Wilderness Lodge DVC additions - Copper Creek Villas & Cabins

[RR 88]

DVC: Thousands of people spending tens of thousands of dollars for decades of Disney vacations.

Resort Beaches: A few people spending zero dollars for a few minutes of Disney relaxation.

And you object to the former out of fear of losing the latter.

I've noticed that many non-DVC'ers pretty much object to most things that are DVC. They see causality between the growth of DVC over the past decade and the overall decrease in WDW resort quality. While I agree some DVC builds have been done better than others (i.e. I love Kidani, while am confounded by the presence of the Poly Bungalows), overall resort quality was impacted by resource allocation more than anything. I highly doubt that if DVC did not exist all would be sunshine, roses,and E-tickets in the swamp.

Now as parentsof4 has stated many times, the financial decision of Disney to focus on the short term windfalls of DVC, at the expense of long term cash room margins, is a different topic altogether...

 

[note2001]

Disney is usually very fair when it comes to view categories. This was my view in April at Animal Kingdom Lodge. I thought I had been upgraded to Savanna View but the cast member confirmed that it was, in fact, a Standard View room because the view of the savanna wasn't considered "good enough."

The people pen that is at the very bottom of your pic is the reason those rooms were reclassified as standard. They're really not very nice to look at, but a whole lot better than a dumpster view, considering there are giraffe, zebra and ankole cattle to look at.

Will any of this include the reoccupation of Water Country?

The VWL expansion project will not include the River Country area, by the maps we've seen, the cabins should only extend about half way over to it along the waterfront.

The Fort DVC, if it comes to be, will have Disney finally replacing the area with new development, and it looks like there are a few nods in the design back to River Country. Eventually Disney will have to take that area out anyway. No clue why it's taken them so long unless they have been waiting for someone else to pay for it. (such as DVC development)

 

[steffib]

hi all

first time poster so go easy on me! I live in England and last week was attempting to book my vacation to the World for April 2016. when I got to the booking screen for deluxe- there was no wilderness lodge available. thought it might be a glitch and tried again the next day...still no WL but all other deluxe available.
I rang the Disney booking line and the cast member confirmed that a number of UK residents had had called with the same trouble. She spoke to a manager who said that the WL inventory had been removed from the UK site (currently is offering free dining) as they needed to do a room check due to the DVC work. She suggested that we book another deluxe as all the inventory was unavailable for 4 months, surmising that the inventory check was to locate DVC members in the main building during the work. she has no idea why it was sill available on the U.S. site when I mentioned it..

Not sure if all the above of interest or even how accurate it is but thought would share.

we ended up booking 12 nights at the Poly by the way!

 

[ToTBellHop]

hi all

first time poster so go easy on me! I live in England and last week was attempting to book my vacation to the World for April 2016. when I got to the booking screen for deluxe- there was no wilderness lodge available. thought it might be a glitch and tried again the next day...still no WL but all other deluxe available.
I rang the Disney booking line and the cast member confirmed that a number of UK residents had had called with the same trouble. She spoke to a manager who said that the WL inventory had been removed from the UK site (currently is offering free dining) as they needed to do a room check due to the DVC work. She suggested that we book another deluxe as all the inventory was unavailable for 4 months, surmising that the inventory check was to locate DVC members in the main building during the work. she has no idea why it was sill available on the U.S. site when I mentioned it..

Not sure if all the above of interest or even how accurate it is but thought would share.

we ended up booking 12 nights at the Poly by the way!

Makes sense. Some DVC members will need to be moved into the main lodge if their view in the Villas would otherwise be of construction.

 

[Jon81uk]

hi all

first time poster so go easy on me! I live in England and last week was attempting to book my vacation to the World for April 2016. when I got to the booking screen for deluxe- there was no wilderness lodge available. thought it might be a glitch and tried again the next day...still no WL but all other deluxe available.
I rang the Disney booking line and the cast member confirmed that a number of UK residents had had called with the same trouble. She spoke to a manager who said that the WL inventory had been removed from the UK site (currently is offering free dining) as they needed to do a room check due to the DVC work. She suggested that we book another deluxe as all the inventory was unavailable for 4 months, surmising that the inventory check was to locate DVC members in the main building during the work. she has no idea why it was sill available on the U.S. site when I mentioned it..

Not sure if all the above of interest or even how accurate it is but thought would share.

we ended up booking 12 nights at the Poly by the way!

We booked Wilderness Lodge in early June on the UK site for an arrival in September 2016.

