QUESTION: The Cabins at Fort Wilderness or OKW, One Bedroom

[js]

Hi.

In May, I will be going to Disney with my mom, dd and two grandsons, 4 (almost 5) and 1.
I will be getting a one bedroom.
(My dh and my sil will not be going.)

Last October, we stayed at BWVs with my grandson. My dd wants to stay there again in May since my grandson loved the grass area and played and ran around (and now the little guy will be just walking/crawling) but if we change resorts she is very fine with that too.

I'm thinking to change it up. We have stayed with/without kids/grandchildren many times at BWVs (and I'll be at the RIV in October) and thinking the one bedrooms at OKW are so large, which may be good and it is still very kid friendly. I also see that the Cabins at Fort Wilderness are very low in points.

If I did the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, are the cons are that we are far away from lots of things? Do we need to rent a golf cart?
If I did the Cabins at FW, I would then also book Hoop DeDo since I haven't done that since my kids were very young and think my grandson would enjoy.

I can do BWVs but thinking about maybe saving some points (finally LOL).

If you had to choose between OKW or the Cabins at Ft. Wilderness, which would you chose with a mom, dd and two grandsons (my mom comes to Disney with me twice a year,
next being October so she doesn't have any preference). My dd also goes once a year if this helps. The Cabins points are just so low it makes me want to book but I don't want to regret it once there.

I'm so torn and October 1 is my 7 month mark.

 

[muppets3d]

You have looked at the floor plan of the cabins I take it? The bunk beds are in the master bedroom. Will that be a problem for your family?

 

[js]

You have looked at the floor plan of the cabins I take it? The bunk beds are in the master bedroom. Will that be a problem for your family?

Thank you. Yes, I looked. When we have now traveled the last three years with my dd and grandson, my mom takes the bed in the living room, while my dd, grandson and I sleep in the bedroom.

I did think that we could all sleep in the bedroom (my grandson on top bunk), me with the one year old on bottom and my dd and mom in the bed but I think my mom would chose the bed in the living room (I would too if allowed LOL).

Do you have any experience in the Cabins? I'm very tempted.

 

[BarlowFamily]

Your group will be three adults and two kids?

OKW still has a sofa pull out in the one bedroom right? I highly prefer the wall Murphy bed. I would opt for Ft Wilderness for that reason. I'd even sleep on the lower bunk! The cabins have that new feeling and my DS loves the fort. The campfire in the evening. The pools. Renting a canoe. And HDDR of course. It can be difficult to get around the fort, we bring bikes instead of renting a golf cart. The internal bus insn't bad though.

My choices would be:
1. Cabin (w/ golf cart rental if in the budget)
2. low point one bedroom with murphy bed (SSR)
3. back to BWV
4. OKW

 

[js]

Your group will be three adults and two kids?

OKW still has a sofa pull out in the one bedroom right? I highly prefer the wall Murphy bed. I would opt for Ft Wilderness for that reason. I'd even sleep on the lower bunk! The cabins have that new feeling and my DS loves the fort. The campfire in the evening. The pools. Renting a canoe. And HDDR of course. It can be difficult to get around the fort, we bring bikes instead of renting a golf cart. The internal bus insn't bad though.

My choices would be:
1. Cabin (w/ golf cart rental if in the budget)
2. low point one bedroom with murphy bed (SSR)
3. back to BWV
4. OKW

Thank you.
Yes, three woman adults, two kids, 5 and 1.
The wall Murphy Bed is a nice option, but my mom has slept on the pull outs too LOL that isn't a factor for me.
No canoe. It would be my dd and me and kids (well the one year old) too small.

Sounds like it can be fun and I would get a golf cart, but where would we go with the golf cart LOL?

 

[muppets3d]

Thank you. Yes, I looked. When we have now traveled the last three years with my dd and grandson, my mom takes the bed in the living room, while my dd, grandson and I sleep in the bedroom.

I did think that we could all sleep in the bedroom (my grandson on top bunk), me with the one year old on bottom and my dd and mom in the bed but I think my mom would chose the bed in the living room (I would too if allowed LOL).

Do you have any experience in the Cabins? I'm very tempted.

I have never stayed in a cabin but have toured one. Honestly, I don't know how comfortable the bunk would be for an adult

 

[cigarboo]

You and the 1 year old on the bottom bunk will be a tough night's sleep. I wonder if you can get bed rails for the bottom bunk and have the toddler sleep there while you and your DD take the bed.

You can go lots of places with the golf cart...down to the settlement where there is a beach, food, store, playground, HDDR and the Tri-circle D ranch where the little one can get a pony ride. Ride to the 2 pool areas, laundry room. Ride to the meadows for the nightly sing along with chip and dale, smores and movie. Tour the whole fort, it's a big place. Ride to the outpost to catch your bus to the parks or down to the marina to catch the boat to MK. Oh, the possibilites...

 

[erionm]

For the cabins, the bedroom and bathroom are on opposite ends of the cabin. To get from the bedroom to the bathroom, you have to go past anyone sleeping on the murphy bed.

 

[cigarboo]

Also, most cabins only have the shower, no tub. You can request one with a tub, but I don't think it's guaranteed.

