Many times to WDW but never stayed at the Fort! Help needed! : )

[discorsner]

Hi everyone! We have been to WDW many times and have stayed at many resorts in all levels from value to deluxe. What we have never done is stay at the Fort!
We are not fortunate enough to own an RV or any type of camping equipment but we are considering a 2011 trip staying in one of the cabins.

I am hoping to get any tips or advice. We have visited Fort Wilderness but only to go to the Hoop dee doo and the Mickey's BYBQ. Other than that we have never really looked around. Although I haven't stayed at all WDW resorts I feel like I have a handle on most of them and would know their offerings and charms. I do not feel as though I have a handle on the Fort at all, in fact I know nothing really.

Some of the specific things I am wondering are:
1. Are the cabins nice? Have those that have stayed in other WDW resorts find them comparable to other accomodations on property?

2. When staying at the cabins is it possible to get a good Fort expereince or is the charm of the place actually camping?

3. We will be flying in from out of state and sometimes get a rental car and sometimes do not. Is a car recommended at this resort? Where is parking...anywhere near the cabins or no?

4. How much are golf cart rentals and where are the places you can park the golf carts? Do most people get them for the entire stay?

5. What are some of the things you do when hanging out at the resort?

6. We tend to spend a lot of time in the parks and get the DDP also. We want to expereince the true Fort stay though so I am curious if others add on a few days where they plan nothing else but hanging at the Fort or if they just spread their Fort activity time throughout.

I definitely don't want to do a "convince me" thread cuz I know everyone hates those but I am just wanting to get some info and see if I get into the spirit of the Fort before I book it for sure. It seems like an awesome place and something different from our typical WDW vacation.

Any advice is so appreciated! TIA! By the way it will be me, DH, DS11, DS8.

 

[Bourquefam]

Hi there! I've only been to the fort once, but I am a bit of a Disney nut and researcher so I'll take a stab at helping you with what I can.

1. You can find pictures of the cabins on allears.net, under resorts/ Fort Wilderness. You might also look for trip reports from cabin stays and look at other people's pictures and read their experiences first hand. I wish I could tell you which loop to choose, but I have no idea. I remember reading a trip report where the lady complained about being directly on the swamp, so you might look for that TR and make a note that you don't want that loop. People seem to love the cabins and find the full kitchens very handy. It's also nice that mousekeeping comes by daily to wash dishes and clean up, etc.!

2. You will definitely get the fort experience whether you're in a cabin or in a rig on a site. It's the fact that you are so close to Disney, but feel so far away. We saw deer and rabbits and thought that was so cool. We had been to Disney many times and always felt stressed and rushed. The vibe at the campground is just so relaxing. Between the evening campfire sing a longs and outdoor movies, watching the MK fireworks from the fort's beach, taking horse drawn hayride w/ the family---you'll totally "feel" the fort! I can't do it justice with my words, but you'll see what I mean once you go. And then you'll probably never want to stay anywhere else ever again. Really! It's that cool!

3. Have you ever used Magical Express to go from airport to any resort? My friend's experience was less than desirable and she and her fly were on the bus for a long time. If that's ok with you, I say go for it. I think I would catch a cab or arrange for private transport. It is so easy and convenient to take the boat to MK. To go to Epcot, we'd take the boat to the Contemporary and then hop the monorail to the TTC and then board the other monorail to Epcot. It takes just a bit longer, but it's what our family likes to do. Everywhere else we went, we used the busses and had an awesome experience. We rarely waited longer than 10 minutes for a ride anywhere and didn't have to remember where we'd parked or lug kids to a hot car at the end of the day. If you do rent a car, I think you can park at your cabin. Not sure on that one though.

