First trip

[06prowler]

Will be making first trip soon. Have made reservations but am overwhelmed with the cost for camping. I did not think about requesting AAA discount. Should I cancel and reschedule? Or there discounts out there that I might be able to use to lower my cost? I would appreciate any advice any of you may have.

Thanks

 

[bama_ed]

Only so many campsites can use the AAA discount at any given time. If it is available for your dates you do not have to cancel/reschedule, they should be able to add the code to your current reservation if it is available. When available it is 10% off (sometimes 15% in the very slow times) but booking it well in advance of your arrival date helps your chances.

Good luck!

Bama ED

PS-I got 10% off when I was down there week before Christmas.....

PPS-You don't say if you have a camper or will be tenting but if tenting or in a pop-up (or similar small trailer) you can drop your cost by staying in loops with only water and power hookups (no sewer or cabletv). Looking at the map that is the 1500 or 2000 loop. 1500 is closer to the Meadow Trading Post/pool/camp fire area. So when adding your AAA discount you can request a specific loop (but it's not guarenteed you will get it) and add that comment to your ressie as well. I requested certain loops the last 3 times and got them twice (and the third time was put in the loop next door so good enough for me).

 

[OK GRUMPY]

FW has gotten very expensive but when you factor in some of the perks it may not be so bad. I usally get my reservation then keep calling to get a discount. I usally get a AP rate. Its not much but every little bit helps. You can also get a AAA discount. What I do is on the top of this page is a discount link and I just use that as to when to call and get my dicount. I have never used AAA discount so they may offer that all the time. Just call reservationa nd see if you can get the AAA rate. Good Luck

 

[Goofy109]

I am confused here ...... Camping ..... and you need a AAA Discount ? Is camping NOT the LEAST expensive way of staying at Disney ? Well, have fun ......I will use AAA for the Polynesian Resort ...... and stay Dry !

 

[CaptKen]

Actually FW is not the cheapest stay at DW. You can find specials at the discount Disney Resorts that are cheaper. But when you factor in eating at the camper and not having to eat out every meal, it gets more reasonable.

 

[AuburnJen92]

I tried to get the new AP rate (FIE) to apply to my current ressie for Feb 22-24 and it is already sold out for that day. It just came out this morning.

 

[lawnspecialties]

I often see comments here on the Dis about the Fort's rates. Nobody wants cheaper prices on everything more than me.

But we all have to admit, being consistently one of the highest rated (if not the highest rated) campgrounds in the entire US does require a higher cost than most "BillyBob's TravelParks".

 

[AuburnJen92]

It used to be cheap to camp. Now I have a payment each month for the RV and a paycheck to WDW each time we go. Times change....

 

[auntie]

Will be making first trip soon. Have made reservations but am overwhelmed with the cost for camping. I did not think about requesting AAA discount. Should I cancel and reschedule? Or there discounts out there that I might be able to use to lower my cost? I would appreciate any advice any of you may have.

Thanks

I'm not sure when you plan to travel however the warmer summer months are much less expensive. With a AAA discount more readily available also. If you are camping in a travel trailer or motor home, then the warmer weather isn't as much of an issue as it might be should you be tent camping. Another plus to the summer months is that the parks are open quite late. If you plan to visit them you won't have to go in the heat of the day, but rather enjoy the resort and a dip in the pool and go to the parks in the late afternoon and evening.

 

[terri01p]

Will be making first trip soon. Have made reservations but am overwhelmed with the cost for camping. I did not think about requesting AAA discount. Should I cancel and reschedule? Or there discounts out there that I might be able to use to lower my cost? I would appreciate any advice any of you may have.

Thanks

I would just call reservations and see if you can't add a AAA discount, I was able to get get back in April.

Ya camping is not cheap anymore by any means. Just wait until you have to gas up

Goofy109 hope you don't get a room with bed bugs from the other 100 people that has sleep where you are and remember they only change there comforter every month. Just a little fYI lol...and also the value resorts are probably the cheapest way to go at WDW.

 

[DznyRulz]

AAA is only one of the possible discounts that may be available. Sometimes there are discounts for military, gov't. employee, or even teachers. Just call and ask what is available. Any discount can be applied to an existing reservation. They will credit the difference to your credit card or it will reduce your unpaid balance if you went that route. If you call and a discount is not available, call back in a week. Things are always changing.

 

[LONE-STAR]

My fuel bill is now around $700.00 there and back

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Ooops. Something was really wrong last night to have this post 5 times.

I was having the same trouble last night Dzny....it got pretty frustrating.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

I am confused here ...... Camping ..... and you need a AAA Discount ? Is camping NOT the LEAST expensive way of staying at Disney ? Well, have fun ......I will use AAA for the Polynesian Resort ...... and stay Dry !