 

[steffib]

yeah when I was first looking at booking it was available...it's only in the past week that it wasn't (post the announcement of development)

 

[toolsnspools]

So I'm thinking that they should trim the woods to make WL more accurate -

I'm really hoping the new waterfront cabins are true to Yellowstone as well -

I guess it would be okay if Disney plus'd them a little.

 

[ToTBellHop]

So I'm thinking that they should trim the woods to make WL more accurate -

View attachment 101107

I'm really hoping the new waterfront cabins are true to Yellowstone as well -

View attachment 101108
I guess it would be okay if Disney plus'd them a little.

Like...add a sprinkler and a slip n slide?

 

[toolsnspools]

Like...add a sprinkler and a slip n slide?

Believe it or not, that was the nice cabin.

 

[ford91exploder]

Is it not marvelous what the US Government can do with one of the most beautiful locations on earth with essentially unlimited funding...

The upgrades will be a mint green wall with cream colored paint above 48"...

 

[ford91exploder]

Believe it or not, that was the nice cabin.

Oh I can believe it.

 

[bunnyman]

They're starting construction already? Received this email today for our 8/1 arrival:

Welcome Home!

We are excited you have chosen Disney’s Wilderness Lodge as your vacation destination. Nestled among the natural beauty of Bay Lake, our Pacific Northwest-inspired architecture and atmosphere enchant Guests of all ages and we look forward to sharing that magic with you!

Here at the Walt Disney World® Resort, the Guest experience is always at the heart of everything we do. In order to ensure that we continue to provide the very best vacation experience possible, it is necessary for us to renew our offerings from time to time. In preparation for your upcoming stay, we would like to make you aware of refurbishment work that will take place during your visit.

• Upon your arrival, you will notice construction work in various areas as we enhance our Resort. Please be aware that certain pathways, including the nature trail, will be unavailable. Noise may be overheard while this work is being completed, but rest assured, construction will not begin until after 9:00am.

While we work our magic, please know that your comfort and enjoyment are our top priority. We apologize for any inconvenience this work may cause and appreciate your patience. Should you need assistance with your reservation or have general questions, please call one of our Cast Members who will be happy to assist you

 

[LAKid53]

They're starting construction already? Received this email today for our 8/1 arrival:

Welcome Home!

We are excited you have chosen Disney’s Wilderness Lodge as your vacation destination. Nestled among the natural beauty of Bay Lake, our Pacific Northwest-inspired architecture and atmosphere enchant Guests of all ages and we look forward to sharing that magic with you!

Here at the Walt Disney World® Resort, the Guest experience is always at the heart of everything we do. In order to ensure that we continue to provide the very best vacation experience possible, it is necessary for us to renew our offerings from time to time. In preparation for your upcoming stay, we would like to make you aware of refurbishment work that will take place during your visit.

• Upon your arrival, you will notice construction work in various areas as we enhance our Resort. Please be aware that certain pathways, including the nature trail, will be unavailable. Noise may be overheard while this work is being completed, but rest assured, construction will not begin until after 9:00am.

While we work our magic, please know that your comfort and enjoyment are our top priority. We apologize for any inconvenience this work may cause and appreciate your patience. Should you need assistance with your reservation or have general questions, please call one of our Cast Members who will be happy to assist you

We will be staying for one night after our cruise at the end of August for a planning session with the wedding planner. Will probably be so exhausted from the cruise and a 5 hour meeting, that a firecracker could go off outside our room and wouldn't wake us up. Let us know how the construction is affecting the resort. We will be staying in the Villas.

 

[CheltonJ]

hi all

first time poster so go easy on me! I live in England and last week was attempting to book my vacation to the World for April 2016. when I got to the booking screen for deluxe- there was no wilderness lodge available. thought it might be a glitch and tried again the next day...still no WL but all other deluxe available.
I rang the Disney booking line and the cast member confirmed that a number of UK residents had had called with the same trouble. She spoke to a manager who said that the WL inventory had been removed from the UK site (currently is offering free dining) as they needed to do a room check due to the DVC work. She suggested that we book another deluxe as all the inventory was unavailable for 4 months, surmising that the inventory check was to locate DVC members in the main building during the work. she has no idea why it was sill available on the U.S. site when I mentioned it..

Not sure if all the above of interest or even how accurate it is but thought would share.

we ended up booking 12 nights at the Poly by the way!

