PO FQ vs Fort Wilderness Cabins

TeresaNJ · Jul 31, 2015

Hi Disney campers! For those of you who've stayed at the cabins, as well as other Disney moderate & deluxe resorts, are there any reasons why you would choose one over the other?

We were DVC owners for a very long time, and sold within the last few years to buy a hobby farm. We're hoping to purchase DVC again sometime in the near future. For our last several Disney trips since selling the DVC, we've rented points and stayed at DVC resorts in a studio. For this upcoming trip in November, I didn't want to rent points, as you're not really able to cancel, and having just had a total knee replacement, I wanted the option of cancelling closer to the trip, should I need to.

I also don't want to spend a ton of money, and was able to book a river view room at POFQ for eight nights for around $220/night with tax, with the fall room discount. Fort Wilderness Cabins are also available, at around $100/night more. I am so tempted to switch, but keep talking myself out of it. I can buy our park tickets with the extra money it would cost to stay in a cabin. On the other hand, one of our DVC contracts was at Wilderness, and it's my absolute fav Disney resort. I also love the Fort, and we try to visit on every trip. I love Bay Lake. I love being able to take the boat to the MK. I just love the whole atmosphere.

We've only stayed moderate a few times, and only for a night or two, mainly at the beginning of our DVC trip, when we were flying in late, then switching resorts the next day. I like having the extra square footage of a studio, as opposed to a moderate, I like having the mini kitchen and the couch to sit on, rather than two beds. Should I just spend the $800 extra and book the cabin? Will I need to rent a golf cart? We are renting a car, regardless, after flying in to MCO. With my very fresh knee replacement (it will be about 3 1/2 months old at the time of the trip, with the second replacement scheduled for two weeks after the trip, I'm thinking it might be a pain, literally, to have to walk to the internal bus stops, etc. I hate being so undecided!

ilovedisneymm · Jul 31, 2015

Here is a question for you....

Have you considered tent camping or renting an RV? There are businesses that will set up your RV and have ready for you upon arrival. Or are you set on staying in the cabins IF staying at the fort? Sounds like you really like FW but $800 is a pretty big extra expense and if you add in a golf cart then there would be more.

Golf carts are wonderful to have and so helpful in not only seeing all that the fort has to offer but also get you here and there in a jiffy!

Also, you are going to the parks? Your post is not clear on that.

Will you be renting a scooter to help get you around?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought mobility was the main factor in a quick recovery with knee surgery. So walking would do you good...yes..no?

TeresaNJ · Jul 31, 2015

ilovedisneymm said:
Here is a question for you....

Have you considered tent camping or renting an RV? There are businesses that will set up your RV and have ready for you upon arrival. Or are you set on staying in the cabins IF staying at the fort? Sounds like you really like FW but $800 is a pretty big extra expense and if you add in a golf cart then there would be more.

Golf carts are wonderful to have and so helpful in not only seeing all that the fort has to offer but also get you here and there in a jiffy!

Also, you are going to the parks? Your post is not clear on that.

Will you be renting a scooter to help get you around?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought mobility was the main factor in a quick recovery with knee surgery. So walking would do you good...yes..no?

We will be doing the parks, quite a bit. Mainly going for the F&W Festival at Epcot. Had to time our vacation around our daughter's wedding, which is October 3rd, her honeymoon, as we're babysitting her dog, and they aren't going until the last week in October/first week in November, and my second knee surgery. Our dates are November 9-17th. They come home from their honeymoon on the 7th. My second surgery is November 30th, the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Walking is part of the recovery, but I'll still have one bad knee. I bring my wheelchair and a cane. I try to walk as much as possible, but when it gets to be too much, hubby pushes me in the wheelchair. I never rent scooters. I'm afraid of running people down, plus don't want to deal with them with the busses. So much easier to just fold up the wheelchair and walk on the bus.

I've never considered tent camping. Don't think I'd be too into that, lol. I'd consider renting an RV, but feel like I'd need a lot more time to do appropriate research on that, and might be something I'd want to do when bringing the grandkids.

ilovedisneymm · Jul 31, 2015

Well I sure can't compare the cabins to POFQ and I'm totally biased when it comes to the fort. That said, you are posting here cause you are considering switching and the fort does hold your interest.....so much you make a trip to visit each time!

I think if you do switch to the cabins and with your knee condition, a golf cart would be needed. You can rent one from D or an off-site rental and they are a bit more affordable so something to consider there.

