Ft. Wilderness Cabins becoming DVC?

[Epcot Forever Forever]

They're converting Trails End from being the only non-show sit down restaurant at FW. Mickey's Backyard BBQ gone. Hoop de Doo is the only remaining reservable place to eat. They must also have something else in mind for dining. It would be nice if it meant a reprieve for Trails End.

They could fit something over by check in, no?

 

[Spivey378]

Weight, wut? Is this 4 real?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

They could fit something over by check in, no?

I think there's room however I don't know about the land use.

 

[mamaofsix]

I’m thinking they’d be smart to price them similar to the AKV value 1-bedrooms, which would be in-line with the cabins’ current cash rates.

However, you’re right that it should depend more on what they do to make this more of a “deluxe” place to stay than it currently is. It’ll be interesting!! & We shouldn’t have to wait too long to find out more

Honestly, I think these are going to be more points than a 1 bedroom. They'll be nicer than the current cabins so there would be an argument for charging more than current rates.

Unlike a 1 bedroom, you'll be in your own separate "home" with a big patio, grassy area, grill. No shared walls with anyone...

It would be nice if they were lower points, but I'm not so sure.

 

[Amyunder]

@ehh and @aka Charles I’m not sure whether anyone else brought this up, but did you notice these are the 1BR that sleep 6 adults you envisioned for Poly2? DVC filling a need/desire expressed by many families.

I thought of the ohana villas immediately when I saw the announcement. Good job keeping up with the DVC "pulse"

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Have to laugh. That pic with the golf cart got me thinking this will be “ The Villages in the Wilderness”….LOL

 

[Suzabella]

I also think these will be a new association which means points restrictions will likely exist. I also think they're going to basically be tiny houses like what they put in up here near Kings Island in Mason Ohio.

I'm relieved this may mean the end of Reflections. IMHO, that was just the wrong place for a modern looking resort.

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

The more I think about this, the more puzzled I get. I can actually picture a scenario where this truly feels deluxe: a big pool with lazy river, a dual purpose lounge- coffee in the morning & drinks at night, a nice TS & QS nearby, even a quaint little gift shop… beautiful new cabins with pretty landscaping. I can imagine being immersed in nature, enjoying all of the wildlife, peace & quiet. Then, I think about taking a nice boat ride over to MK for some night-time fun, or going to Hoop-Dee-Doo… in order to get there, I’m going to need to drive through a land of concrete slabs full of RV’s & trailers. Now, there’s nothing wrong with either of those… but it just doesn’t make sense. At all. It makes perfect sense how it is now & provides a wonderful (& much needed!) alternative to the pricier resorts at WDW… but can these 2 opposing ideologies (bare-bones value vs deluxe) truly be put next door to one another without the deluxe-price guests feeling downgraded? As far as I see it, there’s just no way to keep that bubble from bursting.

 

[DonMacGregor]

They're converting Trails End from being the only non-show sit down restaurant at FW. Mickey's Backyard BBQ gone. Hoop de Doo is the only remaining reservable place to eat. They must also have something else in mind for dining. It would be nice if it meant a reprieve for Trails End.

“The planned cabins are part of a collection of improvement projects underway at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground that are designed to enhance the guest experience. Examples include proposed pool and walking trail enhancements as well as new expanded dining experiences at Trail’s End Restaurant and Crockett’s Tavern, with more exciting news to come.”

I don't think the current changes at Trail's End are permanent, but merely a ramping down as they transition to DVC. I can also see them reopening the Wilderness Trail, to tie the new DVC cabins in with the two resorts t WL. Not as part of either, but just a thematic grouping.

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

deleted

 

[DonMacGregor]

I agree 100% that the new cabins will be a huge upgrade, but their next door neighbor is essentially a trailer park -not Disney Springs or a theme park.

People were concerned about Caribbean Beach bringing down the Riviera’s deluxe feeling. That was a moderate hotel. This is a campsite.

Again- there’s nothing wrong with a campsite … it just doesn’t = deluxe.

