Attack of the Lakeshore Lodge

[tidefan]

Not going to relitigate all of that here...we've discussed the issues with the cabins ad nauseum elsewhere on this board...I just hope that Reflections somehow completes the story.

"We would buy in today, except" is a common trope that people in sales are all too familiar with.

But it's also 100% true in this case...

Also, purchasing and staying are 2 different things. As far as staying at the Cabins, they may be our new favorite. Just because some Members don't care for it doesn't mean that everyone feels that way.

 

[muppets3d]

But it's also 100% true in this case...

Also, purchasing and staying are 2 different things. As far as staying at the Cabins, they may be our new favorite. Just because some Members don't care for it doesn't mean that everyone feels that way.

I'm sure DVC is happy to trade your Polynesian or Riviera or Beach Club points for the cabins, that opens up a room at those more desirable resorts that they "may" be able to take via breakage.

What remains to be seen is how robust the cash bookings are for the cabins. I am assuming the prices have been hiked quite a bit to coincide with the rebranding as a deluxe resort. People here say (perhaps a bit of self gaslighting) that DVC is happy Riviera isn't sold out because they're selling the rooms for cash. But is the same true of the cabins? Considering I can book a full week during MLK right now, seems doubtful. The only room available at Riviera during the same nights is a preferred studio.

 

[Mouseforward]

$29000 buy-in for enough points to stay a week in the summer, plus annual dues of $1800 for that many points....

That’s about $325 a night - still a good deal for disney family of 5

 

[muppets3d]

That’s about $325 a night - still a good deal for disney family of 5

The resort should sell out any day now then, right?

 

[Kailunkat]

I have to assume that the Island Tower, the cabins, and Reflections were all planned out years ago. Companies don't last 100 years (and WDW would have been converted into an Amazon fulfillment center years ago) if Disney were doing things with less planning. The pandemic obviously shook the etch-a-sketch a bit, but it's all coming back out on the other end. It's interesting the order of operations they chose in the fallout however. Why was the Island Tower the first move, followed by the cabins, and finally Reflections? That seems the exact inverse of the plan prior to COVID, considering Reflections was announced but to my recollection nothing was known of the other projects until after WDW reopened, and Reflections appeared to be mothballed.

The cabin reception has been lukewarm, to put it charitably - had it been announced as a package deal with Reflections at the outset, maybe the reception would have been a bit better. I'm still not sure how they can marry Reflections with the cabins and make it feel like a cohesive resort, if that is even their plan at all.

I imagine the decision to lead with PIT after the COVID recovery had to do with staffing and infrastructure. Starting with a site that already has restaurants, resort staffing (desk, cleaning, maintenance), transportation, and has a known reputation with both cash and DVC families makes a LOT more sense when you need a quick turnaround than a brand new site where you have to staff and work out those logistics.

 

[muppets3d]

But it's also 100% true in this case...

Also, purchasing and staying are 2 different things. As far as staying at the Cabins, they may be our new favorite. Just because some Members don't care for it doesn't mean that everyone feels that way.

Dues will never go down, and resale restrictions are never going away. So unless you're saying that you'll never buy direct points at a new DVC resort again, what is the real reason you're not buying the cabins?

 

[tidefan]

Dues will never go down, and resale restrictions are never going away. So unless you're saying that you'll never buy direct points at a new DVC resort again, what is the real reason you're not buying the cabins?

Dues and Restrictions.

We already have 700 direct points, so really don’t need more, but we will probably end up staying at the Cabins more often than not. It is extremely convenient if you drive to WDW to have your car right outside the unit.

Best play may be to wait until there’s some resale CFW if it can be had for a song…

 

[han22735]

from the reflections thread on WDWMAGIC...If you didnt see they applied for an FFA permit for a tall crane on site.


This FAA case finished its processing, and more details were added. They also filed cases for five additional cranes.

“Construction of mobile cranes to construct a 10-story hotel. The mobile cranes can reach a max height of 240 ft. AGL when raised to its highest point. When idle, during non-working hours, the crane will be at a max height of 150 ft. AGL.”

 

[BrianLo]

Ten stories (if true) represents a revision from the 6-7 visible stories In the reflections concept art.

