The Disney Vacation Club made some interesting announcements today:
1. The 15-story Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort will join the Disney Vacation Club properties in fall 2009.
2. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is adding a new type of room category in summer 2009 - Treehouse Villas!
I can't really speak much to the changes at the Contemporary Resort because I've never stayed there and have only been inside a few times (not counting the view from the monorail, of course), but the Saratoga Springs Resort is our DVC "home" property, so let me just say ... huh? Please, Imagineers, explain this!
“I was lucky enough to have a treehouse as a kid, but it was certainly nothing like this,” said Imagineer Todd Thomasson. “In developing this resort, we’ve all learned a new word, ‘glamping,’ which apparently means glamorous camping. The Treehouse Villas will be glamping at its absolute best.”
GLAMPING? WTF IS GLAMPING? Have they seen the Saratoga Springs Resort? It's all tropical colored and not camping themed. It's not even all that "glam," so I have no idea where this concept of "glamping" is coming from. Not to mention that Saratoga Springs itself is best known for mineral water, horse racing, and Revolutionary War battles. Wouldn't this treehouse idea be better off at, I dunno, the Wilderness Lodge?
Now, lest you think I'm such a princess that I can't sleep in a treehouse - I once planned a family trip that centered completely around being able to stay in a treehouse. In BELIZE. You know, where you would see monkeys and parrots in the treetops. And also:
THAT IS NOT A TREEHOUSE. Treehouse = house in trees. That is a house on stilts. And not even stilts close to the treetops. And you are way more likely to see geckos and cranes than blue jays and cardinals. The resort is still in Florida, right?
Each villa sleeps 9 people, has cathedral ceilings, flat-screen TVs, and presumably indoor plumbing. Just like the treehouse you had as a kid - but GLAM.
What do you think? Has anyone seen these things yet? Send details and pics!
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2 comments:
The reason that the Treehouse Villas are part of Saratoga Springs is that they were originally a part of the Disney Institute. Of course the DI is now Saratoga so the newly renovated Treehouses will be part of SSR.
When the original Treehouses were open, my family stayed there several times. They were probably my favorite lodging choice on property. THey were just COOL!!! Yes, not true treehouses, but when you looked out the windows you were at branch level with the trees around you so it really didn't matter... I can't wait to see the new ones! :)
BTW, as a (transplanted) Florida resident I can confirm that there are Blue Jays and Cardinals here in Florida. We have both visiting our bird feeder on a regular basis. :)
I remember the original Villas being part of the DI (which I never got a chance to visit but vaguely remember driving past a few times), but I'm definitely curious to see how Disney tries (or maybe doesn't try) to blend the treehouses in with the pinks and baby blues of the Saratoga resort. I'm also kind of bummed the treehouses are so big - we only have 3 people in our party, so it's doubtful I'll get to test them out :(
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