I'm nervous to try FW Cabins....

[barefootMom]

I am trying to come to a conclusion of where we want to stay and the FW Cabins have always tempted me but I never chose them in the past and now am still unsure. I love the extra space, the cost (compared to the deluxes we are considering) and the fun things to do at Fort Wilderness. What I am nervous of is:

are they too much like camping and not enough luxury or enough Disney feel?
seems to be mixed verdict as to whether or not a golf cart is really needed?
seems to be lot of complaints of transportation via bus to parks (not MK)?

Have you stayed there and would you again? if not, why not?
It will be me, dh, and 2 daughters, 5 & 8

[pattyw]

We just stayed there for the first time in Aug. We were nervous, too. But it's now our favorite resort. The cabins are roomy- it's nice to have a separate bedroom and a kitchen. We cooked out on the charcoal grill and loved to sit and have coffee in the morning on our deck!! It was so peaceful!! We never heard anyone! No running down the halls, etc in the early morning o late at night! I thought the pool was great! New waterslide is nice. We had a car and rented a golf cart for 2 days. We also used the buses. The MK boat was nice. The internal transportation adds time onto your commute to the parks, but the buses come very frequently. I think it's probably a little longer than some resorts, but we've stayed at the deluxes where they stop at two or three different resorts which is time consuming as well. A car and/or golf cart helps, but I would not hesitate to stay there even without both. The quiet and extra space are well worth it. !!

[lovepurple]

We have stayed at the cabins three times. When we travel with all 4 of our kids it is the best option for us. We love the quiet since you are not sharing a wall with someone else like you would be at the other resorts. The full kitchen is great for us and we love grilling and sitting on the deck. We never rent a golf cart. They look like they would be fun. I don't think the buses are any better or worse than anywhere else. The boat to the Magic Kingdom is great and we love to rent the little boats and ride around in front of the Magic Kingdom. There is so much to do at the cabins. We also like the woodsy atmosphere, but I suppose other resorts might be more Disney-like. The cabins are roomy and not like camping, but I wouldn't call them luxury. We will stay again when we are traveling with more than 4 of us but when we have 4 or less we usually stay at one of the mods.

[Mr. Pig]

When we stayed at the cabins we had 4 adults and 2 teenagers. We had enough room but just enough. You should be great with 4 people. It is truly unlike other Disney resorts. You get a Disney feel and the cabins are not like camping but you are in the woods and it still is a campground.

Getting to a park is usually a two step operation. You get on an internal bus (or use a golf cart) to the stop for the external buses or the marina for the MK boat. I don't think any of the cabins are close enough to want to walk to these. This means it is a bit slower to get places than other resorts - and to get back also. Having a golf cart is not a necessity but it makes it more flexible to get around and it can be a lot of fun also. It does add to the cost. I don't know what the current prices are but they are not cheap.

I would probably stay there again if I had the chance. Normally when I go it is not with kids and I would not take advantage of the other fun things to do at FW but I did enjoy my stay there with family.

[lovesdumbo]

The cabins are not like camping. You get full housekeeping daily.

They are nice & quite.

I actually prefer the All Star Family Suites. I would give up the full size kitchen in the cabin for the queen bed and extra bathroom in the suite.

[Tink415]

I think the FW cabins are some of the nicest themed accommadations at Disney World. We also stay at Yogi Bear and KOA cabins, which are basic cabins, the FW cabins are much different. We've stayed at the FW cabins a few times. But we like to spend a few hours there no matter where we stay at WDW because there is so much to do.

Having a gold cart is a lot of fun, but not necessary. Ask for a cabin near the begining or end of a loop if you want the quickest walk to a bus stop. I don't think the buses are that bad. Not any worse than the shared buses most deluxes have to parks they aren't near.

If you decide to stay at FW be sure to schedule time to enjoy the resort!

[MNTwinsMom]

We're staying at the cabins for our trip in December. I've stayed in the cabins once before and can't wait to go back. We've stayed at the Poly, OKW, POR and CSR previously and Ft. Wilderness remains our favorite.

