Walt Disney World has introduced plans to develop the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground by bringing reimagined cabins to the property. On this submit, we’ll share particulars and a timeline, share our opinion of the DVC enlargement and why that is possible taking place. (Up to date December 13, 2023.)
For individuals who are unfamiliar with it, Fort Wilderness affords roughly 800 campsites and over 400 cabins together with a variety of leisure choices. Whereas Fort Wilderness is just a brief boat trip from Magic Kingdom (behind Disney’s Up to date Resort and “subsequent door” to Wilderness Lodge), it feels worlds away. The sprawling ‘resort’ is located on 750 acres of pine and cypress forest, giving the campground a ‘buffer’ between it and the remainder of Walt Disney World.
Fort Wilderness is a Walt Disney World authentic, opening again in 1971 just a little over a month after Magic Kingdom. Just like how Up to date was as an extension of Tomorrowland and Polynesian of Adventureland, Fort Wilderness was a counterpart to Frontierland–a solution to keep within the American frontier. The campground debuted with 232 campsites in addition to Tri Circle D Ranch, which was constructed for horses within the parades at Magic Kingdom. Fort Wilderness has not modified a lot since then. It does have many extra campsites, cabins, and one fewer railroad–however the vibe is basically unchanged since I began staying at Fort Wilderness within the Nineteen Eighties.
In opposition to that backdrop, Walt Disney World and Disney Trip Membership introduced proposed plans to carry refreshed cabin hideaways to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, providing visitors a non-public retreat within the midst of nature with lots of the comforts of dwelling.
“For greater than 50 years, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground has supplied visitors the chance to discover nature with their family members whereas staying within the coronary heart of Walt Disney World Resort,” stated Invoice Diercksen, senior vice chairman and basic supervisor of Disney Trip Membership. “We’re excited to proceed to construct upon the resort’s wealthy legacy and elevate the cabin expertise for our Members and all visitors to get pleasure from for years to come back.”
December 13, 2023 Replace: Disney Trip Membership has shared new particulars concerning the Cabins at Fort Wilderness. This began with them “by accident” spilling the beans final week throughout the 2023 Condominium Affiliation Assembly (air quotes round by accident because it was in a slideshow, and that was clearly made on function–even when the corporate wasn’t prepared to offer an official replace on the venture).
Throughout that, VP of DVC Invoice Diercksen shared a slideshow with new pictures of the brand new Cabins at Fort Wilderness Cabins. He indicated that Chip ‘n’ Dale can be featured on the pull-out mattress, and that there can be Easter Eggs with nods to Fort Wilderness and Walt Disney World historical past. (We noticed numerous that within the new rooms at Boulder Ridge, too.)
Most notably, Diercksen shared that the Cabins at Fort Wilderness will open in Summer season 2024. We focus on under how this timeline is sensible regardless of work not even having began, however regardless, it does. This additionally signifies that gross sales will begin very quickly–earlier than the Polynesian tower–in all probability by March 2024.
In the present day, Walt Disney World formally confirmed these particulars and launched idea artwork showcasing the interiors of the brand new Cabins at Fort Wilderness. Every cabin sleeps as much as 6, and a few may even accommodate canine. All supply a restful retreat with charming touches and lots of conveniences.
Every morning you may draw the curtains again to disclose floor-to-ceiling home windows and your personal private patio deck, the place you may bask within the glories of nature whereas firing up the charcoal grill and eating al fresco.
In the principle bed room, you’ll discover a queen-size mattress, twin-size bunk beds, a 55-inch TV, closet and a nightstand. It is a fairly related setup to the present Fort Wilderness Cabins.
By way of the sconce-flanked entrance doorways is a spacious residing space that includes a eating nook and a completely outfitted kitchen—together with a fridge, dishwasher, convection/microwave oven and a couple of countertop burners.
The kitchen consists of loads of storage, in addition to a kitchen desk able to seating all 6 occupants of the cabin. Off the kitchen you’ll discover a vainness space outdoors the doorway to the toilet, which has a bathe and a further vainness inside.
