Disney's FORT WILDERNESS CABINS & CAMPGROUNDS Thread

[Nickb23]

What time do the boats start leaving for the Magic Kingdom in the morning? Busy? Any info is greatly appreciated!

 

[dansdad]

What time do the boats start leaving for the Magic Kingdom in the morning? Busy? Any info is greatly appreciated!

The Green flag boats, to MK, operate from a half hour before the Magic Kingdom opens to an hour and a half after the Magic Kingdom closes.

Or if you need to get there earlier:

The Blue flag boats go to the Contemporary and run from 6:45 AM to 11:30 PM. Then you can walk over to MK.

 

[hstrickland]

Howdy Everyone Hope y'all are having a fabulous Friday thus far!

Have some disappointing news guys.. DH just got off the phone with Beachline and Disney has put the kabosh on all outside rentals unless you can haul them in yourself. Apparently Disney went so far as to confinscate a golf cart from some company who was foolish enough to rent a campsite and do business from it.
So basically, unless you have your own vehicle and can pull a trailer you are SOL.

Wow. Not good news for some. I can totally see from a money standpoint why they're doing it (not that they are short on money ) You can have strollers and scooters delivered to the resorts, but I don't think you can actually rent those two things from the resort itself, right? Like dansdad said, it's direct competition for Disney - not that I agree with what they're doing. Their prices are high for golf carts, but then so is everything else there

Hi all! (This is my first ever post!) I apologize if this is somewhere else, I couldn't find it in my search. Anyway, we will be returning to Ft. Wilderness in December for my birthday and my son's (we share a birthday!) and last year we randomly got to see the golf cart parade and it was such a highlight of our trip that I am planning around it this year! Do you know about what time this parade usually kicks off? If we do dinner at 630pm on Saturday at Trail's End, do you think we will see it (as long as the weather holds.) Thanks so much!

Your first post!!! Welcome to the Dis!!!


Not exactly sure....I was looking and found several different answers. Many people stated that it takes place on Dec. 24th during the day. You might want to go over to the Camping Boards and ask. I'm sure they can answer definitively.

And what a fun bday!!!! For you both

I will be there August 30th through September 8th.

This really sucks though because Disneys carts are soooo expensive. Does anyone know if a 4 seater would fit 6 if two are a skinny 8 year old and a 6 year old?

The 4 seater will definitely hold y'all We had 6 on ours. And you should have seen some people.... they were squeezing all kinds of bodies on the carts We actually had our name on the waiting list for the 6 seater, but soon realized it wasn't necessary at all. You're totally good to go!

 

[thegales]

Getting excited as we arrive at FW two weeks from tomorrow. We made the final arrangements for an off site Golf Cart rental yesterday. For those who have checked in recently, do you need to have the whole party to check in? We will do the online check in, but we do want to hear about the resort. About how long is the getting acquainted with the resort spiel? Our first FP+ is at 1:05 pm at MK. We are thinking if we arrive at FW by 10:30 to check in, leave check in at 11:00, get to the room, unload the car, and be on our way to MK by 11:30, we should be good to get to the park in enough time. Or am I being too optimistic?

Another random question, I know there is wifi, but is there also an ether net port in the cabin? I am thinking if I bring my router from home, we would connect automatically, without having to select the resort wifi on all of our devices.

 

[pookadoo77]

FW transportation experiences please! I am wondering how much more involved and how much longer it takes to get to the parks from FW than say AoA? We are traveling with my mom, has severe bad back issues, and my 3 sons, one of which has anxiety disorder. I would love to stay at FW as we usually always use our pop up on vacations, but on other resorts will need 2 adj. rooms or have to rent a family suite (both atleast 200.-300. per night) In my world that's very pricey for somewhere we pretty much only sleep. Just not sure if the extra walking will be a bit much on my mom, and the waits and transfers will be too much on my son. Thanks!!

 

[hstrickland]

Getting excited as we arrive at FW two weeks from tomorrow. We made the final arrangements for an off site Golf Cart rental yesterday.

Know y'all are sooooo excited!!!! Just curious, where do you have to meet to get the golf cart??

For those who have checked in recently, do you need to have the whole party to check in? We will do the online check in, but we do want to hear about the resort. About how long is the getting acquainted with the resort spiel? Our first FP+ is at 1:05 pm at MK. We are thinking if we arrive at FW by 10:30 to check in, leave check in at 11:00, get to the room, unload the car, and be on our way to MK by 11:30, we should be good to get to the park in enough time. Or am I being too optimistic?

Check-in car vary. We did online, however we ran into issues with our MBs. It ended up taking around 20 minutes or more. If everything goes smoothly and there isn't a line, check-in is super quick. And no, you don't have to have the whole party to check in. I had all the MBs so it was no need for the kids to stand there with me. Is your FP from 1:05 - 2:05 or does it end at 1:05? If you give yourself an hour to get to the park, you should be good I think you'll have plenty of time Are you driving your car or taking the boat to the MK?

Another random question, I know there is wifi, but is there also an ether net port in the cabin? I am thinking if I bring my router from home, we would connect automatically, without having to select the resort wifi on all of our devices.

