Current work at the Fort

[Kidatheart2010]

What is this going to be? We were there a few weeks ago for a short visit to the Fort. It’s by what used to be the bus stop before it was moved. It’s behind Scrim fencing.

 

[amcc]

There were plans floating around for a structure at the Meadows about a year ago. While I didn't see any indication of that building, I did notice that they had staked a much wider path along the current cart path behind the pool to the campfire as well as marked what I think is the mean high water line along the canal. My completely untethered to anything guess is that they will create a much wider path back there with additional parking for an anticipated increase in people coming to that mystery building in golf carts. Either the shuffleboard and archery will have to go or the green space along the canal behind the movie theater (or the movie theater!??!!!) will have to go.

After seeing the incredibly intrusive development behind Trails End and its extent along the lake, I have no faith in Disney to respect the feel of the Fort. Anything they rework, even a small detail like that road, will lose its charm and be replaced with a sanitized, corporate, generic version. Gosh, I feel so pessimistic, but seeing this past weekend what's going up makes me feel that whoever the architect / planner is for this project did not spend one minute at the Fort.

 

[Teamubr]

The Meadows permit (and lack of any work) is perplexing. I really thought they would start that as the cabin replacement wrapped up, but all the cabins have been replaced and nothing. I wonder if they are waiting to have enough actual cabin DVC sales to start. I keep hearing the cabin DVC sales are still going very slow.

While there may be some "improvements" to the cart paths and additional parking, I would be shocked if the campfire moved or went away.

j

 

[team bradfield]

The Meadows permit (and lack of any work) is perplexing. I really thought they would start that as the cabin replacement wrapped up, but all the cabins have been replaced and nothing. I wonder if they are waiting to have enough actual cabin DVC sales to start. I keep hearing the cabin DVC sales are still going very slow.

While there may be some "improvements" to the cart paths and additional parking, I would be shocked if the campfire moved or went away.

j

There were survey stakes all over meadows area in April

 

[littlejoe]

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

Your correct we returned 4/25 there will be no more water view from the Pioneer Hall anymore. The scrim is up and won’t come down till cabins are done. The only question is will the view be cabins or trees and shrubs planted

 

[bama_ed]

Your correct we returned 4/25 there will be no more water view from the Pioneer Hall anymore. The scrim is up and won’t come down till cabins are done. The only question is will the view be cabins or trees and shrubs planted

Ya know, @littlejoe, I don't like the proximity of the new DVC resort to Pioneer Hall but I could have lived with it. Because everything behind Pioneer Hall (in my head) was where River Country started. And the new DVC resort was not coming to "Fort Wilderness", it was coming to "River Country" (two separate entities in my head). RC was before my time and I guess it technically WAS part of FW but the DVC was going to be "back there somewhere". RC was left as a decaying mess for SO MANY decades that to me it was no longer part of the Fort but part of the forest between Wilderness Lodge and the Fort.

But when they take over the green space, playground, trees, and Clementine's Beach between the side porch of Trails End and Bay Lake, they've taken part of the Fort away from us campers. I was prepared to let them have River Country. It was a shambles for decades. But DVC is taking part of the Fort because ..... because they can.

There's this joke going around in college football now. Here it is:

"The answer is 'MONEY' ".

< pregnant pause - everyone looks at each other in confusion - then they ask >

"Now what was the question?"

(the joke is that ANY question you ask like - why did they do that - the answer ALWAYS is 'MONEY'). So it doesn't even matter any more what the question is or why you ask it. Because we already know what the answer is going to be. It's ALWAYS the same answer - and sadly it's the correct one. Money IS why these things are being done.

I could opine more but I'll stop now.

Ed

 

[littlejoe]

Ya know, @littlejoe, I don't like the proximity of the new DVC resort to Pioneer Hall but I could have lived with it. Because everything behind Pioneer Hall (in my head) was where River Country started. And the new DVC resort was not coming to "Fort Wilderness", it was coming to "River Country" (two separate entities in my head). RC was before my time and I guess it technically WAS part of FW but the DVC was going to be "back there somewhere". RC was left as a decaying mess for SO MANY decades that to me it was no longer part of the Fort but part of the forest between Wilderness Lodge and the Fort.

