Is a premium site worth it at Ft. Wilderness?

[ms_missy66]

We were initially booked in a full-service site but a discount code came out and we were able to upgrade for only $9 extra for the entire length of the trip (12 nights). Now there's another code out, amazingly there's a full-service site still available and I'm second guessing myself. As far as I can tell, the only difference is cable TV. Am I missing something? I'm trying to decide if cable for two weeks is worth $172. I'm, admittedly, frugal and I can't help but to think $172 pays for like 6 in-park lunches for our family. That's a lot! On the other hand, I'm afraid, due to the length of the trip, that my kiddos (ages 7 and 5) will be less than thrilled that they don't have Disney Channel for our down-time. When it's a week, everyone sucks it up. Two might be pushing it though.

What to do, what to do? Anyone have insight?

 

[DaveInTN]

I'm pretty sure all the sites now have cable. The primary difference between the full h/up and the premium sites is the size of the concrete pad and the location of the loop. Full sites have a combination concrete and coquina (sand) pad. Premium is all concrete. There are other differences but I think that's the biggest.

 

[motherwild]

I believe the primium sites have the large conrete pad updated grill and picnic table.
Loop 400 - Premium
Loop 500 - Premium Pet
Loop 600 - Premium
Loop 700 - Premium Pet
Loop 800 - Premium Pet
Loop 900 - Premium Pet
Loop 1000 - Premium
Loop 1100 - Premium
Loop 1200 - Premium Pet
Loop 1300 - Premium Pet
Full hook-up are loops 1600- 1900
so location is a big difference
What ever choice you make I am sure you will have a great time.

 

[Disneylitch]

The full hook up sites have cable tv. We always stay in the full hook up sites. The only difference is that the premium sites have a new picnic table, its's square, new grill, and the area behind the concrete pad that was pulverized shell is now concrete. The full hook up sites are plenty long enough. We have seen 40' units there. The sites are also a little larger. Hopes this helps. I wouldn't pay extra for a premium unless that's the only choice I had.

 

[big kahuna1]

The premium sites are wider and can be the difference as to whether you get to use you awning or not depending on the full site as some of the trees are rather close. It also makes for much needed easier backing in if you have a large trailer or fiver. All your chairs will also fit on the concrete under your awning rather than some chairs in the dirt and some on the concrete with a full site. You can also back much farther into the site which allows for easier parking of your automobile. I stay in both but due to the size of my fiver I have become partial to the premium sites.

 

[chilipyro]

It depends on how big your trailer is and how much you want to be on your site, outside your trailer. We stayed in a full last year, but will take a premium from now on. We have a 35' trailer with 2 slides. The width was just barely large enough to allow the slides to extend and have the awning opened. The concrete pad reached about 2' out from the awning side of the trailer, then there was a small drop to the sand pad. That made setting up a table or grill next to the trailer difficult. The sand pad around the side was only 3 or 4 feet past the concrete - and it was always wet sand. The sand pad space in the back of the trailer was large enough to set up our 12x12 EzUp, but only just large enough. We looked at the premium sites and decided the extra room (and lack of wet sand) would be more than worth the extra money. So, that is were we will be this year. We saw lots of smaller trailers on the full sites, and they seemed to have plenty of room. Our trailer is just too big for that space.

 

[Disneylitch]

We were initially booked in a full-service site but a discount code came out and we were able to upgrade for only $9 extra for the entire length of the trip (12 nights). Now there's another code out, amazingly there's a full-service site still available and I'm second guessing myself. As far as I can tell, the only difference is cable TV. Am I missing something? I'm trying to decide if cable for two weeks is worth $172. I'm, admittedly, frugal and I can't help but to think $172 pays for like 6 in-park lunches for our family. That's a lot! On the other hand, I'm afraid, due to the length of the trip, that my kiddos (ages 7 and 5) will be less than thrilled that they don't have Disney Channel for our down-time. When it's a week, everyone sucks it up. Two might be pushing it though.

What to do, what to do? Anyone have insight?

Make sure you tell the reservation cast member the length of your unit as well as any slides or awnings. This is the most important thing. Our unit from front to back is about 36' and we do have an awning. There are some sites that we would not be able to open our awning. We have even gone so far as to walk the loops so we know what sites definitely will not work for us. We also travel with our dogs.

 

[clkelley]

Just to confirm, ALL sites have cable.

 

[freshlybarked]

For us it depends on how long we are staying. If we just hop in for a long weekend then we try to get Loop 300 (preferred). Otherwise I have gotten spoiled with the Premium sites. Yes, they are way to expensive and you only get a little extra concrete, but for us it just seems roomier. For 4 days or longer I go with Premium. More room for awning and slide with out having to worry about it. We usually come in a night and although we think we were positioned correctly sometimes we weren't and could only get the awning up 1/2 way or the slide out 7/8 of the way. Too much trouble to move by then so we just put up with it. Premium is great as we can put our chairs out under the awning, put up the EZ-Up 10 x 10 to cover the bikes and add a couple more chairs around the grill. We also like it because there are no shells for us or the dogs to track in. Drives DH crazy. Anyway, it is all a preferance.

 

[chilipyro]

It depends on how big your trailer is and how much you want to be on your site, outside your trailer. We stayed in a full last year, but will take a premium from now on. We have a 35' trailer with 2 slides. The width was just barely large enough to allow the slides to extend and have the awning opened. The concrete pad reached about 2' out from the awning side of the trailer, then there was a small drop to the sand pad. That made setting up a table or grill next to the trailer difficult. The sand pad around the side was only 3 or 4 feet past the concrete - and it was always wet sand. The sand pad space in the back of the trailer was large enough to set up our 12x12 EzUp, but only just large enough. We looked at the premium sites and decided the extra room (and lack of wet sand) would be more than worth the extra money. So, that is were we will be this year. We saw lots of smaller trailers on the full sites, and they seemed to have plenty of room. Our trailer is just too big for that space.

Correction - ours was a preferred site, not a 'full'. I had forgotten the terminology, but was reminded by the previous post (we were in loop 300 too).

 

[ms_missy66]

Thank you everyone!! I am going to keep the premium site because I might actually perish if we couldn't use our slide and awning. I'd rather just go down there knowing it isn't going to be a problem. I'm also going to call tomorrow and tell him the size of our trailer.

Now I just need to snag a map and request a specific loop. Thank you again!

 

[LarryJ]

Thank you everyone!! I am going to keep the premium site because I might actually perish if we couldn't use our slide and awning. I'd rather just go down there knowing it isn't going to be a problem. I'm also going to call tomorrow and tell him the size of our trailer.

Now I just need to snag a map and request a specific loop. Thank you again!

All full hookup sites will take multiple slides and awnings so that should not be a concern.

IMHO location is about the only real difference that matters IMHO with the premium ones being closer to the settlement.

Larry

 

[Shan-man]

I stay in both but due to the size of my fiver I have become partial to the premium sites.

Ask which he Preferred, why, he's Partial to the Premiums... he gives his Full endorsement! (I know, I'm such a geek!)

BTW, one other benefit of a Premium not yet mentioned is that since there is no coquina bed you won't be tracking the sand and shells into your rv, which is a big deal in our book.