It's a "trailer park" with $150k fifth wheels being pulled by $75k one-ton duallies (with a $20k golf cart in the bed). Most of those people have triple or quadruple what the average DVC owner has invested in their vacation preference. We're not talking about Cousin Eddie here.

I will always be adamant that neither SSR nor OKW are really "deluxe" resorts (and I own SAP at both), they just get some of the benefits of the "real" deluxe resorts. As I said earlier, if you walked someone into the middle of SSR, OKW, and POR, there is zero chance they could tell you which resorts were "deluxe" and which was a "moderate". When you start talking about food service, POR actually pulls ahead. In other words, there are already moderate DVC resorts.

 

[Nursemanit]

I agree 100% that the new cabins will be a huge upgrade, but their next door neighbor is essentially a trailer park -not Disney Springs or a theme park.

People were concerned about Caribbean Beach bringing down the Riviera’s deluxe feeling. That was a moderate hotel. This is a campsite.

Again- there’s nothing wrong with a campsite … it just doesn’t = deluxe.

Well on the other side of the street is Golden Oaks and the 4 Seasons - so the "trailer park " did not deter them. Some of the RVs are over 500k that park in FW.

 

[Nursemanit]

I will always be adamant that neither SSR nor OKW are really "deluxe" resorts

I thought all deluxe resorts had 3rd floor walk-ups

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

It's a "trailer park" with $150k fifth wheels being pulled by $75k one-ton duallies (with a $20k golf cart in the bed). Most of those people have double what the average DVC owner has invested in their vacation preference. We're not talking about Cousin Eddie here.

100% agree! Our neighbors at our old house had a huge, luxe RV that I would’ve been very happy to travel in! Again- it’s not a trailer or camping knock. But, seriously- it’s still very, very different from what DVC has been trying to sell themselves as being… and it’s sharing the same amenities.

I will always be adamant that neither SSR nor OKW are really "deluxe" resorts (and I own SAP at both), they just get some of the benefits of the "real" deluxe resorts. As I said earlier, if you walked someone into the middle of SSR, OKW, and POR, there is zero change they could tell you which resorts were "deluxe" and which was a "moderate". When you start talking about food service, POR actually pulls ahead. In other words, there are already moderate DVC resorts.

Again, I totally agree… but those resorts are also much older. I think they’ve tried to set themselves to a higher standard since then. & In the case of the cheap BPK flip- they at least look high end & sit in a high-end setting.

Well on the other side of the street is Golden Oaks and the 4 Seasons - so the "trailer park " did not deter them. Some of the RVs are over 500k that park in FW.

Yes, but they don’t share the same amenities…. or even the same roads. FW Resort includes the campsites, trailer/RV sites, and cabins. All of them. While the Golden Oaks & 4 Seasons are in a gated community… they choose to share different roads & amenities with themselves- not with Fort Wilderness.

 

[Spivey378]

It's a "trailer park" with $150k fifth wheels being pulled by $75k one-ton duallies (with a $20k golf cart in the bed). Most of those people have triple or quadruple what the average DVC owner has invested in their vacation preference. We're not talking about Cousin Eddie here.

I will always be adamant that neither SSR nor OKW are really "deluxe" resorts (and I own SAP at both), they just get some of the benefits of the "real" deluxe resorts. As I said earlier, if you walked someone into the middle of SSR, OKW, and POR, there is zero change they could tell you which resorts were "deluxe" and which was a "moderate". When you start talking about food service, POR actually pulls ahead. In other words, there are already moderate DVC resorts.

This reminds me of my most ultimate cheap Disney trip. A few years ago, my family and another family had two tents in one $80 campsite between two quarter-million dollar RVs.

 

[DonMacGregor]

This reminds me of my most ultimate cheap Disney trip. A few years ago, my family and another family had two tents in one $80 campsite between two quarter-million dollar RVs.

Yeah, I don't think you'd have as much luck now. From what I understand, people are booking 500+ days in advance, many are full-timers or snow birds, and they won't let you tent camp in a hook-up site anymore (but that may not be accurate).

