Thoughts on FW cabins?? Help!

[wrldpossibility]

Hi,

I'm not posting this in the camping/Ft. Wilderness section because everyone there loves FW and the cabins, which is great, but right now I need ALL opinions, lol. We have a larger group (6 plus 1 under two years), and can't afford the villas. Our options are paying more for two rooms at WL, getting two rooms at a moderate, or getting a cabin at FW. I heard it can be hard to get adjoining rooms, which is important, so the thought of a cabin is great. I don't need the kitchen, but it would be a nice extra. The price is great, but the reason I'm worried is that I plan to stay 8-10 days, spend fairly significant time at the room/cabin, and need something easy to get to from the parks (youngest will be just under 2, and need to come back for breaks). I've heard it can take a long time with their transportation, and that there's lots of walking within FW to the cabins. I have small children, and don't want to add too much to their already tired feet! I don't want to pay extra for a cart, but will if it helps a lot. We're going in value season, so I hope the crowds aren't too much of a problem. Thoughts?

 

[twinklebug]

...I plan to stay 8-10 days, spend fairly significant time at the room/cabin, and need something easy to get to from the parks (youngest will be just under 2, and need to come back for breaks). I've heard it can take a long time with their transportation, and that there's lots of walking within FW to the cabins.

I grew up camping in FW and last year tried the cabins. I'm the type of person, however, who really prefers a NICE hotel room (too many years camping has spoiled it for me.) The FW cabins are a class to themselves. They are not trailers and are SO private it feels like you have a whole woodsy yard just for you and the family to enjoy. This can come in very handy with a small child needing a quiet atmosphere to wind down in for a break. Hotel rooms just cannot offer this type of solitude. Remember that they also have plenty of running space, animals and a variety of access options available to you other than "by cart". There really is no need to walk long distances, and I don't see the need for a cart unless you simply cannot wait a few minutes for the next passing bus to stop. The boat ride to MK is a wonder in itself, you'll want to use it as much as possible

Am I biased? Only because I've experienced it as both a child and adult with children of her own. I'm a hotel gal at heart. FW just happens to be my one and only exception to the rule

 

[OhioTony]

We really liked the cabins. I don't remember any extra walking. Depending on the time of year you go you may have some extra wait time for buses.

We went in Sept. and really did't have any trouble. Our cabin was more towards the front of the loop so we could hear when the bus left our stop and we knew we had about 10 minutes til the next . That bus would take us to the front where we would catch the bus to wherever we were going. That wait could be as long as 20 minutes but that is pretty standard for wherever you stay.

If we were going to MK we would take the FW bus to the marina and take the boat over. This was loved by the whole family.

Probably the only thing we did't like about staying there was the pool. It was not a theme pool--no slides and such. Just a plain old pool you would find in your backyard.

All of the really great things about staying there made up for it though.

Enjoy your stay where ever you stay.

 

[stacy6552]

I think the cabins are one of wdw best kept secrets. I think it would be perfect for your needs. However, I would highly reccommend that you have a car.

 

[POLY1985]

We stayed at the cabins in 1998 when my boys were 2 1/2 and 7 1/2. My parents went with us so we figured it would be easier and cheaper to rent a cabin than 2 rooms. At the time I believe it ended up costing about the same as a moderate (with cabin price split between the 2 families). There are 2 rooms - bedroom with a double or queen bed (can't remember which) and a bunk bed. I think there was also a sink in the room. Then the other room was living room, kitchen and dining area. It was pretty roomy. My parents slept on the pull down bed in the living room. What was nice about this was my mom and dad were up early and made breakfast for everyone while I showered. We just threw the dishes in the dishwashing and mousekeeping ran the dishwasher.This got us out quickly to the parks. We had fresh towels everyday and newspaper delivery. All the cabins are on loops. If you are at the beginning, the walk to the bus isn't far but if you are at the far end it could be. We used the stoller for the little guy and did okay. It was really a fun place to stay.

 

[jwfla422]

We had a great time in the cabins a few years back and we are definitely "spoiled" deluxers. A little about our experience.

When we were there it was just my mom, my then 4 yr old dd and myself. Plus my brother and his family had the cabin next door and my good friend and her family had a cabin across the way. And, it was a blast with this set up. I wouldn't hesitate doing this again when we have friends or family staying in WDW at the same time. We bbqed on the deck and were able to go back and forth to each other's cabins. The convenience of having a full kitchen was just great, not to mention a separate bedroom. We shared a golf cart with my brother and his family which worked out nicely and also cut down the expense as it isn't cheap.

Now some things to think about for your family if staying at the FW cabins:

It will be a "tight" fit with 6 people and a 2 yr old. There's only 1 bathroom. The bedroom is small and there's not a lot of storage area for your clothes. There is a full sized bed and bunk beds (keep in mind the top bunk is low so for a child sitting on the bottom bed there's not a lot of headroom when they sit up in bed). The living room has a full sized murphy bed and a small couch which is like a narrow twin bed. The kitchen is great. Nice size with a table that will "comfortably" seat 4 to 5 people.

