For pop up campers....

[mh1973]

How far do you travel to Fort Wilderness? We have a pop up camper and live in Birmingham Al and I would like to consider taking the camper as we have never been to FW, but with the price of gas and the price of the camp sites it seems that I could stay in a value resort for the same money. What makes you want to stay at FW over a disney hotel considering gas prices?

 

[BigDaddyRog]

NOT being stuck in a HOTEL ROOM!!!!! There so much more to enjoy at FtW than sleeping!!

 

[~Kristina~]

We drive down from the Metro Detroit area. Gas sucks for us because we have to go through the mountains. But I have 4 kids are we are not brave enough to fly with all of them! lol Dh says since we have drive, we might as well take the pop up!

 

[McRed]

Because camping makes everything better.

 

[bama_ed]

Howdy neighbor!

I'm not far away from you over in Hoover, AL and if you already own the pop-up then the business case to prove in staying at FW is an easy one. If you're going to stay in a Disney hotel, you're paying for the gas mostly anyway. The only delta is the lower MPG you get pulling the camper. For us with our pop-up it is about an extra 10 gallons one-way which is, what, about $35? Given that you can stay, depending on season, for about $35 less at FW than you can at a Value resort (a partial site for $47 versus $82 for a Pop-Century room), you make that up in one day at the Fort; in two days you covered your round-trip delta already.

In fairness, I don't think FW compares to a Value; it's at least a Moderate IMO even staying in a campsite and not a cabin given the availability of shopping, entertainment, kid programs, and landscaping, and atmosphere. Plus we're not trapped indoors in a room - we're outside in nature and wide open spaces so it's more relaxing. We go for 4-6 days usually but only go to the parks maybe 2 days. We leave 2-3 days to hang out at the Fort, swim, do the organized kid programs there, boat, bike, maybe skip over to Downtown Disney. True, the FW pool is not as themed as other resorts but it is nice and due (supposedly) for an overhaul soon. Plus we love the campfire and sing-along every night (free!).

One real benefit of staying at the Fort for us in our pop-up is we eat in more often (we have our fridge, our stove, microwave, pots/pans etc) so we eat healthier and cheaper overall. We do one or two sit-downs as a splurge per trip but with 3 kids 10-15 years old wanting to order off the adult menus, you can run up some big bucks real fast at Disney (the $125 lunch for 5 at Rainforest Cafe comes to mind REAL FAST ). We pack picnic lunches into the parks (store it in a locker) which helps. If you have a hotel room with no stove, no grill, no fridge, you're trapped into food court food for every meal with counter service or more expensive table service.

So we choose the FW/pop-up route to keep costs in line so we can go to FW more often. Plus, as BigDaddyRog said, I can't imagine being trapped in a hotel room. I like my wide open spaces, my quiet morning walk to the Comfort Station, watching the bunnies and wild turkeys move around the grass. I guess it's a lifestyle choice that also ends up being economical for us.

Roll Tide!

Bama ED

 

[bord1niowa]

We drive 1300 miles each way with the pop up 2 years ago and the next year we tried the Values. It was ok at the values but when we went to the Fort, we sure missed it. The difference in gas is not that much at all in the whole scheme of things. I just won't let a few hundred dollars extra stop me from enjoying the Fort and it's relaxing atmosphere. We didn't seem to get away from the Disney hustle and bustle when we stayed at the All Stars. Back to the fort in June for us!

 

[mamaloya]

OT, bama ed, I am assuming since you are using the word delta, you are either a math or science teacher/professor/professional. I don't see that word often. I use the triangle in my own calculations when budgeting for a trip.

On topic, we had a popup, but now own a TT. It cost us $150 more RT this last trip. We spent 9 nights and the cost was just over $400 for the campsite. That is $550 for lodging. 9 nights at a value would have been 720 for one room. We would have needed 2. That is 1440. That is close to $1K difference. That is what our food budget was.

Not counting money, we just love the campground and our camper. In my TT, the kids have their own room and space. In our popup, they had their own bunk and could sit there and play. They also can run around outside instead of being stuck in the room. I also liked having my fridge and stove and micro. We could all eat breakfast while we got ready and that saved us time in the morning and allowed us to get straight to the parks w/o stopping to eat.

Another perk of FW is that you park at your campsite. No walking to your car if you decide to drive instead of taking the busses. There is also the boat that takes you to MK, can't do that at a value. I also find that the busses to and from the fort are far less crowded than those at the value, maybe because a lot of the people either drive or are there just for the fort.

anyway, that is just MHO.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Ya know...whenever we stay at a hotel ANYWHERE, my heads always in the local phone book looking for SOMEWHERE to go and SOMETHING to do besides sit there in the room...and whatever you choose to do always ends up costing some extra cash that you didnt really budget for. Granted, the Disney parks will wear you out enough that just going back to the room and crashing is acceptable...but why be forced to do that? At the fort, if ya wanna just go back to the site and crash...ya can, but if ya have a little energy still stirring around in you, you can choose a dozen different things to do that are just there waiting for you. when at the fort, you dont even have to choose to do anything...just grab your fold up chair and sit talking to your neighbors over a cold beverage, because when your camping...you automatically have something in common with your neighbors...CAMPING!!! Your HOTEL neighbors may have something in common with you as well....but you'll probably never know it because you'll probably never see them, much less have a conversation with them.

