Ft. Wilderness Cabins becoming DVC?

[RoseGold]

There is margins to be made without them taking on this whole project and trying to squeeze it.

This is Disney. There will be squeezing. People expecting this to be cheap will be disappointed.

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

I think the announcement was 350 cabins and it currently has more? So maybe reconfiguring some of that area from cabins to amenities?

There's a group camping area without hookups for Scout, church, and other large groups. I think it is on the side of the Fort nearest the cabins. It has been closed for a while. I could see them using that land, especially since they closed the luau and Backyard BBQ for DVC projects. DVC is going to bring in more $ than youth groups in tents.

 

[Nursemanit]

I think the announcement was 350 cabins and it currently has more? So maybe reconfiguring some of that area from cabins to amenities?

It has 350 now - the 2100 loop’s cabins were removed years ago - they are RV sites now.

 

[CraigInPA]

I'm of the opinion that the point chart for this should fall around 120 points per week low season and 200 points per week high season. It's only a little larger than most studios, which sleep 5. The outdoor space is awesome, but let's face it... it's a trailer park, not a resort with signature dining like RIV, or a conventional vacation resort like SSR or OKW (which have Disney Springs as a neighbor), or a resort with a theme park next door (BLT, BWV, BRV, AKV, Poly, VGF, etc...).

 

[hilltopper152]

This is Disney. There will be squeezing. People expecting this to be cheap will be disappointed.

Well it may swing back and Disney be disappointed ha. Not sure 2024 is looking great for extra spending from families but this is an easy score if priced right. We can agree there is people interested. Reminds me of Disneyland tower where hype built and people said.... Ohhhhh once facts rolled out.

 

[Lumee23]

This is the first property they have announced that I am not really interested in purchasing. I am not the target market though since I am not a fan of camping/glamping. Sounds like my husband and kids would really enjoy this though so we would probably try it out if the point chart was reasonable, especially if my in-laws could get a reservation for their RV at the same time.

I am not going to pretend to have any idea what DVC would price these at per night; however, I can say that I would not stay here if it costs the equiv of a Riviera 1 bedroom or greater for reasons already discussed. Aside from not loving the camping vibe, I am not going to spend those high points to have a bunk bed in the main bedroom. Even if they change the layout to put the kid beds in a loft or the living room, the resort sounds like it is inconvenient to amenities/transport. We prefer the towers or more compact resorts since we don't like having long hikes to pools, food and/or transport.

At any rate I really appreciate the diversity in accommodations this brings to the portfolio and I hope DVC continues to think outside the box.

 

[tjkraz]

Couldn't the same be said about hotel rooms and DVC?

Sure. But that's also why there are 6x as many hotel rooms at WDW as DVC. Both have a role. Disney has to work harder to fill the hotel rooms but they are far more profitable in the long run.

I don't think they'll include a golf cart with the room, but it would be novel enough to raise interest in it. Also, they currently rent them for $50, I read in a post, if it's true, it's the value of renting a couple of points and yet someone suggested they could charge 10 points more.

We could certainly make logical arguments both ways. I would argue that establishing a fixed number of "golf cart rooms" has far more potential for error if actual guest demand is either higher or lower than Disney's estimates. And once declared, there's little-to-no mechanism to adjust.

By renting the carts separately, Disney has full control over the inventory and prices for decades to come. Unless there is some real, practical reason for including a golf cart with only specific cabins (parking availability?), I don't see it happening. In my mind, that would be akin to selling higher priced DVC villas that include valet parking or rooms that include a pool cabana for the length of stay. Those are all incidental perks not germane to the lodging itself.

I fully acknowledge that there's room to argue that DVC will do it differently this time. I tend to believe the status quo will continue until shown otherwise. If I'm wrong, I can live with that.

 

[hilltopper152]

I'm of the opinion that the point chart for this should fall around 120 points per week low season and 200 points per week high season. It's only a little larger than most studios, which sleep 5. The outdoor space is awesome, but let's face it... it's a trailer park, not a resort with signature dining like RIV, or a conventional vacation resort like SSR or OKW (which have Disney Springs as a neighbor), or a resort with a theme park next door (BLT, BWV, BRV, AKV, Poly, VGF, etc...).

That's pretty cheap. I second that!

 

[OKW Lover]

I think it's an interesting move. Expanding DVC's appeal to a somewhat different audience.

 

[GinnyBear's_mom]

Just wondering if the FW infrastructure could handle one golf cart per cabin.

The current infastructure cannot handle that many golf carts. Parking spaces and the outlets for charging at the Meadow & Settlement depots are severely limited for the half the year (September-December and March/April), summer is a bit easier to get a parking spot but not an outlet. Their current fleet books up very quickly and many campers have to bring their own golf carts or rent from outside vendors (which for the most part is a serious pain since the vast majority of vendors are not permitted to deliver them to your site).

Also, Disney only lets you reserve 4 person carts. The 6 person carts are few and far between and are a luck of the draw situation.

 

[jennypenny]

I can't imagine DVC including golf carts in any contract. Who knows if they'll even be a thing in 50 years. It's really not that long of a walk from the cabins to the MK boat dock. IIRC, it's like walking from the boardwalk area to HS. The front bus depot is even closer. Golf carts are fun but not a total necessity.

 

[hilltopper152]

I can't imagine DVC including golf carts in any contract. Who knows if they'll even be a thing in 50 years. It's really not that long of a walk from the cabins to the MK boat dock. IIRC, it's like walking from the boardwalk area to HS. The front bus depot is even closer. Golf carts are fun but not a total necessity.

