At least the look of the old ‘cabins’ fit into the theme of Fort Wilderness. Current Disney doesn’t understand the importance of coherent story telling and theming is what set staying on property versus a chain hotel.
I agree about the cabins. These new ones look like a generic hotel while the current ones actually feel like a rustic cabin. They are definitely ruining a lot by trying to constantly change things.
I agree to a point. It seem though that younger generation want everything modern and new looking as far as hotel accomodations, theming is only secondary for them. I mean, theming in general, not just as Disney, has been in major deline. Think the new stuff in Vegas, the decline in new theme restaurants that used to be everywhere.
I know many young people prefer the themed hotels. I hate the generic look of the new resorts. I won’t stay at the riviera, the new tower or the cabins. They also destroyed the Boardwalk and Beach club rooms. I also hate the Contemporary theming.
After staying at Fort Wilderness over a dozen times, I can honestly say that what they are doing to the cabins is depressing. How can the happiest place on earth not find imagineers who really care about their legacy. The new designs simply do not fit the ambience of Fort Wilderness. So sad.
It’s definitely not the Imagineers. They could give literally any vibe you asked them to, and I’m sure during Blue Sky type some someone had a cozy retro cabin, but then someone above them watched Chip and Joanna Gaines and said “how about white shiplap actually, and I pay your salary and get to say yes or no so keep that in mind”
Soulless sheds… you are spot on. I was just there felt sad in one of the cabins knowing they were all being replaced. I don’t get why they have to go and it’s a shame. They could have replaced them with more modern log cabins like everyone loves.
What is Disney's recent fascination with making their newest resorts look like "Courtyard by Marriott"? They had one job; BE DISNEY, Instead they opted to be like 99% of the resort industry that is also NOT DISNEY. Who's in charge of all this new resort BS and how much longer until they get dismissed?
As someone who has stayed at fort wilderness to many times to count, I am extremely disappointed in these modern cabins. Disney is taking away the charm and theme that makes that resort feel special
I stayed at the cabins at the end of October to officially say goodbye, it was emotional for me. I grew up camping at Fort in the RV section. Now I stay at the cabins instead and I’m heartbroken they’re going away for these sheds with no theme. Replace the cabin, fine, but keep the theme and the dark wood look. I want to feel like I’m in the wilderness, not as Tom says, a garden shed.
I still don’t understand why they didn’t just update the old ones and if they want DVC cabins , build them where reflections was going to go. Best of both worlds
I agree... I am SICK AND TIRED of MODERN... they RUINED CORONADO SPRINGS with the flipping new tower and how UN THEMED it it.. we stayed there All the time.. and now don't even want to stay there... STOP DISNEY with UN THEMED rooms and cabins!
Tom is on point again. The Disney name use to shine, sparkle & stood out. When you use to hear Disney, you were in awe. You felt the charm, the magic, the whimsical. AND you knew you was going to get something special and unique. Now when you hear Disney you think dollar signs, too expensive, half azz things getting done, not caring about the parks being maintained, spilling out movies that really don't inspire anyone. It just seems the imagineers that they have now are clueless to what it means to be Disney. Or they are not given the budget to do what they need to do to make Disney great as it should be. This is not my Disney. 😤 With a logo sign that looks like it could be at a Bass Outlet, what they call cabins that look like the military put up for temporary lodging on the field... No theming at all is just not Disney. I so miss the old Disney. Tom, you speak from the heart and reading all the comments, you speak for all of us true Disney fans. I just wish... wish... wish upon a star that someone will LISTEN!! PLEASEEEE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE! 😖And thanks for the update, as always.
I agree too. Disney has been turning their resorts into soulless Residence Inn clones. They have been losing their unique Disney charm, while prices skyrocket, and service is being noticeably cut. I may continue to have an annual pass each year, but much less likely to stay at a Disney resort hotel. I used to love staying at them, but why pay so much for something that isn’t special?
So there was that insurance commercial a while back about a women's she-shed getting burned down. Someone at Disney watched that commercial and said that's what we need at Fort Wilderness.
Sadly this is an issue with so much of multiple industries. Literally no capacity to create or generate unique thought. They have no ability to think creatively at the higher level. It’s really sad to me because I experienced “The Disney Difference” as a kid.
