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.

 

[crazycatlady]

I'm glad to hear you had a great trip!

DD and I just spent one night at CFW and had a blast! We loved the cabin, and while I didn't love the look of the outside of the new cabins in pictures, I really liked them in person. We did rent a golf cart, and I agree that while it is possible to stay there without one, I personally wouldn't want to. I wish Disney would discount those carts for DVC members.

I also agree that it is sad to see LL looming in back of Crockets and Pioneer Hall. I really couldn't believe how large it looks from all over Bay Lake (we spent a lot of time resort hopping and stayed a couple of nights at BLT, too) and dubbed it "the monstrosity" during our 10-day DW stay. While I am excited for a new DVC resort and the early drawings look beautiful, it does bother me that the ambience of FW will be forever changed by a ginormous tower-type resort, especially since it is such a nostalgic place for so many from the early days of DW.

We stayed in cabin 2802, which was the closest to the start of the 2800 loop and LOVED the location! We were pretty far off main road and had a woodsy view. We didn't mind being away from the pools/food because it was quiet and remote feeling and we had a golf cart to go anywhere we wanted to go.

All in all, I am excited to take DH for a few nights' stay if I can grab one at 7 months next May, but we will probably only stay there a couple of nights at the end of the trip when we are worn out from park days and want a fun place to relax at a resort.

 

[tidefan]

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.


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 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.

I think that the problem with this is that a lot of the charm of WDW is in the nostalgia of the place. When they change things like this, it just becomes another ordinary destination.

 

[Mouseforward]

I think that the problem with this is that a lot of the charm of WDW is in the nostalgia of the place. When they change things like this, it just becomes another ordinary destination.

Agree, it's the Liberty Boat / TS Island problem... Nostalgic, but it was empty most days. The fort is far from empty, but it has to stay full to stay alive. Adding a lodge into the mix, more food options, and pools would help make it a better contender. But it will change the feel.

 

[tidefan]

Agree, it's the Liberty Boat / TS Island problem... Nostalgic, but it was empty most days. The fort is far from empty, but it has to stay full to stay alive. Adding a lodge into the mix, more food options, and pools would help make it a better contender. But it will change the feel.

We were here Thanksgiving 2 years ago, last Labor Day weekend, and over New Year's, and everything was packed.

Some of it is because 2 loops are closed down for maintenance and I'm sure that the weather this time of year has something to do with it. Also, most kids in the South at least went back to school this week or last.

 

[tidefan]

One other note. It appears that people are now staying in the 2 cabins on the 100 loop.

 

[zackiedawg]

Funny about the 2700/2800 loop comment...2800 is my preferred loop by far - precisely because it is the most in the woods/swamp...I like being farther from any main roads, bus stops, pools, etc - I even specifically request outside backs of loops since I always have a golf cart - I'd rather be in a quieter, woodsier setting.

As for LL - agreed in that the proximity to Crockett's and Trail's End/Pioneer Hall is a real atmosphere killer - even if the exterior design of the lodge end sup all painted and decorated to look more like Wilderness Lodge, or more earthtones - it's still a massive, modern building towering over the cute old western buildings. The one thing I like when staying in Fort Wilderness will be having more restaurant/bar options to get to - but I would have preferred the building to be closer to Wilderness Lodge, and maybe just extend a wide cart and walking path over to LL - with a cart parking area close by. Way back when Wilderness Lodge first opened, the long jogging path that used to run from Fort Wilderness to Wilderness Lodge was cart-accessible - when staying in the cabins, we regularly rode our carts down to the end of the path, parked (there wasn't official parking spots or chargers, but it was a little cul-de-sac loop and people just parked all around i) and walked into Wilderness Lodge to hit the restaurants and bars there. Something like that would have been great - LL a little farther back so it didn't ruin the sightlines from the Settlement area, with a cart parking area at the end of LL to walk over.

 

[Brian Noble]

When they change things like this, it just becomes another ordinary destination.

One man’s newfangled change is another child’s nostalgia fuel.

 

[CarolynFH]

One man’s newfangled change is another child’s nostalgia fuel.

Another reminder that we're getting old!