Need help convincing....

[jzensky]

Hello all! I am a frequent lurker, occasional poster. We are a family of 5, have been to Disney six times over the past 9 years. We have taken a break the past couple of years and are ready to go back this November!

We have always stayed at a timeshare unit my in-laws let us use off property. Our dream has always been to stay on property, but we just can afford it. This year I am trying to convince DH that we can stay at the campground! We would drive our pop up down and stay in it. I am having a hard time convincing him that he would be comfortable though. He says he is tired at the end of the day, wants a shower and a comfy bed. Help me out... are the showers that bad just because it's a campground? Have any of you every stayed in a pop up for the week you were at Disney? was it miserable?? It looks like there is electric and water at all the sites from the pictures i can see, is that right? Sorry to ask what I am sure are obvious questions! Not new to camping at all, but would be new to camping at Disney!! Yeah!!!!

All thoughts are appreciated... thank you! I would love to be able to stay on property and have all those "perks!"

 

[bjschil]

The bathrooms are clean, nice, big, and with that said, I would guess you never visit a Disney Resort again after you have experienced Fort Wilderness. So much space, zillions of things to do, ending your day on the beach watching the Magic Kingdom fireworks and the Electric Water Parade. We have stayed at Deluxe and Moderate Resorts in the past, and the Fort is our favorite by far.

 

[khovius]

Disney has the best comfort stations. you will not regret staying at Fort Wilderness. We are making our 3rd extended trip this August.

The cost vs. amenities are great. You get all of the On-site advantages for a reasonable price. We have a full site in Aug for $65 a night (6 people)




I will warn you that we only like to camp at Fort Wilderness now.

 

[FoxyGranny]

Your hubby will be very pleased with the amenities at the campground.
The comfort stations are spacious and clean.

Each campsite positioned to afford the guest an experience of wilderness camping without sacrificing safety and convenience.

When my kids were younger, they enjoyed the swimming pool, campfire bicycle riding (we brought our own) as much as entering the park.

I have stayed in pop up, 5th wheel, larger motor coach (huge don't remember length) over the years.

Go for it...great family vacation. Tell him Granny said so. LOL

FoxyGranny

 

[North of Mouse]

Hello all! I am a frequent lurker, occasional poster. We are a family of 5, have been to Disney six times over the past 9 years. We have taken a break the past couple of years and are ready to go back this November!

We have always stayed at a timeshare unit my in-laws let us use off property. Our dream has always been to stay on property, but we just can afford it. This year I am trying to convince DH that we can stay at the campground! We would drive our pop up down and stay in it. I am having a hard time convincing him that he would be comfortable though. He says he is tired at the end of the day, wants a shower and a comfy bed. Help me out... are the showers that bad just because it's a campground? Have any of you every stayed in a pop up for the week you were at Disney? was it miserable?? It looks like there is electric and water at all the sites from the pictures i can see, is that right? Sorry to ask what I am sure are obvious questions! Not new to camping at all, but would be new to camping at Disney!! Yeah!!!!

All thoughts are appreciated... thank you! I would love to be able to stay on property and have all those "perks!"

I guess I am confused! If your DH is used to camping in your pop up/used to, and enjoy your bed - why would being at FW be any different? The comfort stations are very nice and the campground itself is A-1

We have been camping at FW since they opened and all of our trips have been the greatest. Have never even stayed at 'any' of the Disney hotels and have never had a desire to. Love our personal 'home' away from home so much!

Maybe the one question is whether you have AC or not. Even in November the nights can get warm (or not ).

There are people that camp in pop ups all the time so cannot imagine you not having a wonderful time. Have a trip!

 

[loislane]

We stayed previously at Pop Century and then towed our popup down this past August for an 11-night stay. We'd never go back to the hotel - so much nicer at the campground!

The comfort stations are very nice - clean and roomy shower stalls.

We were super comfortable staying in our popup. We have memory foam toppers on the bunks, which helps make the beds more comfortable. We used Reflectix (a type of insulation that's like metallic coated bubble wrap) to make covers for our bunk ends to help hold in the cold air from the a/c - and it stayed COLD in there. I woke up every morning and went outside to warm up! We slept great - most nights we pretty much passed out as soon as we hit the bed.

We much preferred having all our own stuff and amenities around us. We brought a tv, but only watched it one night when it rained. But having the sink, fridge, stove, microwave, toaster, coffee pot and fully stocked pantry was much more enjoyable than just having a room with a bed and tv - and having to rely on the food court.

