If you were me would you Cabins or ASMu?

[jvattes]

I am soooooooo torn for our next trip to WDW.

Background: we are a mom and dad traveling with a then 9yo girl and 5yo boy, aiming for a 7 night stay, utilizing a dining and ticket package as we did last trip on 2010.

Our last trip we stayed at ASMu in a Family Suite and we loved it. Loved the resort, loved the bus system, loved all the extra space (and the extra bathroom) in the suite. Loved it.

This time we are contemplating staying at Ft Wilderness in the Cabins. This would require us to rent a car, as I understand it's difficult and time consuming to get around the Fort and to use the bus system. The cost of both stays are approximately equal, even with the addition of the car to stay at the cabin. It's really within a couple hundred dollars.

On the one hand, I'm tempted to go with "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and stay ASMu. OTOH, I'm tempted to see what else there is in the World, WRT resort stays.

We cannot, will not, stay anywhere that does not afford the kids their own room to sleep in, and booking two rooms is spenny.

What would you do?

 

[KonaKaiTom]

We stayed at Ft. Wilderness and had a car which we used twice -- to get to and from the airport. We rented a golf cart for the week and used it a lot and the buses were easy and close by. The ferry to the Magic Kingdom was also a simple and quick way to get there as well as TTC to get the monorail for Epcot. There is no need for a car, so don't let that be the deciding factor. BTW -- the golf cart accomodated 5 of us easily.

Tom

 

[jvattes]

We stayed at Ft. Wilderness and had a car which we used twice -- to get to and from the airport. We rented a golf cart for the week and used it a lot and the buses were easy and close by. The ferry to the Magic Kingdom was also a simple and quick way to get there as well as TTC to get the monorail for Epcot. There is no need for a car, so don't let that be the deciding factor. BTW -- the golf cart accomodated 5 of us easily.

Tom

But the golf carts are near as spenny as renting a car - and actually a friend got a great priceline deal on renting a car for something like $7/day (no joke!). So I have put the golf cart option away. Is my thinking or information wrong here??

 

[Butterflygirl35]

I am soooooooo torn for our next trip to WDW.

Background: we are a mom and dad traveling with a then 9yo girl and 5yo boy, aiming for a 7 night stay, utilizing a dining and ticket package as we did last trip on 2010.

Our last trip we stayed at ASMu in a Family Suite and we loved it. Loved the resort, loved the bus system, loved all the extra space (and the extra bathroom) in the suite. Loved it.

This time we are contemplating staying at Ft Wilderness in the Cabins. This would require us to rent a car, as I understand it's difficult and time consuming to get around the Fort and to use the bus system. The cost of both stays are approximately equal, even with the addition of the car to stay at the cabin. It's really within a couple hundred dollars.



On the one hand, I'm tempted to go with "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and stay ASMu. OTOH, I'm tempted to see what else there is in the World, WRT resort stays.

We cannot, will not, stay anywhere that does not afford the kids their own room to sleep in, and booking two rooms is spenny.

What would you do?

Hands down Cabins. AOA is value.. Cabins are moderate. Awesome sing along and marshmallow roasts, better pool area with slide... Not to mention the boat ride to MK.. That in itself is enough reason for me...

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Well, we took the golf cart EVERYWHERE internally at FW as there are parking spaces for golf carts everywhere -- not so sure about cars. For example the Trading Post (gift shop) is pretty far away from the cabin to walk, but less than 5 minutes in the golf cart and we can park there with the cart but not a car. Same goes for the Magic Kingdom Ferry and the restaurants. Cars don't do well internally at FW -- Golf cart lets you control the hows and whens you go everywhere. The buses are internal buses are frequent but we much preferred the freedom of the golf cart.

 

[makingplans4WDW]

Well, we took the golf cart EVERYWHERE internally at FW as there are parking spaces for golf carts everywhere -- not so sure about cars. For example the Trading Post (gift shop) is pretty far away from the cabin to walk, but less than 5 minutes in the golf cart and we can park there with the cart but not a car. Same goes for the Magic Kingdom Ferry and the restaurants. Cars don't do well internally at FW -- Golf cart lets you control the hows and whens you go everywhere. The buses are internal buses are frequent but we much preferred the freedom of the golf cart.

