Cabins at Wilderness Lodge?

[Spoiledraf]

Positives and negatives. Two adults and four kids 10-13 so limited on where to stay without getting two rooms. Camp regularly so they are used to that.

What's available as far as pools and other recreation and how long a trek to the boats and busses? Any info appreciated. Helping to start some planning for a one time trip to Disney on a tight budget with a max four day stay. Thought the full kitchen would be helpful on keeping the cost down.

Told them there is a cabin available for the second week of June but everything goes fast with the discounts. Maybe make a room only res. to hold it until they decide. Thanks all!

 

[amylevan]

Positives and negatives. Two adults and four kids 10-13 so limited on where to stay without getting two rooms. Camp regularly so they are used to that.

What's available as far as pools and other recreation and how long a trek to the boats and busses? Any info appreciated. Helping to start some planning for a one time trip to Disney on a tight budget with a max four day stay. Thought the full kitchen would be helpful on keeping the cost down.

Told them there is a cabin available for the second week of June but everything goes fast with the discounts. Maybe make a room only res. to hold it until they decide. Thanks all!

The cabins are actually at Fort Wilderness (the campground), not at the lodge. And you'll get much better answers in the camping forum.

FWIW, we love FW. There is tons to do, a main pool with a slide, a quiet pool, canoeing, fishing, biking... The campground is big, so it requires a bus (or bikes or golf cart) to get to the front of the campground where the busses to EP, HS, and AK are or the back of the campground where the boat to MK is.

 

[Robo]

The so-called "cabins" at Fort Wilderness are actually very nice rooms/suites.

Take a LOOK.

 

[Lynne M]

There are two completely separate resorts with Wilderness in the name. Fort Wilderness is Disney's campground with cabins and camping sites; Wilderness Lodge is a deluxe resort with 'regular' hotel rooms, and has an associated DVC building with studio, one and two bedroom villas.

Both are in the MK area, but they have separate transportation and facilities.

Fort Wilderness
Wilderness Lodge

 

[chartle]

1. Positives and negatives. Two adults and four kids 10-13 so limited on where to stay without getting two rooms. Camp regularly so they are used to that.

2. What's available as far as pools and other recreation and how long a trek to the boats and busses? Any info appreciated.

3. Helping to start some planning for a one time trip to Disney on a tight budget with a max four day stay. Thought the full kitchen would be helpful on keeping the cost down.

Told them there is a cabin available for the second week of June but everything goes fast with the discounts. Maybe make a room only res. to hold it until they decide. Thanks all!

1. Its going to be very tight with 6 people. You get a full bed and a set of bunk beds in the bedroom and a fold down murphy bed in the living room.

Its not at all like camping so that comparison doesn't apply.

Pluses :If you have a car its parked right outside your door. The Magic Kingdom is a short bus and a boat ride away The place is huge so you don't feel like you are top of other people.

Minuses: The place is huge and you need to take an internal bus to get pretty much anywhere. Not a lot of restaurant choices.

2. Fort Wilderness probably has the best recreational facilities of any resort.

3. Another minus is the cost, I wouldn't put a cabin in the budget category for 6 people. Two rooms at a value or even better a Family suite at a value is going to be cheaper. You don't get a full kitchen but you do get two full bathrooms. Of course you are not as close to any park.

Also yes a kitchen can cut down on food costs but on a short 4 day "once in a lifetime" trip I wouldn't leave a park to go back and cook a meal to save money. You will waste at least 2 hours of precious park time. Now breakfast is another thing if like me you need a real breakfast to keep you going to lunch. But again the microwave in the value suite and some breakfast sandwiches can fill the bill.

I'm assuming you are not driving but if you are you can camp or stay off site for less money.

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

Positives and negatives. Two adults and four kids 10-13 so limited on where to stay without getting two rooms. Camp regularly so they are used to that.

What's available as far as pools and other recreation and how long a trek to the boats and busses? Any info appreciated. Helping to start some planning for a one time trip to Disney on a tight budget with a max four day stay. Thought the full kitchen would be helpful on keeping the cost down.

Told them there is a cabin available for the second week of June but everything goes fast with the discounts. Maybe make a room only res. to hold it until they decide. Thanks all!

We have stayed at the cabins and found that the trek to get anywhere on the interior bus system was inconvenient. You wait for a bus to take you to a bus. So that's two bus stop waits. We ended up renting a golf cart to drive to the bus stop. But the rental is very expensive ($60/day, I think??) for the convenience.

The cabin was plenty spacious, and we did enjoy the kitchen and deck out front. But if you are going to be in the park most of the day (which you will if only going four days), I don't think you will use the cabin enough. I would look at a suite in the value resorts. Its about the same price, and some have kitchens. It is a much simpler transportation system.

That said, we had a grand time staying at the campground. It was lovely there and very fun. Lots of nice activities there like the campfire and wagon rides. We stayed there before the pool refurb, but still had a good time at the pool. It was also nice to take the boat to the Magic Kingdom.

I just wouldn't want to do it without the golf cart.

 

[d-r]

We love the fort but it is probably not the best place to stay for a trip that will mostly be theme parks. There is a lot really good fun to be had there but you need some time to spend there instead of being in the parks all day. It is good for people on a slower pace, imho.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge are not sister resorts and don't share amenities, like the pools.

 

[Junebugwv]

We've stayed at the Cabins a few times and loved it. Parking right outside your cabin is great. Internal buses ran frequently when we were there. Be sure to understand the bus routes. I would suggest looking at the map to acquaint yourself with the Ft Wilderness area. The best cabin location we had was a short walk to the bus stop, pool and laundry. Loved that.
I really think kids ages 10-13 will love being able to explore outside instead of being in a room. The sing-along and campfire/movie were a big hit. Going to the marina to watch fireworks was fun. There are good playgrounds around the area.
In the cabin, the sleeping arrangements look a bit tight in the bedroom, but it really gives you 2 separate areas for the family to unwind and watch TV for a while. The full kitchen is great and we even grilled steaks on the deck. the bedroom has a set of bunk beds and 1 full size bed with a small space between the bunks and the bed. The person who sleeps by the wall needs to get in first or crawl over the person on the outside
The full size murphy bed in the LR pulls down easily. Plus there is a couch in the LR (not a sleeper sofa).
We usually stay in DVC, but we enjoy the atmosphere of the cabins so much that we stay there as well.

 

[cooldadtexas]

We are a family of 6 with 4 kids (16,14,12, and 9). I decided to save money last year as we usually stay at the lodge in 2 rooms or a 2 bedroom suite. My thoughts on the cabin are below:

Pros:
Cost
Rustic feel of the cabins.
My kids enjoyed riding the golf cart that we rented.
Great staff.
Liked the laundry facilities.

Cons:
We need the second bathroom.
My kids constantly dragged in mud and dirt. We were camping. LOL!!!
No storage space.
Our cabin had a damp feel to it.
The lodge lobby is second to none. Not as impressive to come home to for what its worth.