I love the Fort

[Tiggerkmp]

I really do. I love camping here. We've had our family reunion at the Fort the end of January for several years. We plan to continue, even though they did discard our AAA discount and don't even offer a passholder discount. I have friends who were thinking about going for a few days the end of February...I never imagined there would be sites available. We decided to look and I was astonished to see sites available in all categories. BUT...seriously, $135/night for a premium site? That is officially beyond my ability to rationalize a stay here. Makes me appreciate the $82/$87 a night we're paying at the end of the month! What price point will make you stop going?

 

[John VN]

I love my wife and like FW. My wife loves FW and it's all her $$$$ so what ever she says goes. Not sure there is a price point at this time. We are there for Marathon Weekend, her anniversary in June, her birthday in September and December just because. She spends, I drive.

That's my final answer.

McFlurry John

 

[2goofycampers]

Here is a price chart for 2015, notice there are hardly any value periods anymore. We skipped going this year and so far it looks like a no go for 2015. We can take 2/3 weeks somewhere else and still be cheaper than a week at The Fort.

http://www.mousesavers.com/2015-ft-wilderness-campsites-rates-season-dates/

 

[5stljayhawks]

I would say it has reached it for me.

Anybody remember when FW started to convert preferred to premium a few years back? We all asked ourselves why and why so many? Many of figured it was a grab, now seeing it like that is and the $50 per site per night increase during "holiday" and "peak" doesn't seam quite as magical.

Does this cost increase also have people visiting less? Thus less activity on this forum? Will post to general group.

 

[skyp4WDW]

It might be worth taking the time to call the fort (407) 824-2837 or email Guest Services with your/our concerns about campsite pricing; and the lack of inclusion in any discounts. Sometimes when they get alot of attention about an issue, they will make some sort of adjustment to smooth things over. Disney will continue to raise prices and cut discounts as long as it works for them. (If they can get $150.-$200. per night for a site; they will. They have no shame. And they don't care if they price out nice little families - but they may care about bad press. So speak up and tell "Greedy Disney" enough is enough.)

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Looks like we will be leaving Feb 12th instead of Feb 14th. We made our ressies without having 2015 pricing and now that I have looked at the 2015 schedule I am forced to make adjustments because I refuse to pay over $100 for a full hook up site. The constant increase will force us to look to other places than Disneyworld, as much as I would love to stay there the entire time its just not the value it once was so I will vote with my feet.

 

[bama_ed]

It's a money grab. It's more blatant and in-your-face than it used to be too.

In the years I've been going there have been more attempts to squeeze out the next revenue dollar:

- we've seen 3 different rate periods blossom into lots of micro-periods
- we've seen many loops converted to Premium to justify much higher rates with a little bit more concrete.
- we've seen the weekend kicker (the extra dollars over the weekday rate) introduced and now it's quite a lot more. And weekends are still hard to get!
- we've seen the anti-competitive bullying of the off-site golf cart vendors
- we've seen the trailer rental companies (which help Disney fill these overpriced sites) stuck with a $75 "drop fee" which of course is passed on to the renters

I'm all for paying Cast Members their due (wages, insurance costs, etc.) and I understand inflation as well. But the cost of a campsite has gone up faster than these. Disney has converted part of some deluxe resorts to DVC because (IMO) their higher rates couldn't produce "heads-in-beds" enough. The Fort hasn't expanded since the mid-70s so while Disney has added hotel rooms over the decades which it now has trouble filling, the campsite capacity has been static. That means that demand probably still outstrips supply at this point.

My 2014 trip in March I bit the bullet on several nights at Preferred rates because it was our last family trip (oldest graduates college this year) and even though he might try to slum a free room/vacation in the future, he will be on his own. This year I'm spending one night off-site before arriving at the Fort because if I get into the Orlando area at 5-6pm and set up, I'm paying $100 for sleeping at the Fort. Instead I'm going to pay $25 for the night off-site, cruise over to the Fort early in the morning, and get a full day in. I still have time to do the night stuff during the trip (campfire, movies, fireworks) so that off-site night doesn't stunt my vacation and saves me $75.

I know I go to the Fort nearly every year and don't have to do so. I could save my pennies and go every other year or something like that. But I've started going other places that cost less, have that "brand new experience" feeling, and are more fun. It's harder to justify these prices when the parks are basically the same every year.

I know if I don't fill that space at the Fort, someone else will. So be it. I might be tempted to do off-season/value periods in the future but it's not a sure thing.

Bama Ed

PS - and oh BTW, OP, that $135 Premium site you mention is $150+ with the 12.5% tax added...

 

[ilovedisneymm]

We will be paying $50 a night for our January 2015 trip (a little more on the weekend) and I think that is more than a fair price to pay to stay at FW.

Of course, we have also went from Cabin ($300 (ish) a night, to an RV $75 a night, and now down to a tent, $50 a night.

Right now, It works for us.

I also think what might be driving the price up is the darn one night throw away rooms. Just another hit for those that really do camp.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

It's a money grab. It's more blatant and in-your-face than it used to be too . . .

{FLAME PROOF CAPE FROM DRAWER TO SHOULDERS}
1) As CM's, this is also a huge complaint of ours.
2) Disney has gone away from being family-friendly and being guest-centric.
3) They are strictly Wall Street.
4) If it doesn't generate ACCEPTABLE profit margins, don't do it.
5) And, if you can eke out more revenue from anything existing, do it.
6) That is why so many DVC's and hotel rooms are being converted to DVC's.

