Updated: June 2024 to reflect official opening date and new details. Disney quietly dropped a press release giving us a first look at the new Disney Vacation Club Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort, now projected to open July 1, 2024. Let’s take a look and discuss.
A bit of background on The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
The cabins are located at the Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, which consists of the cabins and campsites. The cabins are the focus of this article, which are deemed a “moderate” resort within Disney’s hierarchy of hotels pricing—more on that distinction below. That means it’s kind of pricey but not terribly pricey, for a Disney resort, anyway.
The cabins in the current state mimic the look of a rustic log cabin, each a standalone unit with one bedroom (including two bunk beds), a living area, and a small kitchen. It’s a great option for those seeking more space than a standard room, or guests looking for an outdoor-focused vacation that happens to be on Walt Disney World property.
The Cabins Will Now be a DVC Property—but what does that mean?
Importantly, the cabins are currently a standard resort, by which I mean that any guest can simply log onto the Disney website and make a reservation there. With the new changes coming to the look of the cabins comes another, more consequential change: the resort is becoming Disney World’s latest Disney Vacation Club property. Disney Vacation Club (DVC for short) put simply is a program where people purchase a deeded interest in a timeshare at one of the DVC resorts (and specifically a “home resort” of their choosing). DVC “members” purchase a set number of points that range in price depending on the resort, and then use the purchased points to reserve their reservations for years to come. That is an oversimplification, but the takeaway is that the cabins will now be largely available for those DVC members.
Like any DVC resort, non-members (read: us regular folk) will be able to make reservations there, pending availability on the Disney World website—or rent points from DVC members, a process which is beyond the purview of this article—but there could be less availability for the average guest moving forward. (For more about DVC resorts, see my reviews of Disney’s Polynesian Village, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas, Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside, Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, and Disney’s Bay Lake Tower.)
A few concerns: (1) the modernized look of the resort, (2) potential price increases, and (3) a new DVC vibe
New Modernized Look
Not to sound like Every Disney Fan that bristles at any changes that come to the Disney World, but I will briefly address my concerns in turn. The modernized look is certainly different, and while not bad, I think it could be a little too forward, considering the cabins as they stand look like Lincoln logs (in a good way). Their rustic look and earthy tones blend with the surrounding trees, which, truthfully, hid the fact that there were so many cabins in close proximity. It afforded guests a quaint, out there feeling that may be lost with the brighter colors of the newer units that give a distinctively HGTV tiny home village-vibe. The interiors, however, look fine to me; the cabins needed an interior update.
Higher Prices on the Way?
My second point, pricing: DVC resorts tend to be on the upper end of the pricing scale, especially newer DVC resorts and/or DVC resorts that are in the Magic Kingdom area. The new cabins, though not super close to Disney transportation (see my guides to the Disney World monorail, boats, and skyliner), fit both of those criteria: they are in the Magic Kingdom area and will be brand new. I anticipate the pricing to no longer be within the moderate range (the other moderate resorts are Disney’s Port Orleans: Riverside (my review of that resort, a personal favorite, is here), Disney’s Port Orleans: French Quarter, Disney’s Caribbean Beach, and Disneys’ Coronado Springs).
Will Going DVC Change the Vibe?
My last point regards the potential for a new vibe. I love staying at DVC resorts, but they certainly have a different vibe, one which I am not sure gels with the laid-back tone of the cabins. It will be interesting to see whether the change to the DVC resort draws in newer visitors that hadn’t considered it before, and whether the resort will be busier as a result.
Are you a fan of the cabins? What are your thoughts on the planned changes? Let me know in the comments.
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