Wilderness Lodge

[dbavis]

I am fairly seriously considering buying into DVC at Wilderness Lodge. I've always liked this resort and the contracts seem reasonably priced on the resale market. I've done a fair amount of research but haven't come across a lot of strong opinions one way or the other regarding buying into the Wilderness Lodge. I'd appreciate anyone else's thoughts. What am i missing or why should I consider a different resort?
Also, do you think that the DVC expansion at this resort will have any impact (negative or positive) on existing members?

 

[viper17d]

We just recently closed on a resale purchase at VWL (our first!). I'm pretty sure our thought process was similar to yours - it's a great resort, good theming, close to MK, and good value. You definitely lose on contract length, but you make that back in the resale prices.

Obviously, VWL is not for you if: i) you want monorail access, ii) you want to be walking distance to either a park or Disney Springs, iii) you want a long contract, or iv) you won't be able to stand a newer, nicer DVC offering being built in your back yard.

Those are all legitimate things to worry about if any of those scare you. As for the DVC expansion, I think the general consensus here is that your points will have the same value, your annual dues won't increase (that much), the shared amenities will be updated, but some of the theming might be harmed by the expansion. Resale values on VWL likely won't be helped or harmed in any material sense.

If you like VWL and don't think you'll care that something newer and nicer (and much more $$$$$) is coming soon, I think VWL is a great choice! Good luck!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Absolutely keep in mind that the DVC being built at WL is 100% separate from the existing VWL/Boulder Ride Villas crazy2. So points purchased resale right now will never have 11-month booking for the new units (or they for the VWL units, which are undoubtedly going to be a lower point cost unit, and possibly smaller, but who knows).

I think the resort as a whole will be somewhat busier year round with the conversion of the Lodge rooms, as DVC tends to run higher occupancy than the hotel side.

 

[disneynutz]

The new DVC there might cause the old DVC to lower in price as people what to buy new. Less demand means a lower price.

Bill

 

[BillPA]

Absolutely keep in mind that the DVC being built at WL is 100% separate from the existing VWL/Boulder Ride Villas crazy2. So points purchased resale right now will never have 11-month booking for the new units (or they for the VWL units, which are undoubtedly going to be a lower point cost unit, and possibly smaller, but who knows).

I think the resort as a whole will be somewhat busier year round with the conversion of the Lodge rooms, as DVC tends to run higher occupancy than the hotel side.

It is also true that current/resale owners of the existing VWL are the only ones to have the 11 month window on the existing DVC VWL units.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It is also true that current/resale owners of the existing VWL are the only ones to have the 11 month window on the existing DVC VWL units.

Absolutely -- I think I said that, although maybe the "who knows" confused? We have no clue the point values for the new units at Copper Creek Blah Blah.

 

[Dawn T.]

I just closed on a small resale contract in order to make a quick trip every year to enjoy the Christmas decorations. Our first home resort was the Boardwalk for the incredible convenience of a short walk to two parks. I consider the VWL purchase to be our Magic Kingdom resort, just a quick boat ride to a more serene environment than the monorail resorts. I am hoping that they'll restore the construction area in order to recapture the nature walk path to the Fort. I'm a bit concerned about no quiet pool, but in December it may not be pool weather anyway. Also love the restaurants. I'm in the camp that believes that the enhanced shared amenities will help hold the value of our VWL points. But if not, simply walking into the lobby of the lodge around the holidays makes me really happy.

 

[Dean]

I am fairly seriously considering buying into DVC at Wilderness Lodge. I've always liked this resort and the contracts seem reasonably priced on the resale market. I've done a fair amount of research but haven't come across a lot of strong opinions one way or the other regarding buying into the Wilderness Lodge. I'd appreciate anyone else's thoughts. What am i missing or why should I consider a different resort?
Also, do you think that the DVC expansion at this resort will have any impact (negative or positive) on existing members?

As noted, there will be 2 resorts there. One new and one older expiring in 25.5 yrs and they will be separate as if they were miles apart other than sharing common amenities with the resort in general. Some really like the resort, others are just so so but I haven't seen many that simply don't like it. IMO the big issue is the 2042 expiration date, if one is OK with that in general terms, it simply becomes a financial comparison between that choice and others like SSR, AKV or retail maybe in the new resort there. Thus for those that just want into the club and to use points here and there, it's likely not a great choice but if one wants to use there and are OK with the other limitations, it is. You then just have to figure out how you're going to compare to a resort that expires later. I wouldn't let the expiration date be an issue but I would consider the value of the lost years. Generally the best long terms values for general use are SSR & BLT from a $$$ standpoint. Of the 2042 resorts BWV & OKW will likely be the cheapest if one makes use of the standard view options at BWV and buys less points. OKW is more scary on the 2057 side because of the fact that roughly 2/3 of the current owners will drop out of the group and stop paying fees. In all likelihood it'll be closer to half not 2/3 by the time we get to the expiration date as some do extend and points are taken back with DVD and resold as 2057 RTU.

