Convince me it is worth the extra money to stay at the Fort, rather than off-property

[MomofSixinSC]

Some of the main reasons I planned to camp at the Fort, rather than staying off-property, was the Chip and Dale Sing-along, the Campfire and the free movies. Now I hear that we can do those and still stay off property. So why pay the extra money? Our budget for the whole trip for 8 people = $300 plus gas.

Please talk me into this. I would feel terrible spending my husband's hard earned money irresponsibly, but I was looking forward to staying on property.

 

[DaveInTN]

Personally, I find the Fort to be one of the most relaxing and magical places I've ever been to. I know you are not planning on doing the parks, so mentioning that the fort is a mere boat ride from the Magic Kingdom doesn't necessarily matter....BUT, those boats can also take you to the WL and CR where you can walk around the beautiful lobbies, and hop the monorail from the CR to the Poly and the GF. All for FREE, and very entertaining.

Beyond that, the biggest draw for me is the nighttime activity and ambience at the Fort. Just imagine walking, riding bikes or taking the bus down to the Settlement in the evening to sit on the porch at Trails End and people watch. It's so much fun to watch folks line up for the HDDR while you sit on the porch with a beverage (which I usually bring myself from the camper). Then after 9 we walk to the beach to watch the fireworks and the Elec Water parade. The kids get very tired, and we make our way back along the paths to the campsite to get cleaned up and go to bed. It's just MAGICAL. Nothing like it, IMHO.

 

[chilipyro]

How much will you save, by staying elsewhere? I wouldn't argue that the quality of the Fort as a campground are worth the cost - I have stayed at much better and for much less money. But, I have also paid the same money for worse. All around, I think their price is competitive for what you get. Here are some advantages, both economic and for comfort reasons:

Economic
1. You'll eat more meals at 'home', since it is easier to get to and from the parks, when you stay at the fort. Food is very expensive at Disney, so this is no small savings.
2. You'll use less gas - you don't need to use any, in fact, once you set up at the fort.
3. You will not pay any parking fees

Comfort
1. You are experiencing Disney 100% of the time (I suppose this could be a disadvantage to some
2. Disney transport gets you to the park gates easily and (relatively) quickly.
3. You will be less stressed having your home so close by
4. Fireworks on the beach every night, a campfire and outdoor movies every night, and a really nice pool and hot tub that is open 24 hours.

If you want to save money, I suggest you go for more of a budget camp site at the fort.

 

[YodaGirl]

We enjoy the Fort for all the reasons that Dave mentioned. In fact, I don't feel that we've paid enough attention to the Fort in the past, thus we're taking a Fort-focused vacation this October.

That being said, I have a friend who is, more than likely, canceling her ressies at a value resort to stay at a condo (5 minutes away) that is actually $10/night CHEAPER than a value.

I guess it depends on you. How much do you enjoy camping? How much do you enjoy the ambiance of campgrounds? I can't think of any campground that is comporable to the Fort.

Discuss the options with your husband. My husband works hard for his money, too, but he'd never be happy staying anywhere other than the Fort...unless maybe it was the WL.

 

[taborekle]

Just got back from my first trip to Ft Wilderness, so I -might- be mistaken....

First off, if you're not staying on property, how exactly do you intend to gain access to Ft. Wilderness, as I would think you would need to be on some registered guests access list?

Second, one of the big benefits that I found to staying at FW, was the easy access to and from the MK and many the other resorts via the shuttle boats. Our plan for visiting the MK was to be there when the park opened, stay till noon, return via the boat to FW for lunch and to escape the heat, have dinner at FW and then ride the boat back after dinner to continue our MK experience. This worked great, as it saved us $$ for lunch and dinner (Disney meals are expensive) and got us out of the heat.

We also used the shuttle boat to visit the WL for ice cream.

Using the camper with it's freezer also offered us the advantage of freezing water or other drinks over the evening, and then packing them in a insulated tote for the next day at a theme park or water park. That also saved us a lot of money for drinks and food. I'm not sure that you're off park reservations have the advantage of a freezer. It's so hot that we drank quite a bit of water and other fluids, yet we never had to buy any Disney drinks.

