Tree House Villas to be Rebuilt

[Rosebud]

Looks like I might get my chance to stay in one of these - sort of since they will be new. They have a permit out to tear down and rebuild the existing tree house villas. They will be smaller than the existing ones, but in the same location.

[Robin]

It will be interesting to see what they do as I thought one of the issues in the past was that they weren't handicapped accessible.

I wonder if they are considered part of another resort that does have handicapped accessible rooms they will be an exception, or if simply having one of the sleeping areas down stairs instead of upstairs will make a difference.

[Snickerdoodlesmommy]

What a shame that they have to tear them down. They are so cute! We stayed at them a few times-the last time being back in the early 90's. You could easily sleep 8-10 people in them and they had a full kitchen as well as a full size washer and dryer that came in very handy with so many kiddos!
It was a hassle bringing all the luggage back and forth though, I can see where it would pose problems for someone that couldn't do the stairs.

[Rosebud]

Actually, according to regulations they only have to make 3 out of the 60 handicap accessible, so despite some previous rumors that isn't the reason they haven't been opened. According to the permits it has to do with the flood plain.

The floor plan I saw was too small for me to read, but from other's comments it seems like won't sleep as many and a possibility no longer a washer and dryer. No specifics of amount of people, only speculation from the plans. The look of them seem very similar though, so hoping they are still cute even though smaller.

Now I won't have to move to another country and become a college student there and join the foreign college program just to stay there.

[James]

Good article here (http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=wd080211mg) about the rehab of the Tree House Villas!

[Robin]

Good summary of the permits and blueprints. I was looking at the originals and they are HUGE.

[imagineerwannabe]

is this the Major announcement?

[Robin]

No announcements. For Reedy Creek do any construction that can effect environmentally sensitive areas or hit upon any water related issue they must get permits first. Someone found the permits and backup documentation.

BTW, did anyone ever post with the blueprints for the area where CR Villa are being constructioned? :peri:

[James]

BTW, did anyone ever post with the blueprints for the area where CR Villa are being constructioned? :peri:


:huh:CR Villa :confused:

[Joe]

I haven't seen any blueprints for the CR Villas (Contemporary Resort James), only the artist's rendition of the new wing.
Joe

[Topaz]

Would love to stay in the Tree houses.

Can't wait to see what they look like.

[Jennifer]

I read about this on another board and they were saying that the tree houses would be a top floor only accomodation, so they wouldn't sleep as many people as they had originally. The handicap issue came up, but they weren't sure how that would affect things. They also indicated that the tree houses wouldn't be torn down, but rather renovated.

Personally, I would love to see them re done. They are a bit of an eyesore when you go by them on the boat from POR or POFQ. They look so run down, and you can tell they are being used by college students. They look like any dorm at any college campus.

And I would love to be able to stay in them someday. I have always liked them, and wanted to stay there back before they became part of The Disney Institute.

[Joe]

These have always intrigued me, would love to see them back in the inventory.
Joe

[Snickerdoodlesmommy]

In their day, they used to look like little mushroom house. There were peacoks that wandered all over the grounds and were really fun to stay in.
Before they put the students in them, they used to use them for some of the Executives that would come here waiting to get into permanent housing.

[Robin]

Thanks to Screamscape.com for a link to a very good article on the treehouses.

"Disney is proposing to dismantle & remove the existing 'Treehouse' units and replace them with new structures."


http://dvcnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=325&Itemid=1


The treehouses would have to be torn down, to rebuild a smaller base that could hold up the rest of the structure.


It appears the land the treehouses sit on, is actually considered part of SSR. This might be how they get the exemption from the ADA, since the resort will already have an appropriate number of handicapped accessible rooms. According to the article the land they sit on was included in the map of SSR property that was given to DVC owners.

So another interesting question is whether they will be added to DVC inventory or not. They could be factored in as Grand Villa type accommodations, or simply kept as unsold rentals, but with access rights to SSR's facilities.

[tdelaney]

Every time we float up or down the Sassagoula River going to/from POFQ/DTD, there's a TON of questions for the captains. The treehouses garner so much attention.

The blueprints look great and I think there's a real draw for large families/large groups to have "house-like" ammenities available. Disney is terrific at looking where people choose NOT to spend their money on-site and then creating that opportunity on-site. I think the 1br and 2 br, not to mention the grand villas in current DVC sites, have been immensely popular. Treehouses are unique in that these villas are COMPLETELY separate from each other and thus like the single-family houses that are so popular for rentals in the WDW area.

So, I think it is GENIOUS to re-do the treehouse villas. The footprint is smaller than the originals, so better for the water table. I think these will prove to be very, very popular!!!

I'm excited to see the progress. Someone take pics and post when you can!!!!

[Robin]

I can't help a twisted little chuckle in that even more of the 'valuable' real estate in the treehouse will be moved up to the second floor....off the 100 year FLOOD plain.

'Cause if it floods....I want to be on second floor too!

[DebbeeG]

I loved staying in the Treehouses as a teenager...I got to drive the golf cart! My kids have asked several times about them & I'd love to be able to stay there with them.

[Snickerdoodlesmommy]

Years ago you used to be able to drive the golf carts over and around Downtown Disneys "water comes out of the ground" as Ashley used to call it. We would drive the cart over while the kids ran through the water and sit and watch them have fun.

Now that whole area is totally different-even the roads have been re routed. :blink:

[msT302]

I was a POR last weekend and when the Captain was asked about the treehouses, he said that they were for international students, nothing about the upgrades. However, I would pay to stay in one of those - they look awesome.