It wouldn't hurt to glance at some RV rentals. Only you know you best, but I don't see why one would need a great deal of time before renting an RV in the "prep area". They do set everything up and break it all down.

Cost wise, you would save $$$ or break even, renting an RV and this includes golf cart. Now, I'm not doing exact math here but it has to be "ball park" close anyway.

Worse case...you rent the RV, love it, go home, buy one, come back with grandkids!!!!

So much to think about eh?

Any discounts for the cabins going on now? I recently received a mailer with a discount on hotels (including cabins) it was late summer/fall. Dates I'm not exact on.

Post any questions you might have.

TeresaNJ · Jul 31, 2015

Now you've got me doing searches on RV rentals, LOL! I'm exploring all options! The nightly rate at a cabin with the fall room discount is $283, tax not included.

Hopefully · Jul 31, 2015

I've stayed at both and I have enjoyed both. Both are a bit ago as we now own DVC. If the cabins interest you as much as they seem to, I would spring for it this trip.
I don't think a golf cart is a must, since you will have you r own car parked right at your cabin. You would only need the internal bus if you chose to take the boat to the MK - which is probably easier. You could drive to all the other parks.
Good Luck in your decision

ilovedisneymm · Jul 31, 2015

This is true, you don't need a golf cart. But if you want to submerge yourself in the fort and visit the campfire at night, or the pools in the day time or lunch at TE or just loop to see all the campsites, a cart sure makes it nice

You could even just rent one for a day or two, no need for the whole trip.

Greenburg is the place most on here rent from. Do take inconsideration you still need to rent the site nightly.

If it were me, I would find away to splurge for the cabin! Well if it were me, I would stay in my tents but you know what I mean

TeresaNJ · Jul 31, 2015

So there is golf cart parking at the pool areas?

ilovedisneymm · Jul 31, 2015

Honey, there is golf cart parking EVERYWHERE.

Example...

You can walk from your cabin loop to the bus stop (internal bus) and ride that bus to the outpost and then transfer from the internal bus to the park bus . OR you can take your golf cart from your cabin straight to the outpost bus stop to go to another park OR take your cart to the boat docks and make a few loops along the way. I suggest driving and giving your hubby a ride he won't ever forget! You can take your cart to the fire sing along, you can take your cart to either pool, to either store, to the Trails End.....to the ranch to look at the horses.....on a crazy late night drive......down to the docks to watch the Electrical Light Parade....fireworks......

We make golf carting an "event" when we go. I'm a little nuts when it comes to my golf cart

It makes the trip for me.

Not sure your reasoning behind the car rental? Just cause ease to drive to the parks? We do both drive to the parks some and take Disney transportation for the rest. We really plan to just drive to Epcot but only cause the kids fall asleep there and it is tough to transport two sleepy children onto one bus and then off and on a golf cart at the Outpost. Parking at the parks is a long walk or pain in the butt tram ride. But again, that is just me. You very well might have 100 reasons on why to rent a car when flying in. We drive.

TeresaNJ · Jul 31, 2015

ilovedisneymm said:
Honey, there is golf cart parking EVERYWHERE.

Example...

You can walk from your cabin loop to the bus stop (internal bus) and then take a bus at the outpost (bus stop that takes you to other parks). OR you can take your golf cart from your cabin straight to the outpost bus stop to go to another park OR take your cart to the boat docks and make a few loops along the way. I suggest driving and giving your hubby a ride he won't ever forget! You can take your cart to the fire sing along, you can take your cart to either pool, to either store, to the Trails End.....to the ranch to look at the horses.....on a crazy late night drive......down to the docks to watch the Electrical Light Parade....fireworks......

We make golf carting an "event" when we go. I'm a little nuts when it comes to my golf cart It makes the trip for me.

Not sure your reasoning behind the car rental? Just cause ease to drive to the parks? We do both drive to the parks some and take Disney transportation for the rest. We really plan to just drive to Epcot but only cause the kids fall asleep there and it is tough to transport two sleepy children onto one bus and then off and on a golf cart at the Outpost. Parking at the parks is a long walk or pain in the butt tram ride. But again, that is just me. You very well might have 100 reasons on why to take a car when flying in. We drive.

Oh my gosh, you are too funny! You made me lol! :rotfl2:

Normally we don't rent a car, but I got an awesome rate on carrentals.com, and since we were staying at POFQ, didn't want to be dependent on the buses to get everywhere, especially since we like to eat at other resorts' restaurants, but renting a car is not written in stone.

