BOULDER RIDGE VILLAS & COPPER CREEK VILLAS & CABINS: Wilderness Lodge DVC Expansion Thread

[Mrdski]

Humphrey's Wilderness Lodge site on FB posted construction on main building facing the villas last week.....jack-hammering....possible for models of the cabins?

 

[MoominMamma]

Deleted - I posted a link to a banned site - thank you for informing me!

 

[pangyal]

We are booked in VWL for the week before Christmas, and my little guy really wanted to do the movies on the beach. Am I understanding correctly that they are going to raze the beach as part of this project and it will be replaced by the cabins? The quietness of the beach and the little playground are some of our favourite things about WL. I'm so sad about this. And do you all think that the nature trail will be unusable as well?

 

[Wood Nymph]

We are booked in VWL for the week before Christmas, and my little guy really wanted to do the movies on the beach. Am I understanding correctly that they are going to raze the beach as part of this project and it will be replaced by the cabins? The quietness of the beach and the little playground are some of our favourite things about WL. I'm so sad about this. And do you all think that the nature trail will be unusable as well?

From the look of the plans that are posted in the first post, it looks like the cabins will be on the other side of the Teton rental building, so they would not remove the beach. But, there are plans to put a restaurant near the beach, which may affect the beach during construction. But I would think that they would still keep the beach there, otherwise it would ruin all the views.

During the pool construction they still had the beach open, they just had the playground closed. And the movies had moved to the Carolina Pacific Room in the villas.
But since construction hasn't even started yet, it is hard to know exactly what things will be like in December.

 

[mystery222184]

I didn't get to read much so I apologize in advance if this is addressed-

Is there a prelim timeline of construction for 2016? Looking to come back the week after Thanksgivng for a split stay with the GF next year. We were able to handle the Poly mess last year. Hoping the main pool and building are generally uneffected then.
Thanks!!

 

[WDWKOOK]

Humphrey's Wilderness Lodge site on FB posted construction on main building facing the villas last week.....jack-hammering....possible for models of the cabins?

These rooms have been discussed within this thread and there are photos of them, too. There are several rooms on the ground floor of WL that face the VWL pool area that were gutted and have been worked on for months. These could be DVC conversion model rooms or perhaps the rumored new DVC CL lounge or one CM said they were new HA rooms, but that doesn't seem likely.

Number 14:

http://www.****************.com/new...re-coming-walt-disney-world-june-2015-edition

You seem to be a new poster so you may not know that when a link appears with *asterisks*, it means the site is banned from the DISboards and you are not supposed to post about the site or post links to the site. Please don't blame the messenger...

I didn't get to read much so I apologize in advance if this is addressed-

Is there a prelim timeline of construction for 2016? Looking to come back the week after Thanksgivng for a split stay with the GF next year. We were able to handle the Poly mess last year. Hoping the main pool and building are generally uneffected then.
Thanks!!

No, there isn't a timeline. Disney hasn't announced any of this yet nor have they replied yet to the SFWMD request for more information (request appears on prior page). They have up to 90 days to reply which would be September. After they reply, and the SFWMD accepts the response, then the application should be approved.

 

[tiger4me2]

I changed my ressie to the WL this Sept. Doing two days still at WL and two days at the CR. the CM did admit he heard rumors but nothing more. But at least that more than some are saying. When I contact the IPO since I am staying Club Level. Both times that I have asked is no constructions. I can copy it if no one believes me but that what I was told. I did call and told no constructions but if you don't trust us change resorts ( she was really rude as she said she didn't do the lodge. But the email was from her.lol ).

The CM did tell me I am safe for when I will be there as well as in December. I guess it is a waiting game.

Still staying there for now at least for Sept stay. Might have to change Nov and Dec trip due to husband' s health.

 

[edk35]

As a DVC owner I'm excited about the new changes. But sad for the next two years there will be construction. If it looks anything like the Poly demolition then I need to use my VWL points elsewhere. Happy but also sad......

YIKES.... didn't think about that. UGH same here.

 

[kmorlock]

I did my daily call today checking on other availability for our dates. Same as previous calls, CM says not to believe what was online, in the newspaper or rumors. She assured me that they would know before anyone else (hard not to burst out laughing at that one)! To me, this waiting game, and flat denial of construction greatly diminishes their credibility. They should be allowed to say something like, while there has been tremendous interest in improving our resort, no definitive approval has been made and therefore, no exacting time period has been announced. Please contact us any time for further updates. We will be happy to provide information as it becomes available to us.

Perhaps I am too impatient? I have been told that my attention span is like maybe a 5 year old....

 

[Dean Marino]

I did my daily call today checking on other availability for our dates. Same as previous calls, CM says not to believe what was online, in the newspaper or rumors. She assured me that they would know before anyone else (hard not to burst out laughing at that one)! To me, this waiting game, and flat denial of construction greatly diminishes their credibility. They should be allowed to say something like, while there has been tremendous interest in improving our resort, no definitive approval has been made and therefore, no exacting time period has been announced. Please contact us any time for further updates. We will be happy to provide information as it becomes available to us.

I hear you.... but these poor folks are employee's, just like everyone else. They will tow the company line - and, as of now, there is no official announcement.

