Cost Crunch

[Morgid]

Is it just us, or do others of you feel that Ft Wilderness is pricing us out of camping there? We have a 31ft TT and have camped at FW in the past and loved it, but with preferred sites priced at 82.00 + tax then cart rental at 43.00 a day added to the ticket price upwards of 900.00 for 6 days for a family of four its pretty crazy. How do you other FW lovers feel and what are your doing to feed your Disney obsession?

 

[bicker]

Take a look at the kind of RVs camped out at Ft. Wilderness recently. Last time we jogged through I was floored by just how many of those massive, heavily-customized A-class RVs there were, and they surely weren't rentals. I couldn't believe how many of them had satellite dishes this time around! It was a noticeable change from several years ago, and a really substantial change from when we first started visiting WDW. It seems to me that the pricing reflects the general trend in who's actually deciding to stay at Ft. Wilderness.

 

[CindyT]

You have to wonder how gas prices will effect those going to FW too. We are seriously crunching the numbers, it is too bad we don't know what gas will cost next summer, it could cause us to rethink our plans.

 

[bicker]

Good point. I remember hearing a report last week on television about the impact of fuel prices on these mongo-RVs... they get what? 6 mpg? Yipes!

 

[msbegin]

We tow a 32 foot 5th wheel & get about 9 mpg when towing. However, I must say that even w/ the price of gass at 2.99 and the campground at $82.00 per night we are able to do Disney for a total of $3221.00 for a family of five. You cannot touch this at a resort w/ airfare & food

Now of course, we do eat a lot of meals in our trailer ( I make all meals ahead of time & freeze so that it's not much work for me) but I budget $500.00 spending, this gets us into one dinner show (probably Hoop De Do Review) and 2 - 3 other meals here or there. I don't budget souvenir money b'cause we save spare change and use that for souvenirs & kids start getting Disney Dollars for 1/2 of their allownace after Xmas for their souvenirs.

You could get a value resort for a good price, but they only allow 5 to a room, so we would need 2 rooms. IMO,This is still the best way for us to go!

 

[Gillian]

We are doing a preferred site with 15% AAA discount and no cart rental in a pop up (family of 4 - 2 adults, 5 year old, 2 year old). It'll be our first time, so we'll see how it goes. We would probably drive anyway, because we really like having a car.

The price is close to a value. We like to stay deluxe because of the larger beds and balcony/patio. So far it's a savings for us.

Right now we have the meal plan booked as well, which we think will work out for us. My 5 year old doesn't eat a lot, but my 2 year old does, so they can share his meals. DH & I like to eat out, and we want to try HDDR.

 

[my3princes]

We find Fort Wilderness pricing very comparable to the nicer campgrounds in NE. We never rent a golf cart as the bus service or walking gets us around just fine. I consider it the nicest campground that we have ever styed at and have never thought of it as expensive. We have a 30 ft TT.

Deb

 

[bianca]

Since we only camp at FW (several weeks a year), we store our 5W in Clermont. This was the smartest thing we have ever done. Not only do we save a ton on fuel costs, but the wear and tear on the unit while traveling was starting to get to us. It seemed that every time we got to FW we were having to fix something. Granted, it was always something small, but it still took time away from our vacation. There is a large cost to store the unit .... no doubt. However, for us, it greatly offsets the hassle of traveling with the 5W, the gas costs and fixing stuff. I really don't miss trying to fuel up the truck with a 35' FW behind us!

 

[Mac and Us]

There was a thread on this a while ago where people where discussing the pros and cons of hauling a Travel Trailer/MH to FT. Wilderness.

One poster made a point that it is much more costly to camp at Ft. Wilderness than stay in a resort as he factored in the price of the RV/Insurance/maint/licensing, etc.

I have to disagree with him in that we have been camping since we got married 23 years ago. We would have some type of RV regardless of whether we used it for FT. Wilderness. My figures are based on the fact that 'Hey, we already have the RV so what would it cost me to drive vs fly and hotel it?'

I have calculated this many times (basically every time the gas goes up). I have even figured it with gas at $5./gallon. Five dollars a gallon would be the break even point.

Here's my calculations:

We are going during the Christmas season (12 nights). I haven't really looked at the pricing for a value resort but I figured it at $99. per night.

Gas to airport - 180 miles r/t @ 20MPG * $2.829 = $25.46
Airport parking for 12 nights - @ $15 per day = $180
Airfare - I haven't checked in a while for the holiday season although the last time I did this analysis I got pricing around $200 per person -- there are 3 of us = $600
value resort - $99./per night * 12 nights = $1188.
food = I figured $75 per day * 13 (have to figure food during travel) =$975
TOTAL = $2968.46

vs driving

Motorhome gets 9MPG most of time but I figure it at 8MPG (windy conditions decrease milage) 3050 miles r/t divided by 8MPG = 381.25 gallons * $2.829 (today's price) = $1078.56

Food -- we bring most of our food and bring some $ for a couple of sitdowns/mickey bars, etc $200.

Ft. Wilderness - 12 nights = $797.16
TOTAL = $2075.72

CAMPING for us saves us $892.74

I'm not figuring in the passes or rental car as we would need them either way.

Now there are pros and cons to both. We hate being at the mercy of the airlines. Driving is longgg and boring but we make it fun by singing, counting red cars, playing games, watching movies, napping (not the driver of course) and making crafts with our DD. We also stop when we want, eat when we want and enjoy the view.

When we arrive we have more living space - our own food (better for us) - and most importantly our own clean comfortable bed.

It's all what you prefer and are willing to pay. We find we can go more often if we use our motorhome.

As for the cost of Ft. Wilderness. It's the best campground we've been too and offers the most for the $. Camping is no longer cheap.

