Differences between camping and staying in a hotel?

[Karenj2]

Ok - I know the most obvious difference is the type of accomodations, but I guess what I'm asking about are the intangables, or the less-tangabiles...

The friends that we would like to go to WDW with aren't sure what they want to do yet (tent camp or value hotel) because according to the DH, when they camp, they like the camping environment (low key, relaxing days, campfires at night, etc.) and he can't imagine how to do that AND go to WDW, where we'd most likely be at Ft. Wilderness only for bedtime. (I did mention that I'd like to include a "down day" where we could enjoy the Fort.)

So, what are some of the plusses about tent camping at the fort vs. staying at one of the values?

 

[blu]

We have not camped at the Fort (yet, going there next week) but the differences in general that I forsee is that when I get back to a hotel in the evening I am on edge at how dirty even the nicest hotel is. At a campground I know the place is only as dirty as the outdoors is. I know it sounds crazy but the outdoors is DIRT. AT a hotel the dirt tends to be bodily fluids etc.

Also when we get back to a campground, I can relax but my kids can still vacation by exploring

Downside of camping.......you may be next to me and my kids

 

[ob1quixote]

Be sure to include some Fort Time! There are plenty of activities {free and $} available to do; Chip and Dale Show, fireworks on the beach, etc.

The thing I like best is after a long day of hustle and bustle in the parks, the general tranquility and low speed good times of the Fort lets me unwind like no hotel room ever could.

Even if you're only 1/2 tempted to camp, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot...I think you'll be back!

 

[PaddlesUp]

If you have young kids, I think that the splash area is much nicer at the Fort then value. Also, for older or more adventurous younger kids the pool has a slide (the values do not). Also, the Fort's proximity to the Magic Kingdom to take little ones back for a break/nap.

One plus for the values is the quick service, though the Giddy Up & Go take way seems pretty popular at the Fort.

 

[bama_ed]

The one thing I will say about tent camping is you never know what weather you will have. Even if you are an experienced camper if it is really wet or really cold (or both) that can make some miserable memories.

Maybe you can reserve both and watch the weather forecast right before your trip and then make the call which to use.

If you are at the Fort please leave more than one day to relax and do non-park activities. You will be glad you did.

Bama ed

 

[motherwild]

A down side to camping at the fort is that free dining offer is not available to campers.

 

[KristinU]

An up-side for us is the ability to just relax outside at your site at the end of the day or first thing in the morning with that cup of coffee. At a deluxe you have a balcony to do so, but at a moderate or value your room door opens outside to the walkway. Yes, there are common areas where you can sit and chill, but not the same IMHO. And definitely helpful if you have kids that sleep later than you do (yes, I have one of those!) or a small fry who needs to go to bed early. It is just so nice for down time, where you're not confined to that little hotel room, sitting on the beds looking at each other or the TV, or staring at the kids trying to get them to go to sleep.

We also enjoy riding our bikes around the Fort during our non-park time, doing a little fishing or canoeing as well. Just all around a more open and relaxing atmosphere to us.

Another upside is the boat transportation to the MK.

Downside is the lack of a food court of some sort. And nobody makes your bed for you (after being DVC members, we don't mind that anyway.)

 

[Karenj2]

Sorry for quoting ALL of you - but you all have such good thoughs!! (This is why I love the DISboards!)

We have not camped at the Fort (yet, going there next week) but the differences in general that I forsee is that when I get back to a hotel in the evening I am on edge at how dirty even the nicest hotel is. At a campground I know the place is only as dirty as the outdoors is. I know it sounds crazy but the outdoors is DIRT. AT a hotel the dirt tends to be bodily fluids etc.

Also when we get back to a campground, I can relax but my kids can still vacation by exploring

Downside of camping.......you may be next to me and my kids

That's so true! Although I'm a bit nervous about not having a bathroom in my immediate space, I do get skeeved out by the reality that so many other folks have slept (and other things) in the bed before me. And I wouldn't consider being next to you a downside - both DH and I and our friends have 1yos, so we should probably apologize to OUR neighbors!

Be sure to include some Fort Time! There are plenty of activities {free and $} available to do; Chip and Dale Show, fireworks on the beach, etc.

The thing I like best is after a long day of hustle and bustle in the parks, the general tranquility and low speed good times of the Fort lets me unwind like no hotel room ever could.

Even if you're only 1/2 tempted to camp, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot...I think you'll be back!

I was planning on one FULL day, and also the day we get to the Ft. (and the day we're packing up to leave). If our friends feel that they don't mind cutting out one or more days from the parks, I'm fine with that (I visit often enough that that's not my call...)

