Cabin trip Report Apr 30-May6th

[Skyw]

Hi everyone,
As promised a trip report. This will be mostly Fort Wilderness stuff with a little of the parks stuff.

I have been planning a trip to the fort for over a year. Each time I made reservations, we had to cancel. I had sinus surgery almost three ago and have had facial nerve pain ever since. I used to fly helicopters in the army but now I fly a Nissan Murano. It had been a tough few years for my family. My pain is unpredictable and there are days I have a really hard time taking care of my son. So we really needed a trip . As soon as I had one good week, I was making plans to go to the Fort. So, on the 2nd week of April, I did just that and made reservations for the 30-6 May. I was determined to have fun on this trip, even if I had to get a little help from my friends.

Here is the cast-
Skyw- Me, 42 and a mom.
Scott- Husband, 43, loves to fish.
Luke- Son, 5, loves life.
Judy- MIL, 70 and full of life
Tom- FIL, 73 and resembles a certain not-so-happy dwarf
Kristy-SIL, 50 and one of my best friends.

Everyone but me. This was taken at the outdoor movies!!!

 

[Skyw]

1st day

We left Indy at 12pm. Had an uneventful direct flight to Orlando. First up, was our first ride on the airport monorail. We got our groceries at Publix. They had a great deli section and meat. No fresh seafood though. We spent about $200 for breakfast foods, a few dinners and a few lunches. Not too bad for 6 people. We finally checked into FW about 430pm.

As requested by fax (thank you dis board members), We got loop 2100.

Cabin 2102 was the first cabin that you drive up to in the loop. At first I was disappointed. I thought we would hear the road noise etc. But we never really did. It was quiet. I highly recommend this loop and cabin if you don't have wheels. It was close to the bus stop and an easy walk to the pool. There is a path between the loops that you can cut down on some of the walking.

Before you flame me!!! I love FW and the cabins . But it seems to me that the cabins are starting to depreciate like a car . We some minor issues of doors hanging on hinges. These trailers just aren't built like a site built cabins. I did leave a note for our mouse keeping and I intend to send a letter to Disney about this. I kept on thinking that if no one reports this stuff, then how will it get fixed. Right?

 

[talulabelle]

I'm so in! Can't wait to hear all about it! We will be staying in the cabins in July with our family of 6, so I will be anxious for any tips or information you have as I've never been to the Fort. Hope there are lots of pics!

 

[Skyw]

I was meeting Kenny from Tee Time at 5pm. He called about 5 minutes prior and was already waiting for me in the overflow parking lot . The cart was clean, and new. He explained a few things to me and had me drive around the parking lot to make sure I was comfortable with the cart. Then off we went!!!!!! I forgot exactly what we paid for with taxes but I believe it was around $230 for 7 days.

It is not the best picture but notice the plastic rain cover!!!!! Ya don't get that from renting at Disney.

After that, we took eveyone around to check the Fort and look for wild critters.

 

[Skyw]

Side note!!!! Since we had 6 people in the cabins, we really needed to make use of the space.

Here are some pictures!!! Don't laugh at the mess!!!!! ( I can't believe I am showing this )

This one doesn't show much other then how we spent our time lounged out on the bed and couch.

Some tips that we used.
1) used the plastic hook in the hall way for towels, lanyards, purses etc etc. I also put one up the bathroom for the hanging toiletry bag.
2) We put our luggage under the bench in the Kitchen and the back of the rental van.
3) I bought these great two side folding laundry hampers from Target. One side had my sons clean clothes is zip locks and all of our dirty stuff in the other side.
4) Brought those nasty wire hangers from home. I hung up all of my and my husbands clothes.
5) Put the vacuum out of the closet by the bed and used the folder suitcase rack for the the other adult sharing our room. The draws were used for undies etc etc.
6) In laws put their stuff easily into the two cabinets by the Murphy bed.
7) There is tons of space too underneath the sink in the bathroom,along with a pile of extra towels.

We are a close family, so one bathroom didn't really affect our trip. Half of us took showers at night, the other half in the am. My 5 year old couldn't hold it sometimes and would "rush" someone else. But that was the only problem. There was a comfort station less then a 4 minute walk, but we didn't need it.

 

[Skyw]

I'm so in! Can't wait to hear all about it! We will be staying in the cabins in July with our family of 6, so I will be anxious for any tips or information you have as I've never been to the Fort. Hope there are lots of pics!

Thanks for reading!!!! You will really have fun at the Fort!!!! I absolutely can't wait to go again!!!!

 

[Tri-circle-D]

You are off to a great start on this report!!

And, no flames from me about this:

Before you flame me!!! I love FW and the cabins . But it seems to me that the cabins are starting to depreciate like a car . We some minor issues of doors hanging on hinges. These trailers just aren't built like a site built cabins. I did leave a note for our mouse keeping and I intend to send a letter to Disney about this. I kept on thinking that if no one reports this stuff, then how will it get fixed. Right?

