the most important factor in deciding where you'd like to stay?  Post a comment!

Disney to build resort hotel outside Washington D.C.

The Peterson Companies announced today the sale of land at its National Harbor development near Washington, DC (see above) to Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Disney is considering using the 15-acre site overlooking the Potomac River in National Harbor, MD as the location for a resort hotel for families and others visiting the National Capital Region.

"We're thrilled Disney has decided to invest in National Harbor," said Milton V. Peterson, chairman of the Peterson Companies. "Disney is the top family entertainment company in the world, and its purchase is a great vote of confidence in the future of National Harbor and the Washington area as a top family tourism destination."

The new resort hotel would be one of Disney's stand-alone resort hotels separate from the Disney theme parks. This new resort hotel, like the project under construction in Hawaii, will be in a prime geographic location and will provide guests with the same comfort, fun and amenities for which Disney is famous.

"As we began identifying possible locations to grow our business, the Washington, DC area immediately jumped to the top of the list," said Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "National Harbor offers an array of entertaining activities for regional visitors, but it is also a family-friendly base camp, from which visitors from around the world can explore the stirring sights and inspirational stories of our nation's capital. We believe National Harbor has the unique opportunity to offer a new level of family-friendly hospitality."

Disney purchased the Maryland property from the Peterson Companies for $11 million.

About National Harbor:
Rising from the banks of the Potomac River in Prince George's County, MD., National Harbor is a new 300-acre destination waterfront resort. With six hotels and 3,000 rooms, National Harbor features the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.

Many attributes include the tree-lined avenue American Way, public art including "The Awakening" sculpture by Seward Johnson, shops and offices, numerous high rise residences and the largest marina on the Potomac River. It is also the future home for the new Cesar Pelli-designed National Children's Museum.

The master developer for National Harbor is The Peterson Companies, one of the largest privately owned development companies in the greater Washington area specializing in large mixed use developments.

Click here for additional coverage from the Washington Post.

Disney's Hawaii resort moving ahead

Preliminary site work has begun as part of the construction of Disney's new resort located at the Ko Olina Resort and Marina development on the west side of the island of O'ahu. The preliminary work includes establishing where foundations will be placed and installing underground utilities.

Scheduled to open in 2011, the new family friendly destination will overlook breathtaking crystal blue lagoons and white sand beaches and is planned to include 350 hotel rooms and 480 Disney Vacation Club timeshare villas.

Click here for more about the new Hawaii resort.

CNBC.com article about the project

Welcome to Disney Daddy

I'm a father of three kids and we all love Walt Disney World. I will attempt in this blog to jot some of my thoughts about Walt Disney World, both the good and the not so good.

First, a little about myself. As I said, I'm a father of three and REALLY BIG Disney fan. I've only been to Walt Disney World twice (not including a trip back in the late 70's/early 80's), but on our first trip last summer I caught the bug. I mean I REALLY caught the bug. Nine months later, we were back for Spring Break. Next up is a trip around the holidays.

Since that first trip, I've been on several WDW related forums, mostly Inside The Magic, DisneyWorldTrivia.com and Sorcerer Radio. I also have begun collecting WDW park music from various sites (all legally, for anyone who may have wondered).

Anyway, enough about me. Time for some thoughts.

If there ever was a place to start, it's with the 2009 Celebrations announcement made by Disney this week. While, in my opinion, it's not the same as the current Year of a Million Dreams, this new campaign is a pretty good idea. Who wouldn't want to go to WDW on their birthday for free!

Yes there are some restrictions (there are too many lawyers involved for there not to be restrictions) but it's a pretty good deal.

But wait, there's more.


Disney also announced the new DVC tower at the Contemporary Resort. This is a killer for me as I'm dying to get into DVC. The problem is I don't have $25,000 in spare change lying around to get into it properly (with enough points to really take advantage of all DVC offers). The artist rendering's look really cool, don't they? This particular site is the one I've been waiting for because it's the first DVC on the monorail.

Who knows, maybe someday I will win the lottery. If you can dream it... you know the rest.

Anyway, I want to welcome to you to my random thoughts and impressions.

Also, I want to thank the following podcasts for their inspiration and help in keeping the Disney magic alive.