Contemporary Hotel Construction - Magical Mystery in the Magic Kingdom or New Disney Timeshares?

True or False? The tower under construction next to"We have plans to expand our Disney Vacation Club
Disney's Contemporary Hotel will be a new Disneybusiness both on Walt Disney World property and at
Vacation Club resort?other vacation destinations in the future. However,
Imagine on your next vacation rolling out of bed,we don't have anything formal to announce today," a
hopping on the monorail, and jumping off at dozensDisney Vacation Club spokesperson was reported to
of fun resorts and exciting attractions. If rumorshave said.
prove true, you may soon be able to do this at theReasons to Remain Quiet for Now
Contemporary Hotel's under-construction tower.Expert industry analysts say Disney may have
Disney is playing their information card close to thestrategic reasons for not now releasing a
chest regarding the Contemporary Hotel addition. ButContemporary Hotel timeshare announcement.
the new tower has already soared to five storiesDisney has invested deeply in the profitable
and is expected to be completed in 2009.timeshare business in recent years. Announcing future
The Tower is on 14 acres a little north of theDisney timeshares in the Contemporary Hotel, which
resort's icon; the A-frame Contemporary Hotel. Thisare likely to be very popular, given their
was only the second hotel at Disney World when itjump-on-the-monorail and vacation location, could
opened several months after the Big Mouse himselfslow current sales at Animal Kingdom Villas and
first welcomed guests on October 1, 1971.Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, both at Disney
Rumors persist, supported by growing evidence, thatWorld.
Disney plans to use the new tower for DisneyDisney timeshare buyers [ must purchase Disney
Vacation Club timeshares. Rumors are speculation andVacation Club points from a "home" resort, and there
hearsay, but consider the following factual evidence.are a limited number of points available at each DVC
EVIDENCE: Building-permit applications filed withresort. Owners can be very picky about their home
Reedy Creek Improvement District identify theresort. They are given priority in making reservations
owner of the property as a company called JMSRMat that particular resort when booking a vacation.
Inc. State records show this as a fictitious nameEvery owner has plenty of reasons for picking their
created in August 2006 by Celebration-based Disneyhome resort and then promoting and defending the
Vacation Development, parent company of thedelights of home.
Disney Vacation Club timeshare company."If you're trying to make a sale at Saratoga Springs
EVIDENCE: In a pair of letters, an environmentalor the Animal Kingdom, and a potential buyer is
consultant hired by Disney calls the new tower "aaware that a year from now there's going to be
proposed Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Resort at theDisney timeshare available in the Contemporary Hotel;
Contemporary Hotel."that might hurt your other sales," say Disney
EVIDENCE: In a recent filing with the U.S. Securitiestimeshare marketing experts.
and Exchange Commission, Disney revealed that itDisney could decide against marketing the
has about 680 more timeshare units underContemporary addition as timeshares. The new
construction at Disney World. Disney has publiclytower could just add more hotel suites to the
acknowledged only one ongoing timeshareContemporary. Company executives reportedly said
construction project in Orlando: Kidani Village, anrecently that Disney World hotels are averaging 90
extension of the partially completed Disney's Animalpercent occupancy. The Contemporary commands
Kingdom Villas. That project is expected to have 340nightly rates as high as $1,310 a night for a
units when finished in spring 2009, leaving anotherone-bedroom suite.
340 or so unaccounted for. A magical mystery orWhatever the real and actual use, the Contemporary
Contemporary construction?addition is sure to be lavish and posh. Records show
Construction records for the Contemporarythe crescent-shaped tower will include a host of
expansion call for 295 three-bedroom suites. Someamenities, including a swimming pool and water-play
could be sold as separate two- and one-bedroomarea with an outdoor bar and a water slide; a spa;
units by using a "lock-off" design often used intennis courts; a barbecue pavilion; and a 499-person
timeshare resorts.lounge on the 15th floor featuring a restaurant and
But the Mouse remains mum about thebar. The new tower will be connected to the main
Contemporary addition.building by a pedestrian bridge.