How much is too much for you?

[loveDmouse]

The Fort to us is still a good deal. We can save a lot of money by cooking meals in our motorhome. If we weren't staying at the Fort we would be staying deluxe so the Fort is way cheaper. Not sure when it would get too much. Also, coming to Disney is our big vacation of the year and we have quite a drive to get there so we stay for 9-10 nights. Would stay longer if we had more time off work.

There are some campgrounds in our area that charge more then the Fort and don't even come close to be worth what they charge. They don't hold a candle to the Fort.

That being said I still don't understand why they can't offer discounts or the free dining for the sites. I understand that some people might have a lot of people staying with them but why can't they let you have free dining for the same amount of people that would go in the rooms? You can't even hardly get the AAA discount. I think I got that one time out of the times we have stayed at the Fort.

 

[Disneylitch]

I agree with the free dining offer. They could offer it for up to 4 guests. That would solve the problem. Maybe we just don't know the right people to make the suggestion to.

 

[auntie]

The Fort to us is still a good deal. We can save a lot of money by cooking meals in our motorhome. If we weren't staying at the Fort we would be staying deluxe so the Fort is way cheaper. .

We stayed deluxe at the Poly with an AP discount and it was $211.00 a night.
Depending on the length of stay..and the distance traveled when towing a tt, even a Deluxe resort could come out cheaper than the Fort once those items are figured in. Coming from NY..the gas is going to be a hefty portion of the trip. Adding to that a nightly site fee of close to one hundred dollars, I think it's gonna be close.
That's not to say I wouldn't love to take our tt to the Fort, only we wouldn't be doing so because it was cheaper than staying in a resort. As always, RVing is a lifestyle choice. I think we'd have to go during a value season..with a discount on the site to make it worth considering at this point.

 

[loveDmouse]

We stayed deluxe at the Poly with an AP discount and it was $211.00 a night.
Depending on the length of stay..and the distance traveled when towing a tt, even a Deluxe resort could come out cheaper than the Fort once those items are figured in. Coming from NY..the gas is going to be a hefty portion of the trip. Adding to that a nightly site fee of close to one hundred dollars, I think it's gonna be close.
That's not to say I wouldn't love to take our tt to the Fort, only we wouldn't be doing so because it was cheaper than staying in a resort. As always, RVing is a lifestyle choice. I think we'd have to go during a value season..with a discount on the site to make it worth considering at this point.

We are usually there during value season. Right now we have the Wilderness Lodge booked with a 40% discount. Not because of the costs of the sites and gas but for other reasons on not being able to take the motorhome down that long of a trip.

BTW- that is a really good price for the Poly!

 

[m1tchells]

Just seems to me that you can't really factor in all of the travel costs, because regardless of where you are staying...you gotta get there somehow. So while it might cost us 2-3 times more in fuel if we drive the rv, i still feel like we pretty much break even with the value resorts if we stay at the Ft. Of course ....that does not include the rv pymt, the insurance, etc.... But I put great value on sleeping in my own bed! And bringing my dog! And all the other great stuff the fort has to offer. So, with that said, the price won't stop us from coming to the fort.....but it will definitely limit the amount of visits we can take. Remember the days when you could almost always get an AP or FLR discount???

 

[5stljayhawks]

$80 a night is this a deal? You betta ya, I looking at some where between 10 and 14 night at FW in Dec. I got the tree and MM post.... this is a trip that was coming even before we bought the camper......

Getting to FW every 2 years or so has a dollar cost averaging. Part of the experience is about personal preference. If you ping me in Jan of 2011, I will let you know if the cost was worth $$$.

 

[auntie]

We are usually there during value season. Right now we have the Wilderness Lodge booked with a 40% discount. Not because of the costs of the sites and gas but for other reasons on not being able to take the motorhome down that long of a trip.

BTW- that is a really good price for the Poly!

I know ...it's was a great price..and they're offering that again through October 2nd by the way.
With the rates for the sites being as high as they are now, and the various promotional discounts being applicable to the resorts and difficult to come by for the campground, folks that previously may not have given the resorts a second thought are doing so these days.
I think there are a variety of reasons, and everyone's situation is different.
I do think that the change in the site pricing and availability of the sites has contributed to that choice for some.
Enjoy your WL stay!

 

[poohbearwithme]

That said, I've already told DH that unless the world ends in 2012, we're going to the Fort for Christmas week.. so I'd better start saving now for those holiday rates!

I don't know...spending the end of the world at Disney doesn't really sound like that bad of option.

 

[BradyBz12]

I don't know...spending the end of the world at Disney doesn't really sound like that bad of option.

As long as it ends AFTER we get there.

 

[poohbearwithme]

As long as it ends AFTER we get there.

I think as long as you're there at or before December 20th you should be good to go......because if I remember correctly, I think "THE DAY" is December 21st.

 

[loveDmouse]

I know ...it's was a great price..and they're offering that again through October 2nd by the way.
With the rates for the sites being as high as they are now, and the various promotional discounts being applicable to the resorts and difficult to come by for the campground, folks that previously may not have given the resorts a second thought are doing so these days.
I think there are a variety of reasons, and everyone's situation is different.
I do think that the change in the site pricing and availability of the sites has contributed to that choice for some.
Enjoy your WL stay!

I am looking forward to staying at WL. I would prefer to be staying at the Fort but someday we will get back there again.

