Disney's FORT WILDERNESS CABINS & CAMPGROUNDS Thread

[hstrickland]

Hey all!

We're big Cabin fans as ya might be able to tell and DH and I are going to be heading there Feb 9-11 for our 1 day extravaganza. Problem is... were arriving late on the 9th. like... really late... like 9 or 10pm or later and we REALLY want to rent a 2 person surrey bike while we were there so that we could head out to the MK early the next morning and catch the welcome show. We've missed the welcome show the last 3 times there and it's really pulling at my heartstrings and since this is a really big trip for celebrations we don't want anything to go wrong. (like not being able to bike out to the outpost in the am). We were wondering if anyone has had any luck with managing to somehow snag one of these either later in the night or any other such arrangement.

How exciting! And your trip is so close! Unfortunately, the Bike Barn is only open from 8am-6pm. I wanted to rent a bike for our entire stay, but they wouldn't allow me to do so...day by day.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

How exciting! And your trip is so close! Unfortunately, the Bike Barn is only open from 8am-6pm. I wanted to rent a bike for our entire stay, but they wouldn't allow me to do so...day by day.

Yes and the bike barn also requires a full day rental of your golf cart, so even though we are flying home at 9pm, checkout is at 11, so the golf cart goes back by 11 or another "full" day rental. Since I'm doing a split stay and coming over from the GF early in the morning, I wonder if they will let me take the cart at 8am even if our cabin isn't ready?

Tom

 

[pooki1]

Yay! I am booked at the cabins June 3rd-June 10th!!So excitedWe are planning on doing late nights in the parks and take advantage of all the Fort has to offer during the day. We still are unsure about renting a golf cart, We will have a rental car though,does anybody just drive to the parks just to save time on multiple bus transfers? Cannot Wait!!

 

[double r]

Yay! I am booked at the cabins June 3rd-June 10th!!So excitedWe are planning on doing late nights in the parks and take advantage of all the Fort has to offer during the day. We still are unsure about renting a golf cart, We will have a rental car though,does anybody just drive to the parks just to save time on multiple bus transfers? Cannot Wait!!

We always drive to all the parks except the Magic Kingdom, we really enjoy the boat ride there & back.

 

[Trekkie]

Yay! I am booked at the cabins June 3rd-June 10th!!So excitedWe are planning on doing late nights in the parks and take advantage of all the Fort has to offer during the day. We still are unsure about renting a golf cart, We will have a rental car though,does anybody just drive to the parks just to save time on multiple bus transfers? Cannot Wait!!

You may still want a golf cart. To get to places within the campground. (Recreation. Dining. The boat dock to MK or Contemporary.)

Speaking of the boat to Contemporary, you can take the boat over to Contemporary, if you happened to feel the urge to visit Chef Mickey's. (There's really nice restaurants at WL, too.)

Although, one thing I've learned about that.

The boat to WL and Contemporary starts running at 6:45. (Chef Mickey's opens at 7:00)

But the buses that take people around, within the campground, don't start till one hour before park opening. (Which I think is typically 9:00.)

 

[mmfox316]

I thought the Disney page said $11 for a canoe. Is that for an hour? A Day?

 

[DisMom1981]

I've recently become interested in campgrounds, but really have no experience with camping. I loved the vibe of the resort when we went to HDDR and had time to explore a bit. I'm thinking we would be cabin people.
They are air conditioned, right?
Is the resort more of a resort accommodations feel dressed up as wilderness?
Are the accommodations comfortable?
Tell me what you love about it!

 

[Trekkie]

I'm on my cell phone, so no long post right now. But, to me, the #1 benefit of the cabins is how much room you get, for less money. (I'm comparing them against a standard room at a deluxe).

And #2 is, the quiet. (And it's stunning quiet, just a short boat ride from MK).

