Seasons & Cost

DisneyMom2000000

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Feb 20, 2016
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We are coming down next year, February 24-March 3. We booked our campsite, at around $150 a night! I was a little sticker shocked. I just looked online and the same campsite in November (the week before Thanksgiving) is around $90 a night. Why such a difference? Is there a way I can see the value vs. peak seasons for the campground?
 
We where there that same time frame this year. The Princess marathon was going on and that is also the time that the schools up north have for winter break, at least in VT.
 
We where there that same time frame this year. The Princess marathon was going on and that is also the time that the schools up north have for winter break, at least in VT.

That makes sense. I booked this week because of crowd calendars (I know, I know... but whatever;)), plus hoping we would get to see the F&G festival March 1. How were the crowds? How was your experience, in general?
 
We where there for 2 1/2 weeks and never stepped foot into a Disney park so I could not tell you about crowds. The Fort was not crowded at all and we really love it there. We have another trip planned in a couple of months for 3 weeks and can't wait to get back. What type of site are you staying in? Are you bring a tent, rv, renting an rv? Their are a lot of inquiring minds on the Camping board that would like to know, it would help us help you if you have any other questions about the Fort.
 

We where there for 2 1/2 weeks and never stepped foot into a Disney park so I could not tell you about crowds. The Fort was not crowded at all and we really love it there. We have another trip planned in a couple of months for 3 weeks and can't wait to get back. What type of site are you staying in? Are you bring a tent, rv, renting an rv? Their are a lot of inquiring minds on the Camping board that would like to know, it would help us help you if you have any other questions about the Fort.

We are bringing an RV and a pull behind trailer.. rented two preferred spots, requested loop 100.

That's really cool that you go for that amount of time. What do you like to do at the campground? We plan to come Saturday-Saturday, with two full family days at the campground, and 4 days at the parks. We end our park days in the late afternoon.
 
What do you like to do at the campground?
I just like walking around all the loops and looking at all the great trailers and motor homes, and just seeing how people decorate their sites. I will spend some time at the pool with my DW and DD and then leave them their and go walking around some more. I do construction work so it is hard for me to be in one spot for a long period of time, I feel I have to keep moving or walking.
 
I just like walking around all the loops and looking at all the great trailers and motor homes, and just seeing how people decorate their sites. I will spend some time at the pool with my DW and DD and then leave them their and go walking around some more. I do construction work so it is hard for me to be in one spot for a long period of time, I feel I have to keep moving or walking.

That makes sense. Have you ever rented or brought a golf cart?
 
We rented a Disney cart for one of the weekends that we where there, found that driving through the loops I missed a lot of interesting things. It was nice to have to get to the busses at the outpost then not having to wait for a bus at night to get back to the site, but I found that I still preferred to walk. I think this time we will be bringing bikes and try that out.
 
We are coming down next year, February 24-March 3. We booked our campsite, at around $150 a night! I was a little sticker shocked. I just looked online and the same campsite in November (the week before Thanksgiving) is around $90 a night. Why such a difference? Is there a way I can see the value vs. peak seasons for the campground?

There isn't a simple way, but you can go here to get 2017 rates for all resorts in all "seasons": http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/disney-rates.htm For a family of max 4 at Pop Century, in a basic room, it is essentially the same as what you are paying for a preferred spot at Ft. Wilderness. The thing I always point out is that Fort Wilderness has the amenities generally associated with moderate or deluxe resorts, for example a water slide, a sit down restaurant, and special transportation (the boats to MK). You also get easy access to the deluxe resorts through the launches and monorail, as well as a dinner show on property, which only the Polynesian can match.

I've never really understood people that treat Fort Wilderness as a campground only. It's a nice campground, but for that purpose it is extremely expensive in my opinion. I know of cheaper places to stay that offer similar amenities (though perhaps not with Disney style!). But I will maintain that as an onsite property, in other words a resort to get the benefits of being onsite including Extra Magic Hours, earliest FP+ reservations, transportation, Disney attention to detail and more, The Fort is a tremendous value. It is priced as a basic value, sometimes a bit less and sometimes a bit more (especially if the values have discounts or dining attached), but it has the amenities of at least a moderate and close to a deluxe. Excluding Mousekeeping of course!

Other people obviously feel different. There are people that just stay at Ft. Wilderness because they love it. I don't get it, but that is what makes the world go round!
 
There isn't a simple way, but you can go here to get 2017 rates for all resorts in all "seasons": http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/disney-rates.htm For a family of max 4 at Pop Century, in a basic room, it is essentially the same as what you are paying for a preferred spot at Ft. Wilderness. The thing I always point out is that Fort Wilderness has the amenities generally associated with moderate or deluxe resorts, for example a water slide, a sit down restaurant, and special transportation (the boats to MK). You also get easy access to the deluxe resorts through the launches and monorail, as well as a dinner show on property, which only the Polynesian can match.

I've never really understood people that treat Fort Wilderness as a campground only. It's a nice campground, but for that purpose it is extremely expensive in my opinion. I know of cheaper places to stay that offer similar amenities (though perhaps not with Disney style!). But I will maintain that as an onsite property, in other words a resort to get the benefits of being onsite including Extra Magic Hours, earliest FP+ reservations, transportation, Disney attention to detail and more, The Fort is a tremendous value. It is priced as a basic value, sometimes a bit less and sometimes a bit more (especially if the values have discounts or dining attached), but it has the amenities of at least a moderate and close to a deluxe. Excluding Mousekeeping of course!

Other people obviously feel different. There are people that just stay at Ft. Wilderness because they love it. I don't get it, but that is what makes the world go round!

Thank you! I definitely don't think of it as a campground only! We love being immersed in the Disney magic!
 












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