RV Camping v. On site disney hotel...

[HeatherPage]

Hi there, we are recent DVC owners but had to sell partially due to financial reasons. I'm pondering one day getting a decent used RV (not sure which kind at the moment) to take down to Myrtle Beach and Fort Wilderness. My only problem I see at the moment is I have a very active 2 1/2 year old who loves to run around and climb and play and not sure if an RV would give him the room he needs right now to do those things (of course I guess that is what the great outdoors are for ). Is there anyone here that has stayed in the resort rooms onsite and Fort Wilderness in some sort of RV that can give me the pros and cons or comparisons of each. We would be extreme newbies to camping, but I want to start doing more healthy outdoorsy type things and camping seems like it would lend itself very easily to that kind of lifestyle.

Thanks for any insight!

 

[We3LuvWDW]

Well we haven't stayed in a WDW hotel, but I hope I can give you some help.

At the end of last year we (DS 14, DS friend 13, DN 10, DN 7 and myself) went to Busch Gardens - Williamsburg. The year before we took our 5th wheel down and had a GREAT time. Well DH could not go so I took everyone and hit a hotel. I figured I would go cheap (about the same price as campsite) since I would have to buy ALL our meals. Well I got what I paid for. I LOVE our camper — it has everything I need — and it is CLEAN! I save a lot on food when we use the camper (teenagers !!!).

We will be going back to Fort Wilderness in Aug and I can't wait! Believe it or not, my DS said he doesn't want to go to WDW unless we stay at FW.

 

[DisneyForLife]

I have stayed at many onsite hotels from the Grand Floridian to the AllStars. I have to say the best is staying at FW in my motorhome. I just love having everything I need at my fingertips. I can cook myself and save some money if I want or we can eat out, no lugging suitcases, kids are older now but they were more at home in the RV than a hotel room. There are far more pros than cons camping in my opinion. But I LOVE to camp, I suggest you try it before you make such a major purchase. It is not for everyone. We started in a tent, went to a pop-up and now a class C motorhome. I wasn't too crazy for the tent but the pop-up and the RV are great.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[my3princes]

I can speak with a lot of experience. When my older boys were 6 mths and 2 1/2 we stayed in the wilderness homes. There was plenty of room for the kids to play and they were pretty clean. When my boys were 4 and 2 we stayed at the holiday Inn Family Suites. It was nice, since it was a suite it also had a lot of room. I was very concerned with germs at both places since the kids spent a lot of time playing on the floor. We have made 2 trips in our own camper and by far this is the best way to go. Given the choice the kids would stay at FW over any hotel at anytime. There is so much to do. We currently have a 30 ft Travel Trailer with a slide out. There is plenty of floor space (we have another son who was 9 mths last trip and will be 20 mths next trip). The kids can play at the table or on the floor, I don't have to worry about other peoples germs and I can take everything required to keep my kids happy. Can't do that when flying or travelling in a small car. We camp virtually every weekend during the summer so purchasing a camper was a great choice for us. I would suggest renting one or borrowing one before you actually purchase one because there is a lot that goes along with camping (setting up, what to pack, how to cook, etc.)

 

[mom2bandp]

We too have tried it all...onsite hotels, offsite hotels, offsite rental houses, condos, and both the cabins and camping in FW. I grew up camping in FW, and it is by far our favorite! We now have 2 very active sons, ages 1 1/2 and 3. We bought a popup to see how we would handle camping with children, and we haven't regretted it for a moment. Being surrounded by our own things in our camper makes it easier for the boys to relax and feel comfortable, and we love being able to cook a lot of our meals. And as has been mentioned, the fact that I don't have to worry as much about other people's germs is a huge plus. As far as our sons having room to move...yes, the popup has limited space, but outside is where the boys want to be anyway, and then they come in and take VERY good naps! We will probably be getting a travel trailer next year, so that they will have a little more room to move as they get bigger, and also so that we'll have a bathroom. But we truly feel this is the best choice for us as far as how we vacation.