Being in the camper also meant that most of our meals were at the camper. If you're staying off property, you might not have access to a kitchen. We saved a LOT of money just having breakfast at the camper, vs a fast food drive through.

Besides putting a value on the money, you should also think of putting a value on the time spent that you have vacationing. Being at FW where the action is makes it very easy and quick to attend the sing along and movie, or do some of the other events and attractions at the fort, verses planning the time to drive to FW and then take the bus to the C&D singalong. There's less stress and more fun, and less time going to and from.

Hope that helps,

Larry

 

[medic9016]

Saves gas and time by not having to drive back and forth, no traffic to deal with and using all Disney transportation to get around.

 

[katiekomo]

I think it depends on how much your saving and what your husband's MO is. Mine (who makes the majority of the dough in our house too-- so I totally understand the need for us wives to spend responsibly!) Would rather pay "a little more" to be able to walk 'home' to the campsite, than pack up 6 tired kids when the movie is over.
It also gives you the flexibility for part of the family to leave early if the little one is sleepy before the movie ends.
If I remember correctly, you're going to MK for one day using GAD? FW is an easy boat ride to MK.
Also, for the days you're not at the parks, it's easy to Resort Hop while still being fairly close to home (another plus if anyone in the family needs some rest). While pool hopping is not allowed-- you can definitely check out the lobbys of the various resorts. If you haven't been there, I realize that might sound weird-- but there really are neat things in all the resorts (see the Daily Adventures of the Purple Van).
If you're thinking about camping off-prop, I would also say that I felt very safe at FW. Not sure what other camping places are like, but that would be a plus for me. (We were two woman traveling alone and we felt safer at FW than I've felt at big city hotels.)

 

[Disneylitch]

First off, The Fort is just special. It's very relaxing and you can do alot with spending a cent. You said you were considering staying off property. Movies, pools, and just walking around. If you did this, you could not use the amenities that The Fort provides. You would need to show your resort pass in order to gain access to the movies, etc. I think The Fort is worth every penney. Also, I wouldn't want to fight the traffic to get from one park to another.

 

[UMADDBG]

Don't most other campgrounds charge you extra for more than 2 people...and wouldn't you have to have more than one hotel room for 8 people?

 

[MomofSixinSC]

Just got back from my first trip to Ft Wilderness, so I -might- be mistaken....

First off, if you're not staying on property, how exactly do you intend to gain access to Ft. Wilderness, as I would think you would need to be on some registered guests access list?

First off, The Fort is just special. It's very relaxing and you can do alot with spending a cent. You said you were considering staying off property. Movies, pools, and just walking around. If you did this, you could not use the amenities that The Fort provides. You would need to show your resort pass in order to gain access to the movies, etc.

See, I thought you had to be staying on Disney Property to do the movie and such. But on another thread, http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2485752 , I was told that anyone can go to the movie, sing-along, etc. I called Disney Reservations and was told that anyone and everyone in Orlando can come to the movie and such for free! That's when I began to think about staying off property.

Still, you do make convincing cases for staying at the Fort. Now that I think about it, I can see my dh not wanting to do the movie and such, while I would want to. If we are staying right there, I can take them while he rests at the campsite. I am not likely to want to drive around Orlando at night with 6 children without him.

 

[Disneylitch]

That seems really off that Disney Reservations said that. I know each time we re-enter The Fort we have to show our resort card. I am under the understanding that you can use the facilities if you are staying at another Disney Resort. You would still have the Disney resort card. I'm not questioning what they told you, I have been given different information from different Reservation Cast Members.

 

[Nayan]

It would be a heck of a trek just to go to the Fort if you're staying off-site. You'd most likely have to drive over and park in DTD, take a bus to the Fort then hop a bus back to DTD and drive back. You would spend more time on travel than it sounds like it'd be worth. Trust me, it's well worth it to stay at the Fort and have everything there.

