Originally Posted By wahooskipper I was at a construction meeting last week and the GC said they were meeting the same day with Disney regarding expansion of the Wilderness Lodge. I know they added the timeshares at the WL but does anyone know if this is yet MORE timeshares or an expansion of the hotel proper?
Originally Posted By Disneymom444 Well -em you're our insider for Wilderness Lodge. You'd think that they would tell their cm's if they were doing more right? I'm looking forward to seeing the room makeovers.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I was at a construction meeting last week and the GC said they were meeting the same day with Disney regarding expansion of the Wilderness Lodge.>> Are you sure it was the Wilderness Lodge? I've heard rumors of DVC units being developed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, but nothing additional at the WL.
Originally Posted By hopemax Well, they expanded the Wilderness Lodge to Winter Garden... Okay, not really, but that is where my Wilderness Lodge furniture is now residing.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Well, the gentleman said Wilderness Lodge but it wouldn't be the first time someone referred to something about Disney incorrectly. The AKL makes a little more sense to me so you may be right.
Originally Posted By -em If they said Wilderness Lodge it always is one of three things A) Wilderness Lodge B) Fort Wilderness c) Animal Kingdom Lodge Apparently noone can tell them apart -em
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I just hope they are not going to be adding on to the Wilderness Lodge....Unless its going to be a monorail or train.
Originally Posted By kennect Time has passed and things have changed but this is something I was told several years ago at my first visit to the AKL...I was told there was an expansion plan in place to build a convention building...The person that told me such would know what they were talking about but that was back when the resort first opened...Who knows these days as to what plans Disney has going on right now....The resort area outside of the parks seem to be rather stagnant right now in terms of anything new that isn't DVC related...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I would sincerely hope that isn't the case. The WL already took a hit with the DVC addition, as nice as it is. I can't imagine anything more ... pretty soon, there won't be any wilderness there. And I have heard STRONG rumors of DVC at AKL ... but not until Contemp is done, so that's years off ... something sounds weird.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip So I've got an idea... Disney can't fill its resorts, but continues to sell DVC pretty well... even Saratoga Springs. I don't think that many people really get off on the ownership aspect of DVC. Sure, the marginal amount of property tax you pay is deductible on your income taxes, as is any interest you pay in connection with the purchase. But all things considered it is a marginal benefit. What I (and I would guess most people) like is discounted vacations. So why not sell pre-paid vacations at Disney's standard resorts at a discount. It would help them fill rooms otherwise sitting empty. People could buy pre-paid days at the Disney resorts with the rate varying by resort. There would be a minimum number of days per year that could be purchased and a minimum number of years to the contract. You would essentially have DVC without the ownership component and you would be filling excess capacity in the Disney resorts. I'm sure you will all tell me why this never would work, but I thought it was perhaps an interesting idea.
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 If it would cost less money then DVC I would try it. Good idea RoadTrip
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<If it would cost less money then DVC I would try it.>> I would envision the minimum days per year being 5 and the minimum number of years on the contract somewhere between 3 and 5. That would cost much less than DVC and be a much shorter commitment. And what if someone can’t use the days they had purchased for a given year? Allow the days to be resold, just as DVC members can rent points.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom The DVCs at the Wilderness Lodge were always part of the Wilderness Lodge Resort project plan. There was even more construction intended for that plan in what was ( is ) Ft Wilderness. The original plans called for tearing down Ft Wilderness and buildling a resort kind of like Coronado Springs. Obviously this never was done and is not ever likely to be done. The original plans called for the Villas to be further away from the Wilderness Lodge site and accessable via steam train. Disney modified the plans and built the DVCs closer to the Actualy Lodge and never added the train. In some respects this makes more sense since the Villas were always intended to share the check in area of the WL. And WL guests can use the "spa" which is located in the Villas. The only modification I would like to see over at the WL is making Roaring Forks larger. That entire area reminds me of the boiler room at the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC.
Originally Posted By leemac Wasn't the Wilderness Junction hotel also planned for that general vicinity? I remember seeing the kooky railroad concept and liked it. I know some of the touches ended up in the Villas but I thought that Wilderness Junction had a nice touch of whimsy that none of the WDW resorts currently have.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well a steam train and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show at WDW in a resort would be excellent.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I should go to Kinkos and post the blue prints. I love trains but thought the idea of a steam train taking you to the Villas was way "over the top". I didn't care for that idea. Urban Design Group also had some incredible plans for the DVC that are now Saratoga Springs. UDG didn't get that contract... it went to a different company.
Originally Posted By vonpluto <<I should go to Kinkos and post the blue prints. I love trains but thought the idea of a steam train taking you to the Villas was way "over the top". I didn't care for that idea. >> I would love to see those prints, as I have never heard of any of the concepts you mentioned. The only changes to the FW/RC area were back around 1994. The rumors back then spoke of a upgrade and expansion of River Country and construction of a hotel (Buffalo Junction) on the site of the Settlement Trading Post. Do you have any links to the UDG concepts for SSR? Thanx, Frank BTW, the construction at VWL is for new cedar shingles on the lower roof. See: <a href="http://officialrecords.occompt.com/wb_or1/or_sch_1.asp" target="_blank">http://officialrecords.occompt .com/wb_or1/or_sch_1.asp</a> Enter Disney Vacation Club, set for 30 days.
Originally Posted By MPierce Didn't Fort Wilderness origially have a steam train taking guest around to the different camp sites? I seem to recall reading about it somewhere. I think it was removed for safety reasons or I could possibly be delusional again.
Originally Posted By vonpluto FWRR ran from about 1973 to 1978. Removed for two main reasons: The water tanks on the engines were to small. The trackage was laid on the cheap and presented constant problems.