 

[Mouseforward]

Hate to say it, but I have had a few nightcaps, We don't need a 10-story tower in the MK area just now. Tear down the Boardwalk convention center behind the inn and put in a 6-story DVC tower. Start a BW2 as soon as RIV is sold out and it will sell.

 

[intamin]

Hate to say it, but I have had a few nightcaps, We don't need a 10-story tower in the MK area just now. Tear down the Boardwalk convention center behind the inn and put in a 6-story DVC tower. Start a BW2 as soon as RIV is sold out and it will sell.

I only have so much money to give to Disney . I would sell my AKV and buy this BW tower if they ever made it

 

[maui22]

wdwnt has a story on the permit
https://wdwnt.com/2024/09/disney-construction-10-story-hotel-reflections/

 

[DisnEElove]

Hate to say it, but I have had a few nightcaps, We don't need a 10-story tower in the MK area just now. Tear down the Boardwalk convention center behind the inn and put in a 6-story DVC tower. Start a BW2 as soon as RIV is sold out and it will sell.

I think people are complaining about sprawling resorts that require a 25-20 hike just to reach the lobby. I don't want to lose the lovely sight line we get from wilderness lodge, but it is what it is...would be okay if the new resort is highly themed. I want to be transported when I arrive there.

 

[peder]

Hate to say it, but I have had a few nightcaps, We don't need a 10-story tower in the MK area just now. Tear down the Boardwalk convention center behind the inn and put in a 6-story DVC tower. Start a BW2 as soon as RIV is sold out and it will sell.

Or this just means that the future of DVC is 10+ story towers and the finance side of the equation just doesn't make sense with shorter buildings. And some day even Boardwalk would become towers, too, once the buildings are past their useful life.

 

[smileyanna]

would be okay if the new resort is highly themed.

Highly themed to what though? How much work can rooflines and shutters do to theme to sprawling wilderness?

The WL is a play on grand lodges in remote places. I’m not sure how far that idea can be stretched in a tower.

 

[Mikey15]

Highly themed to what though? How much work can rooflines and shutters do to theme to sprawling wilderness?

The WL is a play on grand lodges in remote places. I’m not sure how far that idea can be stretched in a tower.

I mean, it can be done, depending on what the inspiration is,

A “fishing lodge” type theme I think could work well. Throw in Goofy and Max! But most of all I think it should be a “River Country Lodge” and include a lazy river. Really lean into it.

 

[Mouseforward]

I mean, it can be done, depending on what the inspiration is,

A “fishing lodge” type theme I think could work well. Throw in Goofy and Max! But most of all I think it should be a “River Country Lodge” and include a lazy river. Really lean into it.

I want an Adventures Club lodge

 

[ocdb8r1]

Dues and Restrictions.

We already have 700 direct points, so really don’t need more, but we will probably end up staying at the Cabins more often than not. It is extremely convenient if you drive to WDW to have your car right outside the unit.

Best play may be to wait until there’s some resale CFW if it can be had for a song…

This is pretty much us....we already have more points than we "need" and we'd never buy this resort direct. Now, if Reflections enacts it's revenge AND it brings annual dues down to more reasonable levels, we might be able to be talked into it. However, given the timeline we'd probably still pick up a resale (as reflections is surely at least 24-36 months off).

 

[ocdb8r1]

I mean, it can be done, depending on what the inspiration is,

A “fishing lodge” type theme I think could work well. Throw in Goofy and Max! But most of all I think it should be a “River Country Lodge” and include a lazy river. Really lean into it.

I would have no problem with something like this lakeside resort....but I can already see the 75 pages of posts panning it as "generic and boring".

 

[DisnEElove]

I mean, it can be done, depending on what the inspiration is,

A “fishing lodge” type theme I think could work well. Throw in Goofy and Max! But most of all I think it should be a “River Country Lodge” and include a lazy river. Really lean into it.

Yes, or a lodge rhat could take inspiration from the A-frane cabins. That would be nice.

We could even dream big and go for a castle theme in wilderness setting, and have it meant for Merida, Mor'Du, her mom, and her 3 brothers. Or her whole family. At this point, we have the French Riviera right next to the Caribbean, so this isn't a huge stretch from that.