Going from staying at WDW Resorts to a newbie at the Fort?

[NeverlandClub23]

I've been to WDW 13 times and have always stayed at a moderate or deluxe resort. This year my boyfriend and I are going for two weeks (the first two weeks of December) and because of my dog's crazy separation anxiety and my entire family (parents and brother) also going on this trip, we are borrowing my parent's motorhome. My parents have graciously agreed to drive it down and back (they don't prefer flying) and set it up (I've been a camper my entire life, just never at WDW) then they're staying at the Polynesian. I guess because this is my boyfriend's first trip I want him to love WDW and am hoping that camping doesn't detract from that. We are also getting a rental car and are in a "preferred" campsite, if that makes any difference. I would love to hear from others who have stayed at WDW resorts and find a trip at the Fort just as magical! Thank you for calming my nerves!

 

[dblr]

We are DVC members and also campers, there is nothing like camping at the Fort you will love. It is peaceful and very relaxing, folks say hello to you ( don't get that at other resorts) the only bad thing is this might end up being the only place you will want to stay after your trip, not that is a bad thing.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Thank you so much for your reply! It really eases my mind. I'm thinking he will love the aspect of the peace and quiet after being in the "go" mode of being in the parks.

 

[motherwild]

Since you are going to be there in Dec I suggest renting a golf cart to check out all the sites that are decorated for Christmas. The fort is an amazing place I am sure you will have a great time

 

[gillenkl]

Does your boyfriend like camping - or is he as least open to the idea? I think you've made a smart move - camping first then going to the Poly as it will be an easier transition for your bf.

I guess I'd forego the rental car and get the golf cart rental instead. Your boyfriend will probably enjoy looping around the Fort especially at Christmas. You can hop the boat to get the monorail to MK and Epcot so you don't really need the rental car for those parks - although I know some people prefer driving to all the parks versus the buses.

 

[CSHaydt]

If you guys are campers you will love the fort - it is the best campground you will ever stay in. The golf cart is a difinate!!!! We loved it from beginning to end. Last time we even stayed in a cabin (which was awesome too). This is our favorite location. It's quite and relaxing and it still has the Disney feel!

Our only "ah" about FW is the lack of food options compaired to other resorts. With that said, we cook every breakfast and always have plenty of snacks on hand for late night munchies but it would be nice if they had a quick service open at night (the pool area food closes at like 6)

 

[CCIntrigue]

We visited WDW many times and stayed mainly at the Contemporary. Then we wanted to spend longer amounts of time so we, never having camped, went out and bought an Airstream trailer. That first trip to the fort was magical! Several years later we went down for a quick trip to attend our son's wedding. DH didn't want to pull the trailer down for only 4 nights, so we stayed at POR. We were miserable there! Nothing compares to the fort. We were so homesick for the fort that DH even went over one afternoon. I stayed away because I knew if I visited the fort that hotel room would be even more miserable.

The fort is just so much more relaxing. We enjoy visiting with our neighbors, looping, etc. Just so many more options to choose from!

 

[Disneylitch]

You are going to WDW the best time of the year. Everything is decorated for Christmas, but it isn't as crowded as the week before Christmas and Christmas week. You will be pleasantly surprised with all of the Christmas at The Fort. The campers really go all out for the holidays. There is also the Chip and Dale sing a long and the movies each night, no additional charge. You can see the MK fireworks from the beach and the water parade every night too. Personally, I don't think you will need a car the entire time. When we go for 2 weeks we rent a car for 2 days in the middle of our stay. That way we go to Super WalMart and restock up on groceries. Also, I cook the main courses for dinner ahead of time and freeze them. That way, we just have to thaw out the main course and fix the rest. The Fort is so relaxing and it is the best place to stay in my opinion. We also bring out dogs and the love it too. They are actually on their best behavior ever when at The Fort. The comfort stations are imaculate. We use them all the time. Since we only camp at The Fort, we have mounted an extra refrigerator in the shower area. We should be there at that same time frame too. Make sure you make your green mickey ears and hang them proudly. You will find that campers are very friendly. Have fun.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Thank you everyone! I am excited about experiencing the Fort (especially at Christmas). My bf has only been tent camping once and he loved it so I think he'll like it even more in my parent's nice motorhome (besides, he's, um, frugal, so just knowing we're not paying $200+ a night for a Disney resort will satisfy him, I'm sure).

The rental car is more for me than him. I'm not a huge fan of the Disney buses and we're going to Universal, Sea World, and Discovery Cove spread out throughout the trip. Plus, with my parents staying at the Polynesian we can just swing over there to pick them up. I've been toying with the idea of getting a golf cart to just cruise around the campground on our "off" days.

That's great to know about the comfort stations! As much as I love my parent's motorhome I hate the shower area (I used to work at an RV dealership and I never found many showers I did like) so I probably will just go there to shower (much to my Dad's relief, he was already talking about limiting how many times he would come over to dump the tank ).

I'm so excited now and I will be sure to put out my green mickey ears (and maybe even a small Christmas tree! ).

