My "Back from the Fort" Report

[Cdash]

Just returned last night. We were down there from 1/24 thru 2/1.

The good:
1. We were in Disney
2. My 6 year old had a GREAT Birthday
3. Weather was great, except Friday (rainy and 50's)

The bad:
1. We asked to be as close to the marina as possible on the reservation, and faxed a request to the desk. Was assigned the 1800 loop
2. Proceed to our assigned 1800 loop site - It is not empty! Drive back to the front (maybe we'll get closer this time) and get a site in the 1900 loop, at the end, with what I think is the longest walk to a bus stop that there can be at the Fort.
3. Find out at dinner that when they changed our sites, our cards were shut down (couldn't use them for dinner) and had to go to the check in to get new cards.
4. Nobody seemed to know anything about the dining plan at the Outpost, nor could give us any information on it. We didn't get our vouchers for the other stuff upon check-in either. Had to ask for it.f

All in all, our trip was good, but that first day Sucked in our minds, and it was all site assignement and check in related stuff that I wouldn't have expected would be problems. It just didn't seem like the Fort had their "stuff" together. I understand the site assigment is luck of the draw, but to request close to the marina and be the farthest possible site from it??? I also understand that things get messed up and sometimes the map of available spots doesn't match reality, but they should have the drill down enough to know to cut us new cards right away, instead of finding out at dinner.

Out of it we learned somthing new. While we like the idea of walking to the marina and being close to it, we now know our real desire is being close to a bus stop. Two wiped out kids and a long walk from the bus stop really sucks after a long day in the park and I still refuse to pay $50/day for a golf cart.

The interesting thing - we constantly heard an owl, but never had the daylight time to search for it. Our neighbor found it and pointed it out for us up in a tree over his site. If anyone is ever wandering around it is in the 1900 loop between site 1920 and the next one past it. We saw it fly out of the nest and it looked big.

Just a quick report, haven't downloaded any pictures yet and am too tired to be creative.....

 

[Minnie's Mate]

Sorry your trip didn't start off as expected.

What category of site did you reserve? If it was for a full hook-up only, I think the only area that still has that category any more is the 1700-1900 loops. If you requested a preferred site, you were supposed to be guaranteed a preferred at minimum. I don't recall any preferred sites in the 1900 loop, but I haven't stayed in the 1900 so I don't know for sure. I do know that all full hook-up sites now include cable, but that doesn't make it a preferred site.

 

[BradyBz12]

Sorry you couldn't get the area you wanted. PP might be onto something. If you were in 1800/1900 that means you had a Preferred reservation, right? Right now (if the most current list I could find on AllEars is accurate) the only Preferred loops anywhere near the marina are 100, 200 & 300 (which is also a pet loop). Those are all really popular loops and it's possible they were full up. Besides those 3 loops, the only other Preferred sites are 1600-1900.

 

[Shan-man]

According to Disney's site, the only difference between a preferred and a full is cable (and internet availability, which comes with cable). At the same time, Disney has announced that ALL sites will be upgraded to cable. I believe that cable has been reportedly turned up in all of the formerly full-hookup loops. So, by their definition, there are no full-hookup loops anymore. BUT, Disney is still taking reservations for full hook-up sites through October, at least. For the time-being it seems Disney is leaving the status of 1600-1900 a bit ambiguous so that they can stick preferred reservees into these loops alongside full reservees and the preferred folks can't complain as they got what they were promised, though the full folks got more! So yeah, I'd be interested what the OP reserved... and did he get charged for a preferred even though he camped with a bunch of fulls?

 

[Cdash]

Sorry your trip didn't start off as expected.

What category of site did you reserve? If it was for a full hook-up only, I think the only area that still has that category any more is the 1700-1900 loops. If you requested a preferred site, you were supposed to be guaranteed a preferred at minimum. I don't recall any preferred sites in the 1900 loop, but I haven't stayed in the 1900 so I don't know for sure. I do know that all full hook-up sites now include cable, but that doesn't make it a preferred site.

I think at the time it was full hook up, but we made it quite some time ago and weren't sure what was going to be what at the time we were there. I think the upgrades trapped us back there. Hopefully that is an isolated problem of being in the midst of upgrades.

DW is already pushing for the next visit to be to the WL (where we were engaged and honeymooned) after eating CS at the Roaring Forks a couple times.

 

[BradyBz12]

I think the upgrades trapped us back there. Hopefully that is an isolated problem of being in the midst of upgrades.

Ah, well the "full hookup" classification could definitely be the issue then, if that's what you booked. Not sure any loops by the marina were considered "FH" in recent times (?)

If you go Preferred next time around (assuming FH goes away entirely) then you probably have at least a shot at 100-300.

 

[TheFlame]

I thought that 1600-1900 were full hook-up loops now that most of the renos have been done?

If you had a full reserved and didn't request and pay for an upgrade, then I think you got the loop type you were supposed to have.

I agree about the golf carts and being close to a bus stop but we only use the internal busses to get to the marina for MK and meadow's area.

We drive to DTD and to all the parks except MK so the golf cart is an expense I can't justify either.

 

[Shan-man]

That would certainly explain it. With a Full Hookup reservation, the closest they could have put you to the marina would be next to the CS in 1600. Not a whole lot closer! Thanks for clearing it up for us.

 

[Shan-man]

I thought that 1600-1900 were full hook-up loops now that most of the renos have been done?

If you had a full reserved and didn't request and pay for an upgrade, then I think you got the loop type you were supposed to have.

1600-1900 are the only loops where FW can place people with Full-Hookup ressies. However, there have been reports recently of people with preferred ressies being put into 1600-1900. Now, they can't complain about it, since the definition of a preferred site is met by the facilities in those loops. So, the ambiguity works to the Fort's favor.

