camping vs. value resorts

[toostsmom]

We're doing WDW in September (20-24). I've priced and checked availability at all the Value resorts, and Fort Wilderness. I'm talking tent camping at FW. We're campers, so it's not a big deal, and it will save us a lot of money. Question for you seasoned Disney travelers before I book, what's your opinion from experience...
will the value resort be worth the extra $??? We don't plan on spending a huge amount of time at FW, except to sleep, and maybe on our check-in day. I'm just very conflicted with this decision and could use a little moral support

 

[ntsammy5]

It depends on a lot of things. I love the value resorts but I also love FW. How many of you will there be? The value rooms are very small so will seem cramped. Also, do you plan on eating at restaurants/food courts all the time? You can cook at the campground. There's also a lot of stuff to do at FW like the nightly movies and camp fire. For me it's kind of a toss up. depends on what mood I'm in. Good luck.

 

[sraiford]

It is very hot and humid in September Something to think about in a tent!

 

[toostsmom]

Thanks. I'm thinking the hot nights are what scare me the most. Also, on the camping forum, folks said Sept can be rainy there. There are only 3 of us... me, husband and 10 yr old daughter. I have stayed in both Port Orleans and Carribbean Beach before, when they were the "value" resorts. Have not seen the newer value resorts - which is why I'm questioning the value.

Don't plan on cooking or doing traditional camping things - just sleeping and showering there... but not so keen on sleeping in humidity when we've been out in the parks all day. Ugh... Why is this such a hard decision? How are the value resorts? Which is the best?

 

[poohgirl6]

We have been to WDW several times and have done it camping once. FW is a wonderful, beautiful place and prob has more activities than any other WDW resort. However, unless you have lots of time to be there and relax, I would chose whatever hotel you can afford over camping. Transportation is not the best from FW and the whole cooking/food prep thing takes up alot of time and energy (esp in a tent). Plus, the weather is so hot and humid at that time of year that I cannot imagine enjoying camping in a tent then. We love to camp and do it all the time but for a WDW trip (esp a quick one or one in the summer) we will always go for a hotel.
Just MHO.

Now, if we were retired and could spend a few weeks in the winter down there...FW is exactly where I would want to be.

 

[sambuster]

We just spent 7 wonderful nights in a tent at FW. I enjoyed staying at the Fort and traveling via boat to the MK. I've stayed at all the value resorts
(we like Movies the best) but will camp again next year.
Steve

 

[toostsmom]

Sambuster - thanks, when you say "just spent" was it this month? How was heat and humidity at night? I can handle everything else.

 

[NJRRK]

September is hurricane season, so in a tent you should take that into consideration too.

Last year my DB and his wife tent-camped at FW in July, with an window A/C in through their tent. They showed me a picture and I found it to be hilarious. They told me that's the only way to be able to sleep at night.

 

[toostsmom]

September is hurricane season, so in a tent you should take that into consideration too.

Last year my DB and his wife tent-camped at FW in July, with an window A/C in through their tent. They showed me a picture and I found it to be hilarious. They told me that's the only way to be able to sleep at night.

I live in Myrtle Beach, SC - very familiar with hurricane season... and would certainly take warnings seriously... fortunately my bro-in-law's family lives not too far from Orlando if we needed to escape. But I'd likely do that if in a hotel as well.

 

[sraiford]

All of the values are very nice! We stayed at Pop and will be at the ASMusic Family Suite 11/30-12/6. I would give them a try! After walking the parks all day, I look forward to a relaxing evening in the pool or in my room. A tent just wouldn't do it for me!

 

[WillCAD]

You can definitely save a lot of money by camping, and being at FW puts you in teh MK area, soo, which is important to a lot of people with young kids who spend most of their park time in MK.

But as the others have said - September in WDW is HOT, HOT, HOT, and HUMID, HUMID, HUMID. Even hardy, experienced tent campers may find it too much.

And it rains every afternoon in September, very hard, for an hour or less, with tremendous, scary lightning and thunder. Sometimes you get brief, strong winds with the daily thunderstorm - also not a good thing for a tent.

I haven't been tent camping in about 15 years, so my advice is a bit skewed, but personally, I'd go with the All-Stars.

Besides, your DD will really enjoy the giant building icons, the resort TV channels, and the bus service is quicker because at the All-Stars you don't need to take an internal bus to get to your loop...

But most of all, it's under cover and AIR-CONDITIONED!

Wang-Chi: The brave man likes the feel of nature on his face, Jack.
Egg-Shen: Yeah, and the wise man has enough sense to get in out of the rain!
- Big Trouble in Little China

 

[ntsammy5]

I just happened to think. If you book a value this weekend, you will probably qualify for free dining. You can't get free dining at FW camp sites. You may want to consider that. You do need to book this weekend though, IIRC

 

[kileybeth]

I think I hear your real question here.

