Fort Wilderness Cabins...

[Janet2k]

I will be staying in a cabin at Fort Wilderness for the very first time at the end of this month. I have been wanting to do this for years and am finally getting the opportunity to do so (yahoo!).

Since I will not have a car with me, I am wondering where I check-in and how I get myself, my kids, and our luggage to our cabin. Also, if anyone knows of any websites that are devoted to the Fort Wilderness area, please post a link to them here in this thread. I really need to learn as much about this resort as I can by the end of this month so that I am not completely lost during my stay there.

Thanks,
Janet

 

[webray]

You will love the cabins..they are excellent. We have always had a car, but I would guess they give you a ride in one of the luggage golf carts like they do at CSR to get to your room. Don't worry about that..they will get you to your room.

I would suggest to you that you call the recreation barn and reserve a golf cart for the length of your stay. It is a great way to get around..lots of fun.

 

[debster812]

If you meander over to the Camping board, there are LOTS of super helpful folks there.

We stayed in the cabins in January of 2004 and LOVED them. We had a car, but I imagine they would shuttle you out to your cabin in a golf cart.

There is also a pretty good site that one of our DIS posters has, www.disneycampers.com Lots of info, nice pictures, etc.

You'll have a ball!!

 

[Mich Mouse]

Be aware that Ft. Wilderness transportation is a bit tricky when you do not have car. There are buses that just loop around the resort, so going out of the park to the Theme Park requires waiting for two buses.

You will love the cabins! We stayed there in February and had a ball. We rented a golf cart to get around. (If you want to do this you must make advance reservations through the Bike Barn...You can email me or PM me for more info, if you'd like) The cart made the trip much more enjoyable. We drove down to the lagoon to see the EWP every night, used it to get around the resort. Ft. wilderness is huge and you will not be able to get where you want to go by just walking. If you don't mind the bus situation, you should have no problems.

Have you considered renting a car? Rates are cheaper in Orlando than anywhere else in the U.S. Sometimes it is cheaper for a week for a family of four to rent a car than getting transport to and from the airport.

 

[TChris]

We will also be staying at the Cabins for the first time the last week of this month. All 5 of us are looking forward to our stay. I called 2 weeks ago and reserved a golf cart for the length of our stay, if you are going to get a golf cart you may want to reserve one ASAP. The cm made it sound like they don't allways have them available for a last min. rental. I hope that you and your fam have great stay.

 

[OhioTony]

We stayed in the cabins our very first trip in 2001 and LOVED it!
Getting to MK is pretty easy using the boats and we never really had to wait long for any of the busses. You do have to get on the bus that only goes around Ft Wilderness to take you to the bus stop and then get on your bus to wherever you are going but it really did not take long ( we went in the fall).

The animals were great ( I guess they still have the petting zoo) and my kids loved the campfire with Chip and Dale --smores and movies outside.

The only downside was that there was no "themed pool". Just a -regular- pool like what you would find in some ones yard.When we booked-long before becoming addicted to the "dis" website- we thought we would be able to use the pool at the Wlderness Lodge.That's Pool Hopping and we would never do that now that we know better.

 

[chabs]

We liked the cabins also-but be aware that transportation around Ft. Wilderness is a nightmare! We didn't know enough to rent the golf carts ahead of time and weren't able to get one all week. I would never stay there again without some other form of transportation other than the buses. Nothing is a close walk. FYI-it might actually be cheaper to rent a car than to rent the golf carts.

 

[debster812]

We liked the cabins also-but be aware that transportation around Ft. Wilderness is a nightmare!

With all due respect, I disagree with this. The transportation can be tricky at times, but we NEVER waited longer than 10 minutes for a bus for the 11 days we were there. Just take the time to understand the difference between the bus routes that run within the Fort, and you'll be all set.

Of course, if it's in your budget, and they are available, the Golf Carts are the way to go....

 

[DisneyMom5]

We loved the buses (and we had 5 kids under 9 at the time). We just made sure we planned enough time to get to the parks. Go with an open mind and a laid-back spirit and you will have a great time!

 

[Pryncess'mom]

We loved the cabins when we stayed there in 2000! The campfire and movies were really fun. Then, we didn't have any trouble with the transportation system. However, my brother and SIL JUST got back, and they were very upset with the buses. SIL said there is no bus to MK, you have to get the boat or get to WL to get a bus. Buses were ok everywhere else. My brother waited 30 minutes on July 4 to get a bus from the Meadows down to the beach. He and my nephew finally walked. Later he talked to others that were waiting with him, and they waited over 45 minutes for an internal bus. Hopefully it was just a glitch due to holiday crowds.

Good luck with your trip. I loved the cabin!!!

deb

 

[Belle5]

Janet,
You are going to love the cabins! Research what location to request over on the camping board. We loved taking the boat to as many places as we could. The General Stores are so charming! We love to get a frozen beverage from Crockett's Tavern and sit on the front porch to rock and people watch. We also love to go there and make a meal of appetizers and birch beer. There are some beautiful nature walks in FW. I wish we would have rented bikes there. (We're probably staying at WL next so I think we will get to bike over in FW) FW is not really a place to be pampered. It just charms your socks off! I HIGHLY recommend reserving a golf cart ASAP!!!

 

[Janet2k]

Everyone, thank you so much for all the wonderful information. I just know I will love this resort and wish I were spending more time there (our stay there will be extremely brief). And I especially thank you folks for pointing out the transportation issues. I am now armed with the knowledge that transportation can be an issue at this resort, just like it can be at any of the other resorts. You've got my expectations firmly grounded in reality, and for that I am truly grateful.

I saw an aerial photo of the resort in another thread. I never realized just how large the resort was. Yikes! I think I will attempt to reserve a golf cart in advance like you folks have mentioned. I will also try to spend some time on the Dis' Camping Board over the next couple of days in an attempt to learn as much about this resort as I can.

I really am excited about staying at Fort Wilderness. I have a funny feeling that it will become one of my favorites.

 

[bopper]

The buses internal to FW come around very often. I know this because we got rained out of Horse Back Riding and sat at the bus stop waiting for a DTD bus to come. We saw the FW buses coming around and around and around.

 

[lovesdumbo]

The animals were great ( I guess they still have the petting zoo)

I don't think they have the petting zoo anymore but they do still have pony rides ($3) and the barn is there with the horses from Main St.

 

[GEM]

The pony rides are great. Be sure and eat breakfast at Trail's End!

 

[Belle5]

I don't think they have the petting zoo anymore but they do still have pony rides ($3) and the barn is there with the horses from Main St.

Please tell that's not so! I was really looking forward to my 2 yo son visiting the petting zoo!

 

[Janet2k]

Belle5, I don't know if they still have the petting zoo since we didn't have time to make our way to the Tri-Circle-D Ranch & Farm (click here) during our vacation.

Everyone, I just thought I'd mention that I had a wonderful time in my cabin. I will definitely be back for a longer stay in the future. By the way, I plan on posting photos of my cabin as soon as I get the chance.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Here's a link to another thread that talks about the petting zoo:
petting zoo

 

[sista]

You will LOVE the cabins. We stay there everytime we go. It is easy to get around. We have never had a problem and we travel with young children. We also get a golf cart - but just for a few days because they aren't cheap! Reserve it now! And check out Trails End for brekfast, lunch or dinner! There iced tea is also wonderful!

Here are some links for some photos!

http://allearsnet.com/acc/g_ftw.htm

http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/wdwguide/4_Accommodations/FWC_photo_tour_wilderness.htm

http://home.hiwaay.net/~jlspence/faq_fw.htm