How much is too much?

$106:eek: And my Mom thought $33 (that's with AARP discount) was high at Hannah Park! I am hoping to go with my parents in January, which I know 2010 will bring an increase in price, but with it being a value seaon, hopefully we'll get a better deal. Do you have to book through AAA to get a discount? (I realize you must be a AAA member.)
 
We wanted to stay at the Fort for our trip this month, but with the 4/3 deal and gift card it was way less money to stay at the POP.

So when are we all going to unite and demand that Disney give us some deals!!!!???
 
My DH is convinced that a DVC campground is an eventual project. He suspects that Disney is jacking up the prices in an effort to make such a DVC property more atractive when its time comes.
 
Using dvc points at the fort is beginning to look more and more like a bargain!

Still, the fort isn't as expensive as cedar point's camper village when you compare apples to apples; park to park. absolutely no comparison, although my coaster loving sons would beg to differ!
 

$106:eek: And my Mom thought $33 (that's with AARP discount) was high at Hannah Park! I am hoping to go with my parents in January, which I know 2010 will bring an increase in price, but with it being a value seaon, hopefully we'll get a better deal. Do you have to book through AAA to get a discount? (I realize you must be a AAA member.)

You can book a room only site reservation directly with CRO or your favorite travel agent and get a AAA discount on the site (if available)
 
Speaking of AAA, does anyone have a link to the page on their website where you can buy the AAA road service for RVs? A friend of mine has it and said that we should buy it, but I've even tried googling it and can't find it. She says it sells for something like $129 a year.
 
www.aaa.com

Then put in your zip code and it will connect you to AAA for your state.

However, if I were you, I would look seriously into Good Sam ERS. Less expensive, better coverage, higher tow limits.

AAA Plus RV wanted $165 for our four vehicles plus the camper, and had limited towing mileage and in some states they won't come out.

Good Sam ERS, was $89 for the first year, then $119 after that (I am a general Good Sam member). They cover ALL vehicles in your household.

I had a problem with my truck on the highway while towing. They brought TWO trucks out to me, took me and my camper to a campground, and took my truck to the nearest repair place. All for no charge. The campground gave me an extra discount cause I was being towed in.

(I also still carry the basic single person AAA for $44 a year for Disney lodging discounts). Even with the combination, I still save money!!
 
/
Over $100 a night for a campsite???!!!! That's just crazy! My DH would definitely say "no" to that kind of price. I just recently booked my ressies for our annual week-long October vacation. We have a pop up and I wanted to get a site with a pad, as well as sewer so we could hook up our gray water. Well, that' was going to be $75 a night! I nearly croaked at that one. So we are foregoing the pad and the hook up and getting a tent/pop up site for $43 a night. MUCH more doable. With the money saved, we'll probably be able to rent a golf cart for the week.
 
When we started camping at FW it was 35 bucks a night for a full hook up and was the best deal on property. Not so anymore. I said when Disney started putting in premium sites they had lost sight of their demographic and were pricing themselves out of the market, and I think it is coming true. As far as a DVC campground - unless Disney has totally lost it, I think the economy has killed that idea for a few years anyway. In fact, FWGuy's prediction is that the DVC will probably die, too. Too much expansion and a bad economy, plus marketing to the very same people who are probably struggling with subprime mortgages now. Watch the resale sites - bargains in the DVC will be abundant in the next year or two, and DVC properties will be converting to hotels or closing. Anyway, the advantage of FW - we could take the Wonder Beagle on vacation, stay onsite inexpensively and cook at the camper to save some bucks. Considering the trouble I go thru to haul the trailer down from PA and the increased expense, I will be staying at an off site condo for 329 bucks a week, cooking at the condo, and kenneling the wonder beagle at Camp BowWow until Disney sees the light and adjusts their prices.
 
When is it too expensive? When you can get a decent motel room for the same price! I fail to see how a concrete parking pad can be as expensive as a room with maid service. Sure, I understand that there are additional costs to run the Fort, but are they really as much as the cost of operating a room? Unfortunately, these costs will only continue to escalate as long as people are willing to fork out the cash.
 
Well, as my ol' Economics teacher used to say, "supplyanddemand".

Spring time like this is El Primo camping time outdoors. People have spring break from school or Easter break and up she goes. When it's hot/miserable in the summer (damp too) or less crowded (fall in the non-holiday windows) then down she goes.

I know I'm "master of the obvious" but it's like people booking a Contemporary Tower room facing the MK at Christmas time. In demand = High prices. I vote with me feet and choose to nibble at the off-season edges or not go at all (we skipped a year in 2008 for the first time in a long time).

