Ft. Wilderness Cabins vs. Value Resort

[Lewis1212]

We are a family of 5 (2 parents & kids ages 7, 13 & 15) and are debating whether to stay in a Ft. Wildnerness cabin or get 2 rooms at one of the Value hotels during our trip in July. We have never been to or seen either of them (our last trip was many years ago) so would appreciate any thoughts on either choice. I know the cabins have a kitchen, which would be a plus, but then again I don't really want to cook anyway (I'm on vacation!). How do the pools and amenities at each location compare? Which would YOU choose?

Marcia

 

[zachary5]

We stayed in the cabins this past August. There was five of us (myself, wife and 17, 9, & 6 year old) and I would highly recommend it. The bus transportation was great (never longer than a 10 minute wait) and the ferry ride to the MK was relaxing. The pools (there are 2 of them) are okay, nothing special) but there is also a beach and watercraft rentals at the marina. Plus, with the refrigerator in the room, you could store beverages and items for breakfast to save money. We did not eat much in the cabins because it was vacation and neither I nor my wife felt like cooking. We did barbecue one night (there is a grill outside the cabin). The kids had a great time playing around the cabin, chasing lizards and such. The biggest bonus was the kids' room (3 beds) had a door so there was some privacy for us.

Having never stayed at the All Stars, I can't comment on them but I would highly recommend the cabins. It was very quiet and very nice to be able to walk to the free movie at night and have marshmallows and such. Overall, it was one of the best times we ever had together as a family.

 

[lmack6654]

We stayed at the FW cabins on our first trip in 1999. We loved the cabins--they are so relaxing after a day in the parks. But we have 5 DDs and the cabins only have one bathroom. We spent alot of time waiting for everyone to get finished in the bathroom. When we went back in 2002, we had 2 rooms at the Poly and that was wonderful. We hope to go back later this year, and if we do we will definitely have 2 rooms. It probably won't be at the Poly this time, but it will be nice to try something else. Right now we're thinking about POR or maybe even POP. So if your family doesn't spend too much time in the bathroom, the cabins will be great.

 

[castlegazer]

I would so highly recommend the FTW cabins to you. You and your husband would stay out in the living room on the pullman bed which is very comfortable - its where my DH and I stayed - plus that gives you control of the TV, kitchen and deck for late night adult fun. Your kids will stay in the back room which has a double bed and two bunk beds. This is a great value for you all - especially if you will be traveling during the code period. I have two rooms booked at PC and I am totally contemplating just getting a cabin, but I am traveling with my mother, DH, son, sister and BIL which does not quite work as well as your set-up will with the beds.

FtW is one of the most beautiful places in WDW - and that is saying a lot. The cabins are very, very nice - not rustic at all. The bathrooms are very nice - better than any hotel room's baths. I love the peacefulness o fthe place and I loved sitting out on the deck at night and listening to the silence. There is also so much to do at the resort.

Since you are comparing value resort vs. FtW Cabins, the pools do compare. At the values the pools are crazy crowded and are just plain pools with some themeing. At FtW it is just a pool but it is very nice and the themeing is rustic america - but the cabin pool is just for cabins and onky gets crowded late in the afternoon and the added plus...it smells like jasmine all around. It is a very nice pool, just with nothing spectacular about it. THe campground has the added bonus of the campfires and movies at night and the boat ride to the MK and over to WL and the contemporary which we found to be an attraction all unto itself - the boat ride that is. The values only have the larger-than-life statues, kiddie pools which is irrelevant for you, and a main building which FtW has too (and the campground has an awesome bar). The Trails End Buffeteria is one of the best values in WDW and you can get those ribs and fried chicken they serve at HDD - yummmy.

Have fun - but do look seriously into the cabins, you will save money by doing so.

 

[OldSchoolDisney]

amen castlegazer..................Have stayed at most of the resorts and cabins are my favorite.....we are family of 5 (3,7,8) and by far the best set up..............like the quiet feel of the place after a usually hectic day at the park.........but its a nice boat ride to the park instead of planes, trains and automobiles..............the only thing I would add is if you can swing renting a golf cart do it as it makes getting around the resort much more fun............

 

[Gillian]

We loved the cabins, but there are some negatives:
1. only 1 tv
2. only 1 bathroom and no outside sink!
3. depending on cabin location, you may have to take a bus to the pool and store. You can't park a car there, just golf carts or bikes

Either would be a good choice. I just wanted to mention those things.

