Purchasing FW Cabins - direct or resale?

[VAMickeyFan]

Hi all,

We have been Polynesian owners since 2015 and love DVC. We have two kids and also love camping. We want to add on 75-150 points with the Cabins so we can do annual/bi annual split stays between PVB and CFW but I am hoping to get the best price possible. I keep hoping that the cabins go on a fire sale like what happened for VGF in summer 2023, but that doesn’t seem to be coming soon. I also haven’t seen a single resale contract. What

 

[lexxus379]

If you are willing to do 150 pts, you can do magical beginnings along with added $1000 off so with current incentives I think it brings it down to around $170/pt.

 

[Sandisw]

There have been so few contracts sold I don’t think you will see them on resale for a bit.

There is something in their thinking about them that hasn’t resulted in decent incentives. I wouldn’t expect that anytime soon.

 

[Tatebeck]

If you actually want to use the cabins, you can go ahead and buy whenever really. Like you said I don't think they are in a hurry to sell them out and put them on any major sale.

Even though the dues are high if you actually use the points at the cabins the low point cost for the number of guests they can hold still make it a decent value.

Now if you can wait for a bit you can see if they do go on sale just in case, or you can wait until the first resale points show up. Those may be the cheapest route by far if you can wait for them to show up. Because they are restricted points they should sell quite a bit cheaper resale than they do direct, and if you want to stay at the cabins that may not be an issue for you.

 

[Brian Noble]

We want to add on 75-150 points with the Cabins so we can do annual/bi annual split stays between PVB and CFW

I suspect the Cabins will rarely be very difficult to book. There is only one view/unit size, so the entire resort is a single booking category. I am not sure you need to own there unless you want e.g. Halloween or some other period that is a Big Deal at the Fort. You can't stay there with resale points at any other resort, but you can buy direct points at a lower-dues resort and stay there. That's probably what I would do.

 

[Patmcpsu]

There have been so few contracts sold I don’t think you will see them on resale for a bit.

I am very interested to see what the market rate will be for The Cabins when they hit resale. They have resale restrictions, so buyers will be limited to a niche resort. Maintenance fees are really high too, especially for a brand new property.

In other words, I don't see there being a lot of demand. It might actually become the lowest priced property on the resale market.

Yes, these cabins could be rolled into Lakeshore Lodge and become a lot more lucrative. No, I wouldn't speculatively buy the cabins based on that assumption.

 

[VAMickeyFan]

I should add we specifically want the cabins for Halloween and Christmas.

 

[tidefan]

I suspect the Cabins will rarely be very difficult to book. There is only one view/unit size, so the entire resort is a single booking category. I am not sure you need to own there unless you want e.g. Halloween or some other period that is a Big Deal at the Fort. You can't stay there with resale points at any other resort, but you can buy direct points at a lower-dues resort and stay there. That's probably what I would do.

Well, right now, since there are only 60 or so declared, it's tougher than you would think at 7-months. While they have sold terrible, they've proven pretty popular with the SAP crowd.

I should add we specifically want the cabins for Halloween and Christmas.

I think that the best route there would be a fixed week. That will insulate you from whatever shenanigans they may push down the road if they rebalance the point requirements via the trust (which they have specifically included language for them to do just that). Also, you still *may* retain some resale value as those are always going to be the desired times to go to the Fort.

 

[Flash_Sloth]

Well, right now, since there are only 60 or so declared, it's tougher than you would think at 7-months. While they have sold terrible, they've proven pretty popular with the SAP crowd.

I think that the best route there would be a fixed week. That will insulate you from whatever shenanigans they may push down the road if they rebalance the point requirements via the trust (which they have specifically included language for them to do just that). Also, you still *may* retain some resale value as those are always going to be the desired times to go to the Fort.

There is a lot more info in the Fixed Week thread, but I'll give you a few quick highlights:

First, you don't have to use your FW. You can cancel it and use them as normal DVC points. When you do use your FW, it will use the full allotment of current year points; it never uses banked or borrowed points.

You pay a 10% points premium with a FW contract, and the weeks are always Sunday-Sunday check-in/check-out. If that week would have cost 100 points, the FW would be 110 points. You cannot modify it to be Monday-Monday, or Saturday-Saturday, etc. To change the dates, you cancel the FW reservation and then book normally.