 

[YensidCamper]

We drove down to the Fort in 06' and then came back to a value in March this year. The difference in towing was 9 mpg. That means I used 12 more gallons of gas one way. That is roughly 38 bucks each way. As noted in a n earlier post your will make that up in two nights max. My kids, ages 8 and 6, loved the theming of the resort but they loved the campground too. We are going back in November to stay at the Fort and the kids are more exicited about that then staying in the hotel. I can also tell you it is easier to relax at the Fort than in the hotel.

 

[StPeteDisneyFan]

We stayed at Pop Century in February and then FW last week. FW is so much more relaxing. We found in the hotels you have nowhere to sit and watch tv besides the bed. At least at FW we have chairs outside and the dinette inside. The feeling at FW for us is much more laidback. Really felt more like a vacation. There is also so much to do in FW compared to the hotels. Campfire program, kids activities, tennis, swimming, and the list goes on. I enjoyed looping and checking out other rigs and setups. It was our first trip with our pop-up so it was fun to see what other people do. Now I can't wait for our next trip. I booked for a week in June before we left last week. Yeah!!

 

[TANKMAN]

We drive 1300 miles each way with the pop up 2 years ago and the next year we tried the Values. It was ok at the values but when we went to the Fort, we sure missed it. The difference in gas is not that much at all in the whole scheme of things. I just won't let a few hundred dollars extra stop me from enjoying the Fort and it's relaxing atmosphere. We didn't seem to get away from the Disney hustle and bustle when we stayed at the All Stars. Back to the fort in June for us!

Has anyone ever had any security problems while leaving their pop up to go to the parks?

 

[abbdrey]

Has anyone ever had any security problems while leaving their pop up to go to the parks?

We have not had any problems. I was concerned about it at first, but we have gone so many times and never had any issues. If I have something really important (my laptop), I just put it in the truck and lock it up.

 

[clkelley]

I drive my tiny travel trailer to the Fort from Huntsville, and it is most definitely worth it!! Now, having said that, from Bham since you have Southwest, nothing beats a good Ding! for a short weekend trip and of course taking the camper for that short period would not be worth it.

However, for a longer trip, the Fort rules!!! So much more relaxing!!!

Oh, as far as security with the Pup, I used to tent camp at the Fort and just kept the valuables on me, or locked up in a footlocker, and the rest I had NO problems with.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

We drive 721 miles each way. It cost us about $350 in gas to pull our Pup last December. One plus about the Fort that I don't think was mentioned is the location. The Values are so far away from everything! Plus the rooms are tiny, at the fort you have the whole outdoors to spread out! You can enjoy Wishes from the beach! So much better, imo!

 

[big kahuna1]

My own BED!

 

[AuburnJen92]

Has anyone ever had any security problems while leaving their pop up to go to the parks?

as long as you keep an eye on the otters and peacocks, you should not have a problem...

i have heard of trailers "getting a mind of their own" and leaving with other people in the overflow parking lot, but the problems in the loops are few and far between...we lock our coach when we leave and leave the electronics in it, everything else stays outside...

 

[happy_redhead]

We camp in a pop-up and have never had any security problems at The Fort. Anything of value, we locked up in the truck. I've heard a tale or two of some food being taken, but whether that was by a human or an armadillo is still in question.

 

[CampingChristy]

Has anyone ever had any security problems while leaving their pop up to go to the parks?

Just returned Sunday after a nine day, eight night stay with our pup at the Fort and the answer to your question is absolutely no problems!!! Camping people are just nice people.

 

[Drewsmommybear]

We pulled our pop up 1400 miles through the mountains of West Virginia and I think it was worth every cent we spent in gas. I was really wanting to stay in a hotel before we left but now I wouldn't dare stay in one! The camp ground was peaceful and there was lots of room for my three year old to run around. He got to see armadillos and he had a blast throwing pinecones in the little run behind the trailer.

As far as security, my DH broke the lock on the camper door right before we left so it was never locked (It has since been fixed). We kept anything extremely valuable in our car. But no one bothered anything.

I just thought of one more plus of camping! The sense of community in the campground is the best part. We met people every night at the bathroom and had conversations with all of our neighbors. That beats out a hotel any day.

 

[bama_ed]

OT, bama ed, I am assuming since you are using the word delta, you are either a math or science teacher/professor/professional. I don't see that word often. I use the triangle in my own calculations when budgeting for a trip.

Yo Mama! I am a self-professed nerd and math has always come easily. I am a full-fledge pocket-protector wearing engineer. The numbers do a dance...

YensidCamper's numbers sound awful close to mine. He's coming a little further (from Tennessee) so I think that's a good thing.

As for security, thieves look at the popups and immediately move on to a more attractive target like a 5th wheel or Class A with the outdoor media center. Seriously, it's never been an issue for us and especially at the Fort. As someone else said, if you have a valuable you're concerned about keep it locked in the vehicle.

Bama ED

PS-last time there, though, I did have a squirrel problem trying to steal one of my hot dogs off the picnic table....