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

[PSULion]

I realize there are no guarantees.... But I have friends planning their first (and potentially only) Disney trip in October. They were thinking about staying at WL, as they've heard us talk about how much we love it there. But I'm not sure if I should recommend it with all the construction. Any general ideas of how the resort will be by October?

 

[Grand Admiral]

At this point, it's anyone's guess. We made DVC rental reservations for WL with the standard view, which will face away from the construction areas.

My prediction is a lot of the heavy "big truck" construction will take place over the summer and by October a lot of the structures will be up.

I think if you advise your friends to choose a room that faces away from construction, or toward the courtyard, they'll be fine.

 

[Granny]

I realize there are no guarantees.... But I have friends planning their first (and potentially only) Disney trip in October. They were thinking about staying at WL, as they've heard us talk about how much we love it there. But I'm not sure if I should recommend it with all the construction. Any general ideas of how the resort will be by October?

If construction is a concern, I would scratch WL off the list until at least 2018. It may be available before then but their permits and communications indicate that they will be working well into 2017.

 

[PSULion]

If construction is a concern, I would scratch WL off the list until at least 2018. It may be available before then but their permits and communications indicate that they will be working well into 2017.

Thanks! This was my feeling... Just wanted to double check before I told them to look elsewhere.

 

[Grand Admiral]

Thanks! This was my feeling... Just wanted to double check before I told them to look elsewhere.

You may want to look at this post. There are photos and they said the resort felt uncrowded.

 

[sleepydog25]

You may want to look at this post. There are photos and they said the resort felt uncrowded.

Agree. Yes, there is construction, and while I may not particularly like the notion of the serenity of the Lodge being disturbed long-term, I will say that when we were there a few weeks ago, the disruption was minimal. As I've often said, if any sort of construction isn't one's cup of tea, then by all means avoid WL/VWL for the next year and a half or more. However, if you don't mind a bit of fencing, plan to be gone most of the day, and want to enjoy the lobby, music, and food at the Lodge, I'd say give it a shot.

 

[ransom]

We just got back from a two-week stay at VWL (on the Bay Lake/Construction side, at the end of the hall) and the construction didn't affect us much. The biggest negative effects for us were not being able to go the back way to/from Roaring Fork and the boat docks. The biggest positive effect was that the place is wonderfully uncrowded. Lines were great at Roaring Fork. Heck, most of the time there were no lines! Finding a table was a breeze. All the other facilities and amenities were similar. That part was great!

 

[Alli76]

I think I am reading right that half of the main lodge will now be DVC rooms? Just wondering because that seems to take a lot of the options out for us non DVC people. WL is on my to do list hopefully getting a room and hopefully at a discount will still be doable

 

[veromikes]

I think I am reading right that half of the main lodge will now be DVC rooms? Just wondering because that seems to take a lot of the options out for us non DVC people. WL is on my to do list hopefully getting a room and hopefully at a discount will still be doable

I'll be there Monday and Tuesday and plan on posting pics and vids.Im staying club level and am curious to see the new lounge.So stoked

 

[Granny]

You may want to look at this post. There are photos and they said the resort felt uncrowded.

Agree. Yes, there is construction, and while I may not particularly like the notion of the serenity of the Lodge being disturbed long-term, I will say that when we were there a few weeks ago, the disruption was minimal. As I've often said, if any sort of construction isn't one's cup of tea, then by all means avoid WL/VWL for the next year and a half or more. However, if you don't mind a bit of fencing, plan to be gone most of the day, and want to enjoy the lobby, music, and food at the Lodge, I'd say give it a shot.

Sleepy...I agree with you for DVC members in general. The reason I was a little more direct in my suggestion to scratch it off the list is because the person asking the question said that this was literally a once in a lifetime trip for the friend. Because of that, I think they should see Disney at its best and right now VWL is not at its best.

