Tagrel
06-03-2004, 10:24 AM
Original Story: Disney Recreates Upstate New York in Central Florida (http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040603/REPORTER/406030333/1021)
Disney Recreates Upstate New York in Central Florida
Company announces a third phase to its Saratoga Resort, which opened last week.
By MICHAEL W. FREEMAN
The Reporter Editor
LAKE BUENA VISTA -- The North Country of Upstate New York, close to the Canadian border, has always been considered a picturesque place, with lakes and rolling hills that attracted wealthy New York City residents looking for a tranquil vacation spot during the summer where they could escape the hot and muggy city streets to places like Saratoga Springs.
Saratoga Springs has been a popular vacation spot for generations, long before Orlando was considered a major destination and well before Walt Disney World developed plans for a huge theme park in Central Florida. But there's one thing this region has that Saratoga Springs never will: mild, even warm and tropical, winter months.
Well aware of this region's popularity during the often bitterly cold winters up north, Walt Disney World has decided to export some of that Upstate New York charm to the region. Last week, Disney celebrated the grand opening of its newest Vacation Club property, Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, modeled after the resort in New York -- although in this case the theme will include a step back in time. The cast members who work at this resort, and the shopping plaza that comes with it, were designed by the Walt Disney Imagineering team to create the feel of Upstate New York circa 1880. For Disney's guests, it will be an opportunity to experience New York without the winter cold.
"This will be our largest vacation club resort to date," said Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World Resort.
He noted that Saratoga Springs was opened to guests about a week ago, and "We're getting outstanding feedback," he said. "Even before that, we knew we had another winner on our hands. The guest response to the resort has been so overwhelming, we have decided to add a third phase of development to the resort."
That third phase will create 276 more units, which will be available by 2007. That will bring the room count at Saratoga Springs to 828. The resort is opening with 184 rooms in the first phase, while a second phase -- expected to be completed next year -- will add another 368 rooms.
Saratoga Springs lies across the lake from Downtown Disney and is a short drive to the four Disney theme parks. Saratoga Springs has Victorian architecture, a full-service spa, a downtown area with shops and restaurants, a centrally located "rockwork" swimming pool, and a nearby golf course. There are also the usual special Disney touches, including 596 "Mickey Heads" per building incorporated onto the handrails that surround the balconies.
During the celebration, many of the Disney team responsible for this newest resort expressed great confidence that it would be a success.
They noted that the timing couldn't be better; all indications are that the economy is picking up steam just in time for the busy summer tourist season.
"We've all been hearing about the tourism recovery," said Jerry Montgomery, Disney's senior vice president of public affairs and multi-tasked business development. "There's a lot of excitement around the Disney vacation Club business," which sells time shares to the Disney resorts.
"Even through our difficult economy, sales remained strong," Weiss said, adding that "We'll be looking for opportunities to grow over time. Here at Walt Disney World, I can tell you we've always been focused on growth."
That was particularly true after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, caused a sharp downturn in the tourism economy and badly hurt Central Florida, Weiss said.
"We got very focused on our long-term strategy for growth," he said. "Now, more than two and a half years later, we're well into that strategy, and it is paying off."
Weiss cited rising levels of consumer confidence nationally, an increase in the amount of money that Orange County is generating from its resort tax, and increased capacity at Orlando International Airport -- to pre-9/11 levels -- as evidence that "2004 may be the best year for tourism since 2001," he said. "AAA just reported that Florida is the top state that people want to travel to, and a third want to go to a theme park. Part of what we're seeing is pent-up demand for travel. People are looking for ways to spend time with loved ones in a safe and wholesome environment. Bringing more guests to Walt Disney World is a key part of our strategy. We have an exciting future in store at Walt Disney World."
Jay Rasulo, president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, added that while the "past three years have been challenging, millions of people around the world have not stopped dreaming about a Disney vacation. Our second quarter brought very good news, with a surge in attendance at the theme parks. Our attendance was up about 18 percent here."
Rasulo said he was even more optimistic by "the phenomenal growth of the Disney Vacation Club. Eighty-one thousand members have made a lifelong commitment to Disney vacations. International visits to the U.S. are forecast to increase for the first time in two years."
Jim Lewis, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Vacation Clubs, called the time share program "one of our best kept secrets."
According to Disney surveys, less than 20 percent of its guests are aware that all previous DVC properties are now sold out, and the pre-opening membership sales for Saratoga Springs -- which began in August 2003 -- followed a record-breaking 13-month sellout of Disney's Beach Club Villas.
"Their No. 1 regret is, `I wish I had known about this product sooner,' " Lewis said.
Part of Disney's long-term strategy includes the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland in 2006. "I visited Hong Kong two months ago, and I can tell you construction is going extremely well," Rasulo said.
However, Rasulo said Disney does not plan to open any new theme parks beyond the one in Hong Kong.
