Reflections still on the drawing board..

[bama_ed]

I've been going to the Fort for 5 decades.

There is no DVC room with a view that compares to the views at FW.



No doubt there are memories at WDW but DVC - but it's a declining asset. Oh but keep paying the dues. Even if you don't visit that year.

Literally - keep paying please - so I don't have to.

Bama Ed

 

[StormyCA]

I'm guessing they thought hiding it behind the Settlement was good enough. And the bungalows on Clementine's Beach will be an enhancement. (FWIW I haven't seen the beach cabins in the latest renderings)

j

Are there new renderings since they started up again? I have vague memories of the 'old stuff', but I haven't seen any 'new' renderings.

If so, can you point me in that direction?

 

[hertamaniac]

I've been going to the Fort for 5 decades.

There is no DVC room with a view that compares to the views at FW.



No doubt there are memories at WDW but DVC - but it's a declining asset. Oh but keep paying the dues. Even if you don't visit that year.

Literally - keep paying please - so I don't have to.

Bama Ed

I differentiate value between DVC ownership and DVC renters.

Some of our best memories are at FW staying at a cabin pre-DVC paying an AP or FL resident discount rate. While some of our other best onsite memories are renting DVC villas such as:

Treehouses at SSR
AKL - Kidani 2BR
VGF - 2BR
SSR - 2BR
OKW - 2BR

As a local, I have no desire to purchase a DVC new or resale contract. But I do enjoy purchasing last minute bookings at steep discounts within a 1–2 week travel window as I have full schedule flexibility. That gives me the ability to bounce to any DVC villa and not be target fixated on a home resort, wondering about availability, etc.

 

[tx911]

.

I differentiate value between DVC ownership and DVC renters.

Some of our best memories are at FW staying at a cabin pre-DVC paying an AP or FL resident discount rate. While some of our other best onsite memories are renting DVC villas such as:

Treehouses at SSR
AKL - Kidani 2BR
VGF - 2BR
SSR - 2BR
OKW - 2BR

As a local, I have no desire to purchase a DVC new or resale contract. But I do enjoy purchasing last minute bookings at steep discounts within a 1–2 week travel window as I have full schedule flexibility. That gives me the ability to bounce to any DVC villa and not be target fixated on a home resort, wondering about availability, etc.

That's awesome that renting works for you and you have that much flexibility.

For me, I wouldn't want to be locked in to a rental in case of cancellation, or take the risk that what I want didn't have availability when, where, and for how long I want to go. I'd much rather own and pay the dues and get the flexibility that comes with it.

In the end we all are going to spend money on vacations. DVC gives me quality vacations, and more of them, than I would have otherwise. And I can sell one or more or even all of my contracts 10 or 20 years from now if I want. Or, I can leave the contracts to my kids, and they can enjoy them with their families, for just the cost of dues.

 

[hertamaniac]

.

That's awesome that renting works for you and you have that much flexibility.

For me, I wouldn't want to be locked in to a rental in case of cancellation, or take the risk that what I want didn't have availability when, where, and for how long I want to go. I'd much rather own and pay the dues and get the flexibility that comes with it.

In the end we all are going to spend money on vacations. DVC gives me quality vacations, and more of them, than I would have otherwise. And I can sell one or more or even all of my contracts 10 or 20 years from now if I want. Or, I can leave the contracts to my kids, and they can enjoy them with their families, for just the cost of dues.

Steering my thoughts back onto the Reflections, IIRC it was conceptualized to have a hotel side/rooms and DVC villas. I do wonder if that is still valid.

One of the major appeals for us renting DVC is the ability to cook our own meals, specifically breakfast, in our villa(s). It saves us quite a bit of money, is enjoyable and feels like we're maximizing a resort amenity. We just stop at Publix on our way over and unload.

I think the views overlooking Bay Lake will be outstanding especially with a morning coffee on a deck.

 

[CarolynFH]

Steering my thoughts back onto the Reflections, IIRC it was conceptualized to have a hotel side/rooms and DVC villas. I do wonder if that is still valid.

I wonder that, too! From recent aerial photos it appears the footprint hasn’t changed, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t redesigned the interior to convert hotel rooms to DVC villas of various sizes. Sigh. I’m always waiting to see how something at WDW turns out!

 

[Teamubr]

Wow! Lots to unpack and comment on.

Most RVs depreciate like rocks.

I think most of us that have owned one understand that. There are a few select cases where that can be minimized, but if you've own at least one, you get that an RV is not a money maker. I just consider it an entertainment expense. I enjoy the RV lifestyle. Others prefer hotels, AirBnB, VRBO, international travel, cruises or even DVC. I also don't only vacation by RV. I was in a VRBO in St. Martin for a week in May and an AirBnB in NC this September. Hard to get the RV to St. Martin and it was cheaper to get a place in NC than drive the RV and stay at an RV park.

I don't feel DVC is replacing anything in my life. Just adding something to it.

If I only preferred to vacation at a Disney property, I would consider DVC. It would definitely add something to a WDW visit. I've stayed in a couple of DVC rooms/villas. They are as nice (or nicer) than places I've rented through VRBO. As someone stated earlier, DVC is one of the better time share programs.

