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[choirfarm]

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[jason_rving]

Since you already have the expense of the RV the costs may be about the same but I'd choose my own bed in my own RV over a hotel room....even a Disney hotel room.

Fuel is the big cost of getting your rig down there which sort of cancels out the added cost you'd have in a hotel room on property (during value season). It cost me about $165 just to get my rig home to North Georgia from the Fort last week.

Meals is a cost where you will save by eating in your RV vs. Disney.

The experience will be VERY different. Fort Wilderness has a feel unlike any other resort and one that we prefer.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Makes perfect sense to me. With all that the Fort has to offer, I don't think you could be disappointed.

IMO, your own RV beats a value resort anyday. The location of FtW is better than any value, plus you have the comfort of your own home. I love WDW resorts like you have no idea, but it is really the mods and deluxes that make my heart flutter (yes, I am a princess). The only thing you'll give up is housekeeping, which can be a biggie there is no doubt about it (the princess thing again). However, this is camping and you should be outside~ not making a mess inside.

Also, bring food and cook and have snacks, etc to save on money and time. Just remember, this is your vacation and not an extension of daily life as you know it. WDW has some wonderful restaurants that you should treat yourself to.

BTW, it should say something to you that despite me being a , I Love Love Love FtW and would take it over a value resort in a second!

 

[tellnotails]

Are you a family of 5 or 7 ?????

 

[F4disneyfan]

Well for us a family of 6 now DVC won hands down. We drive to Florida every Dec for 2 weeks and just love the freedom DVC offers us. We arrive and unpack then hit the pool or the parks no set up time and not tear down time. We also don't have to haul the trailer with us from Ontario to Florida and back. I will say I have given in and will be camping in the wifes tent trailer in Oct for 5 nights then moving home to DVC. So for us the cost of DVC far outweighed the hassle and headaches of traveling to Florida with a trailer. not to mention the trailer cost just under what our DVC cost us when we bought in.

 

[LarryJ]

Ok...one more time explain how it makes more economic sense to stay in a hotel then camp. We would be coming in value season and so rack rates for camping are 47. Let us say I get the AA discount for 15 percent off so the rate will be 40. For 7 nights that is 280 and we would bring our own food and definitely eat breakfast and a big meal there and just snack at the park...probably bring in our own snacks. I will spring for a couple of character meals for just daughter and me. If we stay in a Disney hotel, the cheapest one I see for a family of 7 are the value resorts at 184 a night. Presuming I get a 20 percent discount, it would be 148 dollars a night for a total of 1036. That is a difference of 756 dollars PLUS we would have to eat out a lot more which would be more expensive. I would also think that my dh would want to fly if we stay in a hotel which only adds to the expense, but even if we drive that seems like a big difference. So how is staying in the RV more expensive for a family of 5. BTW, this will be our one and only trip to Disneyworld, so no annual pass or anything like that. We may stay 10 days...I'm not sure. We have had our RV for 5 years and have enjoyed several big camping trips a year. I understand that if you factor in the cost of the RV that it is more, but we use it all the time for trips to Yellowstone and other National Parks. So... isn't this the cheapest way for us to go???
Chrisitne

I would think that with 7 eating out all meals on property is going to cost you a fortune. Just a hot dog is $5 to $6 and even a cheep CS lunch can easily cost $15/person or over $100 just for that lunch. With a family of 7 and 3 meals a day could cost between $300 and $400 each day or $3 to $4 thousand for 10 days.

As far as you are from WDW time is a factor if not flying.


Larry

 

[LONE-STAR]

If you have the Rv already and you dont mind camping stay at FW. I tried POP one time and I wont do it again. The only place I would even thank of staying other than FW is WL. But I like looping in my golf cart, going down to the lake, the camp fire its just a whole different way to see disney. My Sister likes to be pampered on the other hand, so they stay at the resorts and come play at FW with us. To answer your question for me and the DW It is cheaper to stay at FW then a resort even with the $700.00 in fuel. But if you count the 1 ton, the 5er, and the golf cart plus up keep its not even close. You will have fun either way and I would be surprised if this was your only trip.

