Is FW out-dated?

[dtum]

Just wondering if any one felt FW was getting a bit out-dated as far as RV resorts go. As far as price, they are the priceyest, but it seems in the amenities area they are falling behind. True, they have a monopoly and people will continue to pay the price, but do we really get what we pay for these days. We've paid $40-$50/night and had free cable, wi-fi and many places now offer fitness centers (a big thing for those of use watching our health) and yet Disney insists that if you stay at FW you don't need a fitness center AND you can't use the center at any other resort. The theory that people who stay at FW want to stay there because it's cheap doesn't hold very true when the $250,000 rigs pull in...we just like to take our home with us...doesn't mean we should receive a lower class of stay then those at Wilderness Lodge or any other place. Just wondered...am i the only one who thinks Disney needs to step up to the plate and up-date FW before it loses it's 5-star ranking.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

I do think you get what you pay for (especially value season); however, I do believe the rumors that WDW will make some upgrades and that FtW guests should be permitted to use the fitness center at WL. It is still a super nice, clean campground with lots to do at WDW. To me, that makes it worth it.

 

[LONE-STAR]

From what I have been told the original reason for FW was that it was for the common man so he could afford to take his family to WDW. I dont know how true this was but I have heard it more than once.

I love FW. I would not want them to change the theme of it at all. If they start making some areas for the diesel pushers thats fine just dont forget the people who use other means of camping. Whether its tents, pop ups, TT, 5ers or something somebody built in there barn .

1.-I would like some sort of counter service food themed properly with a bigger selection that stays open later.

2.-It would be nice if all sites had Wi-Fi at no extra charge.

3.- Cable T.V. should be at all sites.

4.-A Hot tub would be nice (although it would have to be as big as a pool or put one in every loop.)

They can add more just dont take anything away from whats there.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Well....I KNOW they arent the cheapest campgrounds in the area, but they are not the most expensive, they have a few that are considerably more expensive. But what the Fort has that others dont is Disney and its magic. I dont want to come off as one of the airheaded "oh, I love disney and anything to do with Disney, and flowers and puppy dogs too" freaks....but I have to admit, MY family transforms on the roadtrip there...I suddenly become nicer, my kids become sweeter, even the "black sheep" daughter starts treating me like Im human again. We DO often camp at other CGs and we always enjoy ourselves.....but they just dont have that extra something that makes me wanna drive 644 miles to for the simple act of camping.....the staff is so over friendly and enthusiastic(even if its usually phoney), and the campers that surround you are in such GREAT moods....it cant be measured in dollars.
They ARE doing improvements....the cabins have all been refurbished. Theres talk of $13mill of improvements already in blueprints, they've already made a new dog run, although its said to still be in its "rough draft" form. I dont think Disney will ever really suffer from lack of campers, and as nice as some of the snobby 5star Rv resorts are....they aint disney and never will be.

 

[4daubers]

....but I have to admit, MY family transforms on the roadtrip there...I suddenly become nicer, my kids become sweeter, even the "black sheep" daughter starts treating me like Im human again.
...I dont think Disney will ever really suffer from lack of campers, and as nice as some of the snobby 5star Rv resorts are....they aint disney and never will be.

Amen BDR! I would never believe that my family would be a Disney family. Neither my husband and I were Disney type kids growing up. We laughed at his sister who went to WDW for her honeymoon. We only went on our first trip because our friends were going...we had to keep up with the Jones.

We fell hook, line and sinker for Disney. That first trip was magical for all of us. The second trip and third trip at FW were even more magical. BDR is right. The Disney magic starts in the planning stage, carries over on during travel and then you're at Fort Wilderness...a collective sigh of comfort. For all the commercial magic of WDW, the fort is the warm cozy place to land after a day in the park. All the campers not only something in common with our Disney enjoyment, more importantly, we're all campers no matter the type of rig or rig size. When we meet in the road, at the marina or in a bus, we have a ready made conversation starter. Just like the rest of WDW, the fort is what you make of it. It's there to enjoy in a quieter, slower pace.

If the fort is out of date, it's fine with my family. It's the Fort and it's Disney...sigh.

 

[Rhonda]

Hey! What's wrong with Flowers and Puppydogs???

 

[auntie]

I wouldn't mind seeing a better dining option..more of a food court..with as an earlier post mentioned..better selections.
Also..I seem to remember that Crocketts Tavern actually was more of restaurant for full service meals when we stayed in the cabins..(actually they were still called "trailers" back then..in the 90s's). I also recall they had a character breakfast with Chip and Dale..think that would be nice to see again.

A themed pool...way over do.

All that being said, it's still the best campground around..can't beat the Disney Magic!

 

[kimluvswdw]

I would be satisfied if they would put in a counter service. I get tired of having to go to the Wilderness Lodge for a snack.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Hey! What's wrong with Flowers and Puppydogs???

