Ft. Wilderness Cabins becoming DVC?

[RoseGold]

This absolutely cannot be true. Before sales of VGF2 even started, I hinted at people buying VGF2 in order to stay in the larger villas in the original building and was dismissed as being out of my mind and assured that there would be plenty of VGF1 owners lining up to book in the resort studios (because why wouldn't you want to switch into a villa that doesn't even have a kitchenette) and that it would all balance out.

I have VGF1 points. VGF2 points are mostly sold, and neither seems to have happened. 8, 9, 10 months seems to be wide open. It's even wide open in all rooms for FL spring break next year. Easter seems to have sold out non-resort standard view. Even the lock-offs are open.

I don't do WDW at the holidays, so maybe it was crazier then.

 

[Sandisw]

I have VGF1 points. VGF2 points are mostly sold, and neither seems to have happened. 8, 9, 10 months seems to be wide open. It's even wide open in all rooms for FL spring break next year. Easter seems to have sold out non-resort standard view. Even the lock-offs are open.

I don't do WDW at the holidays, so maybe it was crazier then.

BPK is not mostly sold. It’s still has close to 40% to go. That’s a lot of points.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I have VGF1 points. VGF2 points are mostly sold, and neither seems to have happened. 8, 9, 10 months seems to be wide open. It's even wide open in all rooms for FL spring break next year. Easter seems to have sold out non-resort standard view. Even the lock-offs are open.

I don't do WDW at the holidays, so maybe it was crazier then.

I never said they would impact the ability to book rooms, I simply said I thought there would be more than a few people buying VGF2, but looking to stay in the original rooms instead, rather than the resort studios (which has been borne out in the comments on several threads). It was simply an observation/speculation.

Simple logic would dictate that some owners buying VGF2, with nothing larger than a studio available, would bleed into the larger villas of VGF1. While, conversely, VGF1 owners really only have more of what they already had - studios (albeit slightly less appealing, with no kitchenette, no table to eat at, etc.). Obviously, VGF1 owners who would have wanted to book studios prior to the conversion, but were impacted by availability, would likely jump on some of the new resort studios, but how many of those are there? With the conversion of BPK, there just doesn't seem to be as much offered to the VGF1 owner as the VGF2 owner. For the former, you do get more of what you already had (studios), which is great if you often found yourself shut out. For the latter, you buy into a building that has ONLY studios, but you have access to the original building with a full range of villas.

Logically, there were going to be some existing VGF1 owners who would take advantage of the newly expanded inventory of studio-sized villas, but I don't think it's an even swap. I certainly never once said there would a negative impact on room availability.

Not every observation on here has to have some underlying negative connotation or implication.

 

[kayaddict]

I spent so much time at Fort Wilderness when I was a kid sometimes I feel like I grew up there. That arcade got a LOT of my parents quarters back in the day.

I'm excited to rent these and give my kids the chance to stay there as well.

 

[gmi3804]

I never said they would impact the ability to book rooms, I simply said I thought there would be more than a few people buying VGF2, but looking to stay in the original rooms instead, rather than the resort studios (which has been borne out in the comments on several threads). It was simply an observation/speculation.

Simple logic would dictate that some owners buying VGF2, with nothing larger than a studio available, would bleed into the larger villas of VGF1. While, conversely, VGF1 owners really only have more of what they already had - studios (albeit slightly less appealing, with no kitchenette, no table to eat at, etc.). Obviously, VGF1 owners who would have wanted to book studios prior to the conversion, but were impacted by availability, would likely jump on some of the new resort studios, but how many of those are there? With the conversion of BPK, there just doesn't seem to be as much offered to the VGF1 owner as the VGF2 owner. For the former, you do get more of what you already had (studios), which is great if you often found yourself shut out. For the latter, you buy into a building that has ONLY studios, but you have access to the original building with a full range of villas.

Logically, there were going to be some existing VGF1 owners who would take advantage of the newly expanded inventory of studio-sized villas, but I don't think it's an even swap. I certainly never once said there would a negative impact on room availability.

Not every observation on here has to have some underlying negative connotation or implication.

Since Studios across DVC mostly get snatched up more quickly than any other villa size, I imagine that the addition of BPK Studios would make the availability of the VGF 1BR/1BR+ villas easier.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

. This to me means the cabins would have to come in at half the riviera 1br point chart to remotely make sense.

Not a chance this happens. DVC only increases point charts for new builds, not decreases. Maybe these get classified as “1 bedroom+” type accommodations but you better believe that they will cost as many or more points as the most recent DVC 1 br price charts.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

but still have the same amenities as a 1 bedroom.

If they don’t add a washer/dryer to these that’s going to be a big demerit versus regular 1 bedrooms.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

BPK is not mostly sold. It’s still has close to 40% to go. That’s a lot of points.

Also Disney and DVC bookings appear to have crashed. Attendance looks to be light at WDW for the foreseeable future so I’m not sure I’d look to the next 12 months as a barometer for how things are going to go.

 

[gmi3804]

If they don’t add a washer/dryer to these that’s going to be a big demerit versus regular 1 bedrooms.

I'd put my money on their not adding w/d, since there's no (or very little) extra room for them and the infrastructure of the hookups is not there and they're unlikely to retrofit what's there already.

 

[Traveling on cc points]

I'd put my money on their not adding w/d, since there's no (or very little) extra room for them and the infrastructure of the hookups is not there and they're unlikely to retrofit what's there already.

