Hotel Online Special Report
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Disney Vacation Club Reveals Plans for Third Ownership Resort At Walt Disney World Resort; 
Additional Resort Expansion Also Slated For Company's Flagship Property
 
 
CELEBRATION, Fla - Aug. 27, 1998 - -Disney Vacation Development, Inc. (DVD), operators of Disney Vacation Club (DVC) -- the innovative vacation ownership program -- announced today that it will expand its timeshare resort presence at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to include a third resort, as well as additional development at its flagship property.

The third proposed ownership development at Walt Disney World Resort will be located immediately next to and adjoining the popular Disney's Wilderness Lodge in the Magic Kingdom Park Resorts area.

"We are very excited about the opportunity to expand the Disney Vacation Club concept to yet another site here at the Walt Disney World Resort," said Al Weiss, President of Walt Disney World Resort. "And we are especially pleased to be able to `marry' a unique Disney vacation ownership offering with an award-winning, perennial guest favorite hotel like Disney's Wilderness Lodge."

The new venture is modeled on the success of DVD's first mixed-use hotel project at Walt Disney World Resort, i.e., Disney's BoardWalk Villas - which combines both standard hotel and vacation ownership accommodations at the Walt Disney World Resort. "This union will allow us to create a truly superior vacation opportunity that will enhance and build on the popularity of a recognized Disney hotel," added Weiss.

Initial plans for the proposed DVC resort call for the development of a 136-unit free-standing, five-story vacation ownership resort consisting of studio, one- and two-bedroom vacation villas on a 4-acre site adjoining Disney's Wilderness Lodge. All units will feature either a pool, water or woods view. Development plans further call for the construction of connecting walkways and full access to Disney's Wilderness Lodge and its existing parking area; the addition of a quiet pool and health club, as well as the expansion of existing retail space, quick-service dining and other select public areas. Development is slated to begin in the spring of 1999 with an estimated completion date of the fall of 2000, contingent upon obtaining all necessary approvals.

"This newest proposed addition to the family of Disney Vacation Club Resorts is part of DVD's commitment to provide exciting new vacation offerings for its members," said Weiss. "We believe that this new resort will be a great success and that the rustic charm of this Early American national parks-inspired property will make it a preferred vacation option for members and guests alike."

Like Disney's Wilderness Lodge, the new ownership resort is inspired by the tall timber and grandeur of the Rocky Mountain national park geyser country. In keeping with Disney's legendary entertainment heritage, the DVC resort will build on the storyline "imagineered" for the Disney's Wilderness Lodge property, which describes the new structure as actually "pre-dating" Disney's Wilderness Lodge through a design reminiscent of turn-of-the century hotels built by early railroad workers in the old West national park region.

The 728-room lakeside Disney's Wilderness Lodge opened on May 28, 1994, and is modeled on the historic Old Faithful Lodge circa 1904 in Yellowstone National Park. In addition to its new resort development at the Walt Disney World Resort, DVD will also expand the number of units at its first property. "We are very pleased to complete the development plan for Disney's Old Key West Resort by converting the site that previously housed Disney Vacation Club's main sales center into 34 additional vacation ownership units," said Weiss. Construction is set to begin in the fall of 1998 with completion set for early 2000, subject to obtaining to all necessary approvals.

The growing collection of Disney Vacation Club Resorts includes Disney's Old Key West Resort and Disney's BoardWalk Villas, both located at the Walt Disney World Resort, as well as Disney's first resorts beyond the Walt Disney World Resort theme park locations - Disney's Vero Beach Resort on Florida's Atlantic Coast and Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort in South Carolina. 

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Contact:
Disney Vacation Club 
Mariska Elia, 407/566-3123 
 [email protected] 
www.disneyvacationclub.com
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Also See:
Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals June 1998 / July 1998 
Asian Hotel Development - a boom beginning to wane? / Arthur Andersen / Winter 1998 

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