A convertible seating and sleeping space is positioned reverse the kitchen and boasts a 65-inch TV and a cushty couch—the proper spot to assemble your loved ones to observe a favourite Disney film. At bedtime, merely fold down the queen-size Inova mattress from the wall, for added sleeping area.
I’m guessing fan suggestions goes to be very combined on these, since they’re a mixture of trendy and rustic and use extra muted colours. And we are able to definitely perceive that to a point. However like numerous different latest room designs, these strike us as a very good marriage of kind and performance, and appear to be main upgrades when it comes to usability.
Said in a different way: I’d fairly really keep in these cabins than the previous ones. As that’s crucial factor about lodging, we’re wanting ahead to those new Cabins at Fort Wilderness. For us, the jury continues to be out as as to whether we favor the type of those. We completely love the thought of extra home windows permitting for mild and views of the wilderness open air. We additionally just like the paintings in each the bunkbeds and the Inova pull-down.
With that stated, I’m additionally a bit on the fence concerning the theme and particulars–it jogs my memory extra of the Copper Creek type (a little bit of a hodgepodge) fairly than the incredible new Boulder Ridge Villas, if that is sensible. Hopefully DVC sticks the touchdown and consists of even element and thematic thrives to tip the scales in the best route.
The plans to develop Fort Wilderness with a Disney Trip Membership addition name for greater than 350 new cabins to interchange the present cabins on the resort, which have delighted visitors for a few years and can quickly be prepared for a refresh. Moreover, the cabins could be constructed with a watch towards the setting, using the footprint of the present cabins and profiting from extra energy-efficient options.
Design ideas supply a contemporary tackle the present cabin expertise and are impressed by the resort’s idyllic setting, whereas additionally paying homage to the resort’s distinctive tradition and heritage by means of the magic of Disney storytelling. Every stand-alone cabin affords spacious lodging, sleeping as much as six adults, and incorporates a bed room, lavatory, front room, full kitchen and personal patio. A choose variety of cabins are additionally anticipated to be dog-friendly.
As with all Disney Trip Membership resorts, the cabins will proceed to be open for reservations to all visitors, together with those that will not be Disney Trip Membership Members, topic to availability. A small proportion of the property can be retained by Walt Disney World and not a part of the DVC stock–similar to all DVC resorts. Accordingly, it should possible be troublesome to guide these cabins for money visitors, and so they’re more likely to be each dearer and excluded from reductions.
The deliberate cabins are a part of a set of enchancment tasks underway at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground which are designed to boost the visitor expertise. Examples embrace proposed pool and strolling path enhancements in addition to new expanded eating experiences at Path’s Finish Restaurant and Crockett’s Tavern, with extra thrilling information to come back.
Disney Trip Membership members and visitors would have easy accessibility to the theme parks and be capable to benefit from the resort’s cherished facilities, together with horseback using on the lately up to date Tri-Circle-D Ranch, fishing, strolling trails, swimming pools, playgrounds for the little ones, Chip ’n’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Lengthy and rootin’ tootin’ eating and leisure at Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. Campsite lodging may even proceed to be obtainable for visitors.
The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Trip Membership Resort is projected to open in 2024 and could be the seventeenth Disney Trip Membership resort. Extra data concerning venture particulars, the beginning of gross sales and rental bookings can be launched at a later date.
Walt Disney World has filed a new building allow with the State of Florida to start building work on the brand new Cabins at Fort Wilderness. There are just a few fascinating issues about this allow, with the primary being that it has an prolonged expiration date. Usually, the allow would expire in a single 12 months–for this, Disney has specified a date of Could 1, 2025.
Second, as a result of the contractor on the allow is J&J Enterprise Group. It is a lately fashioned entity with no observe file of doing work for Walt Disney World. Nonetheless, a fast search of Sunbiz reveals that it has the identical officers and deal with of JCQ Companies, which has executed a number of room overhauls for Walt Disney World. So the previous might be a subsidiary or shell of the latter.
Lastly, as mentioned in our up to date submit on Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge, there has additionally been allow exercise with that venture. It’s potential that that is associated to staging for the brand new DVC Cabins, however primarily based on different rumblings, we consider there’s rather more than a nonzero likelihood that Walt Disney World is getting ready to renew work on the Reflections website.
