Layout at Fort Wilderness Cabins

[Lauralaylin]

I'm currently booked to stay at AoA for early February, and I'm wondering if we should consider bumping up to Fort Wilderness. From my understanding, it's only about $40 more a day. We are a family of four, kids pretty young, but my mother is coming on the trip too. I was thinking this room would be better because my mother could have the main room to herself while my family can be in the bedroom together.

But I'm curious about the golf carts. Are they necessary even if you have a car? Or can you drive to your car up to your cabin (or nearby)? Are the cabins fun for little kids since there won't be the fun theming? And how is the pool?

 

[Tam1067]

My family of 5 stayed there last New Year's.

You can park right at your cabin. You cannot drive within the resort itself, though, so if you're going to the main pool, you need to take a bus or rent a golf cart. Same goes for taking the boat to MK, eating at Trail's End, or doing most of the resort activities.

The main pool is nice, with a large water slide and a small snack bar. There is a small pool (no slide) near the cabins, which you should be able to walk to.

The cabins are cute. But, the downside to them I found was the bathroom. There is only one, and it's got a single sink. Also, the sink/toilet/tub are all in one room, so that makes getting ready challenging when you have lots of people.

It was great to have a full kitchen though.

If you go over to the camping forum, you'll find more info there about the cabins.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I was thinking this room would be better because my mother could have the main room to herself while my family can be in the bedroom together.
. . . cabin is a 12'x42' trailer
. . . from front - Murphy Bed & eating area & kitchen, bath, bedroom double & bunk

But I'm curious about the golf carts. Are they necessary even if you have a car?
. . . in my mind, yes
. . . the campground is HUGE
. . . the cabins (except some VIP) are at one end (2100-2800 loops)

Or can you drive to your car up to your cabin (or nearby)?
. . . one car per cabin, only
. . . golf cart can be added as a second vehicle

Are the cabins fun for little kids since there won't be the fun theming?
. . . I guess
. . . basically a trailer, so if the kids like that sort of thing
. . . but, the campground is FAR more fun than the other resorts

And how is the pool?
. . . main pool is fun
. . . small pool is more intimate
. . . of course, there are so many other activities (eg. nightly campfire)

 

[Arenita]

I've stayed at the Cabins twice and rented a golf cart both times. May not be a necessity, but sure is fun!

 

[Lizzybean]

We stayed at the cabins over the summer and loved it! My kids liked the theme and while it wasn't in your face it was still nice.

The internal buses worked just fine but we decided to rent a golf cart for the 2nd half of the trip. We preferred the golf cart.

 

[fla4fun]

While the golf cart is a convenience, I don't feel it's a necessity. You park your car right outside your cabin, so if you prefer to drive to the parks, it's very easy.

You need a slightly different mind set when you stay at Ft. Wilderness. It's a place to slow down, relax, and enjoy the moment. If you are the type of people who have to go, go, go all the time, the Fort is probably not for you. The Fort feels like a lazy summer day hanging out with the neighbors - it really feels more like a neighborhood than a hotel.

I found the internal/external bus set up at FW to be very convenient, and it gets you everywhere you need to go. There are two bus routes that run through the cabin area, and I never waited more than 10 minutes for an internal bus (most times it was much less).

I agree that the biggest drawback, if you can call it one, is that there is only one bathroom and it is all self contained (but, then, so are the ones at Poly and CR, so it's not just the Fort). It's a large bathroom though. There is also a mirror over a vanity counter in the bedroom, where the hair dryer is located, so someone can be getting ready there, and there is always the kitchen sink to use as well.

I like the Fort a lot, but I tend to stay there on my less park intensive trips so I can spend time there enjoying the recreational facilities and the ambience.

 

[Lauralaylin]

Thanks so much to you all! This has given me so much information that has made my decision easier. I think what we are going to do is stay with our current reservation, but the next time we go as a group of 5 we will stay here. It sounds like a fantastic place, but we won't be there enough to take advantage of what is offered. Plus, we'll have two cars.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

Even though the cabin is not "Disney themed," the resort is one of the most kid friendly of all on property. My nieces are 14 and 21 and they still talk about things they did at FW -- and they have stayed at many other Disney resorts. The campfires, the pony rides, there are so many kid oriented activities, that you could skip the parks and stay at FW for a couple of days. We were also 5 -- my sister and brother-in-law, and my nieces got he bedroom and I had the murphy in the living room. It worked well and 1 bathroom was not a problem as we quickly located the "convenience areas" which were plentiful and contained bathrooms.

We enjoyed having the golf cart and I would say to budget it into the vacation cost -- it makes it so much easier to get around. We used our car to come from the airport, go to Universal, and to return to the airport. OTherwise the golf cart was easier.

I will mention, as the occupant of the living room -- there isn't a lot of storage for clothes, so mine stayed in my suitcase -- it wasn't insurmountable, but it might be somthing to consider fro your mother.

Tom