Camping at The Fort or offsite?

[erbeaman]

We are planning a trip for two families in April. We already have reservations at FW. We are looking at renting a camper and our friends family is planning on tenting it. As I started researching, I see we can stay in a 5 bedroom pool house in the Funie Steel area for the same price. Our friends have never stayed on site, but I think tent camping might be a hard sell over a big house. What would you do?

 

[DLFT]

Depends on what you consider important. On-site camping offers Extra Magic Hours, transportation, convenience, room (well tent) charging, the nicest campsite I've ever stayed at, ect. Offsite puts you in real beds and air conditioning, which would be more comfortable.

I'd personally do the camping (as I've done it and loved it plus I'm a strict on-siter after one partial offsite trip) but you should do what works for the other family. Talk to them and see what they find more important. Either way its a Disney World trip...you can't go wrong

 

[iheartdisney]

If you are planning on camping strictly for budget reasons, I'd go with the house. If you really, really wanted to camp, go with FW.

Also keep in mind if you are planning on using any of the Fort's amenities, you might need to add in the cost of the golf cart rental.

This past trip was our first offsite pool house vacation and honestly, it is hard to imagine us staying onsite again. It was that good.

 

[Aunt Bee]

That time of year, I'd stay in the house, especially if it has a pool. To me, the house rentals are an excellent bargain. We've done the 'house' thing many times and in April the parks aren't particularly crowded so going to and from the park and parking are all easy.

It's hard to pass up that kind of a bargain; you won't be disappointed.

 

[worm761]

We are planning a trip for two families in April. We already have reservations at FW. We are looking at renting a camper and our friends family is planning on tenting it. As I started researching, I see we can stay in a 5 bedroom pool house in the Funie Steel area for the same price. Our friends have never stayed on site, but I think tent camping might be a hard sell over a big house. What would you do?

How far from the parks is that area?
And how bad does the other family want to stay on site? Personally, my DH won't stay offsite. He refuses. He likes to have a few drinks with dinner on vacation and won't drive after that so he enjoys the free ride home. Though we did consider it until he remembered we were going for the Food and Wine festival. No one should drive after that.

We are renting a camper and staying at the Fort too. I think if the other family is happy tent camping then let them.

 

[chocolatemint]

Do your friends have kids? if they do, and unless they are serious die-hard tent campers, the house definitely wins. I love very minimalist camping and used to hike extensively, but with kids it's a different animal. Having a private pool cannot be beat. Seriously, it makes the vacation so much more relaxing for us.

When we tent camp as a family we do so in gorgeous natural areas without much in the way of entertainment or amenities. The camping IS the focus.

Sleeping on the ground, potentially getting woken up by other people during the night, having to put on shoes and get dressed to walk to the bathroom, then showering in a communal bath house, getting ready next to total strangers and then leaving to spend all day at the MK... well, that's no vacation for me. YMMV.

 

[motherof2boys]

We rented a huge off-site house for the week of Christmas Vacation. Our first off-property trip. We HATED it! The pool wasn't working & that was our big selling point. Before going to sleep the first night Hubby had booked a cabin at Fort Wilderness for the rest of the trip. We LOVED the cabin. So cute! Full kitchen, queen size bed, twin bunk beds, & a queen (maybe full?) size Murphy bed in the living room. A second bathroom would have great but that was my only complaint. There were 4 of us. We're going back Christmas week (3 of us) to see my oldest march in the New Years Eve parade & booked the cabin again.