And the entertainment factor at the Fort can't be beat! Fireworks on the beach, the electric water pageant, the sing-along, campfire and nightly movie, visiting the horses and more.

We truly had the most wonderful time there!

 

[retired and happy]

I'm with NoM on this. Do you use your popup at other campgrounds? Does everyone enjoy it, and camping? If you don't have A/C it could be a problem in the summer. There are rental units available from people who advertise on this site that could help. As stated aove, the restrooms are the cleanest I've ever experienced. There are lots of amenities at the Fort not available at any other resort. There is an openness and relaxed atmosphere there also not available anywhere else. Come on and enjoy.

 

[bama_ed]

Wow - loislane, retiredandhappy, and I are of one mind on this.

The camper is your home. It's like staying at home yet still being on property. You can't get that feel in a hotel.

I have a popup too (see my signature below) and like loislane we have a memory foam mattress topper that feels better than my bed at home (LoL). My wife who is VERY picky about campground bathrooms (her idea of camping is a Hampton Inn) says the Fort has the BEST bathrooms of any campground she's ever stayed at.

Your husband will be a HERO to the rest of the family if he takes the popup to the Fort.

Feel free to chime in too, jzensky, no need to be just a lurker. Come back at us with any follow up questions. The Tent sites don't have a sewer hookup otherwise the other site types are all the same hookups and any of them are ready to take a popup. I've stayed in Premiums (most expensive) to Tent (least expensive) so it's totally up to you.

Bama ED

 

[MushLRC]

Oh my goodness!! What is there NOT to love about it!!

BTW~Hello again Loislane!! I was down there the same time you were this past August.

Okay…back to OP….We have stayed at Pop, ASMovie, POR. Don't get me wrong…I have no complaints about those stays. This past August we took a shot at TENT CAMPING for the last 2 weeks of August. I was HUGELY stressed about what a horrific experience this could be. I was amazed at what magical time it turned out to be. The comfort stations are wonderful, clean and easily accessible. Honestly it's looking like this will become our new thing. The price per night to stay is so cheap that we can afford to stay longer. We all know it's affordable to add on a few days to your tickets after those first few so it's like we get 2 Disney vacations out of it.

 

[tcu4me]

We have been to Disney several times in the last 7 or so years. All but one of those trips, we stayed at FW. The one trip we did not camp, we stayed at YC. We hated it! Our trailer is our second home. My pillows, towels, sheets, espresso machine, kitchen stuff, chairs, etc. The Fort is the best resort there is!

 

[Teamubr]

I think I understand where your DH may be coming from. If he feels like your pop-up is "camping" or roughing it, he won't be as comfortable as staying at a bigger condo or home. Like the others have said, staying at the Fort is absolutely worth the slight inconvenience of roughing it in your popup. The comfort stations are the best I have every used.

The overall win is the atmosphere, the tremendous activities local at the Fort and the proximity to MK and the monorail.

Last year we went down over spring break and stayed with friends in their DVC condo at Saratoga Springs. The 3 BR condo was VERY nice, but the wait for buses and the lack of amenities compared to the Fort made it not feel the same. My DS and DW insisted on taking a trip to the Fort one day just to see the place, ride the boat, walk on the beach and just take things in at the meadows and settlement. We only stayed an hour or so, but we would have regretted not going over. It's that kind of place. It draws you back.

j

 

[JETS70]

Teresa and I have been traveling with our 2 children to Disney for about 13 years now and this past Thanksgiving we decided to take sort of an empty nesters trip. We stayed in a teardrop camper that my father and I built last winter. 5 foot wide, 10 foot long and 5 foot tall. A galley with hot and cold running water, refrigerator, and a Coleman stove. No bath facilities except for a porta potty only used for those middle of the night emergencies. We stayed in the 200 loop. About 50 yards from the comfort station. Away from the foot traffic. Comfort stations were spotless. (it's Disney, you wouldn't expect anything less). About a 10 minute walk to the marina to catch a boat to the MK. This was our first time staying at the Fort and we enjoyed it so much that we already have a reservation for the first week of April and another in June when the kids will be going with us. They are now 24 and 21 and they can't wait to stay at the Fort. The buffet at Trails End IMHO is one of the best at Disney.
The one thing we didn't get to do enough of was spending down time at our campsite. We have already planned on some time for relaxing and cooking ( which is a major money saver) at our campsite. If your family enjoys camping, you will love the Fort.

