News Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge (Project 89 - Development near Fort Wilderness)

[rle4lunch]

Right...but that's more the gen X/gen y "adventurist crowd" (typically)...the "REI mafia"....I don't know if that translates into a strong fort wilderness longterm

Don't you worry, I'm sure the bearded millenial hipster idiots will find a way to popularize/urbanize/decamperize and ultimately ruin the camping experience to fit their warped view of past through the introduction of propane powered faux campfires with composite logs to 'simulate' the 'true' camping excursion. Couple that with their mesquite grilled locally sustainable sourced sushi kebobs and roasted kale, lightly salted with kosher sea salt with a demiglaze and raspberry chutney on the side. Paired of course with an ice code Pabst Blue Ribbon, for that 'genuine' outdoorsman appearance to the other nearby campers. All the while, making sure that the song Renegade is playing softly in the background by the X Ambassadors on repeat.

Hell, I could see the people running Disney putting something together like this in an upcharged packet to sell to them. Cha-ching boys, we've got a winner!

 

[fngoofy]

DVC is currently expanding at a rate of one new condominium association every 2-3 years. At this rate, we could expect 4 - 6 DVC resorts, including the Riviera, by 2030. Currently, there are 11 DVC resorts at WDW. Does anyone else wonder about the ceiling?

If new resorts are constructed up until 2042, the year of the first round of expiring resorts (i.e., Beach Club, BoardWalk, Boulder Ridge, and original Old Key West contracts that have not been extended), then the DVC system would have 8 to 12 additional condominium associations, with a total timeshare presence at WDW of 19 - 23 resorts.

Is it just me, or does anyone else think about this growth rate and its saturation point?

Well,
The DVC is doing better than overall occupancy from the last report I read. That is why they are converting the concierge rooms/floor in the main Wilderness Lodge building to DVC. Granted, concierge is a niche that has lost relevancy in the age of the dining plan, but rather than convert those rooms to normal occupancy, they went DVC because there is not as much demand for regular rooms.
That isn't to say that WDW regular rooms are on the decline, it's just that we had 20+ years of resort development and we are waiting for demand (SW:GE) to drive demand up.

Speaking of SW:GE, that is the type of experiential resort that (if it works) we will see more of. Boutique resorts, smallish in size, that are a premium. They make the deluxe resorts blush when you consider the profit margin.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Well,
The DVC is doing better than overall occupancy from the last report I read. That is why they are converting the concierge rooms/floor in the main Wilderness Lodge building to DVC. Granted, concierge is a niche that has lost relevancy in the age of the dining plan, but rather than convert those rooms to normal occupancy, they went DVC because there is not as much demand for regular rooms.
That isn't to say that WDW regular rooms are on the decline, it's just that we had 20+ years of resort development and we are waiting for demand (SW:GE) to drive demand up.

Speaking of SW:GE, that is the type of experiential resort that (if it works) we will see more of. Boutique resorts, smallish in size, that are a premium. They make the deluxe resorts blush when you consider the profit margin.

A recession’s going to kill their current business model once they realize the market for those resorts, at those rates, is untenable.

Also, current DVC is a parasite antithetical to good business planning and its initial charter.

 

[ford91exploder]

Setting aside for a minute what they might be doing to the soil that could be "misconstrued"!

I'm thinking this could go one of two ways. It could be straightforward drilling to see what kind of foundations might be needed in the future, what they might be building on (toxicity etc).

But a temporary Wetland Exhibit could also be something akin to Discovery Island perhaps? Demolish the existing unsafe structures and create some kind of wildlife reserve/sanctuary.

It would be a shame if FW is going to be over-shadowed by another resort. OTOH, maybe they want to expand the cabins.

Looks like that DVC slated for River Country that I think @marni1971 or @danlb_2000 shared here a couple of years ago might be happening the one with the Tipi inspired villas

 

[Minthorne]

Don't you worry, I'm sure the bearded millenial hipster idiots will find a way to popularize/urbanize/decamperize and ultimately ruin the camping experience to fit their warped view of past through the introduction of propane powered faux campfires with composite logs to 'simulate' the 'true' camping excursion. Couple that with their mesquite grilled locally sustainable sourced sushi kebobs and roasted kale, lightly salted with kosher sea salt with a demiglaze and raspberry chutney on the side. Paired of course with an ice code Pabst Blue Ribbon, for that 'genuine' outdoorsman appearance to the other nearby campers. All the while, making sure that the song Renegade is playing softly in the background by the X Ambassadors on repeat.

Hell, I could see the people running Disney putting something together like this in an upcharged packet to sell to them. Cha-ching boys, we've got a winner!

You sound like a square dad from the 70's yelling about those hippies with their rock and roll and dancing!

 

[asianway]

With Copper Creek still for sale and the Riviera not for sale yet, I’m thinking this isn’t DVC, but perhaps the long ago rumored moderate resort; Wilderness Junction. With just four moderates, there is probably a need for more room inventory in this category; especially with French Quarter being small and Caribbean Beach loosing rooms.

I think it would fit in well in between the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness in terms of theming and resort category.

There will be no more moderates(even the existing ones), and they certainly arent going to build one on prime lake front real estate.

 

[Movielover]

You sound like a square dad from the 70's yelling about those hippies with their rock and roll and dancing!

Red Forman is not amused...

 

[Captain Barbossa]

At first I thought that too, but My wife and I are 32 and see lots of campers around our age each trip we take.

I agree. Camping isn't going anywhere anytime soon. I see and know of a lot of people, young and old, who were not in to camping, but now thats all they do for a vacation. Heck, if I had a pop-up, that's where I'd stay. Only $55 a night!

 

[rle4lunch]

You sound like a square dad from the 70's yelling about those hippies with their rock and roll and dancing!