I just stayed at the cabins and I agree they need an update but not an overhaul like this just an update on the cabins. I would love for them to keep the cabin theme
We have stayed at cabins in Tennessee (Pigeon Forge) that are new construction (concrete/CMU) with an applied skin that replicates a real log cabin. They go so far as to replicate the detail of interlocking corners, which is a method real log cabin buildings have-a notching of the logs at the ends. The interiors are built out with applied wood and faux log or wood beam elements. The interior fixtures, appliances, and countertops are all modern. Even though I know these buildings are “themed” and mainly smoke and mirrors, it still presents itself as a cabin. I said all of that to say this: Yes, it is absolutely 100% possible to blend a rustic look with all of the modern amenities! There is no excuse for bringing in these tiny houses or whatever these modular units are and trying to pretend these are supposed to be reminiscent of cabins.
I could live with a marriage of the cabin exterior with an updated take on the interior but kept it close to that aesthetic. Yeah, as someone who practically grew up at Fort Wilderness from 85-2004, I've long wanted a DVC at FW cause I'd love to buy in for my own family trips, but they just don't know their audience anymore.
I agree with the cabins. Those cabins are horrible. The charm of the old ones are amazing. The new ones don’t fit into the resort. Bad decision Disney!
I hope as well however there are lots of people out there that don’t care about what it did to Fort Wilderness aesthetically or anything they just want a nice clean looking place to buy into in the woods for DVC
Yeah, I don't know why Disney thinks that they need to make everything look so generic and look like every other hotel chain. Disney has always been known for their theming and it seems like they have forgotten that.
Disney has been shopping at the hotel store for several years now. Instead of having an imagination and designing something unique and special, they simply buy hotel designs off the shelf.
I can’t really feel it anymore. We went from MD to France for less and had a much better experience. Disney makes no sense for non locals. And does anyone believe the big plans anymore? Maybe we’ll try a cruise some day, or Japan. But done with WDW. It was (sometimes) fun while it lasted. Ha Ha - cabellas. It’s beyond’s pathetic these days. The incredible rooms. Beach Club. Polynesian. What are these things?
Those new cabins are plain. I do not agree with Disney replacing the current cabins the new ones. The new ones don’t scream Fort Wilderness to me. They don’t even match with the aesthetic of the campground.
Aloha WDW...just a note from Hawaii...those cabins look like road side batherooms over here..Womens side/Male side and a solar pannel on that roof for the night lights...They really do..
As an interior designer, I completely agree! They keep going for this NY boutique vibe all over the property. The Disney flavor disappears more and more. We just left a renovated room at the beautiful Beach Club Resort and at least they had great artwork. You are right Tom, these should look like scaled down versions of the Cascade Cabins at the Wilderness Resort. I wouldn't stay in these cabins. They need to start over again. BTW...we're terrified of the proposed redo of the Grand Floridian Lobby. They're messing with perfection...
The cabins, the new sit-down areas at Epcot, all of it has a very soulless aspect to it. Doesn't feel like Disney. No one talks' about this but they are losing an entire generation of kids... 20 years from now it's going to be really bad.
Fort Wilderness was my family’s go-to for every vacation we took to Orlando in the 80s and 90s… So sad to see this “soul-less” remodel - looks like it could be anywhere.
Speaking as a life long WDW fan I completely agree with you Tom. They need to stop lowering their standards and set a new standard. Put the theme back in theme parks!
The ‘cabins’ look like sheds or tiny houses. They DO NOT look like a cozy cabin. And, you are absolutely spot on, Tom, the logo looks like Cabela’s or some other sporting goods company logo.
Those new cabins make me think of the revamped central area at EPCOT. In that case, the design is reminiscent of a nice office business park compared with something that featured a Fountain of Nations. The new wilderness area contains properties reminiscent of modular shipping containers compared with a design evocative of actual wood log cabins. However, work on EPCOT's central hub at least has gone fairly quickly & the former Reedy Creek Dist apparently was a very honest, honorable operation.
So sad. Our best vacation with our family was in the cabins. The rustic look reminded me of being there in 1977. Money grabs are not the way to keep dedicated Disney fans happy.
I agree with you about the dull lifeless style actually when we purchased DVC in 2002 we we told new resorts would always be highly styled and themed Our first resort was wilderness lodge. We have been disappointed by resorts like riviera and I think the new poly will be a glorified Hampton inn.
