Fort Wilderness... Help, please!

[DisneyLover75]

Hi

My friend and I are thinking of going to WDW in Sept of '08 and we're trying to figure out the best place to stay. My two kids will be along with us (when we go, they'll be 5 and 4.) My DS is autistic.

We are looking at the cabins in FW, and are wondering if those of you who've stayed there could tell us honestly how convenient this resort is to buses, boats and how much walking is involved.

It's hard enough dragging two little kids around, but I also get tired quickly and I am *so* not in shape so any advice anyone has is very welcome.

If the grounds are sprawling and it's a hike to get anywhere, it would probably not be the smartest place for us to be. However if it's fairly compact and easy to get to and from transportation, I'm very willing to try it.

We stayed at the value resorts with my DD and it was ALOT of hoofing. We do enough of that at the parks, so we'd like to find some faster and easier way to get around.

We are considering the Polynesian as well, for the monorail and the Neverland Club, but if we can save a few bucks by staying somewhere less expensive then great.
I just want to make it as enjoyable as possible for all of us, instead of being exhausted and stressed because the kids are overtired.


Any advice is appreciated.

TIA!

 

[susieq76]

Fort Wilderness is big- really big w/ lots of walking if you do not rent a golf cart.

How about the Contemporary? The Wing rooms are cheaper than the Poly

 

[disnut8]

We all loved the cabins when we stayed there. People seem to have a problem with the transportation but it was never a problem for us. So I'll be honest about things.

First of all, ask for a cabin close to a bus stop. Explain that you have two small children and one is autistic. From your cabin, you will have to walk to the internal bus stop. That's how you would get around if you don't rent a golf cart (which isn't worth it in my opinion). You take the bus either to the front of the campground for certain parks or to the back for the other parks. You will have to switch to another bus to go to the parks.

You will also have to use the internal bus to get to Pioneer Hall and the trading posts if you need supplies. Cars are only allowed to go in and out of the campground and not to be driven to the bus stops and left there. Only one car is allowed per cabin.

For you, using Disney transportation will require a first ride on the internal bus to get to another form of transportation (bus except to Magic Kingdom which is a boat). So while you wouldn't be walking, you'd be busing. I don't think that will fit very well with your situation.

Port Orleans French Quarter is the most compact resort on Disney property. Very little walking required with that one.

 

[eliza61]

Hi

If the grounds are sprawling and it's a hike to get anywhere, it would probably not be the smartest place for us to be. However if it's fairly compact and easy to get to and from transportation, I'm very willing to try it.

We stayed at the value resorts with my DD and it was ALOT of hoofing. We do enough of that at the parks, so we'd like to find some faster and easier way to get around.

We are considering the Polynesian as well, for the monorail and the Neverland Club, but if we can save a few bucks by staying somewhere less expensive then great.
I just want to make it as enjoyable as possible for all of us, instead of being exhausted and stressed because the kids are overtired.


Any advice is appreciated.

TIA!

While I loved FT. Wilderness. from your post you'd would probably be happier with a monorail resort. The resort is peaceful, cool and relaxing. Excellent what we wanted after a long day in the park. We generally don't have an issue with walking and I take afternoon breaks so by the end of the night my kids still had a bit of energy, so I might not be your best judge

 

[DisneyLover75]

Thanks for the replies that have been given so far. Please continue to put in any opinions in addition, if anyone has them.

I didn't realize you could rent a golf cart. How much is this? I understand a pp didn't think it was worth it, but I'm curious about it anyway.

 

[DisneyLover75]

Fort Wilderness is big- really big w/ lots of walking if you do not rent a golf cart.

How about the Contemporary? The Wing rooms are cheaper than the Poly

I've always wanted to stay at the Contemporary, but I've never considered a wing room. I've always wanted the tower MK view.

I'd be happy to be convinced to stay at a CR wing room. I'm all ears. (pardon the pun )

 

[Mayl]

We did the Cabins in 2005.

We had me, wife, 2 kids (5 and 7 at that time) and the in laws. My FIL is a very very big guy.

We loved the cabins and would go back there again when the inlaws want to make another trip in 2009. (we are set for just us in 08 at PoP).

Now I can not suggest enough to spring for the golf cart if you can afford it. If not, then get a cabin at the end of a loop.

By having the golf cart, things were 100% for my FIL. Even with 6 we used the cart to get around. There are cart parking at the top of the campgrounds (for dining and boat launch to MK) and the bottom for buses to all other locations. Without the cart , you use the internal loop and that was fine also if you don't mind short walks.

The cabins are just wonderful. The murphy bed was great for the in laws and the kids loved the bunk beds. Having the full kitchen along with the deck and BBQ made for easy meals and/or reheating left overs.

