have you stayed on site at a hotel and still perfer FtW??

[lovin'Mickey]

I was wondering if any of you have stayed on site at the hotels in Disney and then camped at Fort Wilderness in your own RV. Reason is this... I love camping but I also love being in a hotel. I am curious how the rest of you feel. I hear the campground is AMAZING!!! But I worry about the idea of losing extra days (time for travel) and also extra time for cleaning and dishes. Just got back from a week in May at the Port Orleans Riverside...and just got home today from our maiden voyage in our KZ sportsman (just upgraded from pop-up). The vacations both have different feels... When I camp I love camping ...when I am at a resort I love it as well. Let me know your thoughts!!

 

[reeeoga]

We stayed at FW in the cabins in 96. It was expensive, but we loved the experience.

In 98 we stayed at C. Beach Resort for our honeymoon. It was very nice and very well priced, but we decided to buy a camper in 2000 so we could stay at FW after.

My wife, who had never camped before, loves to camp now. We are finally going to WDW this Nov. in a pop-up.

I had been to WDW several times as a child with my family and we stayed at FW. Disney is not Disney without FW.

Now if I could get a $300 dollar room for $85 like at CBR I would be in a Hotel as fast as possable.

 

[wildernessfamily]

With us it depends on the time we have to spend and the money. I love camping having my own things with us, saving money on meals( we usually do two meals sometimes only one at camper) and I love the quietness, nature and activities at FW. I like that I feel like I can really relax at the campground. If we can stay a long time 7-11 days we take it slower and pull our travel trailer. But if we can only do the parks for 3 days or so we will stay in the Disney Hotels. My husband travels a lot with his job so hotels are not a plus for him. I like the themed pools that the hotels have to offer. So mostly it comes down to time we have to spend.

 

[grumpy's Mrs.]

We stayed at the Poly with our 2 kids and had a wonderful time. We have a much more enjoyable time at FW. Privacy, no "neighbor noise" and more money to spend at the World. We are takiing a 2 week vacation and spending 8 nights at FW in June/July. 3 days down and back taking our time and relaxing. I can't wait to go...

 

[TurnR@TheMouseHouse]

If I'm only going to be at the World for two to three days, I prefer a resort. But when I stay longer I prefer FW. I love staying there. It's a totally different experience. It's very relaxing sitting outside your RV after a long day. I find the benefit of not relying completely on Disney dining gives me the opportunity to enjoy the more expensive sit down meals.

The resorts are a wonderful experience too. Last year I had 4 short stays at the resorts (Dolphin, PO, POFQ, ASM) and a nice long stay at FW. I plan to do the same this year. You are not saying how long your are staying. That is what makes my decision for me. There is some time involved in setting up and hitching up. The one plus for me at FW is that I live in my RV full time. So when I'm "camping" at FW, I'm home! I find that just too....

 

[Tommy Strange]

Me and my fmaily went to FW back in May 2003 we are going again in July. To me there is nothing that compares to staying in your own camper. Even though there are other campers around it feels as if you are secluded. By camping I feel as if you definetly get more family time together. Plus you can cook your own breakfasts, grill dinner in the evening, and take nice walks in the vening under the stars. We started off looking at pop-ups, but chose to buy a hybrid instead. We used the camper on average of about once a month. I have since sold that camper and now have a fifth-wheel that is approximately 39' long. I feel as though I still staying in the best hotel room. To me if you have the opportunity to camp you should try it, because you may never go back to hotel rooms again. Good Luck and have a good time.

 

[clkelley]

The one nice thing about camping at Ft. Wilderness at Disneyworld, is you don't HAVE to have extra cooking or dishes unless you want to. You are still at a Disney resort and can still eat out every meal if you wish.

I tent camp there every December, and don't cook a thing.

Carol

 

[marylou]

We have not camped at FW before but my dd(18) thinks this will be the best. The relaxation of camping after the theme parks will be wonderful

 

[elastigirlfan]

We prefer FW! We had such a good time there last year. Don't get me wrong - we like the Disney hotels, too, but there's just something about FW. We love camping and it was nice having a "piece" of home that we feel we have when we're in our camper and another big plus is being able to bring our Dobie, Suzie, with us.

 

[CLynnJones]

We stayed at Pt Orleans and other hotels outside of Disney and we much prefer FW. The privacy, the peace and solitude. Sitting outside and watching the people, the peacocks, the armadillos...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...........to me nothing compares.