If you don't want to spend the extra for a cart you may spend some time waiting on the internal buses which take you to the boat or the main depot to pick up buses to the parks. Keep in mind you may have to take 2 buses before reaching the depot or boat launch. Your best bet would be to request a cabin close to the front or end of a loop so you are near a bus stop or request a small loop.

Now if a kitchen is not a big deal to you then you may want to consider staying at a deluxe. One thing to keep in mind is that if the weather is bad in order to go outside your cabin you have to go "outside". In a hotel you can move about the hotel and go to the restaurants inside without dealing with inclement weather.

WL's transportation is pretty good but sometimes waits can take a while waiting for the buses or boat. WL and FW share the boat to MK.

Some of FW's activities are quite fun too. The campfire and movie are a nice way to spend a night or 2 outside the parks. The TEB has a good buffet and is quite reasonable. Keep in mind these amenities are just as accessible if you stay at WL as you're just a boat ride away. You would need to then bus to the campfire but if you don't rent a cart you would have to do that anyway if stayed at the cabins.

All in all, it's the matter of preference. If you like the luxury of a hotel/resort then I'd go for WL, but if you are looking for something a bit different go for FW. Both conveniences in different ways. Good luck!!

 

[HopperFan]

jwfla422 made some very good points when considering a stay there. We stayed one year with sis in cabin next door for a week. We loved the cabin itself, but we did cook and saves lots on food. But I am thinking 7 people will be tight. We also went in January with total park play on our mind, but had I planned on spending time at the cabin, I don't think I would have enjoyed as much. The pools were a huge disappointment, and that is important to my kids. You have to bus everywhere, you can't use your car. To walk to the bus stop, wait for the bus and then to travel to somewhere in the campground was not enjoyable for me. Our trip from the cabin to the boat to MK was about 20 minutes and crowded and we still to walk to the dock and ride the boat. I could have taken a bus from AKL and been at the MK in 10-15 minutes with minimal walking. We rode the boat to MK but decided to drive to all other parks. We would have been at the park before a bus would have gotten us to the front entrance of the campground to change to the other bus. I hate spending lots of time on transportation.

I would seriously look at your other options since you plan to "enjoy" your "hotel" time. I would go back but to me it is only a good option for us if we plan to be gone all the time. We stayed at POR with connected rooms and it worked out great.

 

[Mis4Mouse]

I'm a big fan of the Cabins, and would do it again if we were watching our pennies and bringing our own food to cook to save money on meals....or if my kids were little again (which we know is NOT going to happen!)

However, for the situation you are describing, I also have to agree that it will be a tight fit. We had six in the cabins and we did feel a little cramped at times.... We were there in Sept/Oct. and the kids rarely played outside because it was just too darn hot to run around after long days at the parks....

We didn't think we'd need the cart, but broke down and got one when I realized that in order to do laundry I had to take it all on the bus with me.... I like to do it at night when the kids are sleeping, or early in the mornings. And to get to the store I wasn't fond of waiting for a bus....

And I agree that the pools were a big disappointment.

I would suggest that while the cabins are nice and the peace and quiet are fabulous - you might want to consider two rooms at the CBR or other moderate... the pools are great - fun for the kids, the rooms are huge at the CBR, the laundry is near the quiet pools and you don't have to drive there... and the thing I loved the most, for my large family...was the Food Courts! Not having to cook, and finding something to please just about everyone, was a godsend.

If you were only 5, I'd say go for it....but traveling with seven can be a strain as it is - even in the happiest of families! Go for more room, better pools, and food courts!!!

Unless of course you are thinking deluxe might suit you better...
(ahhh decisions, decisions)

Whatever you do, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.


Sue

 

[Pryncess'mom]

I would have to agree with the OP. One bathroom for 7 will be tight!! We did it with 5, but 3 were kids (3 10 & 13 at the time). It was nice to put small kids to bed, and still watch TV in the living room. (We were there in early Nov. so parks closed early)

When you went to bed, you did not hear the people in the room next to you taking a shower, or slamming the door. The kitchen was nice for breakfast or snacks.

However, the beds are full size, and the bunks are close together. You didn't give ages for all. Are there any other kids? My 3 year old slept in the bottom bunk, and even she could not sit up in bed. She crawled in and laid right down. If you had to put up a pack-n-play for the youngest, there would not be much room in the bedroom.

7 people using one shower would be rough also.

Now, don't get me wrong!! I LOVE the cabins, and I too am a "deluxer" as far as hotels go, but our family of 5 made out just as well at POR.

Whatever you decide on , good luck!! Hope this helps.

deb