Disney Transport at Ft Wilderness Reassurance Needed...

[gigi1313]

we are considering 9 days in a cabin at FtW... but the transportation scares me... is it really as complicated as i've heard... there are loops and different colored buses and long long walks to/from bus stops and pool, etc... are golf carts really necessary and could you rent a gc for 5 people (all adult-sized 'cept for one toddler)...

soooo many questions/concerns... please help a campground newbie-wannabe!!

 

[lawnspecialties]

Disney's transportation setup is about as good as it gets. Once you get there, you'll see how it all works. And it's VERY safe in my opinion.

Both times we've been were for more than a week. We drove our truck maybe twice each trip, and that was to the Wal-Mart or Winn-Dixie.

 

[gigi1313]

i'm super familiar w/transport to other resorts, but the campground with its loops and such just scares me... i'm afraid we'll spend half our lives walking to/from bus stops, pools, restaurant, movies, etc...

also, is there a place to buy "real" food (like hamburger meat and packs of hot dogs) on site as we won't have a car...

 

[shoreline99]

i'm super familiar w/transport to other resorts, but the campground with its loops and such just scares me... i'm afraid we'll spend half our lives walking to/from bus stops, pools, restaurant, movies, etc...

also, is there a place to buy "real" food (like hamburger meat and packs of hot dogs) on site as we won't have a car...

Request a cabin near the neck of the loop. Closer to the bus stop.

Green grocer delivers groceries, like peapod in NE/NY.

 

[freshlybarked]

Internal busess are great. Every loop has a bus stop either at the loop or across the street or next loop over. Busses run about every 20 minutes. There are 3 colors, yellow, orange and purple. It depends on where you are staying as to what color. I think, although not certain that purple is for cabins, but you will get a map when you get there. You can get a bus from your loop area to the pool (cabins have their own pool if you want a quiet pool), to the beach, to another loop if you want. It's a good system.

As to food...I think the Meadow Trading Post has hot dogs. I know they have frozen pizza, sandwich meat, bread, breakfast foods, etc. I don't know about hamburgers. You will pay dearly for food there.

We stay in the campsites so we bring most of our own food, but Trails End is a good place to eat. You can also get take out there.

 

[plutospup]

No - FW transportation is not that complicated. There are several options, however,which someone else could explain better than me, which makes it appear more complicated.

The cabins are close to several bus stops, so no looooong walks.

FW has two pools. There is one near the cabins within easy walking distance. The Meadows pool is a bit further walk, or an internal bus could take you there.

An internal bus stops by the cabin loops. If you are going to MK take that bus to the Settlement (near HDDR). From there take a short walk to the marina, and take the boat to MK. If going to the other parks, I believe you take the internal bus to the Outpost, where you will transfer to a specific park bus.

If you have a car... you may park it right at your cabin, and drive it to any park.
Have a great time!

 

[indimom3]

I'm about as dumb as people get, and I had the buses figured out by my second day. It really is not that complicated. If it's in your budget, definitely rent a cart.
The longest walk we've had from cabin to bus stop (and we have a 2 year old with stumpy little legs) was 10 minutes. It's shorter than walking out of your hotel room, down the hall to the elevator, through the lobby, around the valet area, etc, at the other hotels.

 

[gigi1313]

okay, thanks all for the reassurances... the only part of the campground i'm familiar with is the HDDR via the marina... i've also looked at some online maps, so that's helped...

if i am understanding this correctly, to get to parks other than MK, it always requires a change of buses?

 

[jenscourt]

Yes, to get to other parks other than MK, you will need to change buses at the Outpost.

 

[gigi1313]

thanks

i'm sooo undecided... dh loves the idea of cooking... i love the idea of two value rooms and the dining plan!

 

[kc5grw]

You can still do the dining plan with the cabin. I personally like Ft. Wilderness much better than a hotel. Never stayed at a Disney hotel, but it's still a hotel. We normally have our 5th wheel when at the Fort, but this spring break we spent a couple of nights in a cabin at the end of a 4-day cruise on the Wonder. I had almost booked one of the other resorts but came to my senses and booked a cabin. The cabins were great, I still prefer my 5th wheel but we had a great time. The Fort is such a different enviroment than a hotel. It's much more laid back and relaxing and the cabins have lots of room.

 

[PPFDDisneyLover]

We stayed in November of 08 for 12 days in a cabin. The furthest walk from a cabin to the bus stop is definately less then the walk at the All Stars from the back to the stops out front! We did rent a golf cart. We did it more for our down time, but did use it sometimes to get to the outpost or marina. I personally find it very relaxing to take a cart ride in FW and enjoy everyones different campsites and their different decorations they may have set up. Like others said, food delivery can be done and its cheaper then going to the trading post for their food. I can't wait to do it again, just gotta find the time to do it!

 

[gigi1313]

thanks again all

i know i *can* do the dining plan w/a cabin, but for the increase in cost from two rooms at a value (i can get a TA discount on the rooms), we would likely skip the dining plan and eat more meals "in" instead of out...

i'm considering doing a split stay... just leared that friends are joining us for the last four days of our nine day trip... so maybe we'll do half and half

thanks again