 

[sweet maxine]

Hello from the Magnolia state!
I'm glad to hear from others who really enjoy FW. We love it and it is the only place my 16 y/o twins will stay. This year they will be old enough to drive the golf carts (with driver's license in their hot little hands!). We stay in the cabins because my husband is not too sold on "roughing it" as he calls it. I told him I would love to buy a camper just as you have said, so that we can make more trips to Disney! I'm not too sure he's been swayed though. I grew up going camping in Arkansas and always loved it. My very first trip to WDW in fact was spent camping at FW in a pop up camper with my parents when I was 13. I think it was the first year it was open and it cost around $13 a night to camp. Boy, was my dad complaining about the price! I think the Poly was about $72 a night back then. That really dates me!! We enjoy the campfire program and love the movies. I just don't think you can get a better value for your money than at FW.

Now, if I can just sell my husband on the idea of that camper.

 

[VAN]

We have two kids and bought a small pop-up 10 years ago .... love it so much, that we just traded it in for a larger, brand-new one which we took to Ft. Wilderness a few weeks ago.

In all the years I've been going to WDW, camping at Ft. W is still my favorite.

Save on food
Have my own stuff around me
Relaxing
and ...... NO TV except when my DH takes me to Crockett's Tavern for drinks and pizza !!!!

I can't tell you how much not having a TV available brings the family together.

My kids have grown up with WDW and Ft W and I wouldn't trade it for a stay in any WDW hotel!

 

[sweet maxine]

Not to mention that I think the friendliest folks are at FW! We met so many nice people there last summer. I hope it is just as good this year. I'm not sure who said it (maybe Mark Twain?) but I think it goes "A person is about as happy as they make their minds up to be." Must be a lot of that type at FW! Maybe it's all the fresh air.

 

[John VN]

We too are DVC Members and feel the 1 Bedroom at OKW is just like being home. In our case, the set up is even a little nicer than our own. That being said, let me also add that staying in your own RV has a special feeling that can't be compared to staying at any of the WDW Resorts as far as I am concerned. We are so much more relaxed and comfortable that we have not used our DVC for years. I would not say that we are roughing it when we are at FW but there are concessions that must be made.
One thing that we always do when at FW is to ride our bikes around the campground and look at all the sites just to see the setups from TENTS to $1,000,000.00+ MOTORHOMES. Can't do that at any other resort. Just call me nosy. It is funny to see people come out of their $200,000.00 motorhome and walk to the comfort station to shower.
Currently our trips to FW include our 2yo and 4yo Grandsons and we all have blast. I am sure you would also.

 

[sweet maxine]

I am taking my 3 y/o grandson back again this year with me and he loves FW. He keeps asking " When are we going back to my cabin?". He's old enough for his own ticket this year, but we know if we don't use all the days, there's plenty more time to come back again. BTW, we also like to look around at the campground area, especially at dusk. So many of the campers have little lights up and have their sites really decorated! We pile up in the golf cart and make a loop or two, then head over to the campfire program. Geez, I guess it doesn't take a lot to entertain us. Usually most of the campers wave or say a friendly "Hi".

 

[HeatherPage]

Thanks for the replies everyone, you've really given me something to think about. I guess now I'll have to start doing some research about what kind of campers we should look into. Right now my heart says the RV you can drive down but our budget probably says pop-up. I'll have to look into renting one first. Thanks again!

 

[auntie]

I would just advise you...if you choose to buy an RV...we have a travel trailer...and we have a slide out room in it. It makes a HUGE difference in the feel and look of the unit. We put that slide out and the living and dining room area is great and very comfortable. We are four adult sized people(my kids are 12 and 16) and room is not an issue. It especially is appreciated when the weather is bad and you are spending a little more time inside your camper. Our is a 2000 Jayco Eagle 266 slide...and we love it. Wouldn't go without the slide again.
Haven't been able to bring it FW yet..but really looking forward too. Hopefully this summer if my husband can get a couple of weeks together. Have my loop all picked out. I'm sure I'll be asking for site # suggestions if we can actually go.

