Site Upgrade...thanks Disney!

[suevr]

Last fall we stayed at Ft. Wilderness for the first time in one of the cabins. We loved the Fort so much that we decided then and there that we wanted to buy an RV. When we got home I booked a campsite for this fall and we bought our new RV right before Labor Day. We camped at the Fort for the first time over Halloween and it was SO much fun. We all loved it so much that I booked 3 more trips for this coming year. Luckily we're season pass holders so we really only pay the price of the campsite when we come and maybe one meal out (plus the price of the passes)!

Anyway, we had a 10 night reservation and we were checking in kind of late (around 10pm) on a Friday night. When the cast member told me what loop we were on I was confused. We had booked a full-hook up because DH didn't want to pay the price of a preferred or premium. I thought the premium would be the way to go but sometimes there's no reasoning with him! ! Well, they put us on Loop 1000 in a premium site. It was great, especially since we only had to pay for the full-hookup rate. We even ended up extending our reservation by one night. I fully expected to pay the premium rate but the cast member only charged us the full-hookup rate. I love Disney!

I swear they must have known my husband because after staying on a premium site and looking at the full-hookup sites he decided that he only wanted to stay at a Premium site from now on! I win!!! We have two boys (3 and 6) who LOVE to run around the TT and even on the premium site they were tracking the shell/sand mix that was around the concrete into the TT. I can't even imagine how dirty it would be on a full-hookup site!

I'm not sure why we got upgraded, but it sure was nice and in the long run Disney will be making a lot more money from us since we'll only stay on premium sites from now on, if possible. Thanks Disney!

 

[martymarty]

Lucky dog!

 

[storyteller]

It's like, welll umm. "MAGIC"
Live in the moment and believe...

 

[Lil' Lisa]

Cool beans! I agree. It sounds like Disney magic to me too!

 

[Solamom]

They did the same thing to us in September. I kept asking, "are you sure?"

We loved the Premium site but are back in Full Hookups now...who knows, maybe we'll get more magic someday

 

[okeydokey]

What is the difference in the two sites? We have a pop up so we have only stayed in the 1500 or 2000 loops.

 

[liv luvs disney]

We got a complementary upgrade in September. It was nice!!

 

[caveat lector]

"Ours is not to reason why," just enjoy the occasional bone that life tosses us.

 

[retired and happy]

okeydokey: The premium concrete is much larger, with no sand. Somewhat easier to back into with a big rig. And a square picnic table with seats all around. They also had covers on the grills, but seems I've heard those may be going in at other sites. And more expensive.

 

[okeydokey]

okeydokey: The premium concrete is much larger, with no sand. Somewhat easier to back into with a big rig. And a square picnic table with seats all around. They also had covers on the grills, but seems I've heard those may be going in at other sites. And more expensive.

Thanks. Is the preferred a lower rating than premium. Does premium just mean sewer hookup? We have always camped in a a pop-up so we don;t have a need for that.

I am wondering if the preferred sites may be a bit quieter though. Not that there is anything wrong with scout groups, my son is a scout, but it seems the tent loops have more large groups of this type camping together and it gets real noisy real early. Last week there was a group up singing and yelling until after midnight.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Thanks. Is the preferred a lower rating than premium. Does premium just mean sewer hookup? We have always camped in a a pop-up so we don;t have a need for that.

I am wondering if the preferred sites may be a bit quieter though. Not that there is anything wrong with scout groups, my son is a scout, but it seems the tent loops have more large groups of this type camping together and it gets real noisy real early. Last week there was a group up singing and yelling until after midnight.

This post has the best description of the current campsite level distinctions that I have seen on the boards:

For the Fort Wilderness novices, let's clear up some of the confusion about the type of sites available.

Partial Hook-Up Loops: 1500 & 2000
Amenities include: Water, Electric (110, 30amp, 50amp), Cable, Grill
A small concrete pad with a large coquina shell pad behind the concrete.
Tents and pop-up's only. Even though I've been told they are not allowed on these loops, I have seen full sized TT's and motor homes.

The following site levels allow any kind of camping equipment....

Full Hook-Up Loops: 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900
Amenities include: W/E/Sewer/Cable, Grill. A large concrete pad with a small coquina shell pad at the rear of the site. If you need a lot of space in front of your RV, it's okay to back all the way into the site on to the shell pad.

Preferred Sites: 100, 200, 300
Amenities are the same as the Full Hook-Up sites. These are called preferred only because of their proximity to the Settlement Area, Trails End, HDDR, Beach, and Marina. These 3 loops are original to Ft.W and the sites tend to be a little more compact than the sites on the Full Hook-Up loops.

Premium Loops: 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400.

The only things that make these sites "premium" is that they are all concrete, have new, composite, square picnic tables, and a grill with a shelf and cover. Some sites are so packed together that if you want to set up an E-Z Up awning, or a tent, you will have no place to stake them down. Other sites do have enough grass space around them to set up the above, but the ground may not be level enough to do so.

