[Question] Les Villages Nature

[traumwelt]

Anyone hear any news on the planning / construction of "Les Villages Nature"?

[Fultimate]

Re: Les Villages Nature

Opening date : 2016. It's not going to be a Disney resort. This project is a waste of time, a waste of energy and a waste of money.

[traumwelt]

Re: Les Villages Nature

Really? It's not going to be a Disney resort!?! I can't seem to find any information on it at all, just the same poorly-made concepts of what it will look like. I thought Joe Rhode was involved in this...

[nathan detroit]

Re: Les Villages Nature

As a frequent visitor to Center Parcs and Disney Theme Parks, I would LOVE to see a combination of the two.

Davy Crockett Ranch but on a much bigger scale and including all of the activities one would expect at Center Parcs.

With the CP brand so big in Europe, I consider this a no-brainer.

Of course the current financial situation relegates this idea to 'pipe dream'.

[Dagobert]

Re: Les Villages Nature

I really like the design of it. They designers tooks some influences from Friedensreich Hundertwasser. There are some great buildings designed by him here in Austria.

For example:

https://www.google.at/search?hl=de&q=hundertwasser+therme&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1280&bih=637&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=JvQrUKbwNsnBtAb05IHwCg

I think it's a good addition to the resort. Center Parks is very popular in Europe and so it might draw more visitors to that area and I guess some of them will visit the parks as well.

I just hope that the water park will also be open for Disney hotel guests.

[traumwelt]

Re: Les Villages Nature

Yeah, I'm really excited about it actually. I think the design concepts look interesting, just wish they were a little better executed or at least contained more detail / information.

Wer baut das alles eigentlich, wenn nicht Disney? Ich dachte, das war Disney... Na ja... trotzdem freue ich mich darueber!

;-)

[Dagobert]

Re: Les Villages Nature

Yeah, I'm really excited about it actually. I think the design concepts look interesting, just wish they were a little better executed or at least contained more detail / information.

Wer baut das alles eigentlich, wenn nicht Disney? Ich dachte, das war Disney... Na ja... trotzdem freue ich mich darueber!

;-)

It's a joint venture between Euro Disney SCA and Pierre & Vacances, the company that runs Center Parcs, but Joe Rohde of WDI is part of the design team.

By the way: Herzlich Willkommen!!

[traumwelt]

Re: Les Villages Nature

I thought so. Someone posted above that it's not going to be a Disney resort. Anyway, I'm really excited about this and I think its just the direction the resort needs: there are people to whom this will def. appeal that would otherwise not come to the parks.

And... DANKE! Darf man hier auf Deutsch schreiben??

[TimmyTimmyTimmy]

[traumwelt]

Re: Les Villages Nature

hey timmy timmy timmy -

i agree that the resort is in need of help. i was there the opening week and many, many times within the following years. it was BEAUTIFUL when it opened. and there were so many unique shops, fantastic restaurants, and quiet little places just there for the sake of being there. now it just seems so cheap. i was last there in 2007. it was dirty, dumbed-down, and, i don't know, just not the same as the beautiful park i knew. i don't think i will go back for a long, long time.

i love the idea of "villages nature" but perhaps you're right: the park is need of so much more at the moment...

:-(

[TimmyTimmyTimmy]

Re: Les Villages Nature

hey timmy timmy timmy -

i agree that the resort is in need of help. i was there the opening week and many, many times within the following years. it was BEAUTIFUL when it opened. and there were so many unique shops, fantastic restaurants, and quiet little places just there for the sake of being there. now it just seems so cheap. i was last there in 2007. it was dirty, dumbed-down, and, i don't know, just not the same as the beautiful park i knew. i don't think i will go back for a long, long time.

i love the idea of "villages nature" but perhaps you're right: the park is need of so much more at the moment...

:-(

[traumwelt]

Re: Les Villages Nature

Yeah, until they are committed to TRANSFORMING the parks, I really don't see any of the "improvements" urging me to make a visit. Psris was (in the first couple years it opened) my FAVORITE park. Not anymore.

[Dagobert]

Re: Les Villages Nature

I totally agree that the parks and hotels should come first. Disney should fix all the problems first and then they should think about joint ventures with others. However there is a need for more rooms and a joint venture helps to lower the risks for Disney and I'm sure this project will be a success like all other Center Parcs. I guess I'm so excited about that project because of the fantastic design. Many don't like it, but I think it looks great.

[Hathaway Browne]

Re: Les Villages Nature

Well I guess they're hoping that it'll draw no end of additional visitors... and here's hoping it does. We don't need another slew of unoccupied rooms.

[traumwelt]

Re: Les Villages Nature

However there is a need for more rooms and a joint venture helps to lower the risks for Disney.

WHen the park first opened, there was enough space to visit the park for the day and then enjoy an evening in the lobby / cafes of one of the hotels. Now it is just OVERRUN (and LOUD) with guest who have nowhere to go. They just need more rooms, it seems. Yeah, overall, I think this will help. But man o man does that whole resort need some TLC. The lasst time I went I was in shock at the condition it was in. I remember there was a chair floating in one of the ponds in Adventureland covered in algae because its removal must have been ignored for a long time. There was trash thrown into many scenes of the attractions too.

[Dagobert]

Re: Les Villages Nature

WHen the park first opened, there was enough space to visit the park for the day and then enjoy an evening in the lobby / cafes of one of the hotels. Now it is just OVERRUN (and LOUD) with guest who have nowhere to go. They just need more rooms, it seems. Yeah, overall, I think this will help. But man o man does that whole resort need some TLC. The lasst time I went I was in shock at the condition it was in. I remember there was a chair floating in one of the ponds in Adventureland covered in algae because its removal must have been ignored for a long time. There was trash thrown into many scenes of the attractions too.

When have you been the last time to DLRP? We have been in 2010 the last time and back then I was surprised how good the park looked. According to friends, who visit twice a year, the parks really went downhill during the last two years. Although there has been a major refurbishment program, it was only done on the outside. The attractions still need a lot of attention.

The reason I think why Les Villages Natures could be a success, is that the same people who visit DLP also visit Center Parcs. Both are focused on families and so they can combine both destinations instead of only visiting CP or DLRP.

[Your Majesty]

Re: Les Villages Nature

The renderings look good. Whether it would work or not, I don't know.

Am I right saying that it's just like Center Parcs?

It might work like Downtown Disney or Disney Village in the way they aren't theme parks but other recreational areas. However, this is on a much bigger scale and I think a lot of people wouldn't have time to it as they may not stay very long as DLP is very expensive and people will rather go to the theme parks.

[poupouille]

Re: Les Villages Nature

According to Pierre & vacances studies, the Villages Nature project is not intended as a way to provide more accomodation for tourits visiting DLP, but as a resort destination on its own. People staying at the Villages Nature may visit DLP but will probably spend most of their time onsite (so pretty much like your standard Center Parcs).

Regarding financing, it won't be too costly for Eurodisney and Pierre & vacances, as they will only buy and landscape the land. Everything else will be financed by investors. All the accomodations will be paid for by small investors (France offers very generous tax breaks for this kind of investments).
For the biggest infrastuctures (swimming pools, restaurants and bars, etc...), Pierre & vacances usually turns to institutional investors or sometimes even the local government/town/region. Pierre & vacances is very experienced in this kind of project, and has been operating this way for over 40 years.

[Fultimate]

Re: Les Villages Nature

Presentation video of Villages Nature (in English, of course), which will open in 2016 :

[robbiem]

Re: Les Villages Nature

I think it looks nice. Would be a nice side trip from DLP