My back disagrees. My campsite to the boat dock after MK was a decent walk at night. Legit was dark, long, and there was rain. ha I think they probably just need to invest in more buses once DVC comes in as the expectation may change. I think they already added on parking for golf carts at the dock too more recently. We did not have a car so our need to ride some was much more exagerated though.

 

[Spivey378]

FW is also great for running. It’s my favorite resort to get a run in.

 

[Nursemanit]

I'm of the opinion that the point chart for this should fall around 120 points per week low season and 200 points per week high season. It's only a little larger than most studios, which sleep 5. The outdoor space is awesome, but let's face it... it's a trailer park, not a resort with signature dining like RIV, or a conventional vacation resort like SSR or OKW (which have Disney Springs as a neighbor), or a resort with a theme park next door (BLT, BWV, BRV, AKV, Poly, VGF, etc...).

It has the same park access as BRV / CCV and is better than AKV from a location standpoint. The rooms are way larger than CCV or BLT with its 345 Sq foot rooms and of course, have a bedroom and a kitchen and a large deck. Expect an average of 230 points per week and I would expect a low of 180ish in September. You have 0 dining at BLT and no signature dining at OKW. Every resort has its hits and misses. FW has a stable with pony riding for kids - SSR has a bronze horse but I think they get upset if you try to ride it.

 

[Nursemanit]

The current infastructure cannot handle that many golf carts. Parking spaces and the outlets for charging at the Meadow & Settlement depots are severely limited for the half the year (September-December and March/April), summer is a bit easier to get a parking spot but not an outlet. Their current fleet books up very quickly and many campers have to bring their own golf carts or rent from outside vendors (which for the most part is a serious pain since the vast majority of vendors are not permitted to deliver them to your site).

Also, Disney only lets you reserve 4 person carts. The 6 person carts are few and far between and are a luck of the draw situation.

You have an outlet at your cabin - golf carts don't need to be constantly plugged in - overnight is fine for the day. At the rate they charge, they can afford to add a few more 6-person carts.

 

[10CJ]

Yeah, a Fort Wilderness cabin costs less than many (most?) Deluxe Resort Studios.

I cannot imagine a point chart anywhere near approaching a 2-bedroom. Heck, even a 1-bedroom is pushing it.

II do not understand who would pay 2 bedroom rates for this. Someone who really wants to travel with their dog?

As someone who often stays in 2 bedrooms with 6 people, as described this would not work for our group. No way would we pay 2 bedroom rates for what has been described.

 

[Nursemanit]

II do not understand who would pay 2 bedroom rates for this. Someone who really wants to travel with their dog?

As someone who often stays in 2 bedrooms with 6 people, as described this would not work for our group. No way would we pay 2 bedroom rates for what has been described.

No one including Disney has ever suggested the point chart would be near a 2 BR - the treehouse is at a 2 br point chart level and that sleeps 9 , is twice the size, and has 3 br 2 baths.

 

[Sandisw]

II do not understand who would pay 2 bedroom rates for this. Someone who really wants to travel with their dog?

As someone who often stays in 2 bedrooms with 6 people, as described this would not work for our group. No way would we pay 2 bedroom rates for what has been described.

There has been nothing out that suggests it will be that...some here have just added speculation....I think that the biggest piece of info we have to the highest it should go is the current chart for trading one can do now using reservation points.

But, there are 1 bedrooms out there at some of the resorts that have a decent points chart that can used as a model and are similar to these in some ways...given they said coming in 2024, I assume we will get information first thing of the new year...close to when sales would be starting.

 

[Leight19]

It has the same park access as BRV / CCV and is better than AKV from a location standpoint. The rooms are way larger than CCV or BLT with its 345 Sq foot rooms and of course, have a bedroom and a kitchen and a large deck. Expect an average of 230 points per week and I would expect a low of 180ish in September. You have 0 dining at BLT and no signature dining at OKW. Every resort has its hits and misses. FW has a stable with pony riding for kids - SSR has a bronze horse but I think they get upset if you try to ride it.

I understand what youre saying and it makes me question what makes me consider those deluxe and fort wilderness value. However, at end of the day fort wilderness is billed as value/moderate currently and regardless what changes are included they share the location with the cheapest accommodations on property (the camp sites).

Now I’m big into camping and love fort wilderness so I could easily get into staying here but I also love looking for deal and if this is priced above other 1 bedrooms it will take me years (maybe forever) to justify spending the points if I don’t see the point charts reflect the “value” to “moderate” location. To me the ideal price range would be somewhere around the upper end studios to lower end 1 bedrooms (maybe something like akv value 1 bedroom point charts).

 

[Nursemanit]

I understand what youre saying and it makes me question what makes me consider those deluxe and fort wilderness value. However, at end of the day fort wilderness is billed as value/moderate currently and regardless what changes are included they share the location with the cheapest accommodations on property (the camp sites).

Now I’m big into camping and love fort wilderness so I could easily get into staying here but I also love looking for deal and if this is priced above other 1 bedrooms it will take me years (maybe forever) to justify spending the points if I don’t see the point charts reflect the “value” to “moderate” location. To me the ideal price range would be somewhere around the upper end studios to lower end 1 bedrooms (maybe something like akv value 1 bedroom point charts).

I think that the accommodations and amenities ( and what Disney perks exist ) make a deluxe. Riveria is in a moderate location ( literally built in CBR) but it is one of the most point-heavy resorts.