Camping vs staying in value resort

[Jlampley]

Hi All,

I've never posted on the camping forum before and knowing the demographic here (those who like (or love) to camp) this is probably a silly question. But here goes.

My family (Me, DH, DD 10 & DS 6) love camping. We have a Rockwood High Wall pop-up and go 6 or 7 times per year close to home (around middle Tennessee). We are trying to move as far out of the rat race as we can and this requires a fairly large decrease in household salary - but more time with Daddy!! So, I'm wondering if we can reduce our costs and still have our yearly trip to Disney possibly by camping. What do you think? We usually fly and stay at a value or moderate (with a good deal). Our camper does have a bathroom (all-in-one unit with low water pressure), a microwave, oven, stove.... so we could do breakfast there if we chose.

Anyway, what do you think? We love staying on property because of the atmosphere, the services, the proximity to the parks and the general excitement and happiness of everyone around us. What is it like at the campground?

Thanks for your help and allowing me this very long entry.
Best-
Julie

 

[Shaun and Amy]

Hi Julie,

I definetely think you could save money. The campground could be as low as around $43.00 a night. It's a great place to spend a vacation. Plus you do it in your own home on wheels. You can save a ton of money by making some meals at the camper and you won't have costly air flight tickets.

We've stayed there in 2006 and are going back this October. We wouldn't do it any other way. I think you'll find it to be even more family friendly at the Fort than the other resorts.

Good luck in your research and happy camping!
Shaun and Amy

 

[testtubes]

We have stayed at Coronado Springs Resort, Courtyard Mariott, and Fort Wilderness and the Fort wins. If you love camping, then this is the ultimate campground (even with the changes). You should definitely give it a try! People are extremely friendly (both the CMs and other campers) plus there's tons of activities for all ages.

 

[Us3]

Welcome over to the camping board Julie!

I think you should definitely stay a the Fort at least once! But I'll warn you...there is this bug that you get bitten by while staying at the Fort. You'll want to go back again and again!

FW is another great Disney experience and since you guys enjoy camping...its an ultimate Disney experience. It's a great place for adults and the kids LOVE FW!

The campground is really large. Loop after loop of rv sites and cabins. There are golf cart rentals which is a lot of fun. Lots of activities and a boat launch that will take you to MK's front door!

If you have any specific questions...just ask. Enjoy reading the boards and all of the info about FW. I think you and your family will have a great trip (and possibly save some money too).

 

[Shan-man]

I agree with the others (shocking!) that there are lots of ways to save big by camping. Fixing your own meals is a biggie. But the activities (and leisurely inactivity) the Fort provides means you don't have to spend every day in the parks, so less money on park tickets. We are going for 7 nights in Dec and only plan to be in the parks 3 days. If you know you'll be returning for future trips, buy double the days you need on a non-expiring pass and invest in the next trip. Our 3 days this trip are left-overs from last year... which helps take the sting out of traveling with this year's gas prices.

BTW, the comfort stations are pretty nice, so you won't really need to use your pop-up's bathroom if it is inconvenient.

 

[2goofycampers]

Camping will be cheaper and more fun.
We are in Middle Tennessee also.

 

[DznyRulz]

I think the decision is a no-brainer. It's The Fort after all. 'Nuff said. Seriously, let's look at your situation. A family of 5 flying from TN to FL. What might that run, $800-$1000? Staying at a value resort, 1 room or 2? Maybe $100 per night, at least. Meals? $$$. Now, driving from TN to FL will take some time. Is an overnight stop needed? Maybe $40 at most. The biggest concern on everyone's mind these days, gas prices. However, you're pulling a PUP so you'll still get very good mileage, not like what I get pulling the behemoth below (our trip 2 weeks ago cost me $991 in gas). Staying at The Fort, it depends on when you go. Also, if you have AAA you want to take advantage of the discount (for our trip, in the Value season, the discount was 20%, $36.50 per night for a full hookup site). Worst case scenario is you pay a little over $100 per night for a preferred site during the Holiday season. And let's not forget eating meals in your camper. That will also save $$. I think the decision is clear, the hands down winner is Fort Wilderness.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Julie and family,,Welcome !
Totally agreed,,camping is sooo the way to go,,little cheaper and lots of fun.
The Fort campground is an experience that ya'll will LOVE !
And by all means don't forget to pack your fish'n pole an a box of worms,,the kids will love it,,shoot, you will love it.
Our best camping experiences have been at Ft. Wilderness.

