Cabins @FW first timers - please ease my fears!

[hjvigz72]

So this year, we're giving the "kids" (21 & 11) a trip to Disney for Christmas. We're leaving after Christmas and staying thru the new year. It will be our first time at the Cabins at Fort Wilderness and we're honestly terrified due to the shear size of the property, but really felt like we wanted the extra room as we are bringing Grandma too.

We've heard it's tons of fun during the holidays as the campers are decorated and there may even be a golf cart parade. Although we won't likely participate, we've already reserved a golf cart.

Any other ideas for planning ahead would be greatly appreciated! Transportation to/from and in/out, any ideas... you name it, we want to hear about it! Help us make it memorable. (and not because we couldn't find our way out of a paper bag!)

 

[KonaKaiTom]

So this year, we're giving the "kids" (21 & 11) a trip to Disney for Christmas. We're leaving after Christmas and staying thru the new year. It will be our first time at the Cabins at Fort Wilderness and we're honestly terrified due to the shear size of the property, but really felt like we wanted the extra room as we are bringing Grandma too.

We've heard it's tons of fun during the holidays as the campers are decorated and there may even be a golf cart parade. Although we won't likely participate, we've already reserved a golf cart.

Any other ideas for planning ahead would be greatly appreciated! Transportation to/from and in/out, any ideas... you name it, we want to hear about it! Help us make it memorable. (and not because we couldn't find our way out of a paper bag!)[/QUOTE

We've done several cabin stays and LOVE the cabin -- they just started the renovations after our stay a year ago so I can't comment on the sofa bed versus the Murphy bed -- first, getting the golf cart was the first thing I would have told you to do. Second, you are going to love the quiet of the resort, and there are a lot of things there to do, so you might plan a resort day or two if you don't want to be dropping 500 per day on park tickets. The boats back and forth to the MK and the CR, WL, FW cabin loop are a wonderful thing! Most important, since there will basically be 5 grown ups and there is only 1 bathroom and no half bath - we deemed that the boys (me included) would use the golf cart and locate the nearest "comfort station" and utilize that as our bathroom and shower room. The property isn't as overwhelming once you figure out that all the loops are connected to a main road and the main roads go from one end where there are buses to the parks to the other end where there are boats....you are going to love this place -- and if you bring a car, be aware there is no where to bring the car on property but you can drive from you cabin to the other parks if you choose to do so.

Tom

 

[Hopefully]

Check out the Camping Board here on the DIS. Lots of friendly folks with great info for your research

 

[1234lucky]

It is so relaxing there. We loved the space especially the deck and table space inside. We had relaxing breakfasts on the deck (sometimes with treats we'd picked up the day before in the parks). We also liked the space (both inside and out) to have a snack and cocktail at the end of the day without sitting on a hotel bed.

The beach is great for watching the water parade and fireworks.

 

[buzznina]

So who's the lucky adult that gets to sleep in the 2nd bunk?

 

[twinsmama]

You will LOVE IT!! I am excited to be in the LM rooms this time as there are only 3 of us, but my daughters are bummed that we won't be in the cabins....and the last time we were there they were 3 years old!

Cabins at Christmastime = amazing. I feel FW gives you a vacation-within-a-vacation vibe anyways, like you are camping out/cabin vacay, but also at Disney. The murphy bed is VERY comfy. We had no problems getting around the resort and both times I requested near transportation and each time it was granted. First time we were the closest cabin to the bus stop. The second time they put us further from the bus, I mentioned this at check in and she switched us to a cabin that was only 1 or 2 away and across the street from the bus so still great.

Try to get on a boat from MK or the Contemporary (will be emptier) right at Fireworks time. On our first trip we did this totally unplanned and, as we were the only family on the boat, the captain stopped the boat so we could watch the fireworks--our own free private Wishes crew!! It was unforgettable, and on our very first night.

 

[hjvigz72]

So who's the lucky adult that gets to sleep in the 2nd bunk?

our 11 year old daughter will be all over it - no fights there!

 

[hjvigz72]

Great advice, great ideas, can't wait. It sounds like we picked a perfect getaway - especially with all of the holiday hype!

