Haunted Trail Rides at Fort Wilderness Cancelled for Fall 2012

[Wendy]

Okay according Explorer's Encycledia:

"The first phases of the project are to prepare the Fort Wilderness area for the forthcoming DVC resort and recall permits that were filed late last year that have now faded into relative obscurity. First the stables and blacksmith area of the campground will be relocated to make room for whatever design they have for the forthcoming resort buildings – those plans specifically haven’t been filed and released (they’ll show up later this year or early 2013) – and then the shoreline will be reshaped as a parking area is added near the existing boat dock and a large dining hall will be added on the waterfront as pictured below."

You can see the plan here

More information on the article is here

[Beccaberry]

But, but, but....I JUST learned about them!!! Jon and I were soooooooo looking forward to doing it this year

[Wendy]

But, but, but....I JUST learned about them!!! Jon and I were soooooooo looking forward to doing it this year

Us to that's they only reason I found out

[uscwest]

Well, we never stay at the Campground, but if I did, I think I would be a bit disappointed with all the commotion caused by the construction.

[Tink]

Wow. Just wow.

Who thought DVC would ever become such an issue? It seemed like such a good idea back when it started. Now, it's taking over everywhere!

I honestly do not see the point of a DVC at Ft. Wilderness!

[Keith]

I honestly do not see the point of a DVC at Ft. Wilderness!

Im kinda surprised by it I must admit :/ It'd have to be a cheap point one right? :/

Dunno. Weird!

[Tink]

You would think, but then the cabins there are not inexpensive so I don't know.

I'm just surprised that WDW is over building DVC like it is. Not quite seeing the financial, long term business sense in that.

[Keith]

You would think, but then the cabins there are not inexpensive so I don't know.

I'm just surprised that WDW is over building DVC like it is. Not quite seeing the financial, long term business sense in that.

Well I dont know the financials but I always thought, without any evidence to support it, that it was a brilliant idea for them.

The build must be somewhat paid for by the up front purchase of the points. Then they get maintenance fees every year from everyone. They have to committ a certain amount of rooms to people with points sure, but then the rest they sell as usual. Plus the people staying on points go and spend loads more money at Disney anyway.

So I dunno but I can kinda see the wisdom in building whenever they can as long as they feel they can get people to buy the points.

I guess they feel that they can do the build out more cheaply at the moment when the construction industry needs the work and then have the places ready for when the country's economics start looking up :/

Just feels kinda weird to have a DVC at FW... kinda like if they did one at All star movies I'd think what?

[Wendy]

I have found this information on DVCnews:

Evidence of a proposed Disney Vacation Club property adjacent to Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort date back nearly 18 months to October 2010. After lying dormant for so long, could we finally be seeing some progress on this project?

The multi-phase construction project was to involve relocation of several existing Fort Wilderness assets including the Tri-Circle-D Ranch to make way for an apparent wing of Disney Vacation Club villas. But as rumors of the DVC expansion to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort heated up the Fort Wilderness project cooled. However a recently-granted approval suggests Disney is ready to proceed.

On March 28, 2012 the South Florida Water Management District approved Disney's request for a new construction trailer complex at the STOLport site just outside the Magic Kingdom resort area. The STOLport is an old small plane landing strip to the right of the toll booths as guests enter the Magic Kingdom area. For several years now Disney has been using it for construction staging on projects including the Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort and the current Grand Floridian expansion.

The March 28 approval grants permission to proceed on "Project 2011-2D" which is the installation of a temporary trailer complex including all required utility lines and land modifications.

Other permits under the "Project 2011-2" banner also relate to Fort Wilderness. These include the previously mentioned Tri-Circle-D Ranch relocation, road modifications and construction of new facilities.

So does this mean that more DVC villas will soon be under construction? Maybe.

Many of the records related to this project have been sealed by the SFWMD at Disney's request. As such, it is difficult to gauge Disney's exact intent at this time, including any modifications filed since the original plans leaked in October '10.

It is also worth noting that this is not the first time Disney was granted approval for the trailer complex. A previous approval was granted back in September 2011 for "Project 2011-2D" and that permit references an even older request for the same task.

This is a project which has already met with its share of delays, a situation which may have been exacerbated by the August 2011 departure of former DVC President Jim Lewis.

Still it is clear that Disney remains interested in moving forward with some project at Fort Wilderness.

With Disney Vacation Club units still available in Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas, Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas and the forthcoming Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, a Fort Wilderness timeline remains uncertain. The relocation of the Tri-Circle-D Ranch and other infrastructure changes would precede construction on new resort accommodations. Completing necessary work now leaves Disney with the flexibility to begin villa construction at a time which best suits Disney Vacation Club's business needs.