One factor to notice is that the cabins is not going to be merely refurbished/reimagined, nor will new ones be constructed on-site. As a substitute, these are solely new prefabbed items that can be constructed off-site, trucked in, and put in unit-by-unit. That explains how the design is differing considerably and can incorporate classes discovered from the previous cabins and DVC member lodging preferences. Rather a lot has modified within the years for the reason that cabins debuted, and Disney has gotten room layouts right down to a science. Using area and practicality of those cabins will nearly definitely be higher.
The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Trip Membership Resort being prefabbed off-site additionally explains the Summer season 2024 opening date. The “building” timeframe right here can be measured in days, not weeks or months, which is how these will be capable to go on sale and open earlier than the Poly tower, regardless of nothing having occurred but.
One other fascinating tidbit is that the present Cabins at Fort Wilderness stay bookable all through subsequent 12 months–you may nonetheless go to the DisneyWorld.com web site and make a reservation for late December 2024. That is curious, however not essentially conclusive of something. Now that we all know the brand new cabins will begin opening in Summer season 2024, this both signifies that the venture will take till no less than the top of the 12 months, or that these new cabins are already bookable–that visitors making reservations for the vacations can be assigned to them. (Is perhaps sensible to guide now earlier than the inevitable worth will increase in 2025!)
Turning again to our authentic commentary, I’ll begin by saying that I’m shocked by the timing of this announcement. Along with these cabins, the New DVC Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is at present underneath building and is at present slated to open in late 2024 at Walt Disney World. Primarily based on the extremely fast tempo with which that enlargement is being constructed, there’s no cause to consider it’ll be delayed.
That signifies that Walt Disney World can have two new Disney Trip Membership additions in 2024, each of that are Magic Kingdom space resorts. On high of that, DVC will nearly definitely nonetheless be promoting Disney’s Riviera Resort. That totals 2 resorts within the Magic Kingdom space and one within the EPCOT/Skyliner space.
Oh, and don’t neglect the Villas at Disneyland Lodge and Aulani in Hawaii, which nonetheless has not offered out. That’s a fully unprecedented quantity of stock concurrently on the market, and it comes amidst a Disney Trip Membership Gross sales Droop. It may additionally come because the U.S. economic system enters a recession. Who is aware of.
My subsequent thought is that this lastly realizes rumors of a Reasonable Resort DVC enlargement, which began years in the past earlier than Disney’s Riviera Resort was introduced. (The categorization has by no means actually made sense, however Fort Wilderness is technically a Reasonable Resort. It’s completely incomparable to different resorts, and we’ve beforehand positioned the Cabins at Fort Wilderness in the identical grouping because the Household Suites at Artwork of Animation.)
The truth is, this new tier of DVC in all probability one of the best ways to elucidate how Disney Trip Membership plans to promote this alongside Riviera and Polynesian. It’s extremely possible that that is geared toward a special demographic, and can be a extra economical different to the aforementioned resorts.
We definitely don’t count on the Cabins at Fort Wilderness to hit the $230 per level of the Villas at Disneyland Lodge. Our guess is that this DVC resort will are available at a sub-$200 worth level under the place Disney’s Riviera Resort began promoting again in 2019. (Anybody anticipating a cut price priced under $150 per level had higher suppose once more.)
Even when the per level value continues to be within the ballpark of different new DVC resorts, the purpose charts will nearly definitely be extra favorable. That can imply fewer factors must be bought as in comparison with the Poly, Grand Floridian, or Riviera. Irrespective of the way you slice it, the common monetary outlay for consumers of the Cabins at Fort Wilderness can be decrease.
I might see this having a mean entry level of round $30,000 for brand spanking new members, whereas these resorts may be nearer to $40,000. Whether or not that’s as a result of a decrease per-point value, smaller contract sizes, or a mixture of the 2, stays to be seen.
It’ll be fascinating to see if Disney Trip Membership introduces new restrictions geared toward avoiding unintended penalties of getting a Reasonable Resort DVC. We doubt that’ll be mandatory, because the per level value possible received’t be that a lot completely different from different present Disney Trip Membership resorts.
