Current work at the Fort

[StormyCA]

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...

Fingers crossed you're right. The part of your post I highlighted was my exact fear. Congestion may not be a super huge 'thing' (except in the Settlement area) during most of the year, but can you imagine the h-e-double hockey sticks during the Holiday seasons when decorations are out or there are GC parades?

I sorta figure there won't be sufficient GC parking at the hotel part for extended rentals, but the villas may be a different situation.

Is the Fort the only Disney property with GC rentals? I know a couple of the others have bicycle 'surreys' for rent. To tell the truth I'd love if the Fort rented those, especially if they did multiple day rentals.

 

[Duane]

To my knowledge, the Fort is the only resort that rents carts... I know there have been "chatter" and requests at Saratoga Springs and the Tree Houses for cart rentals due to the size and layout of the resort, but thankfully, that has never happened.

 

[proudmomof4]

I went down to the Settlement this morning to check out Clementines Beach. I confirmed that it’s all closed off with a fence and they have an excavator in the area.






The Fort still has Clemintine’s Beach. There is a large mound of sand sitting on Clemintine’s Beach.

 

[proudmomof4]

Here are more photos of the construction going on behind Pioneer Hall.

 

[proudmomof4]

They put a couple of canopies over the temporary bus stop.


Construction has started on the DVC sales center near where the wagon rides depart.




No construction going on at the Meadows area at this time.

 

[Duane]

Do you think, or did you see signs saying this was going to be a DVC Sales Center? This is the area that I mentioned earlier could be them enlarging the bus pickup area...

 

[proudmomof4]

Do you think, or did you see signs saying this was going to be a DVC Sales Center? This is the area that I mentioned earlier could be them enlarging the bus pickup area...

I thought I had seen another post where someone had asked a cast member what was being built and they were told it was a DVC sales center. I can’t find the post where I had seen that.

But maybe you are right and it’s all part of the bus stop expansion.

 

[bama_ed]

Fingers crossed you're right. The part of your post I highlighted was my exact fear. Congestion may not be a super huge 'thing' (except in the Settlement area) during most of the year, but can you imagine the h-e-double hockey sticks during the Holiday seasons when decorations are out or there are GC parades?

I sorta figure there won't be sufficient GC parking at the hotel part for extended rentals, but the villas may be a different situation.

Is the Fort the only Disney property with GC rentals? I know a couple of the others have bicycle 'surreys' for rent. To tell the truth I'd love if the Fort rented those, especially if they did multiple day rentals.

Just speaking for myself, Stormy, and applying my rant to the Fort at large:

- I booked a hotel room once when DD was in the college program (2018). Nice room but after the Fort I hated the small confines on our non-park days. Needed to get out and 'stretch my legs'.

Imagine all those poor folks stuck in Disney's LL looking for a place to go; a thing to do; a place to explore - I'm taking a realistic attitude.

The pool and lazy river and workout room at DLL will hold the attention of their guests during non-park times for a short time. But then their eyes will be drawn to that big, beautiful piece of nature that is Fort Wilderness loops 100-2100. They will want to walk the dog, bike the roads, walk the sidewalks, rent a golf cart to Wilderness Lodge (maybe someday again?), go looping, and more. They'll want to see the gaggles of wild turkeys, watch a possum scurry around at dusk, see the deer grazing through the campsites at dawn.

What's amazing is watching the buzzards/vultures glide over the camping loop roads (no trees-duh) as they scan for their next meal. I sat in my campsite in 1500 and watched them (vultures) go around (and around) and glide/float past me like the young kids on their bikes peddaling around the loop (around and around and around). The Fort is a great place to be a kid.

So the DLL people will want a golf cart - they will demand one. And suddenly the golf cart parking existing will get filled up and they'll drop more trees for more gc parking (lake, tp, bus). That's the view I see for the next 20 years after DLL opens. I might continue to hide in 1500 loop. But who knows.

Bama Ed

 

[StormyCA]

The picture you paint is both beautiful and scary @bama_ed. And I think it's a correct one.