 

[des1954]

I say that you should stay at a resort! (Because that leaves a site open for me at FtW!! )

 

[bord1niowa]

We camped 2 summers ago and loved it. We tried the All stars Music last summer but boy did we miss the fort! My wife was so upset we didn't go there this past summer when we went to the fort for a visit. This year it's back to the fort and yes it will still save us some money, especially eating. We like the quiet and complete change of pace at the fort as opposed to being at the all stars. You never really felt like you got away from the hustle and bustle at the hotel.

 

[MadFF]

Hello! Just registered at these forums today.

I am in the process of planning an October week at DW, and am running the numbers for FW or a "value" (like Pop) Disney hotel. With very preliminary and rough numbers, so far it looks like we will be saving over $1500.00 by staying in FW. I am including plane tickets in the hotel price, fuel cost in the FW price, and a basic meal plan in both prices. If I subtract out the meal plan for FW, it obviously will be an even bigger savings.

I am figuring on two days driving from Connecticut both ways, with a stay at a hotel somewhere halfway. By driving, we are adding only two extra days. I figured that by thinking that on the days that we would be flying, we wouldn't be enjoying DW anyways, we would be at airports and / or in transit.

We already own our camper (for four years now), and are slowly expanding our "camping range" out of New England.

A $1500.00 savings is a decent chunk of change, whoever you are! Granted, if we drove to stay in a hotel, that would be less. But... if we are going to drive, we may as well take the camper!

 

[LarryJ]

Hello! Just registered at these forums today.

I am in the process of planning an October week at DW, and am running the numbers for FW or a "value" (like Pop) Disney hotel. With very preliminary and rough numbers, so far it looks like we will be saving over $1500.00 by staying in FW. I am including plane tickets in the hotel price, fuel cost in the FW price, and a basic meal plan in both prices. If I subtract out the meal plan for FW, it obviously will be an even bigger savings.

I am figuring on two days driving from Connecticut both ways, with a stay at a hotel somewhere halfway. By driving, we are adding only two extra days. I figured that by thinking that on the days that we would be flying, we wouldn't be enjoying DW anyways, we would be at airports and / or in transit.

We already own our camper (for four years now), and are slowly expanding our "camping range" out of New England.

A $1500.00 savings is a decent chunk of change, whoever you are! Granted, if we drove to stay in a hotel, that would be less. But... if we are going to drive, we may as well take the camper!

If you already own your RV and live east of the Mississippi driving and staying at FW or Flying stay at a resort is IMHO a no brainer as long as you are not set against not eating out every meal. The RV (sunk cost) will be a winner every time if you stay like 10 days or more.

Larry

 

[clkelley]

Hello! Just registered at these forums today.

Welcome!!! You will LOVE the Fort.

However, I must say that I will only go to the Fort if I have at least a week.

I usually get an Annual Pass every other year and on my years that I do have an AP I will make quick weekend trips and will stay in resorts. I can fly down on a Friday evening and fly back on Monday morning and get myself to work by 10:00 am.

Can't resist a good Ding! fare. I'm not due to get a new AP till this October. I had to uninstall Ding! to keep myself from looking for the fares and getting an AP prematurely

 

[F4disneyfan]

If you already own your RV and live east of the Mississippi driving and staying at FW or Flying stay at a resort is IMHO a no brainer as long as you are not set against not eating out every meal. The RV (sunk cost) will be a winner every time if you stay like 10 days or more.

Larry

That is another reason DVC is the winner for me I have a kitchen in our room along with a washer and dryer thus you do not need to pack nearly as much for clothing. You get to cook meals you want and wash your clothes rather than bringing a million shirts and shorts and pants etc. Plus driving without the trailer on the back is so much nicer. Our family much prefers driving to flying not that we don't like to fly we just have so much more fun driving to WDW.