 

[KimIce]

We have a yearly budget, so not sure what nightly rate would be too much, probably around the $80 mark also. I did have a chat with a jellystone cg for our trip last month. I asked the lady if the rate online was correct since surely $94 per night plus tax was wrong, afterall I could camp at FW cheaper and get a lot more. She told me to camp at FW then!!! I booked the KOA in that city & gave her the one-finger wave as I drove past. Oh, and the KOA was really nice.

Was it the Jellystone in the Panhandle? If it was, I have heard nothing but bad remarks about that place.

 

[KimIce]

I am looking forward to staying at WL. I would prefer to be staying at the Fort but someday we will get back there again.

We just stayed at WL with the A/P discount because we could not get a reservation at FW. My DH figured it up, and it was the same price to stay at WL as it is to stay at FW when you add the site rate and golf cart rate together. I do have to say the WL is wonderful and we will stay there again, but I really missed being at FW.
We have paid $70 at the KOA in St. Augustine before, and that is definately nothing compared to FW. My DH swears he is done with Disney if they raise their rates again, and he will not pay over $80 a night for a campsite either. We usually go 3-4 times a year (3 long weekends and 1 week), but that will probably be changed to maybe twice a year.

 

[thecplusplusguy]

The funny thing about all this is its still hard to get a reservation sometimes at Fort Wilderness, so someone keeps going.

Dan

 

[Gatordad]

Last summer, they completely closed down two loops while were there....... They are hurting, trust me.

 

[loveDmouse]

We just stayed at WL with the A/P discount because we could not get a reservation at FW. My DH figured it up, and it was the same price to stay at WL as it is to stay at FW when you add the site rate and golf cart rate together. I do have to say the WL is wonderful and we will stay there again, but I really missed being at FW.
We have paid $70 at the KOA in St. Augustine before, and that is definately nothing compared to FW. My DH swears he is done with Disney if they raise their rates again, and he will not pay over $80 a night for a campsite either. We usually go 3-4 times a year (3 long weekends and 1 week), but that will probably be changed to maybe twice a year.

I think we will enjoy WL. I think it will be a better fit for us. We stayed at the Yacht Club last year CL because we got an awesome deal. It was a great location and the cms were nice but a lot of the guest were really snooty.

 

[auntie]

It would seem to me that those that live further away who are making a once a year..or a once every couple of year trip to FW...it's more about the experience of RVing/Camping. It's the total cost of a trip, including the gas/towing, and site fee. As most of us are aware, RVing isn't to save money, but rather a lifestyle choice. From what I've read here and in other threads it does appear that there are some who still make those longer..say 1200 mile trips..but with less frequency. Every year, appears to be every couple of years now.
I can see where those that are somewhat more local to the Fort..whether it's a half hour..or a few hours away, are more likely to cut back on weekend/ or long weekend type of excursions that they may have previously taken due to the increase in the site fee's.
Seems like a dopey time for Disney to raise the rates, and availability of the full hook up sites. With the economy being what it is, and people watching where their hard earned dollars are being spent. I think people are willing to spend..but they just want their monies worth. Not be offered less for more money.

 

[KimIce]

It would seem to me that those that live further away who are making a once a year..or a once every couple of year trip to FW...it's more about the experience of RVing/Camping. It's the total cost of a trip, including the gas/towing, and site fee. As most of us are aware, RVing isn't to save money, but rather a lifestyle choice. From what I've read here and in other threads it does appear that there are some who still make those longer..say 1200 mile trips..but with less frequency. Every year, appears to be every couple of years now.
I can see where those that are somewhat more local to the Fort..whether it's a half hour..or a few hours away, are more likely to cut back on weekend/ or long weekend type of excursions that they may have previously taken due to the increase in the site fee's.
Seems like a dopey time for Disney to raise the rates, and availability of the full hook up sites. With the economy being what it is, and people watching where their hard earned dollars are being spent. I think people are willing to spend..but they just want their monies worth. Not be offered less for more money.

I agree with you!!

 

[KimIce]

Last summer, they completely closed down two loops while were there....... They are hurting, trust me.

It is funny how normally you can not get a reservation, but yet the past few times we were there, they were not full at all. I heard from some friends it was the same when they were there. My DH agrees with you in regards to them hurting.
I believe a lot of the time it is their own fault for not opening up more sites to let people in. Last year when my DH decided at the last minute to make a long weekend trip, I talked with a CM when making the reservation and he told me they hold a certain number of sites open for people wanting to book a month or so. Like I pointed out to him if the sites were not already reserved they weren't going to be (it was like 3 days before my DH decided to go). The CM had to go in and manually over-ride the system to make our reservation.

 

[big kahuna1]

It is funny how normally you can not get a reservation, but yet the past few times we were there, they were not full at all. I heard from some friends it was the same when they were there. My DH agrees with you in regards to them hurting.
I believe a lot of the time it is their own fault for not opening up more sites to let people in. Last year when my DH decided at the last minute to make a long weekend trip, I talked with a CM when making the reservation and he told me they hold a certain number of sites open for people wanting to book a month or so. Like I pointed out to him if the sites were not already reserved they weren't going to be (it was like 3 days before my DH decided to go). The CM had to go in and manually over-ride the system to make our reservation.

That is why you have to book sites for sometimes 30 days in order to just get the weekend you want and then cancel all the other days.