Pet Loops: Although there are loops that are supposed to be designated as "pet only" loops, the actual loop numbers change like the wind. In the past two years I have seen dogs on every loop in the campground, with the exception of the cabin loops. I suppose if someone booked a cabin and had a service dog, there could be a possibility of a dog in the cabin loops.

There is a sticky on the main page of the Camping Board that has a map of FtW. If you want to see where all the loops are located with their proximity to recreation areas, bus stops, etc., refer to the map.

If you make your reservation on line, make sure to print out the reservation and take it with you. You may not be asked to produce it (I never have been), but if you have made modifications to your ressie between the time you booked and the time you arrive and your site level was changed without your knowledge, you have proof of what you originally booked. Don't forget that you can always ask at check-in if there is a better price available. The CM's at check-in will help you with that.

Edit to add: Wi-Fi is not available with any site. You can either go to Wi-Fi spots within the Fort (shown on map), or you can go to the front desk and ask for a high-speed cable modem kit. The kit has a refundable $125 deposit. Access to the Fort's internet, either thru the cable modem or through the wi-fi spots requires access using the number on your KTTW card and you will be charged $9.95 for a 24 hour period (whether you use the wi-fi for 5 minutes or the full 24 hours).

You are correct in observing that there are often large groups camping on the partial hook-up loops. Sometimes this creates issues with noise, and also congestion in the comfort stations as they tend to take care of their business in groups. You don't see much of this on the other campsite levels.

And I wanted to add my $.02 about upgrades . . .

I have lost count of how many visits I have made to the Fort. It is well over a hundred. I have never received a free upgrade. Never. So, while it does happen on occasion, for various reasons, it is a very rare occurrence. You should reserve the level of campsite that you want, and do not get the idea that upgrades happen frequently, because they don't.

TCD

 

[okeydokey]

This post has the best description of the current campsite level distinctions that I have seen on the boards:




You are correct in observing that there are often large groups camping on the partial hook-up loops. Sometimes this creates issues with noise, and also congestion in the comfort stations as they tend to take care of their business in groups. You don't see much of this on the other campsite levels.

And I wanted to add my $.02 about upgrades . . .

I have lost count of how many visits I have made to the Fort. It is well over a hundred. I have never received a free upgrade. Never. So, while it does happen on occasion, for various reasons, it is a very rare occurrence. You should reserve the level of campsite that you want, and do not get the idea that upgrades happen frequently, because they don't.

TCD

Wow, what a great description, thanks. Personally for us since we don't use the sewer or the cable paying for a full hook up site would be a waste of money unless it afforded us a little more quiet, but there is never any guarantee of that. I was just a little surprised that the adults in the group didn't make any effort to stop the kids from singing, chanting at the top of their lungs at midnight.

 

[suevr]

Thanks TCD for posting that description. I was looking for the post and you beat me to it.

I couldn't believe we got the upgrade especially since we were staying for 10 days. We drove around and the full-hookups weren't full so it was strange. I swear, it's as if Disney knew I was trying to convince my DH that we should stay on a Premium site! LOL! I chalk it up to Disney magic.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Wow, what a great description, thanks. Personally for us since we don't use the sewer or the cable paying for a full hook up site would be a waste of money unless it afforded us a little more quiet, but there is never any guarantee of that. I was just a little surprised that the adults in the group didn't make any effort to stop the kids from singing, chanting at the top of their lungs at midnight.

Just in case you missed it, the partial sites do have cable, so the only utility missing is the sewer.

I hear you about the kids making noise, but that's what groups of kids do. The good news is that it rarely happens two nights in a row at the Fort.

Thanks TCD for posting that description. I was looking for the post and you beat me to it.

I couldn't believe we got the upgrade especially since we were staying for 10 days. We drove around and the full-hookups weren't full so it was strange. I swear, it's as if Disney knew I was trying to convince my DH that we should stay on a Premium site! LOL! I chalk it up to Disney magic.

You might be right. Maybe this is a new marketing idea from Disney! If so, it apparently worked in your case.

I know pixie dust happens. I've received my share. Just not in the form of a free upgrade.

Yet.

TCD

 

[mamafrei]

Hello!

Not sure where I should post this so please tell me if there is another spot that would be more appropriate. I have never stayed at Fort Wilderness Campground and had a few questions to those of you who have.

1. Is there a waiting list to reserve?
2. What are some good loops for a 33 ft. travel trailer with full hook-up? Also have 3 young kids so maybe close to pool or playground? Or would that be too noisy? Quiet at night would be great!
3. Is it busy there during the month of August?
4. When should I call to make a reservation?

Thank you so much in advance!

 

[Bmorosco]

Hello!

Not sure where I should post this so please tell me if there is another spot that would be more appropriate. I have never stayed at Fort Wilderness Campground and had a few questions to those of you who have.

1. Is there a waiting list to reserve?
2. What are some good loops for a 33 ft. travel trailer with full hook-up? Also have 3 young kids so maybe close to pool or playground? Or would that be too noisy? Quiet at night would be great!
3. Is it busy there during the month of August?
4. When should I call to make a reservation?

Thank you so much in advance!

We always have the best of luck in the 1400 loop pretty close to alot..