As a DVC owner I completely agree. Looks so cheap and like you said "soulless." The outside of the cabins look like shipping containers. I saw pics of the BWV updates..... also awful and soulless, zero theming, sterile. No clue what they're doing but there's a reason people choose to stay on property.... this ain't it! Ughhhhh.
I've stayed at the cabins on my first 2 visits and the cabins are beautiful with the look and the inside was good and spacious, and the kitchen is great, we don't need to have them completely replaced by shipping containers with windows
The cabins are my kids and my favorite place to stay. Fort wilderness is a whole vibe. And its like they are taking everything that was special about it out and with it becoming dvc I'm sure its gonna cost twice as much for half as much charm. Its very heartbreaking.
Those aren't cabins! They look like tiny houses. Whoever came up with this idea needs to be canned! The cabin esthetic is gone! I'm all for change but not this! No telling what they're going to charge per night. Especially since it's going to be DVC. Disney is getting rid of history!
All the things lost at FW in my lifetime that little-by-little stripped away its magic and uniqueness: 1. FW railroad 2. Discovery Island 3. River Country 4. River Country Trail 5. Wilderness Swamp Trail (this was such a cool, almost secret boardwalk through the woods and over water at the far corner of the property) 6. Mouse Boats/Sea Raycers 7. Bay Lake swimming area (roped/fenced area in the water with life guards on duty) 8. Clementine's Beach 9. Coleman RV exhibit 10. Tri-Circle-D Ranch 11. Mickey's Backyard BBQ 12. Exercise/bike path between FW and Wilderness Lodge Look at this list and think about what your experience would be with your friends and family if even half of these things still existed today.
As a DVC member, Fort Wilderness was never something that I would consider…these “cabins” have not changed my view. We splurge on vacation, why would I want to simulate something that I can do at home when I’m away. Never really made sense to us, but I do get the charm of the original Fort Wilderness. This is a step in the wrong direction for Disney.
The first thing I thought of when I saw the outside of the new cabins was "shipping containers" I'm not a fan. I was hoping to stay there for a weekend over the summer, hopefully they are still the old ones then.
I agree with Tom!! I think the inclusion of DVC is a grand idea, but these look like a modern “tiny house” not like a CABIN at all!! This was one of the places I really wanted to stay that I haven’t yet, but now I don’t think I care to.
I am with you Tom. The new cabins and the new Poly tower are soul-less! They are horrible and they are everything that aren't Disney. I'm still appalled that we lost the Luau for that horrible, ugly, un-themed tower. When the company can turn out a themed area like Journey of Water but cannot theme a hotel, they have a systemic problem at the upper level! This will be Harmonious all over again! When will they learn?
As a tradition with my family, we go every summer and, sadly, it’s going away and we will never stay here again because of the new prices and it’s a DVC now plus the new look😔
The new Wilderness lodge cabins, I have to agree with Tom. It is a shame Disney has elected to de theme the old rustic look of the cabins and bring in half sized cargo ship containers with a Murphey bed/couch, Formica countertops and a coffee pot.
Tom PLEASE rant about the Grand Floridian being ruined and dethemed as well! Another "time machine" location at WDW taken away from us. You can mention how that lobby building was specifically designed for the band acoustics, etc. The company clearly hates the Victorian theme. You're 100% right about Riviera, and the new Poly building will be its ugly soulless twin.
Change for the sake of change. Counter culture strikes AGAIN, We have stayed at the FORT for 49 years in 7 to 14 day segments. Over 500 nights in total. We know the place better than most cast members. This year 3 nights at Thanksgiving, our only visit this year and probably our LAST. Disney and particular the FORT would make a good MBA case study "on how to destroy a good, profitable business". Walt is rolling over in his grave, AGIAIN. Good bye to the railroad, "Marshmallow Marsh" and River Country. now, add the cabins to that list. Farewell DEAR friend!!!!
Disney has hired way too many people who know nothing about Disney and making it as undisney as possible, slowly losing the Disney magic one stupid change at a time.
I stayed in Ft Wilderness back in the 1980’s and I agree with everything you said. I wonder if the day will come when all the accommodations will be for DVC members and everyone else will be forced to stay off property.
