Camping for the Winter?

[LINDATHEPOOH]

Some years back we met a couple that was camping at Ft Wilderness for the winter, for about 4 months. They got a special rate. Does anyone know if that's still an option and if so,what the discount would be? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[bama_ed]

That long term discount was formerly known as the Settler's Rate/Discount. I tent camped next to somebody doing it many years ago (the rest of the family cabin camped so that trip is in my signature as a cabin - too many people in the cabin for my comfort level though).

It was discontinued maybe 7-8 years ago.

The WDW team figured out that occupancy levels were high enough to do away with it. It was a business decision.

So now you are left to find the best other discount rate available (AAA, Annual Pass (if offered), FL Resident (if offered), etc). Any Fort reservation has a maximum stay of 30 days so people doing the long term thing have back-to-back 30 day reservations.

Hope you get to stay for a long stay. Wish I could do anything longer than a week.

Bama ED

 

[LINDATHEPOOH]

Thanks bama ed. I knew it was quite a few years ago. Originally we were going to retire to Florida but health insurance issues have made that impossible. But, we are looking into the snowbird thing and I can't think of a better way to spend the winter months than camping at WDW! It wouldn't be in a tent though. I'm too old and spoiled for that!

 

[Cousin Ed C]

We stay for the winter and love it. It is expensive, but there is no place like the Fort, anywhere! You would not believe how many of us there are.

 

[LINDATHEPOOH]

Thanks Cousin Ed C for the info. We would be looking to be there for 5 months,probably mid Oct to mid April. We don't own a trailer and the idea of hauling one from New York to WDW is frightening! Do the other long term campers rent their trailer or own it? Is there an RV place near WDW that we could buy or rent from and have them store it for the summer? Are we talking alot of $$? Thanks if you can provide any tips!

 

[chartle]

Thanks Cousin Ed C for the info. We would be looking to be there for 5 months,probably mid Oct to mid April. We don't own a trailer and the idea of hauling one from New York to WDW is frightening! Do the other long term campers rent their trailer or own it? Is there an RV place near WDW that we could buy or rent from and have them store it for the summer? Are we talking alot of $$? Thanks if you can provide any tips!

Define a lot of money?

As for cost of buying how big do you need and what kind of RV? You could be talking $5,000 to $200,000. Plus for storage, outside maybe $75 a month.

All the rental places listed here is like $130 a day maybe a break for the week so I don't know $3,000 a month plus the site.

I have never heard of long term RV rentals.

By comparison there is a place near WDW that bought all the old cabins from FW and its about $5,000 for the winter months and the rest of the year free.

 

[LINDATHEPOOH]

Hi chartle. I don't camp so I don't know what would be a "lot" of money! I know what we were prepared to spend for a new home and after adding in maintenance,property taxes,HOA fees,etc I guess it would have been alot. It's only me & my husband. My husband is ill and wouldn't be capable of taking care of a trailer. That's why I asked about renting. Also if it didn't work out I'd rather be able to walk away rather than be stuck with a trailer to sell. I'm also considering a WDW hotel for the winter, like POP Century. We've stayed there a number of times and it's a FUN place!

 

[North of Mouse]

Wow, I can only "dream" of how much $$$ we'd need to stay at WDW at a campsite or a value for 5 whole months! But, actually, in reality, as much as we love it there, we would get tired of it in 5 months. It would really get "old" in a hotel, even worse than our MH! But, to you

 

[LINDATHEPOOH]

Gee,how far "North" of the Mouse are you, North of Mouse?! We're in western NY and can't take the winters anymore. We come down to WDW twice a year for 3 weeks at a time. We never get bored or tired of it. We don't "live" in the parks. We spend alot of time at the pool. Some days we might only go to 1 park for the fireworks or a show or we've actually left WDW to check out the local area. Like anything in life, it's what you make it!!

 

[chartle]

Hi chartle. I don't camp so I don't know what would be a "lot" of money! I know what we were prepared to spend for a new home and after adding in maintenance,property taxes,HOA fees,etc I guess it would have been alot. It's only me & my husband. My husband is ill and wouldn't be capable of taking care of a trailer. That's why I asked about renting. Also if it didn't work out I'd rather be able to walk away rather than be stuck with a trailer to sell. I'm also considering a WDW hotel for the winter, like POP Century. We've stayed there a number of times and it's a FUN place!

I'm sorry if it sounded like I was prying into your finances but when ever I have priced out the trailer rental route it comes close to or even more than the cost of a Moderate.

If you stay at POP its would be cheaper, but you would have no way to cook any meals except cold cereal.

Are you set on staying on site? I'm pretty sure there are still some great deals on condo property around the area.