 

[proudmomof4]

It's a "trailer park" with $150k fifth wheels being pulled by $75k one-ton duallies (with a $20k golf cart in the bed). Most of those people have triple or quadruple what the average DVC owner has invested in their vacation preference. We're not talking about Cousin Eddie here.

Thank you for pointing this out.

On top of all that, there are costs for maintaining the RV and trucks. Some have monthly storage fees as well. Add in cost of fuel, we all know how expensive that is now.

People look at the cost of campsites and think “Oh it’s the cheapest place to stay at Disney”. But once you add in all the costs of RV ownership, the price of that style of vacationing jumps drastically. It’s not unheard of to see $1m class A RVs at FW.

And let’s not forget, Fort Wilderness is one of the original WDW resorts. There is nothing else like it and I for one would hate to see the atmosphere there changed.

If anyone thinks it’s just a “trailer park”, either they’ve never seen a trailer park or they’ve never been to FW.

For anyone who gets to stay in these new “DVC” cabins around Halloween and/or Christmas, you are in for a real treat.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I agree 100% that the new cabins will be a huge upgrade, but their next door neighbor is essentially a trailer park -not Disney Springs or a theme park.

People were concerned about Caribbean Beach bringing down the Riviera’s deluxe feeling. That was a moderate hotel. This is a campsite.

Again- there’s nothing wrong with a campsite … it just doesn’t = deluxe.

My camper van cost way more than DVC. Trucks and trailers etc cost way more than DVC. And FW is one of the nicer campgrounds you'll find. I'm thinking the campers might be thinking DVC is bringing down the neighborhood.

 

[ehh]

@ehh and @aka Charles I’m not sure whether anyone else brought this up, but did you notice these are the 1BR that sleep 6 adults you envisioned for Poly2? DVC filling a need/desire expressed by many families.

I did see the similarities. I think it affirms that DVC is aware of the need for 'more good beds' in their rooms. Sleeping 6 on fewer points is definitely a commonality between this and 'Ohana Suites'.

Though current cabins are much smaller than I was thinking, I was thinking 1BR sized (~800sqft) as the construction I was highlighting at Poly2 is 2-bay rooms, like a 1BR.

Hypothetically for CFW: 1 permanent bed, 1 Murphy bed, and bunk beds is more appealing, from just a sleeping surface viewpoint, than most Studios/1BR currently.

• Bunk beds have an element of fun that can make up for their small size (see: Starcruiser)
• I can only hope they figured out a way to do a Murphy bed and ditch the pullout sofa
  • The raised windows should help with this

This could sleep parents and 3 children each with their own sleeping surface, which you can't a Studio/1BR. Or parents, grandparents, and 2 children (not sharing a bed). Pretty flexible and accommodating!

But as much as I think the standalone cabin style, 'more good beds', and your own parking space is great, I don't love these. ~500sqft is really quite small for 5-6 people. This isn't like a bridge between Studios and 2BR that an Ohana Suite would be.

At full occupancy, people density would be equivalent to a Deluxe Studio at full occupancy, likely still with just 1 bathroom. I also really hope the bunk beds aren't in the bedroom with the permanent bed, that's been a dealbreaker when trying to suggest the existing cabins to family members.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Thank you for pointing this out.

On top of all that, there are costs for maintaining the RV and trucks. Some have monthly storage fees as well. Add in cost of fuel, we all know how expensive that is now.

People look at the cost of campsites and think “Oh it’s the cheapest place to stay at Disney”. But once you add in all the costs of RV ownership, the price of that style of vacationing jumps drastically. It’s not unheard of to see $1m class A RVs at FW.

And let’s not forget, Fort Wilderness is one of the original WDW resorts. There is nothing else like it and I for one would hate to see the atmosphere there changed.

If anyone thinks it’s just a “trailer park”, either they’ve never seen a trailer park or they’ve never been to FW.

For anyone who gets to stay in these new “DVC” cabins around Halloween and/or Christmas, you are in for a real treat.

Exactly. I was keeping things middle of the road. Head into Class A's (or even larger Class C's) and you hit seven figures really easily.