Anyone ever used points for a FW cabin?

[lenshanem]

And how did you like it? Seems like a decent use of points, but I was trying to explain to my Mom how it lacked a theme pool and how I'd heard stories about the transportation there.

Just curious...

Plus, I wonder if it is buggie?

 

[kweaver]

We took our camper to FW once...so I can comment on the bus situation.

I guess the main question is...would it bother you to have to take TWO buses to get home at 11pm after being at a park?

1. Wait for bus at MK to FW. - 15 min (if you're lucky)
2. Ride on bus to FW - 10 min
3. Get to FW - wait for another bus (orange or purple route unless they have changed). 20 min - this was my biggest peeve
4. Ride to your appropriate stop. 5-10 min
5. Walk to your cabin (time depends on how close it is)

FWIW, the lines for the boats were mobbed and even then you probably have to make a stop at WL.

I'd stay in a DVC villa over FW any day. Though I guess we'll eventually have the two bus ride at SSR...I'd feel comfortable walking to any of the buildings if I wanted to. FW seems HUGE.

 

[lenshanem]

Though I guess we'll eventually have the two bus ride at SSR...

Really, ya think? What do you mean?

Yes, from what I read the bus thing stinks at FW. Mt parents are big on the campground type of thing, but I just waned verification about the transportation there.

Thanks!

 

[colleen costello]

Don't you always drive down? Having a car makes FW a lot easier. There is space at each rental cabin for 1 vehicle, right in front. The reason to do FW is for the "camping" experience for the kids. Mine LOVED it -- they still ask about staying again, despite joining DVC and staying in the great Villas.

Each cabin has a deck with a picnic table and a little BBQ grill. There are playgrounds and lots of pretty places to walk. There is a petting zoo with pony rides and they have campfires with cartoons and singalongs in the evenings. We had a ball in the cabin despite being a group of 6. I think the cabin would be less impressive, however, to someone used to a Villa.

If you have your vehicle you could drive to the parks, or park at the main FW parking lot (near the entrance) and get a bus from there. That would mean "1 bus." You could also request "close to bus stop" as well, so there wasn't far to walk to your cabin. Fort Wilderness is beautifully themed, like Frontierland. It's very relaxing and peaceful (good or not?). I love it, although not sure I would spend points as they are high since it's "not DVC." You might get a few nights on cash to save points and make Granny and the kids happy, then check into your luxurious Boardwalk Villa!

PS: very well maintained and not buggy. Mosquitoes no worse than any WDW resort. Not "wild" but "lush." Pools are boring.

 

[kweaver]

Shan...I was just thinking that with the size of SSR...they might go to an internal bus route some day. I'm not sure if that is even feasible...just a thought that popped into my head.

 

[Beca]

I haven't stayed at my "home" yet, but I have stayed at MANY WDW resorts, and FW Cabins are my FAVORITE!!!! We usually have a car, though...so, trans is not an issue, but one time we did not, and we REALLY enjoyed the late night walks to the "trailer" (before they were cabins). We saw a lot of wildlife and had a lot of fun singing to our room!!!

It can be a little crowded if you have six people, and one bedroom...but, there is NOTHING like knowing that you can make lots of noise and bother NO ONE!! We were having "parties" every nite!!!



Beca

 

[Mark099]

Originally posted by kweaver
Shan...I was just thinking that with the size of SSR...they might go to an internal bus route some day. I'm not sure if that is even feasible...just a thought that popped into my head.

I have read that SSR might have multiple bus stops... like the CBR.

 

[sandieb]

We love the FW cabins. We had a car, but used the bus to go to the theme parks. It was NOT a bad experience. However, that said, the cabins are not DVC - especially in room sizes. I would only stay for cash...there are often some good discounts.

We are going to take our camper down in October and stay at Fort Wilderness five nights. This is because we are out of points this year and because we like to camp.
Sandie

 

[bobbiwoz]

We used to stay at the Ft. Wilderness cabins with our sons and loved it. We too had a car, and I think we stayed once even before the pool was built. We really enjoyed the campfire/movie program at night. DH did complain about the buses, but I thought that was offset by just being where we were.

Bobbi

 

[ClarabelleCow]

If you didn't have a car, I would definately rent a golf cart, they are a blast, take the golf cart out to the main area (hoop de doo area), then grab the bus from there. They have the corrall, where you can plug in your cart. We had a blast at Fort Wilderness, no they don't have a theme, pool, but that isn't a necessity for us.

 

[lenshanem]

Let's see, right now it is 25 points a night during the week. Rack rate it is around $260 tax included. Seems decent, maybe?

At any rate, this might give us an option to do something different in the future. Like I said, my parents are big on the campground kind of thing. I think they'd like this. I just wish it had better pools. Too bad RC is gone. Maybe this might be a nice option for during the winter, when you wouldn't use the pools anyway? Course, then the points go up.

