Rookie @ Fort Wilderness- in cabins- tell me....

[mudnuri]

If we chose to stay at the cabins in Nov, 05, as a first time Fort Wilderness "guest" what would you tell me?

What do I need to do?

what should I not do?

Recommend a specific location or are all cabins together?

how far of a walk is it from the main guest area - check in- to the cabins- how do we get there?

I've read about having to use 2 buses? Whats that about?

Is there a FAQ somewhere about the cabins/camp ground?

Looking at the rate for the cabins, with the package I'm looking at it's the same as AKL/WL etc... the extra space would be nice, but if it's not as easy to get around, I'll think twice.

Give me the low down on these here cabins!

thanks guys!

Brandy

 

[duranfan]

are wonderful especially for families.
They have complete kitchens with plates, pots, pans.
Full service maid service, plenty of towels.
I don't know how many times we've stayed in the cabins over the years but its up there.

I do recommend getting some food to take to your cabin, whether you want to cook out on the grill or just have snacks. There is a walmart and publix within a 20-30 minutes drive. The outposts at FT w does have food but they have huge mark ups on many products and the variety is limited. Say a can of coke is at least $1 in the outpost. They don't carry pepsi.
Also if you 'drink', its MUCH cheaper to get your spirits outside the park.

I recommened getting a golf cart, call FT W and ask for the bike barn to make reservations in advance. IF not you waste too much time waiting for buses. PLUS, the golf carts are SO much fun. A great way to see the campground.

The cabins can provide MUCH more privacy than a hotel if you have kids. When you go in you have a full size dining room table. Sofas,end tables, tv/vcr/. Theres the murphy bed? Whatever they call the beds that come out of 'walls'.
A nice size kitchen with full size fridg, microwave,dishwasher.

They have full size bath. Back is roomy with 2 bunk beds and a full sized bed. The beds are VERY comfy!! The cabins also have decks.
Bring stuff like mosquito spray just in case, charcoal, matches, drinks, snacks.

 

[duranfan]

the 2 loop thing, is the park is so big there are 2 bus routes to avoid making it too long a ride. Every loop has a convenient bus stop within walking distance.
There are also 2 hubs, at outpost and pioneer hall where you get buses that take you to 'the parks and such'.
Certain buses also go over to WL and transportation center from FW.

Its a pretty good walk from any site unless you're in the 100, 300 loops which ARE rv loops. Since you walk all over the place when you're at disney, its not like you're gonna want the extra 'hoofing it' for exercise. I REALLY RECOMMEND the golf carts. Fun and practical. I think they run $40 ish for 24hrs. They are new club carts that you charge with battery outlets provided at the cabin and in cart parking.

Lets just say, I've never heard anyone NOT like the cabins. They are really a custom made modular home. Very nicely decorated with the motif. They also have decks with picnic tables.
There are laundry facilities at the comfort stations too (comfort stations are bath facilites, with phones, laundry met, coke machine).
IF you have kids, they'll love the campfire program.
Also, the trails end is a great place to eat. They also have a place called crockets tavern where you can get snack foods like mexican wraps/hot wings/fresh pizza. Has a bar, but its completely family friendly. VERY reasonable for disney food.
Theres a petting farm for kids. Ponie rides. Also trail rides for 8 and above. Boating, fishing... lots of stuff. They also have hayrides, coach rides in the evening. You can see the fireworks/water pagent from FW at the lake.

I've been going to FW all my life since I was a kid, its a family tradition now, with our 3 rd generation now going.
I've got 12 days scheduled next month.
FUN!!!

 

[mudnuri]

Can I park my rental car if I get one at my cabin? Similar to if I had a truck with my RV?

got it on the golf carts, added that to the FW possible budget.

If we do a town car- we'll do a 30min grocery stop

The golf carts, I assume is the same cart the duration of your stay? you plug it in at the cabin, then at the bus stop?

how long is the bus ride to the parks? About the same as all other resorts? we stayed at ASMovies in April, and I did not mind the bus times at all, even after wishes, I just figured, its april, and its busy- but it wasnt that long of a wait.

this time, will be nov 27-dec3, 2005, value season, and the week after thanksgiving- I'm thinking it'll be less crowded..

Brandy

 

[blestmom]

Just my .02 cents worth regarding the golf carts. I think it really depends on the time of year you go, how much you like to walk, and how much you mind waiting. Having said that, I have only stayed at the cabins once, so that is all I am basing my opinion on.

I went last February, and it wasn't very crowded. I did not rent a car, so I relied on the bus transportation. I had absolutely no problem using the buses. It may be very different during a crowded time.

I also did not use the golf carts, although I think they would be a lot of fun. I was trying to keep the costs down. One advantage of this is that I slowed down, relaxed, and really enjoyed all the little parts of the campground. But I enjoy walking, so this was not a negative thing for me. If you had a hard time doing a lot of walking, etc., then a golf cart would be great. Or if you just wanted to have some fun! But otherwise I wouldn't say it was 'necessary.' I thought $49 per day was just too much for my budget. Anyway, that's just my experience.