 

[Jlampley]

You guys are amazing! It really sounds like an experience I won't get anywhere else. I will be a AAA member by the time this trip comes around, so its good to know that I can get the discount at FWC. Now - how early do I need to book in order to get a spot? I had a friend try to book the first week of December back in June and the entire CG was sold out!

 

[SunshineCamper]

CAMPING! CAMPING! CAMPING! Did I say CAMPING? I've been to the value resorts and stayed at POR twice. I'd pick CAMPING!
We live 30 minutes away and our last 2 vacations have been a week at the Ft. during value season. Gas prices have us staying "home" and where better than our backyard the Ft.
The kids 10 & 8 love it. hang by the pool, ride bikes, play tennis, watch the fireworks and electrical water show, chip n dale sing along campfire, take the boat to WL, hayride, and so much more.

 

[Shan-man]

You guys are amazing! It really sounds like an experience I won't get anywhere else. I will be a AAA member by the time this trip comes around, so its good to know that I can get the discount at FWC. Now - how early do I need to book in order to get a spot? I had a friend try to book the first week of December back in June and the entire CG was sold out!

You should book as early as possible, up to 499 days out (but only when reserving by phone... online is less). But, if you can't get the days you want initially, keep trying... cancellations happen all the time.

 

[Jlampley]

You should book as early as possible, up to 499 days out (but only when reserving by phone... online is less). But, if you can't get the days you want initially, keep trying... cancellations happen all the time.

Wow! That's a lot earlier than for the rooms. I'm already behind for the Oct 09 trip I'm thinking of.

 

[F4disneyfan]

Hi All,

I've never posted on the camping forum before and knowing the demographic here (those who like (or love) to camp) this is probably a silly question. But here goes.

My family (Me, DH, DD 10 & DS 6) love camping. We have a Rockwood High Wall pop-up and go 6 or 7 times per year close to home (around middle Tennessee). We are trying to move as far out of the rat race as we can and this requires a fairly large decrease in household salary - but more time with Daddy!! So, I'm wondering if we can reduce our costs and still have our yearly trip to Disney possibly by camping. What do you think? We usually fly and stay at a value or moderate (with a good deal). Our camper does have a bathroom (all-in-one unit with low water pressure), a microwave, oven, stove.... so we could do breakfast there if we chose.

Anyway, what do you think? We love staying on property because of the atmosphere, the services, the proximity to the parks and the general excitement and happiness of everyone around us. What is it like at the campground?

Thanks for your help and allowing me this very long entry.
Best-
Julie

For our family a value would still be our choice over camping anyday.

 

[terri01p]

You can't go wrong with camping, there are many ways in which you can save money, you can eat at the camper or go out of FW and eat at a cheap fast food place because you will now have your truck.

AAA is also a great savings, I saved over 250.00 off my campsite by using them so you can't go wrong there, if you are going to the parks, check out their deal on tickets too, I bought a 10 day base ticket for 220.00 you can't beat that.

You can also bring food with you while traveling and that will save you some money from having to stop and eat a meal out while on the road.

Although gas is still putting up the cost of camping, it is still affordable with enough planning, you will have a great family time at the fort, good luck in what ever you decide.

There are many free things to do at the fort too, there is the campfire/movie and of course swiming and the fireworks at the beach everynight.

 

[Leofoenget]

Hi All,

I've never posted on the camping forum before and knowing the demographic here (those who like (or love) to camp) this is probably a silly question. But here goes.

My family (Me, DH, DD 10 & DS 6) love camping. We have a Rockwood High Wall pop-up and go 6 or 7 times per year close to home (around middle Tennessee). We are trying to move as far out of the rat race as we can and this requires a fairly large decrease in household salary - but more time with Daddy!! So, I'm wondering if we can reduce our costs and still have our yearly trip to Disney possibly by camping. What do you think? We usually fly and stay at a value or moderate (with a good deal). Our camper does have a bathroom (all-in-one unit with low water pressure), a microwave, oven, stove.... so we could do breakfast there if we chose.

