If you happen to’ve visited EPCOT within the final ~18 months, you would possibly’ve seen a thriller mission in Canada at EPCOT–or no less than encountered partitions blocking your path on the higher degree of the pavilion. Walt Disney World followers have questioned whether or not it’d be a maple syrup taste-testing counter, moose calf petting zoo, or Dan Flashes Flannel Outpost, with the Canada’s most intricate patterns ever.
Because it seems, it’s going to be a brand new Disney Trip Membership location known as “Château de Voyage.” The corporate introduced that this devoted area contained in the Canada pavilion would be the first in-park Welcome House Heart at Walt Disney World, and is ready to open in Spring 2025.
Château de Voyage in Canada will function a standalone location for friends to study the advantages of Disney Trip Membership Membership whereas exploring a mannequin room from the recently-opened Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Whereas that is the primary in-park Welcome Heart, Gateway to Discovery – A Disney Trip Membership Welcome House Heart, situated in City Heart at Disney Springs, debuted final 12 months.
Previous to that, the primary DVC presence of this nature was at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. The DVC Preview Heart there has a number of mannequin rooms, free ice cream, and a beautiful atrium with glass window representations of Disney’s castles world wide (under). We first visited right here many moons in the past in 2007, and the heartstrings-tugging pitch is without doubt one of the issues that satisfied us to ultimately purchase into DVC, albeit by way of resale. (We’re emotional…however rational.) The free ice cream and bonus FastPasses for our time additionally didn’t damage!
If friends had been severe about Disney Trip Membership, needed to see mannequin rooms, or signal a contract to affix–that DVC Preview Heart was as soon as the first choice. Disney Trip Membership guides would load friends into vans and whisk them away from the parks or wherever, and over to Saratoga Springs. It’s nonetheless a preferred spot for all of that, however now there are satellite tv for pc places, such because the Welcome House Heart at Disney Springs.
And shortly, the Château de Voyage in EPCOT’s Canada pavilion. This location contained in the Lodge du Canada is predicted to be purely a gross sales heart for recruiting new wallets, versus an present DVC member lounge like within the Creativeness pavilion. Consider it extra like a present store, promoting the most costly ‘memento’ in all of EPCOT.
Disney Trip Membership additionally presents Open Home excursions on the following places from 8 a.m. to six or 7 p.m. day by day:
- Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
Open Home excursions can be found from 8:00 a.m. to three:30 p.m. day by day at:
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Modern Resort
- Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo Home
- Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness – A Disney Trip Membership Resort
- The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
You may also cease by Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort or The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness – A Disney Trip Membership Resort to see mannequin rooms from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM day by day.
Or, ebook a tour of a mannequin cabin—situated at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort close to Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue—to discover that new providing. This location is open from 8:00 AM to three:30 PM day by day. In different phrases, there’s already no scarcity of choices for this.
Our Commentary
That is lame. I get why Disney Trip Membership would need it, because the gross sales heart removes one layer of friction and will increase the probability of promoting a DVC contract if friends don’t have the go away the park they’re already in. However there are many options, from having precise mannequin models on the Poly which are open all-day lengthy to giving friends 4 free use Lightning Lanes for going to Saratoga Springs. Given the prices of ~18 months of building, I can not think about this feature is cheaper than these from Disney’s perspective, both!
Personally, I believe there’s one thing to be mentioned for a little bit of friction in signing a multi-decade dedication for tens of hundreds, if not one-hundred thousand {dollars} or extra over time. If potential patrons aren’t keen to go to the Poly or wherever, are they actually that severe? I’m positive DVC has metrics to indicate that, sure, they’re. And who cares in the event that they aren’t–Disney can nonetheless extract some cash from them within the meantime, proper?!
This angle is mind-boggling to me, as somebody who spent months–if not years–poring over Disney Trip Membership from each angle earlier than taking the plunge. I can not fathom making such a life-altering monetary choice between the Unibroue and Bumblebee whereas Consuming Across the World.
Greater than that, this simply rubs me the unsuitable means from an everyday visitor perspective. The ubiquity of DVC gross sales kiosks all through the parks is already a punchline. These have grow to be a bit a lot, however no matter, they don’t seem to be coming on the expense of something of worth.