 

[LMC]

You can park your car at the cabin. If you are only doing disney though I would see if using a town car service would be less than the rental (since you do get a grocery stop) then you would have some $$ left for a cart rental. The cart rental does add up. We only get a cart when we have a full day at FW now; we no longer get one a park it all day while we are at the parks.

We camper camp so I am not familiar w/ the cabins other than what I have seen when we have "toured" the campground. You can not use your vehicle inside FW to go to the marina, Trails End, etc. You can use it to go to the store in FW but they discourage driving around by vehicle unless you are entering or exiting the campground. I love this rule because it makes bike riding a little safer w/ little ones!

Going to MK should be pretty easy: catch the internal FW bus to the marina then ride the boat to MK. You could do this for Epcot too since it's on the monorail. The bus service inside FW is good. They only stop for a few seconds at each stop then move on.

You can also ship some non-perishables to FW ahead of time since you would have a short grocery stop w/ a town car service.

 

[FTWFAN]

We just returned from Ft Wilderness! We absolutely love it. My DH and kids will not even discuss staying anywhere else! Try this sight. We found it very helpful when first deciding to stay at Ft Wilderness! Have Fun!!!!

http://fly.hiwaay.net/~jlspence/faq_fw.htm

 

[duranfan]

I have stayed at the cabins to many times to number. Lets just say when I was a little kid and we first started going to FT. W they still had the train there, a food wagon and lots of other great stuff thats now gone. Back then they had Fleetwood upscale trailers and they were about $50 a night, which was alot of money back then. Preferred loop campsites that retail between $50-80 now was only $8 at peak season back then.

Anyway, theres many times of the year, especially mid day where FT w Probably because of budget cuts have minimal bus' running.

Another big hinderance is that MANY people who really can't or don't wanna walk, now bring those motor scooters. I know last year we were on the bus and had to wait about 20 minutes at one stop, while they 2 obviously able bodied people had their scooters loaded up on the handicap lifter. (Disclaimer: Hey, come on we KNOW some people just don't wanna hoof it. You had to be there if you know what I mean.) So basically you can waste alot of time waiting on the buses. IF you are able to swing it for at least part of the trip, it can become a great part of your vacation.
FT. W has lots of places to explore, relax. ITs especially fun at night to go golfcarting down to bay lake, see the fireworks or to 'drive in' at the campfire.

We have done with and without golf cart. We walk alot during the trip, so the extra money is worth it to us.

 

[Gillian]

Originally posted by duranfan
...2 obviously able bodied people had their scooters loaded up on the handicap lifter. (Disclaimer: Hey, come on we KNOW some people just don't wanna hoof it. You had to be there if you know what I mean.)

Please, please don't ever make this assumption. There may be some truth to it, but there is no way for you to tell just by looking.

You could see me today and think I am perfectly able bodied, but that's because you can't see the mass in my spinal cord. I sometimes feel lousy, but when I feel good I don't wear a sign or make faces announcing, "I'm very ill." I try to stay upbeat and happy around my friends and family.

Okay, that's it.

Yes, there are often delays with the internal busses for various reasons and that is the only thing we don't like about the cabins at FW. And a queen bed would be nice, LOL.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Gillian,
This is off topic, but I know exactly what you mean. I am 36, and was diagnosed with arthritis at 27. I have already had back surgery once, and now my spine is deteriorating. I constantly worry that people will be judging me when we're out. Mostly because of my age. It's hard for anyone to believe that an individual my age, could be so physically unhealthy. Believe me, it's hard for me to understand also.

Anyway, this is our first year at FW that we will be renting a golf cart. Riding a bike, which used to be part of the fun for us, has become too difficult for me. If I were still able, I would much prefer riding a bike with my family. However, we do camp in our RV, and the cabins are much farther from the marina. Golf cart, or not, FW is alot of fun, and after our first time of staying there, we've never wanted to go back to the resorts. It's a totally different environment.

 

[mrskti]

We just got back from FW the other day, gosh I love that place! We were in Loop 100...lucky us!!

If you can rent a cart, even for a few days I'd do it. We bought our own and haul it there. The cabins are great, we put our daughter and her family in them when they come down with us. You can park your car there, and we have found the best way to get to the parks are...Magic Kingdom... take the boat, Animal Kingdom and MGM and Epcot...drive!!! Once your at MGM, you can also boat over to Epcot, or from MK monorail to Epcot.

We're going back in Nov...trying out our new Motor Mansion! hehehe!!!

 

[HughJackman'n'me]

...we are newbies to Ft Wilderness cabins. Actually we got a pretty good rate, my DS's really want to try the 'camping' feel of Ft W, and my DH was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease (gluten allergy) so, it'd probably be easier to just prepare his meals instead of WDW limited menus....