Please compare FW cabins to DVC villas.

[thumpersfriend]

Hi everyone, our family has always stayed at the cabins at FW and we really like them. The golf carts seem to keep my older children (28-30) wanting to stay only there. This year my daughter and I stayed at the Poly and loved it. Just would take 4 rooms for our family to stay. Could you please point out the differences between the cabins and say VWl. Also would the BCV or BWV be good also? We will have a 4 year old autistic granddaughter with us so transportation is important. I have read that the busses are pretty slow for the epcot resorts. I know they are reallllly slow at FW but that is all we know right now. I appreciate any input and thank you very much. I personally would like to try something new but don't want my family saying I told you so if they don't like it.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We used to stay at FW Cabins many years ago. Two years ago, we switched from OKW to FW Cabins for the last couple days. Boy have those cabins changed! They've shrunk-used to be plenty big enough, but not now. And after having 3 TVs at OKW, having only one TV is a real inconvenience in our family, as is not having a washer/dryer after you've had one in your villa (at OKW). And although we used to think FW Cabins bus system, taking one bus to a central location, then transferring to go to a park, was OK, getting on a bus at OKW that goes directly to the theme park is so much more convenient. To me, DVC is far better now.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I totally agree! At OKW, you will have a HUGE living room, dining area and kitchen as well as a large balcony. The master suite alone will be bigger than the whole Wilderness cabin! I would think you would be the most comfortable there, and bus service is very good.

 

[thumpersfriend]

What about the VWL? I like being a little closer to the MK. Something about if I can't be on the monorail, the boat is the next best thing. Is there more or less to do for little ones at the VWL? Can you use the WL pool also? How far of a walk would it be to the petting zoo? Are the VWL quite a bit smaller than OKW?

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

I agree that the DVC resorts have more to offer. The room size in the most important area. Other than a studio they are far superior in size. You have a washer/dryer in each unit which is tops for us. Some people love the jaccuzi tub (I don't have time for a relaxing bath while there) and the two bedrooms/two bath options is the best. The themed pools far exceed the Ft Wilderness pools which I remember are just a pool. Ft WIlderness also does not have any hot tubs while the DVC's do. Also I can't sleep on a double bed with DH and neither of us is large in size. We love the queens and/or Kings.

I think the only advantage to the cabins is the picnic table outside. Kinda fun. The

 

[DVCDAVE]

OK, let me give this a try...........it is hard for me as the FW Cabins are my family's favorite place on the face of this good Earth.

We used to stay at the FW Homes, now Cabins for many years. It was extremely easy when our two boys were young and in diapers, further, the kitchen made life all so easy when the youngn's want to be fed. The golf carts were basicaly their favorite ride at WDW, and the short boat ride over to Magic Kingdom made life alll so easy. It will always have that "warm" spot in our heart.

Well, year after year we went to FW, and the prices just crept up and up on the cabins. Well, I think it was year 2000, the price just sky rocketed ! (I think that was the year they finished the conversion from the FW Homes to the Cabins. That was it........it was no longer a cheap vacation, so we looked elsewhere, and concluded that buying DVC made perfect economic sense for us. Now we had wished we had done it years earlier. So we split our purchase in 1/2 between VWL (a MK resort), and Boardwalk (a short walk to either MGM or EPCOT).

By now our boys were 9 and 7, and things had begun to change. First off, the DVC 1 BRs and up have a washer and dryer in them. It certainly beats bringing you laundry over to a FW Comfort Station. Second, is that DVC 1 BRs and up have a jacuzzi tub in them which is a plus. Now, I wish I had the actual square footage comparisons for you, but I couldn't find them. But my guess would be that a DVC 1BR is about the size of a FW cabin with a washer/dryer and jaccuzi added, and a HUGE bathroom/shower compared to a cabin. The kitchens are about the same size and equipment Plus VWL has all the amenities, service and comfort of all luxury resort. The only things that a FW Cabin has, that a DVC unit doesn't have is the outside BBQ grill and the 'by your unit' parking spot.

Now, in terms of transportation............I truely believe that the VWL has FW beat hands down as you have all the bus connections to MK, AK, MGM, and EPCOT right there without having to go to the transportation center. Unlike FW where you must do to the transportaion center. Both resorts have boat launch service, as you already are aware BUT, I am sure if you asked my boy's, they would probably tell you that they enjoyed taking the golf carts around even if it was to head to the bus stop or marina.

If you have any more questions just post and I will answer them.

 

[dianeschlicht]

VWL rooms are a bit smaller and will have one less bed the OKW 2 bedroom villas. All pools on site are open to you at VWL, and there are a few more scheduled things for kids to do. I prefer the bus to the boat, but that's me. You can walk to the petting zoo, but it is a ways. and the path is through the woods. OKW has a sand castle play area near the main pool and there are fishing excursions as well as pontoon rides, and water sprites. Both resorts have community rooms and arcades as well as free video rental and bikes to rent etc.

 

[donald...really]

I also think OKW would be your best bet. One of the main differences between the cabins and most Disney resorts is that the resorts offer more of a hotel feel. If you prefer the privacy and convenience of the cabins, OKW will come the closest than the other DVC resorts. You park in front of your unit, you enter the unit from the outside and not from a hotel hallway, you will have a very large patio or balcony, the rooms will be larger, the kitchen will be bigger, and on top of everything, OKW will cost you less points. And the bus transportation from OKW is very good to all locations. OKW doesn't have the boat to MK, but it is more convenient to the other areas of WDW. I think everyone will really like OKW and you won't need to worry about an "I told you so" from anyone.

