Help me get excited for the Cabins!

[Chynasmom]

DH and I are planning our DD’s first Disney trip for October 2012 (she’ll be 4). We’ve been before a couple of times, staying at the Poly (1976 - I was a kid), WL (1997 - our honeymoon) and BC (2003 – his office was having a conference, I was a freeloader!). Originally, I was looking at the Poly or WL for their familiarity & easy transport to MK. Then DH invited his dad along. Well, FIL can’t afford his own room, and I’m NOT interested in sharing a bedroom, so we reevaluated our situation and decided on the FW Cabins. (2 rooms at POP or ***/M/M are more affordable, but the downsides (for me) are numerous.)

I like that FW has easy access to MK (with a 4 year old, I think this is going to be our key park), but I’m concerned about the size of the place. We’ll be flying in, and hadn’t planned on renting a car – is the Magical Express available to FW? Renting a golf cart seems like a good thing to do – if we use the outside company, how does that work? How is the transportation to the other parks, really? Is there a kiddie section of the Meadows Pool?

Food. I gotta say, doing a lot of cooking is not really my idea of “Disney Vacation”. But whatever. I’ve heard good things about Garden Grocer on this and other boards – do they deliver right to the cabins or would our order be held at the Reception Outpost (or elsewhere)? Do we generally need reservations for the Trail’s End buffet?

Finally, there is a chance that FIL will be camping, rather than bunking in with us. He has a 5th wheel and would be driving in from TX. It looks like there is a Cabin loop (2100) that is right behind a camping loop (1100), but I don’t know if thinking we could walk from one to the other is realistic or if that little green stretch on the map is actually ¼ mile of impassable jungle. Also, it seems that 1100 is a “Premier” loop, and I don’t know if they’re reserved for big-bus motorhomes or if a modest 5th wheel can hook up there.

Sorry for the novel – any help/assurances are greatly appreciated!

 

[chipscamping buddy]

ME does go to the campground, but it drops you at the outpost. I would like to think they will get your bags to the cabin, but we always drive so I am not positive on that.
Personally not a big fan of the golf carts. Way too many of them running around. Generally the FW buses run consistently so it is not a big deal to take the internal bus. Your real transportation issue is in just plain bad luck. If you wait 10 minutes for your internal bus, ride for 10 minutes to the outpost, just miss a bus and wait 20 minutes for the park bus, and then another 10 minutes to get to the park, it can be an hour to get to a park. Most of the time you are looking at half of that, just be prepared if you are trying to make a certain time. MK is always the nice boat ride away, even with delays that is always better than any other option.
Yes there is a great kiddie section at the pool. One of the best at WDW.
Food options are great. We usually just plan breakfast at FW and then eat elsewhere for lunch/dinner. I don't want to cook either. But the savings on breakfast is huge. You can just get milk/eggs/cereal there at the campground and not worry about anything else.

 

[chartle]

• If you take ME, FW will make sure you and your bags get to your cabin and back.
  
• You don't have to cook if you don't want to. I'm sure many people have stayed at a cabin and never turned on the stove.
  
• If you only want a few items, even thought the trading posts are a little expensive it may be easier than worrying about a GG delivery.
  
• Though if your FIL drives, just have him bring the groceries.

 

[Disneylitch]

First of all, Welcome. I'm sure you will have a great time at the cabins. If you want to do any cooking, you can rent a car and go to the Super Wal mart. It's only about 5 miles from Disney. You can rent from Alamo at the Car Care Center. They come to Fort Wilderness and pick you up and take you back when you return the car. That is what we do. We usually stay for 2 weeks and it's just way too much trouble to unhook the MH and go to the store.

For your DD, there is the kiddie pool/play area at the Meadow pool. It was renovated last year and the kids really have a great time there. Also, don't forget Chip and Dales Campfire and Sing a long, with the movies after that. You can also see the MK fireworks and the water parade from the beach. The music is also piped in.

As far as the premium site goes, you can park anything that you like there. There aren't any size restrictions. I really don't know how close the sites are to the cabins. When your reservations are booked, ask to have a campsite that is closest to your cabin. About a week before you arrive, fax your request.

Magic Express does go to The Fort and I have seen suitcases being taken to the cabins. I would assume this is normal, but I would ask first.

Your daughter is going to love The Fort. There is alot to do and there is alot more freedom than in a hotel room. You can really relax and have a great vacation.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

there,,does that help ?

 

[madge]

I like that FW has easy access to MK (with a 4 year old, I think this is going to be our key park), but I’m concerned about the size of the place. We’ll be flying in, and hadn’t planned on renting a car – is the Magical Express available to FW? Renting a golf cart seems like a good thing to do – if we use the outside company, how does that work? How is the transportation to the other parks, really? Is there a kiddie section of the Meadows Pool?

Food. I gotta say, doing a lot of cooking is not really my idea of “Disney Vacation”. But whatever. I’ve heard good things about Garden Grocer on this and other boards – do they deliver right to the cabins or would our order be held at the Reception Outpost (or elsewhere)? Do we generally need reservations for the Trail’s End buffet?


Sorry for the novel – any help/assurances are greatly appreciated!

I can only help with a couple of your questions

yes. ME goes to the campground -- they drop you off at the front of the resort, at the main building. my son took ME to the resort, and he was offered a ride back to our cabin from a CM in the check-in building, but didn't need it because we picked him up in a golf cart. at checkout, we called bell services and they came to pick up us and our bags. easy peasy! I do advise giving plenty of notice, it took them a while to pick us up.

as far as food, we rented a car one day and went to Publix & the outlet mall. it's what we do every trip. I love me some Publix There is food available at both trading posts, one seemed cheaper than the other .. but I could be totally wrong about that. We picked up some milk, knew it would be $$ and went on with our day. LOL. The best food (IMO) we had at the campground was the Giddy Up & Go chicken dinner, available at the Trail's End carryout window. YUM.