If you have young kids, I think that the splash area is much nicer at the Fort then value. Also, for older or more adventurous younger kids the pool has a slide (the values do not). Also, the Fort's proximity to the Magic Kingdom to take little ones back for a break/nap.

One plus for the values is the quick service, though the Giddy Up & Go take way seems pretty popular at the Fort.

The splash area is good to know! I don't know if it'll be nice enough to swim when we go (late Feb, early March), but they might still want to play.

The one thing I will say about tent camping is you never know what weather you will have. Even if you are an experienced camper if it is really wet or really cold (or both) that can make some miserable memories.

Maybe you can reserve both and watch the weather forecast right before your trip and then make the call which to use.

If you are at the Fort please leave more than one day to relax and do non-park activities. You will be glad you did.

Bama ed

That's a good idea, Bama Ed! That's one of my biggest "fears" - I don't want to be wet & cold the whole trip, but making the call closer to the actual trip makes sense.

A down side to camping at the fort is that free dining offer is not available to campers.

I priced out the free dining, and it's actually less expensive to go when there's free dining, even though we'd have to pay for dining. (And it's still cheaper than staying at the Pop!)

An up-side for us is the ability to just relax outside at your site at the end of the day or first thing in the morning with that cup of coffee. At a deluxe you have a balcony to do so, but at a moderate or value your room door opens outside to the walkway. Yes, there are common areas where you can sit and chill, but not the same IMHO. And definitely helpful if you have kids that sleep later than you do (yes, I have one of those!) or a small fry who needs to go to bed early. It is just so nice for down time, where you're not confined to that little hotel room, sitting on the beds looking at each other or the TV, or staring at the kids trying to get them to go to sleep.

We also enjoy riding our bikes around the Fort during our non-park time, doing a little fishing or canoeing as well. Just all around a more open and relaxing atmosphere to us.

Another upside is the boat transportation to the MK.

Downside is the lack of a food court of some sort. And nobody makes your bed for you (after being DVC members, we don't mind that anyway.)

The biggest plus for me is being able to have a place to hang out after our DDs are asleep! DH and I have gotten used to the deluxes because they have a balcony we can sit out on after she's asleep... Either that, or we've had adjoining rooms with my sister and her family, and we hang out there (until her kids have to go to bed). The lack of food court is ok with me - my thought is that we'll bring breakfast foods and eat at the site, then eat the CS and TS meals in or around the parks.

 

[gillenkl]

For me, it's HEAT that really plays into things for me. We usually go in the summer and it's HOT and what I like about the deluxes is that you get off the bus or boat and you're in A/C. At the Fort you still have to get to your site and depending on your accomodations turn on the A/C. I miss the balcony, hotel lobby and CS restaurant.

The Fort is a totally different experience because it is camping - but camping at it's finest. The bathouses are excellent and the pool is nice. For some downtime, you can do the pony rides for your little one - my kids loved doing that.

 

[Stinkerbell1973]

I am actually working on my TR from last month that will include a comparison of our previous stays at FW (4 in the past 3 years) and our stay at Pop 3 weeks ago. I am not sure how much it will actually help with your question, as we stay in our 5'er (not a tent) but on a very basic level, there is a fundamental difference between camping (in general) and staying in a hotel. Here are the reasons why I loved Pop:
1. we saw something different (theme, property, guests, experience).
2. we were able to take advantage of free dining.
3. we got a Disney hotel experience, which DD7 really wanted to do.
4. Pop is a cute hotel. the icons in the different buildings were super cute, there are 3 pools and that was nice (although the feature pool never once seemed TOO crowded to us).
Here is why I didn't love Pop:
1. BUSES!! so spoiled @ FW. even though you have to take 2 buses to get where you're going, the bus system at FW, IMO, is much more efficient, is quicker and FAR less crowded. waits for buses to go back to Pop sometimes were in excess of one hour, along with guests who really did not want to cooperate (not willing to moving as far back as possible to allow more people on, people laying their souvenirs in seats, etc). other things about the bus situation at Pop really p'ed me off but I will never discuss those here as I will get FLAMED!
2. Noise. constant. even though we had a room in a really great location, there is still noise constantly. sometimes after a long day at the parks, you just want to come back to your room and have peace and quiet - I don't see how that is possible at a value resort.
3. this is a major difference between camping and hoteling - mousekeeping was FANTASTIC, however, i don't like the feeling of someone having been in my room with all of my belongings and praying every day that something doesn't get stolen. in my camper, i can leave my laptop out, my purse on the table, or whatever and not have to worry about it. you certainly don't have that luxury in a hotel.
4. beds. Pop has all new beds and while they are just fine, they are not MY bed, they are not king sized and i didn't have my pillow or my blanket. (we drove our hybrid so space in the car was at a premium)
5. marley. that's my golden retriever. she had to stay behind because the nice folks at Pop said she couldn't come (even though I <jokingly> begged). she loves WDW just as much as we do and I just hate leaving her behind.