What’s completely unsurprising is that Walt Disney World is opting to swap out the present cabins for ‘enhanced’ Disney Trip Membership lodging. It’s a reasonably frequent tactic for the corporate to focus on resort stock that’s underperforming and convert it to DVC. This improves occupancy for the remaining resort stock by lowering its web variety of rooms, and offers Disney Trip Membership one thing to promote. (It’s an analogous story with Copper Creek; Wilderness Lodge is now performing a lot higher, however on the time, occupancy was weak.)
Regardless of Fort Wilderness as a complete having a really vocal and passionate fanbase, the present cabins will not be significantly widespread. There’s routinely availability right here when the campsites are offered out, and there are incessantly extra aggressive reductions for the cabins. Like Olivia’s or Sanaa, these lodging have a loyal fan following–but additionally are routinely supplied to Solid Members at 40% off.
The truth is, this isn’t the primary time within the final decade that Walt Disney World can be lowering the variety of cabins. Again over the past delicate items refurbishment (in 2016-2017), Disney eliminated the cabins within the 2100 Loop so as to add extra campsites. Even after that, occupancy is decrease for the cabins than the campground as a complete.
Personally, I’ve combined emotions concerning the type of the DVC cabins. It’s nonetheless early and we solely have a single piece of idea artwork, so it’s untimely for a fully-formed opinion. Nonetheless, there’s quite a bit that may be inferred from the idea artwork and up to date precedent. With that in thoughts, I’ll start with the positives.
I like the massive home windows that can enable numerous pure mild and good views out into nature. Whereas good updates from what was there earlier than, the present cabins are darkish and dreary, and don’t lean into their pure environment all that nicely. I’m an enormous proponent of home windows, and indoor-outdoor residing. These needs to be a major enchancment on that entrance.
Moreover, it’s protected to say that the interiors can be higher. Say what you’ll about latest resort reimaginings, but it surely’s very troublesome to criticize room redesigns from a purposeful perspective. Personally, I feel Disney has been crushing it since Riviera Resort, and the present ‘wave’ of modern lodging that marry space-saving kinds with well-themed ones is ideal. Simply distinction the brand new rooms at Boulder Ridge with these just a few years earlier at Copper Creek–the previous are far superior to the latter in each conceivable means.
Now, the unfavourable. The outside of those cabins does appear to be the design frankenstein of an HGTV persona and a Gensler designer. It seems too on-trend, leaning into she-shed, tiny dwelling, and tacky stylish kinds. A bit just like the worst of the Copper Creek interiors with the Reflections and new Poly tower exteriors. Hopefully, the top end result seems higher or the inside is so good (and on par with Boulder Ridge) that it doesn’t matter. On stability, I’ll admit that I’m cautiously optimistic concerning the look of the cabins. My prediction is that these can be higher than the present cabins, however we will see.
Past that, my greatest concern is that including Disney Trip Membership will irreparably change the character of Fort Wilderness. Though there’s nothing within the announcement to counsel this may happen, it looks as if a given–and one which’ll be mandatory as a sensible actuality. It’s additionally considerably obvious from the subtext discussing expanded eating and “extra thrilling information to come back.”
Walt Disney World is aware of how this variation goes to be acquired by diehard Fort Fiends. There’s a cause the announcement got here buried amongst Midway to Halloween information, and why sure particulars are highlighted and others are omitted. The corporate is making an attempt to ease followers into the event, specializing in the perceived positives and making an attempt to reduce the negatives.
There’s one easy cause that Fort Wilderness is sort of sure to alter in a means that received’t be well-received by its longtime followers: demographics. Assuming the per level worth is $185 and the common contract is 160 factors, that places the upfront value proper at $30,000 for the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Trip Membership Resort.
I don’t need to make any unfair assumptions, however I feel it’s in all probability protected to say that the common common at Fort Wilderness isn’t the target market for a $30,000 timeshare. This isn’t to say that Fort Wilderness visitors are much less prosperous than the common customer. I do know that isn’t the case, I’ve seen a few of these tricked-out RVs and Googled their value! (Facet word: HOLY COW.)
