News Disney Lakeshore Lodge (Project 89 - Development near Fort Wilderness)

[castlecake2.0]

A request has been made to the South Florida Water Management District to extend one of the permits related to this project by 5 more years.

 

[Indy_UK]

Bob is a liar and Disney loves to build DVCs

I’m sure they’ve certainly that all resorts going forward were to have a DVC component to it.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I’m sure they’ve certainly that all resorts going forward were to have a DVC component to it.

As long as they don't count the money they use to build new DVCs as money spent to "add capacity" to WDW.

 

[eddie104]

Was I the only fan of this project?

 

[Tha Realest]

A request has been made to the South Florida Water Management District to extend one of the permits related to this project by 5 more years.

South Florida Water Management District:

Upon reflection, we would like to keep our options open for a few more years.

Sincerely,

WDI

 

[UNCgolf]

Seems strange that they'd want to build more DVC when the Polynesian hasn't even opened yet and they still have a bunch of outstanding sales at the Riviera and elsewhere (at least that's my understanding -- I don't own DVC or have any interest in it).

 

[jmuboy]

Don’t forget the new Dvc trailer park at Fort Wilderness

 

[TeriofTerror]

Seems strange that they'd want to build more DVC when the Polynesian hasn't even opened yet and they still have a bunch of outstanding sales at the Riviera and elsewhere (at least that's my understanding -- I don't own DVC or have any interest in it).

From what I understand, the cabins aren't really selling at all. Maybe they think more nearby restaurants and facilities will help?
I don't get it. I am a DVC member, and my first choice for accommodations are those within walking distance of as many parks as possible. I stayed in Fort Wilderness several times as a child, and I was not a fan. The transportation options there were a pain.

 

[HauntedPirate]

A request has been made to the South Florida Water Management District to extend one of the permits related to this project by 5 more years.

"We can't sell the DVC FW Cabins, we should cut back..."

"FULL SPEED AHEAD!!! MORE MORE MOAR DVC!!!!!"

 

[HauntedPirate]

From what I understand, the cabins aren't really selling at all. Maybe they think more nearby restaurants and facilities will help?
I don't get it. I am a DVC member, and my first choice for accommodations are those within walking distance of as many parks as possible. I stayed in Fort Wilderness several times as a child, and I was not a fan. The transportation options there were a pain.

I sincerely hope this ridiculous idea for a DVC property never sells out. But as long as Bob and his type are in charge, there's going to be more and more DVC, at higher and higher prices. Because the DVC hamster wheel must keep spinning and spitting out money.

 

[mattpeto]

From what I understand, the cabins aren't really selling at all. Maybe they think more nearby restaurants and facilities will help?
I don't get it. I am a DVC member, and my first choice for accommodations are those within walking distance of as many parks as possible. I stayed in Fort Wilderness several times as a child, and I was not a fan. The transportation options there were a pain.

I think the dues are killing that on arrival.

 

[nickys]

Seems strange that they'd want to build more DVC when the Polynesian hasn't even opened yet and they still have a bunch of outstanding sales at the Riviera and elsewhere (at least that's my understanding -- I don't own DVC or have any interest in it).

By that token they would have stopped at Aulani.

They always want to have a resort in active sales. The Poly is likely to sell out much quicker than Riviera, since it’s adding the larger villas to the existing association. If sales are stagnating at Riviera and the Cabins, they’ll want something else to be selling. That’s how they think.

 

[nickys]

I think the dues are killing that on arrival.

If Reflections is simply added to the “DVC at FW” then the dues will kill Reflections as well. I suspect this will be a separate association for that reason.

Someone made a bad call on the Cabins and I wonder whether it’ll turn out to cost them their job. The idea of using DVC to pay to replace the Cabins only works if people buy in.

 

[pdude81]

Remember they are negotiating a new development agreement with CFTOD whenever they pretend they might build something.

 

[CastAStone]

I know reflections was a DVC-hotel hybrid as originally pitched but I can’t think of any reason to think that Disney, who tinkers with every plan constantly, would build the exact resort they outlined in 2019. It might be called reflections, but I don’t expect to see that product.

 

[UNCgolf]

By that token they would have stopped at Aulani.

They always want to have a resort in active sales. The Poly is likely to sell out much quicker than Riviera, since it’s adding the larger villas to the existing association. If sales are stagnating at Riviera and the Cabins, they’ll want something else to be selling. That’s how they think.

Aulani is different since it's not at WDW; it's not in direct competition to other properties.

 

[UNCgolf]

I know reflections was a DVC-hotel hybrid as originally pitched but I can’t think of any reason to think that Disney, who tinkers with every plan constantly, would build the exact resort they outlined in 2019. It might be called reflections, but I don’t expect to see that product.

I wouldn't expect them to just dust off the plans and build the exact same hotel either, but I also don't see them building a new hotel that doesn't include DVC.

 

[danlb_2000]

The permit that was extended was for general water management work so the extension would indicate they want to keep their options open to build something there, although what that is could change.

 

[ToTBellHop]

The permit that was extended was for general water management work so the extension would indicate they want to keep their options open to build something there, although what that is could change.

Does anyone happen to know what class of resort sells best at WDW? What do they even need more of?

 

[Virtual Toad]

The Cabins debacle (and by extension the "Reflectionization" of the campground) shows how tone deaf current WDW management is and underscores the complete lack of understanding they have in their own products and customer base.

If sales are indeed poor, a sizable portion of your traditional DVC customers, who prefer amenities and convenience, aren't buying in because of the perceived lack of amenities and convenience.

And a large portion of Ft. Wilderness "cabin" fans (like our family who loved the property and made multiple week-long visits each year for more than a decade), are completely turned off because the entire theme and much of what we loved about the place has been stripped away.

I'm not sure the first subset of guests could be won over by this project no matter what direction it took.

But WDW had a golden opportunity to convert a ton of cabin fans to happy DVC customers if they had just kept the theme of the cabins and campground intact.

Heck, I've always been super wary of DVC but would have signed up in a heartbeat if they'd just updated the existing cabins (or replaced them with newer versions of the same).

Ft. Wilderness isn't for everyone, but those who do like it are pretty passionate about it.

Maybe Disney has data to back up its decision, but building something that manages to alienate both sets of potential customers is certainly a head-scratcher.