 

[Lollipop Mom]

We have stayed at Ft. Wilderness with my parents in their RV. I will admit to being a resort snob so I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy myself as much. I wouldn't be in a hotel, no beautiful feature pool, no nice lobby, and then there's that 4 adults and 2 kids in the RV thing. You know what? We had blast! Love it! The campground is great. Very relaxing and I'm discovering what my Dad has been telling me for a while...campers are a special breed of people. Always a nice bunch. I loved that there were so many things for the kids to do. I loved strolling to the beach to watch the fireworks at night. An aside...if you are ever there for MNSSHP, New Years Eve or sometime when they do Fantasy in the sky with the perimiter fireworks...definitely check them out! The preimiter fireworks make a panoramic show from the Ft. Wilderness beach...fireworks literally from one side of the sky across to the other. a nice "WOW" moment!

 

[tinkssister]

This thread is making me so happy. I've never been to WDW or FW and I'm going to both places in 25 days!!!!

I just can NOT wait!!!!

Can you really see Wishes from the beach area? Someone tell me more about that. I'm sure it's not as exciting as being in the MK, but it must be so relaxing not to have to be in the crowd for at least one night.

 

[Camping Cat]

Can you really see Wishes from the beach area? Someone tell me more about that. I'm sure it's not as exciting as being in the MK, but it must be so relaxing not to have to be in the crowd for at least one night.

You can even see them sitting on the porch at Trail's End. Probably not as good a view as the beach, but it is so relaxing to sit and rock and watch the fireworks. I'm sitting here, breathing a deep sigh of contented happiness, just remembering. I can't wait to get back.

 

[plutospup]

When we stay at the resorts we still come over to FW. We enjoy the petting zoo, pony rides, and lunch at Trails End. Best of all, we'll be staying at FW for the first time starting NEXT WEEK! (I've waited a lonnnnnnggg time to say that! )

 

[Jeff Spencer]

If I'm only going to be at the World for two to three days, I prefer a resort.

I agree with this perspective. We've camped at Fort Wilderness dozens of times and stayed in the Cabins once - all for week-long or more vacations. We've stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coronado Springs and All-Star Music on trips that were 1 to 3 days and we'd typically fly in. The hotels are more convenient for us on the shorter trips.

 

[Weegie]

We've stayed at CBR in the past, but have always stayed at FW since we bought our first camper several years ago. We love FW!!!! Also, we can take our two cockers with us to FW but could not if we stayed in another resort. They love camping as much as we do.

 

[dgaston]

We do both. In April 2004 we tent camped and FINALLY got the 1500 loop. We are now DVC members, but since I'm frugal and never plan on using points on Friday and Saturday nights, I'm sure we'll be back at the Fort again. My DD21 insists her favorite resort is FW. We began staying there because it was a more affordable way for us to do WDW, but it's really special to us.

I agree with earlier posts that short stays probably work better in a hotel room.

 

[allisophie]

In Sept of 97 we stayed at POR and visited the campground at least 4 times. We had camped with the pop up in 95 it was great despite no AC.. In 99 we traded it in for the 30ft TT. Oct o4 we were back at the fort and DH was happy! The only thing i missed was a good soak in the tub.. (wish the fort had a hot tub) To please us women.. 1 grandma me and dd13 dd 4.. we stayed in a hotel on the way home and we soaked up to our hearts content, hmm I seem to recall he was in the hot tub faster than us

we talked at length about staying at a resort this time since we will have both grandma's along with the 4 of us. (kiddo's do the tent) but they both voted to stay in the camper, despite not having a bath tub
and I made ressies for our hotel on the return trip from the fort in Oct.Dh thought he was going to pull a fast one and told us we would be sleeping at the rest area in Ga.. ha foiled his plans

good luck on deciding..

 

[PenskeSth1]

We don't live far from Disney and usually go a couple times a year. We have stayed at the All Sports just a couple months ago. It was nice and everything, but very noisy. (there was cheerleading comp. going on). We are staying at VWL the beginning of the new year. We love the big resorts and the Lodge is wonderful. We are going to FW in July for just a few days. I have to agree that nothing compares to FW. I don't do the parks to much. To much running. I simply enjoy the peacefulness of the resorts. I enjoy people watching and quiet walks on the walking paths. To me there is nothing like good ole FW.

 

[campingcorgi]

We just got back from a 6 night stay at the All Stars and boy, did we miss FW! We were in building 3 and I think I could have walked to the marina from 1700 quicker than walking to the main building! The pools had a little decoration and a squirter, but otherwise no special theming. We were tight in that room (3 adults and 1 child) and really missed the bikes, golf carts, campfire and movie, and all the other things we love about FW.

We did enjoy getting to see our (rental) home and new neighborhood, though!! We hope to be settled in Orlando by July 1 and then it will be FW for us whenever we want!!