Us too! A big vote for FW cabins as long as you also get the golf cart. Riding around in the cart exploring FW was a big part of the fun for our family. And if your child is small enough, you can head to the stables and have a pony ride on Cinderella's horses ($5/ride - IMO the best bargain at WDW)!

 

[nessz79]

I would definitely do FW cabins! FW is a wonderful resort, much better than ASMu (which I have stayed at as well). There are tons of activities and the area is beautiful. Although I have not stayed in the cabins (we have stayed at FW in an RV, though), I think they would be a nicer space than a suite at ASMu.

 

[Cinderella1122]

Cabins!!! I am not a big fan of the values because they are soooo over crowded. The last thing I want to do after leaving a crowded park is fight crowds of people at my resort. I loved the cabins. They were so relaxing and quiet. It reminded me of when I was a little girl and I would spend my weekends at my grandparents place in the mountains. One night for dinner my dad cooked hot dogs on the grill and we had a picnic on the deck of the cabin. I would hands down stay there again.

 

[Skip2MyLou]

We stayed at Cabins in 2008. Have never stayed at the Family Suites, but have stayed at values (Pop & Movies).

I would say if a 2nd bathroom is important to your family, then stay in the Suites. We had 5 adults & just worked out a schedule for showers, so the bathroom wasn't an issue. Some showered at night, some in the morning. That is the ONLY reason I could see someone choosing Suites or Cabins.


We LOVED LOVED LOVED Fort Wilderness. The Cabins were far enough apart that we never heard neighbors, the pools were a blast, boat to MK is so relaxing, we thought the dining options were great (altho there is no food court). With all the extra recreational things to do, you may find yourself wanting to just hang out at the resort. I honestly cannot wait to go back to Fort Wilderness.

 

[cubsblue]

Put down another vote for FW and a golf cart. It may be more than a car but in the long run it will work out much better. We love FW and the cart is so much fun. There are many places you can go with the cart that you will not be able to with the car. They discourage guests from using their car to get around FW simply due to the fact there is no parking anywhere but the main lot and your cabin.

 

[alex9179]

We decided on a suite because I don't want to share a full bed with DH at the cabin. I'm not a snuggler for sleep and that size bed would be tooooo close for me! I just wouldn't sleep well, at all.

If you don't mind the size of the bed, then I think the cabins would be a nice, relaxing place to stay...no noisy neighbors. Having WL close for a meal or two and the boat to MK is also a bonus.

 

[Q-man]

Haven't done the family suites but love the cabins. Quiet after a day of over stimulation is great.

We found the transportation at FTW to be quite good after reading all the complaints about it. The only place you can drive your car within the campground is out the front gate to whichever park. There are no car parking lots at any of the campground attractions. The buses run on two internal loops connecting you to the parks bus stop up front or down to the marina. Supplementing Disney's transportation with a few cabs rides would be cheaper than renting a car.

Golf cart is nice but if you're in the parks all day and just at the cabin at night it is unnecessary. If you're spending lots of time at the campground activities then I would recommend a cart.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

I believe the "Murphy" bed is queen size.

 

[alex9179]

I believe the "Murphy" bed is queen size.

Then it has changed and WDW hasn't updated it. The description of the room states double beds, which are full size. There is one in the bedroom and the murphy in the living area, and bunk beds.
I've never found double beds enough room for two unless you like to sleep close to someone...which is just too hot for me! I did it with my 4 yr old and it was borderline OK. There wasn't enough room to put a pillow between us to prevent him from kicking me in the back.

 

[sammielynn]

You might want to take a loo at the suites at Art of Animation. They have three beds, two baths and are new. We are going in December and the price was about $200 less than the Cabins, and you don't have to rent a golf cart.

 

[RyMacJ]

We chose AoA. It's a little different for us, though. I really liked the look of the cabins and the idea of it being secluded. But we will have me, DH, 2 DD's and both of our mothers. So it would have pretty much ended up with our mothers having to share a bed, which, just no.