Now - flame me for this if you will - but I think most regular campers would agree that CAMPERS are just a different breed of folks. We are nice, considerate, respectful, down to earth and we watch out for each other. I missed that at Pop. I am not saying that everyone at Pop was rude and socially unacceptable, but on the whole I just got irritated by the attitudes and the pace. By having my daughter shoved out of the way by a child running through the food court or the pool deck. By having to deal with a crowd at EVERY MEAL! Every single day, I wished we were at FW. We had HDDR on our dining itinerary and cancelled it because we knew that if we set foot on FW property, we'd get upset (so now we're back on with HDDR on Christmas day!!).

All of this to say - you should base your decision PURELY on personal preference. Like PP said, I enjoy being able to sit outside my camper and listen to the clouds float by, eat my dinner or watch/listen to the MK fireworks in peace. I enjoy our traditions of going to the campfire singalong the first night we are there. I missed the Meadows Trading Post and my (seemingly daily) shopping excursions there and at the Settlement. I missed my leisurely walks around the loop, to the playground and to the dog park. I missed our bike rides to the marina to catch the ferry to MK or watch Wishes from the beach.
Most of all - I missed the horn on the MK ferry. That is the "thing" that lets me know I am at Disney. I always get chillbumps the first time I hear it and, yes I will say it - I cry.

Please don't get me wrong...we had a FANTASTIC time at Pop. We have been saying we wanted to try a hotel and we did. There is not one thing about that trip that I want a "do-over" for (well, except the fact that I managed to catch the flu while we were there - didn't know it at the time but I was almost too tired and achy to do anything the last 2 days, come home and Monday am diagnosed). And eventually we will stay at a hotel again - in three years, we decided that for our 15 year anniversary and DD's 10th bday, we are going to splurge and stay at the Grand Floridian. But until then - home is where the Fort is!

 

[queen95]

The splash area is good to know! I don't know if it'll be nice enough to swim when we go (late Feb, early March), but they might still want to play.

We went in late Feb & then again in Mid March last year & swam both times. DD (3) LOVES to swim. I remember coming from Ohio as a child in the winter & 60 was totally shorts & swimming weather. But its always hard to say what the weather will be like in the "winter" here.

Someone mentioned bikes too -- I agree that is another plus.

We tent camp too & our March trip was rainy. One suggestion - make sure your tent is seam sealed -- we had just never gotten around to it -- OOPS! We made a trip home (35 minutes) to dry everything out.

 

[luckycharm19335]

I am a Fort girl. I love my MH and I love the MH lifestyle.
So, that being said, if I have a choice between a resort and the Fort, I will always choose the Fort.
However, if my choice is stay at a resort or stay home. I'm staying at a resort.
Disney or bust!

 

[Running_Bell]

I think that if someone loves camping.... they just love camping and if they really don't, it's not going to matter where they are... camping just may not cut it for them.

We always stay in one of the resorts the first night we get into DW... it's usually dark and we prefer going right to a hotel (the only advantage in my eyes to a hotel... not having to set up in the dark)... We then head over to FW to setup fresh the next morning. We have had both experiences and prefer with no doubt... camping at FW over the hotels.

What I love about camping that you don't get at the hotels:

1- riding the golf cart to Trails End for a hot chocolate... then riding through the loops

2 - hopping on our bikes at anytime and riding through the trails

3 - having an outdoor space of our own.... to sit and relax, grill out, just more room in general to spread out.

4 - our own beds, sheets, and blankets.

5 - Decorating and arranging our site to our hearts desires.

6 - For us... camping is family time.

We camp every where we go.... not just DW so the camping part is the part of vacation we love.

It's not for everyone.... There are advantages to both.... but when we put the pros and cons down for camping versus hotel.... camping wins everytime.

 

[Karenj2]

Thank you all for your responses - you've sold ME on camping!! (I haven't been since I was 10 - we were going to go late this summer, but then Irene came through...)

I guess a follow-up question would be - how is camping at DISNEY different from camping elsewhere? (Fort-wise, I understand that most campsites don't have a kick-butt amusement park on property... )

 

[Stinkerbell1973]

Thank you all for your responses - you've sold ME on camping!! (I haven't been since I was 10 - we were going to go late this summer, but then Irene came through...)