I suppose the identical may very well be argued right here, as the inside of the Lodge du Canada, the place this can Welcome House Heart will go, has not been used for visitor functions in a long time. From my perspective, the distinction is that this may very well be one thing. It has the potential to be an amazing little location tucked away up there that attracts friends away from the primary hall and deeper into the pavilion.
It may very well be one thing culturally genuine, which could be a pleasant little pleasant gesture as tensions are excessive (gentle understatement) with our neighbors to the north. As a substitute, it’s yet one more DVC gross sales heart in a blatant and ill-fitting location. (Walt Disney World doing its half to assist ‘earn’ these boycotts, I suppose.)
Château de Voyage can also be coming sizzling on the heels of McKim’s Mile Home – A DVC Member Lounge in Magic Kingdom taking on the area beforehand occupied by the free-to-play Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade. As I’ve conceded beforehand, I’ll personally get way more use out of McKim’s Mile Home. I visited the placement this week for the primary time, and it’s beautiful.
I nonetheless had misgivings about McKim’s Mile Home in precept–eradicating an attraction for an unique lounge didn’t sit proper with me. I perceive that I’m one of many fortunate few who has entry, and what’s good for me–personally–isn’t at all times the identical as what’s good for the park-going public as an entire.
Nicely, that is that sentiment prolonged a step additional. This new Château de Voyage received’t be good for anybody–besides Disney Trip Membership’s backside line. (Oh, and for anybody who thinks this could be reimagined into one thing else after the Island Tower sells out, assume once more. These mannequin rooms will probably be swapped out with Disney Lakeshore Lodge after which no matter’s after that–and relaxation assured, one thing will be after that. (Disney Trip Membership won’t ever be accomplished. It should proceed to develop so long as there’s creativeness cash left in Walt Disney World friends’ pockets.)
There’s additionally simply one thing about this that feels extra determined from Disney Trip Membership’s perspective. Gross sales are sturdy, so it’s not like they want to do that. But they select to take one other step that’s extra just like the stereotypical timeshare from which DVC as soon as needed to distance itself. I’m not actually mad about this, because it doesn’t actually influence me both means. I’m simply upset. It’s a nasty search for Disney Trip Membership, and it’s a long-term dropping proposition for the corporate, friends, and membership program. This isn’t wholesome for anybody.
Finally, it could be one factor if Walt Disney World had been within the midst of actively constructing a ton of initiatives, and had a number of openings this 12 months. That may make this simpler to miss. As a substitute, they’re nonetheless within the early levels of building on a 5-year plan that can most come to fruition after 2027, floor is simply beginning to transfer, and there are a tiny handful of smaller-scale initiatives debuting in 2025, and even fewer in 2026.
This could at all times be a tad too crassly business, however it’d no less than be extra forgivable if it didn’t additionally really feel just like the sources put in direction of the development of Château de Voyage wouldn’t be higher allotted on initiatives which have moved at a glacially gradual tempo. I don’t know, maybe I’m being a curmudgeon, however I’d truthfully a lot relatively have this be one other one other 21+ bar that I’ll by no means step foot inside than a DVC gross sales heart. Whereas among the similar criticisms may very well be levied at lounges, no less than these profit some friends and (don’t giggle) EPCOT really does want extra everlasting eating and consuming capability. (I’m not even kidding–take a look at how packed the present lounges are, and contours for the present non permanent kiosks.)
If you happen to’re eager about becoming a member of DVC, you should definitely learn our Final Information to Disney Trip Membership. This covers the professionals & cons, resale v. direct, how a lot cash you’ll save, and different vital issues to know earlier than taking the plunge. If you happen to nonetheless can’t resolve whether or not membership is best for you, “strive before you purchase” with the suggestions in Tips on how to Save BIG on Deluxe Disney Lodging Renting DVC Factors.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the brand new Château de Voyage DVC Welcome House Heart within the Canada pavilion at EPCOT? Upset that this ~18 month mission on the Lodge du Canada isn’t going to yield one other bar, Dan Flashes Flannel Outpost, or one thing really cool and enjoyable for everybody? Or are you wanting ahead to a different DVC gross sales heart for some purpose? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? If you happen to’re an present Member, what do you assume? Share any questions, ideas, or further ideas you’ve gotten within the feedback!
