I agree. My parents and I were talking about this the other night, the cabins just aren't up to DVC "quality" for us. We can't imagine any scenario where we'd ever consider using our points to stay in them. If we wanted that rustic vibe, we'd splure for a Treehouse Villa.
First they call them cabins then trailers in the same article. I don’t care if the new ones arrive on wheels or are built onsite by Davy Crockett, they still look more like a modern prefab trailer / mini house than a cabin at a place called fort wilderness
Permanent implies they’ll be better able to withstand apparently increasingly severe weather. There can be no question a structure attached to the ground and up to code has a better chance against hurricanes; and we’re getting more tornadoes down here, too.
I do agree the lack of “woodsy” theming is a minus and was a big part of the cabins’ charm, but not a dealbreaker.
As for the rest, as always around here, just know that other people prefer things differently.
For me, in my party of two (plus eventually 1 or 2 pets) there are many advantages to this layout that far outweigh a washer/dryer. And I’m guessing there will be a common area for that, but I don’t know.
First, when you have pets, in addition to what I mentioned earlier, the convenience of just walking right out the door to pee is wonderful. You don’t have to go down 13 flights and find a designated area, you just open the door. That’s worth something.
You will 100% never have a family above you jumping around. You will never share a wall with people being loud or smoking. You will never even hear a toilet flush other than your own. You don’t even have to deal with people in a hallway or lobby, or all their germs, for that matter. That level of privacy, but still having amenities like restaurants, is unheard of in theme park resorts and worth a lot to me.
Then you have the setting itself: again, super quiet at night, peaceful, empty, nature, etc.
Horse and buggy, horseback riding, and other relatively unique things like archery, etc.
Inside the cabins: full kitchen (I guess that’s the same as other DVC) separate areas, and it doesn’t feel like you are in a hotel!
Overall I love the idea of the Cabins; I just don’t think buying DVC saves you much, but obligates you to a lot. And we get sometimes the same or slightly less discounts as FL residents/APs. Plus I can pay for my non-DVC Cabin with Chase Disney Visa points.
Vs. other DVC, if important, they sleep six without getting two rooms. That could be good for rental/resale, or could be outweighed by the washer/dryer situation for some. That might be less important to newbies, I don’t know.