I just stayed a week here cabin 2623 i absolutely love the cabins. The new ones look like peewees playhouse. Soo sad Disney parks were soo worn out aswell paint all faded and cracked looked old and not taken care of. Handrails walls etc. I honestly remember Disney always being freshly painted but not anymore. 😢
I could not agree with you any more than I do. I just spent 4 nights/5 days in a cabin at Fort Wilderness. I wanted to get to stay here before it becomes DVC, and probably out of my price range. I have bittersweet feelings on this. I absolutely LOVED it. I loved the cabin, the Fort as a whole, EVERYTHING about this resort and the cast members and guests with whom I shared the Fort. I hate that they are changing these to DVC. I'm a moderate person - I always stay in that price range. I won't be able to stay once these are DVC. Beyond that, you are spot on with your assessment of the new cabins. They look horrible. HORRIBLE. That is NOT a cabin. I'm very sad about this, and angry that this decision was made. It does seem like a money grab. The cabins were up for renovation/replacement, and opted to have DVC bankroll it. Well, that completely destroyed the vibe and the purpose of the cabins.
You know, one of the joys I used to have, while visiting the WDW resorts, was taking a break from the parks and occasionally visiting one of the resorts' themed hotels. This new version of Fort Wilderness reminds me of a cross between a faux mid-century suburban home in the Pacific Northwest and an Ingmar Bergman movie set. What a disaster!
Preach on! Disney has surely lost its way from where it all began. It can totally be done to update something and still have it go back to its roots. They need to actually hire people to work for Disney that understand the true history of Walt Disney and the love he had for family entertainment.
@Tom, As a long time viewer and fan of your channel I’m challenging you and your staff to dig deeper into Disney and find out who drove the decision to turn the cabins into she-sheds?
Yep!! I have the same rage with the new Floridian “resort studios”! I didn’t want that and didn’t buy that glorified hotel room. Putting that contract on the resale market this year because of this reason. If I want one of the hotel rooms I’ll just pay cash. Didn’t buy DVC for the hotel room experience. They are wrong to keep doing this.
Not sure these can be called "cabins"; this makes Fort Wilderness look more like a mobile home park! 😢
To be fair, the old ones were really mobile homes......but they had a strong log cabin theme....the new ones...not so much.
At least the look of the old ‘cabins’ fit into the theme of Fort Wilderness. Current Disney doesn’t understand the importance of coherent story telling and theming is what set staying on property versus a chain hotel.
Honestly has that shipping container vibe.
Ugly, pink couch? I like the woods look. Much more cabin like!
Look up modern sheds!! Ha ha I have one that looks almost this but half the size ha ha!! What a joke
I agree about the cabins. These new ones look like a generic hotel while the current ones actually feel like a rustic cabin. They are definitely ruining a lot by trying to constantly change things.
@@Lovesapuzzlego to real cabins at Yellowstone!
@@Lovesapuzzle so true!
I agree to a point. It seem though that younger generation want everything modern and new looking as far as hotel accomodations, theming is only secondary for them. I mean, theming in general, not just as Disney, has been in major deline. Think the new stuff in Vegas, the decline in new theme restaurants that used to be everywhere.
I know many young people prefer the themed hotels. I hate the generic look of the new resorts. I won’t stay at the riviera, the new tower or the cabins. They also destroyed the Boardwalk and Beach club rooms. I also hate the Contemporary theming.
They are not cabins, they are shipping containers.
Out of all of the things that Disney has ruined in the parks over the years, these new "cabins" might honestly take the cake. So sad.
Nothing says rustic cabin like a pink couch. What were they thinking? Agree with Tom on this one.
After staying at Fort Wilderness over a dozen times, I can honestly say that what they are doing to the cabins is depressing. How can the happiest place on earth not find imagineers who really care about their legacy. The new designs simply do not fit the ambience of Fort Wilderness. So sad.
Please don’t say it’s the designer’s faults. It’s leadership’s fault.
Disneyland is the Happiest Place on Earth.
It’s definitely not the Imagineers. They could give literally any vibe you asked them to, and I’m sure during Blue Sky type some someone had a cozy retro cabin, but then someone above them watched Chip and Joanna Gaines and said “how about white shiplap actually, and I pay your salary and get to say yes or no so keep that in mind”
@@averyeml ^ this 100%
Soulless sheds… you are spot on. I was just there felt sad in one of the cabins knowing they were all being replaced. I don’t get why they have to go and it’s a shame. They could have replaced them with more modern log cabins like everyone loves.