 

[bxtx]

When I started looking at this trip, it quickly became apparent to me that the roadtrip hauling our TT was going to be so much cheaper! I worked out the best deal for us (family of 5, ok youngest is a baby so 4 paying). We are coming in March (peak season) as DH has a conference in Orlando hence why we're doing the trip to start with!
Accommodation:
Hotel costs (off site) worked out at $1295; onsite at Port Orleans $1343; FtW full hook-up $578. Saving $700+
Travel:
Cheapest flights possible $276pp inc taxes = $1104 (plus you could factor in car hire & park parking at $11/day); Fuel for 2000 miles round trip $600. Saving $500+
Food:
We opted for MYW plan at $100 because its my vacation too and with kids sometimes you need to eat instantly, so I didn't factor that into the equation. So I guess it would be the same whether hotel or RV. $700.

Saving over $1200 and getting to sleep in our own beds - PRICELESS

BX
p.s. we've already paid for our TT, and we'd have it anyway for all our other trips but you could still factor in a year's worth of storage ($700/pa) and insurance ($400/pa) and it would still be cheaper!

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Get those dining reservations made soon...they go fast.

 

[LONE-STAR]

When I started looking at this trip, it quickly became apparent to me that the roadtrip hauling our TT was going to be so much cheaper! I worked out the best deal for us (family of 5, ok youngest is a baby so 4 paying). We are coming in March (peak season) as DH has a conference in Orlando hence why we're doing the trip to start with!
Accommodation:
Hotel costs (off site) worked out at $1295; onsite at Port Orleans $1343; FtW full hook-up $578. Saving $700+
Travel:
Cheapest flights possible $276pp inc taxes = $1104 (plus you could factor in car hire & park parking at $11/day); Fuel for 2000 miles round trip $600. Saving $500+
Food:
We opted for MYW plan at $100 because its my vacation too and with kids sometimes you need to eat instantly, so I didn't factor that into the equation. So I guess it would be the same whether hotel or RV. $700.

Saving over $1200 and getting to sleep in our own beds - PRICELESS

BX
p.s. we've already paid for our TT, and we'd have it anyway for all our other trips but you could still factor in a year's worth of storage ($700/pa) and insurance ($400/pa) and it would still be cheaper!

You made the right choice.
Just wondering what your tow vehicle is your fuel bill is $100.00 less then mine.

 

[tellnotails]

When I started looking at this trip, it quickly became apparent to me that the roadtrip hauling our TT was going to be so much cheaper! I worked out the best deal for us (family of 5, ok youngest is a baby so 4 paying). We are coming in March (peak season) as DH has a conference in Orlando hence why we're doing the trip to start with!
Accommodation:
Hotel costs (off site) worked out at $1295; onsite at Port Orleans $1343; FtW full hook-up $578. Saving $700+
Travel:
Cheapest flights possible $276pp inc taxes = $1104 (plus you could factor in car hire & park parking at $11/day); Fuel for 2000 miles round trip $600. Saving $500+
Food:
We opted for MYW plan at $100 because its my vacation too and with kids sometimes you need to eat instantly, so I didn't factor that into the equation. So I guess it would be the same whether hotel or RV. $700.

Saving over $1200 and getting to sleep in our own beds - PRICELESS

BX
p.s. we've already paid for our TT, and we'd have it anyway for all our other trips but you could still factor in a year's worth of storage ($700/pa) and insurance ($400/pa) and it would still be cheaper!

Just to be fair.... how much did you pay for your TT????? divide that # by the # of trips you have taken with the unit......it is a key factor when you are comparing apples to apples.......(It will scare the heck out of you )

I love my 5er.......but in no way is it economically sound consumption......It is a Lifestyle or Quality of life purchase......I try to minimize the bleeding..

