Just back from Ft. Wilderness Cabins...My Musings

[jeedar]

HI! We're just back from the Cabins, having left Saturday the 26th. My family had not been to WDW in about 8 or 9 years, so we were surprised by some of the changes. I guess I must start out by saying that we absolutely LOVED the cabins! In the afternoon or evening during a rainstorm it provided a cozy retreat for us. We rented a golf cart and found it to be a necessity to get around in the campground (at least for us!). My twins were a bit dissappointed not to be able to drive the cart (they're 15 y/o) but we still had fun tooling around in it. BTW, we saw one or two instances of someone underage driving the cart and being told to turn over their key. We ordered 2 carryout buffets from the Trail's End and all shared from them once in our cabin. The food was great and everyone enjoyed a little sample of their cooking.

It seems to us that Epcot is not as pretty as we remembered, and the food there was not so good to us.

We loved the Animal Kingdom the best, I think, and really enjoyed eating at the Tusker House for lunch there. The carrot cake was almost more than we could eat between the three of us to share (myself, my mom, and DD15---aslo DGrS2!)
The Lion King show was beautiful and Kali River Rapids was so refreshing.

We ventured into Typhoon Lagoon one morning and found it to be ahighlight for my DGrS2. The picture the CM took of him on the innertube ride was priceless!

The crowds were pretty tough at MK and people don't seem to remember their manners much anymore. I know that it's hot and crowded, but someone actually said to us at the Spectromagic Parade that children under the age of 5 should not be allowed in to MK! Now that just goes against all my Southern upbringing, and I could not believe anyone could be so uncouth!!!

After reading on the DIS boards for about 2 mos. prior to our trip, I found a lot of helpful hints, but it seems to me that in order to be fully prepared for WDW one has to be there to really find out what works and what doesn't. So I guess that means we'll have to plan another trip in order to put to use all the things I learned while I was there!!!LOL!!!

BTW, there were no bugs at our cabin site. We were on the 2600 loop and thought it to be the best ---very quiet!!

I think the thing we will remember most about this trip is the Campfire with Chip & Dale and sitting on the beach at Ft. Wilderness watching the floating light parade and fireworks. That was absolutely supreme!!!

One more word-- Coming from Mississippi we thought the heat would be close to our environment , but it is sooo much cooler and not near as humid in the campgrounds or anywhere else at WDW. What a surprise!!

I guess I'll go back to washing clothes and dream about another trip to the Fort.

 

[campingcorgi]

Originally posted by jeedar

So I guess that means we'll have to plan another trip in order to put to use all the things I learned while I was there!!!LOL!!!

BTW, there were no bugs at our cabin site.


I guess I'll go back to washing clothes and dream about another trip to the Fort.

Oh, yeah, you got bitten by a bug alright--the FW bug!!! Don't worry, we've all got it and while there isn't a cure the treatments are easy enough--regular applications of FW magic!!

Glad to hear y'all had such a good time!!!

 

[KittenLittle]

Hi!
Do tell more about this loop. Many folks have enjoyed and recommended the 2500 loop due to pool/laundry proximity. I like that,but a small quiet loop might be better. How did you find your walk to the pool??

 

[jeedar]

Actually, we had requested the 2500 loop prior to ariving at Ft. Wilderness, but were told upon arrival that nothing in that loop would be available until later that afternoon. The CM who checked us in offered us a cabin in the 2400 loop and 2600 loop. I was apprehensive about either loop as I could not remember what had been posted about these loops. Much to our surprise, the 2600 and 2400 loops seemed fine, and the walk to the pool and laundry was minimal. The bus pick-up area was almost catty-corner to the pool/laundry area. We walked from our cabin to the bus stop --- a very short walk. As I said earlier, we had the use of a golf cart and used it to ride to the outpost bus pick-up and to the marina and settlement area for bus pick-ups. When someone else (my DH) used the cart and it was unavailable, we simply walked the short walk to the bus stop. I must say also that the campground seemed very clean, and also that maintenance came to our cabin within approx. 15 minutes to reset a breaker for the outlets in the kitchen. Overall, the property seems to be run quite efficiently. We did not participate in the HDD dinner, as we had decided to cook in our cabin most of the time. We also used our grill twice and enjoyed the outdoors for dinner on those occasions. I'm sorry this is so long and rambling, but I wanted to try to offer my perspective on the resort and parks. I quickly realized after the first day or so that anything I had read on the posts was subjective to that individual. That being said, we drove through the 2500 loop and found it to be too sunny for us though the decks did appear larger than ours. I guess as I have said, it is a matter of personal opinion. I hope ya'll all have as much fun at Ft. Wilderness as my family did. We certainly will stay there again. As a matter of fact my grandson kept asking for his cabin most of the drive home---and we all felt homesick for the Fort too! Just remember that when traveling with multiple ages in a group (ours included 4 generations) that it is not always possible to go by the book when planning out your days in the parks. Also, remember to allow down time and time to get out of the rain, etc. so that you do not rush yourselves too much. WDW will still be there for the next time, and that leaves you with something to look forward to. BTW, my DD15 loved swimming late in the evening at the Meadows pool. That seems to be the place to be after a long day in the parks. She found it to be relaxing and not at all noisy.

Oh yeah --- don't forget to have a Dole whip float in MK!!!

 

[KittenLittle]

Excellent report,jeedar-1st rate!
Thank you!

 

[FFerret]

Enjoyed the report, Jeedar Great insight; love your candor

We're looking for as quiet-as-possible while very shady cabin (proximity isn't as big an issue now that I finally bit the bullet and rented a cart)--was curious if you found 2600 loop less noisy while more shady then than the 2500 one? I know how that everyone always requests the 2500 one I really want to avoid the bus-stop noise as well...

 

[jeedar]

Hello from the Delta, FFerret!

Like I said before, after circling through 2500 loop, it appeared to us as if our loop (2600) was a bit more shady. As far as bus stop noise, I have to say we did hear some bus noise, though it did not bother us. Maybe someone else has a better take on a loop with no noise. The bus noise was not loud, just something you noticed every once in a while.

I do remember reading something about some loops being more marshy than others, but we noticed that after it rained (which happened almost like clockwork everyday!) there was a little bit of standing water next to almost every cabin. But we had no trouble with bugs, except for once in MK during Spectromagic ( I think that was really the mean woman standing next to me!)

I hope this helps you a bit; I can't really say which place is best to stay. I just know that we really enjoyed our stay and that our loop was very quiet. We never made it to EE. I guess that must have been due to the outdoors and fresh air causing us to sleep later! We did go to E- ride night and found it to be a blast!
The characters even come out in front of the castle and my DD15 got to dance with Mickey! Have fun on your trip!

 

[FFerret]

Howdy from the Bayou City
2600 definitely sounds like the loop for us then
Thanks again for your information!