BCV or Fort Wilderness Cabins?

[vossjemi]

We are thinking of going to WDW next Oct for MNSSHP. My kids will be 4 and 6. We like the idea of having a kitchenette so some of our simple meals can be there. I love the idea of BCV due to Stormalong Bay. I think the kids would love it. However, I've heard it gets really crowded and I try to pick places/times a little less crowded for more enjoyment.

That is part of the reason I'm attracted to the FW Cabins. A little solitude in our down time. We are avid campers, so this place sounds fun to us. I like the idea of a campfire story/marshmallow roast and movie. I like the idea of the boat to MK, which also takes you to the Contempary for Chef Mickey's or quick hop on monorail to Epcot. I also think we will do Hoop De Doo Review this time, so it'd be a good location for that too. Although pools don't seem as much fun for down days.

So, I really am leaning towards the cabins. Are there any big cons to the cabins that you know of? I have heard its a long walk around it and buses throughout can take a while, but if you rent a golf cart you can get around it quicker. But, other than that, anyone? Which one would you pick and why?

 

[Rella Bella]

We have not been to the Beach Club... which looks like upscale fun... but we did the FWcabins in January and LOVED IT. You do have to plan a bit more time for transportation... but I didn't find the buses to be slower than anywhere else in the park. And the plus of the boat ride more than made up for it. There is an internal bus system that takes you to the main transportation buses. And the bus stop was closer to our cabin than when we've stayed at the moderate resorts.
We loved all the activities in the campground. Besides the pools & the 'campfire movies' you can rent bike carts, go to story time at the trading post, ride horses, walk the wonderful trails... there is so much more to do for downtime than just swim.
The cabin itself was great. There is a full kitchen, we just brought our own breakfast stuff and microwave popcorn... but you could cook full meals if you wanted... and the maid comes in and cleans up!! There's also a BBQ on the deck. The bedroom has a double and bunk beds and there is a Murphy bed in the living room. Once we were bedded down for the night it seemed really dark... kind of like really being in the woods, which was cool.
It was 'other worldly' which is what Disney does best. We love love being 'away from it all' this place really had that!

 

[sanibelover]

Just got back from the BC and enjoyed it, but I really LOVED the cabins with the kids. There is much more space - the kitchen is great and the "downtime" is a great benefit. When you are in the cabin, you don't have to sit on the bed, there are actually chairs, there is a big deck with a grill - you still have daily mousekeeping. Having separate sleeping areas for adults and kids is also a huge plus. You don't ahve to go to bed at 8:30 when the kids do - the Murphy bed in the living room is very comfortable although it is only a double - the bed in the bedroom is also only a double. The campfire is wonderful - they sell s'more kits for about $5 - sticks included - with enough marshmallows, etc. to feed 10 it seems.

Although the pool is a standard rectangle, the kids had the whole thing to themselves when we were there and it was even Jersey week. All they cared about was that they could swim. One of the best things we did according to the kids was to rent a golf cart. (a little pricey but really fun)

Another great perk is that you can park right outside your door. If you have tired campers you won't have to carry them from a mile away.

For an adults only trip, I would recommend the BC, but with kids, I think you can't go wrong at FW! Whichever you choose, have a great trip!

 

[twinklebug]

That is part of the reason I'm attracted to the FW Cabins. A little solitude in our down time. We are avid campers, so this place sounds fun to us. ....

...So, I really am leaning towards the cabins. Are there any big cons to the cabins that you know of? I have heard its a long walk around it and buses throughout can take a while, but if you rent a golf cart you can get around it quicker. But, other than that, anyone? Which one would you pick and why?

Hmmm... tough call. I grew up going to FW as a camper and had the pleasure of staying at a cabin (albeit for just a few nights) last year. They are beautiful. As a camper yourself I do feel I need to warn you that after experiencing camping "the disney way" you'll be spoiled. No other campground can possibly live up to it & they really are worth every penny.

BC also looks great. We stayed over at the Boardwalk villas (right next door to BC) this summer and LOVED them. You really can't go wrong either way. If someone were to toss a free Disney vacation in my lap (Oh I wish) and make me choose between FW cabins and BC I'd have a real dilemma on my hands.... but I *think* I would probably go with FW. Good luck with your decision!

 

[vossjemi]

Oh gosh, what great responses! It makes me want to go right now! How can I possibly wait a whole year? ha ha. I also heard something about a petting zoo and hayride with the Headless Horseman at FW? Is the hayride just during October or all year? I read on allears I think that the golf carts were $43/day. Is there a weekly rate? I'm not sure if we'd do that or not since at least 3 or 4 days we'd be in the parks. CAn you just rent them on the days you are there? Hmmm. Also, what about Trails End? Is it any good?

Also if we ended up doing BCV I was thinking of doing the whole renting point thing cuz I've heard its cheaper that way. But, I'm a little nervous about all that. Anyone had good/bad experiences with that?

 

[GuardMusic]

I can only address a couple of items: Trails End & BVC points.

We are total midwesterners and we LOVE Trail's End. It's become so popular that they have gone to Advance Reservations. It's a much smaller and intimate restaurant than most others at Disney. Get here early or the line is VERY long!

BVC points? I've done this twice with no problems. I have another reservation on points at OKW in Nov. and Dec. at BCV. I'll never go back to rack rate!

Email, let me know if I can answer specific questions.
Gayle

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

I am a very non camper type and still love the cabins.