7) More rooms, higher prices, bigger crowds, fewer rides/attractions.
. . . little change in the parks
. . . an actual net-reduction in rides and per-hour ride capacity
8) Unfortunately, Disney will do nothing until attendance and profits reduce.
9) And, that isn't happening, YET.
{FLAME PROOF CAPE BACK TO STORAGE}

 

[tiggerdad]

We had debated making our Fort trips a yearly thing for the kids while they are young. This year was a great trip, lots of fun all the way through, but a little hard on the 9 y/o after missing a week of school. This year we are considering skipping on the Fort trip. I really need to build a shop for my camper to get it in out of the weather because these RV covers are all crap and a waste of money. Need something more solid and permanent. Figure the cost of materials and me doing all the work will equal up to a week at Disney and the Fort. What a shame that I can build a 30x40 metal building for the same price as 7 days...

I look at the pricing and I think it's terrible. Disney has for sure become more Wall Street like. Squeeze a penny out wherever you can. This is why we have less rocking chairs at Trail's End, because some idiot thinks it will sell more drinks. The sites cost per night has skyrocketed yet...you don't get anything more now than you used to. In fact, you get less. Anybody catch the Christmas Parade on Christmas day? Two hours long, hardly any shots of the actual parade itself, but a mass amount of advertising for DVC and other Disney vacation spots. They obviously cheaped out on hosts too...

Then I remember staying at POR on our first trip and easily paying $200 a night, plus having to buy the dining plan because we had no other choice to be able to eat. Then I remember why I prefer the camper, not only is the Fort more friendly, but even at $150 a night, plus fuel, the money I save with being able to cook my own food fully makes it more affordable.

Bottom line, I'm not priced out of the Fort. As long as my kids really enjoy Disney I will take them, because eventually they aren't gonna want to hang out with dear old dad. But, I don't want them to wear out on it either, and going every year is a sure fire way for that to happen. So we have decided on every other year, and head to someplace new the years in between.

Like Ed said, seeing new places and new experiences is always a good thing.

The Fort will always be my preferred place to stay, unless I get a free trip or become so madly rich that I can actually afford to stay in a moderate or deluxe...yeah...no...I'll just buy a bigger camper instead, maybe afford one of those fancy 5th wheels like some of you guys have

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Having just retired I was hoping to spend a few weeks every winter at FW, that probably is going to be cut back to one week instead because of the steep price rise and static level of amenities. I do love the Fort but after last years trip we found the Florida state parks are really pretty nice and a pretty solid value. I have no problem with Disney maximizing profits but there is a breakover point here somewhere. This discussion is nothing new but there are more and more regulars that are staying for less time and or not staying at FW at all.

 

[Teamubr]

We have typically done Disney every other year. With going to a beach somewhere on the odd years. We also stayed at the Fort because it was cheaper than a Value/Moderate + food. Before the great fuel price drop, the food was the price breaker. Camping + truck fuel was literally the same price as a value + SUV gas. Eating our own food in the RV for half our meals vs DDP or ala cart all week was the difference.

I'll have to rerun the numbers with the new camping rates. It may actually be more expensive to tow the camper 1000 miles than it is to drive DWs SUV and staying at a Moderate.

Too bad.

I don't think this will change our plans to come down next year. We know a week at WDW will be $3000+. Adding an extra $300-$500 for the week isn't a big enough difference for us. I may cut back on TS meals at the nicer places, but I'll still come for the parks.

j

 

[Teamubr]

Wow. I just redid the math on my spreadsheet to account for the latest fuel prices and the current rates on the WDW site. I will have to seriously consider not bringing the camper next trip.

I priced out a Preferred campsite, a Value (Pop Century) and 2 Mods (Port Orleans- French Quarter and Caribbean Beach Club with 8 day park hopper staying Sat-Sat in early June.

Adding in fuel/gas to drive down, the Value is $400 cheaper than towing the camper down. The Mods were only $300-$400 more than the Fort.

I've never stayed in a Value, but $400 is a few CS/TS meals. Considering we only eat breakfast and a few dinners at the camper, it's close to even.

That was close. Now that I'm back to it being a draw, the Fort is looking great. SO much more to offer than a Value... Apparently for the same price!

j

 

[tiggerdad]

Teamubr,
I typically always get premium due to the length of my camper and the outside kitchen is located at the rear, which would put me in the sandpit for the kitchen in other sites. If I added this in I would be dead even on a value. My decision still lies with food. I have a serious problem paying Disney's overpriced menu for the lack of variety and actual taste of the food. I mean the food at this CS at this park is the same as the CS in that other park. Besides, I get the feeling of power when I am pouring the charcoal lighter to the grill and all my neighbors are coming out of their sites to see where the volcano came from.

In other words, I would rather pay a little more for my better cooking and cleaner bed, but it is close. My wife is a huge germaphobe. She packs her own bed linens and pillows, which was taking up half our packing space on prior trips, no matter where we were going.

 

[CamperMomma]

We still have yet to make the trip with the camper (30+ hour drive from where we are right now), but had hoped to in coming years. I was hoping to make it a trip when each kiddo turns 5. But if prices keep soaring this way, we will have to certainly rethink. Especially if the military discount IS available on cabins/resorts, but not on campsites. We may end up almost breaking even depending on the time of year if we aren't pulling a 25' sail behind us on the trek down. It'll certainly be something to watch. I suppose thankfully we are far enough away (hope to move here in the next year closer) that it isn't a "yearly" thing for us, but more so a special trip we only do a few times total. At least with the cabin we'll still be at "the fort"!