I have noticed that as well as just been doing some research for our honeymoon in 2017 which I know is a long way off but we were hoping to stay at Wilderness Lodge as we kind of have a tradition of staying at different resorts each time we go. So far we have stayed at POR, AKL, Poly & SSR and really wanted to stay at a deluxe as it is our honeymoon.

I see that the project is due to finish at some point in 2017 so by the time we go it should all be completed or very near completion but still now unsure what to do!

 

[ToTBellHop]

I have noticed that as well as just been doing some research for our honeymoon in 2017 which I know is a long way off but we were hoping to stay at Wilderness Lodge as we kind of have a tradition of staying at different resorts each time we go. So far we have stayed at POR, AKL & Poly and really wanted to stay at a deluxe as it is our honeymoon.

I see that the project is due to finish at some point in 2017 so by the time we go it should all be completed or very near completion but still now unsure what to do!

I would imagine at some point in 2016 they will officially announce the project with a rough end date that you can use. I'm sure the pool at the Villas will finish up sometime early next year. They neither want nor need to have a pool out of commission for more than 6 months.

 

[CheltonJ]

I would imagine at some point in 2016 they will officially announce the project with a rough end date that you can use. I'm sure the pool at the Villas will finish up sometime early next year. They neither want nor need to have a pool out of commission for more than 6 months.

That's what I thought though it does appear to be a running theme with as we stayed at AKL in 2007 whilst construction work was going on there though have to say we didn't notice anything but then they did upgrade us from a standard to a savannah view room!

 

[ford91exploder]

They're starting construction already? Received this email today for our 8/1 arrival:

Welcome Home!

We are excited you have chosen Disney’s Wilderness Lodge as your vacation destination. Nestled among the natural beauty of Bay Lake, our Pacific Northwest-inspired architecture and atmosphere enchant Guests of all ages and we look forward to sharing that magic with you!

Here at the Walt Disney World® Resort, the Guest experience is always at the heart of everything we do. In order to ensure that we continue to provide the very best vacation experience possible, it is necessary for us to renew our offerings from time to time. In preparation for your upcoming stay, we would like to make you aware of refurbishment work that will take place during your visit.

• Upon your arrival, you will notice construction work in various areas as we enhance our Resort. Please be aware that certain pathways, including the nature trail, will be unavailable. Noise may be overheard while this work is being completed, but rest assured, construction will not begin until after 9:00am.

While we work our magic, please know that your comfort and enjoyment are our top priority. We apologize for any inconvenience this work may cause and appreciate your patience. Should you need assistance with your reservation or have general questions, please call one of our Cast Members who will be happy to assist you

Notice no discount or enhanced perks like REAL hotel chains do when their facilities are under construction, Just pay up sucker - there are a hundred more to replace you (until there are none)

 

[bunnyman]

Funny, called down to Wilderness Lodge to try and get more info on the email they sent us about our August trip. They said nothing about what's being reported here (i.e. the bungalows, etc.), and would only say some minor exterior work was ongoing. While I'm sure that's true, don't see how that would impact "certain pathways, including the nature trail"?? Guessing they're starting to do the test borings as cited here a ways back.

 

[Next Big Thing]

Funny, called down to Wilderness Lodge to try and get more info on the email they sent us about our August trip. They said nothing about what's being reported here (i.e. the bungalows, etc.), and would only say some minor exterior work was ongoing. While I'm sure that's true, don't see how that would impact "certain pathways, including the nature trail"?? Guessing they're starting to do the test borings as cited here a ways back.

When you "Call Wilderness Lodge" it's actually going to a call center, not the WL. I called a few weeks ago to the Poly and asked if the DVC there had one of the recreation rooms that all of the other DVC have and my answer was yes. When we checked in, we asked again and were told no. There was no recreation area to be seen in the DVC area.

Point being, take everything they say with a grain of salt, thy are going off of very little info and whatever info Disney decides to give them (and not all of them know everything).

 

[Jon81uk]

When you "Call Wilderness Lodge" it's actually going to a call center, not the WL. I called a few weeks ago to the Poly and asked if the DVC there had one of the recreation rooms that all of the other DVC have and my answer was yes. When we checked in, we asked again and were told no. There was no recreation area to be seen in the DVC area.

Point being, take everything they say with a grain of salt, thy are going off of very little info and whatever info Disney decides to give them (and not all of them know everything).

There is the Carolwood Pacific room at the Villas at Wilderness lodge, although this isn't quite the same as community hall, it has some games from what I've read. They also use this room for the nightly movies when it is rained out and will use this space for movies during construction near the beach.