 

[riggins]

Just another suggestion to add to your confusion . . . what about WLV? We've considered the cabins many times, but have always ruled them out because we've been turned off by the transportation set up. We've stayed at WLV twice and loved it. You're just a short walk or boat ride to the campground if you want to enjoy those activities. You're on the same boat loop to MK and the CR. You have 2 pools, one with a water slide. Artist Point, Whispering Canyon and all the space you'd find in the cabin. Just a thought.

FWIW, we stayed at BCV in September with our 2 and 4 year old. We enjoyed it and the kids liked SAB. But, we only spent 1-2 hours at the pool 2 or 3 times during the week, so SAB wasn't that big of a deal for us.

Good Luck!
Leslie

 

[BCV23]

We've stayed at both and love both. Very different experiences though. It sounds like you're leaning toward FW so why not try it? We did drive to the parks from there (actually only Epcot was there during our first stay and maybe MGM by the second) other than MK of course. It was very nice having a seperate room to put our little ones down for naps and bed.

BTW, at BCV you will have a couch no matter what size room you get. The studios have a queen bed and sleeper, one bedrooms a king bed in the bed room and a sleeper in the LR. 2BR have those two configurations combined with the exception of 25 dedicated 2BRS which are booked as such and have 2 queens in the 2nd bedroom.

Two advantages of FW might be that your kids would have seperate beds which wouldn't happen at BCV unless you rent a 2BR.

Another advantage might be in having a "plain" pool. SAB is wonderful for strong swimmers or for toddlers who are easy to keep an eye on. For in between kids, it can be hard to keep track of them and is hardly relaxing if you're trying to follow them around the large complex which you of course would need to do. There is a wonderful quiet pool right by the villas too though.

Anyway, two great choices. Have fun deciding.

 

[cabowser]

We stayed in the cabins in June and they were just wonderful! The kids loved them, although our 6 year old had a hard time sleeping in the bunk beds. he tried the top bunk and kept waking up crying. Strange for him, but I think subconsiously he was afraid of falling off. We switched him to the lower bunk and he was fine.

There is not a lot of dresser space in the cabins, but we were able to hang a lot of stuff up. We brought a suitcase full of food and used almost all of it. The kitchen has pots, pans, everything. We brought some of those individual pancake mixes in the plastic container and syrup and just bought the butter at the camp store, viola - breakfast early enough to get into the parks before the crowds.

I can't wait to go again. I can't wait, I can't wait!! The photo is from our return one day after mousekeeping had cleaned. What you can't see is that Raggedy Anne is watching the Disney Vacation Club channel!!

Jan

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[20yrs&counting]

We are total midwesterners and we LOVE Trail's End. It's become so popular that they have gone to Advance Reservations. It's a much smaller and intimate restaurant than most others at Disney. Get here early or the line is VERY long!

Gayle

ADR's at Trail's End Buffeteria? When did this happen? It is such a great place.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Will you be spending most of your time at MK? FW is the most convenient if you are, whereas BCV makes it really easy to get to MGM and Epcot. Short travel times come in handy with young kids!

 

[krbq]

BCV23 is right -- very different experiences. Why not try the cabins for your upcoming trip, and save the BCV for another trip when your kids are older?

 

[vossjemi]

I am definitely leaning towards the cabins. We're probably going to do 1 day at MK, one evening there for MNSSHP, and then brkfast at Chef Mickey's, so FW really would be the most convenient. We also plan 1 day at Epcot, 1 at AK, and 1 at Seaworld, but we will have a rental car to trek to those locations (although I know we could take WDW transport to Epcot and AK)

1 question about the bunk beds...does the top bunk have any bars or anything to prevent falling. We cruised on the Wonder in sept, and my DD5 loved the "bunkin" beds (her term), but there were bars, so we felt she was pretty safe.

 

[TheWog]

Hey Voss -

Looks like I'm visiting the mouse. We'll probably be there right after you are.... again!!!!! November trip for our family. Have fun planning.

 

[vossjemi]

When in november? 06 right? We're hoping to go at end of oct so we can hit mnsshp on halloween. Loking at next year's cal, it may be oct 27-nov 4 as i'm hoping my DD will be out of school at least 2 days in that time frame.

 

[blewits]

I vote for the cabins. I am biased though, I'm a camper too.

If you dont already know, FW is like the "Mecca" for campers in the south. Once you've camped at FW - you've made it! Ha Ha.

The whole FW area is so peaceful and relaxing. So, so welcoming at the end of a park day. Plus all the bonus stuff you get that you dont get at the other places. trails, campfire, free movies w/chip and dale, etc. . . . i think its great for both the kids and the adults.

Good Luck and have fun!

 

[AJKMOM]

Don't forget that there is also a very comfortable Murphy bed in the living room. If you have 2 kids, one can have the lower bunk and one can have the double bed. DH and I used the bed (it's a regular mattress, not a sleep sofa), and the 3 kids slept in the bedroom. If the kids have never been to Disney, they won't miss the pools that are better themed at the other resorts.

 

[We4mickey]

We have both stayed in the cabins and camped. Give it a try. If you like a relaxing vacation, where you can have your own private down time, this is the place. The atmosphere is like no other. Laid back and relaxing. Halloween is a great time to go. Lots of decorations from all the campers.


The bunks do have rails, so no need to worry about falling off.