I really don't see it as much different from DVC, tbh. Just a bit more flexible in terms of where you can go

That's how I view it.

Are there new renderings since they started up again? I have vague memories of the 'old stuff', but I haven't seen any 'new' renderings.

I haven't seen anything "new", Stormy. Most of the articles about the restart just have prior published artist renderings. Right before the pause though, most of the things from Disney only showed interior and exterior of the hotel buildings and the villas/bungalows/cabins near the water were absent.
That doesn't mean they have been removed from the plan, but Disney has done this before when changing projects. Previously announced or shown things just disappear, never to be referenced again. (Mary Poppins in EPCOT, new theater in MK down Marketplace Blvd (overflow walkway that exits by Tony's) on the CM parking lot.

Below are the newst pics I've found. These may not be "new", but I had not seen these until this year. Notice the only pics showing the water are the main building and ones titled "Dning Room".



j

 

[Brian Noble]

although they all fail the basic math test

They don't have to, as long as you remember this:

So you only buy NEW RV's (which depreciate faster than used RV's)? Recently used RV's are a much better buy.

Just as with an RV (or a car) it is possible to buy a "used" timeshare--sometimes for pennies-to-a-dime on the dollar. If you do that, then it is pretty easy to get the math to work out for a "better" timeshare. That takes a little bit of research, but it is possible.

DVC dis-places other opportunities you might have had.

DVC is a little unusual in that it is only a decent value for Disney-branded lodging, so this is a potential pitfall. But, it is also possible to have DVC (or really any vacation lodging option) be only a part of one's overall vacation portfolio. If you take two or three vacations every year, it's not particularly limiting to go to WDW once a year, or two out of every three years, etc. That's why Baskin-Robins has 31 flavors.

 

[bama_ed]

Although Dave Ramsey generally looks down on time share ownership, he has referred to DVC as the "best" of the lot.

Like @Teamubr said, if the only place you vacation is Disney, so be it. But my camper/rv is my cabin in the woods, my condo at the beach, and my timeshare at WDW.

As to R*, I wonder if it indeed will be 10 stories tall (maybe in the central building?) would that mean that the highest floor (or rooftop gathering place) would be above the tops of the remaining trees and able to provide a higher/better view of fireworks at MK?

ED

 

[Teamubr]

As to R*, I wonder if it indeed will be 10 stories tall (maybe in the central building?)

I thought the same thing, Ed. I remembered reading it would be 6-8 floors.

This image from the D23 announcement only shows 8, max. Doesn't mean there isn't a taller tower though.



j

 

[snacks]

I thought the same thing, Ed. I remembered reading it would be 6-8 floors.

But if you do count the tallest part in this artist rendering, there appears to be 10 floors.

View attachment 905207

j

That is a rendering of the new Island Tower at Polynesian. I do not know why the poster above included it here.

 

[Teamubr]

That is a rendering of the new Island Tower at Polynesian. I do not know why the poster above included it here.

I'm the one that posted it. The image definitely looks like the Island Tower now.

I collect web sites and images about R********** as I see them. The one I posted was from about a year ago and was in a collection of about 6 or 7 images that were supposed to be R**********.

Here is one on the DVC site for the Poly Island Tower. Definitely the same building. Post above edited.



j

 

[hertamaniac]

Although Dave Ramsey generally looks down on time share ownership, he has referred to DVC as the "best" of the lot.

Like @Teamubr said, if the only place you vacation is Disney, so be it. But my camper/rv is my cabin in the woods, my condo at the beach, and my timeshare at WDW.

As to R*, I wonder if it indeed will be 10 stories tall (maybe in the central building?) would that mean that the highest floor (or rooftop gathering place) would be above the tops of the remaining trees and able to provide a higher/better view of fireworks at MK?

ED

I think in this day where rooftop lounges are more the norm for WDW onsite builds, I can't imagine there won't be one at R*. That's easy money on the table or should I say ceiling. My only question is would that bar/lounge be exclusive to DVC like BLT? I surely hope not.

 

[rideswithchrist]

Those renderings make me so sad... We love the trees and peaceful atmosphere around The Fort, it felt almost like going back in time. Plus we don't have trees like that where I come from.


We almost were talked into DVC, ironically it was one of the booths at the Fort that got us to go to one of those meetings. But for us-we would spend all our money in points and have none left for camping because we are lower middle class

Dave would ALSO say pay cash for your RV

 

[bama_ed]

Dave would ALSO say pay cash for your RV

Yes he would. Those early years of depreciation are STEEP! Thus a "gently" used model is often an option.

PS - I follow that advise with my SUV's. "gently" used is what I do.

 

[Kidatheart2010]

Very busy building the base structure.

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

Does this mean they will be so busy over there that they won't end up building anything on the meadow?

 

[Teamubr]

Does this mean they will be so busy over there that they won't end up building anything on the meadow?

I'm pretty sure that Meadows project is something for the DVC cabins. I'd bet on it being a restaurant which generates $$$. Anything Disney can get money from goes pretty quickly.

j

 

[Teamubr]

Two cranes when we arrived last Saturday. And just like that,there are three.



Also a pretty clear elevator column rising up towards one end.

j

 

[Teamubr]

Pumping concrete this morning.



j