Should you’ve visited EPCOT within the final ~18 months, you may’ve observed a thriller mission in Canada at EPCOT–or at the least 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 complex patterns ever.
Because it seems, it’s going to be a brand new Disney Trip Membership location referred to as “Château de Voyage.” The corporate introduced that this devoted area contained in the Canada pavilion would be the first in-park Welcome Residence Middle at Walt Disney World, and is ready to open in Spring 2025.
Château de Voyage in Canada will function a standalone location for visitors to find out about 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 Middle, Gateway to Discovery – A Disney Trip Membership Welcome Residence Middle, positioned in City Middle at Disney Springs, debuted final yr.
Previous to that, the principle DVC presence of this nature was at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. The DVC Preview Middle there has a number of mannequin rooms, free ice cream, and a beautiful atrium with glass window representations of Disney’s castles world wide (beneath). 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 through resale. (We’re emotional…however rational.) The free ice cream and bonus FastPasses for our time additionally didn’t harm!
If visitors had been critical about Disney Trip Membership, wished to see mannequin rooms, or signal a contract to hitch–that DVC Preview Middle was as soon as the first possibility. Disney Trip Membership guides would load visitors into vans and whisk them away from the parks or wherever, and over to Saratoga Springs. It’s nonetheless a well-liked spot for all of that, however now there are satellite tv for pc areas, such because the Welcome Residence Middle at Disney Springs.
And shortly, the Château de Voyage in EPCOT’s Canada pavilion. This location contained in the Resort du Canada is anticipated to be purely a gross sales middle for recruiting new wallets, versus an current 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 provides Open Home excursions on the following areas from 8 a.m. to six or 7 p.m. every 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. every day at:
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Up to date 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 as well 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 every day.
Or, ebook a tour of a mannequin cabin—positioned 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 every 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 middle removes one layer of friction and will increase the chance of promoting a DVC contract if visitors don’t have the go away the park they’re already in. However there are many alternate options, from having precise mannequin models on the Poly which can be open all-day lengthy to giving visitors 4 free use Lightning Lanes for going to Saratoga Springs. Given the prices of ~18 months of development, I can’t think about this selection is cheaper than these from Disney’s perspective, both!
Personally, I feel there’s one thing to be stated 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 consumers aren’t keen to go to the Poly or wherever, are they actually that critical? I’m certain DVC has metrics to point out 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 attitude 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’t fathom making such a life-altering monetary determination between the Unibroue and Bumblebee whereas Ingesting Across the World.
Greater than that, this simply rubs me the improper manner from an everyday visitor perspective. The ubiquity of DVC gross sales kiosks all through the parks is already a punchline. These have develop into 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 might be argued right here, as the inside of the Resort du Canada, the place it will Welcome Residence Middle will go, has not been used for visitor functions in many years. From my perspective, the distinction is that this might be one thing. It has the potential to be an excellent little location tucked away up there that pulls visitors away from the principle hall and deeper into the pavilion.
It might be one thing culturally genuine, which may be a pleasant little pleasant gesture as tensions are excessive (delicate understatement) with our neighbors to the north. As a substitute, it’s one more DVC gross sales middle 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 up 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 all the time the identical as what’s good for the park-going public as a complete.
Properly, that is that sentiment prolonged a step additional. This new Château de Voyage gained’t be good for anybody–besides Disney Trip Membership’s backside line. (Oh, and for anybody who thinks this may be reimagined into one thing else after the Island Tower sells out, assume once more. These mannequin rooms might 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 can proceed to develop so long as there’s creativeness cash left in Walt Disney World visitors’ pockets.)
There’s additionally simply one thing about this that feels extra determined from Disney Trip Membership’s perspective. Gross sales are robust, 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 wished to distance itself. I’m not actually mad about this, because it doesn’t actually affect me both manner. I’m simply dissatisfied. It’s a foul search for Disney Trip Membership, and it’s a long-term shedding proposition for the corporate, visitors, and membership program. This isn’t wholesome for anybody.
In the end, it will be one factor if Walt Disney World had been within the midst of actively constructing a ton of tasks, and had a number of openings this yr. That will make this simpler to miss. As a substitute, they’re nonetheless within the early levels of development 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 tasks debuting in 2025, and even fewer in 2026.
This might all the time be a tad too crassly business, nevertheless it’d at the least be extra forgivable if it didn’t additionally really feel just like the assets put in direction of the development of Château de Voyage wouldn’t be higher allotted on tasks which have moved at a glacially gradual tempo. I don’t know, maybe I’m being a curmudgeon, however I’d actually a lot fairly have this be one other one other 21+ bar that I’ll by no means step foot inside than a DVC gross sales middle. Whereas a few of the similar criticisms might be levied at lounges, at the least these profit some visitors and (don’t snicker) EPCOT truly does want extra everlasting eating and ingesting capability. (I’m not even kidding–take a look at how packed the present lounges are, and contours for the present non permanent kiosks.)
Should you’re serious 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 essential issues to know earlier than taking the plunge. Should you nonetheless can’t determine whether or not membership is best for you, “strive before you purchase” with the suggestions in How one can Save BIG on Deluxe Disney Lodging Renting DVC Factors.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you concentrate on the brand new Château de Voyage DVC Welcome Residence Middle within the Canada pavilion at EPCOT? Upset that this ~18 month mission on the Resort du Canada isn’t going to yield one other bar, Dan Flashes Flannel Outpost, or one thing truly cool and enjoyable for everybody? Or are you wanting ahead to a different DVC gross sales middle for some motive? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Should you’re an current Member, what do you assume? Share any questions, ideas, or further ideas you could have within the feedback!
