Ft. Wilderness Cabins becoming DVC?

[bianca]

DVC will make a fortune off these ! The cabins at CCV were assigned approximately 39100 points each ; and say they were sold at an average of $200 PP ; they made 7.9 million each cabin and collect about $235 K per cabin as MF Per year. Now if these cabins bring in Half the point value and cost maybe $200 K each to replace nicely ; they stand to make about 4 Million per cabin. Times that by 350 cabins and less the cost of A brand new pool and Clubhouse your looking at 1 Billion profit ! Not BAD !

There is a HUGE difference between CC cabins and what they are proposing for FW ….. Unless they put an individual hot tub on each cabin deck. I spent years at FW and nothing is “just a 5 minute walk away.” The sidewalks meander around the resort creating longer walk times. CC cabins are literally 20 feet away from a very nice bar/restaurant and a few more feet to a great pool. Combine that with the ability to watch the water parade from your own enclosed porch, and there’s no comparison.

They MAY stand to make a lot of money here, but unless they offer LOTS more amenities to make up for the time wasted traveling to and fro around the resort, I think it will be a hard sell. I really would love to see this idea succeed, but with the right incentives.

 

[Nabas]

DVC will make a fortune off these ! The cabins at CCV were assigned approximately 39100 points each ; and say they were sold at an average of $200 PP ; they made 7.9 million each cabin and collect about $235 K per cabin as MF Per year. Now if these cabins bring in Half the point value and cost maybe $200 K each to replace nicely ; they stand to make about 4 Million per cabin. Times that by 350 cabins and less the cost of A brand new pool and Clubhouse your looking at 1 Billion profit ! Not BAD !

I don’t think anyone is suggesting these will be on par with CCV cabins.

The best guess is that these will have point charts similar to one bedrooms.

 

[tom1944]

Is it possible enlarge the existing foundations?

Most things are possible. Not everything is cost efficient.

That is why when many people want to expand the size of their home, they go up rather than go out.

I guess they could cantilever some additional square footage over the existing foundation, or could they go up?

 

[mort1331]

Is it possible enlarge the existing foundations?

Possible yes...but Disney has already said they are not.

 

[gmi3804]

There is a HUGE difference between CC cabins and what they are proposing for FW ….. Unless they put an individual hot tub on each cabin deck.

That's far from the only difference.

 

[DaveNan]

Normally moderate has the issue of being setup like a motel with outside entry and being spread out. Which you could then question OKW and SSR.

We usually have a car and drive to all the parks unless we can walk when we are at BWV (we do take the bus to MK for rope drop because parking is at the TTC, not the park). So, I actually prefer the outside entry and being spread out. I see it as being able to park steps from your villa. It is great for unloading, loading, and grocery runs too. To me, it also feels more like a "home". The hotel properties feel like a hotel, not a "home".

Don't get me wrong, we enjoy all the properties, I just don't see the garden style DVC resort setup as a huge a negative. Unlike the DVC resorts, the moderate and value resorts still don't really offer close parking even though the buildings are garden style (like a motel).

 

[Yankee626]

There is a HUGE difference between CC cabins and what they are proposing for FW ….. Unless they put an individual hot tub on each cabin deck. I spent years at FW and nothing is “just a 5 minute walk away.” The sidewalks meander around the resort creating longer walk times. CC cabins are literally 20 feet away from a very nice bar/restaurant and a few more feet to a great pool. Combine that with the ability to watch the water parade from your own enclosed porch, and there’s no comparison.

They MAY stand to make a lot of money here, but unless they offer LOTS more amenities to make up for the time wasted traveling to and fro around the resort, I think it will be a hard sell. I really would love to see this idea succeed, but with the right incentives.

I'm also saying they will be about half the point value of the CCV cabins. DVC made about 8 million each cabin off of sales. There are only 26 of them. With 350 cabins could you imagine the profit. Of course they will not be as appointed as those cabins but with a 300-400 per week point value at 230 PP you do the math.

 

[mamaofsix]

I agree about the golf carts but do you really think people would pay the same points for a 1 bedroom/1 bath with possibly no laundry as they do at the treehouses with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and laundry?
If you are right, I would definitely be out.

I still say these are going to go for more than a 1 bedroom, points wise. Maybe not quite as much as the tree-houses, but likely closer to a 2-bedroom.

The big appeal here will be the outdoor space. 1 bedrooms usually have a tiny little balcony, and you have to walk to parking. Even the tree-houses don't have on-unit parking. Being able to park on your campsite, enjoy a huge deck, as well as a large yard with your own personal grill and picnic set up is a lot more than most villas offer. Not to mention people being able to bring their pets, bicycles, etc.

These are going to go for more than a 1 bedroom.

 

[gmi3804]

We usually have a car and drive to all the parks unless we can walk when we are at BWV (we do take the bus to MK for rope drop because parking is at the TTC, not the park). So, I actually prefer the outside entry and being spread out. I see it as being able to park steps from your villa. It is great for unloading, loading, and grocery runs too. To me, it also feels more like a "home". The hotel properties feel like a hotel, not a "home".

Don't get me wrong, we enjoy all the properties, I just don't see the garden style DVC resort setup as a huge a negative. Unlike the DVC resorts, the moderate and value resorts still don't really offer close parking even though the buildings are garden style (like a motel).

