Current work at the Fort

[CarolynFH]

Some years ago (2018/19-ish) a bus driver (in the fort) said that pioneer hall was going to be torn down as it was showing its age and was needing more work. The suggestion was that it was becoming easier to tear down and rebuild than to keep putting bandaids on things gong wrong.

So, I agree with your opinion; I think they’ve planned all along to tear it down. The only thing that was still up in the air was what it would look like afterwards; I think we know now.

This makes me sad, to think that PH is going away in its present form. I hope they'll keep Hoop Dee Doo going; hopefully the new building will go up before the current one is torn down! I hate to think of a new HDD theater possibly holding more guests, though - it seems large enough for me right now and would lose something intangible if it were a lot larger.

 

[CarolynFH]

OMG I just thought of something - what if PH and Crockett's Tavern, etc., are going away because they'll be replaced by something inside the new building?? That could explain why the new building is so close to the Settlement buildings. I hope that's not the case, but I'm afraid now that it is.

 

[team bradfield]

I don't think they want us lowly campers wandering around over there

 

[proudmomof4]

I’ve been saying since I saw how close the construction is, FW is going to lose the Settlement. If they take away Pioneer Hall, what’s left? The trading post, playground, “Clemintine’s” beach and the marina.

They will find a way to take “Clemintine’s” beach from us too, they’ll want to put more of those waterfront A frame cabins there, why would they waste that prime real estate on us campers? And the marina? It’s really just a dock now to catch a boat to MK or the other resorts or a fishing excursion. And you know the folks staying in those waterfront cabins on Clementine’s Beach won’t want to walk all the way over to the LSL dock when the Fort dock is SO close.

I don’t have any new pics of the monstrosity, but here are pics of my dogs at the Fort, we just checked in today.

 

[bama_ed]

I still think everyone has it backwards, I think Pioneer hall will be redesigned to match the tower - they are way too close for it not to be combined into one resort and campground. I think it is closer to PH than BLT is to the Contemporary.

This is a future possibility.

When they rebuilt the Tri-Circle-D Ranch across the road and went with a more modern design (not the original TCD style that matched Pioneer Hall), my antennae went up when I saw that.

With HDDR being so popular though, they might refurb the existing building heavily.

Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

I don’t have any new pics of the monstrosity, but here are pics of my dogs at the Fort, we just checked in today.

I like pictures of your dogs more than I do that other, mom.

Ed

 

[proudmomof4]

I haven’t made it over to either of the construction locations yet, we’ve just been taking it easy and relaxing.

While walking the dogs today, it started raining, we sought refuge at the 1400 loop comfort station. We met a very nice CM and chatted about the new resort. He said most guests he meets are very unhappy about LSL. We talked about where the entrance might be, he thinks it will be somewhere along the road between WL and FW. I saw something as we were arriving that made me wonder if it would be from Vista. When we came in on World Dr and took that exit way to the right, just before the MK parking toll booths. I could see vehicles moving through the trees right where you merge into Vista. There were also some small cranes i could see through the trees.

We chatted about a few other things and then the CFW came up, he said the campsites are at 63% occupancy right now, but CFW has been running steady at 98%. So while people aren’t buying contracts, they definitely love staying there.

I said I didn’t make it to the construction sites yet, that’s not true. We did go to Trail’s End yesterday after we finished setting up camp, but I was too hungry to look at the monstrosity. Trail’s End was hopping, people were waiting a long time for their food. 2 managers were out walking around and apologizing for the waits and assuring guests that the orders would be out soon. With cabins at 98% and campsites at 63%, I can’t imagine what it would be like when the sites are at 100%.

 

[bama_ed]

We chatted about a few other things and then the CFW came up, he said the campsites are at 63% occupancy right now, but CFW has been running steady at 98%. So while people aren’t buying contracts, they definitely love staying there.

Well, DVC only declares cabins (timeshares) as they sell contracts (which have been selling very slowly). They have only declared loops 2200, 2300, and 2500 (63 cabins in all) for DVC time share points use; the other loops, although converted to the new cabins, are for cash rentals like regular resort hotel rooms.

