Fort Wilderness Disappointment

[InstImpres]

I called to make ressie today for the summer. I have been telling my DH all about when I stayed at FW in a camper/motorhome as a child. We drove down and rented it. (Really roughing it, it came with housekeeping and everything ). smooth:

The CR had no idea what I was talking about. - o.k., so I am as old as WDW, or maybe the dinosaurs but so what.

Does anyone know if I just had an uninformed CR or if this is really gone and why?

Thanks
Sandy:

 

[DMRick]

I don't remember them ever renting motorhomes, but they did rent trailers..they were all set up on spots. I believe they were made by Fleetwood. You got maid service with them. Now they have the cabins you rent instead. All of the trailers have been pulled out of the campground.

 

[cassie]

Hi InstImpres, FW is still there, but I think you have to have your own camper. I don't think they have rentals. The CM should have been informed about FW as it is a very popular site. Call again and talk to another CM.

 

[shopgirl72]

Yes, they did used to rent stationary trailers, I don't rememeber who they were made by. They were similar layout as the cabins are now. My husband calls them a mobile home. They had maid service just like you remember. They pulled the last ones out not so many years ago, and are all replaced by the cabins, which are great, all the amenities of camping WDW style, maid service and all! We are staying in one in JULY.

 

[InstImpres]

Cassie -

Thanks for the info. He did offer me a cabin but I wanted to go back 20 years in time!

Oh well, add that to no more ELP, and the island they use to take you to from FW sunk and I'm going to have to find new memories. The CM thought I was crazy, when I asked why Dis couldn't fix/resurrect the island, after all it is a magical place and they can do anything

 

[DMRick]

and the island they use to take you to from FW sunk

Island that sunk? Do you mean Discovery Island? They moved most of the birds out there to Animal Kingdom, and closed, but the island is still there..it hasn't sunk. One thing you'll really miss as a child, was the wondrful beach for swimming. You can't swim there anymore.

Being in the cabins isn't bad. It's like they modernized the trailers. The trailers took a lot more upkeep for Disney, and were small in comparison to the wonderful cabins. Motorhomes, have motors in them..the trailers they used to have did't. You could call the old ones Mobile homes..except that usually, once mobile homes are placed, it's a lot of work to move them. The trailers FW had were sponsored by Fleetwood (I believe..I had a Fleetwood at the time, so that's why it sticks in my memory) and Fleetwood used it as part of their advertising. They would say, Fleetwood, the trailer of Disney World. They were usually about 30 feet and could be pulled off site. I remember they even had one parked close to Hoop DD to be sort of a "show" trailer. I believe they moved them all once..since they used to be at the back of the park, then they moved them to the front (closer to the water), then they removed them altogether. They weren't as nice towards the end of their time.

 

[cassie]

Awwww, InstImpres, it seems we can never "go back". I'm sorry. But.....maybe it's time to start new memories!

 

[InstImpres]

There use to be an Island (not Discovery Island) that FW did a "Marshmellow Marsh" out to. You canoed from the dock to this island. They had a bon fire and than you saw the EWP and than rowed back in the dark. They did confirm (as did my mommy ) that am not losing my mind and it did exist and sunken. They no longer offer anything comparable.

Than again, this was in the days of only MK when the weren't as many night time options.

Here's to all that's new!!!

Sandy