4. Hey! Just had an epiphany!!! I think you should skip the rental car and spend the money renting a golf cart. You can rent from Kenny w/ Tee Times and he'll deliver it to you and pick it up. Much cheaper than renting through Disney. I think it's going to cost us around $250 for 8 days next May. They came in sooo handy to get to the marina and to the front to catch a bus. I've read that others have used the internal FW busses, but the whole thing confused me and I know how tired my kids are at the end of the day and it was so easy to just hop off the bus, hop in our cart and drive right up to our front door. There's a whole thread on golf carts at the fort. I think if you go to the sticky that's called FAQ's, you will find a ton of information and answer to most any question you have.

5. Pool, watch fireworks and light parade from beach, campfire sing a long, outdoor movie, sit outside and drink wine after getting cleaned up and putting the kids to bed. The evening is so chill at the fort. It's just nice to be able to unwind and talk to my husband after a long day at the park. The kids crash and we get to hang out a bit w/o worrying about waking them up, etc. Good stuff!!! Oh and fishing! Forgot that one, but that's a must for us at some point next year!

6. I've noticed that a lot of people have days that they just spend at the fort. I, personally, would spend every hour possible at the parks. My husband, however, has reminded me that these are his vacations too and so we built in more fort breaks into our vacation this year and plan the same for next year. I think our tradition will be that we spend our first day (arrival day) at the fort without going to the parks. It worked out great for us this year. We hit the pool, then ate dinner, went to the campfire singalong, watched a little of the movie and then headed to the beach for the light parade and fireworks. It was perfect. I think we'd have missed doing all of those things had we not done them the first day. We'd have had really good intentions to do them, but would not have been able to tear ourselves away from the parks. That applies to my kids and me, not my hubby.

Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any other questions. I don't mind answering (if I can) no matter how simple the question is.

 

[Magicbus]

I definitely don't want to do a "convince me" thread cuz I know everyone hates those

You're off to a good start. You'll get all the info you need with a little humor thrown in.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Let me answer #5.

Bring a fishing pole and go fishing.
Thats all,,just fishing,,
nothing else matters but fishing.

 

[Headlesshorseman]

Can't wait to see all the posts....I have never stayed at the fort either....but want to try the cabins and then maybe do the camper thingy....

HH

 

[jonimce]

The cabins are really nice. Much roomier than the resorts. And you have a kitchen. Even with the DDP you still will do the occasional meal and you can just leave everything as it is. House keeping even loads, runs and unloads the dishwasher.

You have your own driveway to park right at your cabin. But I agree with Bourquefam. You will get better use of the golf cart than the car. The cabins are a good distance from the marina. But there are busses. If you get a cab or private car, they will stop at the grocery store for you. You have a full size fridge so pick up a case of water and some soda.

 

[ntsammy5]

Kick back, drink some beer and play checkers with the otters - but watch them - they cheat and they'll steal your beer!

 

[BradyBz12]

You can find a bunch of good cabin pics HERE

Agree about a GC being handy - especially if you're going to explore and spend some time at the Fort. Plus there really isn't any car parking inside the resort other than at your cabin/site. There are a few temporary parking spots at the Meadows trading post (15 minute limit) but you can't park your car at the Settlement/Marina, pools etc., whereas there is GC parking at those places.

More GC info (rules, offsite rentals, etc) are in THIS THREAD.

Personally, I would definitely allot some time to explore and enjoy all the Fort has to offer - campfire, movie, pool, beach (where you can see both Wishes and the Electrical Water Pageant each night), horses, playgrounds.... too many things to mention.

 

[madge]

We were in your position before our most recent trip this month

Hi everyone! We have been to WDW many times and have stayed at many resorts in all levels from value to deluxe. What we have never done is stay at the Fort!
We are not fortunate enough to own an RV or any type of camping equipment but we are considering a 2011 trip staying in one of the cabins.

I am hoping to get any tips or advice. We have visited Fort Wilderness but only to go to the Hoop dee doo and the Mickey's BYBQ. Other than that we have never really looked around. Although I haven't stayed at all WDW resorts I feel like I have a handle on most of them and would know their offerings and charms. I do not feel as though I have a handle on the Fort at all, in fact I know nothing really.

