I know I'm beating a dead horse, but.....

[ElementCamper]

Definitely agree about sleeping in my own bed in the trailer! Having stayed at the Values several times for free dining, I still always felt like I had to keep my shoes on in the room. And I've had things taken from my room (now let's not get on that wagon, stuff happens like that anywhere).

More than likely gonna do the Fort just to get to play in my camper.

 

[Renosiris]

I get no shampoo and soap, but no ice. Come on! It's water...and gross water at that. It can't possibly cost a fortune to run one ice machine. That's ridiculous.

 

[Shan-man]

I think I might have been misunderstood (shocker!)... I am not complaining that the Fort is not a hotel. I don't want a maid to make my bed or clean my sinks or leave a towel figures in the RV. But, I'm all for the Fort offering us the same, reasonably expected, amenities as other resorts.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

And I've had things taken from my room (now let's not get on that wagon, stuff happens like that anywhere).

We stay'd at the Wilderness Lodge when it was confused3 I dont know) bout a month new,,
my son was relieved of his $120. sneaks during our stay.
Just never know.

 

[I'mDownWithDisney]

I am currently pricing a 9 day trip in September and comparing the following:

FW water/electric only site, pay for DDP QS out of pocket
Value resort stay, no DDP (assuming possible free dining in September which has yet to be announced).

Difference in price? $30 less to stay at FW.

Now I love the Fort but by the time I pull the trailer down there, it's cheaper to do value with free dining than it is to pay for it.

Now I'm torn, still trying to decide which to do!

I have debated this same issue a few times. Each time I decided that we enjoyed the Fort too much to stay at a value hotel. Twice we decided to stay at the cabins with free dining and split it with another couple. This worked out pretty well. Last year we decided to skip the free dining and just stay in our "new to us" fiver. I missed not having the free dining, but I did not miss worrying with ADR's and having to stick to a schedule. We utilized the kitchen and grill at the camper. Although, we did pay for a few table service dinners. In retrospect I think that enjoying the camper and campground more than made up for free dining.

 

[John VN]

DW and I are not bothered about no towels, no dining plan, no free ice or anything else that is available at the other WDW Resorts simply because we feel FW is like a little piece of heaven here on earth and has been since our first stay with our children in the early 80's.

 

[LarryJ]

Campers are a different breed, we go and are self realiant for the most part . I would bet that in no other resort do they have year to years return like the do at the Fort, why would they discount when they know it will fill to near capacity every time.

IMHO that is the reason and to me it makes sense.

Larry

 

[Lil' Lisa]

IMHO that is the reason and to me it makes sense.

Larry

Yep... Economics 101

 

[AndrewJackson]

Believe it or not, the campground is inlcuded in the current discount promotion. My parents are staying March 12-27, and were able to book on-line with the discount. My sister tried from March 13-20 the next day, and no sites were available with the discount.

My mom was amazed that the campground was included. She was able to save about $300 for the two weeks.

 

[des1954]

During slower times of the year it is very possible to snag an AP or AAA discount at FtW. It's almost like a double discount because the rates at FtW are lower during the slow periods.

Not to shock anyone - but how quickly we forget about the bed bug infestation at CBR & ASR back in 2008. Yep! Cheaper rates & all the scratchin' you can handle!

As to not getting as much for your money....that's just plain crazy! You can't loop & you can't ride a bike at the other resorts, and you certainly don't have ambiance at the other resorts like you have at FtW - unless you're into staring at a parking lot or another building or endless concrete. Nor - do you get to know your neighbors when you're sequestered in a hotel room. Has anyone ever heard of a "Lodge Fiend" or a "All-Star Fiend"?

I'm glad when people opt to stay at an ASR vs. FtW. That leaves one more site open for me to book!!

Save yer money and stay at All-Star! It makes it that much easier for the ol' Otter-Spotter to book a site at The Fort!!

 

[starbuc71]

I have to say, the fort is what got my family camping. Me and my parents did it when I was small up north and we loved it. We live only a little over an hour away from disney and we used to frequent the Orlando area for weekend trips. We were amazed the first time we stayed at the fort back in 05. Yes the sites are expensive for camp sites but look at the amenities you get. You are practically in the same location as the WL and the contemporary but not at the $300 a night plus. The value resorts in disney are just that, value. If you choose to go that route, your better to stay at a Marriott courtyard or Residence inn, you will get better rooms and service. I have to admit and I might tick some people off, but I don't think the cabins are worth anything near the price they are a night. We had friends last year wanting to stay at the cabins so they can do the trip with us and we both alomost fell over when we heard the rstes were close to or just the same as the WL. And as others said, you can't compare the fort to anything at or around disney. With all the crap out there these days, I like the fact that I can sleep in my own bed and not have to depend on minimum wage housekeepers to wonder if they changed the sheets...lol

 

[Lil' Lisa]

...when I was small up north...

I may be wrong, but I bet you grew up in either Minnesota or Wisconsin.

 

[starbuc71]

I may be wrong, but I bet you grew up in either Minnesota or Wisconsin.

No, upstate NY

 

[Lil' Lisa]

No, upstate NY

Huh! I always thought that "up north" (or up nort' as we say around here) was a "midwesternism". I thought I was being such a smarty pants!

 

[Tigger1966]

I have allways believed that it was worth the diffrence in price to sleep in my own bed and have my stuff.
Not to mention the golf cart

 

[Luv2Camp]

I agree with all the posts that there's nowhere else I'd rather stay than the Fort, and being able to bring my "furry" babies is worth it in itself. But, I just get frustrated seeing the gift card promotions for everyone but us even though we spend just as much as a lot of other folks. Knowing everyone else undertands the frustration makes me feel better for some reason!

Maybe I just need to buy myself a gift card so it'll feel like "free money" while we're there!

 

[itch1]

Write an email send it to all the heads you never know what you will get! One year the gave our site away and we were put in another away from our travel partners the gave us a huge fruit basket and the next day we got back into the loop we wanted, the best part is when we arrived home another fruit basket was waitting for us!

 

[gillenkl]

I know my friend just got a pin code for free dining good thru July. And no she's not going to use it. I don't see why someone who books, say a premium campsite, can't get in on this free dining. Doesn't a premium site during primetime cost as much if not more than say Pop Century? If I did get a code I'd cancel my non-disney June trip asap and immediately book 2 weeks at Disney. They're actually losing money by not offering me a pin code after you figure in my golf cart rental and souvenirs I'd buy.

 

[mnsprk]

II don't see why someone who books, say a premium campsite, can't get in on this free dining. Doesn't a premium site during primetime cost as much if not more than say Pop Century?

As has been said many times it is because you can have 10 people on a site and only 4, 2 adults/2children at the resorts with out an extra charge.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

But what I don't understand is why I can't get free dining at a campsite!