Thanks! As a child of the 80's I take a lot of credit from my dad's rants about things. In this case, this is exactly how I feel about the recent decade of morons that somehow think that they're romanticizing a bygone era through selectively choosing styles and themes that seem cool to them, whilst at the same time turning themselves into a lifesized walking/talking parody that most of society laughs at either openly or secretly after said-hipster has left their vicinity.

 

[wdisney9000]

Don't you worry, I'm sure the bearded millenial hipster idiots will find a way to popularize/urbanize/decamperize and ultimately ruin the camping experience to fit their warped view of past through the introduction of propane powered faux campfires with composite logs to 'simulate' the 'true' camping excursion. Couple that with their mesquite grilled locally sustainable sourced sushi kebobs and roasted kale, lightly salted with kosher sea salt with a demiglaze and raspberry chutney on the side. Paired of course with an ice code Pabst Blue Ribbon, for that 'genuine' outdoorsman appearance to the other nearby campers. All the while, making sure that the song Renegade is playing softly in the background by the X Ambassadors on repeat.

Hell, I could see the people running Disney putting something together like this in an upcharged packet to sell to them. Cha-ching boys, we've got a winner!

Soy Boy Resort and Campgrounds!

 

[ABQ]

Don't you worry, I'm sure the bearded millenial hipster idiots will find a way to popularize/urbanize/decamperize and ultimately ruin the camping experience to fit their warped view of past through the introduction of propane powered faux campfires with composite logs to 'simulate' the 'true' camping excursion. Couple that with their mesquite grilled locally sustainable sourced sushi kebobs and roasted kale, lightly salted with kosher sea salt with a demiglaze and raspberry chutney on the side. Paired of course with an ice code Pabst Blue Ribbon, for that 'genuine' outdoorsman appearance to the other nearby campers. All the while, making sure that the song Renegade is playing softly in the background by the X Ambassadors on repeat.

Hell, I could see the people running Disney putting something together like this in an upcharged packet to sell to them. Cha-ching boys, we've got a winner!

I just had to quote this, even though it's been quoted, as it needs to be quoted a thousand times to expose just how much awesomeness there is in this post.

 

[rle4lunch]

I just had to quote this, even though it's been quoted, as it needs to be quoted a thousand times to expose just how much awesomeness there is in this post.

Ha, thanks. I have my moments.

 

[matt9112]

There will be no more moderates(even the existing ones), and they certainly arent going to build one on prime lake front real estate.

exactly if anything pricing for the value and moderates will begin to shoot up with redesigned amenities and the sky liner. if you can't drop a few hundred a night off site for you peasant.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I agree. Camping isn't going anywhere anytime soon. I see and know of a lot of people, young and old, who were not in to camping, but now thats all they do for a vacation. Heck, if I had a pop-up, that's where I'd stay. Only **** $55 a night!*****

Yep...what problem could disney possibly have with that???

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

exactly if anything pricing for the value and moderates will begin to shoot up with redesigned amenities and the sky liner. if you can't drop a few hundred a night off site for you peasant.

That's 100% guaranteed...any suggestion it's not is "magic bean" territory at this point. They have no desire to house the "budget" crowd any longer. It's plain as day.

Again...look at the rack rates now at port orleans...which is as out of the way as you can get.

 

[matt9112]

That's 100% guaranteed...any suggestion it's not is "magic bean" territory at this point. They have no desire to house the "budget" crowd any longer. It's plain as day.

Again...look at the rack rates now at port orleans...which is as out of the way as you can get.

sad too because I'm a sucker I enjoy the little magic of being on site vs DTD ect....I love that channel on the tvs.....but it's reaching ludacris levels.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

That's 100% guaranteed...any suggestion it's not is "magic bean" territory at this point. They have no desire to house the "budget" crowd any longer. It's plain as day.

Yep...what problem could disney possibly have with that???

Margin is much more important than total revenue. Disney is plenty happy collecting $55 for a "room" that they don't have to clean, cool, light, or refurbish.

 

[mm121]

There will be no more moderates(even the existing ones), and they certainly arent going to build one on prime lake front real estate.

yea disney is no longer a destination for the middle class, disney only wants the rich

 

[mm121]

Margin is much more important than total revenue. Disney is plenty happy collecting $55 for a "room" that they don't have to clean, cool, light, or refurbish.

technically they do cool and light them as they supply the power, though dont give them any ideas or electicity might become an upcharge at fort wilderness

 

[HauntedPirate]

Don't you worry, I'm sure the bearded millenial hipster idiots will find a way to popularize/urbanize/decamperize and ultimately ruin the camping experience to fit their warped view of past through the introduction of propane powered faux campfires with composite logs to 'simulate' the 'true' camping excursion. Couple that with their mesquite grilled locally sustainable sourced sushi kebobs and roasted kale, lightly salted with kosher sea salt with a demiglaze and raspberry chutney on the side. Paired of course with an ice code Pabst Blue Ribbon, for that 'genuine' outdoorsman appearance to the other nearby campers. All the while, making sure that the song Renegade is playing softly in the background by the X Ambassadors on repeat.

Hell, I could see the people running Disney putting something together like this in an upcharged packet to sell to them. Cha-ching boys, we've got a winner!

That's one of the best, and most accurate, things I've read in a long, long time. Throw in a hand-made flannel shirt using fair trade family grown organic cotton to top off all the buzzwords the hipster and millennial crowd use these days.

I think there's zero chance that if a resort is built on this site that it's anything but high-end, deluxe accommodations. After SW:GE opens, "value" resorts will be considered off-site, the Pop/AoA/All-Star resorts will become $250/night minimum, the current moderates will likely hit $400/night minimum, and deluxes will continue their climb towards a grand a night.

This is no longer your, or your father's, Disney World. Walt would be livid.