While the main pool is not all themed like other deluxes, they had many kid games going on there. You had a small arcade, pool with kid games, volleyball and playgrounds all right there. We spend 2 full afternoons there with our kids. Wife and I would sit back, enjoy a drink while the kids had 3 or 4 different things to do and kept busy

At night they have daily movies with campfires and smores. We had great memories of watching a disney movie under the stars .

We also found that camping folks are just plain friendly. We drove the cart around one night thru the tent and Rv loops and stopped to talked to a bunch of families. Was just a blast.

It was more expensive, don't get me wrong. Not up there with other deluxes, but with the cart, more then mods. We will go back when the in laws are ready in 09 though. We just needed this 08 trip to be just the 4 of us. In laws for 3 years in a row, can get rough

 

[DisneyLover75]

Oh good... but how much is it to rent the golf carts?

 

[susieq76]

I love the CR- the wing rooms are really large (great for my family of 5) and very comfortable. You can't beat the size and the location. Yes the Tower is awesome- but you're still super close in the Wing. And the views are awesome.

 

[Mayl]

We paid $400 for the week (8 days of use)..

Due to my FIL size, it was worth it. We would have been fine without it, but it did save us time and having to hop on a 2nd internal bus.

I felt it was worth the cost even if my FIL was not going.

 

[spiceycat]

you had problems at a value and you want to stay at the Polyn.

well think again. the Polyn is much more spread out than the values - you unless you got luck (room next to the GCH) easy access to the monrail but that only gets to the MK faster.

to get to Epcot faster you need to walk to TTC. which can be a long walk - especially if you have problems at a value.

value are small and compact - compared to the deluxe resort and most of the moderates.

CR and WL - are both fairly small and compact. but that is about it.

which value were you at and what rooms were you in?

here is Polyn map
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/polymap.htm

here is music
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmusicmap.htm

you might consider getting a ECV - offsite - they are cheaper.

 

[2moms]

I've stayed at the poly and, depending on where your room is, it can be quite a walk across the grounds to get to the Great Ceremonial House and monorail. I would think that the Contemporary would be most convenient especially if you will be spending most of your time at the Magic Kingdom. (You can put the $400 golf cart savings toward a room there!)

 

[fla4fun]

I feel the most compact resorts are either POFQ or WL. Either one will require some walking, but if you can request a room close to the bus stop at POFQ (there is only one stop there) that will help. I stayed in the building just to the left of the lobby building (if you're facing the front doors) and it took five minutes to get to the bus stop. If you choose WL, ask for a room on the south side. We had a great room on the lobby level (second floor) on the south side, just about half way down the hall. It was close to an elevator that would take you to the ground floor and out a door by the pool, so it was not too far from the MK boat. If you came back the hall to the lobby, the exit for the bus stops was right there to the left.

As far as FW goes, if you rent a car, then it's easier to just drive to all the parks other than MK. You are allowed to park one car at your cabin, and you are allowed to use it to exit and return to the campground. You might want to compare whether it's cheaper to rent a car or the golf cart for the duration of your stay (I believe the golf carts run about $50 per day). Keep in mind that if you rent a golf cart, and it rains during the day, there isn't covered parking so you'll be coming back to a wet cart. I've seen that happen more times than I could mention.

You won't escape walking no matter which resort you go to. I would be sure to request that you need a room/cabin close to transportation at whatever resort you choose.

 

[becky1960]

While a lot of people are saying CR Wing, if you get in the wrong place it can be a lot of walking. But remember you will do a lot more walking at the parks especially Epcot, Akl. Golf carts are about $ 45.00 a day.

 

[DisneyLover75]

Thanks for all the replies.

I just want to clear something up here... I want to keep resort walking to a minimum if possible, so that my children can handle it, not because I need an ECV. I can walk, but.. ok let me put it another way:

You know how when you leave the parks and head for the buses? The value buses are the farthest away, so that's additional walking.. and the kids are beat after the parks. So I wanted to try to find something that would be closer to the gate, like one of the deluxe resorts maybe, even if they aren't on the monorail, it's still closer to the gate. Last year my DD was so tired, we had to carry her to the bus stop. When we got to the bus stop, she laid down on the cement and fell asleep, waiting for the bus.

Another example is that we wanted to go out one night, so we left her at NeverLand Club, which was great. But we had to take the monorail back to MK, then walk to the bus again (last year we stayed at ASMo, and the year before was Pop. A pp had asked.) By the time we got back to our room, she was crying and we were weary with stress and frustration for having to deal with her after we were already exhausted.

I'm by no means ranting, and I loved staying at the values as well, but I wanted to see if there was a spot where we would be able to minimize the times like that. (Before anyone says it, yes we'd go back in the afternoons to nap or swim. We didn't let her get overtired. We did take her pace. But it was still fairly overwhelming.)