I seem to remember a thread from some years ago, when the idea of DVC was coalescing, where you and I (and a few others) dreamed of building a real Fort Wilderness complete with log walls and sentry towers. We or may not thought of arming ourselves with super soakers and water bombs and other 'deterrents'.

Maybe it's time to resurrect those dreams.

 

[proudmomof4]

Over at Geyser Point at the Lodge and this is the view of DLL.


You can see the TCD barn from here too.

 

[bama_ed]

The picture you paint is both beautiful and scary @bama_ed. And I think it's a correct one.

I seem to remember a thread from some years ago, when the idea of DVC was coalescing, where you and I (and a few others) dreamed of building a real Fort Wilderness complete with log walls and sentry towers. We or may not thought of arming ourselves with super soakers and water bombs and other 'deterrents'.

Maybe it's time to resurrect those dreams.

Dream [Off / ON]

My actual dream was to build "Camp Davy Crockett" across from the entrance to the Fort and towards the Epcot campus. It would be a luxury DVC timeshare property for those with RV's and Trailers (no tents). The RV/Trailer crowd would storm the DVC offices waving fistfuls of money BEGGING to procure points. Put it right HERE:



Build a golf cart/pedestrian/bike bridge over Vista Blvd (the road at the Fort entrance) for connectivity to all of the Fort amenities (campfire, boat to MK) and have a golf cart trail over to the pet boarding place (Best Friends Pet Motel). CDC would be all pull-through sites with whatever features are now popular in high-end rv/trailer facilities.

In the pic above, the thin red line is the extent of the new DVC CDC resort. The black line is the road entrance into CDC (across the street from the current FW entrance for traffic purposes). The blue lines are elevated bridges over Vista Blvd and Bonnet Creek to get to the Fort and the Pet Motel as mentioned. And my favorite idea (the thick red line) is to get some earth movers and build an elevated dirt/grass level platform above the surrounding ground level for golf cart parking (and benches for walkers and bikers) to see the Epcot fireworks nightly (and Spaceship Earth ball which is now beautiful at night with the colors and lights in the corners) with the music piped in.

Interest would be so high Disney would be shocked.

But they won't dedicate this much land to a single story DVC resort. But it would be cheaper to build, demand would be through the roof, and share the points/maintenance fees with the Cabins at FW DVC, the DLL down on Bay Lake, and CDC (put CDC into the same trust as the other two, in other words ) then take people's money (I would buy) all the way to the bank!

My final point (of my pipe dream) is: pop-ups like mine MUST be accepted. Granted, no tents but if you can pull it or drive it into CDC, you are welcome to buy.

Dream [OFF / On]

Bama Ed

PS - I would like a golf cart/pedestrian/bike path or bridge to provide access to the Epcot entrance but getting over/under Epcot Blvd may be asking for too much.

 

[StormyCA]

@bama_ed

That would be GORGEOUS! And yes, I'd defo be interested in that!

I would like a golf cart/pedestrian/bike path or bridge to provide access to the Epcot entrance but getting over/under Epcot Blvd may be asking for too much.

If we're going to dream, I'd assume they'd want to add some type of vehicle entrance/exit on Epcot Ctr Dr. That could be a big selling point "CDC has its own access to the Epcot toll plaza". May not be useable by golf carts, because I don't think they'd want to convert part of current parking lot, but it'd sure cut some distance off the drive from the Vista entrance/exit.

 

[bama_ed]

Does anyone here know where the name "Camp Davy Crockett" comes from? I've mentioned it here on the DIS Camping Board before.....

Ed

 

[Teamubr]

Does anyone here know where the name "Camp Davy Crockett" comes from? I've mentioned it here on the DIS Camping Board before.....

Ed

At first I thought it was the cabin "campground" at Disneyland Paris, but that's Davy Crockett Ranch.