If you are right, this may be a dealbreaker for a lot of people. A lot will depend on the buy in costs and point charts. I think it’s going to be a hard sell for Disney to price these too high given the lack of in room laundry and distance from everything.

I’m sure the closer we get, there will be a speculation thread on buy in price, point charts, will they have W/D, how many cabins will be dog friendly/will they be priced higher. A new pool, ect…. Looking forward to all the details.

 

[gmi3804]

If you are right, this may be a dealbreaker for a lot of people. A lot will depend on the buy in costs and point charts. I think it’s going to be a hard sell for Disney to price these too high given the lack of in room laundry and distance from everything.

I’m sure the closer we get, there will be a speculation thread on buy in price, point charts, will they have W/D, how many cabins will be dog friendly/will they be priced higher. A new pool, ect…. Looking forward to all the details.

Poly DVC studios sold without laundry, and these are just slightly larger. People didn’t have a problem with them without laundry in the past. Well, not enough to keep them unoccupied. The variable will be if the DVC crowd will go for it. I suspect those who like this kind of accommodation won’t mind.

 

[Traveling on cc points]

Poly DVC studios sold without laundry, and these are just slightly larger. People didn’t have a problem with them without laundry in the past. Well, not enough to keep them unoccupied. The variable will be if the DVC crowd will go for it. I suspect those who like this kind of accommodation won’t mind.

No DVC studios have laundry. Every 1 bedroom and bigger does.
The lowest point chart at Poly in September is 14 points per night and 104 a week.
I highly, highly doubt these would be priced that low but if I am wrong, I would pay 104 points for a week in September and not complain 1 bit about not having laundry.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I'd put my money on their not adding w/d, since there's no (or very little) extra room for them and the infrastructure of the hookups is not there and they're unlikely to retrofit what's there already.

They are removing the existing pre-fab cabins and installing brand new pre-fab units. There's no reason why the new units can't have a space dedicated to a stacked washer and dryer.

 

[CarolynFH]

They are removing the existing pre-fab cabins and installing brand new pre-fab units. There's no reason why the new units can't have a space dedicated to a stacked washer and dryer.

What about plumbing, such as water supply and drainage for the washer? Could that be connected to the pre-existing bathroom and kitchen plumbing on those sites? I don't know anything about installing plumbing in new construction that can't be deduced from pipes sticking up from a concrete slab, but I regard you as the construction guru here! And I think I might have read some speculation here when the Poly longhouses were being converted to DVC that they were limited in what they could include in those villas due to drainfield issues. I think the bungalows even had some significant sewage problems shortly after opening. Fort Wilderness is of a similar age as the Poly and CR, I believe.

 

[10CJ]

Poly DVC studios sold without laundry, and these are just slightly larger. People didn’t have a problem with them without laundry in the past. Well, not enough to keep them unoccupied. The variable will be if the DVC crowd will go for it. I suspect those who like this kind of accommodation won’t mind.

Sure, studios do not have laundry. If the point chart is similar to a studio than I suppose that is not an issue. It seems more like a glorified studio than a true 1 bedroom to me. I don't think they can price it much more than a typical one bedroom. Just not sure who would pay a large amount of points for this.

 

[gmi3804]

They are removing the existing pre-fab cabins and installing brand new pre-fab units. There's no reason why the new units can't have a space dedicated to a stacked washer and dryer.

Yes, but at the cost of taking what little space there is from somewhere else.

 

[Nursemanit]

Yes, but at the cost of taking what little space there is from somewhere else.

They are 500 sq feet that’s 100 sq feet larger than RR and 60 sq feet larger than VGF 2 - I think they can find the 25 sq feet needed . The units have a dishwasher so I don’t think plumbing will be an issue for a stacked front loader. I doubt they will have the double shower so plenty of space. It would be more useful to have the W/d than having to go to a DVC campground laundry but I use the laundry’s anyway since they dry cloths faster than the in room units.

 

[PBandJFamwich]

What about plumbing, such as water supply and drainage for the washer? Could that be connected to the pre-existing bathroom and kitchen plumbing on those sites? I don't know anything about installing plumbing in new construction that can't be deduced from pipes sticking up from a concrete slab, but I regard you as the construction guru here! And I think I might have read some speculation here when the Poly longhouses were being converted to DVC that they were limited in what they could include in those villas due to drainfield issues. I think the bungalows even had some significant sewage problems shortly after opening. Fort Wilderness is of a similar age as the Poly and CR, I believe.

With prefab “trailer” construction plumbing isn’t stubbed in like traditional construction. Adding a washer and dryer shouldn’t be difficult.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Yes, but at the cost of taking what little space there is from somewhere else.

A stacked washer closet is typically only 3'x3', or 9 Sf. Since none of us know what the interior layout of the new cabins will be, we can't say what the impact will be. Ergonomically, tiny houses today are far more efficient with space, so the new cabins could quite easily be more open and spacious while still affording in in-unit washer and dryer.

 

[Amyunder]

What about plumbing, such as water supply and drainage for the washer? Could that be connected to the pre-existing bathroom and kitchen plumbing on those sites? I don't know anything about installing plumbing in new construction that can't be deduced from pipes sticking up from a concrete slab, but I regard you as the construction guru here! And I think I might have read some speculation here when the Poly longhouses were being converted to DVC that they were limited in what they could include in those villas due to drainfield issues. I think the bungalows even had some significant sewage problems shortly after opening. Fort Wilderness is of a similar age as the Poly and CR, I believe.

Euro style washer dryer combos hook into existing kitchen plumbing. My guess they have one of those units in the kitchenette instead of a dishwasher.