Nonetheless, they’re nonetheless completely different demos. Simply because somebody has sufficient cash to buy the Rezvani Vengeance doesn’t imply they’re additionally out there for a McLaren 720S. Each are equally costly automobiles, albeit with very completely different audiences. Virtually assuredly, the identical thought is true with the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Trip Membership Resort.
latest Disney Trip Membership additions, it’s additionally honest to say that the DVC demo has completely different priorities and expectations for lodging. It’ll be fascinating to see how Fort Wilderness modifications to comport with client preferences, however not all of that’s potential.
What DVC members appear to favor–comfort, consolidated structure, and ease of entry–will not be the robust fits of Fort Wilderness. What DVC members don’t appear to care about–themed design, ambiance, seclusion, and serenity–are among the greatest strengths of Fort Wilderness. Solely a lot of that may conceivably change; a lot of these are immutable traits of the campground, and DVC members are going to have to fulfill Fort Wilderness midway.
To that time, it will in all probability be a savvy transfer if DVC guides took all potential consumers of the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Trip Membership Resort to the precise campground and had the spend a half-day really experiencing and getting across the resort.
Actually, I’d go a step additional and suggest to anybody contemplating this that they do an precise multi-night keep at Fort Wilderness first. That looks as if such an apparent factor that anybody would do when making a $30,000+ buy, however I ponder to what extent it’ll really occur.
In the end, a few of my commentary right here is much like what it was for Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge. Nonetheless, all of my complaints are dialed down dramatically right here, as Reflections was going to do rather more injury. In contrast, these cabins will exchange comparable lodging, in order that they received’t trigger that many unfavourable impacts on their very own.
Even after Disney Trip Membership involves the scene, Fort Wilderness will nonetheless possible be 90% unchanged from its standing at this time. And truthfully, as in comparison with Walt Disney World as a complete, that’s nonetheless fairly good. It’s really wonderful how well-preserved the campground nonetheless is, whilst growth has exploded throughout Walt Disney World within the final a number of many years. Fort Wilderness has lengthy been an outlier and one thing of a time capsule of a bygone period, and that can possible stay true in 2025 and past.
Furthermore, whilst different elements of Fort Wilderness do change to pave means (a becoming means of placing this) for the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Trip Membership Resort, there’s solely a lot I can realistically see the corporate investing on this venture. There’s a cause Disney is doing this versus resuming Reflections. It’s the trail of least resistance. On this case, that’s a very good factor for Fort Fiends and all different followers of the unique Trip Kingdom of the World! So we shouldn’t over-exaggerate the injury this may do.
Furthermore, there may even be some positives–as a lot as we benefit from the occasional meal at Path’s Finish (RIP) or the quick-service choices, there’s numerous room for enchancment on that entrance. A correct meals courtroom could be incredible, as would improved eating choices. Promoting this DVC enlargement is an incentive to considerably improve all of that, and if there’s one factor Disney’s Riviera Resort does nicely, it’s eating. There’s no denying that. I’m additionally hopeful this leads to the restoration of a strolling path between Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge.
That’s not the one optimistic for my fellow pessimists on the market. Assuming that DVC goes to be constructed indefinitely, I’d fairly have this than one other tower or bland high-rise sprouting up the place it doesn’t belong. Whereas I’m not wild about this, it’s exponentially higher than constructing one other bland tower that’s nearly indistinguishable from a metro Marriott or Fairfield Inn by an airport. Extra of that’s coming finally (growth on the Reflections website is inevitable over a protracted sufficient time-horizon), however I’d fairly postpone it for so long as potential, or no less than till themed design is again en vogue.
When you’re contemplating becoming a member of DVC and wish extra steering, you’ll want to learn our Final Information to Disney Trip Membership. That information covers the professionals & cons, resale v. direct, how a lot cash you’ll save, and different vital issues to know earlier than taking the plunge. When you nonetheless can’t resolve whether or not membership is best for you, “attempt before you purchase” with the suggestions in Easy methods to Save BIG on Deluxe Disney Lodging Renting DVC Factors.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider this Walt Disney World information? Are you optimistic or pessimistic concerning the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Trip Membership Resort? Completely satisfied that DVC is increasing to cabins at a Reasonable Resort, or want they’d construct a brand new stand-alone property? When you’re a Fort Fiend, are you upset by this or detached to it? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
