DVC stakes claim in Hawaii

[SorcererMickey]

Disney Resorts stakes claim in Hawaii

With no theme park in sight, the tourism arm of the entertainment giant buys 21 oceanfront acres on Oahu for an 800-unit retreat.

By Kimi Yoshino, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
October 4, 2007

Walt Disney Parks & Resorts said Wednesday that it had purchased 21 oceanfront acres on the Hawaiian island of Oahu to build its first hotel not associated with a theme park.

The Ko Olina Resort & Marina, which will also offer Disney Vacation Club time-share units, is Disney's latest attempt to capture more of the tourism market.

"Building a resort hotel in Hawaii is the next chapter in our effort to create immersive Disney experiences that allow families to reconnect and recharge in the areas of the world they most long to visit," Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo said in a statement.

The company did not offer many details about the hotel's features, although one Disney spokeswoman said Imagineers, as it refers to designers, were working with local architects, engineers and cultural advisors to create an "authentic Hawaiian experience."

Until now, Disney's hotels have all been built near one of its 11 theme parks. But at an investor conference in February, Rasulo alluded to what he called "blue-sky concepts," including expanding resorts beyond Disney's existing destinations "to claim a greater share of the hotel industry."

At the time, Rasulo said the move would be aimed in part at families with children who might be too young to appreciate a theme-park experience. Urban hotels or resorts in popular vacation destinations would give families more options, he said.

Disney's hotels are immensely popular. The hotels in Anaheim; Orlando, Fla.; Tokyo; and Paris maintain occupancy levels over 90% year-round, with an average daily rate of about $350.

In addition, its time-share business is growing: Sales, profit and memberships have doubled since 2003. Last month, Disney announced plans to expand Disney Vacation Club to the West Coast with the addition of 50 two-bedroom units at the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa in Anaheim. In Florida, the company has seven resorts. It has an eighth vacation club in Hilton Head, S.C., offered only to time-share members.

In 2005, it introduced Adventures by Disney, guided group vacations in places such as Hawaii and Wyoming. It began with two itineraries and now offers a dozen options. Next year, it will include 18 destinations.

The Disney Cruise Line fleet is also being doubled to four ships from two, with new ocean liners scheduled to launch in 2011 and 2012. In addition, the Disney Magic ship, typically based in Florida, returns to the West Coast next summer for 12 consecutive seven-night cruises and two 15-night cruises through the Panama Canal.

The 800-unit Ko Olina resort will create more than 1,000 new jobs. Ko Olina, which translates as "place of joy" in Hawaiian, is scheduled to open in 2011 on the island's west coast. Disney officials said Hawaii had been among time-share members' most requested locations.

Source: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-disney4oct04,1,6282244.story?coll=la-headlines-business

[PaulaK]

OMG!!! :excited: :banana: :mexwave: :tigbounce Can you tell i'm excited?! :D

[wdwgrandma]

If they have it done by 2010, maybe John and I can celebrate our 15th anniversary there!

[OKWTink]

I loved Oahu! The other islands are very nice too, but Oahu seems to have the widest variety of things to do. :yes:

Need to start saving my pennies for the flight! :D :D

Thanks for the info, Sorcerer Mickey.

[Slowhand]

Now if DCL decide to cruise there also, it would be fantastic. :thumbs:

[uscwest]

Now if DCL decide to cruise there also, it would be fantastic. :thumbs:
AMEN to that. Wouldn't that be terrific?

[robinemaguire]

How appropriate that Disney is building in a location whose name means "place of joy." I know they aren't planning a Hawaiian theme park but I wish they'd reconsider!!!

I can dream, can't I?

[Keith]

Now if DCL decide to cruise there also, it would be fantastic. :thumbs:

We took the backstage magic tour this past week and the tour guide, who was excellent by the way, was hypothesising about this very thing!

He had a ton of reasons, the ships in design phase right now, the position of the land in Hawaii etc. and he was very very convinced that DCL would be cruising there :thumbs: (he also naturally said it was all just educated guesswork but I was pretty convinced)

[Wendy L]

I loved Oahu and I would be sad if Disney opened up a park there :afraid: :sorry: please don't take it the wrong way, I love Disney, but the islands are special.

The island itself is wonderful, beautiful, relaxing but with plenty to do if you want to and the locals are so happy, I really don't think there is any need for a park, I think it would spoil it :sorry:

I can see an attraction for DCL cruising the islands though, but they already have NCL cruising on a regular pattern and other companies as well. I'd hate to see the special feel of the islands be taken away because it got too busy or commercialised :shrug:

If DCL does cruise there I hope it doesn't become a permanent cruise location just something that they do occasionally :shrug:

I'll leave now before someone gives me a :slap: :whistle: :hehe:

[OKWTink]

Hey, you make some very good points! :yes:

I understand it to be resort like hotel, and not a theme park.

Oahu is a beautiful island isn't it Wendy. :yes:

[Wendy L]

The island is paradise, well I think it is anyway :blush: it has everything, beautiful secluded beaches, as well as the main Waikiki Beach, history, peace and relaxation or busy and fun.

A hotel wouldn't be too bad I guess, so long as that was all it was :whistle:

I can't wait until we go back in 2009, we just need to decide if we are going to do the NCL cruise around the islands as well :fingers:

[OKWTink]

Did you cruise the islands last time? I don't remember you doing that?

To be honest, the cruise was nice enough, but if you really want to enjoy yourself and the ports of call, you have to book excursions. The ports at the islands are not set up like those in most of the Caribbean, etc. There isn't anything to walk to (with the exception of Kauai where there are feral chickns to see :D ).

I'd probably not do the cruise again. We'd like to spend time on each individual island (that's sounding like a number of Hawaiian holidays!) and get to know them better.

I agree with you. Hawaii is paradise. I particularly love the history and the culture of people of Hawaii. I love the leis! :yes:

I'd love to have a DVC there I must admit. I'm thinking something along the lines of the Outrigger we liked, eh? :yes: Only a bit larger, of course.

But a park? Nah. Hawaii has no need of a theme park.