 

[pmaurer74]

We purchase WLV a year ago. It was tough to find a contract then, not as much now. We love WLV. I am considering buying points at the new resort someday but I really like GFV too. BRV (older villas) will likely be 50% less in price with a 50% shorter contract than C3V(new villas) so it depends upon what you are looking for. BRV will likely be fewer points per room but we do not know for sure yet.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

We were on the fence about resorts and the biggest negative for us was the short contract length. We only have one child who is 8 months old now and convenience is going to be a huge factor for us over the next several years. I just kept an eye out on contracts and waited for one to come along that felt right (SSR, AKL and VWL). I thought I was sold on a larger SSR contract that would have a longer term but then a small loaded VWL came up at a great price and we knew it was just meant to be. VWL is home for us, we absolutely love it and the convenience it offers to MK. The construction and addition of the new DVC resort wasn't really a concern of ours. Disney seems to always be changing things all the time so who is to say they wouldn't do the same at another resort a few years down the road. Our hope is that in 5-10 years we will be able to buy a larger block of points at a different resort with a longer contract (or at the new VWL).

 

[mustinjourney]

As noted, there will be 2 resorts there. One new and one older expiring in 25.5 yrs and they will be separate as if they were miles apart other than sharing common amenities with the resort in general. Some really like the resort, others are just so so but I haven't seen many that simply don't like it. IMO the big issue is the 2042 expiration date, if one is OK with that in general terms, it simply becomes a financial comparison between that choice and others like SSR, AKV or retail maybe in the new resort there. Thus for those that just want into the club and to use points here and there, it's likely not a great choice but if one wants to use there and are OK with the other limitations, it is. You then just have to figure out how you're going to compare to a resort that expires later. I wouldn't let the expiration date be an issue but I would consider the value of the lost years. Generally the best long terms values for general use are SSR & BLT from a $$$ standpoint. Of the 2042 resorts BWV & OKW will likely be the cheapest if one makes use of the standard view options at BWV and buys less points. OKW is more scary on the 2057 side because of the fact that roughly 2/3 of the current owners will drop out of the group and stop paying fees. In all likelihood it'll be closer to half not 2/3 by the time we get to the expiration date as some do extend and points are taken back with DVD and resold as 2057 RTU.

Would the fees for OKW change though? Doesn't Disney just become the owner of all those expiring units? I have done zero research, but I would have to guess that it is organized in such a way as to avoid your doomsday scenario.

 

[DenLo]

Would the fees for OKW change though? Doesn't Disney just become the owner of all those expiring units? I have done zero research, but I would have to guess that it is organized in such a way as to avoid your doomsday scenario.

It depends if the expiring OKW no longer exists there might not be any points to share the costs. DVC might just close off some of the resort. Or start remodeling the buildings or leveling the site for the next offering, OKW2.

 

[Dean]

Would the fees for OKW change though? Doesn't Disney just become the owner of all those expiring units? I have done zero research, but I would have to guess that it is organized in such a way as to avoid your doomsday scenario.

We don't know what will happen. Will they effectively close down what they own. Will they use it for college housing or rentals? Will they do a major upgrade and resell partly at the other owners expense. We simply don't know. IMO it represents risk and uncertainty. From what I can tell, DVD owns ROUGHLY 2/3 of the resort or slightly less now and as they ROFR and resell some, they will still likely be at around half if there are no major incentives that transfer it such as free OKW points with a retail purchase. So OKW owners have even less protection at that point than the rest of the resorts, not that we have much now.

 

[disneynutz]

By then the executives will have retired with golden parachutes and Disney will be owned by some foreign company.

Bill

 

[Dean]

By then the executives will have retired with golden parachutes and Disney will be owned by some foreign company.

Bill

I'm not that pessimistic, I wouldn't own at all if I was. But the possibility exists that the culture at Disney and DVC will be quite different and usually those things are negative to owners of a timeshare. This is part of the risks of owning timeshares and an aspect that anyone should consider buying in.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There would have to be a decent number of rooms cycled in on property to permit taking as many as exist with 2042 dates completely out of circulation all at once. While sure, maybe the DVCers who own those properties will be ready not to visit as often, it's still a significant chunk of property.

 

[disneynutz]

I'm not that pessimistic, I wouldn't own at all if I was. But the possibility exists that the culture at Disney and DVC will be quite different and usually those things are negative to owners of a timeshare. This is part of the risks of owning timeshares and an aspect that anyone should consider buying in.

Not a pessimistic now but Luke, I sense that you are being pulled to the dark side.

Bill

 

[Dean]

Not a pessimistic now but Luke, I sense that you are being pulled to the dark side.

Bill

How about a pessimist is an optimistic with experience or Murphy was an optimist.

 

[BillPA]

If my count is correct, there are 5,787 total DVC units including those at WDW and the other locations. Of which 2,087 expire Jan 31, 2042.
Minus the few OKW that extended. That's a lot of non-paying units for DVD to manage.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If my count is correct, there are 5,787 total DVC units including those at WDW and the other locations. Of which 2,087 expire Jan 31, 2042.
Minus the few OKW that extended. That's a lot of non-paying units for DVD to manage.

I don't know that managing them would be a huge trauma; it's mostly a staffing and accounting shift. But that is certainly a LLT of capacity to pull from overall on-property inventory at once, which is why I think if some of them are slated for re-development and re-sale, it will be done in stages. I would expect places like BCV and BWV to be earlier-stage, assuming a re-imagining of Epcot at some point, and ongoing growth of Intellectual Property Studios. They're too closely linked to non-DVC properties to go too wild.