Some of the specific things I am wondering are:
1. Are the cabins nice? Have those that have stayed in other WDW resorts find them comparable to other accomodations on property?

The cabins are nice! Are they luxurious? No. We have stayed at all categories of Disney resorts and found the cabins to be well equipped, clean, and roomy for a family of 5. We found them to be a good value (we had a PIN code) compared to other moderate resorts (the category of the cabins) because of what's available at the resort in terms of activities. At rack rate? I'm not so sure. They seem pricey to me.

2. When staying at the cabins is it possible to get a good Fort expereince or is the charm of the place actually camping?

yes. definitely. especially if you rent a cart and check out all the campsites!

3. We will be flying in from out of state and sometimes get a rental car and sometimes do not. Is a car recommended at this resort? Where is parking...anywhere near the cabins or no?

you can park a car at the cabin. We had a car for one day, so we could go to Publix & the outlet malls. We didn't go to the parks every day, so we didn't feel like we needed the car. If we went to parks every day, I might feel differently.

4. How much are golf cart rentals and where are the places you can park the golf carts? Do most people get them for the entire stay?

$60-ish/day. It's cheaper to rent offsite for more than a couple of days.

5. What are some of the things you do when hanging out at the resort?

we went to the pool, arts & crafts activities, rented a boat, looped (drove around in a golf cart), campfire, movie, and played tetherball at the beach. We wanted to fish, play shuffleboard, and rent bikes, but ran out of time

6. We tend to spend a lot of time in the parks and get the DDP also. We want to expereince the true Fort stay though so I am curious if others add on a few days where they plan nothing else but hanging at the Fort or if they just spread their Fort activity time throughout.

We intentionally planned our vacation around our fort stay. we were there for 4 nights -- we checked in early so we had 4 full days and a morning before leaving. We did one day at Epcot and the MNSSHP, which left us with pretty much 3 days and a morning at the fort.

Hope this helps!

 

[discorsner]

OP here.... thanks so much to all for the great responses! I appreciate it. It is a good start for me to be thinking of these things. I am still collecting info on the Fort and trying to read this section of the boards as much as possible. DH had another resort choice in mind but I am telling him about all the things to do here and how it seems like there are so many lovers of it.

The most exciting thing about it for me is that it seems so different of a choice from our other trips. I feel like it is one of those things where you try it and you either fall in love with or you don't and even if you don't you have a good trip that stands out from the rest.

We also want to go in the Fall next year and go to MNSHHP for the first time and I don't know why but Fort Wilderness just seems like a good themed fit for that trip.

 

[dmr19]

We loved our stay in a cabin this past February. Here are a few thoughts:

Some of the specific things I am wondering are:
1. Are the cabins nice? Have those that have stayed in other WDW resorts find them comparable to other accomodations on property?

The cabin was cozy and cool, but certainly not luxurious. Ours was in need of some repair, but the repair people took care of everything we pointed out. We loved having the full kitchen, picnic table, room for the kids to play outside, some space for mom & dad after the kids were asleep (murphy bed). The kids loved the bunk bed.

3. We will be flying in from out of state and sometimes get a rental car and sometimes do not. Is a car recommended at this resort? Where is parking...anywhere near the cabins or no?

We did the Magical Express and skipped the rental car. Worked out fine.

4. How much are golf cart rentals and where are the places you can park the golf carts? Do most people get them for the entire stay?

We rented a golf cart for the one day we spent mostly at the fort (horseback riding, boating, etc). It was a blast, and much more convenient than the buses. Next time we will rent one the whole time.

Any advice is so appreciated! TIA! By the way it will be me, DH, DS11, DS8.

Other points: The cabin is expensive. I rationalized that with our family of 6, we would need to get two rooms in most other resorts. Compared to two rooms, the price is reasonable for all the extras you get. We also skipped the DDP, which we would have gotten if we stayed somewhere else. We did Trails End carryout dinners twice, cooked a pasta dinner once, had two lunches on the picnic table, and all our cereal breakfasts in the cabin. For your family of 4, you'll have to do the math.