Anyway, what do you think? We love staying on property because of the atmosphere, the services, the proximity to the parks and the general excitement and happiness of everyone around us. What is it like at the campground?

Thanks for your help and allowing me this very long entry.
Best-
Julie

We too have a pop up and I have been hashing out the #'s camp vs value resort. One thing about camping is you can save so much $$ on food alone. I figured it out, and the dining plan for 4 costs as much as $200+ each. Come on! That alone should tell ya. Another advantage to camping is the location to the parks much more central. If you eat breakfast at camp, either take lunch or eat a larger meal in the parks and then eat dinner or a snack back home you can save WAYY more $$ over the dining plans.

plus (from what i hear) Fort Wilderness is fun!!

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Our kids dont want to stay anywhere except FW. after fuel and everything else its pretty close on costs, the big advantage is food costs and the fact that we sleep in our own beds

 

[LarryJ]

You guys are amazing! It really sounds like an experience I won't get anywhere else. I will be a AAA member by the time this trip comes around, so its good to know that I can get the discount at FWC. Now - how early do I need to book in order to get a spot? I had a friend try to book the first week of December back in June and the entire CG was sold out!

Definitely camping and for the AAA you need to reserve early or use Rhonda who is a mod here to book for you and she can look out for AAA discounts, but you need to give here you AAA membership number. As others have mentioned especially for kids FW is great and if you can plan for a little longer stay so you can spend some time at the Fort and doing this as a family will make memories that will last a lifetime. Our most memorable memories is our trips to WDW and FW with our sons when they were growing up. When they were teens they really got to bond by pool hopping which was O.K. back then and hitting the various arcades or just hanging out at DTD. You can't put a price on these type of quality family experiences.

We do the AP thing and go for like 40 to 45 days at a time and in that time we will plan to eat out like 10 times, maybe have a midday snack 5 times and we always eat breakfast in the trailer go early to a park, come back for a lite lunch around noon and then eat an early simple dinner around 4 to 5 and then back to a park for 2 to 4 hours in the evening. Of course it's generally just the two of us now unless one or both of our sons/wifes join us and only the single one will stay in the trailer and not every nite since some nites they hit the Boardwalk to all hours and then the single son crashes on the couch at the older son and wifes resort which is usually the WL.

Not sure what you pay or would now pay for plane tickets, but gas costs especially with a POP-UP I would guess would be awash or a little less. With two 4 legged members of the family FW is our only option as it would cost us our first born to board them at home and we are no longer in possession of our 35 YO first born

Larry

 

[BigDaddyRog]

The fort is so nice of a camp ground that I wish the kids werent so crazy about the parks(OK, I like the parks too) Id much rather relax around the fort and fish and ride the golf carts and fish and pop a few cold ones and fish and enjoy the campfire/movie everynight and pop a few more cold ones and fish and chill on the beach and fish and walk the nature trails and taking a carriage ride....and did I mention the fishing ? We actually have vacationed at the campgrounds for 10 days without even missing the parks. It really is one of the best campgrounds Ive ever visited as far as activities and cleanliness goes. You cant go wrong just giving it a try one time(but be warned, Fort Wilderness is like Lays potato chips....once just aint enough).

 

[LONE-STAR]

I grew up staying at FW and always loved it. After getting married I took the DW to WDW and we tented at FW she is now hooked on WDW and FW. We our on our second trailer(which was mainly purchased to use at FW). We tried the POP once never again not that it was bad it just was not FW. If you figure what we have spent in Trailers, golf cart's, and trucks we could have been staying at the Lodge or the Poly (which we did not thank about beforehand) But the fact is once you stay at FW you won't be happy anywhere else. There is just something special about FW and the list of things is just to long to mention .

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

we went to FW for 12 days in December and the only park I went to was Epcot on Christmas eve. There is so much fun stuff at the Fort that I never want to leave.