 

[GrandCalifornian]

FW is great, and you will enjoy the extra room. The most unique thing you'll have is the space around outside the cabin, making it feel more like camping and unlike any regular hotel. I agree that you might want to plan on spending more time at the resort than you normally would. Having a golf cart will be a lot of fun, and ease your transportation concerns. You can drive it to the Settlement Depot (North side where Trail's End and the boat docks are) and catch a boat to MK. (Or to Wilderness Lodge or the Contemporary, both of which will be fun to visit). For the other parks, you go to the South end (Outpost Depot) and catch a bus to where you want to go. There are also internal FW buses that run different routes between the two ends of FW, but with the golf cart you probably won't need them.

 

[disnut8]

We stayed at a Cabin with our son and almost daughter-in-law (she was proposed to the day we checked in) and her then four year old daughter who is now our wonderful granddaughter. So five in the room. There is only one bathroom which some might find difficult but we solved that easily by using the kitchen sink for teeth brushing and putting in contacts in the morning with four adults moving around. So, just remind people of that sink.

We loved being able to move from the bedroom right out to the deck in the morning. I was awake first so just went out there and didn't disturb son and almost daughter-in-law. Husband kept sleeping. Granddaughter was with us in the bedroom in the bunk bed so she would then get up after a bit and come out and join me. Great conversations out there and - here's the absolute best about the Cabins - we just stayed in our PJs the whole time. We could talk and get to know each other all while comfortable.

We also had other family members (there for the engagement) in the next Cabin and cooked out one night and that was great but - you will have to go to the campground store for charcoal but you can have a wonderful time on the deck relaxing and chowing down.

We had more than enough room for all of us and enough privacy so our son and almost daughter-in-law could stay out in the living area (they were sleeping on the Murphy bed out there) while us "old folk" went in the bedroom to relax and then if the granddaughter fell asleep in the living room, she was just carried into the bedroom and the door was closed.

And there is only one bathroom but check under the sink - we had enough towels under there to last us two weeks.

 

[buzznina]

our 11 year old daughter will be all over it - no fights there!

I figured she would get one, but doesn't that leave Grandma and the 21 year old left with just the pullout bed and 2nd bunk? Correct me if I am wrong(which happens a lot), but I thought the remodeled cabins had a queen and bunk beds in the bedroom and then just a queen sleeper sofa in the living area.

 

[Hopefully]

I figured she would get one, but doesn't that leave Grandma and the 21 year old left with just the pullout bed and 2nd bunk? Correct me if I am wrong(which happens a lot), but I thought the remodeled cabins had a queen and bunk beds in the bedroom and then just a queen sleeper sofa in the living area.

You are correct. The bed in the BR is now a queen bed & the Murphy bed has been replaced with a Queen sleeper sofa.

 

[FreeTime]

We have enjoyed staying in a cabin but it was a little tight for us when we had two adults, two five year olds and grandpa. There isn't much room in the bedroom, no privacy in the living area. With four adults I would consider two rooms at a value or mod unless you are set on FW.

Are the 21 yo and grandma sleeping together? I am 5'8" and slender and climbed on one and felt gigantic. But they might have changed them.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

We loved the cabins- even more than we expected. So quiet and peaceful. Beautiful, clean grounds.

Plan ahead to make a grocery trip - or order groceries for delivery. The full kitchen is very nice to have if you plan well.

Will you have your own car, or are you flying in? We drove our car and were able to bring our bikes. FW has fantastic biking trails, but the bikes at Disney are fairly expensive to rent.

Look into all the resort activities before you go. Plan a horseback ride, or plan to do the archery lesson (I think they still have this, but they offer it on limited days and times). Be sure to go to the campfire sing along. I could have done this on several nights if we were not so busy in the parks. Watch fireworks one night on the beach.

We were 3 adults and 2 children and we did not feel as if space was tight. The deck really seems to add personal space. It won't be like a three bedroom condo, but it will be much better than a hotel room.

We found the internal bus system to be outstanding. We never waited long on a bus.