We loved the boat to the MK, the fireworks on the beach, the horses, the quiet, the space, the kitchen, and we didn't even get to the pool because it was cold!

The kids still talk about the cabin, and can't wait to go back.
Have a great time.

 

[mgsmom]

We did our first stay in a cabin this summer and we loved it! I'll try to answer your questions to the best of my newbie ability...

1. We thought the cabins were nice - of course, define "nice" right? You have to know that you are staying at a cabin, not a deluxe hotel resort type situation. But it's also DISNEY - they do it up right! We found it great! Pricewise, it's considered "moderate" but is really priced more like a stay at a deluxe if you compare it to a room. If you compare it to a suite - it's priced more like a value at ASM. The lovely thing is, if you get a PIN you get the 40% discount like the deluxe. I guess Disney hasn't decided exactly what it is yet... Mousekeeping was great and we had more than we needed. It was clean and themed up for staying at the Fort!

2. We felt very good about our Fort experience, even from a cabin. It's a very laid-back vibe that is sooooo nice after a hectic day in the parks.

3. A car is no more helpful at the Fort than at any other resort. Use the money for a golf cart.

4. This has been answered, but will repeat. Disney carts are $60 a day. Kenny carts are much cheaper if you're renting for the long-haul. We rented just the day we spent at the Fort and were glad we did! If you're spending most of your time at the parks, you are fine using the busses - just like other resorts. We found the busses very timely and convenient.

5. Campfire w/Chip n Dale, outdoor movie, swimming, looping, fishing, canoeing, ride bikes, carriage/wagon rides, hanging out at the Settlement with a frosty beverage... the list goes on...

6. Our trip this summer, we had one day at the Fort and 3 in the parks. Next summer, we plan to do 3 days at the Fort, 3 days at the parks. 'Nuff said

It is definitely a different experience than staying in a crowded hotel - it is so much nicer!!!!

 

[retired and happy]

The boat to and from MK is great day or night. The monorail is something to experience. We boat to MK and monorail from there to EPCOT. Bus to either AK or HS from the Outpost. But we spend as much or more time in the Fort as we do in the parks. We only drive if we have a need to go off site, never to the parks. The GC does just fine in the Fort. The Fort is an end destination in itself. Tell DH you have tried the resorts, now you want to experience a great adventure. You'll likely meet people there that you would never meet in the other resorts. We're generally a friendly bunch. The beach, the decorations, the amenities, all contribute to a wonderful time. We've been there for 10-12 years in a row and plan to keep up the string. We have a motorhome and our own GC, but the cabins will be a good introduction to the place. Come and enjoy.

 

[lmbcdb]

1. Are the cabins nice? Have those that have stayed in other WDW resorts find them comparable to other accomodations on property?
We went in January of this year. Even though I have not stayed in other resorts, we thought it was nice. Especially the bedroom with a door! We have a 2yo and a 9yo and being able to put them down and us stay up was priceless. We are staying at ASMo in December and I guess we will sleep when they sleep!

2. When staying at the cabins is it possible to get a good Fort expereince or is the charm of the place actually camping?
I thought we got a good experience of the Fort - but our golf cart really helped with that. Busses were everywhere, but the cart was fun, especially to go look at the Christmas decor that was still up!

3. We will be flying in from out of state and sometimes get a rental car and sometimes do not. Is a car recommended at this resort? Where is parking...anywhere near the cabins or no?
You have your own parking spot. But, you don't need a car. Like I mentioned, the carts are great, and there are busses everywhere.

4. How much are golf cart rentals and where are the places you can park the golf carts? Do most people get them for the entire stay?
We got one for our entire stay from Kenny. It was $250, MUCH cheaper than from the Fort. Parking spots everywhere for the cart - restaurants, shops, pretty much all buildings. There's a big lot by the busses that go to the parks.