Plus Disney has mastered the art of rolling out a good thing, realizing that people think it's a good thing, then cutting it back while raising prices at the same time (admission tickets, Disney Dining Plan, FW campsite rates) to squeeze it for all its worth (until its no fun any more that is). :sad2:

Bama ED
 
When is it too expensive? When you can get a decent motel room for the same price! I fail to see how a concrete parking pad can be as expensive as a room with maid service. Sure, I understand that there are additional costs to run the Fort, but are they really as much as the cost of operating a room? Unfortunately, these costs will only continue to escalate as long as people are willing to fork out the cash.

I know I am going to draw some fire for this, but... the Fort is not a crash-pad for commandos, it is a vacation destination. Just look at how often people post that they are spending most, if not all, of their vacation at the Fort! I'm not saying you can't use it as a crash pad, heck you can use the Grand Floridian like that if you want but who would pay a grand a night for a bed? And BTW, I would take my motorhome bed over the Grand Floridian any day.

In the past Fort Wilderness was cheap enough, and unknown enough to fit both bills. That is not the case anymore, as evidenced by it's year-round high-occupancy. The word is out, and the price is up. And that's a good thing. If the Fort were a low-earning dog, how long do you think today's Disney corp would let it flounder before plowing it under and putting in another high-rise and golf course?!

The Fort is not a good alternative to the Super 8 anymore, good! It's better than that! The Fort is too popular to be a good alternative to a state park for weekend getaways anymore. Sorry for your loss locals, but the secret is out. Be glad for the years you had this gem essentially to yourself, and for a steal.

I've said it before, most folks save for a year or two to be able to come to the Fort for the Fort, and that is the guest the Fort is best suited to. If you want to use it in some other way (long-term stays, crash-pad, weekend getaway 8-10 times a year), and are willing to pay, then so be it... but don't complain that it isn't a perfect fit.

Just my 2¢


Edited: I found it ironic that as I was writing my diatribe you posted this in another thread: "And camping? There's a peace about camping that one will never experience in a motel/hotel room." So, why in the world would you compare FW rates to a "decent motel room" when you obviously don't think they compare? I don't get it: an advocate in one thread becomes a prosecutor in another.
 
I know I am going to draw some fire for this, but... the Fort is not a crash-pad for commandos, it is a vacation destination. Just look at how often people post that they are spending most, if not all, of their vacation at the Fort! I'm not saying you can't use it as a crash pad, heck you can use the Grand Floridian like that if you want but who would pay a grand a night for a bed? And BTW, I would take my motorhome bed over the Grand Floridian any day.

In the past Fort Wilderness was cheap enough, and unknown enough to fit both bills. That is not the case anymore, as evidenced by it's year-round high-occupancy. The word is out, and the price is up. And that's a good thing. If the Fort were a low-earning dog, how long do you think today's Disney corp would let it flounder before plowing it under and putting in another high-rise and golf course?!

The Fort is not a good alternative to the Super 8 anymore, good! It's better than that! The Fort is too popular to be a good alternative to a state park for weekend getaways anymore. Sorry for your loss locals, but the secret is out. Be glad for the years you had this gem essentially to yourself, and for a steal.

I've said it before, most folks save for a year or two to be able to come to the Fort for the Fort, and that is the guest the Fort is best suited to. If you want to use it in some other way (long-term stays, crash-pad, weekend getaway 8-10 times a year), and are willing to pay, then so be it... but don't complain that it isn't a perfect fit.

Just my 2¢


Edited: I found it ironic that as I was writing my diatribe you posted this in another thread: "And camping? There's a peace about camping that one will never experience in a motel/hotel room." So, why in the world would you compare FW rates to a "decent motel room" when you obviously don't think they compare? I don't get it: an advocate in one thread becomes a prosecutor in another.


Shan, couldn't have said it better, :worship: Note our times at FW, we save up every other year. When we go camping, we go to a forest preserve close by, electric only, 13 bucks a night...
 
Shan, couldn't have said it better, :worship: Note our times at FW, we save up every other year. When we go camping, we go to a forest preserve close by, electric only, 13 bucks a night...


and here is a pic of the $13.00 a night campsite, last halloween:
100_4258.jpg
 
I know I am going to draw some fire for this, but... the Fort is not a crash-pad for commandos, it is a vacation destination. Just look at how often people post that they are spending most, if not all, of their vacation at the Fort! I'm not saying you can't use it as a crash pad, heck you can use the Grand Floridian like that if you want but who would pay a grand a night for a bed? And BTW, I would take my motorhome bed over the Grand Floridian any day.

In the past Fort Wilderness was cheap enough, and unknown enough to fit both bills. That is not the case anymore, as evidenced by it's year-round high-occupancy. The word is out, and the price is up. And that's a good thing. If the Fort were a low-earning dog, how long do you think today's Disney corp would let it flounder before plowing it under and putting in another high-rise and golf course?!