 

[dudelydude]

I've never stayed at the Fort myself, but like you, I came here for advice and comfort and boy did I find it. So many people who stayed at hotel resorts for many years (just like us) and now will stay no place else but the Fort. So I read a lot about it here and got lots of advice. We didn't think the golf cart would be a big deal with the internal bus service, but then I thought about past experiences walking to and waiting for buses and thought maybe we should get one. And then I looked at a satellite view of the Fort (all 700+ acres) and thought..."Im gonna need some freedom here" so we went ahead and rented the cart for 8 days....it's $280, but we have four little girls and their collective agitation is enough to spend $500 for that golf cart.

 

[skyp4WDW]

We"ve stayed at almost all of the Resorts...Each experience is unique. My family likes the Poly and the Wilderness Lodge. We also stay at Ft Wilderness once a year and love that too. If you enjoy being outdoors; then you'll probably like Ft Wilderness. (It may be too cold to enjoy some of the Fort's activities in December).

 

[Disneylitch]

Thank you everyone! I am excited about experiencing the Fort (especially at Christmas). My bf has only been tent camping once and he loved it so I think he'll like it even more in my parent's nice motorhome (besides, he's, um, frugal, so just knowing we're not paying $200+ a night for a Disney resort will satisfy him, I'm sure).

The rental car is more for me than him. I'm not a huge fan of the Disney buses and we're going to Universal, Sea World, and Discovery Cove spread out throughout the trip. Plus, with my parents staying at the Polynesian we can just swing over there to pick them up. I've been toying with the idea of getting a golf cart to just cruise around the campground on our "off" days.

That's great to know about the comfort stations! As much as I love my parent's motorhome I hate the shower area (I used to work at an RV dealership and I never found many showers I did like) so I probably will just go there to shower (much to my Dad's relief, he was already talking about limiting how many times he would come over to dump the tank ).

I'm so excited now and I will be sure to put out my green mickey ears (and maybe even a small Christmas tree! ).

Your Dad won't have to dump the tank. You will have full hook ups (water, sewer, and cable tv). Just hook up the hoses and you are good to go.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Your Dad won't have to dump the tank. You will have full hook ups (water, sewer, and cable tv). Just hook up the hoses and you are good to go.

That's great to know! Usually when I go camping with them I'm put on severe limits on water usage .

 

[JCJRSmith]

That's great to know! Usually when I go camping with them I'm put on severe limits on water usage .

Even better - have your dad show you how to do it. There are two tanks: Black water (toilet) and Grey water (sinks/shower). I usually leave the valves open on the black water tank, so the toilet drains all the time, and closed on the grey water. Then, once a day I open the grey water valve.

I would have your dad go over ALL the RV systems with you before you take possession. Knowing how the stuff works will prevent panic if something is not quite right.

 

[thegooftroopfla]

couple little tips. obviously ,as it has been said, the golf cart is a definite. ESpecially beings it is your first time. this will help you find new stuff that you wouldnt normally find or see if you were using the buses. also it will help your bf out. say he takes quick showers and you take long showers. it gives him time to just ride around and you call him when you are done. I take a 5 minute shower and 5 minutes to get ready and my 6 y/o son is the same way. me and him take showers and then as my wife and daughter, who is 15, take theirs it could be an hour. me and my son go looping for that hour or go looking for deer, or go to 1 of the forts many things to see and do. also it helps with the schedeule. if you want to see the boat parade we leave 5 minutes before with the cart. if we dont have the cart we leave 30 minutes prior to make sure we catch a bus.
next is maybe your parents should think about the wilderness lodge. it is the closest to the fort and it is very nice at christmas. gives that down home feeling. their is also alot of options to get back and forth from the fort. a bus, a boat or bikes. its about 1/2 mile bike ride and it is very nice ride.
also make sure you take a couple days for the campground itself it is awesome. we live close and we go up to the campground just to go to the campground for the weekend. no parks just camp there for three days.
the comfort stations are the nicest you will find big showers, and clean clean clean.
another thing is if your parents camper is big you might want a premium loop. the sights are huge and easy to get into them. also there is no sand around them. this helps for two reasons. 1 you wont have to clean the camper a ton and two if your bf has only been camping once he might get burned out on cleaning the camper, and the concrete pad all the time. also it gets messy when in flip flops. I love the sand on the premium loops but with kids me and the wife get the premiums so we dont have to keep cleaning. just an idea
also on the water usage. what i do might help. I always leave the black tank closed. the reason being if not solids can build up at the bottom and the liquids run out. so about every third day i drain it. i leave the grey water open all the time until the day before we leave. this accomplishes to things. my wife and daughter can take long showers and not shut the water on and off. then the night before i leave i shut the gray water. then the morning i am leaving i drain the black, flush the black then drain the gray to wash out all the nasty stuff from the poop tube before disconnecting it. and with just two people you probably wont have to drain the black tank but maybe once in the middle. put a scent tab in there and you are good to go. Also it will make your dad happy. We camp at alot of parks where we have to conserve water and the wife and daughter hate it. but at the fort. no worries full hookup. woo hoo.
no matter what i think you will love the fort,
dont miss
1 water electric parade
2 fireworks from the beach with a cocktail
3 campfire sing a long and movie. even though you dont have kids it is still fun
4 the tcd ranch
5 looking for deer at night on golf cart, bring a good flashlight
6 just riding the boars around bay lake
7 you have to go sit by crocketts tavern and sit in the rocking chairs