Camping- practicality question...

[Antrotter]

We are planning a WDW trip for June 2010, and so far it seems if we were to camp in a tent it would cost $1600 (and some change). If we rented a cabin it would probably cost a little over $2000. these prices are estimates based on this years rates of course and do not include park hopper or water park either. Anyways on to my question Next summer we will be a family of seven our kids will be 9,7,5,2, and seven months. would it be more practical to get a cabin?? We camp now but not for 5 days at a time. This will be our first real vacation also so i want it to be great!!! Thanks!!!

Ash

 

[auntie]

I would NOT recommend tent camping in June in Florida for a week with an infant..let alone with other children. For the difference in price, I think your family would be much better suited to the cabin. You will have A/C and a full kitchen to help out with meals.Room to spread out. God forbid you should encounter the type of rain they've expereinced this week at the fort..tent camping with all those little ones, and you'd be on your way home. The cabin offers you more room and better shelter in the case of severe weather. Even when the weather is good...you will have the cabin deck to sit outside, or BBQ. Enjoying the evenings or nap times while your little ones sleep quietly inside in air conditioned comfort.

 

[stacktester]

You could also check with www.campatthefort.com and compare the cabins with a campsite and still be able to camp.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Stacktester's post is EXACTLY the option you need......another awesome camper rental website is www.MakeCampingEasy.com ...both companies deliver the camper to your Fort Wilderness site, set the camper up for you, and show you how everything works, then the haul the camper away when your vacation is over....its the perfect solution to the high costs of cabin rental.

 

[becky1960]

The previous posters are probably correct for you about a rental camper. Eveyrtime I make a reservations online they show me the Cabins as an option and they are usually twice the price as a campsite. We have stayed in the Cabins several times and they good for a large family..

 

[cjalphonso]

I would definitely recommend the cabins, especially for the price difference you are quoting. Remember, campsites get no perks and do not get any of the specials that the other resorts do...Like stay 4 nights get 3 free type of stuff. You have to pay full price for your tickets as well, no package deals for camping. Also, even with the best weather, it still pretty much rains every day in Florida during that time. My parents stayed in the cabins they were very comfortable and with the group your size I think it would be the best option. Last week we had rain 24/7 for 5 straight days, I know its not the norm, but if I were in a tent, we would have left for sure. That campground was built on a swamp and a swamp it turns into in heavy rain.

 

[Tigger0624]

I wouldnt reccomend tenting in FL in June- especially not with little ones. Personally, I would look ito renting a camper. You get all the benefits of camping with the convienence of shelter from the weather and blessed AC!!! JMO- I have 4 little ones and would rather camp than staying in a hotel or even the cabins. Don't get me wrong, they're great, but I love the being outdoors part of camping and having the choice of letting the kids run off the extra energy etc.

We were there last weekend and the rain was miserable- had we been in tents, we never would have lasted the weekend! Luckily, I brought their video games and they were able to sit in the camper and play while we hung out under the awning... no way we could have lasted in a tent...

 

[big kahuna1]

If that is truly the price difference, which I find really hard to believe, I would stay in the cabins but it will be crowded with 7 people. You may want to look into the options stated above also.

I really think you may have mixed up your figures. I think the $1,600.00 figure is the price difference between the campsite and the cabins. A tent site ususally runs around $60.00 a night and the cabins run about $300.00 a night.

 

[TheFlame]

You should compare the price of renting the camper plus the nightly rental fee for your campsite at FW which in separate vs. the price of a cabin. The cabin might be cheaper in the end, who knows! Plus mousekeeping will wash your towels, dirty dishes and the grill!!! There may be a deal come out during that time for cabins or hotel rooms that you just can't pass up, I would bet on it. Of course it will NOT be offered to us lowly campers! I have never camped in a tent and don't think I could do it especially with a baby and all the rain the Fort has had AND the heat in the summer. I am a little spoiled to my 5th wheel!

 

[BigDaddyRog]

I personally LOVE tent camping....but with little ones...in the Florida heat,and constant threat of afternoon summer showers....no thanks!!! We tented at the fort last may/june with a 5 and 10 year old,we brought a portable A/C for the tent and that made it tolerable...but it was HOT. We had a great time...but now, with the rentals offered from www.CampAtTheFort.com and www.MakeCampingEasy.com , I cant imagine we'll be tenting again anytime soon. Like I said,I LOVE to tent camp, but I aint getting any younger...and the years are starting to get to me enough to prefer some modern comforts that the tent simply cant offer!

Now, we also have stayed at the cabins...and I have to say...they are INCREDIBLE. Not quite enough of the outdoors experience for me, but as far as lodging goes....it beats the HELL out of a hotel room....but I simply could never really afford any kind of a length of stay in one again. They are simply TOO expensive for my budget these days.

 

[Sinclare]

$1600 for 5 days in a tent site? I hope that includes tickets? 7 of us are staying from June 27th-July 14th this year and the site it's self is only costing $1003. I don't see any way a cabin price ($200+ a night) can be within $400 of a tent site (~$50-$60).

As far as camping in June-July in a tent..it's no big deal because you won't be there during the hot parts of the day anyway. It will either be a swimming pool, exploring, bike riding, beach sitting, shopping, parks...etc..

