My Disney Blog

Disney Aulani Resort Update

A friend of mine, Mike from TimeStream Software, emailed me some GREAT photos a few days ago, and I just had to share them with you all. The photos are courtesy of TimeStream Software, the developer of the "Walt Disney World Guide" Notescast for the iPhone and iPod touch. Great resource, by the way!

Check out the rest of the images (12 in all) at www.Notescasts.com, or more specifically at this link:

Some facts about the Aulani - A Disney Resort & Spa - as taken from a recent Disney press release:  It will have 359 hotel rooms, 481 time-share units, restaurants, a convention center, a 15,000 square-foot spa and a massive water play area overlooking the lagoon, which will feature a volcano tube slide and snorkel lagoon.  It's located on 21 acres on Oahu's Leeward coast in the Ko Olina development, located about 1/2 hour from Honolulu.  It's currently scheduled to open August 29, 2010, with hotel reservations already starting! Time-share sales started three weeks ago. 

Mike from Notescast/TimeStream also noticed that Disney has a couple reps located on the beach side of the construction site right now answering questions for anyone who stops by.

Seeing these pictures really makes me miss Hawaii. In September, my family stayed in the Ko Olina development. The first night we were there, we stayed at the neighboring property (J.W. Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa), as we could not get into the house we rented (looong story!). The house we rented was just on the other side of the golf course, which will be in between the house we rented and the Aulani. We used the golf cart from the house to get to the beach all the time, and usually went to the lagoon in front of the Disney property. It was one of our favorites, and we swam with Giant Sea Turtles, octopus, gorgeous fish, and tons of other little creatures. The lagoon is pretty well protected, as it is man made, so it is pretty safe for swimming in. We even had a Tsunami when we were there, which was pretty amazing to see. Disney could not have made a wiser choice! The area is GORGEOUS, the swimming is protected, the sand AMAZING, and it is the driest area on the island (southwest corner).

Makes me want to go back so much, seeing these pictures!

--- Disney Dean (@DisneyDean on twitter)

Disney Hawaii Resort Update as of September 22, 2009

I am updating this blog from Hawaii, and could not be more excited to share these images with you! I am currently staying in a gorgeous townhome in the Ko Olina development. Ko Olina is the development in which Disney is building their newest resort. I took the following pictures from several different vantage points, and tried to highlight the particular vantage point on the photos. I will embed a slideshow in this blog post, but will also include the link below the slideshow if you would prefer to view them on my PhotoBucket account.

The Ko Olina area is on the southwestern corner of the island of Oahu, Hawaii. It is the driest point on the island, receiving less than 20 inches of rain a year. In contrast, the highest mountain areas near the eastern (windward) side receive close to 300 inches of rain a year. In short, Ko Olina receives a TON of sunshine, and is in a great location to have a Disney resort. It is safe, clean, beautiful and it makes me want to live here. I'm lucky enough to have stayed here for 10 nights (still here), and I really never want to leave (unless it is for Disney trips!). The Ko Olina area is a good 30-45 minute drive from downtown Honolulu (depending on traffic), but it is worth the drive. It's really not a bad drive to Honolulu/Waikiki, and it is much more quiet and laid back in the Ko Olina development compared to Honolulu/Waikiki.

The coves in front of the new Disney resort are absolutely, positively AMAZING! You will be blown away swimming in any of the coves, but particularly in cove 1, as that is the cove Disney is building on. We go out near the J.W. Marriott Ihilani some mornings and feed the Bonefish in the cove. There are Sea Turtles, gorgeous fish and I'm sure there are many other creatures out there. The Marriott folks said about 4-5 times a year, a shark makes it's way into the lagoon - isn't that cool? :) Hey, it's their home, and they are most often more afraid of us than we are of them. Usually it's tiger sharks that make their way in, if they do at all.