KristinU · Aug 1, 2015

When staying at the DVC resorts do you enjoy sitting out on the patio? That's something we really enjoy - that private outdoor space to sit and welcome the day with a cup of coffee or unwind at the end of the day. And we really missed that when we've stayed at a moderate or value, I just feel more confined in the traditional hotel/motel style rooms. I haven't stayed in a cabin, but being able to relax without having to sit on a bed is high on my priority list, so I'd go Fort if I were in your position for sure

North of Mouse · Aug 1, 2015

TeresaNJ said:
Hi Disney campers! For those of you who've stayed at the cabins, as well as other Disney moderate & deluxe resorts, are there any reasons why you would choose one over the other?

We were DVC owners for a very long time, and sold within the last few years to buy a hobby farm. We're hoping to purchase DVC again sometime in the near future. For our last several Disney trips since selling the DVC, we've rented points and stayed at DVC resorts in a studio. For this upcoming trip in November, I didn't want to rent points, as you're not really able to cancel, and having just had a total knee replacement, I wanted the option of cancelling closer to the trip, should I need to.

I also don't want to spend a ton of money, and was able to book a river view room at POFQ for eight nights for around $220/night with tax, with the fall room discount. Fort Wilderness Cabins are also available, at around $100/night more. I am so tempted to switch, but keep talking myself out of it. I can buy our park tickets with the extra money it would cost to stay in a cabin. On the other hand, one of our DVC contracts was at Wilderness, and it's my absolute fav Disney resort. I also love the Fort, and we try to visit on every trip. I love Bay Lake. I love being able to take the boat to the MK. I just love the whole atmosphere.

We've only stayed moderate a few times, and only for a night or two, mainly at the beginning of our DVC trip, when we were flying in late, then switching resorts the next day. I like having the extra square footage of a studio, as opposed to a moderate, I like having the mini kitchen and the couch to sit on, rather than two beds. Should I just spend the $800 extra and book the cabin? Will I need to rent a golf cart? We are renting a car, regardless, after flying in to MCO. With my very fresh knee replacement (it will be about 3 1/2 months old at the time of the trip, with the second replacement scheduled for two weeks after the trip, I'm thinking it might be a pain, literally, to have to walk to the internal bus stops, etc. I hate being so undecided!

Have always stayed in FW, but if needing to 'rent' anything, being a choice between the cabins and POFQ - no contest - 'love' the atmosphere of the POFQ hotel. We always go there on our trips, have coffee and beignets in the food court and walk along the 'bayou', plus take the boat once to DTD.

POFQ is like a minature NOLA French Quarters and we love the looks and feel.

bama_ed · Aug 1, 2015

Although we haven't stayed in the cabins in years, I want to add that one of the benefits of the cabin is having a full kitchen which POFQ can't compare to. Since you've done DVC in the past with their kitchens, you probably have an opinion about having a kitchen on vacation.

For some folks, we hear that a kitchen is not a plus. Some folks feel that they're on vacation and they don't want to cook - they want to EAT OUT!

For other folks, having the kitchen allows a slower start to the day because breakfast can be eaten in your pajamas - you don't have to get cleaned up and dressed to go out to have a bowl of Raisin Bran (extra raisins, if you please).

Having the kitchen can save money on meals that you would otherwise have to spend on retail meals - it's almost always cheaper to cook and eat in.

For some of us, having the kitchen means we have more control over what we eat on vacation. While healthy choices are available in the retail food service, you have more options and control if you are preparing it.

Does it mean a stop at the grocery or a run by Garden Grocer (a grocery delivery service)? Yes. Is it worth it? It is to me.

Bama Ed

PS - the cabins have the outside charcoal grill and the deck as Kristin mentioned that you can enjoy. Does POFQ have that? Can you park at your room's front door at POFQ?

PO FQ vs Fort Wilderness Cabins

TeresaNJ

Magic Begins With Me

ilovedisneymm

DIS Veteran

TeresaNJ

Magic Begins With Me

ilovedisneymm

DIS Veteran

TeresaNJ

Magic Begins With Me

Hopefully

DIS Veteran

ilovedisneymm

DIS Veteran

TeresaNJ

Magic Begins With Me

ilovedisneymm

DIS Veteran

TeresaNJ

Magic Begins With Me

KristinU

DIS Veteran

North of Mouse

DIS Veteran

bama_ed

It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney

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