 

[doombuqqy]

It's so worth it to stay at FW. If you are off property you can enjoy the movie and sing along but you would have to park in front at the settlement and ride the buses in. You will never regret saying there as it was said earlier it is "magical" and you DH and DK's will enjoy it and will probably not want to stay anywhere else but FW next trip.

 

[katiekomo]

Momofsix-- when I was at FW I remembered your post about free things to do there. (For some reason your story has really touched my heart!) Anyway, I browsed the packet they give you at check in and remembered thinking that there were so many free activities during the day (lifeguards hosting games at the pool or on soccer on the fields next to the pool, etc) that I just knew y'all were going to have a fabulous time. I have no idea if they ask to see resort keys to participate in the soccer games, etc (I know that pool-hopping is a no-no), but that's another plus to staying at the Fort. I'm don't know for sure, but I don't think that other places have activities like that. So there's another plus! I wish I could find and scan in that activity sheet (oh, to have the skillz of KFM!) but I'm sure you could find it online...

 

[camp4]

FW is much more than just the sing a long and hoop-de-do (and as medic and tabor said you would have to do a lot of driving/transferring to get in to do those things without staying on property although it can be done)! You owe it to yourselves to try it out like you would any other resort! Halloween/Christmas decorated sites, fishing, not having to eat out every meal boat to MK convenience, etc. It's great

 

[Born 2 Fish]

I dint understand why people come here and say "Convince me".

WHY ???

If you need convincing , why bother ????


I've never had to ask anyone to convince me to stay at a hotel,
either I did or I didn't,,
just dont understand,

 

[mnsprk]

I dint understand why people come here and say "Convince me".

WHY ???

If you need convincing , why bother ????


I've never had to ask anyone to convince me to stay at a hotel,
either I did or I didn't,,
just dont understand,

 

[Gatordad]

I dint understand why people come here and say "Convince me".

WHY ???

If you need convincing , why bother ????


I've never had to ask anyone to convince me to stay at a hotel,
either I did or I didn't,,
just dont understand,

I agree......

 

[MomofSixinSC]

I dint understand why people come here and say "Convince me".

WHY ???

If you need convincing , why bother ????


I've never had to ask anyone to convince me to stay at a hotel,
either I did or I didn't,,
just dont understand,

Sorry to offend. I do have people convince me to stay at a hotel as well. I read reviews on-line and research throughly before I spend money on any recreation fun. My dh works incredibly hard in lots of pain for every dollar he earns. I don't spend it without being very sure it is a good idea.

If we don't stay at the Fort, we will camp somewhere else in the area. I can stay at a state park in the area for $20 per night instead of $41. I came here, to the Camping Board, for opinions on why it is worth twice the price to stay at the Fort. most people have given very helpful information. I'm not sure why the question offends you. perhaps in the future you could skip the posts that offend you rather than insulting people for asking honest questions. Surely doesn't sound like a very "Disney" attitude.

 

[Gatordad]

Sorry to offend. I do have people convince me to stay at ahotel as well. I read reviews on-line and research throughly before I spend money on any recreation fun. My dh works incredibly hard in lots of pain for every dollart he earns. I don't spend it without being very sure it is a good idea. The only time we stayed at a hotel without researching it first (because mil recommended it), we regretted it. My mil was paying, so I felt we should trust her recommendation.

If we don't stay at the Fort, we will camp somewhere else in the area. I can stay at a state park in the area for $20 per night instead of $41. I came here, to the Camping Board, for opinions on why it is worth twice the price to stay at the Fort. most people have given very helpful information. I'm not sure why the question offends you. perhaps in the future you could skip the posts that offend you rather than insulting people for asking honest questions. Surely doesn't sound like a very "Disney" attitude.

because you either like disney and want to spend the $$$ for amenities, or don't. You pay for location, convenience and cleanliness, and if you are a true disney nut, you know anything associated with the stupid mouse is a ripoff....

just sayin