However, if you are taking a 2 yo, then take a heater of some kind. When you get heavy rains it gets very damp at night and they could catch cold or make one worse if they have one. One year, I somehow ended up with a very bad ear infection and was out of my mind in pain for a day or two. I had a heater to knock off some of the dampness at night but it was propane so I couldn't leave it burning while I slept.

 

[lorac4disney]

I recommend getting the cabin if at all possible. With 5 kids, you deserve a vacation too. I tent camped at the Fort with an infant (nine months old) in July and it was not a treat. You can not underestimate the value of air conditioning when trying to get a cranky baby to take a nap in the heat of the day.

You'll love having clean towels from Mousekeeping *IF* someone makes a mess or has an accident. I know kids never *cough, cough* do that on vacation at Disney, but it could happen.

And what more can I say about having a full kitchen at your disposal. You have to ask yourself if $400 is worth it for you. If it were me and I had to choose due to budget restrictions, I'd skip the waterpark option and enjoy the new feature pool at the Fort while saving money on meals with your full kitchen (and some money on doing laundry at $2 a wash and $2 a dry) in your air-conditioned cabin.

Or you can rent a camper. Whatever you do, enjoy yourself and the planning.

 

[auntie]

$1600 for 5 days in a tent site? I hope that includes tickets? 7 of us are staying from June 27th-July 14th this year and the site it's self is only costing $1003. I don't see any way a cabin price ($200+ a night) can be within $400 of a tent site (~$50-$60).

As far as camping in June-July in a tent..it's no big deal because you won't be there during the hot parts of the day anyway. It will either be a swimming pool, exploring, bike riding, beach sitting, shopping, parks...etc..

However, if you are taking a 2 yo, then take a heater of some kind. When you get heavy rains it gets very damp at night and they could catch cold or make one worse if they have one. One year, I somehow ended up with a very bad ear infection and was out of my mind in pain for a day or two. I had a heater to knock off some of the dampness at night but it was propane so I couldn't leave it burning while I slept.

Just noting that the OP will not only have a 2 year old but will also have a 7 month old infant at the time. In addition to that another 3 children. All five kids under the age of 9. That's a whole bunch of little ones. This family may find themselves spending more time at the campsite than most.... Given that at least the 7 month old and 2 year old will likely require some down time for naps. I tell ya..just the amount of laundry for a family that size is going to mean time spent at the campground!Certainly anything is "do-able", as far as tent camping, and I'm sure many people do it and have a great time.
That being said, I remember being a young mom vacationing with a 6 week old infant, a pre-schooler, and 11 year old. Not anywhere near the crew that OP will be bringing to the Fort. (God bless you all!) I can't begin to imagine vacationing with 5 children under the age of 9..two of whom are really babies... in a tent in June. Between the heat and the possibly rain showers...it's gonna be tough. Just my opinion of course, but from a practical stand point, the cabin would give MOM a vacation too! If it's not a financial hardship to swing it..then I say" FOR THE LOVE OF GOD...TAKE THE CABIN!"

 

[TheFlame]

Just noting that the OP will not only have a 2 year old but will also have a 7 month old infant at the time. In addition to that another 3 children. All five kids under the age of 9. That's a whole bunch of little ones. This family may find themselves spending more time at the campsite than most.... Given that at least the 7 month old and 2 year old will likely require some down time for naps. I tell ya..just the amount of laundry for a family that size is going to mean time spent at the campground!Certainly anything is "do-able", as far as tent camping, and I'm sure many people do it and have a great time.
That being said, I remember being a young mom vacationing with a 6 week old infant, a pre-schooler, and 11 year old. Not anywhere near the crew that OP will be bringing to the Fort. (God bless you all!) I can't begin to imagine vacationing with 5 children under the age of 9..two of whom are really babies... in a tent in June. Between the heat and the possibly rain showers...it's gonna be tough. Just my opinion of course, but from a practical stand point, the cabin would give MOM a vacation too! If it's not a financial hardship to swing it..then I say" FOR THE LOVE OF GOD...TAKE THE CABIN!"

 

[mdoc]

This is a no-brainer for me. $400 difference between a tent and a cabin? Go for the cabin, especially with all those small children. I'm shocked that the price differential is that small.

 

[SunshineCamper]

this years room only prices= part- hook up for 7 nights roughly $455
cabin prices for 7 nights roughly $2310

difference= $1855 (this doesn't include theme park tickets)

i would suggest tent camping in the off season and when it's cooler-like October, November

 

[Shan-man]

I agree with Sinclare and SunshineCamper, there appear to be some hinkey figures being used. According to my handy-dandy rate calculator (based on 2009 rates, and best-guess re: 2010 seasons) and using the OP's countdown timer arrival date of 6/14/10 for 5 nights: partial $343, full $439, preferred $467, premium $523, cabin $2222. Thats a nearly $1700 difference, not a $400 difference. Now, there will likely be some discounts that could be applied to the cabin that probably wouldn't apply to the campsites, but not that much in discounts! A good middle-ground might be to rent a pop-up camper from CampingMadeEasy.com for about $800 (all inclusive in a partial site) or rent a 5th Wheel from CampAtTheFort.com for about $1200 (all inclusive in a full site).

HIH