Fort Wilderness cabin vs. Wilderness Lodge Villa vs. SSR??

[rpiff]

Hi all,

I'm planning a getaway for three adults and one child, over 3-4 nights. We need two sleeping spaces (2 adults in one, 1 adult + a seven-year-old in the other), kitchen or kitchenette. Laundry and 2 baths are a plus.

We love quiet, plan to spend some relaxing time in & around our room/hotel, and don't want the hotel to feel like we're still in a theme park.

I've been to WDW years ago, and come from a "let's stay at the Holiday Inn instead" family. These days, we love convenience and amenities after years of spoiled business travel We're trying to keep costs relatively low so we have money left over to eat. Most of our group wants a vacation home/condo rental, and I believe that we can probably expect better service/convenience from a Disney property. We'll spend most of our time in Magic Kingdom and some in Epcot, skipping the other parks (for this trip).

Please help me decide which to pick: a Fort Wilderness cabin, a Wilderness Lodge DVC Villa, or a Saratoga Springs Resort villa...or another villa property...or staying at a vacation condo rental off property? Is there another Disney property that would be even better?

Please share your experience - and let me know if there's another thread you recommend I look at!

Gracias,
Ray

 

[fla4fun]

If you are considering a one bedroom villa, only AKL Kidani and BLT have two bathrooms in the one bedroom. The SSR and VWL one bedroom villas have one bathroom (shower, toilet, sink in one room, sink and tub in master bedroom). AKL might be a good choice with a 7 year old, if they like animals. AKL is a little more separated from the rest of the resorts, while BLT is in the middle of everything. You can walk to MK from BLT, and Epcot is just a monorail ride away.

The cabins only have one bathroom, although it's a little larger than most. It does offer two separate sleeping areas and the full kitchen, and it's very laid back and fun to just spend time at the resort. But it depends on the time of year whether this is a good choice. I like to be able to walk from place to place in the campground, and if the weather is hot, that's pretty much impossible. So if you're going in the summer, I would probably rule out the cabins.

So my first choice for you would be either AKL Kidani or BLT. After that, any of the other villas would be a good choice, or if the weather is cool, the campground cabins.

 

[puakinikini]

I agree with the above poster. If I could afford the villas - that is where I would stay. With 3 adults I think it would be better to have 2 bathrooms.

 

[Junebugwv]

The Cabins would give you a quiet getaway feeling and we enjoyed staying there with a vehicle. The bedroom with the full size bed and bunk beds is a bit tight in space and the murphy bed is in the LR area. Since we had one of my son's friends with us I wasn't sure if a single bathroom would suffice, but it worked out fine. The full kitchen is a real plus and we had a cabin that was a very close walk to a pool and laundry facility.

We stayed at SSR last Sept in a 2 br and it was nice and quiet. It is really a spread out resort and it took me a while to learn my way around. I like having a kitchen and w/d.

We really like the location of the Wilderness Lodge and have stayed there 3 times. Our next trip will be at VWL which I am excited about since I will have the resort I enjoy along with a kitchen and laundry. The boat service to MK is a real plus for us.

 

[NewEnglandCamper]

The cabins would be ideal if you are visiting just MK. They have a nice boat ride you can take. We rented a golf cart and it made it even easier (no walking or waiting for the bus). The cabins are very spacious when we stayed there with the 6 of us. We didn't end up using the kitchen area that much.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If the 7 yr old will want to go to the MK, VWL is a great choice. It's quiet and just a quick boatride from the MK.

SSR is also very nice because it is just a short walk or boatride over to DTD.

It just depends on where you plan to spend your time.

 

[Disney Ron]

We have stayed at all three and our favorite is the cabins. So relaxed and roomy. An abundance of towels daily and maid service!! Which we love. I agree rent a golf cart for added fun if you decide on the cabins. Golf carts are more affordable through Tee Time rather than WDW.

 

[kevallen]

You'd love the cabins, the seven year-old would love the entire Ft. Wilderness area, the boat ride to the Magic Kingdom is wonderful, and the cabins are very relaxing, and just great for a party of your size. We have stayed there several times and for your type of trip I highly recommend the cabins.

 

[Splashboat]

We always stay in a 1 bedroom villa. The reason we never stayed in the cabins is because we do at least 1 load of laundry every day. My understanding is that the cabins do not have a washer/dryer in the cabins. It is really nice to be able to do laundry in your room late at night or early morning in the villas. (Plus my son loves the Jacuzzi tubs in the villas)

 

[apicozzi]

my vote would go to a treehouse villa at SSR if it's within your budget. If not, I'd still choose a villa at WL.

 

[suzannem]

We loved the Tree Houses and are staying at FW this year.