Any Snow Birds staying at FW?

[TwoAtDisney]

We sold our rv many years ago; thinking about diving back in! When we were rving there were winter snowbird rates at FW. Are these still offered & what are the current fees?

Also at that time, only the premier sites had cable hookup. From the FW website, looks like cable is available at the non-premier sites. Is that true?

Lastly, have internet hookups been added to the sites? The non-premier sites?

Thanks, Julie

 

[medic9016]

There is cable on every site.

With the way the rates are now based on a daily rate, it makes it a little pricey to stay long term. You can no longer check in based on one rate for your whole stay. If the rate changes during your stay you have to pay the changed rate.

You can have internet at your site. You have to pay a refundable deposit for the equipment, I think $125. Then you pay $10 for each 24 hour of internet.

 

[TwoAtDisney]

Thanks medic9016. What you described is the regular site pay schedule. At that time, there was a snowbird program. We were given an unpublished monthly rate for x # of months during the winter. There was a 'no earlier than' date & a 'no later than' date - getting us in during the fall, before the end of the year holidays, & out before spring break weeks. The rate was very good. Some snowbirds stayed there all winter, some for a few months. There was a coordinator that we contacted directly for reservations.

Maybe someone knows if this program is still available!

Julie

 

[2goofycampers]

The winter camper rates have been discontinued. You have to pay the rack rate per day.

 

[becky1960]

They stopped the Snowbird rates quite a few years ago. They then stopped the practice of letting you have your checkin rate all the way thru your reservation. You now have to per per day so to speak, more on weekends and holidays and regular and holiday seasons. The rates are now higher at times than the value hotels..

 

[clkelley]

There are no more long term rates. However, you can still get AAA rates, passholder rates, Florida resident rates, and any other public discounts or email pin codes that come out and apply to the campsites.

The longest your "site only" reservation can be is 30 nights and some of the above-mentioned rates may have 14 night restrictions.

If you want to stay long term and get the best rate, it's going to be a lot of work.

Book 500 days out for each 30 day reservation, then keep trying back on the phone or through the website as discounts are released to get any of the dates you can at the above mentioned discounted rates. You will have many reservations, but it is possible if you are persistant.

 

[Cousin Ed C]

Yes, there are a lot of us Snowbirds at the Fort. It's expensive but it's worth it. There is cable at each site now, but the internet is $10 a day. You have to use broadband to made internet reasonable.

 

[Magicbus]

It's expensive but it's worth it.

Expensive, boy that's an understatement. If someone wanted to stay for a month, what's a ballpark figure?

There is cable at each site now

To me the cable at WDW is unacceptable. It's mostly Disney channels, what a surprise Get a satellite setup if you already have satellite service at home. For the cost of a dish and tripod, I paid $55 used, you can have what you have at home.

 

[des1954]

The last year they offered long stay (or winter settler) rates was Oct 2003 thru Feb 2004. All the winter settlers (of which I was one for 2 years) kept saying they'd never fill the Fort without the settlers. They were wrong. The Fort has been busier than ever. It seems the more Disney charges, the harder it is to get a ressie! Go figure!

You can still book a string of months together, but you will be charged the daily rack rate. As it was with the winter settler ressies, you can book ressies for up to 30 days, then you have to book another 30 days, etc, etc. Like you did with winter settler, you have to go to the front desk and re-register when one ressie ends and another begins.

If you wish to stay 2 or 3 months, you might wish to seek the help of one of the travel agents of this board rather than trying your patience by doing it yourself.

 

[rapriebe]

Expensive, boy that's an understatement. If someone wanted to stay for a month, what's a ballpark figure?

I stay at FW for several months over the winter. One of my reservations is for Jan 4 - Feb 3, 2011 (max 30 days) and the price on that leg of my stay is $2200. This a Full hookup site without any discounts applied yet.

Like Carol and Debbie have mentioned, you can piece together a long term stay yourself and keep calling to get the discounts but that can be very tedious and time consuming. I used to do it but now I just let Rhonda (Rhonda@DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com) handle all of my reservations and she applies the discounts as they become available. Much better to let the professionals take care of it. Rhonda is great and keeps you informed during the process.

 

[Magicbus]

I stay at FW for several months over the winter. One of my reservations is for Jan 4 - Feb 3, 2011 (max 30 days) and the price on that leg of my stay is $2200. This a Full hookup site without any discounts applied yet.

I'm strictly a Premium site person so that's even more than $2200. That's a lot of money. I'd really have to think about that.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

I stay at FW for several months over the winter. One of my reservations is for Jan 4 - Feb 3, 2011 (max 30 days) and the price on that leg of my stay is $2200. This a Full hookup site without any discounts applied yet...

Wow! That is more than my mortgage!!!

 

[TwoAtDisney]

about the price of a value resort or a little cheaper, & so much nicer! For a long stay it is great to have your own "stuff", own bed, full kitchen, and such wonderful outdoor scenery. Sounds ok to me. We are spending that much for our 10 days at POFQ.