I have read that SSR might have multiple bus stops... like the CBR.

Like OKW, too?

Thanks everyone!

 

[SSRex]

There are a lot of ifs to my answers:

If you are comparing the FW cabin to a DVC Studio, maybe it's a little better, but certainly not compared to a one or two bedroom.

If you have a car at FW, which we did, it was not that bad either.

If you have kids and they are smaller, they may enjoy FW.

If River Country had not closed, after I had already made my ressie for 2002, I would more seriously consider a repeat visit.

If you have the extra cash to reserve a golf cart for the week, it is a lot more fun and with a car also, we never got on a single bus.

Also, I looked at this option before I bought DVC and I recall that when I divided the number of points required for the FW cabin into the price for the FW cabin that it still came out higher than the price per point was for a DVC villa at rack rates. If I wanted to stay in cabin again, I would pay special discounted cash price.

But I do not want to share a single bathroom again, sleep on the wall bed, while the 4 kids share the only bedroom, so I bought a DVC membership and will not be going back to Fort Wilderness.

 

[lenshanem]

How many does one of those golf carts hold?

 

[SSRex]

Our kids were 9, 9, 12, 12 and we did three on each seat. Rear seat faces backwards and the kids loved riding back and forth to the pool, etc. They can be reserved like one full year in advance.

 

[lenshanem]

So it is either get a golf cart, walk, wait for an internal bus, correct? You can't drive to the restaurants or pools in your own car?

But, we can drive up to the buses to catch one for the parks? Is there parking for both cars and golf carts there?

Thanks.

 

[colleen costello]

I think there are two sizes of golf cart and I remember people were crammed into them... It's either 2 and 4 (for the two sizes) or 4 and 6. They have one or two seats plus a "rumble seat" in the back. Much fun... I have heard you must reserve them way ahead and they can be rented by the day. I bet you could cram 6 in as your kids are small.

Also FYI, the discounts on the cabins are good. I have seen $169 per night, and sometimes the discounts are available while codes for everything else have yet to appear. Not sure why... Anyhow, this is why some here advise you to pay cash, because the discounts are good

 

[SSRex]

Originally posted by lenshanem
So it is either get a golf cart, walk, wait for an internal bus, correct? You can't drive to the restaurants or pools in your own car?

But, we can drive up to the buses to catch one for the parks? Is there parking for both cars and golf carts there?

Thanks.

There is very limited parking at the one trading post, but I do not recall any at the pool or restaurants. Yes, they want you just to drive from outside the campground to your cabin and back out & not to drive around internally within the campground. Golf Cart is the way to go. No, I do not belive that you can drive to the bus stop that goes on to the parks, but why would you want to, just drive yourself there with your car. We did take the golf cart down to the marina and then take the Disney boat to Magic Kingdom, but we drove to all others places we wanted to go. If you are the type that wants to park your car and just use Disney buses, Fort Wilderness is not place to be unless you're in no hurrry at all.

 

[colleen costello]

They have tried to limit traffic so it's safe for pedestrians. That's why so many golf carts. If you get run down at FW, it will most likely be by a golf cart!

There is a huge parking lot where you enter the resort. You can leave your car there or park it at your site. You can drive in and out daily; they check you in just as at the other resorts. One Trading Post, the one closer to the rented cabins, has limited parking and a few 15-minute spots so you can run into the store quickly. There is also some parking by the pool that is closer to the cabins. There is also a laundry building near that pool with parking. We used our car to go to the pool. Some cabins are close enough to walk it.

Buses run within the campground to get you from place to place. Buses to parks depart from the main entrance area, hence the "2 buses" warnings. So you could take an internal bus to the main gate, then get on a 2nd bus, or drive your car to the gate and decide from there how to proceed. We usually drove as we were in our vehicle anyhow.

The area with Trail's End restaurant (a good buffet) and the Hoop Dee Doo is completely blocked from traffic. Buses drop you off near here then continue on. You can walk down to the beach, boat rental, and boats to the MK -- and in the good old days, River Country was right there too.

Most cabins are not far to a bus stop. But if things have not changed, yes, you will need TWO buses to get "anywhere" outside the resort.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

My cousins stayed in the cabins on points last August.
As a child her family had one of the giant motorhomes and she always stayed there. So she wanted her kids to be able to experince FW. Although she liked it for the nostalgia value. She said she would not do it again. Her biggest complaint was not having a washer and dryer. And the kids missed the big tubby.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Regarding the buses, I think the names have changed, but the internal buses were Chip and Dale, they stayed in the resort, (because they were little chipmunks!!), and Boone and Crockett, they were explorers, so they are the busses that left the park!!!

This was how a driver explained it to us, so that we could understand what bus to take!!

but we wished we had rented the carts, we will probably stay a next time, or even we stay at the VWL, and family stay at the Cabins, (sorry, I can't afford to take the whole clan on my points, if I could I would), and this way we would have the best of both worlds!!