 

[KonaKaiTom]

I've recently become interested in campgrounds, but really have no experience with camping. I loved the vibe of the resort when we went to HDDR and had time to explore a bit. I'm thinking we would be cabin people.
They are air conditioned, right?
Is the resort more of a resort accommodations feel dressed up as wilderness?
Are the accommodations comfortable?
Tell me what you love about it!

The cabins are by no means "camping." They are air conditioned and about as roughing it as staying in a Hyatt or Hilton. They just have a rustic appeal, and more square footage than anything in their price range.

Tom

 

[staceyrhood]

I thought the Disney page said $11 for a canoe. Is that for an hour? A Day?

My husband and son rented one last month and had a blast. It was $11 an hour per person.

 

[pooki1]

You may still want a golf cart. To get to places within the campground. (Recreation. Dining. The boat dock to MK or Contemporary.)

Speaking of the boat to Contemporary, you can take the boat over to Contemporary, if you happened to feel the urge to visit Chef Mickey's. (There's really nice restaurants at WL, too.)

Although, one thing I've learned about that.

The boat to WL and Contemporary starts running at 6:45. (Chef Mickey's opens at 7:00)

But the buses that take people around, within the campground, don't start till one hour before park opening. (Which I think is typically 9:00.)

Do you know if it goes to CR first? That would be great on a day MK open early!!

 

[Trekkie]

Do you know if it [the FW/WL/CR boat] goes to CR first? That would be great on a day MK open early!!

I have no idea which order it goes. (Or even if it's the same order at all times of the day.)

I have read other people saying that sometimes they have trouble making it to rope drop, when they take the MK boat. So, when they want to get there in time to see the pre-opening show, for example, what they do is to take the boat to CR (which starts running long before park opening), and then walk CR to MK.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

I have no idea which order it goes. (Or even if it's the same order at all times of the day.)

I have read other people saying that sometimes they have trouble making it to rope drop, when they take the MK boat. So, when they want to get there in time to see the pre-opening show, for example, what they do is to take the boat to CR (which starts running long before park opening), and then walk CR to MK.

The last time I used the ferry it went from CR to WL to FW to CR

Tom

 

[mmfox316]

My husband and son rented one last month and had a blast. It was $11 an hour per person.

Are these allowed to be used in Bay Lake or are they for the little water ways only?

I want to be in Bay Lake.

 

[staceyrhood]

Are these allowed to be used in Bay Lake or are they for the little water ways only?

I want to be in Bay Lake.

They only go in the little canals. If you want to go in the lake you will have to rent a little 2 person "speed" boat or a pontoon boat. They are both rented by the docks at FW, the canoes are rented at the bike barn by the Meadows pool.

 

[cgattis]

Goodness!! $22/hour for 2 in a canoe is pretty expensive!! Can you bring your own??

 

[VAfamily1998]

I've recently become interested in campgrounds, but really have no experience with camping. I loved the vibe of the resort when we went to HDDR and had time to explore a bit. I'm thinking we would be cabin people.
They are air conditioned, right?
Is the resort more of a resort accommodations feel dressed up as wilderness?
Are the accommodations comfortable?
Tell me what you love about it!

I stayed at a cabin a few weeks ago when I was there for the marathon weekend. I thought it was great.

I flew in to MCO and took the Magical Express, and then relied on Disney transportation the whole trip. Because I was there for the marathon, and I ended up not bringing my family with me (kids would miss too much school) so I didn't go to the parks, so I can't comment on the bus transportation to the parks. Per advice on received on the camping boards, I requested (and received) a cabin in the 2800 loop, which is closest to the main bus stop at the front of the campground. It was a quick 5-10 minute walk from my cabin to where I could catch buses to the parks (had I gone), Downtown Disney, and to the activities I needed to go to for my race.
The only park not accessible from that bus stop is magic kingdom--for that I would have to catch one of the boats at the other end of the campground. I did take a boat over to visit the Wilderness Lodge from that same boat dock, and it was easy to get to.