Anyway, I will have more details coming soon. I just wanted to give you some eye candy for you to peruse at your leisure.

http://s1011.photobucket.com/albums/af239/DisneyDean/Disney%20Hawaii/

--- Disney Dean

Disney Hawaii Resort Update

KHON - channel 2 in Honolulu is reporting that Disney is there, and ready to stay on Oahu. The new development, under construction at the Ko Olina section of Oahu, is expected to be part hotel, part Disney Vacation Club, with 350 hotel rooms, and 480 vacation villas. Despite some concern from area residents about the state of the economy, Disney officials recently met to assure residents that they are very serious about their upcoming 22 acre resort.

According to the KHON2 story,
“It’s my time to let people know that we are here, we are proud members of the community and we're excited about the project finally getting started,” Disney Vacation Club vice president Djuan Rivers said.

Disney is promising a good deal of jobs, including some career-track opportunities at the resort, and across the globe. They are expecting to employ 1000 employees during the construction, and another 1000 at the resort property.

So, if you want to get an update on the new resort, head on over to the KHON2 article. Be sure to watch the video of the news story from KHON - some great imagery in the video.

--- Disney Dean

Disney Vacation Club Resort Hawaii

I have been wondering how the progress has been on the DVC resort - Hawaii, and I was searching around on the web. I ran into a YouTube video done by Meandering Mouse Club TV a couple about a year and a half ago, and thought it was just so great! In the episode, the host takes us to the actual property, and does a walk around. He tells some very interesting facts about the Ko Olina resort area, and it is just fascinating to see the ground area so up-close. I just love it!

Here is the YouTube video from Meandering Mouse Club TV:

I also ran into some early construction photos from DisneyGeek.com. I emailed Jason to ask if we could use one of the pictures that Derek posted - to illustrate my point, and he was so gracious! Here is one of the pictures. For many more images, visit the full post at DisneyGeek.com. The picture below is from April, 2008, but there are some in there from November, 2008, showing some light progress.

 

Has anyone else seen some progress photos of the DVC resort in Hawaii? If so, I would love to hear about it, and post more information and updates on it! I'm not a DVC member - YET - but hoping to be in the future. Also, have never gone to Hawaii, so it would be fantastic to go to a Disney Resort in Hawaii!!

--- Disney Dean

To DVC or Not to DVC - That is the Question

Alright all you Disney Vacation Club (DVC) people! I have a question for you! For about a year now, I have dreamed of becoming a DVC member. I am a huge fan of Animal Kingdom Lodge, so I would definitely love the Animal Kingdom Villas as my home resort. We have some new friends in town that are DVC members (actually at Animal Kingdom), and they were telling us how wonderful it is - AND making us very jealous :) I know many people are so happy with DVC, and was hoping to get some encouragement or even some information the other way, which would help us make the decision. I know there are a ton of variables as to whether it is a good thing for an individual family, and I honestly think that it might be good for our family. Any stories or information you could share from an insider's perspective? Would really love to hear from more DVC members out there! Thanks in advance...

--- Disney Dean

Animal Kingdom Villas First Phase Construction Complete

There are bound to be a lot of happy Disney Vacation Club members - as the first phase of the Animal Kingdom Villas is now complete. The villas (109 in all) were constructed from the upper levels of the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

According to the Orlando Sentinel:
"Construction is continuing on the project's much-larger second phase: A 340-unit annex next to the lodge that has been dubbed "Kidani Village." Disney says the expansion will include a 120-seat sit-down restaurant, a 4,700-square-foot swimming pool with a water slide and two spas, plus tennis, shuffleboard and half-court basketball, among other amenities."

This phase should be completed in Spring of 2009. The Animal Kingdom Villas are the 8th timeshare property, and the 6th one at Walt Disney World. Disney is also building one at the Contemporary Resort (not confirmed yet by Disney - but discovered via building construction records), some at Disneyland and one in Hawaii.

I just despise all you Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members (just kidding). No, actually I am just envious - as I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to join the DVC but just haven't figgered out how to get enough money. I think it's a great value if you spend a lot of time at Walt Disney World (or in other places that they have properties), and I know it would be right for my family. Not right for every family, but right for ours for sure. Hopefully someday!!!

--- Disney Dean