BMV? edk35? Please - worry less . The GOOD thing about the WL is that it, unlike the Poly, has existing access roads from the North and South that lead construction crews BACK to the proposed construction areas, and to the areas where the roads require expansion. This whole thing will happen as cheaply as possible.... and from the plans? I'm GUESSING that the majority of the work will go thru the (existing) Northern CM Parking lot, and (proposed) Southern Parking lot. The Poly had just the front entrance - so that's how the crews got the heavy equipment in. Yup, looked like someone firebombed it . But the WL is very DIFFERENT than the Poly, in terms of access.... unless someone just wants to waste time & money. I don't think you'll see much coming in, or going out, on Timberline Drive . Except the XMAS tree .

Oh - we're already booked Nov 2015, and April 2016 .

 

[mrs moon]

I called Disney today and was put through directly to WL ,i was told yes" there was construction over the next 3 yrs .They said by Oct this yr the resort construction would be finished and the DVC villas would start.I was told to change hotels if i did not want construction!.., although they thought the construction would have minimal impact to me...

 

[Dean Marino]

I called Disney today and was put through directly to WL ,i was told yes" there was construction over the next 3 yrs .They said by Oct this yr the resort construction would be finished and the DVC villas would start.I was told to change hotels if i did not want construction!.., although they thought the construction would have minimal impact to me...

OK - that sounds about right..... the PERMITS start in Sept, but any company of any size is going to take a bit of time to actually get started.....

.... and here is where I'm going to offer something. When this project gets going - no one is just going to drop a BOMB on the WL.... like any project? It will proceed in defined stages.

Our challenge: determine what those phases ARE, and what gets hit at any particular stage. NO ONE is going to choke this up.... it will require digging. At each stage, different parts of the Lodge will be impacted. Over a three + year interval.

I've put in my bet for stage 1 (and it's just a bet) - construction of the proposed south parking lot, with access improvements to the existing North parking lot. I'm GUESSING these will become the staging areas for worker entry/exit, and heavy equipment movement.

 

[FTM22]

I will repeat what I said before about last year's pool construction situation. The DIS knew about it before anyone said anything at WDW. I found out late in the game but did get resolution when the pool was going to be a mess. I have a TA who got NO notification but was immediately on the phone with WDW taking care of business. In fact, we had a three way call between WDW, TA, and me making decisions and stating what were facts from the DIS. Pretty much everyone here last year had guessed the pool would be a BIG project with MAJOR impact to the resort - and they were right, even though some people stayed and were fine with it.

I too am booked at WL in Oct and at this point am staying put. Last year, I bailed as soon as I knew what was going on. SO far, I am not feeling the need for that with this project. If I do feel that need, I'll be making things happen quickly. Don't worry - be happy - for right now anyway.

 

[kmorlock]

I hear you.... but these poor folks are employee's, just like everyone else. They will tow the company line - and, as of now, there is no official announcement.

BMV? edk35? Please - worry less . The GOOD thing about the WL is that it, unlike the Poly, has existing access roads from the North and South that lead construction crews BACK to the proposed construction areas, and to the areas where the roads require expansion. This whole thing will happen as cheaply as possible.... and from the plans? I'm GUESSING that the majority of the work will go thru the (existing) Northern CM Parking lot, and (proposed) Southern Parking lot. The Poly had just the front entrance - so that's how the crews got the heavy equipment in. Yup, looked like someone firebombed it . But the WL is very DIFFERENT than the Poly, in terms of access.... unless someone just wants to waste time & money. I don't think you'll see much coming in, or going out, on Timberline Drive . Except the XMAS tree .

Oh - we're already booked Nov 2015, and April 2016 .

I completely agree and expect the CM's to do what management tells them to. It is the decision makers who need to change their approach to events like construction and realize the bigger picture. When CM's are the last to know, or last to be allowed to confirm events like this, lots of misinformation is given. When the inevitable facts come out, that info is discredited and makes everyone from the top down look less credible.

We go to Disney once per year for about 8-10 days during the Christmas season. It is our only vacation each year and I prefer to have it be as perfect as possible. There are some things we cannot control, like weather. Not staying in a construction zone, we should be able to control. This is not our first go 'round with events like this at Disney, and in the past they have been very kind, fair and equitable. It just didn't seem to take so long to hear from them in the past.

 

[oceanmarina]

So the construction is starting in early September? We are scheduled to be there from August 20 - 26, hope it wont start early.

 

[tiger4me2]

So the construction is starting in early September? We are scheduled to be there from August 20 - 26, hope it wont start early.

You should be fine, I have heard starting sometime in Sept. I have a club level room & was told no construction at this time. Now I have told maybe some starting but I would be okay if they so anything Also read on another board late Sept or if then. But take it with a grain of salt. I feel in my "heart" I will be okay even if they start it won't be heavy noise so they say. You should be fine.

 

[hstrickland]

Wow. Not really sure what to say about all of the future construction. The jury is still out for me on the Poly Bungalows ...can't decide if I like all the Poly change or not. Makes me a little concerned for the WL....time will tell.

Great information for sure!!

 

[oceanmarina]

Yep, this board is the best for Disney info

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I have plans to make a January 2017 (first week) reservation at the lodge. I have no idea what phase all the construction will be at but I'm just going to roll with it.

 

[kmorlock]

Just watched a video posted online from a family who stayed June 16th 2015 Courtyard South wing facing main pool. Upon entering the room you could hear drilling/jack hammering. The family called maintenance thinking it was the refrigerator or AC unit. They were told by Maintenance about the construction. The sound was distinct in the video and loud. If you spend any daytime hours around that, I would not expect to relax much.