The DVC Resorts board seems to say that the 3 loops/63 cabins represents 16% of the cabins overall but DVC has only sold 4-5% of the points for the FWC time share resort. That means a LOT of other DVC owners are hopping over at the 7-month mark to book a cabin on points (which is actually quite tight due to demand). Mom, you and I know how great the Fort is overall and a different, relaxing vibe from being stuck inside 4-walls of a multi-story building. The cabins (and Fort overall) get pretty strong reviews from those 7-month guests - they're surprised at how much they like it but of course, we're not. LOTS of DVC owners want to try out the FWC at 7 months.

It's also encouraging that a number of them are also agreeing with our concern about the ugly LSL so close to Pioneer Hall and taking Clementine Beach. Me and a few others were a lone voice decrying the proximity months ago and i/we were criticized for voicing the truth (not that I cared one rat's rear end about their wrong opinion).

Current DVC owners are afraid to buy FWC because of the high maintenance fees although a week's stay requires fewer points than similar (good luck with that) DVC accomodations. Like when the Poly Tower was built and the question was how it might meld with the Poly Studios/Cabins, folks are wondering how LSL might meld (if at all) with the FWC. Time will tell.

Enjoy your stay. Please share more dog pics (and none of the other).

Ed

PS - Meadow zero-entry pool construction pics are welcome tho.

 

[proudmomof4]

Ed, I know you said no more pics of the monstrosity, but I wanted to post these.

I think the people staying on the Pioneer Hall side will have views of the back side of Pioneer Hall or this lovely looking thing.


There is a big pile of dirt in front of the soon to be lobby area, maybe from digging out for the pool?



It doesn’t look like there will be balconies on the Pioneer Hall side of the resort. I see windows but no sliding doors. And no build outs from the side of the building.

 

[Mouseforward]

I see windows but no sliding doors. And no build outs from the side of the building.

Yup, cash side having no balcony - this adds to my suspicion that this will be a moderate cash resort.

 

[Teamubr]

It doesn’t look like there will be balconies on the Pioneer Hall side of the resort. I see windows but no sliding doors. And no build outs from the side of the building.

View attachment 996926

Uh Oh.

Looks like they were on to us and the chicken bone toss...

j

 

[ScarletFire]

Someone posted the hallway might be on the Pioneer Hall side with rooms on the opposite side; a hallway with windows looking over FW.

I gotta say I resent the "lowly campers" references. Owning an RV is an expensive hobby. We don't stay at FW because it is the cheaper option. It accommodates our lifestyle. Fort Wilderness is my happy place!

 

[team bradfield]

Someone posted the hallway might be on the Pioneer Hall side with rooms on the opposite side; a hallway with windows looking over FW.

I gotta say I resent the "lowly campers" references. Owning an RV is an expensive hobby. We don't stay at FW because it is the cheaper option. It accommodates our lifestyle. Fort Wilderness is my happy place!

the "lowly campers" was TIC

 

[bama_ed]

TIC

I think that means "Tongue In Cheek"? Maybe? ED

PS - I admit I'm not as hip and in vogue with the slang and acronyms like the young man @team bradfield appears to be.

 

[team bradfield]

I think that means "Tongue In Cheek"? Maybe? ED

PS - I admit I'm not as hip and in vogue with the slang and acronyms like the young man @team bradfield appears to be.

Lol, yep. "Lol = laugh out loud"

 

[bama_ed]

Lol, yep. "Lol = laugh out loud"

Ah, thank you youngster. I always wondered what that meant.

EVERY thing is so much clearer to me now!

Bama Ed

PS - do you know anyone who can fix/repair my VHS tape player?

 

[team bradfield]

Try this

 

[proudmomof4]

Pics of the Meadow construction, sorry they are not good pics, hubby was driving and I was trying to snap the photos.


There was also some digging going on by the road bordering 1700 loop. The loop is still open with campers in the sites closest to the digging.

 

[proudmomof4]

There were 3 deer wandering through 500 loop late yesterday afternoon.

 

[team bradfield]

@proudmomof4 is 1300 loop open?