Oh my.....did I say that???? Not a darn thing, Rhonda, not a dog-gone thing

Its no secret that Im a little on the sinister side of most things, Im pretty to the point, but even as cynical as I am....I turn into this winnie-the-pooh mushball when the disney magic is flowing. I find myself less likely to kick puppies and "water" the flowers.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

An actual "food court" might be a little much and not really fit in with the woodsy, wilderness atmosphere, but at least ONE bbq themed counter service joint would be good. The CMs could wear coonskin caps....serve some roasted rattlesnake, bbq peacock, slow simmered otterlips, OK,OK,ok....maybe just some chicken burgers dogs and ribs.....Like a mini-version of Mickey's Backyard BarBQ.
And how much could a slide at the pool cost???

 

[my3princes]

I don't find the price at FW to be more expensive than RV parks that we frequent in New England. Any nicer campground on the coast or even in Lake George charge as much if not more than FW and I don't think they offer any more amenities. While I agree that a themed pool and counter service would be nice I'm very happy with what FW already offers. For us it is a vacation from our vacation.

 

[auntie]

Ah..the Lake George RV Park..notrious for it's high rates. Nice park..but not as nice as FW. I would agree most RV parks are getting pretty expensive and don't offer what FW does.

 

[DaveInTN]

I agree as well that some things at FW could be updated a bit, like the pool. However, one of the things I love about the Fort is that, to me, it has a bit of a simple, retro thing going. It hasn't changed that much since I was a kid, at least as far as the overall feel of the place. Sure, the train is gone, and the trams have been replaced by buses, but overall it is still the place I remember, and I'm glad my kids are experiencing the Fort as I did. Some basic updates would be nice, but I hope they don't move it more toward "resort" and away from "campground". Keeping it vaguely positioned in the middle is fine with me.

 

[dtum]

Thanks for all the replies. Just wondering how people felt...i think many of you feel there are a few things that need updating and it appears Disney has something in the works. I wouldn't want to change the pace or feel of the place, just a few more amenities for the guests. In 30 years there have been many changes...no more swamp trail, no more river country, no more discover island, no more peacocks...it's time to give something back so the magic is still Disney and not just another campground.

 

[tim5055]

The problem I see with counter service is that by the very nature of campers sales would vary. A lot of folks cook themselves, and why buy a sandwich when you can make it yourself in your cabin/RV. CS options would degrade sales of cold cuts at the stores.........

You can see where I'm going

Food courts work in large hotels with folks with few other options

In FW, most folks bring their kitchen with them.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

This is true....but with a couple of exceptions, like LarryJ who cooks some gourmet style banquets, god bless him, the rest of us are lazy and would LOVE to cook ourselves, and even DO once or twice a visit.....but in order to cook, ya gotta take time away from Kungloosh mixing....and we just wont tolerate that. I think a counter service would be VERY profitable..so profitable that I bet they dont have one because it would cut the sales at trails end by close to half.

 

[AuburnJen92]

I agree Rog. We do some cooking, but hey, we are supposed to be on vacation. A small counter service deal, IMHO, would do just fine. The take out at TE is limited, especially if you are staying for more than a couple of days. I know, we all pack the campers full of food, but we all say "What the hay!" and go and get some TE sometimes.

 

[auntie]

Thanks for all the replies. Just wondering how people felt...i think many of you feel there are a few things that need updating and it appears Disney has something in the works. I wouldn't want to change the pace or feel of the place, just a few more amenities for the guests. In 30 years there have been many changes...no more swamp trail, no more river country, no more discover island, no more peacocks...it's time to give something back so the magic is still Disney and not just another campground.

I see your point. Don't forget..gone are the open air trams..replaced by the busses. I think the trams were easier to hop on and off of. Am I the only one who remembers when Crocketts was a full service restaurant at dinner time.and there was a Chip and Dale character breakfast at the fort? Did I imagine this..?

 

[Rhonda]

I see your point. Don't forget..gone are the open air trams..replaced by the busses. I think the trams were easier to hop on and off of. Am I the only one who remembers when Crocketts was a full service restaurant at dinner time.and there was a Chip and Dale character breakfast at the fort? Did I imagine this..?

I have great pictures of our 5-year-old son (who is now 24) with Chip & Dale and Goofy at the character breakfast at Pioneer Hall!!

 

[tellnotails]

Well I'm one of those believers that the Fort was intended for all the blue collar FAMILY folk......nothing wrong with that......Walt wanted every angle covered...

Many changes have occured to the fort in the last 30 years...some good ....some bad........but the one thing that has changed the most is the ever declining family camper......Things change......life changes.....


I get a chuckle at seeing all the high dollar campers at the fort.......not a child to be found in or around any of them......


I would say to the fort..... take back the cable tv.........you can have your wi-fi.....keep your dog walk......take away the remodeled CS they never bothered me or my family....

Give me back the steam train and the children that rode it with glee.........give me back the beaches and the sand castles and moms and dads buried to thier chins......let me wake to roosters crowing and peacocks singing........

Why must I pay more for things my FAMILY never asked for??????