I'll be honest....not sure. We had no issues connecting on our computers/phones, so I never even looked. It was very easy.

FW transportation experiences please! I am wondering how much more involved and how much longer it takes to get to the parks from FW than say AoA? We are traveling with my mom, has severe bad back issues, and my 3 sons, one of which has anxiety disorder. I would love to stay at FW as we usually always use our pop up on vacations, but on other resorts will need 2 adj. rooms or have to rent a family suite (both atleast 200.-300. per night) In my world that's very pricey for somewhere we pretty much only sleep. Just not sure if the extra walking will be a bit much on my mom, and the waits and transfers will be too much on my son. Thanks!!

You have a couple of options A site for a pop-up is anywhere from $49-100 depending on the time of year you go. If you rent a golf cart ($60 a day) then it wouldn't matter where your site is located because you could drive the cart to the bus/boat. This option would still be cheaper than 2 rooms or a suite at AoA. Second option - a camping site that is close to a bus depot. There is a bus depot located within walking distance of each loop. Some of the sites are closer depending where you are in the loop. You could request one that is very close to a depot.
MK - You take an internal bus to Pioneer Hall then walk to the boat dock...not a back walk at all.
EP, DHS, AK - You take an internal bus to the main bus depot. Once you are dropped off for the second bus, there's no walking and there are benches for sitting and waiting.

As far as the waits go, it just depends. Like other resorts, some say they are minimal; others say they can be long. When we were at the Poly, waits on the buses were horrible. Even at the WL we had long waits, too.

Hope that helps a little and I haven't confused you too much.

 

[Mydreams]

Oh my gosh! We have been discussing and planning our first trip to WDW, and our first stay at the Cabins for June, 2015. Last week-end our daughter and her family took a trip to the zoo and she called me that night and said how hot it was going to be in June, she says why are we not going in the winter? I said because the girls are in school and she said what about Christmas?

So, I started looking and discovered the FD was available, long story short, we booked for the Christmas, 12/21-12/27! Unfortunately, we booked at 174 days, so as you can believe there are very few dining options that aren't already filled up. It isn't a big deal, because we have 2 with peanut and soy allergies, thus the reason for the cabins, so we could prepare a lot of our own meals.

I did find that Donald's Dining Safari has an opening at 8:15 on a morning where Animal Kingdom opens at 8. Has anyone done that? Is 15 minutes enough time to get through the gates and to Tusker House for an 8:15 reservation? We have a 3 and a 4 year old in our group of 10, and I would like to do at least one character meal, if possible. I also saw an opening for Disney Junior Play and Dine. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

We know full well that we will not be able to do or see near what most people try to do, but we don't care. We are still at Disney World!! We plan to be at the parks when they open and we figure by 2 pm both of the little ones will be exhausted, so then we will head back to the cabins, let them take a nap and then just enjoy the Fort until bedtime.

Any advice on which park to plan for Christmas Day? Or where to eat if we should be so lucky as to find an opening?

Thanks everyone for your help in advance!

Cathy

 

[DrummerDad]

60 Days! Whoo Hoo! That is all

 

[marybrat]

We are heading down from Buffalo, NY in 24 days!
Woo hoo!

 

[nardoneje]

52 days and 20 hours.. everything scheduled and now the waiting is killing me.

 

[arrical8]

75 days until we are at the Fort! So excited!

 

[thegales]

3 Days!

 

[iheartMagicKingdom]

109.... Yikes. It's seems so far away. As I sit here baking cookies and listening to Sorcerer Radio...love!

 

[hstrickland]

Oh my gosh! We have been discussing and planning our first trip to WDW, and our first stay at the Cabins for June, 2015. Last week-end our daughter and her family took a trip to the zoo and she called me that night and said how hot it was going to be in June, she says why are we not going in the winter? I said because the girls are in school and she said what about Christmas?

Christmas is AWESOME at Disney!!!!!

So, I started looking and discovered the FD was available, long story short, we booked for the Christmas, 12/21-12/27! Unfortunately, we booked at 174 days, so as you can believe there are very few dining options that aren't already filled up. It isn't a big deal, because we have 2 with peanut and soy allergies, thus the reason for the cabins, so we could prepare a lot of our own meals.

Nice to have the kitchen for breakfast and lunch!!! It saved us some money!

I did find that Donald's Dining Safari has an opening at 8:15 on a morning where Animal Kingdom opens at 8. Has anyone done that? Is 15 minutes enough time to get through the gates and to Tusker House for an 8:15 reservation? We have a 3 and a 4 year old in our group of 10, and I would like to do at least one character meal, if possible. I also saw an opening for Disney Junior Play and Dine. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

We've done the Tusker House and it was fine. Good interaction with the characters. Not sure about the 15 minutes If it's crowded or there's a problem with the bands, getting through the gates might take a bit longer. Before you actually get to the gates, you have to go through a bag check which can take some time, also. I would probably give myself a little more time.

We know full well that we will not be able to do or see near what most people try to do, but we don't care. We are still at Disney World!! We plan to be at the parks when they open and we figure by 2 pm both of the little ones will be exhausted, so then we will head back to the cabins, let them take a nap and then just enjoy the Fort until bedtime.