 

[TheFlame]

We had a full hook-up for our 2 week stay this past Nov. and they put us in the 1300 loop. I know that it is now converted but was it a full before?

 

[stacktester]

We had a full hook-up for our 2 week stay this past Nov. and they put us in the 1300 loop. I know that it is now converted but was it a full before?

1200 and 1300 were just full hookup before. Monday after Thanksgiving they tore the 1200 loop to hell lol and made it premium and then around New Years they did 1300. I'm sure 1300 is reopened.

I think before all the extra concrete/cable/new picnic tables all the loops were f/h except 100, 200 and 1400. I will never be in a premium unless they give it to me free which I'm not looking for. I miss the old sites. I know some campers needed the extra room but a little more pad just doesn't cost that much to build and as usual WDW is killing the small guy.

 

[TheFlame]

1200 and 1300 were just full hookup before. Monday after Thanksgiving they tore the 1200 loop to hell lol and made it premium and then around New Years they did 1300. I'm sure 1300 is reopened.

I think before all the extra concrete/cable/new picnic tables all the loops were f/h except 100, 200 and 1400. I will never be in a premium unless they give it to me free which I'm not looking for. I miss the old sites. I know some campers needed the extra room but a little more pad just doesn't cost that much to build and as usual WDW is killing the small guy.

I totally agree! No way would I pay for more than a full hook-up unless that is all they have and that is the only time I can go! I don't have the money that others seem to have burning holes in their pockets! I don't think that they will have it much longer if the anointed one has his way!

 

[BearwithMouseEars]

Really wish the OP would come back and let us know what they had reserved . Im curious about this .

*EDIT* duh silly me after rereading I THINK the OP said they had booked a FH site so mystery solved.
Scott

 

[Shan-man]

I've heard this kinda outrage about the price of the high-end campsites, but honestly, it's a $5 upgrade to go from Full to Preferred, and $10 to go from Preferred to Premium. Dropping an extra $5-$15 a day at Disney, in the scheme of things, is just not a make or break dimension of the budget. What is that, a burger and a Mickey premium bar? I guess if you're doing just the Fort then it might be a big part of the trip, but for me that is one nice lunch. And no, I have no money burning holes in my pocket, I am not rich, I pray to be able to go to FW once a year, so I too am a "small guy".

 

[iradi8]

Right now (if the most current list I could find on AllEars is accurate) the only Preferred loops anywhere near the marina are 100, 200 & 300 (

The 700 loop is also a preferred loop and is close to the marina

 

[Shan-man]

That's true, 700 will be one of the last loops to be converted. IIRC it will be closed the last half of March for the conversion to a Premium Pet loop.

 

[Cindy F]

...... I will never be in a premium unless they give it to me free which I'm not looking for. I miss the old sites. I know some campers needed the extra room but a little more pad just doesn't cost that much to build and as usual WDW is killing the small guy.

MTE. Don't get me wrong, I love Fort Wilderness and we will definitely be going back again and again but only if I can get the great rate that I got before at Christmas. I love Turkey Lake too and was so very, very thankful we were here the other day....CentraCare right down the street and was able to pick up the scripts, pizza, movie, and groceries all in the same little shopping area.

I just can't justify (regularly) paying $60-80 a day for a water hose, sewer hole, and electrical outlet when I can stay up the road for $18. We'll probably go to The Fort twice a year and the other times it's going to be Turkey Lake.

I know that sounds very cheap of me but I already have a hard time feeling guilty that we have been so blessed and can go so much- when there are people struggling to pay bills, people who have lost their jobs, etc.
I know us not spending money doesn't help them but it makes ME feel better knowing that we're not out "living it up" while others are struggling. I know, I'm a pathetic, guilt ridden, buzz kill but I can't help it.

 

[stacktester]

May your compassion be blessed. A lot of people have no idea what's happening to families. Oboma says this next stimulus package is going to have to save houses and families and not so much the banks. I won't go there.

I feel the same way about Turkey Lake. It's not the fort but it sure has made it possible to take some weekend trips that otherwise wouldn't have been taken.

 

[BradyBz12]

The 700 loop is also a preferred loop and is close to the marina

Ah right - as Shan pointed out, 700 is one of the last scheduled to be converted to Premium, so for now it is still Preferred. Looks like the last of the conversions includes...

Loop 1200: closed 1/25 to 2/06 – reopens 2/07/09
Loop 1400: closed 2/08 to 2/13 – reopens 2/14/09
Loop 700: closed 3/15 to 4/03 – reopens 4/04/09

 

[Shan-man]

I'll just apologize up front since I know this is going to received poorly, but this kind of complaining about minor price increases by folks who have Disney in their "backyard" and go 6, 8, 12 times a year kinda ticks me off. It seems some folks have gotten used to the idea of having the world's premiere vacation destination serve as their quick getaway destination, which for the rest of us is perhaps a KOA or a State Park. Well, WDW isn't a state park. It's the kinda place most people save up for to go a couple of times in a lifetime. The really devoted fans get there once a year. Complaining that it just isn't affordable for a weekend getaway is kinda like complaining the dinner at the Yachtsman is more expensive than the Golden Corral! No kidding?! It costs me about a grand just to drive down and back home, and I have to budget about $2500 for our whole vacation, so forgive me if I don't feel your pain about having to pay $45 more for a long weekend. And BTW, if all you get out of the Fort is "a water hose, sewer hole, and electrical outlet" then maybe you should stay at a State Park, because you are missing the Fort-experience completely. My rant is over. I really enjoy the camaraderie with Donnie and Cindy, and don't want any feelings to be hurt or relations strained, but I did want you to know how these types of comments can be received by others not so fortunate as yourselves.