 

[eileenkeeney]

Some reasons that I might choose Fort Wilderness over OKW (or other DVC).

- If I wanted to barbeque. I really liked having a barbeque on my own patio.
- If I didn't plan to do Laundry much.
- If I didn't want to go swimming at my resort.
- If I had 5 people, and wanted to save over the cost of a 2 bedroom villa, but still cared about having the kitchen.
(In fact, if I had 3 kids, that were still young, and 2 adults that wanted to sleep together, the FW cabin could really work out well).
- If I were going to spend more time at the Magic Kingdom then any other park, and VWL were booked.

I haven't been in the newer cabins, and if they are smaller then the old ones, I might now like them. The old ones were pretty small.

At the time I stayed in the cabins, and loved them, the only other resort I had stayed at had been the value resort.

Now that I have spoiled myself, and have stayed at DVC villas on my last few trips, I might find that I don't like the cabins as much.

 

[colleen costello]

The Villas will have better beds! On our first "welcome back" trip to WDW 4 years ago (I had been laying low for a few years while pregnant and taking care of newborns) my family plus my parents stayed in a cabin. It was great except for the sleeping... My parents used the Murphy Bed and were MISERABLE... They really didn't fit on the thing plus the mattress was awful. After 2 nights in the cabin we went on the DVC tour and bought DVC! My Dad still swears he mostly wanted DVC to get "a real bed!"

My kids still ask about the cabins (they loved them!) but a DVC 2-bedroom has laundry plus two bathrooms and wonderful mattresses! Also three TV's... So now we just VISIT Ft. Wilderness.

PS, we stayed in a 2-bedroom at The Lodge a few weeks ago for spring break. We are used to OKW and I worried that the room would seem small. While it WAS smaller than OKW, it had plenty of room for 6 and we had a great time. We requested the type of room that had two queens in the second bedroom so there was adequate sleeping for all. The second bedroom in particular was quite roomy and the unit had great closets (also lacking in the cabins). If you love Ft. Wilderness but want more space and amenities, I believe you would LOVE a Villa at the Lodge!

 

[thumpersfriend]

Thank you all so very much. What informed replies for me to use. Just wish the villas had golf carts and then it wouldn't be a problem. Another thing is that the cabins are very quiet in the morning, nobody shutting doors or screaming like I heard at the Poly last week. Are the villas fairly quiet or mostly like a regular hotel room noise? Do you hear alot of noise from up above or is the soundproofing pretty good? Is Roaring forks at the villas or WL? Thanks again.

 

[rriley25]

The VWL are very quiet, especially when compared to the Wilderness Lodge which can be quite noisey. Although the Villas are just a few paces form the Lodge it seems like a different world. It still has that woodsey, lodge-type feeling though which I love. I've never stayed at the Cabins though so my noise comparison may not translate well.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Some reasons that I might choose Fort Wilderness over OKW (or other DVC).

- If I wanted to barbeque. I really liked having a barbeque on my own patio.

I can't say that I have used them but I do remember barbeque grills at OKW, at least near the turtle pond area. There may be some at other areas or dvc resorts too, but the memory of that escapes me at this time (along with alot of others ).

 

[sleepydog25]

The Villas are quiet and fairly separate from the rest of the Lodge. There is a covered breezeway between the main lobby and the Villas, and another path goes around behind the Villas in between them and one wing of WL. The Villas have a small pool, that although open to all WLers, is rarely full, along with a separate hot tub. The path to the petting zoo is more like a sidewalk, and the distance is right at one mile, perhaps slightly less. There are bike and boat rentals right behind the pool, and several other activities going on.

Artist Point (fine dining), Whispering Canyon (rowdy family fun, with emphasis on rowdy), and Roaring Forks (snack bar/grill) are all located in the main building. AP and WC are just off the main lobby, and RF is down a hallway from the lobby near the main pool. Therefore, you get absolutely no noise associated with them. As for soundproofing, I've been impressed at VWL, or I've been really lucky. Sure, you hear the occasional kid yelling in the halls, but that's about it. Two weeks ago our 2BR suite was the one directly above the health club and on a corner overlooking the pool. Never heard anything from either source unless I stood out on the balcony. I think you'll really like VWL--we always have.

 

[Laurabearz]

We are the opposite... DVC members who thought we would give FT Wilderness Cabins a try.... lol

We are staying at the FT Wilderness cabins for Spring Break 2006... it will be our first time there.... (paying cash too). We wanted to extend our vacation and are going a no park trip for SB. I thought the change of pace would be fun.

I have already booked our golf cart and I tried to book our cabin, but for some reason CRO cant book it yet.

We are a family of 5... 6dd, 5dd, and 2ds It will be cozy, but I hope th enovelity will get us thru! LOL

Then after 3 or 4 nights at FWC, we will head over to BCV 2 bedrrom for another 4 or 5 nights!

I think you will find a DVC Villa to be wonderful.... I cant wait to hear your thoughts.