So after a discussion amongst all four adults we opted for AoA and one grandmother will sleep with one DD, the other will sleep with the other DD. They'll probably trade some so the girls don't fight over who sleeps with what Grandma. LOL.

Good luck making your decision. If it were only going to be the four of us and I had to have two rooms I would have chosen the cabin probably. I love the idea of the campfire sing-a-long. Maybe next trip when they're a little older and it's only our family going.

 

[wishing4PA]

I would choose the suites in AoA, followed by ASMu (haven't stayed in either, but have stayed in a standard room at a value).

OP said it is important the kids have their own room. In a cabin, there are 2 separate sleeping areas. Room with (dbl?) bed and bunk beds, and LR with the Murphy. Unless they have magically enhanced those Murphy beds, or you love hard beds, I'd grab one of the real beds in the bedroom. That leaves son and daughter sharing the Murphy or one camping out on the sofa (it's not designed for sleeping) and one on the Murphy. Or you forget the separate rooms thing, and let them have the bunk bed.

I did enjoy the cabin itself, and would happily stay in FW again, but I get a real bed next time!

As for the car, if I recall correctly, I think ours was moved from its parking spot only one time at FW, and that was for a quick "grocery" type run at the trading post. Otherwise, it remained parked the whole time. We perhaps would have seen more of FW if we had rented a cart, but we were busy at the parks most of the time anyhow, so a cart would have been a waste for us.

 

[FigmentChick]

Why not consider POR? Our family of five stays there. With the new renovations, each room in the Alligator Bayou section has two queen beds and a Murphy bed that pulls down. A fellow DISer measured the Murphy bed and it is over 5 feet long.

We've stayed at POR our last two trips and will again next year. With this resort, you're still at a moderate, cheaper than the cabins, and each child gets their own bed.

Sound good, yeah?



I think I misread your original post - you want the kids to be separate from you and your hubby, right? Then I guess POR is out. But than the cabins will be as well. The way the sleeping arrangements are, at least one child would be in the sleeping area with you and your hubby. The sleeping area consists of a double (or is it queen?) bed and a set of bunk beds. I think you're better off in a family suite for your needs.

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[Masonmj84]

I've never found double beds enough room for two unless you like to sleep close to someone...which is just too hot for me! I did it with my 4 yr old and it was borderline OK. There wasn't enough room to put a pillow between us to prevent him from kicking me in the back.

LOL!

I need at least a queen bed when sharing with DS so that there's enough room to build a "great wall of pillows" between us.

Otherwise, it's a regular dose of hands, feet, elbows, knees, etc. all night long.

 

[jvattes]

.

OP said it is important the kids have their own room. In a cabin, there are 2 separate sleeping areas. Room with (dbl?) bed and bunk beds, and LR with the Murphy. Unless they have magically enhanced those Murphy beds, or you love hard beds, I'd grab one of the real beds in the bedroom. That leaves son and daughter sharing the Murphy or one camping out on the sofa (it's not designed for sleeping) and one on the Murphy. Or you forget the separate rooms thing, and let them have the bunk bed.

I guess maybe I wasn't clear. What we loved about the suite was the kids had their own room to go to sleep in while we had our own room (where we ultimately went to sleep, too) to watch TV, converse, read, long after they were in bed. We want to avoid staying in one room which would necessitate all 4 of us going to bed at the same time (tv and lights out).

The double bed situation does somewhat concern us, but it being the 4 of us, we think we could manage not sleeping in the same bed for a week - one of us in the room with the kids/bunk and the other in the living room.



It's the transportation thing which has me most concerned. The cabins are a step up in price already, and the golf carts aren't cheap - I think I read something like $70/day?

Not interested in AOA - too garish for me, even as much as I like feeling immersed in WDW while at WDW. The buildings themselves do not seem very warm and inviting, and rather look like prisons in some sense (to me).

I am always amazed at how many people don't like the idea of staying at a value because they are so overcrowded. Perhaps we went with a different mind set but we went at PEAK SEASON and we never felt it was overcrowded (at the resort or at WDW in general). We loved our time at ASMu

Sigh... I'll never make up my mind!