Golf cart? we loved having one. But it certainly isn't necessary. Can't help with offsite companies, though. We only used one for 3 days, and rented from Disney. Next trip, we'll be there longer and will rent from someplace else.

We loved the cabins, and my kids are begging to go back!

 

[CSHaydt]

You are going to love the fort. We were there in fall 2010 with my FIL and MIL - we had plenty of room my DH, and DS - 5 and i shared the bedroom and they took the bed in the livng room. We did drive and brought some food with us but basically did Bagels for breakfast and munchies.. otherwise we ate out.

I say get the golf cart - it was one of my DS's favorite things and it made getting to and from the busses in the front of FW and the boat dock in the back really really easy. We rented from Kenny Tee Time - It was AWESOME and half the price of disney's - very easy.

Get excited!!! you will love FW!!!

 

[mgsmom]

You are going to LOVE the Fort - your only concern should be that from now on you are going to have to stay there every trip. I'm not kidding.

Transportation to other parks is great! Boat to MK from the Settlement is perfect - you can't get there faster any other way. Period. Everywhere else, go to the Outpost and hop on a bus. Yes, you might have to hang out and wait a few minutes here and there, but there are lots of people to meet and greet!

Golf cart is totally a luxury. Nice to have, fun to ride, but you can do just fine without one.

We ate breakfast every morning at the cabin (Garden grocer is very convenient- I believe they deliver right to the cabin?). Other than that, I think we picked up a frozen pizza at the Meadows Trading Post one night and that was it. The take-out at Trails End is great. I don't think there is ever really much of a wait if you want to go in and have the buffet. We found the buffet to be a little pricey for what you get - but, whatever. You're at Disney!

We love the cabins. You will like the extra space and privacy - especially giving your little one a chance to roam around without the crowds for a while.

The 2100 loop backs right up to the 1100 loop - you can easily walk in between. If your cabin backs up to a campsite, you can even make a phone with a string and two cans.

 

[lklasing]

Most of your questions have already been answered, but I thought I'd jump in to also say how much you'll enjoy FW and the cabins. And this comes from another Poly convert. We always stayed Poly concierge, but wound up staying in a cabin for the first time in May 2008 and have stayed in a cabin every trip since then. Also, half of our trips have been with additional family members camping close by. The 2100/1100 loop combo works great.

Have a great trip and make sure to do a trip report when you get back. (And, if you want some night-time reading, you can see FW through a former Poly lover's eyes in my May 2008 trip report below. There are TRs for the other trips too, but that would require lots of late night reading...)

Have fun!

Leslie

 

[tanker]

My wife and I, as well as our DD, love the cabins. We use Disney's ME and while the bus drops us off at the Outpost, FW has a van that brings ME guest to their cabins. The luggage will be delivered to your cabin. The day before your departure the Front desk will coordinate your pick up at the cabin and a van will bring you and your luggage to the ME pick up point. We also use Garden Grocer and the food was delivered and stored in our cabin before we arrived. Don't worry about cooking, the only meal that we cooked was breakfast. All of the other meals were at the park or Trails End. The longest wait was 45 minutes with most being around 15. We do go in Nov or Dec so the pool is not used so can't tell you about that.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

i can add to info on camping with a TT and others in the cabins. you can be close enough to walk but our boys loved to take the golf cart from on to the other, riding not driving. for the 3 youngest the golf cart was almost as fun as the parks. made getting main pool easier. yes you can take buses but the walk from boat from MK will seem very long and dark at night. because of my scooter, it would take me 20 to 30 minutes longer on buses each night than daughter on golf cart.

 

[Chynasmom]

Thanks for all the replies! I really am getting excited - and I think DD will have a great time AND will have a chance to bond a bit more with her Granddad, which is so important.

Funny planning moment - I told DH that I was number crunching to see if getting the dining plan made sense, since we'll be doing HoopDeeDo, CRT, and probably other character meals, and I got this LOOK from him. Uh Oh, I thought, now he's going to tell me we should save so much money by cooking most of our meals.... I was SO VERY WRONG! "Why would we not?" he says "We won't be going back for another 5 years, probably, and you're not going to have much fun if you're worried about cooking!" So yes, we'll probably waste a little money, but I have a Really Cool Husband who knows what makes me happy.

**Can my FIL get on the DDP if he's camping? I assume yes (why would Disney NOT take someone's money?), but just checking.

A more general question - What's at Downtown Disney for a 4 year-old? I see that they have a carousel and the Lego place, but that doesn't seem like enough to make a trip there. Mostly what I see are shops, restaurants & clubs - cool enough for an adult, but this trip is really all about the bambina.

(2 rooms at POP or ***/M/M are more affordable, but the downsides (for me) are numerous.)

Ha Ha! I didn't realize there was an automatic cuss-changer on this site. I should have typed out "All Star Sports/Movies/Music", I guess!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

he can pay for DDP but is not able to get free. we had in Aug. the part of group in cabin could get free dining but camp site could not. yes we felt it was worth the cost but using cs meals was hard at the fort.

 

[Chynasmom]

he can pay for DDP but is not able to get free. we had in Aug. the part of group in cabin could get free dining but camp site could not. yes we felt it was worth the cost but using cs meals was hard at the fort.

Thanks. I don't know if he we'll end up getting it for him or not, but it's good to know in advance.

 

[lync]

We stayedin the cabins for the first time in 2009 and we are going back this fall. We loved it! We had the DDP. We did not cook meals. We mainly did breakfast. That saved the DDP for lunch and dinner. I just loved having a dishwasher but I also had a 4 month old. That was the main reason we did the cabins. I'm sure you're going to enjoy it!!