But when they take over the green space, playground, trees, and Clementine's Beach between the side porch of Trails End and Bay Lake, they've taken part of the Fort away from us campers. I was prepared to let them have River Country. It was a shambles for decades. But DVC is taking part of the Fort because ..... because they can.

There's this joke going around in college football now. Here it is:

"The answer is 'MONEY' ".

< pregnant pause - everyone looks at each other in confusion - then they ask >

"Now what was the question?"

(the joke is that ANY question you ask like - why did they do that - the answer ALWAYS is 'MONEY'). So it doesn't even matter any more what the question is or why you ask it. Because we already know what the answer is going to be. It's ALWAYS the same answer - and sadly it's the correct one. Money IS why these things are being done.

I could opine more but I'll stop now.

Ed

Agreed money is the culprit. I go back thirty years. I never got to see the Campground Train which I woulda loved. I did see the transformation of the old trailers to cabins which I thought was great.

However since then I have seen River country which was closed because it was no longer cost efficient with the eventual building of two sole water parks. It was let to rot away to the dismay of all campers. Was replaced with MBYBQ which had as big a following as Hoop Dee Doo. It then was closed and left abandoned for years, now we know why. More money in hotel rooms than dinners.

Now look what’s happening: first the barn was torn down and replaced with the present contemporary one. The Trails end was remodeled with a slightly more modern impersonal flare. Now the cabins have been replaced with what I consider an architectures dream, but not practical.

The New Lodge and waterfront cabins are a stones throw to Pioneer Hall and water entrance. Neither of which gel together, wheres the thinking.

I feel DVC members will not be happy. These cabins do not meet the luxury standard that they get at other resorts

I truly believe we are seeing the begining of the end of the Fort.

if it weren't for the campers and present visitors of the Fort Im not sure id return, i truly love the personal interactions and helpfulness of all especially campers holiday events

sorry so long winded had to vent

 

[littlejoe]

Keep in mind the final plan calls for I believe 9 floors so only half way there

 

[Dakota731]

We are heading to a dvc cabin there in the fall, so when is the hotel to be finished? Where is it located in relation to the cabins? I’m glad we are getting to see it once before it gets crazy crowded!

 

[bama_ed]

We are heading to a dvc cabin there in the fall, so when is the hotel to be finished? Where is it located in relation to the cabins? I’m glad we are getting to see it once before it gets crazy crowded!

In this bus map from 2024, @Dakota731, the DVC cabin loops are 2200-2800 (bottom middle of the page).

The new DVC resort is on the upper left to the left of the word "Marina" and above the word "Settlement".

 

[Teamubr]

After looking at the most recent pics (thanks @littlejoe), I had a sad/funny/ironic thought.

In 10 years or so, with a new generation of Disney visitor, R********** will be thought of as "the DVC resort with that cute campground attached".

j

 

[proudmomof4]

After looking at the most recent pics (thanks @littlejoe), I had a sad/funny/ironic thought.

In 10 years or so, with a new generation of Disney visitor, R********** will be thought of as "the DVC resort with that cute campground attached".

j

That’s if the campground is still there. I can see it disappearing loop by loop starting with 100 loop.

 

[bama_ed]

That’s if the campground is still there. I can see it disappearing loop by loop starting with 100 loop.

I mentioned that as a possibility in this thread in post #15 this past Saturday.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/meadows-expansion.3966488/

If they wanted to convert ALL the loops to DVC cabins, they could break the work into "chunks" and each chunk would be a couple loops at a time every couple years. Or they do a partial conversion with chunks of loops converted but not all in the long view. Given how slow the cabins are selling, who knows. It sounds like DVC people don't mind staying there at the 7 month mark and holidays (Christmas and Halloween) might be popular.

But otherwise, eeeeeesh.

Bama Ed

 

[Teamubr]

I wonder what an actual P/L statement shows for the Fort. I know DVC shifts expenses to the "owners", but I would think the Fort has relatively low overhead.

I think a lot depends on how well the cabins sell and then generate new revenue to TDC. If they prove to be the cash cow the rest of DVC is, I could see the slow conversion of loops happening. That's a lot of "ifs", that, so far, aren't happening (slow sales) or are unknown (new revenue stream), but there certainly is a raod map if the pieces fall wrong (for us).

j