 

[colleen costello]

The theming of the cabins is cool too - like Frontierland. I also believe there are a FEW "15 minute" parking spots at the Trading Post, so if you want to run in briefly you might actually find a spot!

Just wanted to add a tip if you decide to go for the cabins. If you look on a map of Ft. Wilderness, you see one section for campers and one section for cabins. The place is divided up into these "loops" which are numbered. Camping loops have a nice building for the campers called the "comfort station" which includes toilets and showers plus laundry and ice. These are meticulously maintained.

One "cabin loop" is adjacent to the camping loops. It's 2100, Bobcat Bend. We requested it when we stayed because we were 4 adults and 2 kids in the cabin (1 bathroom). We were just a few steps to the comfort station, so on busy mornings, we sent the boys packing. It was like having an extra bathroom. Plus I liked being near the laundry because my kids go through 12 outfits a day it seems! If you decide on the cabins, you can request "2100 near the comfort station" and it makes life a lot easier.

PS: My kids STILL talk about the cabin. They loved it. Great photos on Deb Wills' site. Look under resorts - Ft. Wilderness and you'll find photos.

 

[tci1212]

The cabins are great, with the added bonus of the wooden deck and picnic table, it gives you alot more room than a hotel room would. My children are 12 and 14 and they love it here.

 

[Lewis1212]

Thanks to all for the opinions and tips! It sounds like the cabins are the way to go. Now to decide whether to purchase the tickets separately or go with a package.....decisions, decisions!

Marcia

 

[tar heel]

Lewis 1212 -- I would NOT purchase a package, especially not now. The past few years discounts have plentiful in July, but they tend to come out later than January. I would reserve room only through the central reservations office. All you have to pay now is one night, and you can make changes up until 5 days before arrival.

How into pool amenities such as slides and spas are your teens? My teens HATED All Stars pools and we all disliked the transportation situation at Fort Wilderness, although we loved the cabin itself and the campground atmosphere. Our trip to FW was short, and we didn't even visit the pools, but I know they would have been unhappy with them, too, because they are plain ole unthemed pools. We have a neighborhood pool, so they are used to plenty of pool time.

My suggestion is that you make a room reservation, then keep watching for discounts and try to upgrade to either one room at a deluxe or two rooms at a moderate. We are very happy with CSR and PO-R (two rooms now), but my family's #1 choice is YC even though we only have one room and one bathroom. The pool and location is that good!

 

[castlegazer]

Originally posted by Gillian
We loved the cabins, but there are some negatives:
1. only 1 tv
2. only 1 bathroom and no outside sink!
3. depending on cabin location, you may have to take a bus to the pool and store. You can't park a car there, just golf carts or bikes

Either would be a good choice. I just wanted to mention those things.

I just wanted to clarify that yes, it is a bit of a negative about not having the extra TV in the back bedroom - BUT - there is an extra sink, the kitchen sink that can be used for washing up and teeth brushing at night. Also there are not many cabins - in fact I know of none - that you have to use the bus system to get to the pool. The pool is adjacent to the 2500 loop and across the street from the 2600 loop - just request those and you are in a very veyr convenient location to the pool - more convenient than most of the rooms at the AS are to the pools. As for parking at the cabins, you can park one car at the cabins - if you have more they have to be parked at the outpost. There is even a few very short term parking spaces at the pool for people wishing to use the laundry. The suggestion of loop 2100 is a great one that has been suggested by others on the board many times - it definately gives you some extra bathroom space. When we were there, my DS got up so early I didn't want to wake anyone up using the bathroom so he and I took walks over to the pool - which was awesome in the early morning with all the birds just waking up - and I would use the restrooms there.
You will have to take buses up to the Settlement - or as mentioned before, rent a golf cart and your life will be a lot easier.
Oh, by the way - I would never purchase packages. But explore the prices independently and judge for yourself - there may be discounts available later for the room only reservation and you can get tickets so much cheaper through Ticketmania and the like.

 

[cmcvean]

This is all such great information. We have stayed at the Polynesian for the last three years and are considering (for $ purposes) staying at the cabins.

Does anyone have any comments on going from the Polyneisan to the cabins? The loss of the monorail is a major one, but I really think my family (DH, 4 DD's) will like it. We go in January, so I'm wondering if we could still take advantage of the outdoor stuff.

Any thoughts would be great!