Lookup the log cabins you can rent around Pigeon Forge, TN - this would be EASY to build, they don't even have to design anything
@@drx630 Exactly, Andrew!
What is Disney's recent fascination with making their newest resorts look like "Courtyard by Marriott"? They had one job; BE DISNEY, Instead they opted to be like 99% of the resort industry that is also NOT DISNEY. Who's in charge of all this new resort BS and how much longer until they get dismissed?
The cabins looks like the temporary construction shack they put next to the Applebees while it’s being built.
As someone who has stayed at fort wilderness to many times to count, I am extremely disappointed in these modern cabins. Disney is taking away the charm and theme that makes that resort feel special
100%
the CABINS logo literally looks like a corporate big box store logo lmao
It's digraceful, imagineers stayed in those cabins while building epcot. It's a piece of WDW history that is being replaced.
I stayed at the cabins at the end of October to officially say goodbye, it was emotional for me. I grew up camping at Fort in the RV section. Now I stay at the cabins instead and I’m heartbroken they’re going away for these sheds with no theme. Replace the cabin, fine, but keep the theme and the dark wood look. I want to feel like I’m in the wilderness, not as Tom says, a garden shed.
Ugh. I do wish that they would stay with fully themed resorts.
Too late. The de-theming has been in full swing for a few years now.
I still don’t understand why they didn’t just update the old ones and if they want DVC cabins , build them where reflections was going to go. Best of both worlds
Omg, that looks literally horrible, this is going to ruin our beloved fort. 😢
I agree... I am SICK AND TIRED of MODERN... they RUINED CORONADO SPRINGS with the flipping new tower and how UN THEMED it it.. we stayed there All the time.. and now don't even want to stay there... STOP DISNEY with UN THEMED rooms and cabins!
It is the most non Disney sign I've ever seen, and the cabin could be at any tourist trap in America.
The cabins look like they are based on the tiny house concept
That's what I thought. Looks like a modern tiny house, which are very popular with many people.
Thanks Tom for speaking up for all of us who disgusted by all those poor designs that WDI currently pours in all of our beloved parks and resorts.
The rant is on point! It's more like urban sprawl, than wilderness.
The "cabins" look like pre-built slide ins meant for a cruise ship.. maybe they Misunderstood the term Cabin!!
Tom is on point again. The Disney name use to shine, sparkle & stood out. When you use to hear Disney, you were in awe. You felt the charm, the magic, the whimsical. AND you knew you was going to get something special and unique. Now when you hear Disney you think dollar signs, too expensive, half azz things getting done, not caring about the parks being maintained, spilling out movies that really don't inspire anyone. It just seems the imagineers that they have now are clueless to what it means to be Disney. Or they are not given the budget to do what they need to do to make Disney great as it should be. This is not my Disney. 😤 With a logo sign that looks like it could be at a Bass Outlet, what they call cabins that look like the military put up for temporary lodging on the field... No theming at all is just not Disney. I so miss the old Disney. Tom, you speak from the heart and reading all the comments, you speak for all of us true Disney fans. I just wish... wish... wish upon a star that someone will LISTEN!! PLEASEEEE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE! 😖And thanks for the update, as always.
Well said.
I agree too. Disney has been turning their resorts into soulless Residence Inn clones. They have been losing their unique Disney charm, while prices skyrocket, and service is being noticeably cut. I may continue to have an annual pass each year, but much less likely to stay at a Disney resort hotel. I used to love staying at them, but why pay so much for something that isn’t special?
The "cabins" look like those temporary buildings they set up on a construction site. Love the Main Street Electrical Parade drones!
So there was that insurance commercial a while back about a women's she-shed getting burned down. Someone at Disney watched that commercial and said that's what we need at Fort Wilderness.
Sadly this is an issue with so much of multiple industries. Literally no capacity to create or generate unique thought. They have no ability to think creatively at the higher level. It’s really sad to me because I experienced “The Disney Difference” as a kid.