It is quite easy to find your way around on a bike or a golf cart. Look at the map a little before you go, but I doubt you will have major problems.

Ride your cart to the beach then get on a boat. Boats conveniently go to MK, WL, and the CR. This gives you other resorts to explore, as well as lots of dining options when you are not in the parks (if you don't want to cook in your cabin).

 

[LuckyBelle81]

We stayed in the Cabins last Nov (2015). Our party was rather large for one cabin: DH and myself, MIL and FIL, DD(9), DS(6), and DS(2). Everyone had a bed to sleep in (DD(2) was in a pack-n-play) and I think we were all comfortable. Our cabin still had the Murphy bed but DH and I slept on that and it was actually really comfortable. My main complaints have to do with there being only 1 bathroom and the transportation to the parks and other resorts.

We knew ahead of time that there would only be one bathroom and we planned as well as we could for it, including scheduling baths/showers but it was still a problem bc inevitably more than one person needed to be in there at a time. Having an extra 1/2 bath would really improve the experience at the cabins. I know other posts have mentioned it so just be aware and plan for the bathroom issue.

We had read a lot of complaints about the transportation inside the resort but we really didn't have any problems with it at all. Buses seem to run pretty regularly (or we just got lucky and every time we needed one we didn't wait for more than about 5 minutes). It was the transportation to get to and from the resort that was problematic. The first night we were there we had an ADR at GF for 9:30pm so we got in line to board the boat to GF at about 7pm. We thought we would have plenty of time to get there and roam around and be at the restaurant on time for our ADR. I don't really know what the problem was but there was a crazy long line for the boat and the whole thing took so long that we were 20 minutes late for our ADR. Thankfully they were very understanding and our evening was not completely ruined but we thought it might be for a while and that caused everyone a lot of stress. When we took the buses to the parks it seemed like the cabins were particularly underserved in terms of number of buses and the frequency of their arrival. When we were waiting to leave the parks in the evening we would see 2 or 3 buses come for the other resorts for every 1 that came for the cabins. We have stayed at AoA and ASM in the past and the bus service was not nearly as convenient as it was at the other resorts.

Overall we DID like the cabins. I know a lot of people like that they are kind of a vacation inside your vacation and I can appreciate that but I actually enjoy *feeling* like I'm in the middle of everything when I'm there so that is not as big of a selling point for me. They were very nice and did for the most part suit our needs. You're doing the right thing by getting all the info you can before you go so you know what to expect. Have a great trip!

 

[Kimberle]

You can park 1 car at your cabin. So if you're flying, rent a car and drive to the parks.

 

[catheren]

Staying at the FW Cabins for the 1st time in October. Do you get daily room cleaning and fresh towels -- as you receive in the hotels? Also is it necessary to rent a golf cart? If so do you reserve in advance? And who do you contact? Thanks!

 

[1234lucky]

Yes daily housekeeping though it was pretty poor when we were there.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Staying at the FW Cabins for the 1st time in October. Do you get daily room cleaning and fresh towels -- as you receive in the hotels? Also is it necessary to rent a golf cart? If so do you reserve in advance? And who do you contact? Thanks!

Golf carts are not necessary, though they looked like a lot of fun. We took internal bus transportation when we wanted to go somewhere and rode bikes for fun. We never waited long for a bus, and the busses did not have many people on them. Golf carts really added a lot to the cost. $60 a day I think. You could almost upgrade to the CR for that.

 

[RubySue]

Staying at the FW Cabins for the 1st time in October. Do you get daily room cleaning and fresh towels -- as you receive in the hotels? Also is it necessary to rent a golf cart? If so do you reserve in advance? And who do you contact? Thanks!

Yes, daily housekeeping like a hotel room. Plus, if you have dirty dishes, housekeeping will do them for you. We stayed in the cabins June 2012 and had excellent service.
You don't need a golf cart if your group has no problems walking to the bus stops. We had one because I have health issues. It was worth every penny for me. (And they are a lot of fun.)
You do need to reserve in advance. Check WDW website for phone number.
We loved staying at FW.