The Fort is not a good alternative to the Super 8 anymore, good! It's better than that! The Fort is too popular to be a good alternative to a state park for weekend getaways anymore. Sorry for your loss locals, but the secret is out. Be glad for the years you had this gem essentially to yourself, and for a steal.

I've said it before, most folks save for a year or two to be able to come to the Fort for the Fort, and that is the guest the Fort is best suited to. If you want to use it in some other way (long-term stays, crash-pad, weekend getaway 8-10 times a year), and are willing to pay, then so be it... but don't complain that it isn't a perfect fit.

Just my 2¢

Well put.
 
Using dvc points at the fort is beginning to look more and more like a bargain!

Still, the fort isn't as expensive as cedar point's camper village when you compare apples to apples; park to park. absolutely no comparison, although my coaster loving sons would beg to differ!

You're right about Cedar Point - It's expensive without all the magic. We're going there this summer so DH can get his coaster fix, and I know we'll probably be comparing it to FW! I try to justify our Disney trip by spreading out the vacations, as you can see by my countdown. I don't want to wish the time away, but I wish our next trip to FW would hurry up and get here!
 
I know I am going to draw some fire for this, but... the Fort is not a crash-pad for commandos, it is a vacation destination. Just look at how often people post that they are spending most, if not all, of their vacation at the Fort! I'm not saying you can't use it as a crash pad, heck you can use the Grand Floridian like that if you want but who would pay a grand a night for a bed? And BTW, I would take my motorhome bed over the Grand Floridian any day.

In the past Fort Wilderness was cheap enough, and unknown enough to fit both bills. That is not the case anymore, as evidenced by it's year-round high-occupancy. The word is out, and the price is up. And that's a good thing. If the Fort were a low-earning dog, how long do you think today's Disney corp would let it flounder before plowing it under and putting in another high-rise and golf course?!

The Fort is not a good alternative to the Super 8 anymore, good! It's better than that! The Fort is too popular to be a good alternative to a state park for weekend getaways anymore. Sorry for your loss locals, but the secret is out. Be glad for the years you had this gem essentially to yourself, and for a steal.

I've said it before, most folks save for a year or two to be able to come to the Fort for the Fort, and that is the guest the Fort is best suited to. If you want to use it in some other way (long-term stays, crash-pad, weekend getaway 8-10 times a year), and are willing to pay, then so be it... but don't complain that it isn't a perfect fit.

Just my 2¢


Edited: I found it ironic that as I was writing my diatribe you posted this in another thread: "And camping? There's a peace about camping that one will never experience in a motel/hotel room." So, why in the world would you compare FW rates to a "decent motel room" when you obviously don't think they compare? I don't get it: an advocate in one thread becomes a prosecutor in another.

I think it depends on the individual. Some people use the Fort for a “vacation destination,” others (like myself) use it for a “crash-pad” and yes, it most certainly serves that function as well. While that may not be your intended use, be careful about discounting others who may use it in that fashion.

Why do we use the Fort? Simple mathematics. Staying at the Fort is still the cheapest alternative for staying on-site at WDW when one considers the ability to prepare one’s own meals.

We go to WDW to take our kids to the parks, we could not go if we were forced to stay at one of the other resorts and eat out every meal. The Fort provides what we need. However, when they keep raising the prices it begins to approach the realm of impossibility for us.

In addition, this still does not address the issue of how a concrete pad can be more expensive to operate than a motel/hotel room. Sure I understand the laws of supply and demand, but it seems to me that the answer might be to build Fort Wilderness #2 and/or expand the current offerings to meet the need while providing a place to stay for families who are less fortunate financially.

Disney has done this with all the other resorts…why not another campground?

May I finally suggest that there was not a contradiction in my statements, simply a misunderstanding in your interpretation. The joy of camping does far surpass a stay in a motel room and I will choose a State Park or a National Park over a motel/hotel room any day when my goal is to simply relax and enjoy the surroundings.

However, that is not my purpose when I go to WDW. My goal while at WDW is to visit the parks…not sit at my camper (if it’s your goal…great for you, it’s just not our intention). The reason I stay at the Fort is mostly financial. Do I enjoy the Fort in the limited time that I am there? Absolutely, it is the greatest and most beautiful campground I know and we love it. Perhaps we may not spend as much time there as you, but it is a beautiful place to be.

In short, we choose the Fort because it enables us to visit WDW more often. To state that we shouldn’t consider the cost or use the Fort in a way which is different from your own seems a little elitist to me.

No disrespect intended…just a thought from the other side.
 
Regardless of how you utilize the Fort, Disney is going to reach the saturation point as far as fees and what you get for the price no matter who you are. In this economy, I am trying to make the most of my vacation dollar, so for me, this year anyway, Disney crossed that line and I will be offsite. The same is true for ticket prices and food prices - Disney will reach that magic number where guests will say what you get is not worth the price, and they will go elsewhere.
 













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