I just stayed at the cabins and I agree they need an update but not an overhaul like this just an update on the cabins. I would love for them to keep the cabin theme
We have stayed at cabins in Tennessee (Pigeon Forge) that are new construction (concrete/CMU) with an applied skin that replicates a real log cabin. They go so far as to replicate the detail of interlocking corners, which is a method real log cabin buildings have-a notching of the logs at the ends. The interiors are built out with applied wood and faux log or wood beam elements. The interior fixtures, appliances, and countertops are all modern. Even though I know these buildings are “themed” and mainly smoke and mirrors, it still presents itself as a cabin. I said all of that to say this: Yes, it is absolutely 100% possible to blend a rustic look with all of the modern amenities! There is no excuse for bringing in these tiny houses or whatever these modular units are and trying to pretend these are supposed to be reminiscent of cabins.
Congrats, Disney, you turned Fort Wilderness into a trailer park.
I mean it is but I see what you mean totally agree
They can't keep calling everything "magical" when it's all becoming generic. The cabins look like shipping containers. Sad.
The new cabins would more appropriate at the Contemporary Resort area
This "cabin" interior concept art looks like a mismatched college dorm.
Yea!!!! We love Tom ranting!!
Why does Disney debut all the cool, new attractions to include the Disney Electrical Sky Parade in places such as Paris, and not at WDW?
I could live with a marriage of the cabin exterior with an updated take on the interior but kept it close to that aesthetic. Yeah, as someone who practically grew up at Fort Wilderness from 85-2004, I've long wanted a DVC at FW cause I'd love to buy in for my own family trips, but they just don't know their audience anymore.
I agree with the cabins. Those cabins are horrible. The charm of the old ones are amazing. The new ones don’t fit into the resort. Bad decision Disney!
You are 100 per cent correct. Fort Wilderness has been losing its heart since Trails End failed.
We have been complaining since Rivera and they haven't listened, Hopefully when no one buys there they finally change their ways
I hope as well however there are lots of people out there that don’t care about what it did to Fort Wilderness aesthetically or anything they just want a nice clean looking place to buy into in the woods for DVC
Yeah, I don't know why Disney thinks that they need to make everything look so generic and look like every other hotel chain. Disney has always been known for their theming and it seems like they have forgotten that.
I totally agree with you about the cabins and the Polynesian tower❤!
They're called cabins as in LOG Cabins. Can't they at least put the faux LOGS on the exterior of the new cabins? just a thought ...
Disney has been shopping at the hotel store for several years now. Instead of having an imagination and designing something unique and special, they simply buy hotel designs off the shelf.
to lose the log cabin feel that everyone loved is very unfortunate . Big swing and a miss here in one of my fav places at disney .
I can’t really feel it anymore. We went from MD to France for less and had a much better experience. Disney makes no sense for non locals. And does anyone believe the big plans anymore? Maybe we’ll try a cruise some day, or Japan. But done with WDW. It was (sometimes) fun while it lasted.
Ha Ha - cabellas. It’s beyond’s pathetic these days. The incredible rooms. Beach Club. Polynesian. What are these things?
Apparently "rustic woodland cabins" translates to "Comfort Inn post modern shed" nowadays.
Yes I do not like them either!! Disney is killing the magic!
Those new cabins are plain. I do not agree with Disney replacing the current cabins the new ones. The new ones don’t scream Fort Wilderness to me. They don’t even match with the aesthetic of the campground.
Aloha WDW...just a note from Hawaii...those cabins look like road side batherooms over here..Womens side/Male side and a solar pannel on that roof for the night lights...They really do..
As an interior designer, I completely agree! They keep going for this NY boutique vibe all over the property. The Disney flavor disappears more and more. We just left a renovated room at the beautiful Beach Club Resort and at least they had great artwork. You are right Tom, these should look like scaled down versions of the Cascade Cabins at the Wilderness Resort. I wouldn't stay in these cabins. They need to start over again. BTW...we're terrified of the proposed redo of the Grand Floridian Lobby. They're messing with perfection...
That Polynesian tower is a black eye to that resort area aesthetic
The cabins, the new sit-down areas at Epcot, all of it has a very soulless aspect to it. Doesn't feel like Disney. No one talks' about this but they are losing an entire generation of kids... 20 years from now it's going to be really bad.
Fort Wilderness was my family’s go-to for every vacation we took to Orlando in the 80s and 90s… So sad to see this “soul-less” remodel - looks like it could be anywhere.
Speaking as a life long WDW fan I completely agree with you Tom. They need to stop lowering their standards and set a new standard. Put the theme back in theme parks!
The whole Epcot reimagining & Fort Wilderness cabin destruction is just the nail in the coffin of peak 80’s Epcot feels.
