Staying off site, but interested in a future trip to FW...

[jhnsnfamily]

Can we drive through/visit FW during our week in Orlando??? I've seen tons of pictures and already want to camp there SOOOOOO bad, but I'd love to see it in person ... Is that possible?

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DW DH DS9 DS7

 

[Mmketeer]

Trust me, you'll want to stay there. But, unfortunatly you won't be able to just drive around the campground to see it. Even us campers staying there aren't allowed to drive around the resort. You have to either have your own bicycles, non-gas powered (battery operated) golf cart or take their bus that runs around the resort. Hey, why not book the Hoop De Doo Review and enjoy their dinner show too though while your checking out the resort. All you have to do is ....if you have your own bikes park at the front of the resort near the front desk and then hop on your bikes or hop on the bus and it will take you around the resort on the main road to the back of the campground where the boat dock is and Pioneer Hall for the dinner show.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Or you can rent bikes or a golfcart right there at the fort...I think its a great idea to check the fort out in person. If I had done that a few years back I wouldnt have wasted so many trips staying off site. Its a great campground, and the folks are "real"....real people having real fun.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

It is THE Best campground I have ever experienced! And it is in WDW!!!! What more could you ask for? Definately take some time to check it out! Walk around, take the buses. IMO, bikes are the best way to get around~you'll love it!

 

[jhnsnfamily]

We are flying down, so we won't have bikes, just a rental car, but renting a golf cart and visiting the Fort for some events sounds like fun. I already have the camping bug and can't wait for warmer weather here in Ohio, but to be honest, we haven't ever taken our camper out of the State of Ohio. I always joke with my husband that instead of having the 50 states on our camper to show where we've been, we need the State of Ohio will all 88 counties! Hopefully this year we will upgrade our tow vehicle and camper! Also, I plan on buying unexpiring 7- or 10-day hopper passes so we can use them when we camp there during our next trip. Quick question, somewhat OT, but can you buy the DDP separate from your park tickets, or should we not even consider that if staying at FW?

As always, thanks for your input!

_____________________________
Disney or Bust June 7-14th, 2008

(ME!), (DH); (DS9); and (DS7)

 

[PolynesianPixie]

We are flying down, so we won't have bikes, just a rental car, but renting a golf cart and visiting the Fort for some events sounds like fun. I already have the camping bug and can't wait for warmer weather here in Ohio, but to be honest, we haven't ever taken our camper out of the State of Ohio. I always joke with my husband that instead of having the 50 states on our camper to show where we've been, we need the State of Ohio will all 88 counties! Hopefully this year we will upgrade our tow vehicle and camper! Also, I plan on buying unexpiring 7- or 10-day hopper passes so we can use them when we camp there during our next trip. Quick question, somewhat OT, but can you buy the DDP separate from your park tickets, or should we not even consider that if staying at FW?

As always, thanks for your input! _____________________________
Disney or Bust June 7-14th, 2008

(ME!), (DH); (DS9); and (DS7)

The DDP has to be part of a package. Also, whether or not it is a benefit is really a matter of personal choice. It seems that most campers on this board feel it is un-necessary due to the food options you can have while camping. However, I think everyone agrees that it is amazingly wonderful when it is free!

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Oh, and a golf cart is $50 a day to rent. You can rent bikes, too. They're probably significantly cheaper, but I'm not sure how much

 

[BigDaddyRog]

I think the DDP is a good value...as far as price goes. You eat alot more than you pay for...and I mean ALOT more. But greed tends to overtake the human mind and then you want to get every penny's worth of what you spend, and the DDP isnt cheap, by any means, but it IS a good value. SO you may find yourself planning your day around your meals, and that CAN ruin a trip...well, not ruin it...but change the perspectives of why youre actually at Disney. A year ago, I would have done the DDP everytime....cuz eating used to be my idea of fun...so I would have LOVED it....but my life has changed significantly, and food consumption aint what it used to be for me...so now "I" prefer to eat only what I must and "play" the rest of the time.
In other words...you cant LOSE either way...if you go with DDP, you will not feel as if you lost out on anything, but if you choose to go comando and play evey meal by the vocalization of your gut...you go home with some cash to burn and feel as if you've made a wise economic choice.

 

[Mmketeer]

Hi,

You use to have to show that you were a Disney resort guest to be able to rent anything like a golf cart or bike from the FW bike barn, but maybe that has changed. So, I still think a good bet for you still if you want to check out the resort before you decide to stay there is to drive your rental car over and park at the front desk, go to the Hoop De Doo Review and take the FW resort bus around the resort. That in my opinion covers two things, going to the Hoop says you have a reason to be there and you shouldn't have any problem getting through the MK gate and the bus will show you at least a brief overview of the resort.
If I miss understood your question though, I apologize.

 

[tungpo1]

PS they don't harp about gas carts, I had some workers pull me over to look at my cart, (admiring it) I asked and they said its ok especially when people drive Polaris rangers,Yamaha rhinos and Kawasaki mules around the campground.

 

[jhnsnfamily]

Thanks for all the responses y'all! We'll have to meander our way over there and "take in the show" to see the campground, which I'm sure we'll all love even if we don't get to "tour it". Thanks again!

 

[FLA NUT]

We were allowed to drive around this past May and check the Fort out. I told the guard at the gate what I wanted to do and he told me to enjoy. I stopped at Guest Services and picked up a couple of maps. We drove really slow and toured the entire campground. I would love to stay @ FW. We have a TT but don't feel comfortable towing it all the way to FL. If I can convince DH to buy a bigger tow vehicle we may try it.

 

[jhnsnfamily]

We were allowed to drive around this past May and check the Fort out. I told the guard at the gate what I wanted to do and he told me to enjoy. I stopped at Guest Services and picked up a couple of maps. We drove really slow and toured the entire campground. I would love to stay @ FW. We have a TT but don't feel comfortable towing it all the way to FL. If I can convince DH to buy a bigger tow vehicle we may try it.

DITTO! See my previous comment about NEVER TAKING OUR CAMPER OUTSIDE THE STATE LINES! Upgrade tow vehicle and camper = trip to FW!! As a matter of fact, we are going to a camper show tomorrow ... we'll see what happens! Glad to know you were able to tour the campground w/o spending $200 on the show/dinner. We always drive through campgrounds where we live to "see what they are like" before we camp there.