The cabin itself was very clean and comfortable, and has it's own thermostat settings. It also felt very quiet and private--no sharing a wall with other rooms like in a regular hotel. If you have your own car, it will be nice for you to be able to park it right outside your door--especially if you have a lot/cumbersome luggage or if you have small kids that fall asleep and you need to carry inside.
I thought it was very convenient to be able to make my own food--even though I don't want to cook big "meals" on vacation, it's nice to be able to keep snacks/drinks in the fridge and to have a microwave to heat things up--or even just to heat a can of soup on the stove top. In my case, I like being able to plan my meals the night before and morning of a race, so having a real kitchen was perfect. Since I did not have a car, I ordered food to be delivered from Garden Grocer, and it was in my cabin when I arrived (perishables in the fridge, everything else on the kitchen table.)

 

[hstrickland]

Yes and the bike barn also requires a full day rental of your golf cart, so even though we are flying home at 9pm, checkout is at 11, so the golf cart goes back by 11 or another "full" day rental. Since I'm doing a split stay and coming over from the GF early in the morning, I wonder if they will let me take the cart at 8am even if our cabin isn't ready?

Tom

I'm fairly certain you can get the cart early. Maybe you'll get lucky and the cabin will be ready. I can't imagine that it will be busy.

I've recently become interested in campgrounds, but really have no experience with camping. I loved the vibe of the resort when we went to HDDR and had time to explore a bit. I'm thinking we would be cabin people.
They are air conditioned, right?
Is the resort more of a resort accommodations feel dressed up as wilderness?
Are the accommodations comfortable?
Tell me what you love about it!

Many have already expressed there "likes", so I'll just ditto everything that was said Having the extra room and kitchen is awesome!! And again...very quiet! Just love the place!!! Like you, when we went to the HDDR, we kind of thought it looked like something the family would enjoy...and we did/do!!

I stayed at a cabin a few weeks ago when I was there for the marathon weekend. I thought it was great.

Hope your race went well, and so glad you enjoyed your stay at the Fort

 

[mmfox316]

If you would like to order groceries, you can fill out a list like the one below - there should be a list on the table when you first enter your cabin.

Does anyone have a closer up picture of the grocery list? Or a pdf scan?

 

[DisMom1981]

I stayed at a cabin a few weeks ago when I was there for the marathon weekend. I thought it was great. I flew in to MCO and took the Magical Express, and then relied on Disney transportation the whole trip. Because I was there for the marathon, and I ended up not bringing my family with me (kids would miss too much school) so I didn't go to the parks, so I can't comment on the bus transportation to the parks. Per advice on received on the camping boards, I requested (and received) a cabin in the 2800 loop, which is closest to the main bus stop at the front of the campground. It was a quick 5-10 minute walk from my cabin to where I could catch buses to the parks (had I gone), Downtown Disney, and to the activities I needed to go to for my race. The only park not accessible from that bus stop is magic kingdom--for that I would have to catch one of the boats at the other end of the campground. I did take a boat over to visit the Wilderness Lodge from that same boat dock, and it was easy to get to. The cabin itself was very clean and comfortable, and has it's own thermostat settings. It also felt very quiet and private--no sharing a wall with other rooms like in a regular hotel. If you have your own car, it will be nice for you to be able to park it right outside your door--especially if you have a lot/cumbersome luggage or if you have small kids that fall asleep and you need to carry inside. I thought it was very convenient to be able to make my own food--even though I don't want to cook big "meals" on vacation, it's nice to be able to keep snacks/drinks in the fridge and to have a microwave to heat things up--or even just to heat a can of soup on the stove top. In my case, I like being able to plan my meals the night before and morning of a race, so having a real kitchen was perfect. Since I did not have a car, I ordered food to be delivered from Garden Grocer, and it was in my cabin when I arrived (perishables in the fridge, everything else on the kitchen table.)

Thanks! Definitely some perks I hadn't considered! Is there Mousekeeping?