Fort Wilderness Cabins

[poohmadmum]

Has anyone stayed in the FW Cabins and if so how did you find them? We're considering them for our next trip as I think it would be nice to have a bit more space and kitchen facilities.

Also I usually prefer higher floors in hotels to try and avoid little critters! Being a campground did you notice many critters around since the cabins are obviously all on the ground floor. We would be going in the school summer holidays.

 

[matty624]

Has anyone stayed in the FW Cabins and if so how did you find them? We're considering them for our next trip as I think it would be nice to have a bit more space and kitchen facilities.

Also I usually prefer higher floors in hotels to try and avoid little critters! Being a campground did you notice many critters around since the cabins are obviously all on the ground floor. We would be going in the school summer holidays.

The cabins at FW are simply fantastic!!!!!!!! We first stayed there a few years ago when hurricane Charley took out the power (and pool!) of the house we were staying in. Since then, we've stayed there for a few days every year...
For a family of 4, space is ok. I wouldn't want to live there for a month or two, but even for a couple of weeks, it would be fine. There are basically 2 rooms plus the bathroom. The living room has a murphy bed, which closes up into the wall when not in use, and is surprisingly comfortable. The bedroom has a small (probably standard Uk double) double bed, and bunks.
Also in the living room there is a kitchen with cooker, microwave and big US style fridge freezer, plus a dining table which 4 can sit round happily.
My dd and ds spent long periods exploring the woods round the cabin, and much to their disappointment, found no creatures! Plenty of pine cones though! I imagine anything too nasty was surgically removed by Disney cleaning crews!!!

One thing to remember. Buy an annual pass!!!! If you want to stay on site, in our experience, staying at FW in the cabins for example, we've only needed to stop for 5-6 nights or more, and the annual pass has completely paid for itself in the savings you get by having the pass. Well worth it!
Hope that helps.
Matt

 

[poohmadmum]

One thing to remember. Buy an annual pass!!!! If you want to stay on site, in our experience, staying at FW in the cabins for example, we've only needed to stop for 5-6 nights or more, and the annual pass has completely paid for itself in the savings you get by having the pass. Well worth it!

We can only afford one trip in a year but would go for two weeks - roughly how much is an AP and what other benefits do you get to make it worth it?

 

[matty624]

We can only afford one trip in a year but would go for two weeks - roughly how much is an AP and what other benefits do you get to make it worth it?

not sure how much they are now, not checked for this year, thought I'd have a surprise when I got there! It's around $600+ for the PAP if I remember correctly, so about £300. It gives you free parking, which I think is $10-11/day now, and for us, combined with the many dining discounts, 10% off in the World of Disney store at DTD, and the good discounts off hotels, it pays for itself in no time. You'd have to have a play with the figures, but to be honest, over only 2 weeks, you'd probably have to stay on site to really make it worth your while... Here are a couple of links with all the benefits listed.

http://allears.net/pl/apass.htm#2008
http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/apass.html

Matt

 

[matty624]

Actually, 2 weeks spent at FW using the annual pass rates, would definitely pay for the annual pass!!!! Just make sure you only get one annual pass, as you dont all need to have it to get the annual pass rate.
Matt

 

[SammieG]

that is assuming you can get AP rates for the time you want to go....

You can get great deals on 14 or 21 day tickets here in the UK that also give you water park entry which is great in the summer heat...

We stayed at the FW cabins last year.. it worked really well for us.. we are a family of 3.. however the double bed was a bit of a problem for us as we have a 6ft bed at home and squeezing into a 4ft 6 against a wall was not fun! To the extent that I banished my husband from the bedroom after two nights and he slept on the murphy bed.. which to be honest wasnt ideal.
Apart from that, they were great!

We were very disappointed with the pool at the fort - it was hot and just looked old.. from my understanding it has been refurbished since last summer... as have the cabins...
but we LOVED it there.. the Fort is just the coolest place ever.. we loved the golf carts... we loved the whole resort. Only downside is that there are limited food choices there - (actually that was only a small problem and we were on the dining plan) - I would LOVE to go back there. Actually we bought DVC because of that place.

No critters.. we didnt see any at all really.. lots of towel animals though!

 

[matty624]

that is assuming you can get AP rates for the time you want to go....

True, but so far (fingers crossed) we've never failed to get an annual pass rate. It would be wise to get a quote first, then buy the pass when actually there, we usually go to guest relations at DTD on the first night to do precisely that.
I agree about the pool, but in fact, dw prefered it to the usual hotel pools, as it was deeper and, when we were there, quieter...
And yes, the golf carts are great, but expensive.
We also love to hire a boat(s), great fun speeding round the lakes and motoring over to Magic Kingdom, just a pity you cant dock there!
Matt