Your contract stays the same even if they rebalance the points charts. When I bought my FWs at RIV, I paid the 10% premium, but the way they've rebalanced the points charts since then, I'm coming out ahead and I get a little discount when I use my FW. This may work to your advantage or disadvantage.

Halloween is sometimes in FW43 and sometimes in FW44. If you buy FW43, you cannot walk your reservation to hit Halloween when it is in FW44. Again, cancel the FW and book normally.

Christmas is sometimes in FW51 and sometimes in FW52.

 

[Mle8308]

I don't think you will see any incentives any time soon. I 100% believe they will be the same association as the new Lake Shore Lodge, so they are in no rush to boost sales of the cabins. Any not sold or declared will continue to be available for cash, and there is a market for them. Now who knows what incentives they may offer when those points are available for sale (Lake Shore Lodge).

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

I should add we specifically want the cabins for Halloween and Christmas.

I’m at the cabins right now. Been here a week and leaving after Christmas. I love the cabins and almost bought a fixed/favorite week #50 here in December - which is my favorite time to visit. Even though it’s one of my favorite resorts, I decided to wait until more clarity exists with lake shore lodge and its relationship to the ft wilderness resort. All things considered, I would sooner buy a lakeshore cabin with a view of the water than the newly renovated cabins with a view of other cabins - and I am really enjoying these newly renovated cabins!

 

[JackosinDIS]

I’m at the cabins right now. Been here a week and leaving after Christmas. I love the cabins and almost bought a fixed/favorite week #50 here in December - which is my favorite time to visit. Even though it’s gone of my favorite resorts, I decided to wait until more clarity exists with lake shore lodge and its relationship to the ft wilderness resort. All things considered, I would sooner buy a lakeshore cabin with a view of the water than the newly renovated cabins with a view of other cabins - and I am really enjoying these newly renovated cabins!

Did you manage to use points to book at 7 months or is it a cash reservation out of interest?

 

[tx911]

almost bought a fixed/favorite week #50 here in December

I've always had you pegged as a man of restraint

 

[DonkeyHoTay]

Did you manage to use points to book at 7 months or is it a cash reservation out of interest?

SAP from my OKWe contracts booked at 7 months - I have two cabins for a week. So lovely this time of year!

I've always had you pegged as a man of restraint

LOL - I made up for my CFW restraint with a FW50 at the poly tower!

 

[Sandisw]

I should add we specifically want the cabins for Halloween and Christmas.

IMO, then you should buy there, direct....I am a big beliver that DVC is too expensive not to buy the home resort you want when you have one that is important to you. Hoping for the 7 month mark...which can be changed...can lead to disappointment.

Let's say the average extra in dues is $5/point.....that means you are paying an extra $500 to $750/year to own where you want? To me, its well worth it in the end...

 

[Brian Noble]

I should add we specifically want the cabins for Halloween and Christmas.

In that case, I think buying there is wise. After that the only questions are (a) how long are you willing to want and (b) how badly do you want to save the money in exchange for restricted points?

For the record, if I were in your shoes, I'd probably buy direct, and might even get the favorite week(s) that (usually) cover Christmas and/or Halloween. depending on which one I wanted more. But I'm also in a spendy mood.

 

[VAMickeyFan]

are folks split on the cabins being part of the lakeshore lodge?

 

[eticketplease]

are folks split on the cabins being part of the lakeshore lodge?

I believe it will be in the same trust

 

[MagicCat]

I bought a fixed week at the cabins for Halloween and went to the owner’s meeting they just had in December. They mentioned that they know the cabins are a hard sell right now because the resort is being built in phases and people can’t appreciate all of the amenities they will eventually have. I’m speculating that it will be tied into Lakeshore Lodge because there was a mention of the Reflections area in the purchasing paperwork. That would be great if it would lower the dues and if the cabins had access to the lazy river pool Lakeshore Lodge is getting that would be fabulous. I think a lot of people are waiting to see what happens before they decide. Either way it goes, I love Fort Wilderness and will be using my points there for Halloween and Christmas stays.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I should add we specifically want the cabins for Halloween and Christmas.

Then I would get a fixed week for one of those times of year as others have mentioned.