There is a Boy Scout Camp Davy Crockett near the GSMNP.

j

 

[DL1WDW2]

I collected the original DVD Walt Disney Treasures that were sold in the metal tins.
One of them was titled Davy Crockett A limited series of select rare material from the Disney Studiosoriginally broadcast between 1954 and 1955
Experience the hit television show that became a national sensation and made coonskin caps a staple for a generation of American youngsters.
With a rifle named Old Betsy , Davy Crockett fought for justice with his own brand of homespun ingenuity.
Maybe I should Open it and watch it sometime .

Also found this of interest online :



Also of interest :
Walt Disney admired Davy Crockett and helped to make the folk hero popular again. Disneys portrayal of Crockett in the 1950s inspired the creation of Frontierland in the Disney parks.

You can find recent photos of the Camp Davy Crockett Ranch in Disneyland Paris .
I would love to visit there someday for a trip .

 

[bama_ed]

At first I thought it was the cabin "campground" at Disneyland Paris, but that's Davy Crockett Ranch.

j

Well, Jim, this is it although the name has changed slightly but often since DLP opened decades ago.



At one point in the past, The Disney Davy Crockett Ranch was known as "Camp Davy Crockett". But regardless, the Disney connection to the Davy Crockett name has spanned 4 decades now in France. DCR is like a Fort Wilderness with 'cabins only' (no trailer/rv/tent campsites) with an indoor pool. But I just absconded with the name to pair with Fort Wilderness to give that aura of the early frontier on the American edge of the western side of North America.

Such an opportunity to take my money and that of many others. Disney will ignore it. What a shame.

Ed

 

[Teamubr]

Well, Jim, this is it although the name has changed slightly but often since DLP opened decades ago.

Thanks for the history on Camp Davy Crockett. I didn't know the "campground" at DLP had been renamed. I'm planning another trip to DLP next year. Won't be staying at Davy Crocket Ranch, but people on the DLP board really like it. Going to try the remodeled Disneyland Hotel this trip. It was closed when we went in 2023, but the proximity to the parks and the "feel" of the place is incredible.

I still like Ed's long standing idea for Disney to use the land across Vista Blvd. from the Fort for a "Camp Davy Crockett" Fort expansion. Nice pull through sites, sized for bigger rigs. Not that I'm advocating for more DVC, but I would almost consider a DVC version of a campsite. I know it's a pipe dream since us campers aren't a big enough revenue stream, but we can dream.

j

 

[bama_ed]

Thanks for the history on Camp Davy Crockett. I didn't know the "campground" at DLP had been renamed. I'm planning another trip to DLP next year. Won't be staying at Davy Crocket Ranch, but people on the DLP board really like it. Going to try the remodeled Disneyland Hotel this trip. It was closed when we went in 2023, but the proximity to the parks and the "feel" of the place is incredible.

I still like Ed's long standing idea for Disney to use the land across Vista Blvd. from the Fort for a "Camp Davy Crockett" Fort expansion. Nice pull through sites, sized for bigger rigs. Not that I'm advocating for more DVC, but I would almost consider a DVC version of a campsite. I know it's a pipe dream since us campers aren't a big enough revenue stream, but we can dream.

j

Yes I first went to what was then Euro Disneyland in late May 1992 (graduation trip after finishing my MBA) and had Paris and the French Riviera planned and when EuroD opened, we added a few days over there at the American West style resort "Hotel Santa Fe". This was within 2 months of its original opening day. But Camp Davy Crockett was the original name of the Fort's Euro counterpart resort on the cabin side.



The Disneyland Hotel is swanky and sits right at the entrance to Disneyland Park as you know. More glamorous than any of the WDW resorts (of their own) IMO. You'll enjoy your stay I'm sure.

CDC is a pipe dream fer shure.

Ed

 

[bama_ed]

I want to add that @proudmomof4 's pictures of the recent construction progress (post #24) make me wince because the new resort is SO close behind Pioneer Hall (HDDR, TE, Crocketts). I hope there is some effort to properly blend the western frontier look of the Settlement area and transition it to whatever-the-heck the new resort will look like. I'm afraid the look will instantly change when you step over a crack in the sidewalk between the two.

 

[ScarletFire]

I snipped these images from a vlog I watched today.