My teardrop gallery.
http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/album.php?album_id=2771

 

[mightyexplorers]

Don't let the word Campground throw you. It isn't camping so much as Disney Camping, it is more like owning a small piece of Disney world for a few days and getting to live there. After our first trip to the fort, we can't imagine doing disney any other way, even the deluxe hotels don't hold much temptation for us. Even though we do love Animal Kingdom Lodge.
The comfort stations are very nice, with washer and dryers, big showers and are kept very clean. Even though we have a decent bathroom in our MH, I still at times opt for the comfort station.
In my opinion there is not a more comfortable place to stay on Disney property.

 

[JanL]

If your pop up does not have a toilet, you could splurge on a shower tent and port-a-potty so he would only have to walk to the comfort station for showers.

Also, try bribing him with the promise of a grilled steak and a cold beer at your campsite. You might have to pamper him the first trip to the Fort. Once he’s hooked, you can ease up on the geisha thing, LOL.

 

[Napria]

Look at my signature below to see how many times we've stayed at the Fort vs. other properties. This past July we decided to "do it up big" for my 50th birthday. While I don't regret staying Club Level at the Poly (Cinderella's Castle front & center out our balcony window) for the amount we spent I prefer the Fort. And honestly -- really truly honestly -- I'm more comfortable in my camper than any hotel room (even a deluxe resort or a DVC suite). I've never stayed in a condo, but nothing beats staying in the middle of the Magic. It's a whole different experience. Staying at the Fort is Disney magic squared.

Good luck! If you convince him, after one trip he'll be converted

 

[CiCiBee]

It seems like you have plenty here to convince DH. That being said, we also prefer FW to any other place on property. You can see we are going to be there one week from tomorrow. I crunched some numbers and figured out we could've gotten away with POR for just a bit more and then we wouldn't have to do the setup/take down. DH would have nothing of it! And we tent camp!!

I think it says a lot about a place where someone would prefer to stay in a tent then in a moderate hotel. We love the privacy and the atmosphere. The comfort stations are impeccable and always sparkling clean.

We are talking DSil and her bf, and last time they went we were very go, go, go. This time we are taking a day off from the parks just to relax and take in The Fort.

Good Luck on convincing him!!

 

[sbnewhampshire1]

Hello neighbors! We are also from New Hampshire and absolutely love the Fort! We have also stayed in many resorts at Disney and outside during the years but upon retirement bought a motorhome ( we started off in a tent, then conversion van, then a truck camper and then graduated to a motor home! ) Our children all have pop-ups! You will love the fort. Does your husband fish? He can do that there. Does he like his privacy?He will have that there. Does he like to talk to people ?He will have that there as well. People are so friendly there its like being home in NH. If he doesn't like to talk to people that's fine too...People go by your vibes that's what is so great about it. Then you have the campground itself so like NH!!! ! Go, he will enjoy it ! Make your pop-up as comfortable as possible and I guarantee you YOU will be back just like the rest of us! Have fun and if you have any questions private message me..

 

[jzensky]

Whoo Hoooo!!! I think we did it!!! (I would ad some cute little dancing smily faces if I knew how on the ipad....)

The kids put together a power point presentation for him, which included many of your responses, and it worked!

We promised to bring the memory foam from my son's futon for his bed. His biggest concern is his body and making it! When we do the world, we do it, opening to closing. Getting it as much as we can, but at a decent pace. We aren't as young as we used to be.... a comfortable bed is necessary! I think it will be alright though.

Now he is busy thinking which route would be best with the camper, what tunnels we can or can't go through, do we really need the propane tank, gotta get it inspected to make sure everything looks good, better replace the spare tire since it's the one that came with the camper ages ago, etc...... And he told me to start researching which loop to stay in. Good thing we have to November!!!

I think the biggest sellers were watching the fireworks from the beach and the whole fast past plus thing... which we are just starting to read about since we haven't been in a couple of years. Should be interesting.

Thank You everyone!!!!!

 

[Napria]

I don't mean to alarm you but you'd better book now if you're talking about this November. Depending on when in November and for how long, you may have to call day after day to get a site.

Congratulations and good luck!

 

[jzensky]

We are looking at the week before Thanksgiving, so far looks pretty open that week, but do plan on booking asap!