I just wondered since next year I'll be taking BOTH kids, and my friend is kind enough to come along and spend her money and vacation days with us, I wanted to try and make it as easy as possible.

I've read alot of reviews about people who've stayed at the Poly and requested rooms that weren't far from the main hall. That might be ideal. With little kids, most of the time is spent at MK anyway. Besides that, if we wanted to go out, we'd have alot less hassle when picking the kids up from Neverland Club, if we just had to walk to our room instead of taking two different methods of transportation.

But I do value all the opinions and thank you all for the time you've taken to reply.

 

[Mayl]

If you can afford it, then do think about the monorail resorts..

I say this because maybe you just need to break up the day. Go early for rope drop and get ride/shows in. At noon, back to resort for swim and let the kids nap.

Then hop back for the evening shows. I know that during our 2005 trip my two kids worked much much better on that schedule.

When we went this year (they are not 9 and 7) they would go in the AM and could go to park close. Wife and I wore out before they did

Even with being at a mod this year, we twice took midday breaks and it was no problem. We would do say MK in the AM. Lunch at resort and swim/nap till 5pm. Then close whatever park had EH for that evening..

Worked great

 

[lovepurple]

We have stayed at FW Cabins twice and found it to be a great option for our family of 6. With a cabin my I didn't worry about my 4 loud children bothering people in the next room. I thought it was fairly convenient to take the internal bus to the boat to the Magic Kingdom. One trip we were close to the bus stop and the next one it seemed we were as far away as we could get. So I would definately request a cabin close to the bus stop. I have stayed at many other resorts as well as I have been to Disney about 12 times. I did a lot of walking at Pop Century and Carribean beach. POFQ was very small and compact and didn't do much walking there at all.

 

[4rkdz]

Hi,
We have stayed at the cabins the past 2 years. We have 3 kids, 7, 5, 5 and one of the 5 yr olds is autistic. We got a golf cart both times and the kids thought the golf cart was another ride at Disney. They loved it. yes it did get wet a couple times but you just throw a towel in the glove compartment and dry everything off. The cost is about $50/day but it gives you the freedom to do anything you want at FW. You can go to the pools, movies, stores, etc. We also love MK the best and you catch a launch from FW to MK which is a nice ride and very convenient. The kids ask to go back to FW. We all had a great time. The cabins are very roomy. We put the kids in the bedroom and slept on the murphy bed. It was great to get up and have breakfast in the cabin and let the kids run around without worrying about disturbing the people in the room next door. Also it was amazing how quiet and tranquil the place is at night. If you can spring for the golf cart I think your family would love it.
One warning, each of the past 2 years we were the last stop on the ME from the airport. Next time I plan to get a limo. The kids are so excited when you get to Orlando that the ME line and ride is a downer.

 

[minnie61650]

Most of the Disney resorts have a lot of walking within the resort.
I have limited mobility and that is why I spend an extra $12 a night to stay in a preferred building at All Star Music. The preferred buildings are the nearest to the main pool, bus stop and food court.
There are just 2 buildings at Sports and Music that are preferred and they are really close to the bus stops.
At Pop parts of the 50's ,60, and 70's buildings are preferred and at Movies 6 of the buildings are preferred so you may still have a few more steps at those resorts.

CBR has preferred sections which are close to the main pool and food court and as mentioned POFQ is a small resort.

WL has a boat ride that gives easy access to the MK.

I would recommend All Star Music or Sports for value choices.
CBR or POFQ for the mods.
(*Note: the main pool at CBR will be closed most of 2008 so that might not be too good a choice.)

WL would be my choice for a smaller deluxe or one of deluxes on the monorail.

Have fun at Disney whereever you choose to stay!

 

[mma800]

Hi-
We took our girls (then 5 &4) and stayed at Grand Floridian concierge. It was a stretch $$, but worth every penny IMO. I broke my elbow on day 1, and my eldest is autistic. It was a perfect fit, with the short monorail and boat ride and easy pool. The staff was amazing!

I took all 3 kids, ages 6,5 and 3 in June. (6 and 3 are autistic) with my best friend and her 2 yr old. We stayed at Poly. It was a great location, but the weather was way too hot for us. The pool was jammed by 2 pm. Our best days were when we went to the pool in the morning and then went to MK for lunch and a few rides in the afternoon. If our older kids were itchy in the pm, we went back to the pool or park while the little ones slept. Very easy to get to MK. We opted for cabs to get to other areas of WDW.

I spent MY childhood at Fort Wilderness every spring. I love the cabins, but have not stayed there for 2 decades. Golf carts did not exist then.

We are going back in January for a family reunion. We are all staying at Wilderness Lodge for the 1st time. We are 4 families, oldest kid is 7, youngest is 6 mos. 2 are autistic.

Good luck and check out the DISabilities site here at DIS for extra help.