Disappointed with Fort Wilderness Cabin exchange.

[tvwalsh]

We spent most of our time in WDW in a one bedroom at OKW, but I wanted to try the FW Cabins before I had to pay $95 for the exchange plus the DVC points.

I really wish I had just stayed in the one BR at OKW for the other two days.

First, It actually cost more points for the cabin!

Second, We did not get any of our requests.

Third, The cabin was about half as big as the 1BR at OKW.

Fourth, Transportation was lousy.

Fifth, The beds were uncomfortable and small.

Sixth, Nothing was close.

Seventh, the TV's were old, poorly maintained and tiny!

Eighth, Maybe we are just too old and/or spoiled!

 

[SusieBea]

I'm sorry you were disappointed, but I have to say I agree with you. Plus, the bathroom situation is not as convenient as it is at OKW where there's an additional sink outside the full bath. And, there's only one TV. I think this might work well if you had small kiddoes because there is so much that they would enjoy at Fort Willderness, however.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

My primary residence is in the woods. For 21 years I have watched those damn leaves turn pretty colors for a few days then turn brown then drop into my yard. Takes me 3 full days to get rid of my leaves. You're not going to find me on vacation in the woods.

I might make me

 

[dairyqueenmom]

My primary residence is in the woods. For 21 years I have watched those damn leaves turn pretty colors for a few days then turn brown then drop into my yard. Takes me 3 full days to get rid of my leaves. You're not going to find me on vacation in the woods.

I might make me

I am so with you, we have lived in the woods for 13years. It takes us 3 full weekends to get ours done each year, they just keep falling and if you don't get them up each weekend you risk getting snow on them. That is why the cabins and WL never appealed to me.

 

[katdocnorf]

I did Fort Wilderness Cabins in August using Points. I did notice they are doing so upgrades in some cabins but have not done all as yet so you probably got one that has not been done.

Somebody said there is only 1 TV??? That's not true they have 1 in the BR and one in the LR.. There is 7 of us and we stayed for a week. We stayed there because we were just going to relax and pin trade a little...NO PARKS...
So kids enjoyed alot of the activities and we enjoyed the quiet. We rented a golf cart to get around easier. We bought a canopy (cheap one) at Walmart once we arrived in Orlando and used it to cover the deck from sun and weather. That way we could eat at the picnic table on the deck. We cooked on the grill 3 nights we were there. Made baked ziti ( a bunch of it so we had left overs) one night and we ate the left overs 2 more nights. Ordered pizza another night and ate off park the first night. We enjoyed ourselves.

It's true if you are going to go to the parks everyday this is not the place to stay especially if you want to get to the park when it opens and stay until closing. Fort Wilderness is more for the relaxing trip...

As for space yes its smaller than the other resorts 1 BR's but it worked ok for us. 20yo and 18yo boys slept on Queen bed in BR, 11yo boy slept on top Bunk in BR and 6yo girl on bottom bunk. 1yo on coach pushed up to murphy bed and me and hubby on murphy bed. Murphy bed is not all that comfy I do agree but its okay.. I have slept on way worse.. Plus the one thing I enjoy is you dont have to worry about noisy people in a room next to you or above you. You are in a seperated cabin (trailer ). No body walking past your door at 2am laughing and stomping in the hall way... (NO HALLS, just street, with armadillos)

 

[TenThousandVolts]

I am glad you saved the $95.

I guess it is supposed to be rustic/crude accomodations like you would get while camping.

First, It actually cost more points for the cabin!

I guess this is just another example of how DVC points are best used at DVC resorts. The non-DVC resorts all seem to cost more- even the moderates- and few can argue that you are paying more points (now plus $95) for a lesser product. Thanks for the heads up- I will definately avoid using my points this way.

 

[CarolA]

I hope this doesn't sound too harsh, but I felt like the OP really didn't know what they were booking.

I have stayed at the cabins and liked them, but everything the OP posted is true. They are isolated, they are smaller then a DVC resort one bedroom, transporation is not great. I knew all that going in. All of this is pretty common info about FW.

