Question for all you campers?

[akamom]

To me it is cheaper! I have a family of 5 and booking 2 rooms never less the family suite thing <--- I guess thats what its called... Is not my cup of tea when it comes to price and comfort! You see at the fort it is nice an quiet.. no kids screaming including my own cause most campers have the common sense to be quite when its dark out!!

Yeah, we have 4 kids and that was our reason for getting a camper. Also you can cook your food and you save money that way as well.

 

[bord1niowa]

We camped 2 years ago, then the next year we went to the Values. There were only 4 of us then. We really missed the camping though. If there were more than 4 we absolutely would have camped, as we are this June. it cost us more eating when we stayed at the all stars. If it's more than 4 then camp....what am I saying...CAMP ANYWAY! It's more relaxing and fun.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

....

We go camping several times a year to get some "down time" and get away from the electronic stuff (like this computer!!!).

Ive never been family camping without the computer.....Ive always brought it even if just for DVD and MP3 playing. I hardly ever get on the internet with it though because most of the campgrounds we hit are really out in the boonies and the locals dont even know what wi-fi means, much less have a signal.

 

[DebbieT11]

We originally bought the MoHo for my business.... I routinely would spend around $7,000 - $9,000 a year on hotel rooms.... so, it made sense. THEN, we discovered that we could take our BigA$$Dog with us to Disney..... saves $20 a night for puppy camp!

I'm saying, I guess... that for us, it was a good decision. Plus, we like the moderates, since we don't have kids, and when you factor in all the meals, the moderate hotel room, and puppy camp, we save money. Everyone doesn't.... but we do!

 

[chief19spixi]

Ive never been family camping without the computer.....Ive always brought it even if just for DVD and MP3 playing. I hardly ever get on the internet with it though because most of the campgrounds we hit are really out in the boonies and the locals dont even know what wi-fi means, much less have a signal.

I'd rather die then not have any form of internet access!! Thank god for the blackberry!!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Personally, I think it would be a mistake to think about getting into camping if the only reason is economics. Camping is a lifestyle choice, and you have to be willing to invest the time and money required. It is also more work than staying at another resort. My trailer is like a second home, with all the associated problems that go along with heating, ac, electrical and plumbing systems. This spring I have to fix the kitchen drain in the camper, in addition to dewinterizing, caulking the roof, washing the roof and washing and waxing the trailer. But I do enjoy it and wouldn't go any other way. Factoring in all the camper payments, insurance, gas, site rental, repairs, etc. - it would probably be almost cheaper to stay at WL.

 

[seabee]

For us it is cheaper. DH is a quadripalegic, so we need a accessible room. The values only have 1 bed in the handicapped rooms,so, we would need a second room for the girls. We usually stay at SOG if we aren't with camper, which still is unbelieveable savings(only need 1 room there)-the fort still works out cheaper for us. We drive down either way, towing costs just a little more. All that aside, my biggest reason for camping at the fort instead of a hotel room is the people. I don't recall one time where I struck up a conversation with another hotel guest who was in the hall. Fort guests, and camping people in general are so welcoming and friendly. I had the most enjoyable vacation this past Oct. at the fort, then I have ever had at Disney. The only thing that was different-I STAYED AT THE FORT. The only reason I would go back to staying in a hotel room now would be if I couldn't take the camper for some reason. It would have to be a good reason too!

 

[Minnie mom of 6]

We have a tent, live / lived 40 miles away and have 6 kids!!! So WaY cheaper!!!
On our budget trips (which are often ) we can get the site for $50 - $60 a night and bring 1/2 the food from home and spend about $500 for 5 days!! (I've been practicing)

We really like to go all out and then about $2000.00 for 7 days and some parks but my kids rather hang at the Fort most of the time!!!

 

[akamom]

Personally, I think it would be a mistake to think about getting into camping if the only reason is economics. Camping is a lifestyle choice, and you have to be willing to invest the time and money required. It is also more work than staying at another resort. My trailer is like a second home, with all the associated problems that go along with heating, ac, electrical and plumbing systems. This spring I have to fix the kitchen drain in the camper, in addition to dewinterizing, caulking the roof, washing the roof and washing and waxing the trailer. But I do enjoy it and wouldn't go any other way. Factoring in all the camper payments, insurance, gas, site rental, repairs, etc. - it would probably be almost cheaper to stay at WL.

I can agree to that! Since I have a broken water pump in my pop up...

 

[ntsammy5]

This spring I have to fix the kitchen drain in the camper, in addition to dewinterizing, caulking the roof, washing the roof and washing and waxing the trailer.

All proper PMCS

Beats changing a track on a 577.

 

[MadFF]

As people have said, if you figure the cost of the camper it may not be cheaper... but... We already have our trailer.

The way I figured costs, we are saving a substantial amount of money by staying at FW. Otherwise, we would fly down, stay at a value resort, and buy all of our meals. Even including fuel, we are saving. Also, our kids are getting older, and staying in one hotel room is starting to get tight, so preferably we would want two rooms ($$). We don't have a big TT, but the bunks give the kids their "own" beds. We are planning on eating one meal at the camper and using the dining plan for other meals. We would save even more if we did all our own food (maybe next time, this will be our first time down, and the wife said "I DON'T want to spend time cooking at the camper!" [P.S. I also do alot of the cooking! lol]).

If you think about the cost of the "high end" resorts, the savings is substantially more.

It all depends on how you "run the numbers", but I kept coming up with staying at FW would cost us just about half (1/2) as much as staying in a resort. I was figuring on flying down, not driving down with our car... If I am going to drive, I may as well tow the camper!

So, basically, if you shell out (or take out a loan for) a bunch of money for a camper, tow vehicle, maintenance, taxes, fuel, etc.... then you can save a few bucks! (I sound like my wife justifying one of her shopping trips...)

 

[ftwildernessguy]

All proper PMCS

Beats changing a track on a 577.

I always wanted some of those big honkin' wrenches you guys use. I'm constantly preaching PMCS to my son re. his car. He never understood what I was talking about until he started ROTC in college.

 

[ntsammy5]

I always wanted some of those big honkin' wrenches you guys use.

I'll see what I can do. Unfortuantely my old unit is RISTA now and all the armor is gone.