You're exactly right! You'll be at Disney. And ya know, even if you were there for 2 weeks, you wouldn't get to do everything Too much!!!

Any advice on which park to plan for Christmas Day? Or where to eat if we should be so lucky as to find an opening?

Thanks everyone for your help in advance!

Cathy

As you know it will be super crowded, but completely doable. We went last year a couple of days after Christmas. We went to the MK. It opened at 7am and we were there by 6:30am to get in the gates. It worked out perfectly because most people are still in the bed By 9:30ish, we had done all of Fantasy Land plus lots of other things. Then it started getting REALLY crowded. I bet MK will be opening at 7am on Christmas. Tony's is a great place to eat...it's a TS or maybe the Liberty Tree Tavern.

Good luck with your plans!!!

60 Days! Whoo Hoo! That is all

We are heading down from Buffalo, NY in 24 days!
Woo hoo!

52 days and 20 hours.. everything scheduled and now the waiting is killing me.

and you even know the 'hours'

75 days until we are at the Fort! So excited!

3 Days!

Oh wow!!!! So close!!! How excited are y'all??!! Here's a little send off party for ya....



And what's a party without the one and only dancin' man?!!

109.... Yikes. It's seems so far away. As I sit here baking cookies and listening to Sorcerer Radio...love!

Sorcerer Radio?? Never heard of it. I'll have to check it out for sure!

 

[iheartMagicKingdom]

Christmas is AWESOME at Disney!!!!! Nice to have the kitchen for breakfast and lunch!!! It saved us some money! We've done the Tusker House and it was fine. Good interaction with the characters. Not sure about the 15 minutes If it's crowded or there's a problem with the bands, getting through the gates might take a bit longer. Before you actually get to the gates, you have to go through a bag check which can take some time, also. I would probably give myself a little more time. You're exactly right! You'll be at Disney. And ya know, even if you were there for 2 weeks, you wouldn't get to do everything Too much!!! As you know it will be super crowded, but completely doable. We went last year a couple of days after Christmas. We went to the MK. It opened at 7am and we were there by 6:30am to get in the gates. It worked out perfectly because most people are still in the bed By 9:30ish, we had done all of Fantasy Land plus lots of other things. Then it started getting REALLY crowded. I bet MK will be opening at 7am on Christmas. Tony's is a great place to eat...it's a TS or maybe the Liberty Tree Tavern. Good luck with your plans!!! and you even know the 'hours' Oh wow!!!! So close!!! How excited are y'all??!! Here's a little send off party for ya.... And what's a party without the one and only dancin' man?!! Sorcerer Radio?? Never heard of it. I'll have to check it out for sure!

All Disney music, all day long. Love it when I need a Disney fix, which is pretty much all the time!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[iheartMagicKingdom]

Christmas is AWESOME at Disney!!!!! Nice to have the kitchen for breakfast and lunch!!! It saved us some money! We've done the Tusker House and it was fine. Good interaction with the characters. Not sure about the 15 minutes If it's crowded or there's a problem with the bands, getting through the gates might take a bit longer. Before you actually get to the gates, you have to go through a bag check which can take some time, also. I would probably give myself a little more time. You're exactly right! You'll be at Disney. And ya know, even if you were there for 2 weeks, you wouldn't get to do everything Too much!!! As you know it will be super crowded, but completely doable. We went last year a couple of days after Christmas. We went to the MK. It opened at 7am and we were there by 6:30am to get in the gates. It worked out perfectly because most people are still in the bed By 9:30ish, we had done all of Fantasy Land plus lots of other things. Then it started getting REALLY crowded. I bet MK will be opening at 7am on Christmas. Tony's is a great place to eat...it's a TS or maybe the Liberty Tree Tavern. Good luck with your plans!!! and you even know the 'hours' Oh wow!!!! So close!!! How excited are y'all??!! Here's a little send off party for ya.... And what's a party without the one and only dancin' man?!! Sorcerer Radio?? Never heard of it. I'll have to check it out for sure!

All Disney music, all day. Love it when I need my Disney fix, which is pretty much all the time. Let me know what you think.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[doughcwjt]

112 Days and counting~ We are looking forward to the MNSSHP on Halloween Night, the Food and Wine Festival and if we are so inclinded... the first night of the MVMCP... we like to think of it as the Perfect Disney Storm!

Love the cabins, having a golf cart to get around and the peacefulness of the resort! Thanks for this thread, it is wonderful~

 

[Mydreams]

Okay, I called to make reservations for Donald's African Safari and they told me that if we show our dining confirmations to the cm at the gates, that they will let us in early. If anyone knows this NOT to be the case, please let me know so I can cancel our reservations.

 

[summersalt]

I booked my first stay in a cabin at the Fort today and just got done reading the first few pages of this thread. I am beyond excited and pretty sure Oct 10th will never get here!

off to update my ticker....

 

[nardoneje]

and you even know the 'hours'

And the minutes and seconds thanks to my countdown app LOL

50 days 10 hours 15 minutes and 30ish seconds