Rumor: new DVC resort on old River Country grounds, north of WL

[gkrykewy]

This is a fun one from Screamscape today:

http://www.screamscape.com/html/walt_disney_world_resort.htm#NewResort

2013/2014 - New Disney DVC Resort Hotel - Rumor - (9/1/10) According to our sources, Disney engineers have been spotted going over the site, to determine just what will need to be done to remove the remains of Water Country. Others have been seen near the front of Fort Wilderness talking about plans to build new barn facilities to move the current Tri Circle D Ranch to a new location. As for the resort itself, I’ve been told that this will be a new DVC Resort, with the design being based on the old Buffalo Junction plans from years ago (minus the now defunct Fort Wilderness Railroad and other extra features), filling the gap between the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness. You can find a nice article about the once proposed Buffalo Junction (aka: Wilderness Junction) concept at Progress City USA.
(8/31/10) Screamscape has been sent an interesting rumor that claims Disney’s Tri Circle D Ranch area, the nearby beach area along the lake and the former River Country property may all be planned to be leveled sometime next summer, to clear the site to make way for a brand new mega Disney resort project. Anyone else know more about this?

Relevant background from the Project City USA article that is linked:

While it seems unlikely that the Fort Wilderness Railroad will ever return, there was a brief window in time during which it was poised for a revival. During the so-called “Disney Decade” of the 1990s, plans were underway for a new resort between the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness. Alternately called “Wilderness Junction” or “Buffalo Junction”, the hotel would be similar to Disneyland Paris’s Hotel Cheyenne. It would resemble the street of a western town in the late 19th century, providing a thematic link between the early frontier theme of Fort Wilderness and the early 20th century national park theme of the Wilderness Lodge. The hotel would combine lodging with dining venues, shops and entertainment; it would also allegedly feature a stateside version of Paris’s Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

Disneyland Paris Hotel Cheyenne:

 

[Tigger031266]

Thats quite a rumor. I have to say that I like the thought pattern. I think the location and themes are good.

I don't buy the mega disney resort. Seems to me that the economy is too sour to attempt that unless it is external money again (Ritz...). I think that Disney is having difficulty fillling existing rooms...

 

[JWG]

I still say Grand Floridian is first. Though, maybe they can't figure out how to make limited service mousekeeping attractive to the high end guest?

This would surprise me as there are other plots that just seem more likely.

 

[jamie@dvcstore]

Hi gkrykewy,
Very interesting. As an owner at WL it sounds good to me as I love that area. Now all we can do is wait and see. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Dizny Dad]

Check with one of the Bus Drivers . . .

 

[Disneypirate85]

Check with one of the Bus Drivers . . .

LOL....

 

[dan and scott]

Been to Disneyland Paris once-stayed at the Disneyland Hotel-beautiful
Visited Hotel Cheyenne-was not overly impressed--reminded me of a cheap All-Star with western theming--just weird in France
Personally I think there are enough rustic WDW DVC properties to stay at.
Wished they would have built Eagle Pines and not gave it away to the Waldorf and its sister properties

Scott

 

[Deb & Bill]

..Visited Hotel Cheyenne-was not overly impressed--reminded me of a cheap All-Star with western theming--just weird in France
Personally I think there are enough rustic WDW DVC properties to stay at.
...Scott

I agree with your call on Hotel Cheyenne. Looks terrible to me.

And I think there are enough WDW DVC properties period to stay at, let alone rustic ones.

 

[Jaaron2]

Grand Floridian now that would be awesome! I would love to see either there or the Poly get a DVC! That would be an add on must

 

[Eventer98]

I have to say I like the idea of a "Frontier Town" kind of hotel BUT I do not like the idea of FW being built up.....we love staying at WL and visiting FW b/c it is out of the way and usually quiet. Especially in the mornings when we take the kids to the FW playground by Trails End. So if they did do this, and yes the bus drivers would need to confirm all this, it would all depend on where. I would just hate to lose any part of the FW area that surrounds Pioneer Hall.

 

[Sammie]

This has been discussed in great detail on the Fort Wilderness Campground forum. Needless to say it was not being well recieved by some of the campers.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[bwvBound]

It would resemble the street of a western town in the late 19th century, providing a thematic link between the early frontier theme of Fort Wilderness and the early 20th century national park theme of the Wilderness Lodge. The hotel would combine lodging with dining venues, shops and entertainment; it would also allegedly feature a stateside version of Paris’s Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

Great ... another place that begs for horses and likely not one to be found.

(The other place I'm referring to is DVC SSR. You really shouldn't have a space called "The Paddock" without at least two or three horses gracing the landscape. Really.)

 

[gkrykewy]

Great ... another place that begs for horses and likely not one to be found.

(The other place I'm referring to is DVC SSR. You really shouldn't have a space called "The Paddock" without at least two or three horses gracing the landscape. Really.)

The Paris one has horses! But agree with the overall comments on the aesthetic raised above - it's quite flat and 'valuey'

 

[wildernessDad]

I thought that I read recently that Robert Iger was in the River Country area looking around. This ties in with what the OP is reporting.

 

[hakepb]

Great ... another place that begs for horses and likely not one to be found.

(The other place I'm referring to is DVC SSR. You really shouldn't have a space called "The Paddock" without at least two or three horses gracing the landscape. Really.)

ss

SSR would be much,much nicer looking with some horses running around (well not in the pedestrian areas)

What Disney has done with AKV did make me think a dude ranch DVC might be really, really nice. But, it needs real animals. (Is it possible to raise buffalo in FL)

 

[JimMIA]

(Is it possible to raise buffalo in FL)

Yes, we have some in the Miami area...seriously. They're actually bison (buffalo is a different critter, as in Water Buffalo), and they're fine once you get past the truly ugly, smell bad, aggressive and deadly, and dumb as a bag of rocks part.

 

[jennypenny]

Check out the thread on the camping board. They have been discussing this for a while. And construction has already begun in the River Country area. (the thread has some pictures--those campers are really good at the recon stuff )

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2539828

I guess some salvaged parts of RC would make for a nicely themed pool, but otherwise I don't get it. If BCV and BLT were/are the fastest selling DVC hotels, why would they build one that doesn't fit that business model?

Honestly, why are they building ANY more at WDW??

 

[zalansky]

That rustic hotel does not hold any appeal to me at all. Now, doing something on the land where RC lies, yes. Maybe another resort I could see but not what is being reported. I have never stayed at Poly but would love to see more of something along the tropical lines. I love these rumors though, I must admit!

 

[twinboysmom]

I guess I am in the minority but I would love to see it built. I do tend to agree enough with DVC but I so want this. My DH grew up staying at FW so he is really excited about this rumor. On another note, as for the hotels at Disney Paris looking like an all star, this is fairly common in Europe. From my experiences traveling throughout Europe over the years, the hotels are not what we as North Americans are used to. Even most Best Westerns make their finer hotels look plain. Of course ere are always exceptions like the hotels in London however.

 

[hakepb]

I still say Grand Floridian is first. Though, maybe they can't figure out how to make limited service mousekeeping attractive to the high end guest?

This would surprise me as there are other plots that just seem more likely.

There seems to be enough cash being thrown at the GF that they could easily offer a 10% points premium for full service, and use that extra 10% availability charging cash guests for "ulitmate suites". How about a 4BR (dual master), grand piano costing 2x the points of a BLT MK view GV (only 30% more floor space) and I thought the BLT points were insane