OKW is the best.
BWV and VGF parking is really lousy.
SSR can be iffy, depending on how crowded the lots are.
PVB is OK if you're in Pago Pago, but there's a bit of a walk to Tokelau and Moorea, and pretty far if you're in a Bungalow.
I don't mind BLT, but the lot could get more crowded and force you to park further back. AKV/Kidani is nice if you're able to park near an elevator that's close to your villa, and those spots are covered.
BRV/CCV is a bit of a hike too, especially if you're in a cabin.

 

[Traveling on cc points]

I still say these are going to go for more than a 1 bedroom, points wise. Maybe not quite as much as the tree-houses, but likely closer to a 2-bedroom.

The big appeal here will be the outdoor space. 1 bedrooms usually have a tiny little balcony, and you have to walk to parking. Even the tree-houses don't have on-unit parking. Being able to park on your campsite, enjoy a huge deck, as well as a large yard with your own personal grill and picnic set up is a lot more than most villas offer. Not to mention people being able to bring their pets, bicycles, etc.

These are going to go for more than a 1 bedroom.

You are probably right and a low 1 bedroom point chart is just wishful thinking on my part.

 

[PalmettoPath]

I’m super pumped about this development.

It would be great if they would let me put my 2 man tent up next to the cabin, although that would never be allowed.

You know there's probably going to be a lot of things like that going on among some guests. Will be interesting to see how this all unfolds. It's very much treading new ground.

 

[DonMacGregor]

You know there's probably going to be a lot of things like that going on among some guests. Will be interesting to see how this all unfolds. It's very much treading new ground.

I’m ready…

 

[PalmettoPath]

View attachment 756957
I’m ready…

Awesome

 

[DonMacGregor]

Awesome

Well, aside from the 2,181 miles between my house and the campground...

 

[PalmettoPath]

Well, aside from the 2,181 miles between my house and the campground...

We can string a zip line or something.

 

[Mikey15]

I'm also saying they will be about half the point value of the CCV cabins. DVC made about 8 million each cabin off of sales. There are only 26 of them. With 350 cabins could you imagine the profit. Of course they will not be as appointed as those cabins but with a 300-400 per week point value at 230 PP you do the math.

If they try 300-400 per week (and people pay it) I think that’s crazy. A Treehouse around my travel week is around 330 points. 300-400 is a 1BR at Riv or GFV in that same timeframe.

200-250/week depending on season would be a bit more palatable for what’s being proposed. That’s back to SSR/AKV 1BR level. BLT Standard View 1BR with two bathrooms is even as low as 247 for a week, which is more desirable to almost everyone.

 

[zavandor]

I still say these are going to go for more than a 1 bedroom, points wise. Maybe not quite as much as the tree-houses, but likely closer to a 2-bedroom.

The big appeal here will be the outdoor space. 1 bedrooms usually have a tiny little balcony, and you have to walk to parking. Even the tree-houses don't have on-unit parking. Being able to park on your campsite, enjoy a huge deck, as well as a large yard with your own personal grill and picnic set up is a lot more than most villas offer. Not to mention people being able to bring their pets, bicycles, etc.

These are going to go for more than a 1 bedroom.

Everything you write is true for the current cabins as well. And yet, their cash rate is lower than the other DVC studios. And occupancy cannot be very good if they are converting to DVC.
Sure they're probably going to upgrade the resort amenities and make the new cabins better the the existing ones, but I cannot see how they can sell them for much higher point charts. Also, if the point charts are too high there is nowhere to hide, not like the Poly bungalows sold to people looking only for studios. People will have to buy points because they want to actually use them for the cabins.
If DVC are honest, they'd set a point chart as the VGF studios and advertise a "1BR for the price of a studio". Like they did for the THV: "a 3BR for the price of a 2BR" (safe for illegally rebalancing the charts later).
But they're greedy, so they'll aim for the point cost of a 1BR, but I cannot see how they can go higher than a AKV 1BR value.
Anything near the cost of a 2BR or even more would be madness.

 

[DonMacGregor]

We can string a zip line or something.

That would be best. It’s 2,181 as the crow flies, but 2,571 driving.

 

[RoseGold]

Sure they're probably going to upgrade the resort amenities and make the new cabins better the the existing ones, but I cannot see how they can sell them for much higher point charts. Also, if the point charts are too high there is nowhere to hide, not like the Poly bungalows sold to people looking only for studios.

Of course these will be higher points than sad, 30 year old sad cabins. They will be shiny and new with a shiny, new pool. And then when they are sad, 30 year old cabins, they will still cost the same. I'm actually curious about the refurb schedule, I don't see why they would bother to swap these at 30 years if they're owned by DVC.

DVC can build in somewhere to hide, like they did at RIV and DLT, with efficiency units. I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of 2-sleeper cabins to make the math work.

 

[Nabas]

Of course these will be higher points than sad, 30 year old sad cabins. They will be shiny and new with a shiny, new pool. And then when they are sad, 30 year old cabins, they will still cost the same. I'm actually curious about the refurb schedule, I don't see why they would bother to swap these at 30 years if they're owned by DVC.

DVC can build in somewhere to hide, like they did at RIV and DLT, with efficiency units. I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of 2-sleeper cabins to make the math work.

Your post made me wonder, if these cabins only last 30 years, would Disney offer less than the usual 50-year contract for these cabins?