With money spent on the golf cart, you might lose your cost savings if you were thinking of saving points/money. The cabin will be significantly smaller than okw 1 bedroom. The 1 year old might be just a tad too young to enjoy the benefits of the fort for the inconvenience to you. I'm typically a fort fan, but this might be one of the times, I would like w/d in the room, a tub and a bit more space for a pack n play.

 

[zackiedawg]

I love both options here - I stayed at the 'new' cabins in February 2025 and thoroughly enjoyed - though I was only a party of 2. OKW 1-bedrooms are absolutely massive, so that's a nice perk for them and a main reason I enjoy staying there. If your group is close and doesn't mind tight quarters, the cabins can work out - with 5 people, you may have to do some bed-sharing - any possibility of requesting a crib for the 1 year old? That would make things a little easier...there's not a ton of room in the bedroom, but a crib could probably wedge in there - or if the person in the murphy wouldn't mind the crib being there where there's more space.

Personally I don't think I'd enjoy the cabins without the golf cart, It's mostly about the flexibility of getting around to the parks and restaurants. When staying at the cabins, the main bus stop to the theme parks is either a long walk, or an internal bus ride away - and getting down to Settlement for the restaurants and boat docks to MK or other hotels is clear across the other side of the campground. Plus needing any supplies from the store and having to get on a bus would all just be a pain. The golf cart lets you get to and from busses and boats, stores, and restaurants quickly and at your own pace, with designated cart parking near all the places you'd need to go. I always find it relaxing at the end of a long park day to get off the bus from a park, and find my golf cart waiting - hop on and enjoy a breezy ride back to my cabin.

If space is important, OKW will crush the cabins hands-down.

 

[js]

You and the 1 year old on the bottom bunk will be a tough night's sleep. I wonder if you can get bed rails for the bottom bunk and have the toddler sleep there while you and your DD take the bed.

You can go lots of places with the golf cart...down to the settlement where there is a beach, food, store, playground, HDDR and the Tri-circle D ranch where the little one can get a pony ride. Ride to the 2 pool areas, laundry room. Ride to the meadows for the nightly sing along with chip and dale, smores and movie. Tour the whole fort, it's a big place. Ride to the outpost to catch your bus to the parks or down to the marina to catch the boat to MK. Oh, the possibilites...

Thank you. Yes, you are correct, I could get the railings for the bottom bunk and there is no way my dd would be in the bed on her own LOL Wow, there are a lot of places to go in Ft. Wilderness!

For the cabins, the bedroom and bathroom are on opposite ends of the cabin. To get from the bedroom to the bathroom, you have to go past anyone sleeping on the murphy bed.

Thank you. This is good information for me to have.

Also, most cabins only have the shower, no tub. You can request one with a tub, but I don't think it's guaranteed.

With money spent on the golf cart, you might lose your cost savings if you were thinking of saving points/money. The cabin will be significantly smaller than okw 1 bedroom. The 1 year old might be just a tad too young to enjoy the benefits of the fort for the inconvenience to you. I'm typically a fort fan, but this might be one of the times, I would like w/d in the room, a tub and a bit more space for a pack n play.

Oh yes, I actually remember reading that yesterday. The 1 year old will need a tub. I was thinking of saving points but in the 15 years of owning DVC, I've never saved LOL

I love both options here - I stayed at the 'new' cabins in February 2025 and thoroughly enjoyed - though I was only a party of 2. OKW 1-bedrooms are absolutely massive, so that's a nice perk for them and a main reason I enjoy staying there. If your group is close and doesn't mind tight quarters, the cabins can work out - with 5 people, you may have to do some bed-sharing - any possibility of requesting a crib for the 1 year old? That would make things a little easier...there's not a ton of room in the bedroom, but a crib could probably wedge in there - or if the person in the murphy wouldn't mind the crib being there where there's more space.

Personally I don't think I'd enjoy the cabins without the golf cart, It's mostly about the flexibility of getting around to the parks and restaurants. When staying at the cabins, the main bus stop to the theme parks is either a long walk, or an internal bus ride away - and getting down to Settlement for the restaurants and boat docks to MK or other hotels is clear across the other side of the campground. Plus needing any supplies from the store and having to get on a bus would all just be a pain. The golf cart lets you get to and from busses and boats, stores, and restaurants quickly and at your own pace, with designated cart parking near all the places you'd need to go. I always find it relaxing at the end of a long park day to get off the bus from a park, and find my golf cart waiting - hop on and enjoy a breezy ride back to my cabin.

If space is important, OKW will crush the cabins hands-down.

Thank you. We are all close but you are correct, the one bedrooms at OKW are huge and the one bedroom has two beds, which is also a plus. I could also fit a crib in there. Let me look to see what the point difference is between OKW and BWVs (however BWVs are also much smaller).

Thank you all so much for taking the time to write out your responses and reasons. I very much appreciated your writing it all out.
I think I will now decide OKW or do BWVs again. My dd has never stayed at OKW, maybe now will be the time to do so.
I'll talk to her tomorrow and give her all the options on what you all mention.

Thank you.