I guess a follow-up question would be - how is camping at DISNEY different from camping elsewhere? (Fort-wise, I understand that most campsites don't have a kick-butt amusement park on property... )

How is camping at Disney different from camping elsewhere?
One word for you - IMMERSION. Even if you never set foot in a park, you just know that you are somewhere special, you feel the magic and the atmosphere. People are happy to be at Disney and they express that to you. They are taking it all in, just like you are.
From a more tangible perspective - the offerings just in the campground are incredible (daily activities, campfire singalong, pools, dog park, playgrounds, etc), the bathhouses are IMMACULATE, you can stay in and cook every meal or you can step out to the restaurants (HDDR, Trails End, Mickey's Backyard BBQ, etc), there are endless loops and areas to bike or loop in a golf cart.

It's hard to put in words what makes a Disney campground different short of just saying it's BECAUSE it's Disney!

 

[Stinkerbell1973]

I think that if someone loves camping.... they just love camping and if they really don't, it's not going to matter where they are... camping just may not cut it for them.

We always stay in one of the resorts the first night we get into DW... it's usually dark and we prefer going right to a hotel (the only advantage in my eyes to a hotel... not having to set up in the dark)... We then head over to FW to setup fresh the next morning. We have had both experiences and prefer with no doubt... camping at FW over the hotels.

What I love about camping that you don't get at the hotels:

1- riding the golf cart to Trails End for a hot chocolate... then riding through the loops

2 - hopping on our bikes at anytime and riding through the trails

3 - having an outdoor space of our own.... to sit and relax, grill out, just more room in general to spread out.

4 - our own beds, sheets, and blankets.

5 - Decorating and arranging our site to our hearts desires.

6 - For us... camping is family time.

We camp every where we go.... not just DW so the camping part is the part of vacation we love.

It's not for everyone.... There are advantages to both.... but when we put the pros and cons down for camping versus hotel.... camping wins everytime.

Ditto, Ditto, Ditto EVERYTHING you said!! Great minds think alike. This is why I suggested that people that camp are just a different breed and it has to be part of you or you aren't going to enjoy camping, even at the nicest campground on the planet with EVERY amenity known to man.

And luckycharm is SPOT ON TOO! Give me a choice of a resort or my 5'er, I'm gonna pick my 5'er. Give me a choice of a resort or home, I'm gonna BEG for my 5'er. HAHA

 

[Skyw]

We did all star sports last year. Hated it. We stay in the cabin so it isn't like camping. But we love the fort.

1. People are nicer...including cast members.
2. QUIET
3. Boat ride to MK

These things are hard to replace....

 

[KristinU]

Thank you all for your responses - you've sold ME on camping!! (I haven't been since I was 10 - we were going to go late this summer, but then Irene came through...)

I guess a follow-up question would be - how is camping at DISNEY different from camping elsewhere? (Fort-wise, I understand that most campsites don't have a kick-butt amusement park on property... )

How is camping at Disney different from camping elsewhere?
One word for you - IMMERSION. Even if you never set foot in a park, you just know that you are somewhere special, you feel the magic and the atmosphere. People are happy to be at Disney and they express that to you. They are taking it all in, just like you are.
From a more tangible perspective - the offerings just in the campground are incredible (daily activities, campfire singalong, pools, dog park, playgrounds, etc), the bathhouses are IMMACULATE, you can stay in and cook every meal or you can step out to the restaurants (HDDR, Trails End, Mickey's Backyard BBQ, etc), there are endless loops and areas to bike or loop in a golf cart.

It's hard to put in words what makes a Disney campground different short of just saying it's BECAUSE it's Disney!

Ditto all of this.

And I'll add that one thisng that is different that isn't such a favorite for me is that there are no fire rings at the sites, nor are uncovered fires allowed. Approved covered fire pits are allowed when there aren't burn bans, but that just seems like too much work to figure out for us! Anyway, hanging by the fire at night is one of the great things about camping, so you might wnat to be sure your friends know that.

For us in our camping exprience there are a few generalized categories of campgrounds, which we choose and appreciate equally depending what we are after for a particular getaway:

1. Quiet state/national/corps of engineers parks: no hookups, big sites, pretty natural experience. Personally, our favorite. Nice for when we want to "just camp" and do outdoorsy stuff like hike, kayak, etc. Privacy, peace and nature over location and amenities in this case.

2. Private campgrounds: activities for the kids, electrical and water and sewer hookups for campers/RVs, pools, arcades, more of a sleepover tailgating sort of atmosphere with smaller sites and less privacy. We choose these when we are wanting to be close to a particular attraction or site to see, or if there is some draw to the park itself like a theme weekend that DS is crazy about (like Pirates for instance). Location and amenities over privacy and peace in this case.

3. Fort Wilderness: really in its own category. Less "parking lot"-ish and classier activities and facilities than most private CGs we've been to, but with much of the natural feel to the grounds that many nice state and national parks afford. There is one private CG we've been to in NH that comes close in our book, but they don't have 4 theme parks a boat ride or bus ride away