VWL during rehab

[disneyobessed]

IS anyone still booking Wilderness Lodge for next year despite the rehab? We love this place. Saw the quiet pool has been demolished. What are the chances of it being done by next summer?

 

[drusba]

No chance it will be done next summer. In fact, no chance it will be done 2016 because even Disney is estimating some time in 2017 and likely the latter part. As to bookings, VWL is not filing in 2016 at the same pace it did in years past, e.g., every year it is generally open at 7 months out Jan thru Sep and often even beyond, but the even beyond has become longer than before since most of June is still open in all rooms and you can still easily get 1BRs or 2BRs in most of March thru June.

 

[wildernessDad]

I'm planning on booking VWL for December, 2016.

 

[DMOMof3]

I will be there this Saturday evening for my first solo trip, don't care about the construction. Can't wait to see it all decorated for the holiday!

 

[disneyobessed]

I phrased my question wrong. What are the chances of the DVC pool being complete by next summer... I know the rest wont be but maybe the pool. Are there any blueprints of what the pool area will look like? Also the regular rooms that are being converted will they be same point value?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

What are the chances of the DVC pool being complete by next summer

Pretty close to zero, based on the experience of the Poly pool.

Also, this is what Disney themselves say, boldface mine:
"Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is currently undergoing a transformation! You may see or hear work in progress while we create new magic—including enhancements to Hidden Springs Pool, which will be closed from November 2, 2015 through 2017."

They wouldn't say "through 2017" if they thought the pool would be open in summer.

 

[Dean Marino]

Actual experience - We are VWL DVC Members. We stayed at VWL mid November. During our stay, the quiet pool was demolished. Work started at 9:00 AM, and was always stopped by 5:00 PM. Any noise, involving some serious large scale jackhammers, could not be heard unless one went to the VWL outside smoking area. My dear wife has posted photos of the activity on Humphrey's Facebook Site. The demo was serious, conducted WELL with regard to guests, and really progressed soundly over an eight day period.

By 11-21, the entire Quite pool had been demolished. That would represent pretty decent progress toward the goal of quite pool replacement by 2-2016. No - I have no idea if WDW contractors will actually MEET that goal.... just that they seemed to be pretty serious, in November, about the whole thing.

The permits for the VWL expansion run through 2018. There is no guarantee of anything being complete prior to this. However - given the scope of the project, I would personally suspect that WDW has a private timeline for milestones. Completion of the Quite Pool Area, with movement of construction toward the outer beach areas - BY SPRING, would have been high on my list IF I worked for this corporation.

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[disneyobessed]

Thanks for all the input... Will be following closely. Does anyone know if they are limiting the amount of rooms they are booking due to construction? The pool is a major issue and need with going in August.

 

[Tinkerbelljean]

IS anyone still booking Wilderness Lodge for next year despite the rehab? We love this place. Saw the quiet pool has been demolished. What are the chances of it being done by next summer?

I booked in April for a December 6-12 stay. WE asked,and asked and begged to be transferred to a different property when the construction was announced in August. No way. Disney did nothing to move us or compensate our points. Had an awful trip. VWL stays are spoiled for me and I can't believe Disney will not compensate points for THEIR construction ruining my vacation. I will never stay there again.

 

[DenLo]

I thought the 2018 date (not 2017) is for completion of all WL construction, not just the pool. It is possible the pool will be finished earlier, but highly doubtful for the summer of 2016 as all they have done is removed the old pool and are leveling out the dirt. However, construction of the cabins in front of VWL and the restaurant on the beach could still mean a lot of noise for VWL rooms. Also isn't there a couple of buildings being added to the Villas pool area too? If it is anything like they are building for the Oasis (East) pool at the Poly then the Oasis pool construction was started in June and as of December still had a lot of work to be done, the pool cement was being polished, and they were still laying the deck concrete and just adding the roofing for the buildings, the sidings are still not done and none of the entire work of the building has been started and that is after 6 months of work. The Oasis pool also has two buildings being added, one appears to be rest rooms and the second a pool bar with possible food options. That would be a nice addition to the VWL pool IMO.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I thought the 2018 date (not 2017) is for completion of all WL construction, not just the pool. It is possible the pool will be finished earlier, but highly doubtful for the summer of 2016 as all they have done is removed the old pool and are leveling out the dirt. However, construction of the cabins in front of VWL and the restaurant on the beach could still mean a lot of noise for VWL rooms. Also isn't there a couple of buildings being added to the Villas pool area too? If it is anything like they are building for the Oasis (East) pool at the Poly then the Oasis pool construction was started in June and as of December still had a lot of work to be done, the pool cement was being polished, and they were still laying the deck concrete and just adding the roofing for the buildings, the sidings are still not done and none of the entire work of the building has been started and that is after 6 months of work. The Oasis pool also has two buildings being added, one appears to be rest rooms and the second a pool bar with possible food options. That would be a nice addition to the VWL pool IMO.

My suspicion is that the pool will be finished prior to that completion date. The Poly pool is supposed to open sometime this spring so it would be approx a 9-10 month timeframe. I'd hope they have some respect for current VWL owners and not be waiting to complete the pool until the final project is done. So, if it follows a similar time as Poly and started in Nov one might hope they are done by end of summer 2016. It looks like there is some building(s) going in around the area but I'd be very surprised if they are squeezing similar structures as they are at PVB. They have showers and restroom at VWL already so that building is not specifically needed. A BBQ area should be added to replace the poor sad one they had out by the beach. All my best guess in part based on a conversation I had with Disney's Guest Experience prior to them beginning construction - it just seemed like the project would be completed in steps and the first to finish was the pool but they did not specifically state that either.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I will be taking my chances. I'm banking some VWL points from 2016 in anticipation that most of the refurb will be done in early January 2018. I'll be booking a 1 bedroom during first week of January so fingers crossed that pool is completed by then!!