As for "Second, we did not get any of our requests" So?? why is that second? You aren't guratneed a request anyplace. (Remember it's a REQUEST!) And those TVs are the same "low quality" Disney puts in it's hotels everyplace LOL! Yes, folks for a mere $300 a night you too can have a 19" with limited channels!!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I loved our family stays at the FW cabins. I know that one DS would be quite happy if I would arrange for a stay in one with his family. I am not sure that DDiL would agree! Maybe someday. I think that you either like camping or you don't. Even at that, there are different degrees of camping as any bicycle ride or walk through FW will verify.

I am glad you didn't pay the $95.

Bobbi

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Maybe the New Tree House Villas will be a better fit when they are done.
HAHAHAHA

But I agree with so many options from DVC resorts I have no desire at all to stay anywhere else using points. Now a nice AP discount and yea I could and have stayed back in the Mods but other then that nothing but DVC on points for me.

 

[nunzia]

My primary residence is in the woods. For 21 years I have watched those damn leaves turn pretty colors for a few days then turn brown then drop into my yard. Takes me 3 full days to get rid of my leaves. You're not going to find me on vacation in the woods.

I might make me

What are leaves??

But still, I don't think I'd stay there..aren't the cabins really like trailers?

looing forward to OKW. Give me some water and vegetation.

 

[marvali]

Prior to joining DVC, the one time we stayed on site it was in a Wilderness Cabin (special deal through agreement at work). We only had two young boys then and we loved it. They slept on the Murphy bed and I would threaten to close them up in it. One of them would scramble to get out, the other would want me to really do it. As for transportation, I guess we had it good because we weren't too far from where you could catch the bus, or we would go down to the waterfront and take the boat to MK.

I can certainly understand being an older couple without kids not thinking it was so great though. We enjoyed being "in the world" but not feeling like you were. We could get away during the heat of the day and let the kids catch a nap (rarely; usually DW) or cool off at the pool. There were also lots of activities available for the times we didn't want to be in the parks.

Today, DVC suits us well with having more room for the older boys we have, and our own privacy, space and comfortable king sized bed. Even so, the older boys have mentioned they wouldn't mind going back to a cabin so the youngest one can get closed up in the wall like they were.

For those who enjoy the nature part, and have younger kids, I would still recommend it as a very good option. There are times of the year that the lower points are attractive. The new transaction fee does make you want to be more loyal to the DVC resorts, however.

 

[ddhoeg]

If you have an AP, there tend to be good deals on the cabins. It seems like we have paid between $149 and $219 over the past few years (and they sleep up to 6). We have stayed in them for those late arrivals or weekends when we didn't want to use our points before checking in to a DVC location. If you are staying at VWL, it is also convenient .

 

[tazleiten12]

We stayed in a Cabin last month. Got a good price with the 40% off code. Not as nice as DVC, but better than staying in a moderate or Value for the weekend. We didn't use the transportation. (except for the boat once) We had a gold cart and a car. But i can see the transportation being a pain! The kids did love the fishing, golf cart, movie/campfire and the horses. Didnt get to try the hayride. Nice place, but wouldn't stay longer than 2-3 days. I see enough woods here in Wisconsin!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Somebody said there is only 1 TV??? That's not true they have 1 in the BR and one in the LR..
It's true if you are going to go to the parks everyday this is not the place to stay especially if you want to get to the park when it opens and stay until closing. Fort Wilderness is more for the relaxing trip...

Maybe some cabins still have the two TVs. However, when we stayed there 3 years ago, there was only one in the LR. I do remember when they used to have 2 TVs in the late 80s and early 90s. We noticed only one TV and were disappointed. When we asked, the CMs said that there's no longer a second TV.

 

[SusieBea]

Somebody said there is only 1 TV??? That's not true they have 1 in the BR and one in the LR..

I said there was only one TV, because that was our experience at Spring Break 2002. Knowing that ahead of time, I took a small TV for my daughter and her friend in the bedroom, but there was no cable hook up of course, in there. They may have modified the equipment since then, but that was our experience.