Taking an "internal" bus to get to the parks buses (or to the marina to catch the boat to the MK) is time consuming and the one drawback from my previous experience. For our December trip we reserved a golf cart. Cost is $54/day from Disney, but I understand it's possible to reserve a cart from a company outside Disney for less. Check the camping board on DIS. They have all the info you'd ever want about Ft. Wilderness.

Here's a few "pros" about Ft. Wilderness that led to our decision:

Slower pace, a break from the crowds at the parks
Full kitchen, seperate bedroom
Deck w/grill
Nightly campfire w/Chip & Dale
Visit the MK Horses & other animals at the ranch/petting zoo
View the water pageant and Wishes from the Marina
Boat to MK
Boat to CR and WL - lots of dining options without a bus ride
While you're at the park mousekeeping does you dishes!

[barefootMom]

So if we do rent a golf cart, then the bus system to the parks is the same as from any other resort for the most part? Meaning, if I am skipping the internal bus part and just getting on at the spot where they leave for the parks is it no more of a nightmare than getting on a bus at the Poly? If we are getting a golf cart then I would rather not have to rent a car too.

Is the new pool area comparable to the other resort pools? I know it has a new water slide and new hot tub but does it feel as nice as say WL or Poly pool? can you get drinks by the pool?

[ElizabethB]

We stayed once and won't go back. This was a number of years ago before the pool was redone. At least I think it was redone. Plus we didn't like that we had to drive in our golf cart to the pool. We really, really would not have liked having to take a bus to the pool.

We had a car and a golf cart. We still thought it was very inconvient transportation-wise. Even worse, there are no real dining options other than a buffet and takeout pizza. No food court or non-buffet restaurant. We don't like buffets. Plus, at the time our boys were 7 and ate about two bites at any meal. A buffet was a total waste of money and could only be justified if it included characters. As for pizza, they would not even let us sit at a table in Crockett's Tavern to eat it. We HAD to take it out.

Having the kitchen and extra space was nice (we were two adults and two small boys). But, that wasn't worth the inconveniences for us.

We likely will not stay there again. If we ever did, we would only do so with a rental car and a golf cart. Since the golf cart adds almost $60 per day to the price of the cabins, the cost savings declines significantly when that expense is calculated into the total.

Finally, the place seemed very dark to us. The wild animal life wasn't interesting to us and the place was dark and I thought a bit scary at night.

[ElizabethB]

We stayed once and won't go back. This was a number of years ago before the pool was redone. At least I think it was redone. Plus we didn't like that we had to drive in our golf cart to the pool. We really, really would not have liked having to take a bus to the pool.

We had a car and a golf cart. We still thought it was very inconvient transportation-wise. Even worse, there are no real dining options other than a buffet and takeout pizza. No food court or non-buffet restaurant. We don't like buffets. Plus, at the time our boys were 7 and ate about two bites at any meal. A buffet was a total waste of money and could only be justified if it included characters.

Having the kitchen and extra space was nice (we were two adults and two small boys). But, that wasn't worth the inconveniences for us.

We likely will not stay there again. If we ever did, we would only do so with a rental car and a golf cart. Since the golf cart adds almost $60 per day to the price of the cabins, the cost savings declines significantly when that expense is calculated into the total.

Finally, the place seemed very dark to us. The wild animal life wasn't interesting to us and the place was dark and I thought a bit scary at night.

[DSQUIRT]

We stayed in a cabin two years ago and LOVED it! Since the trip was a splurge (for a 50th birthday celebration and we usually stay in values), we also rented a golf cart. With the gof cart, we just drove to either the boat dock or the main entrance to Fort Wilderness and waited for the boats or buses there. So, in essence, once you are at the dock or bus stop, getting around Disney is exactly like it would be if you were staying at any other resort. We enjoyed the outdoors feeling at FW and felt like we were in another world but still at Disney at the same time. It was quiet and peaceful. You will enjoy.

