The Fort vs. The Park Annnnd it's ROUND ONE!

[Hisgirl]

We're taking GS9, GS7, GS6 (and baby GS0) to the Fort the first week of Feb. They've never been to Disney.

I've been planning out the week...magic kingdom here, epcot there, animal kingdom here, more magic kingdom there... Planning on finishing up each day by 2 or before.

I'm wondering though, are the boys going to be so lured by what they see at the Fort that they'll be asking to stay to fish, ride a pony, ride a canoe, swim etc etc.? We'll for sure have some down time to do these things, but I'm wondering how many folks find their kids begging to stay at the resort and not leave. Thoughts?

 

[bama_ed]

Hisgirl,

I think your strategy of ending your park days by early afternoon is a smart one. I think those boys will need a nap or at least down time so they don't have a meltdown a couple days into the trip (goodness knows I need one sometimes).

It wasn't clear to me if you planned park days every day but we routinely leave at least two days to hang around the Fort and do non park things. We might head over to Downtown Disney for lunch or play Disney putt putt. I think young boys (and I have two sons now in college) would enjoy riding bikes or canoeing at the Fort.

There are also Cast Member-led activities usually around the pool area in the afternoon for kids every day as well. Sometimes the activity is physical like flag football; sometimes it's arts & craftsy like making tye/dye tshirts (small charge for that); sometimes it's games like oversized Jenga; it's all fun. A schedule is given to you when you check in and it's also posted at all the Comfort Stations.

I'd recommend at least one day to do things at the Fort.

Bama Ed

 

[veraletta]

Our best trip would be the one that we did one day at the park and the next day at the fort. It was summer time and we loved going to the pool, fishing or just hanging out at the campsite. We love Disney world parks, but we also enjoy hanging out Fort Wilderness campground.

 

[marybrat]

When we stayed at the fort the first time, the kids loved the fort activities, but never begged to stay there. We always plan at least one non-park day during our trips though. That gives us time to hang around the fort, go to downtown Disney, drive into town, etc.

 

[tina.tina]

I have a friend who said she made her kids stay in the pool all day on her arrival day so they wouldn't be begging to swim their entire trip. They kept asking her to get out of the pool and she told them they had to stay in. She's a little nuts but she said it worked. They did swim again but they didn't beg not to go to the parks because they wanted to stay at the resort.

 

[Boomer1]

Your plan sounds very similar to how we planned our WDW/FW vacations when our kids were younger. We started camping at the Fort when our children were 4,6 and 8. They were up early and we went to the parks, best times for riding the attractions and avoiding the crowds. We would return to the RV for lunch and then as Bama Ed suggested the kids would swim and/or participate in the planned activities at the Meadow.
Our children enjoyed reading or watching cartoons( if we were lucky they might nap) after returning from their afternoon activities and then after dinner we usually went to the campfire movie or to see fireworks or Fantasmic. Usually the kids were ready for bed by 9 pm.
Our "children" are now 19,17, and 15 and we still vacation at the Fort. We may have modified our holiday activities as they aged but we still enjoy our FW family vacations. We are counting down the days until our Spring Break trip in March.
Enjoy your vacation.

 

[wiigirl]

When we stayed at the fort the first time, the kids loved the fort activities, but never begged to stay there. We always plan at least one non-park day during our trips though. That gives us time to hang around the fort, go to downtown Disney, drive into town, etc.

Same here....