Walt Disney World building Art of Animation value resort

This strikes me as odd since Pop Century isn't even "finished" yet. They've got partially built rooms and an abandoned hub building.

It will be the unfinished part of Pop Century though it will most likely will be a complete rebuild of those buildings.

The family suites at the All Stars are doing great it really is no surprise they want to expand on that.

The comments are odd.

Agreed. I rarely stay in Orlando in anything other than a one or two bedroom suite. Disney's choices on that end were limited and pricey so I for one am excited to hear they might have more available.

Family travelers are getting more picky up their vacations (a trend at least one other amusement park operator has completely missed) and I think this directly addresses a growing segment of visitors.

Andrew said:
It will be the unfinished part of Pop Century though it will most likely will be a complete rebuild of those buildings.

That's now what the article says. It says "on a 65-acre lot on the other side of Osceola Parkway," which is not the unfinished half of Pop Century. A previous article, more than a year ago I think at this point, indicated that Pop Century would be finished with the family suites, then they said they were putting it off when the recession hit.

The Sentinel shows a different location...

The Art of Animation Resort will be built on a 65-acre plot across a lake from Disney’s Pop Century Resort. The location will allow Disney to use a pair of long-neglected, unfinished buildings that Disney originally constructed as a second phase of Pop Century but which it abandoned amid the 2001 recession. Pop Century’s first phase was completed in 2003.

http://thedailydisney.com/blog/2010/05/disney-to-build-2000-room-hotel-dubbed-disneys-art-of-animation-resort/

So, yeah, I guess they really aren't building a 'new' resort. But at least they're finishing Pop Century.

I'd trust the Sentinel first. Although if that's the case, then they have to rename it Pop Half-Century.

It is the unfinished half of Pop Century.

I was half-wondering why they weren't going to utilize that area over there, rather than starting a new area. Part of me is sad that I won't be able to marvel at abandoned hotel construction every time I drive by, but I'm happy they're building something.

^That's SODA half century.

Andrew said:
It is the unfinished half of Pop Century.

Why is it you only contribute anything when you can fire off a one-line post about how right you are? That's annoying.

Disney World's social media director made a comment on his blog post that the new resort will be built where Legendary Years had been planned.

Pop Half-Century it is!

I admit I'm a little surprised. Disney hasn't started construction on a new cash-rental hotel room since 9/11, focusing on DVC instead. Indeed they've even removed hotel rooms (top floors of AKL, North Wing of CR) to create more DVC units. Another spike in oil prices is going to force Disney to get back to discounting again even as the economy improves---and I would not be surprised to see that.

I might be the only one actually geeked about the THEME here. If they do a villains suite, I so know where I will be staying on my next trip. It's a great theme idea for them and one I will gladly pay to experience. But again, I'm a nerd...

As much of a Disney nerd as I am, I'm not all to interested in a stay here. I'd still rather stay at Coronado Springs. Of course, I'm giving off-site villas a try this winter (Marriott points), based on some things I've read, but if it doesn't wind up saving me money in the long run (which I suspect it wont, due to food costs alone), I probably will give this place a shot if it comes in at a reasonable price point.

Give me my DVC villa we always get at OKW anyday. Besides being the cheapest DVC villa on the property its also the biggest (thats right.) It also is a very relaxed theme which is a perfect change of pace from the parks. The only major downside to them is the bus service.

Here are some photos for reference about room size and what not, in the Day in Pictures forum:

http://coasterbuzz.com/Forums/Thread/57408.aspx