[fairestoneofall]

We just got back from the FW cabins! Don't be nervous. It is so nice and peaceful there. No noises from other people staying there, like you'd get in a hotel-style resort.

My kids actually declared it better than the Grand Floridian. And while I may not say that, I'd definitely stay there again!

[RustManFan]

Relaxation and peace and quiet....to me THAT is a vacation! FW is amazing. Stayed there twice and didn't feel any need for a golf cart. Now when I get old and my knees give out, my back aches, etc., then maybe I'll consider it.

When I get more than 1 other person to go with me I am getting a cabin for sure!!

[simone123]

Me, hubby, son (3), nephew (6), and grandma just stayed at the FW Cabins for a week and it was great! I've been to Disney World at least 15 times but this was the first time I've ever stayed at a Disney Resort. I booked the room at 40% off of the value season rack rate which was comparable to a non-disney suite or rental house. My family loved the quiteness - no stampeding kids or slamming hotel room doors here; outdoor activities/stuff (many of them free - campfire program, boat parade, beachside, hiking trails); and being able to cook 3 BF and 3 dinners at the cabin which allowed us to spend a little extra on character meals.

Fort Wilderness does have less of a Disney feel but for our family, this was welcomed. At the end of a long day walking around disney parks, the last thing I wanted to hear were Disney Tunes coming through the loud speakers at the pool.

We drove to Disney and did not opt to rent a golf cart but our cabin was very near the bus stop. I do think that a golf cart is needed if you are given a cabin further away from the bus stop. Based on our drive around our "neighborhood", it looked to be about a 1/4-mile walk from the furthest cabin to the bus stop. I think the key was to do the 10-day advance check-in online and request a cabin near transportation.

Because we drove our own car to Disney, we drove and parked at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios; and took the boat to Magic Kindgom and Epcot (Monorail from MK). I will tell you that we heard several complaints from other guests who said that the Disney Bus Service to Animal Kingdom took about 45 minutes. The drive from our cabin to AK was about 15 minutes.

Overall, we had a fantastic time at FW cabins and I would definitely stay there again.

[sharadoc]

We thought it was nice, but not for us. We stayed there in August 2009 in Loop 2500 and could walk to the cabin pool and laundry, which was great. The internal bus made us miss Chip and Dale the one night we went, but that was more because of ornery bus drivers and our stupidity. (side note - I have never met more grouchy bus drivers than I did at FW).

We stayed for 2 weeks and found we did not have enough room for four of us. There are barely any drawers for clothes. We could fit our underwear and socks and that was it. The rest of the stuff got spread around into cabinets in the living room, even the TV cabinet held our bathing suits and towels. The bathroom was really nice and had a lot of storage and shelf space, so we had clothes in there too.

I think the lack of storage hurt our trip. We constantly had stuff piled on the kitchen table, the little kids table, the kitchen counters, etc. Shoes lined up in the hallways, bags from souvenirs on the floor. It got frustrating after a while.

The couch only fits 2 people and is right next to the kitchen table, so some of us had to sit at the table when we all wanted to hang together.

As far as atmosphere goes, Fort Wilderness is really nice. Parking at our front door was great.

We rented a golf cart 2 different days and loved it, but there's no way I could justify that additional expense every day ($57 with tax). Offsite companies are around $250 for a week, so you're paying around $35 a day. I didn't like the fact that you had to drive to get something to eat, or go to the main pool, even though that could happen at CSR or CBR so that's not a unique situation.

Our cabin was pretty run-down. Some of the deck railings were broken, the grill was unusable it was old and gross.

I guess I'm sounding pretty negative and I don't mean to discourage you, but I want you to be prepared. We prefer the All-Star Music Family Suites for $100 less per night. Plenty of room to spread out, storage and two bathrooms. With two small girls, they might like the excitement of the All-Stars, vs. the quiet of Fort Wilderness. But they'd have to sleep on pull-outs and some folks don't like the fact that the door to the suite is in the living room where the kids would sleep. We put the big ottoman up against the door and felt it was fine.