Fort Wilderness vs Deluxe Resorts

[lisag1]

We have a party of 5, 2 adults, 3 young children aged 4, 5 & 7 booked for 4 nights at Fort Wilderness Cabins @ the Fl resident rate of $160.00/night.

I'm now worrying whether or not I've done the right thing. We've previously stayed at the Poly Concierge and loved it, this time Concierge is out of our price range but WDW also had Fl discounts on the Boardwalk and Yacht Club Rooms and I'm wondering whether to book these instead. They are slightly more expensive @ $40/night extra.

I'm so torn between the 2 resorts, FW because I think it'll be fun for the kids, extra space in the cabins etc etc but half of me think that it won't feel so "special" or have the "Disney magic". I also worry slightly about the transportation side although we do have a hire car.

I also think the Boardwalk is a beautiful resort and have been wanting to try it out since we did the Illuminations cruise out of there a few years ago.

I'd be really grateful if you guys could give me the pros and cons and what you would do int he circumstances.

Many thanks

Lisa

 

[swilphil]

I'm interested in staying at FW someday myself, and we usually stay at the Swan/Dolphin on the govt. discount.

My main concern with FW is the transportation to the parks. The big plus for me is the kitchen. For only $40 more a night, I would probably go with the YC. I would love to stay at BW too, but if YC and BW are the same price, I'd go YC. You will love being so close to Epcot/MGM/Boardwalk. The YC pool is also the best in all of WDW. It sounds like you go to Disney quite often, so I would save the FW cabins for another trip.

 

[mouseRD]

Wow! What a dilemna to have! I guess it depends what kind of WDW vacation you're focusing on. FW is supposed to be great for outdoor activities (biking, horseback riding), & the water sports. I would certainly consider it if I only wanted to spend some of the days at the parks or 1/2 days & make use of the amenities there. Also, if I had booked the Hoop-de-du Review (? spelling). Your children may be a bit young to appreciate all of this. Maybe just getting into a pool is all of the extra fun that is needed. In that case, I would think the BC/YC or BWI would be a better choice. As previously posted, the BC/YC pool is really great but some parents worry about being able to relax while keeping on eye on little ones & the pool at the BWI is a very nice pool with little ones. That being said, the atmosphere at the BC is so kid friendly. With Art, the greeter, Beaches & Cream, Hurricane Hannah's, & the wonderful cheerful colors, I would probably choose the BC with young children (I know this wasn't one of your original choices! Sorry!). Or I might consider a monorail resort if it could be had at the same price & if most of the park time would be MK. It would cut down on the hassle of buses. Some great prices have been had at the Contemporary & the Poly seems to be a favorite of many (great volcano pool). Good luck with your decision & have fun!

 

[JayBee]

You will probably save more than $40 just on breakfast that you can eat in the cabin......When we stay at WL, DH and I always rent a bike and ride thru the campground-I just love that place....so peaceful.

 

[princessplanner]

Hi. We've stayed at both the Ft. Wilderness cabins, and the Boardwalk. I haven't stayed at the YC, but I have stayed in a Beach Club Villa- so I have gotten to try out the YC/BC pool. I think that the YC pool has a very nice shallow area for little ones to play. I've forgotten what the Boardwalk has in that respect. Our family has two older teens and two adults-- so I'm afraid I haven't paid enough attention. I think wherever your family decides to go, you will have a wonderful time. At YC or the Boardwalk, you will be very close to Epcot, World Showcase. You can take a boat straight there, or it is a fairly short walk. I know that Epcot has stations for kids where it seems they can make a craft or do something special in each country. You can also get to MGM by boat from either the Boardwalk or YC, but I think it is about a 15-20 min. ride or so (a little closer at the YC than the Boardwalk). Still, if you decide to go to Ft. Wilderness, I really don't think you have to worry about the Disney Magic. It follows you there and the extra room is really, really nice to have. At night, Ft. Wilderness has a sing-along, you can meet Chip and Dale, and then they play a Disney movie on a large outdoor screen. If you are at Trail's End when they open for Lunch, etc. they always let a kid ring the dinner bell while they say, "Come and get it." It seems very kid friendly. Also, if you decide to go there, you can catch an "in-camp" bus to the boat area, or rent a golf cart (which is VERY nice, but still costs about $40-$50). Once you are at the boat area within the resort, you can take the boat to Magic Kingdom. It's not as convenient as the monorail, but I still prefer it to reaching Magic Kingdom from the TTC. Also, you can park your car right in front of your cabin at Ft. Wilderness, so it makes it really easy to drive to the other parks (at Boardwalk and YC, I think parking is further away...you almost need the valet service, which is another hidden expense). Can you tell which place is my favorite? Hope this helps. Have a great time!

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

I have stayed at both and would go for the cabins. The space and the 'fridge would be great. Also put all the kids in the back bedroom and you and Dad can stay up later in the main room.