 

[LarryJ]

Just to be fair.... how much did you pay for your TT????? divide that # by the # of trips you have taken with the unit......it is a key factor when you are comparing apples to apples.......(It will scare the heck out of you )

I love my 5er.......but in no way is it economically sound consumption......It is a Lifestyle or Quality of life purchase......I try to minimize the bleeding..

Well I had my last trailer for almost 26 years, paid $6,000 for it in 1982 and probably spent well in excess of 1000 days in it so at say a $50 differential between a campsite and a hotel that $50 x 1,000 or $50,000 saved. During that time we stayed over 200 days at FW alone so just for FW we saved over $20,000 considering a $100/day differential including potential boarding of our 2 dogs which can run close to $30/day not to mention the cost of meals.

We just got a new trailer and paid just over $17K for it including $1,500 trade-in allowance for a 26 year old trailer that had considerable hail damage on the outside (looked like a badly made golf ball ) and within a year will have spend almost 90 days at FW alone and don't have to board our 2 dogs so probably will save easily $100/day, so in just one year we will have saved over 1/2 of what we paid for the new trailer. Also we don't just use the trailer just for FW and spend at least 30 to 45 days outside of FW traveling and staying in it. Fuel when towing goes from around 17 to 11 and wear and tear on my TV is awash since I have a diesel and would be driving anyway when traveling.

This current trip to FW covers just over 40 days and cost us $500 RT fuel and right at $3,000 for the campground and includes 8 days at close to $110/day during the peak holiday season. You might beat those costs if staying off season at a value resort, but we go when we want and not when Disney says it's the cheapest.

I also paid cash for this trailer and the insurance including full collision and comprehensive is only around $300/yr.


Larry

 

[disney4dan]

I think for most people, as in our case, the switch to some form of RV lifestyle vs. staying in hotels is not based solely on money alone. And just as in which hotel you choose, there are many variables in what sort of RV you choose. Some people we know think nothing of working a second or third job so as to be able to stay at the GF for each WDW vacation, and others who could probably more easily afford a GF stay would not dream of spending that sort of $$ per night.

When our family made the decision to purchase a travel trailer, we spent the better part of a year researching the options and also spent some money on rental of a combination TT and TV package in Utah for a once in a lifetime trip through the mountains of Utah, Wyoming and into Yellowstone. We weighed the options of a very well equipped pop-up to own, looked at a lot of second hand trailers including hybrid models, considered the economics of just renting local wherever we wanted to travel to, and weighed that against hotel stays.

What made the decision for us was finding a good quality used TT that had 3 bunks for our 3 kids, a good kitchen layout, could be towed by our current pickup truck, allowing us to keep the TT stocked up with camping clothes and items ready to go at a moments notice whenever and wherever we wanted to get away for a weekend. We are lucky to have many quality state campgrounds nearby for weekend trips for very little cash. Our planned trip to FW in August will not be an inexpensive trip, but all of our other trips with the trailer will be. This allows us many more small vacations and the comfort of knowing that all we really need to do is hook up and go (as soon as the snow melts). We decided that renting would defeat one of our goals of being able to have some spontaneous trips and the comfort of knowing you can go when you want (within reason) and not have to make plans weeks in advance.

For what it's worth, we also considered a DVC membership years ago, and that just did not work for us financially. The maintenance fee for the points is what convinced us that the economics would not work.

Our used 29 foot TT only cost $8,000 (not chump change by any stretch, but very reasonable for its size and condition). The maintenance is something I am capable of doing on my own, so those costs are kept down, and we stayed for 9 days on the beach at a state park for $20 per night over the 4th of July week last year, with reservations in place for a similar stay again this year. It's not the Ritz Carlton, but it is very comfortable and we have met many interesting people while camping. Combine that with a DW who can cook better than Emeril and we are also eating better (she also likes to cook, so it does not bother her as much as it would some people).

Hope this helps. Best of luck and I hope you get the most out of your vacation, whichever path you take.

 

[choirfarm]

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