"We don't plan today to open any new theme parks here in the United States, or internationally," Rasulo said. "I have nothing to announce today about the opening of a theme park by 2010."
Disney Recreates Upstate New York in Central Florida
Company announces a third phase to its Saratoga Resort, which opened last week.
By MICHAEL W. FREEMAN
The Reporter Editor
LAKE BUENA VISTA -- The North Country of Upstate New York, close to the Canadian border, has always been considered a picturesque place, with lakes and rolling hills that attracted wealthy New York City residents looking for a tranquil vacation spot during the summer where they could escape the hot and muggy city streets to places like Saratoga Springs.
Saratoga Springs has been a popular vacation spot for generations, long before Orlando was considered a major destination and well before Walt Disney World developed plans for a huge theme park in Central Florida. But there's one thing this region has that Saratoga Springs never will: mild, even warm and tropical, winter months.
Well aware of this region's popularity during the often bitterly cold winters up north, Walt Disney World has decided to export some of that Upstate New York charm to the region. Last week, Disney celebrated the grand opening of its newest Vacation Club property, Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, modeled after the resort in New York -- although in this case the theme will include a step back in time. The cast members who work at this resort, and the shopping plaza that comes with it, were designed by the Walt Disney Imagineering team to create the feel of Upstate New York circa 1880. For Disney's guests, it will be an opportunity to experience New York without the winter cold.
"This will be our largest vacation club resort to date," said Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World Resort.
He noted that Saratoga Springs was opened to guests about a week ago, and "We're getting outstanding feedback," he said. "Even before that, we knew we had another winner on our hands. The guest response to the resort has been so overwhelming, we have decided to add a third phase of development to the resort."
That third phase will create 276 more units, which will be available by 2007. That will bring the room count at Saratoga Springs to 828. The resort is opening with 184 rooms in the first phase, while a second phase -- expected to be completed next year -- will add another 368 rooms.
Saratoga Springs lies across the lake from Downtown Disney and is a short drive to the four Disney theme parks. Saratoga Springs has Victorian architecture, a full-service spa, a downtown area with shops and restaurants, a centrally located "rockwork" swimming pool, and a nearby golf course. There are also the usual special Disney touches, including 596 "Mickey Heads" per building incorporated onto the handrails that surround the balconies.
During the celebration, many of the Disney team responsible for this newest resort expressed great confidence that it would be a success.
They noted that the timing couldn't be better; all indications are that the economy is picking up steam just in time for the busy summer tourist season.
"We've all been hearing about the tourism recovery," said Jerry Montgomery, Disney's senior vice president of public affairs and multi-tasked business development. "There's a lot of excitement around the Disney vacation Club business," which sells time shares to the Disney resorts.
"Even through our difficult economy, sales remained strong," Weiss said, adding that "We'll be looking for opportunities to grow over time. Here at Walt Disney World, I can tell you we've always been focused on growth."
That was particularly true after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, caused a sharp downturn in the tourism economy and badly hurt Central Florida, Weiss said.
"We got very focused on our long-term strategy for growth," he said. "Now, more than two and a half years later, we're well into that strategy, and it is paying off."
Weiss cited rising levels of consumer confidence nationally, an increase in the amount of money that Orange County is generating from its resort tax, and increased capacity at Orlando International Airport -- to pre-9/11 levels -- as evidence that "2004 may be the best year for tourism since 2001," he said. "AAA just reported that Florida is the top state that people want to travel to, and a third want to go to a theme park. Part of what we're seeing is pent-up demand for travel. People are looking for ways to spend time with loved ones in a safe and wholesome environment. Bringing more guests to Walt Disney World is a key part of our strategy. We have an exciting future in store at Walt Disney World."
Jay Rasulo, president of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, added that while the "past three years have been challenging, millions of people around the world have not stopped dreaming about a Disney vacation. Our second quarter brought very good news, with a surge in attendance at the theme parks. Our attendance was up about 18 percent here."
Rasulo said he was even more optimistic by "the phenomenal growth of the Disney Vacation Club. Eighty-one thousand members have made a lifelong commitment to Disney vacations. International visits to the U.S. are forecast to increase for the first time in two years."
Jim Lewis, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Vacation Clubs, called the time share program "one of our best kept secrets."
According to Disney surveys, less than 20 percent of its guests are aware that all previous DVC properties are now sold out, and the pre-opening membership sales for Saratoga Springs -- which began in August 2003 -- followed a record-breaking 13-month sellout of Disney's Beach Club Villas.
"Their No. 1 regret is, `I wish I had known about this product sooner,' " Lewis said.
Part of Disney's long-term strategy includes the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland in 2006. "I visited Hong Kong two months ago, and I can tell you construction is going extremely well," Rasulo said.
However, Rasulo said Disney does not plan to open any new theme parks beyond the one in Hong Kong.
"We don't plan today to open any new theme parks here in the United States, or internationally," Rasulo said. "I have nothing to announce today about the opening of a theme park by 2010."