Current work at the Fort

[Paulaparm]

This is standing on the boat dock this morning waiting to go to MK. As you can see, they’ve blocked off much of the beach on the right side and are moving those piles of sand to the left side of the marina and smoothing it out. To make more beach?


This is the view from the boat coming back a short time ago.

 

[Teamubr]

Interesting on the sand/rock piles on the beach. I wonder if that is putting the beach back or adding a better building surface to start the cabins.

j

 

[proudmomof4]

The Settlement bus stop is closed and has a temporary location in the parking lot across from the TCD barn. If you look between the cars in the 2nd photo, there is a green plastic fence, that is the temporary bus stop. The buses are going different routes now, it’s very confusing.

 

[proudmomof4]

There is a structure going up right behind Pioneer Hall, and it’s really close to the back of the building.

 

[proudmomof4]

Is this sign new?


That’s all I’ve got for now, heading to Blizzard Beach soon to take advantage of the free water park ticket on arrival day.

 

[bama_ed]

Is this sign new?

The diamond logo is old but where is this sign located, mom?

 

[proudmomof4]

The diamond logo is old but where is this sign located, mom?

Down at the Settlement where they put the Christmas tree during the holiday season.

 

[Duane]

The Settlement bus stop is closed and has a temporary location in the parking lot across from the TCD barn. If you look between the cars in the 2nd photo, there is a green plastic fence, that is the temporary bus stop. The buses are going different routes now, it’s very confusing.View attachment 936535View attachment 936536

I saw this while we were there a few weeks ago... My suspicion is that they are enlarging the bus turn around for the Settlement area. My feeling is this area will be the "new and improved" bus depot for the new resort and the campground.... Let me be crystal clear... this is only a suspicion. I have nothing to back this up.

 

[Teamubr]

I saw this while we were there a few weeks ago... My suspicion is that they are enlarging the bus turn around for the Settlement area. My feeling is this area will be the "new and improved" bus depot for the new resort and the campground.... Let me be crystal clear... this is only a suspicion. I have nothing to back this up.

This is interesting and a bit perplexing. I have been collecting various permits, site plans, leaked designs and anything else I could find on R**********.

The original plans I have from 2011 show a redesigned bus stop. Both images below are of the 2011 permits and site plans. The new bus stop is at the bottom right on the left image (site plan). Interestingly, the permit filing has an image of the resort, but from the lakeside perspective. I flipped the image so you can see how it matches the site plan.




This image is more recent since actual construction was started, paused and restarted. With the exception of the blue villas along the lake, this seems to be closer to what is currently under construction. The Settlement bus depot is in panel C-109, immediately to the right of the 9 and appears to be unchanged. The green building is the current Fort buildings for Pioneer Hall, TE and CT.



The parking lot added last year across from the new stables matches the one on the more recent plans. (Notice the ponds in C-111 match the current ponds near the stables that were built before ground construction was paused during Covid.



j

 

[StormyCA]

@Teamubr Thank you so much for the drawing & photo. I could never get a picture in my head of where everything would go.

Holy crow!! I didn't realize how much of TDCVTMNBN is going to impinge on the settlement area! For some reason I thought it was further west (at least it looks west to me) and there would be some minimal kind of 'open space' between 'us' and 'them'. The whole of Clementine's Beach will be DVC cabins/villas/whatever they call them.

We've always loved Loop 100, but considering how many more people may be in that general area, I'm not so sure now. We may want to bump down to 300 and deal with the 'long walk' to the dock. I hope they put lots of 'amenities' in 'that place' to draw more people away.

I have a feeling that even if they do build a separate dock, 'our' dock will be a shorter walk for a lot of the DVCers.

 

[Duane]

If you think about it, it just makes sense that this is where the bus depot would ultimately reside... Its very close to the resort buildings, the campground, and the road infrastructure is already there... This would be an easy solution for Disney to utilize...