I made reservations yesterday for next July at 1 of our favorite campgrounds in upstate NY......8 nights $494. That's $61.75 per night. We will be making reservations in January the other favorite in Maine .....it usually runs around $65. per night. When we first started the average was around $15 per night.

Sorry to ramble but I don't want people to get discouraged with the camping fees. Everything is going up including airfare.

 

[stillh2o]

Well we do Disney 8 or 9 times a year and camping at FW will now cost us this.
$7500.00 a month new motor coach. 8 days FW $82.00 a night $656.00, $320.00 for liquid fun. $350.00 food. Eating out 3 dinners $225.00. 46 gals diesel $170.00. So total for 8 days at FW without going to the parks $9171.00. We are starting to rethink about our trips to FW. We are think we will go only 4 or 5 time next year.

 

[mrsgus06]

Well we do Disney 8 or 9 times a year and camping at FW will now cost us this.
$7500.00 a month new motor coach.

Bought a new 05 Everest fifth wheel in May, paid cash (along with 04 Cougar trade in that was paid for). I thought I would cry when I wrote out that check, but in a sad strange sort of way, you have made me feel much better! All kidding aside, I would love to see your new motor coach when you get it. We thought about a class A, but went with the fifth wheel so we could pay cash for it.

 

[stillh2o]

I can't wait to see it my self. Talk to Newell last week every thing is good to go. We fly out sometime late Nov. for its homecoming may stop at FW then. But will be there for New Years.

 

[elastigirlfan]

I guess I've always compared what I would have spent if I stayed in one of the hotels and then the airfare cost along with that as well as extra food cost. We've always gotten a preferred site and have had our dog so I know we've paid a little bit more but I still think it's a great deal. I guess I"m in the minority. FW is a top notch resort, it's in the MK area, you can see MK and the fireworks from it, has a ton of activities besides the parks, and still has all the perks as much as if you stayed in a deluxe. FW has given us the opportunity to go to Disney when we probably wouldn't have been able to. (because of the cost) We just love this place and can't wait to go back.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Going to FW allows us the flexibility to spend what we want. If we want an inexpensive getaway to WDW, we just eat more at the camper, go to the parks less. If we want to splurge, we use the parks more, eat out more, play golf, etc. Personally, I think FW has been underpriced considering the quality of the campground and the perks available staying on site.

 

[anniem8]

My husband has just talked me into upgrading our tiny little pop-up to a hybrid type camper. (At least we'll have a bathroom and a fridge!) While that is nothing compared to the big RVs like you all are discussing, it's a step up for us. The only way my hubby talked me into it was to say we could then go camping at Disney! I'm assuming there are other small campers there(?) Just wondering, we're not even started to get info together yet for a trip. I'm trying to weigh in all the expenses.

 

[msbegin]

My husband has just talked me into upgrading our tiny little pop-up to a hybrid type camper. (At least we'll have a bathroom and a fridge!) While that is nothing compared to the big RVs like you all are discussing, it's a step up for us. The only way my hubby talked me into it was to say we could then go camping at Disney! I'm assuming there are other small campers there(?) Just wondering, we're not even started to get info together yet for a trip. I'm trying to weigh in all the expenses.

We camp all summer (we live in CT, so our camping season only lasts 3-4 moths) When we bought our first TT 5 1/2 yrs ago, we didn't know anyone who camped. Since our friends saw us having so much fun & so many vacation options they have all been hopping on the band wagon. Our camping "circle" of friends has grown and it is sooo amazing. When we go camping, some families have tents, some have pop ups, more & more friends are trading up to TT's & 5th wheels and our best friends have even purchased a LUXURY mobile home. In April we will be going to FW w/ them (the ones who bought the MH) My point is that you do what works for your family & ENJOY!!!! They have campers of all types at FW and everyone we've met there has been wonderful!!!! (I'm convinced that WDW brings out the best in everyone

Enjoy your new "vacation home"!

 

[mrsgus06]

I started in a tent with my parents many, many moons ago and upgraded as they did. As a parent myself, I started in a pop up with my best friend and 9 of our kids. Next, I bought a travel trailer, my best friend bought a travel trailer. I just bought my fifth wheel (nice to have bathrooms inside the trailers) and spent the summer at Ft. W. I can not tell you one time I did not have fun. It does not matter what you are in. All that matters is that you are there, with your friends and family, having a great time!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Don't assume we all have Class A's. We travel in a hybrid and love the thing. Much easier than the pop up to set up, bigger, more comfortable and that secure feeling you get with the hard sides, yet you keep that "outdoors" feel with the canvas bunks. It just doesn't get much better than that. We'll be heading down in 2 days for our first FW trip without the kids (isn't college great?) - just DW, me and the dog.

 

[gilesdad]

We're at the lower end of the camping spectrum. We will be driving our Honda Civic to FW the week after Thanksgiving with the tent and cots loaded in the trunk. We're only spending three days at FW and only 1 of those will be at a park, Magic Kingdom.
With the grandparents supplying the MK tickets we'll be doing Disney for three days for under $150. Add on to that gas for a 2200 mile roundtrip at 34 mpg and we're up another $200 or so. But that's still a great bargain to get the kids to Disney. Even if we were springing for the Park tickets we could do this trip for under $600. Too bad it takes us four days just for driving. That kills a lot of vacation time. Looking forward to it!

 

[Morgid]

Thanks to all of you for your posts, I've enjoyed reading everyones point of view. I have been doing some serious number crunching lately and decided even with gas prices out of this world it's still about $500.00 less to camp at FW for 7 days than it would be to stay at one of their moderate resort. That's with golf cart rental the whole time we are there, and it does not include all the money we will save on food.
I guess I just miss the old days when it was a whole lot less expensive to camp everywhere. I know, I know I need to get in the real world.
Thanks again!