With our destination resorts in the United States and around the world creating such strong value, Disney Parks and Resorts is encouraged to explore new ways to grow within the worldwide travel and leisure market by "taking the magic on the road."
Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is also a cornerstone of Parks and Resorts' plans to expand its footprint into new areas. The first phase of the new Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas opened last summer at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World, where accommodations feature intricate African-inspired details, home-like amenities and – from most villas – sweeping views of a savanna inhabited by a variety of African animals.
Up until now, DVC was located primarily at Walt Disney World Resort, with two additional locations in nearby Vero Beach, Florida and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Parks and Resorts currently is in the early stages of creating a luxury Hawaiian resort like no other. Located on 21 acres of oceanfront property in the picturesque Ko Olina Resort & Marina on the island of Oahu, this expansive new family resort is planned to include more than 800 units consisting of both hotel rooms and DVC villas. It will give our Guests another reason to vacation with Disney and a terrific way to visit one of the top family destinations around the world. Scheduled to open in 2011, it will be Disney's first mixed-use family resort outside of its theme park developments. Meanwhile, in Anaheim, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is expanding by 30 percent to include additional hotel rooms and the first DVC villas on the West Coast of the United States.
Parks and Resorts is also bringing the Disney Difference to guided tours of popular destinations around the world. Specially designed with family travel in mind, Adventures by Disney takes Guests on awe-inspiring travels throughout the United States and around the world – in an authentic and distinctly Disney style.
Adventures by Disney started off with two itineraries just a few years ago. Today, it's already generating some of Parks and Resorts' highest Guest satisfaction ratings. In 2008, Adventures by Disney will leverage Disney's expertise in offering quality family travel experiences along 17 itineraries, including new destinations such as China, Australia, Peru and Germany, as well as returning favorites, including England, Italy, Ireland, Costa Rica and the Southwestern United States.
Top: Scheduled to open in 2011, Disney's first mixed-use family resort outside of its theme park developments will give Guests a way to visit an exciting part of the world with a brand they trust.
Bottom: Adventures by Disney takes Guests on awe-inspiring travels throughout the United States and around the world with a style that is immersive, authentic and distinctly Disney.