Thanks,
Christine

 

[Mmketeer]

Hi,

My vote is cabins! We had three of them with three sep. familys Christmas week and we would never stay at the value resorts again, unless we really had a money problems. You just can't beat the convience to MK and the surrounding resorts, the relaxed atmosphere, the ammenites at the campground and space and ammenties in the cabins themselves! We must have saved tons of money on food as we drove ourselves to a nearby grocery store (same road as Gooding's...further down the road) and cooked out for dinner a few nights and eat lunch or breakfast at the cabins a couple of times too. These days having a meal togther just the family is a real challenge, so it was really nice to cook and sit down togther. I thought it was a real family bonding experince and much more private then eating at a restaurant with a bunch of other folks you don't know.

So, I say go for the cabins!

 

[colleen costello]

cmcvean, I think you'll do fine in a cabin. When you are used to a Deluxe resort, it's hard to "downgrade." But the cabin is sort of a whole different thing entirely, so I think you'll like it. The Poly has big rooms but the cabin is like a tiny apartment, with a full kitchen and living area. Each one is separate so it's private. Each one has a deck with a grill and a spot in front to park if you have your vehicle (or want a little golf cart). There are woods all around and trees and landscaping between the cabins, so it feels very "woodsy." Instead of the Polynesian theme you have the camping/Frontierland-type theme. Probably the biggest difference is that you're more on your own at the cabins -- not so much staff around, no lobby, etc. Also, transportation will be slower. Buses run around the campground and you can get a boat to the MK, or buses to the other parks. But it's not "instant" like the monorail.

If you are "up for the camping experience" (with air conditioning and housekeeper service) these cabins are great. My family has stayed repeatedly at Ft. Wilderness and always had lots of fun.

 

[cmcvean]

Thanks Colleen, I think you are totally right. That would probably be the type of "camping experience" I could handle. My husband is totally the camping type so I think they he will love it, and the kids I think will totally love it.

I'm really getting excited now about the cabins!! Does anyone know what kind of rates, AP and so forth, that people have gotton in January on these cabins? Even at $229/night, they are cheaper than what we were paying at the Polynesian. Also, how much does it cost to rent the golf carts?

Thanks!! Man, I love this board!!!

Christine

 

[castlegazer]

During the winter sale I think the cabins were $109 per night. This is just my recollection - but I think they were on sale as deeply discounted as AKL was. When we stayed in May of last year we had a rate of $179 per night - I think again. January is sure fire month to get codes for - you just have to hold your breath for a while waiting. The cabins normally are pretty discounted, similar to AKL during code periods.

 

[sotoalf]

Getting to the Polynesian from Ft Wilderness is no trouble at all. YOu either ride the boat launch to the Contemporary or catch a bus to the TTc. Having the extra option of a launch to Wilderness Lodge and Contemporary makes transportation a lot easier.

 

[georgina]

Originally posted by castlegazer
At FtW it is just a pool but it is very nice and the themeing is rustic america - but the cabin pool is just for cabins and onky gets crowded late in the afternoon and the added plus...it smells like jasmine all around. It is a very nice pool, just with nothing spectacular about it.

I don't see anything in my information that says that the pool by the cabins is only for the cabins. It just says pools are intended for the exclusive use of Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground guests. They might have to take a bus (or ride bikes) to get to the Meadow pool. We have camped and stayed in the cabins, and used both pools each time.

 

[castlegazer]

OK - to be technical about it - there is no rule preventing tent and RV campers from using the cabin pool or vice versa. It is just convenient to the cabins alone and therefore is primarily used by cabin guests and no other FtW guests. I was simply trying to point out that the cabin pool is less crowded than many of the AS pools can get. However, there are a lot of cabins at FtW and therefore, to stick with being technical, there can be a lot of users of the pool too - especially at around 4pm.

 

[Lyncruiser1]

I would not be so quick to choose a cabin over two rooms elsewhere. We found the cabin itself to be nice. However, the transportation issues were a constant annoyance for us. Either we were waiting for a bus to go anywhere on the property, or we were trying to find our way via our golf cart. The golf cart was $40 per day plus tax (more than our rental car!!), so if you're going to get one, you need to factor that in. I couldn't imagine not having one. Finally, the eating options are extremely limited. We got pizza at Crockett's Tavern and had to take it out -- couldn't even sit there to eat it. The buffet, although popular, was not a good value for us as our five-year-old twins rarely eat more than a couple of chicken fingers and a couple of fries -- not worth the $8 or so for a buffet meal for them. We tried Holiday Inn Family Suites the following year and liked it much better than the cabins. Just my two cents.