How bad is Wilderness Lodge?

[TheDisneyFour]

Considering all the construction going on around the Resort, how bad will it be in Jan 2017? My daughter really wants to stay there but I'm just not sure it's a good idea right now.

Any info or advice would be appreciated.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

how bad will it be in Jan 2017

I don't think anyone can predict that. Most construction projects can even vary week to week how "bad" they are. It really depends on your tolerance for uncertainty.

 

[disneynutz]

I would hope that the pool and deck by the villas will be completed by then, the restaurant, probably it's being framed now. The cabins should be well underway. Since DVD will be selling converted WL rooms, I expect sales to start prior to project completion.

Bill

 

[Granny]

Considering all the construction going on around the Resort, how bad will it be in Jan 2017? My daughter really wants to stay there but I'm just not sure it's a good idea right now.

Any info or advice would be appreciated.

It depends on your daughter's tolerance for the construction and inconveniences. Someone could stay on the bus stop side of VWL and never have the construction really impact their stay. I'm not so sure about the pool being open by then but who knows? If construction is an issue at all for your daughter, then I'd stay away from VWL for a while. If it isn't that big of a deal, then I'd so go for it since the main lobby still has its charm and the other aspects of WL are still pretty much intact.

As far as "how bad" VWL is, here's the current construction taken last week:

This is looking at the new restaurant and pool area. Hard to believe it will be operational in a few months but it really is up to how quickly Disney wants this project completed.

 

[TheDisneyFour]

Thank you everyone for the input. My daughter is 6, so I doubt anything will bother her.

 

[momtwoboys]

debating a studio stay in april 2017.....

 

[Granny]

debating a studio stay in april 2017.....

It's hard to project the construction schedule. They could be very far along in a year, or dragging the development out. I think for those who are unsure, it might be a good idea to stay away from VWL for a while until they are much farther along.

 

[momtwoboys]

Wishful thinking I guess Granny, we were already bumped to BCV April 2016 just this past month... we want to try VWL and next year is our 20th ANNiv.... ughh ok off to look for other options for 2017. Thanks. Unless hubby says he wants VWL no matter what the construction is like. Anyone know if the running trail/nature trail is open closed?

 

[Granny]

Wishful thinking I guess Granny, we were already bumped to BCV April 2016 just this past month... we want to try VWL and next year is our 20th ANNiv.... ughh ok off to look for other options for 2017. Thanks. Unless hubby says he wants VWL no matter what the construction is like. Anyone know if the running trail/nature trail is open closed?

The paved path to Fort Wilderness is open. The nature trail along Bay Lake is closed. Good luck with your planning.

 

[momtwoboys]

thanks! we always book 11 months out so its crunch time

 

[disneynutz]

DVD wants to start selling ASAP so IMO the common areas and some room conversions will be completed as soon as possible.

Bill

 

[Granny]

DVD wants to start selling ASAP so IMO the common areas and some room conversions will be completed as soon as possible.

Bill

Bill...why do you think they want to start selling ASAP? Seems to me they would want PBV to be close to sold out before they start selling CCCV. And I think it would be a challenge to sell CCCV without at least one cabin completed for touring. After all, the cabins will be the crown jewel of this new resort. Just my two cents.

 

[disneynutz]

Bill...why do you think they want to start selling ASAP? Seems to me they would want PBV to be close to sold out before they start selling CCCV. And I think it would be a challenge to sell CCCV without at least one cabin completed for touring. After all, the cabins will be the crown jewel of this new resort. Just my two cents.

I guess ASAP is too strong of term, It will be months, if I remember correctly DVD has to have rooms converted, a percentage of the project completed before Florida timeshare laws for developers allows them to start marketing and taking pre-opening contracts. I also expect that a showroom cabin will be completed along with the common areas like the restaurant and new pool area.

Bill

 

[disneyobessed]

Anyone know if there will be a difference in size of the converted rooms at WL versus the size of rooms in the villas building?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Anyone know if there will be a difference in size of the converted rooms at WL versus the size of rooms in the villas building?

Nope. Unknown. They have published nearly no details about this new property.

 

[disneynutz]

Nope. Unknown. They have published nearly no details about this new property.

Publishing details is against the timeshare laws in Florida until certain construction milestones are met. There are laws in all of the States and DVD has to meet each one, that's why they will start sales in some States and not others.

In the past timeshare developers would advertise and sell projects that never happened.

Bill

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Publishing details is against the timeshare laws in Florida until certain construction milestones are met. There are laws in all of the States and DVD has to meet each one, that's why they will start sales in some States and not others.

In the past timeshare developers would advertise and sell projects that never happened.

Bill

Well, by "details" I mean even so much as "admitting that wing of WL is becoming DVC, or has that intent." They haven't so much as fessed that up, and when they started work on the Poly longhouses that was fessed, so I don't think it's that form of legal requirement.

 

[disneynutz]

Well, by "details" I mean even so much as "admitting that wing of WL is becoming DVC, or has that intent." They haven't so much as fessed that up, and when they started work on the Poly longhouses that was fessed, so I don't think it's that form of legal requirement.

I don't remember how or when the PVB was officially fessed but I do know that their compliance and legal people would prefer that nothing be said until all compliance requirements are satisfied.

Bill

 

[Granny]

Well, by "details" I mean even so much as "admitting that wing of WL is becoming DVC, or has that intent." They haven't so much as fessed that up, and when they started work on the Poly longhouses that was fessed, so I don't think it's that form of legal requirement.

Actually, I think they have fessed up that there will be room conversions at WL, in a manner of speaking. Here's the Disney press release from last September:

DISNEY VACATION CLUB ANNOUNCES PLANNED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AT DISNEY’S WILDERNESS LODGE

Celebration, Fla. (September 22, 2015) – Today, Disney Vacation Club announced its next planned project will be at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, located on Bay Lake at Walt Disney World Resort.

The planned project at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, when completed, will be the 14th Disney Vacation Club development and the second at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Current plans call for the resort to feature deluxe accommodations, including waterfront cabins. In addition to the Disney Vacation Club project, other guest areas within Disney’s Wilderness Lodge are scheduled to undergo substantial enhancements and refurbishment, including new recreation and food and beverage options. More information and project details will be shared at a later date.
​

So the key words appear to be "including waterfront cabins". Why would they say "including" if the cabins were the entire project? And the plans they have filed don't include any other free standing villas other than the cabins. So by process of elimination, I think it's safe to say that if the new DVC resort is more than cabins, the only feasible other explanation is that they will be converting some of the WL rooms to DVC villas.

That added to the whole south wing of WL being boarded up and pictures of room tear outs on that wing make me pretty confident that we know the scope of the project. But you're right, they haven't given any details about what kind of villas the cabins will be, and whether they will be making 1BR and 2BR villas in addition to studios as part of the conversion.

By the way, this same press release makes it clear that CCCV and VWL will completely separate resorts other than the shared amenities.

 

[disneynutz]

The press release uses the word "planned" a couple of times. Planning a project is different than committing to a design, sales date, size of rooms, number of rooms, or anything else. The timeshare regulations must allow developers to use the word "planned".

I know that BLT went through several plans and finish schedules prior to construction, by not releasing information to the public, DVD was free to make changes.

Bill