We are campers. We are deluxe hotel stayers (that can't be a real word is it? hehe)

We camped one time in Florida, in Dec, and will never camp again in FL.

If the heat is bad, the humidity is worse. And I do come from a very humid state anyway but FL humidity is one thing walking around a park all day but not being able to get away from it at night too? no way, not ever again.

We were in Disney last year in September. 90 degrees and up every single day, high humidity and rain at least once or twice every day, and I just can't imagine that in a tent.

Having never stayed in a room at a value but having walked through and toured them(the rooms) and the grounds of all the values, I'd say go for it. They are not deluxe by any means. The food courts are well stocked (and air conditioned), The grounds are beautiful, the pools cute, the stores and lobby areas nice and relaxing (and air conditioned) and with only 3 of you, the rooms while not large are more then adequate (and air conditioned). Disney values are no Motel 6 so don't let value scare you off.

I didn't really say anything new from other post, just from my own "oh. my. word. it is HHH in FL and air conditioning is your friend!" perspective.

Good Luck deciding. What is the difference cash wise? I could probably look it up but I bet not much (40something vs. 8osomething maybe?) Is it double?

 

[sambuster]

Toostsmom
we arrived on June 9 from Maryland. Set up our Civil War officer Wall Tent.
Left on June 15, 2008. Had a nice time We werent in the tent alot during the day. Most of the time we spent at the parks. The nights where nice. a few nights I woke up and had to climb into my sleeping bag.

Steve

 

[luckytobeme88]

I would definitely choose the Value resort. If you have AAA or similar discount membership, you would save 20% during the time of your trip. Let say if you don't mind the heat and humidity, you still have to deal with the possibility of getting a bit damp from the occasional rain showers too. For less than $30 different between camping and a nice AC room, you don't need to think hard.

 

[PatsGirl]

If it's really only a difference of $30 night I'd go value. If it were upwards $60 or so, I'd have to think long and hard about a few hundred dollars. Given the season and likeliness of winds and rain vs. air conditioning when sleeping, well, then... value it is. BTW, DD11 now loves POP! We've stayed there for the last few years on and off and have stayed elsewhere but she always wants to go back there, FWIW.

 

[GoofyFairie]

I haven't camped for quite a while, but I can't imagine walking around the parks all day then returning to a tent to relax and sleep on the ground or air mattress w/ a sleeping bag. How refreshing can that be for gearing up for another day of Disney?- just my opinion.

 

[hammie59]

The thought of sleeping in a hot tent after a hot day at the parks makes me shutter. I'm no snob to camping, but I would want my AC. I always wondered how people camp in Florida with the extreme heat and humidity. I think I'd be opting for the value hotel.

 

[Sparkie]

we have camped twice in Fort Wilderness. Once in a motorhome and once in a makeshift trailer. It was a utility trailer that we wired with lights and put in a small window AC unit. we have been camping in October and July. October is doable. Its warm during the day and cool at night and not as much rain. My trip in July was HOT!!! and that was the utility trailer trip (essentially a tent that didnt leak). It rained ALOT! And our E-Z up tent was sagging with water and nearly blew away once. I thought I was an experienced camper. I had my coleman stove, my pre-frozen meat packed in my cooler with milk jugs of ice and loose ice on top. It was so hot that the coolers could not keep the food cold enough and we ended up eating in the parks more than we had planned. FW itself is quite enjoyable. We liked the pool, the shower area was airconditioned and very clean but either plan to shower early am or late at night because they get busy around 7-8 am. The bus system is SLOW. You have to take an internal bus (or walk) to either get to a bus or a boat to take you somewhere else. This is my least favorite thing about FW. It felt like it took forever to get anywhere. If you miss the internal bus, there wont be another for 20 min. then you have to allow time to travel on the regular bus or boat. We did like the campfire program at night. We would take a blanket and stretch out and watch the movie. We always brought our own hot dogs and marshmallows and stuff and just planned a picnic dinner.

I have also stayed off site once in a friends timeshare and last year stayed at POP Century. Camping is alot of extra work and for me we loved POP so much that it is worth the extra money. BUT.... if I had to chose between Disney in a tent or no Disney at all... I'd go with the tent ...

Hope this helped.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I haven't camped for quite a while, but I can't imagine walking around the parks all day then returning to a tent to relax and sleep on the ground or air mattress w/ a sleeping bag. How refreshing can that be for gearing up for another day of Disney?- just my opinion.

That is what I was thinking-I would really missing having a chair or bed to sit on after a long day in the parks.

I really like Pop. I have heard great things about ASMusic too as it has been recently renovated and offers activities at the pool.

Free dining if available for your dates would be a great deal for you.