They are ruining the guest experience at wdw and it’s really upsetting
The ‘cabins’ look like sheds or tiny houses. They DO NOT look like a cozy cabin. And, you are absolutely spot on, Tom, the logo looks like Cabela’s or some other sporting goods company logo.
Those new cabins make me think of the revamped central area at EPCOT. In that case, the design is reminiscent of a nice office business park compared with something that featured a Fountain of Nations. The new wilderness area contains properties reminiscent of modular shipping containers compared with a design evocative of actual wood log cabins. However, work on EPCOT's central hub at least has gone fairly quickly & the former Reedy Creek Dist apparently was a very honest, honorable operation.
love a tom rant
Glamping is so 3 years ago! It’s all about living in shipping containers now.
Looks like they purchased generic furniture in bulk and that’s all they use now.. theming doesn’t scream a Disney premium experience
So sad. Our best vacation with our family was in the cabins. The rustic look reminded me of being there in 1977. Money grabs are not the way to keep dedicated Disney fans happy.
Terrible. I will never stay there again.
I agree with you about the dull lifeless style actually when we purchased DVC in 2002 we we told new resorts would always be highly styled and themed Our first resort was wilderness lodge. We have been disappointed by resorts like riviera and I think the new poly will be a glorified Hampton inn.
I agree, Tom. Disney has ruined yet another resort. I love that Spaceship Earth lighting figure.
A cabin is a cabin. That's not a cabin. No Disney history. Don't know what they're thinking/doing. 😏🙄😤
As a DVC owner I completely agree. Looks so cheap and like you said "soulless." The outside of the cabins look like shipping containers. I saw pics of the BWV updates..... also awful and soulless, zero theming, sterile. No clue what they're doing but there's a reason people choose to stay on property.... this ain't it! Ughhhhh.
Now that's a RANT!
I've stayed at the cabins on my first 2 visits and the cabins are beautiful with the look and the inside was good and spacious, and the kitchen is great, we don't need to have them completely replaced by shipping containers with windows
IMO the new cabins went from the appearance you were actually camping and that looks like glamping.
The cabins are my kids and my favorite place to stay. Fort wilderness is a whole vibe. And its like they are taking everything that was special about it out and with it becoming dvc I'm sure its gonna cost twice as much for half as much charm. Its very heartbreaking.
Those aren't cabins! They look like tiny houses. Whoever came up with this idea needs to be canned! The cabin esthetic is gone! I'm all for change but not this!
No telling what they're going to charge per night. Especially since it's going to be DVC. Disney is getting rid of history!
I agree with you 100%.
I love the Eeyore on your desk. As for the cabins, the exteriors look like converted shipping containers.
All the things lost at FW in my lifetime that little-by-little stripped away its magic and uniqueness:
1. FW railroad
2. Discovery Island
3. River Country
4. River Country Trail
5. Wilderness Swamp Trail (this was such a cool, almost secret boardwalk through the woods and over water at the far corner of the property)
6. Mouse Boats/Sea Raycers
7. Bay Lake swimming area (roped/fenced area in the water with life guards on duty)
8. Clementine's Beach
9. Coleman RV exhibit
10. Tri-Circle-D Ranch
11. Mickey's Backyard BBQ
12. Exercise/bike path between FW and Wilderness Lodge
Look at this list and think about what your experience would be with your friends and family if even half of these things still existed today.
As a DVC member, Fort Wilderness was never something that I would consider…these “cabins” have not changed my view. We splurge on vacation, why would I want to simulate something that I can do at home when I’m away. Never really made sense to us, but I do get the charm of the original Fort Wilderness. This is a step in the wrong direction for Disney.
The first thing I thought of when I saw the outside of the new cabins was "shipping containers" I'm not a fan. I was hoping to stay there for a weekend over the summer, hopefully they are still the old ones then.
That logo is trash. LMAO OMG
Welcome Home to your own shed! 😫
I agree with Tom!! I think the inclusion of DVC is a grand idea, but these look like a modern “tiny house” not like a CABIN at all!! This was one of the places I really wanted to stay that I haven’t yet, but now I don’t think I care to.