5. What are some of the things you do when hanging out at the resort?
There are lots of things to do - but we only did a few because it was TWENTY degrees outside! horseback riding, pools, campfire, Hoop de doo (recommended) beach stuff

 

[AuburnJen92]

Can't wait to see all the posts....I have never stayed at the fort either....but want to try the cabins and then maybe do the camper thingy....

HH

Oh John, he said thingy!

 

[ftwildernessrick]

If you skip the car rental, but still need groceries, somewhere on this forum, maybe at the top sticky, is a list of places that deliver groceries for a nominal fee.

The trading posts are very high priced and generally we don't use them except for perishables like bread & doughnuts or something we may have forgotten & not worth driving out for.

 

[Judy in Texas]

I've heard good things about Garden Grocer. http://www.gardengrocer.com/
From some of the posts on Disboard, sounds like you need to signup ahead of time during the busy season.

 

[Lumiere Lover]

Thank you all for your great posts! This is a Disney resort that my family and I have never tried, but it is on my short list of hotels for the next WDW vacation.

 

[disneygotogirl]

Some of the specific things I am wondering are:
1. Are the cabins nice? Have those that have stayed in other WDW resorts find them comparable to other accomodations on property?

2. When staying at the cabins is it possible to get a good Fort expereince or is the charm of the place actually camping?

3. We will be flying in from out of state and sometimes get a rental car and sometimes do not. Is a car recommended at this resort? Where is parking...anywhere near the cabins or no?

4. How much are golf cart rentals and where are the places you can park the golf carts? Do most people get them for the entire stay?

5. What are some of the things you do when hanging out at the resort?

6. We tend to spend a lot of time in the parks and get the DDP also. We want to expereince the true Fort stay though so I am curious if others add on a few days where they plan nothing else but hanging at the Fort or if they just spread their Fort activity time throughout.

I definitely don't want to do a "convince me" thread cuz I know everyone hates those but I am just wanting to get some info and see if I get into the spirit of the Fort before I book it for sure. It seems like an awesome place and something different from our typical WDW vacation.

Any advice is so appreciated! TIA! By the way it will be me, DH, DS11, DS8.

1.I will admit, the cabins could use updating, but are still cozy and well-themed with lodge-style decor. The log-style furniture adds a nice rustic touch.

2.I think there is a genuine "fort experience" to be had at FW. Believe it or not, there is some degree of privacy with lush foliage and shade. The campfire singalong is great and my family made it a nightly ritual to visit the "trading post" each night to peep at the pin books.

3.We usually drive, so we have our car. There is a parking space at each cabin. We prefer to drive to AK and DHS because the bus stops can be a trek from the cabins.

4.I believe the Electric Carts are around $55. a night. We ALWAYS splurge for the cart. The parking spots are located near Pioneer Hall, the stables, and Meadows Trading Post. There is an electrical receptacle to plug-in while you're away. We drive down to the boat launch each day and leave our cart parked all day.

5.We spend a lot of time on the golf-cart, just crusin' the grounds and unwinding. We try to go to the campfire sing-a-long a few times (bring your marshmallows), The swimming pool at Meadows is GREAT, you can rent bikes and fishing poles, my DD 2 enjoyed her first pony ride at Tri-Circle-D ranch where there is also a petting zoo. I think there are carriage and wagon rides available as well. You can see and hear MAGIC from the beach and the Electrical Water pageant passes by nightly. You can also rent boats from the marina or participate in the FW sedgway tour.

6. We usually stay 10 days, and try to devote a portion of each day to the resort


We will be back January 2, 2011 for my birthday!!!!!!!!

 

[retired and happy]

No more petting zoo, but you can see some horses and maybe some ponies. Disney carts are higher than $55, maybe $65, but can be had off site for less. Electric plug- in's for carts is limited at the parking areas.