 

[Teamubr]

@TeamubrI have a feeling that even if they do build a separate dock, 'our' dock will be a shorter walk for a lot of the DVCers.

Stormy,

R********** has always had its on dock on plans. If you look at the image I posted in box C-104, there is a little "T" shaped structure. That is the additional dock.



j

 

[bama_ed]

What concerns me is the shear VOLUME or NUMBERS that will change/shift.

The Fort has 843 campsites in loops 100-2100.

It has 363 cabins that were like "campsites" but they are DVC now.

The ugly Godzilla down behind Pioneer Hall is/was about 900 rooms with a mix of DVC/hotel.

At what point does the vibe tip over from the resort-area being MOSTLY a camper/rv/tent (Cool Kids) driven resort to a majority DVC cabin/time share (Newbies) resort? At some point, the new "majority" will drive decision making simply by shear volume alone.

Ed

PS-it saddens me to read on the DIS DVC boards folks that say a "golf cart is a MUST".

 

[Teamubr]

What concerns me is the shear VOLUME or NUMBERS that will change/shift.

At what point does the vibe tip over from the resort-area being MOSTLY a camper/rv/tent (Cool Kids) driven resort to a majority DVC cabin/time share (Newbies) resort?

I know that is a somewhat rhetorical question, but I think Godzilla has his foot on the scales and every building that comes online is another toe tipping it towards the DVC/hotel side.

I still take comfort in the shear size of the Fort creating a separation. At least in the loops I prefer. But the Settlement will likely be changed forever.

j

 

[StormyCA]

PS-it saddens me to read on the DIS DVC boards folks that say a "golf cart is a MUST".

As it stands, aren't GC rentals for registered FtW guests only? Do we think that will change or that the TDVCTMNBN will have its own rentals? They're going to have to beef up the available stock if they plan to use 'our' rentals.

 

[StormyCA]

Stormy,

R********** has always had its on dock on plans. If you look at the image I posted in box C-104, there is a little "T" shaped structure. That is the additional dock.

View attachment 937446

j

Oh, I know they'll have their own. I just think that the walk to OUR dock will be shorter for quite a few DVCers (the Clementine 'villas' and possibly rooms in the 'east wing', depending on where the doors are).

 

[Duane]

PS-it saddens me to read on the DIS DVC boards folks that say a "golf cart is a MUST".

As it stands, aren't GC rentals for registered FtW guests only? Do we think that will change or that the TDVCTMNBN will have its own rentals? They're going to have to beef up the available stock if they plan to use 'our' rentals.

I really don't think Lakeside Lodge will offer golf cart rentals for folks staying at the Lodge, whether staying on the hotel or DVC side. While many (me as well) think the DVC cabins will fall under the Lodge umbrella at some point, I think the DVC cabin folks will still continue to check in at the Outpost like it is currently, and thus rent/pick up a GC if desired. The Lodge folks really have no need for a cart as all their amenities will be compartmentalized in the vicinity of the resort or Settlement area, plus they will have access to the internal bus system if needed.

I can't imagine what kind of mess it would be to have 500 GC's traipsing around the property...

 

[ScarletFire]

Clementine Beach will be DVC Villas?? I don't like that. We just got the view without the scrim at Crockets. Maybe that won't happen.

 

[bama_ed]

Clementine Beach will be DVC Villas?? I don't like that. We just got the view without the scrim at Crockets. Maybe that won't happen.

Villas (beach houses) were in the original R*********s design plans. Since we have heard nothing about any changes (other than wallpaper, throw pillow colors, and IP) for the new design, I assume the villas will be there. And there were some on the opposite end that had more of a straight look at Wilderness Lodge.

Yeah it will kill the view from the Pioneer Hall/Settlement area.

Because they SO don't care.

Bama Ed

 

[proudmomof4]

Clementine Beach will be DVC Villas?? I don't like that. We just got the view without the scrim at Crockets. Maybe that won't happen.

That whole area is now fenced in again.