I think I am reading right that half of the main lodge will now be DVC rooms? Just wondering because that seems to take a lot of the options out for us non DVC people. WL is on my to do list hopefully getting a room and hopefully at a discount will still be doable

The extent of the main lodge conversion to DVC is not fully known at this point. It appears that it could be anywhere from a relatively small portion to close to that 50% number if they convert the entire South wing. We assume that the reason they are converting the main Lodge rooms is because of occupancy issues. With that entire wing now closed off, it may be challenging to get future WL reservations with the big discounts we've seen in the past. That would be simply due to a reduction in supply while demand for WL seems to be pretty steady.

 

[Grand Admiral]

The reason I was a little more direct in my suggestion to scratch it off the list is because the person asking the question said that this was literally a once in a lifetime trip for the friend. Because of that, I think they should see Disney at its best and right now VWL is not at its best.

I was just providing more info with photos. We decided the construction won't bother us because it's mostly out of sight, but you make a good point that a once in a lifetime trip might want to stay at a resort that is in tip-top shape.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

A couple photos from this Tuesday:

Scaffolding for the roofing project at the villas. They are currently working around the atrium area roof.

Out the back of the villas:

A peek of the new building on the beach:

And inside closed off south secton:

 

[Mrdski]

Humphrey's Lodge Facebook Page has more pictures of the new building from today. Any guesses as to what it is?

 

[pmaurer74]

Humphrey's Lodge Facebook Page has more pictures of the new building from today. Any guesses as to what it is?

likely the new restaurant.

 

[ransom]

likely the new restaurant.

That's what I'm hoping. I don't know what the new restaurant's supposed to offer. It would be great if it offers all the services of Roaring Fork, though. RF is just too small to serve the entire resort. Plus it'd be really nice to have a place that's a bit closer where I can pick up breakfast to bring back to the room in the morning, and where we can refill our mugs. Fingers crossed!

 

[pmaurer74]

That's what I'm hoping. I don't know what the new restaurant's supposed to offer. It would be great if it offers all the services of Roaring Fork, though. RF is just too small to serve the entire resort. Plus it'd be really nice to have a place that's a bit closer where I can pick up breakfast to bring back to the room in the morning, and where we can refill our mugs. Fingers crossed!

I was assuming it would be a sit down but another CS would be great. Having a Toy Story character breakfast would be cool too. Wishful thinking.

 

[Wood Nymph]

That's what I'm hoping. I don't know what the new restaurant's supposed to offer. It would be great if it offers all the services of Roaring Fork, though. RF is just too small to serve the entire resort. Plus it'd be really nice to have a place that's a bit closer where I can pick up breakfast to bring back to the room in the morning, and where we can refill our mugs. Fingers crossed!

I have absolutely no information on this, but it would be nice if the new restaurant building was for Artist Point and the old Artist Point location became the new Roaring Forks. There isn't any room to expand RF, and moving into the old AP space would be great.

 

[ransom]

I wonder if size can tell us anything. Distance can make size deceiving, but looking at it from our room, from behind Trout Pass, and from the boat coming from Fort Wilderness, the building looked larger than the old Teton Boat Rental building that's right next to it. Not like Grand Ballroom huge or anything.

Then there's the construction materials so far. There seemed to be a *lot* of pipes coming up from the foundation. And then there's that cinder-block wall in the middle. Maybe it's a pool shower/changing building like at the water parks!

 

[Flossbolna]

I know someone who knows someone and the info they got was that it would be a counter service restaurant. So far, everything I heard through this person has been very much spot on. However, a grain of salt can never hurt...

 

[oceanmarina]

If construction is a concern, I would scratch WL off the list until at least 2018. It may be available before then but their permits and communications indicate that they will be working well into 2017.

I agree, we loved WL so much we stayed there our past two trips. But after staying at Beach Club a few years ago (and this was only minor construction as compared to what they are doing at WL), all I can say is NEVER AGAIN will I stay at any Disney property when construction is going on; it was that inconvenient and def. put a damper on our stay.