GOOFY109....have you ever looked at the price of an RV? Do you really know what you're talking about? I'm not trying to sound harsh....but do you think that campers are just people who cant afford a hotel???? Do you realize that even the lowest end pop-ups start at over $3000. A nice 5th wheel will run at least $20,000, and there are class A motor homes that run well over A MILLION BUCKS?? A mid-level class A still costs more than my home in most cases.....camping, while CAN be an inexpensive option once all the equipment is paid off, is not the chosen way of vacationing because of FINANCES.....camping is probably the best therapy for a stressed out professional, the best remedy for bringing family a little bit closer together, the closest option modern day man has at getting back to nature. So while you may enjoy your time locked in a room, we enjoy our time feeling the breeze on our cheeks, seeing our children squeal with glee over a lightning bug, or silently watching the deer as he makes his way through the trees and across the street to your site and then for one split second you make eye contact...and know he's as much in awe of seeing you as you are of seeing him.
Maybe its not for everyone...but you couldn't take it away from me without a fight, and I fight dirty when I have to.
And as far as staying DRY....the best memories of anyone on this board, I would be willing to bet, is that camping trip we weren't prepared for....the ones where we got soaked because the wind was too much for the tent...or the temperature dropped way lower than anyone expected. I bet everyone here has there "Remember that trip when we nearly froze to death" stories, and we cherish those memories. What does one have to think about when lying on their death bed if they didnt spend some of their life making memories that really mean something.

 

[fort wilderness1400]

Camping is NOT the cheapest way to go to Disney. My family has been traveling to FW since 1980 and have camped every time. We started with a pop-up which was cheap ($2,000). My papents have upgraded every few years and now have a gorgeous Motorhome that took the place of their house payment! Yep $1500 a month for cheap camping. Not to mention they travel at Christmas time. What are we at now, $100 a day at Christmas???

It's the convience of having a home when you travel. (My family stays for 3 weeks at a time at FW) We have always traveled with children starting at the age of 6mon. Camping is the most practical way of traveling with children who need naps. The rest of the family can stay at the park (cuz your so close) or take a swim, go fishing, canoing, bike riding, para sailing,horseback riding etc.....

I'll never forget, I just finished having dinner the WL and was waiting for a boat back to FW( I opted out of walking back; which is a very nice walk in the daylight hours). Anyways, this very snooty lady made a comment on how people who can't afford to stay in the hotels, camp. I just laughed to myself. Considering we were going back to have hot cocoa and watch a DVD on our two couches and LCD Widescreen tv in our Motor home. Camping is about family, convience and comfort. Plus all the amazing lifelong friends we have met at FW, especially in the 1400 loop!

 

[auntie]

Camping is a lifestyle choice....not something that's done to save money. It's people who don't camp or have any idea about RV'ing that are under the impression that folks camp to save a buck. It's really just ignorance on their part. Often I would read comments about how guests at the WL were annoyed that the water launch would also go to the campground...delaying their arrival at the MK for "campers" who don't pay as much as they do for a room at the WL. Having stayed in both resorts...and having a tt of our own, these remarks always annoy me. I know for a fact that the cabins in FW can be just as expensive as a room at the WL. The price that most of us pay for our RV's we probably could have purchased DVC memberships...but we CHOOSE to RV. You do find those people who just don't have a clue that sort of look down their nose at camping. They usually are unaware that some of the folks in their camping rigs could buy and sell them 10 times over.

 

[auntie]

AAA is only one of the possible discounts that may be available. Sometimes there are discounts for military, gov't. employee, or even teachers. Just call and ask what is available. Any discount can be applied to an existing reservation. They will credit the difference to your credit card or it will reduce your unpaid balance if you went that route. If you call and a discount is not available, call back in a week. Things are always changing.

Have you used these discounts? I wasn't aware that FW offered discounts to military or gov't..or even teacher discounts. I did know the Swan and Dolphin offered those. The only discount I've used at FW was a AAA. Have you received these discounts in the past..just curious, because we actually have people in our family that would qualify for a couple of those discounts if they are applicable. Thanks.

 

[Shannone1]

I think true "back to nature tent camping" can be inexpensive if you don't bring every comfort of home with you. But what fun would THAT be ??

We "camp" in our motorhome with our king size bed, 2 a/c's, satellite dish and all the other amentities we would want in a hotel room. Plus we have some outside space to go along with it. And we get to sleep in our own beddings and can walk around barefoot without wondering who's nasty feet were on there before us, lol

 

[fort wilderness1400]

I haven't used any discounts besides the AAA. I would be interested to know as well.

 

[clkelley]

I haven't used any discounts besides the AAA. I would be interested to know as well.

I've never found anything besides AAA and sometimes Passholder rate, but here lately Passholder rate has been "higher" than AAA rate.

(I will say for my October trip, I'm going under an "amazing" group rate of $34 + tax for a full hookup, and the CM organizing the trip will probably be able to get us in a preferred loop), but that is an unusual circumstance.