Musings from our current CFW stay

[tidefan]

We are finishing up our semi-long stay at CFW, (our 4th stay at the Fort!) and I thought I'd share a few random thoughts. These are only my thoughts/opinions, so take that for what it's worth...

• Fort Wilderness is about as quiet as I've ever seen it. I'd say 1/3 to 1/2 of the campsites are empty. Some loops are entirely closed down at the moment (1300, 2000), so that adds to the empty feeling. That said, it seems like the Cabins are full up in all 7 Cabin loops.
• Could you stay here without a golf cart??? Yes, however, would I stay here without a golf cart. Nope.
• In that vein, as I think I'd like to stay here at least once a year, and preferably perhaps twice, as much as Disney charges for the carts, I think that if you plan on coming to the Fort for multiple visits, it may be worth investing in your own cart.
• After a few stays, I think I'll always be requesting the 2200-2600 loops. Nothing against 2700 or 2800, but those seem more "in the swamp" than the other loops...
• Dues here are ridiculously high, and I have a feeling that it has to do a good bit with housekeeping. They are all cart based and I'm sure an entire cabin takes a bit of time to clean, similar to a 1-Bedroom unit at other DVC properties. I know that DVC can enforce a minimum stay requirement at it's discretion based on property and I wonder if a 3-day minimum stay requirement here wouldn't be a good thing.
• If you do have a golf cart, laundry really isn't that big an issue. We've done laundry twice and it's been no issue. The laundry room is really nice actually. I would equate it to doing laundry if you were in a studio at another DVC property.
• They should put a mug refill station at the DVC pool
• They should have towels at the DVC pool
• The "light a bag" charcoal bags are perfect for the Cabin grills. BTW, they do an excellent job of cleaning these in-between visits.
• They should have put a small BLT style pantry between the counter and the Murphy bed.
• I wish that they would sell the artwork from the Murphy bed as well as the Archery poster in the hallway.
• Good luck finding a Fort Wilderness Lug bag
• WiFi did not work at first and we had to call to have someone come out and reset our router. After that, it's worked perfectly.
• We did not know that some of the Cabins have tubs instead of walkin showers (about 10% apparently do), so if you have say a DW who had knee-replacement in the past year, it's a good thing to know
• If you want a great place to have a non-park or low-park vacation, CFW is perfect. There is a lot to do just here on property.

And finally,

• I know that a lot of people may be looking forward to it, but Lakeshore Lodge, or more appropriately, where they have decided to locate Lakeshore Lodge is in a terrible spot. Nothing spoils the "rustic wilderness" setting than a 10-story building looming over Pioneer Hall and Crockett's Tavern. Also, there's no more beach as they've decided to build the A-Frame cabins there and that will block the view of the rocking chair porch at Crockett's. It's really sad, actually. I'm not against the Lodge, per se, but I think that they should have moved it closer to Wilderness Lodge instead of right on top of the Fort. I could have seen perhaps a 3-story actual rustic lodge, but that's not what your getting there...

 

[CarolynFH]

I know that DVC can enforce a minimum stay requirement at it's discretion based on property and I wonder if a 3-day minimum stay requirement here wouldn't be a good thing.

I may be mis-remembering, but I think I’ve read that a 5-day minimum is allowed by the controlling documents for the other DVC resorts. I don’t know whether the cabins, being in a trust, are different.

I know that a lot of people may be looking forward to it, but Lakeshore Lodge, or more appropriately, where they have decided to locate Lakeshore Lodge is in a terrible spot. Nothing spoils the "rustic wilderness" setting than a 10-story building looming over Pioneer Hall and Crockett's Tavern. Also, there's no more beach as they've decided to build the A-Frame cabins there and that will block the view of the rocking chair porch at Crockett's. It's really sad, actually. I'm not against the Lodge, per se, but I think that they should have moved it closer to Wilderness Lodge instead of right on top of the Fort. I could have seen perhaps a 3-story actual rustic lodge, but that's not what your getting there...

Amen.

 

[Mouseforward]

• They should put a mug refill station at the DVC pool
• They should have towels at the DVC pool

Absolutely needed - no washer dryer is fine if you can leave the wet towels at the pool. Towels do not dry in Fl in August.

Fort Wilderness is about as quiet as I've ever seen it. I'd say 1/3 to 1/2 of the campsites are empty. Some loops are entirely closed down at the moment (1300, 2000), so that adds to the empty feeling. That said, it seems like the Cabins are full up in all 7 Cabin loops.

Excessive RV prices and sinking RV quality will hurt the camping loops in the long run as the older better constructed Rv's die out, I think Disney sees this trend.

I know that a lot of people may be looking forward to it, but Lakeshore Lodge, or more appropriately, where they have decided to locate Lakeshore Lodge is in a terrible spot.

I think the 10 year plan has LSL as the center of FT wilderness as a whole. It's just too close to be anything separate. I think we will see a remodel of Pioneer Hall and Crockett's Tavern's to blend with LSL rather than LSL blending with FW. It may not be what current fort users want, but I think it is what WDW sees as the direction for newer generations of guests.