I am with you Tom. The new cabins and the new Poly tower are soul-less! They are horrible and they are everything that aren't Disney. I'm still appalled that we lost the Luau for that horrible, ugly, un-themed tower. When the company can turn out a themed area like Journey of Water but cannot theme a hotel, they have a systemic problem at the upper level! This will be Harmonious all over again! When will they learn?
As a tradition with my family, we go every summer and, sadly, it’s going away and we will never stay here again because of the new prices and it’s a DVC now plus the new look😔
I’m a DVC owner. Those cabins are garish and I would never stay there.
The new Wilderness lodge cabins, I have to agree with Tom. It is a shame Disney has elected to de theme the old rustic look of the cabins and bring in half sized cargo ship containers with a Murphey bed/couch, Formica countertops and a coffee pot.
Tom PLEASE rant about the Grand Floridian being ruined and dethemed as well! Another "time machine" location at WDW taken away from us. You can mention how that lobby building was specifically designed for the band acoustics, etc. The company clearly hates the Victorian theme. You're 100% right about Riviera, and the new Poly building will be its ugly soulless twin.
Change for the sake of change. Counter culture strikes AGAIN, We have stayed at the FORT for 49 years in 7 to 14 day segments. Over 500 nights in total. We know the place better than most cast members. This year 3 nights at Thanksgiving, our only visit this year and probably our LAST. Disney and particular the FORT would make a good MBA case study "on how to destroy a good, profitable business". Walt is rolling over in his grave, AGIAIN. Good bye to the railroad, "Marshmallow Marsh" and River Country. now, add the cabins to that list. Farewell DEAR friend!!!!
😢 its sad
I honestly miss family style trails end, my family had some great times they’re
Disney has hired way too many people who know nothing about Disney and making it as undisney as possible, slowly losing the Disney magic one stupid change at a time.
I stayed in Ft Wilderness back in the 1980’s and I agree with everything you said. I wonder if the day will come when all the accommodations will be for DVC members and everyone else will be forced to stay off property.
Staying in a mobile home at Disney prices. Nope.
I just stayed a week here cabin 2623 i absolutely love the cabins. The new ones look like peewees playhouse. Soo sad Disney parks were soo worn out aswell paint all faded and cracked looked old and not taken care of. Handrails walls etc. I honestly remember Disney always being freshly painted but not anymore. 😢
I could not agree with you any more than I do. I just spent 4 nights/5 days in a cabin at Fort Wilderness. I wanted to get to stay here before it becomes DVC, and probably out of my price range. I have bittersweet feelings on this. I absolutely LOVED it. I loved the cabin, the Fort as a whole, EVERYTHING about this resort and the cast members and guests with whom I shared the Fort. I hate that they are changing these to DVC. I'm a moderate person - I always stay in that price range. I won't be able to stay once these are DVC. Beyond that, you are spot on with your assessment of the new cabins. They look horrible. HORRIBLE. That is NOT a cabin. I'm very sad about this, and angry that this decision was made. It does seem like a money grab. The cabins were up for renovation/replacement, and opted to have DVC bankroll it. Well, that completely destroyed the vibe and the purpose of the cabins.
This breaks my heart the most, I agree with everything you have said Tom about Fort Wilderness, its a disgrace what they are doing.
I think the new cabin evokes Barbie Dream House -I guess there is an audience for that 😂
You know, one of the joys I used to have, while visiting the WDW resorts, was taking a break from the parks and occasionally visiting one of the resorts' themed hotels. This new version of Fort Wilderness reminds me of a cross between a faux mid-century suburban home in the Pacific Northwest and an Ingmar Bergman movie set. What a disaster!
That "Story Beyond" art makes me want a Haunted Mansion anime.
My family’s favorite resort by far. This is tragic. Definitely won’t be staying there like we used to.
Preach on! Disney has surely lost its way from where it all began. It can totally be done to update something and still have it go back to its roots. They need to actually hire people to work for Disney that understand the true history of Walt Disney and the love he had for family entertainment.
@Tom, As a long time viewer and fan of your channel I’m challenging you and your staff to dig deeper into Disney and find out who drove the decision to turn the cabins into she-sheds?
Yep!! I have the same rage with the new Floridian “resort studios”! I didn’t want that and didn’t buy that glorified hotel room. Putting that contract on the resale market this year because of this reason. If I want one of the hotel rooms I’ll just pay cash. Didn’t buy DVC for the hotel room experience. They are wrong to keep doing this.