Old Disney Hotels

snugglyevil · Post by **snugglyevil** » Aug Sun 23, 2009 1:51 pm

So I'm here talking to a friend about hotels at Disney we've stayed at. I started going to Disney in 1974 and stayed at the Contemporary (1yr waiting list to get in at that time). We stayed at most of the properties before the value resorts popped up. For the life of me I can not remember the name of the resort that was the original hotel where Saratoga Springs now sits. The Disney Institute was there prior but what was the name of the resort originally?

Help me in my Senior Moment.

rknrlrcstr · Post by **rknrlrcstr** » Aug Sun 23, 2009 1:55 pm

I could be wrong, but I think it was called the Disney Fairway Villas

snugglyevil · Post by **snugglyevil** » Aug Sun 23, 2009 2:17 pm

rknrlrcstr wrote:I could be wrong, but I think it was called the Disney Fairway Villas

That sounds familiar. Just googled it and found pics that it IS what they were called. I just so want to stay in the treehouses now that they have been refurbed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/russes/2462980674/

Soarin08 · Post by **Soarin08** » Aug Sun 23, 2009 7:04 pm

The newly refurbished treehouses are AMAZING!!! I stayed there in May 2009 when we had our CM preview stays. I remember the Disney Institute quite well. Interesting to know there was another hotel on that spot prior to the Institute!

snugglyevil · Post by **snugglyevil** » Aug Sun 23, 2009 7:41 pm

Soarin08 wrote:Interesting to know there was another hotel on that spot prior to the Institute!

Oh yes...I loved the Fairway Villas. The Village was a short walk. You could rent golf carts and drive them all around the resort as well as over to the Village. I think it started getting abused and people were getting hurt so Disney put pylons on the sidewalk. I stayed there for the last time in 1989. It was a nice place.

Brian845 · Post by **Brian845** » Aug Mon 24, 2009 9:32 am

snugglyevil wrote:So I'm here talking to a friend about hotels at Disney we've stayed at. I started going to Disney in 1974 and stayed at the Contemporary (1yr waiting list to get in at that time). We stayed at most of the properties before the value resorts popped up. For the life of me I can not remember the name of the resort that was the original hotel where Saratoga Springs now sits. The Disney Institute was there prior but what was the name of the resort originally?

Help me in my Senior Moment.

Some of them were called the Fairway Villas, but the 1 and 2 bedroom condos were called the "Vacation Villas". We stayed there a couple of times in the mid 80s...I have fond memories of playing Tron in the gameroom near the main pool. Walking down to Lake Buena Vista Village (past the Treehouse Villas if I recall) was always great fun!

More on the whole resort here:

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id121.htm

kcookiebaker · Post by **kcookiebaker** » Sep Fri 11, 2009 3:07 pm

When it first opened and there were no "add on wings" we stayed at the Contemporary, with a view of the Magic Kingdom, for $28. I still have the original receipt in a scrapbook. Great memory.

noledawg · Post by **noledawg** » Sep Fri 11, 2009 3:25 pm

I still miss the Terry Trailers. Loop 500 if I remember correctly. the new cabins are wonderful, of course, but there was somethign special about staying in the Terry Trailer, particularly during that brief Florida "winter" when you could justify wearing a coat and roasting marshmallows outside.

Bullwinkle · Post by **Bullwinkle** » Sep Fri 11, 2009 4:32 pm

I remember them when they were called the Disney (Vista) Villas and a large percentage of them were Corporate Condos "leased" to Corporate sponsors. Early 70's. Could be wrong

Correcting myself...Disney's Lake Buena Vista Villas....

See attached

http://zannaland.com/disneys-lake-buena-vista-villas/

Bullwinkle · Post by **Bullwinkle** » Sep Sat 12, 2009 12:26 pm

Apparently, the complex was broken in to several sections: Town Homes, Bungalows, Fairway Villas, Treehouse Villas and Grand Vista Homes.

Here's another site with Pix

http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/wdwguide ... o_tour.htm

ZannaLand · Post by **ZannaLand** » Sep Sat 12, 2009 3:00 pm

Bullwinkle wrote:Apparently, the complex was broken in to several sections: Town Homes, Bungalows, Fairway Villas, Treehouse Villas and Grand Vista Homes.

Hello! Just wanted to clarify that the info from MousePlanet is referring to the buildings during the Disney Institute era. Originally, the accommodations were separated into the Fairway, Club Lake, Vacation and Treehouse Villas and yes, they were also rented out corporately at that time. It definitely was a fun time period in Disney history!

Bullwinkle · Post by **Bullwinkle** » Sep Sun 13, 2009 5:21 pm

I stayed in the RCA Townhome back in '75 (sponsor for Space Mountain) and still have fond memories of the "loft".
The pool, behind the building, was an above ground Dough Boy.
Memories

Soarin08 · Post by **Soarin08** » Sep Sun 27, 2009 1:14 am

snugglyevil wrote:
rknrlrcstr wrote:I could be wrong, but I think it was called the Disney Fairway Villas
That sounds familiar. Just googled it and found pics that it IS what they were called. I just so want to stay in the treehouses now that they have been refurbed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/russes/2462980674/

The treehouses are AMAZING!!! Anyone who can spring for one for at least a night..... DO IT!!!!!! You will not be disappointed!

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