The cabins are now 10-11 years old, and although they were refurbished in the last year or two, they are far from new. At the prices they charge, everything should be clean and in working order, so if anyone encounters something that is not, it should be reported.

I'm looking forward to reading more of your report.

TCD

 

[guardwife66]

I can't wait to read more. It will not be for another year till we can get to the fort so I am living on these boards reading everyone's reports and staring at the photos.

 

[Skyw]

Thanks for not flaming me TCD!!!!

2nd day!!

I forgot to mention that DH is retired army and I have about 2 weeks left until I am retired from the National Guard. So we needed to scoot over to SOG to get our tickets. Is is just me or does everyone get lost on Disney property? We just laugh it off. Were not in Disney if we aren’t getting lost. We get so distracted by everything that we always miss the signs. We did get our Military $99 tickets. We wanted the park hopper so it cost was $625 for 5 days and 6 people. Great Deal. (Long story short..my ID was expired or it would have been only $500)

Somewhere around 1am I woke up and realized that MK does not have a ticket booth near the front. Nor can you activate those Mil. Tickets at the costumer service counter. Not to worry, I had a plan. I remembered reading many post about getting to the Contemporary early. Once again, thank you Dis-board!!!!!! MK was to open at 9am. By 8:10 we were on the smaller boat to the Contemporary.

We walked directly to the 4th floor and got on the Monorail to the TTC. The Ticket counter lady was very nice but talked way too much. COME ON, WE HAVE A ROPE DROP TO MAKE !!!! Just as we got up on the platform, the monorail left. Oh Shoot.

But you will never guess what happened after that??????

 

[BradyBz12]

Great TR! My parents/sis are looking to plan a WDW trip sometime soon and will probably be staying at the cabins, so this is great!

Is is just me or does everyone get lost on Disney property? We just laugh it off. Were not in Disney if we aren’t getting lost.

LOL - We've done a few 2-3 week stays at FW in the last few years, and it still usually takes us a couple of days to get our "Disney compass" on the right track.

But you will never guess what happened after that??????

Oh the suspense!!!!

 

[FIREKYMMIE]

I am in... leaving in 40 days for the Cabins for the first time with 6 people... need all the info i can get

 

[Skyw]

Here is a picture of me!!!! It is from 1983, I think. Thanks everyone for reading. More soon....

Feel free to make fun of me!!!!!! These pictures make me laugh.

 

[Skyw]

OK. I would rather do this than exercise, clean the house or weed!!!! SO there will be more. I am also waiting on a call from the Humane Society. We are getting a new furry member of the family and I am bursting with excitement.

We were first in line for the next monorail and we had our first bit of Disney Magic. We got to go in the front of the monorail with the conductor!!!!! Well, 4 of us did. I sat in the back with all of humanity !!!! It is crowded in the morning. Those who traveled in front got drivers license from the conductor/driver dude. That definitely made the trip to the TTC so much better. My son was having a blast and we haven’t even gotten to the parks.

You can see space mountain!!!! Did you notice the sky? Not a cloud in it!!!

Did you notice the road that goes under the monorail? That is where we were when we got lost!!

 

[Shan-man]

Feel free to make fun of me!!!!!! These pictures make me laugh.

I have three words for ya: "STONE COLD FOX!"

 

[talulabelle]

um, I'm not going to make fun of you...but can I make fun of the teal green striped shorts on the guy next to you? and his haircut?

 

[BradyBz12]

Oh the hair styles........ Mem'ries....

 

[Skyw]

By 8:50 we were standing in front of MK singing “Good Morning”. I couldn’t get that song out of my head until we went on IASM. And you know what happens after you are on that ride. All of your working brain cells turn to mush. You come out of there like a zombie. Or maybe I came out screaming!!! Either way it did not resemble “having fun”.

We went on IASM, Peter Pan, HM, Splash mountain, POTC, Aladdin, had lunch and a funnel cake and were back in line at the boat by 1pm. Success. The longest line was 20 minutes for Splash. DS5 did not like the HM this year. Last year, he loved it. The stretching room scared the tar out of him. Poor guy. DH used this as “man training”. You men know what I talking about. I countered this with telling him to close his eyes. That was the last scary ride he went on for the trip. Ya just never know how they are going to act.

This is an older picture of the MK boat. Well, at least part of it.

Just kidding...

 

[Skyw]

Oh the hair styles........ Mem'ries....

And we thought we look so cool.

 

[Skyw]

um, I'm not going to make fun of you...but can I make fun of the teal green striped shorts on the guy next to you? and his haircut?

I don't even remember those being during the 80's. He must have been a trend setter.

 

[Skyw]

I have three words for ya: "STONE COLD FOX!"

You must have not wore your glasses when you looked at that picture. I was thinking more on the lines of geek!!!!