 

[ScarlettO]

We're loooking to buy a camper also, but I'd say the monthly note on one is about what DVC costs, so I don't know if that will really "save" you $$ in the long run. Also, you need a heavy duty truck with all but very lightweight campers-then an SUV will be ok.

 

[Mic]

Hi,Heather from a fellow North Carolinian!
We,too,are DVC members...I think I rented points from you once that you transferred into my account, and you kindly added a few extra points at no charge. We took all 4 kids to FW a little over a year ago(03/03) so my son could set up the camp in order to get a badge for Cub Scouts. He was working on getting his Arrow of Light before moving up to the Boy Scouts, so it was important that he do it alone. We had 3 tents: a 10x15 for the 3 girls(ages 14,12,and 9), a 9x12 for my DH and I, and my son had a small 3-person tent(not sure of the size), and all 3 tents fit easily on one site. We did not have a screen room, but I have since purchased one. It did rain 2 of the 4 days we were there, but not heavily. My son and I loved it so much that we are going to FW in 2005 with the entire Boy Scout troop! My daughters and hubby did not enjoy it. DH thought it was too much work to call a vacation, but I feel we were just too new to camping for it to be relaxing. All the real campers have set-up and pack-up down to a science, whether in a $50 tent or a $200, 000 motorhome. It was definitly different than staying at the BWV: trust me, my 2 oldest daughters spent 4 days pointing out the differences. The biggest thing the kids missed was a themed pool, and they were just a little old for the petting zoo, although my youngest daughter and I spent some time there. We did not bring the kids' bikes, so we ended up at Wal-mart purchasing rollerblades for the 9 and 10-year-old to skate around our loop. We went to the Campfire program once, and the kids participated in a talent show. There was plenty to do there without going to a park, much like staying at the Boardwalk, and you could do some of your own cooking, like with DVC. I have been looking at pop-ups for a little over a year, and I think I may be getting one soon. My husband is so against me buying one that he SUGGESTED we purchase more points when I brought up camping on 2 different occassions, and he is not pro-DVC most days. For us, a pop-up would be the most we could ever afford(without giving up some neccessities, like DVC), but I think if I could get my fanny off the ground and make set-up a little easier, DH and daughters may come around. And if not, my son and I may be camping alone. A pop-up would do nicely for the 2 of us! If you are concerned that you won't enjoy camping itself, I suggest you either rent a small camper or tent camp in the fall or spring when the weather is more predictable. While I doubt I would ever enjoy going to most of the places my son's Scout troop goes(no water or electric), I did enjoy FW, and I think you will, too. And your toddler would be in heaven!

 

[HeatherPage]

Hi there!
I'm glad your son had such a good time! My husband and I camped for one night in a tent in July at FW (what was I thinking?). We had a fan and an air mattress but it was just so hot during the night and the part of the day when we came back from the parks was miserably hot too (except the part when it thunderstormed - I thought our tent was going to blow away, so we hung out in the car and "rested"). Also at night there was alot of movement in the bushes-I'm sure they were just friendly bunny rabbits, but at 3:00 a.m. you're not thinking clearly sometimes - that coupled with the fact that we were kind of far from the comfort station and I did not like walking by myself down there (I guess I kept thinking I was going to meet a nice little alligator along the way). Man after reading all of the above, I guess I'm just a big wuss, but my husband was not thrilled with it either, so I'm thinking a nice used pop-up with air (maybe one of the deluxe roomy ones with shower and toilet area (if there is such a thing). This isn't anything in the immediate future, as we're trying to sell our house and don't need to finance anything right now. I was thinking again of DVC but it is now up to $95/point or at least will be soon, plus we could take a pop-up to Myrtle Beach or some other similar place on the weekends. This is just the stages of dreaming and researching right now but I want to have as much knowledge as I can if and when the time comes to buy something.
take care and again thanks to everyone for their insight!