Wilderness Cabins vs. Family Suite

[Rita007]

Trying to decide on where to stay in August. Leaning towards the cabins in order to have the kitchen etc. but concerned about how remote the cabins are from pools and amenities.

Any votes or comments on either?

 

[monkeybug]

The cabins!!
We have not stayed at Fort Wilderness, but we drove over and walked around on our last trip and I would love to stay there!!! I'm trying to decide between the campground and a split between WL and Poly for our next trip. I'm sure that sounds nuts, but I like driving golf carts and well...I am kinda nuts!
FW has nightly movies, a newly refurbished pool with a slide, hot tub, and childrens splash area. The pool near the cabins also has a pool and a hot tub. They have wagon rides, horseback riding, watching the EWP from the beach, fireworks from the beach (unless they are blocked now by BLT...I'm not sure) Chip N Dales campfire, tennis courts...the list just goes on. It's like getting two vacations in one. Oh! And there is a ferry to the MK!!!! And your car is parked directly in front of your room. No schlepping stuff across a hot parking lot and up two flights of stairs!!!
You can use an off site company to rent a golf cart (much more affordable and they will deliver them) and then the further away you are from the action, the more excuse you have to drive the golf cart around!!!
If you don't want to rent a golf cart, or bring (or rent) bicycles you might want the value. I personally don't like the idea of waiting for a bus to take me around the resort (FW has internal buses), but I personally don't like the idea of a bus period.
Have fun what ever you decide!!!!
Oh and from FW you can take the trail (I think a mile) to the WL (or a ferry). I like the idea of a mile walk before and after I order bottomless milkshakes from WCC!!

 

[chskover]

The cabins are nice, but we hated them. We never saw the pool so can't comment on that. Transportation was terrible. We had a car so we ended up driving everywhere instead. If you want peace and quiet, plus you don't care about busing, the cabin are the ones for you. Maybe renting points from a DVC member to get a 1 bedroom might work better for you.

 

[Hopefully]

We loved the Fort Wilderness Cabins when our children were young. I loved the convenience of putting them all in the bedroom and shutting the door. DH and I had the living/dining/kitchen area to relax in until we turned in. It was so much more comfortable than trying to sit on the bed in the bedroom. Having the full kitchen also saved us a lot of money. Even if you only use it for breakfast fixings, drinks and snacks you will save a ton of money. With a charcoal grill right at your Cabin you can cook a meal or two in too.
There is tons of stuff for little ones to do at Fort Wilderness.
The transportation is a consideration. We did NOT find it onerous at all. There is an internal bus to the hubs and buses to the parks from there. There is a wonderful ferry to the MK, where with the ages of your children you will probably spend a lot of time.
We have done it with a rental car and we drove to the parks other than the MK. We have done it with nothing and relied on the Disney buses, and we once rented a golf cart and loved it. The kids thought the golf cart was another ride.
I would definitley choose the Fort Wilderness Cabins over the Family Suites.
(You know the cabins are in Fort Wilderness not at the Wilderness lodge, right?)
Have a Great Trip

 

[sharadoc]

Hi. We did one trip each in 2009 in a Family Suite and a cabin. I did a review on this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2272883

Overall, we preferred the family suite. Much more room to relax and socialize in the living room and about 10 times more storage space. I hated tripping over shoes and bags of souvenirs in the cabin. But the cabin is beautiful. It really depends on your personal taste. I don't think the cabin is worth $100 more a night than the suite, especially since having a golf cart is really preferable, and that adds another $52 a night to your cost.

I can probably answer any specific questions you might have with a fairly recent experience. Feel free to post or PM me if you'd like.

 

[marcielm]

Love the family suites! We didn't need the full kitchen, but used the microwave & fridge each day for breakfast & leftover desserts from the dining plan. Plenty of room, and a QUEEN SIZE bed in the bedroom. You get full size beds at the cabins.

Also, you get 2 bathrooms & 2 tvs... which is nice once the kids are in bed & DH & I wanted to stay up a bit later. OR if the girls were napping, the boys could watch tv in the living area.

 

[minnie61650]

We prefer the Family Suites.

The Family Suites start at $184 a night duing value season.
Most of the Disney resorts (excluding DVC) charge extra for more than 2 adults in a room.
The Family Suites do not charge extra for extra adults.
1-6 adults can stay in the Family Suites for the same et price.
The Family Suites have discounts available also so if you keep your eyes open you just may snag a great deal.

---------------------------------------------

Family Suite info:

DH and I stayed in a Family Suite at All Star Music ( a value resort) in Sept. of 2006.

We really enjoyed the Queen size bed, the kitchenette with the microwave, having a sofa and cushioned chair to sit on and relax after a day at the parks before retiring for the evening.

I thought the pullouts very comfortable.

They are designed so the back cushion and seat cushion of the pullout support the pullout. There is no metal bar to hurt the sleepers back.

Info thread--Pullouts in Family Suites at ASMU with photos of how the pullout is supported.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18100990#post18100990

Here is the layout of the Family Suites:

They:

-Sleep up to 6 (plus one child under age 3 in a Pak-n-Play crib)
-Studio amenities and separate sleeping areas giving more privacy than a standard room.
-Queen bed, full-size pullout sofa, convertible ottoman & chair sleepers
The pullout chair and large ottoman each pull out into standard size twin beds.
(4 separate sleepers)
-Private master bedroom and family room have 27” flat CRT TV and high speed Internet access.
-Kitchenette with microwave, small refrigerator (4.3 cu. ft) and coffee pot
-Two-full bathrooms


Here is my review of the Suites:

www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=17640774&postcount=7

For more photos and info please see this info thread:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392879

Have fun at Disney wherever you choose to stay!

 

[Rita007]

Such wonderful comments!!! Thank you so much! I think I would love to try the cabins, but I really think that the suite would be more useful for us. For an August trip, a quick trip to the pool would suffice (heck the production involved in getting 3 little girls into swimsuits etc is more than enough hassle!). We will have our own car with us, but the internal transportation for the campground concerns me a little...even with a good discount pin, the cabins are still a little high-priced. I think I'll go with the suite, and hope for free dining!

 

[fla4fun]

While I love the cabins and have no issues with the internal/external transportation set up, I would agree with your choice of the Family Suites for this trip. Why? Because I never book FW during the height of hurricane season (Aug through Oct). If a hurricane comes, you will be evacuated and moved to another resort - so you might as well choose another resort to start with. I love FW in the winter and spring though - when it's cool and breezy and great "get out and explore" weather. I'll be there in about four weeks! The All Star Suites are a good choice, especially if you don't need the services of a full kitchen. You will have two bathrooms, where the cabin only has one, and a queen bed in the bedroom, where the largest bed in the cabin is a full size.

 

[Rita007]

Also a great point!

I've been in a family suite and am hoping for free dining (I dont' really want to cook anyway) and I hadn't thought about the possibility of getting relocated in a hurricane!

Such great advice from everyone. I think hubby and I and the little ladies will keep our suite reservation!

 

[rony1434]

Hi .
Well i think that you should go for cabins.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I've been to both and prefer the family suites. I liked the added storage the kitchnette provided, the 2 closets, 2 bathrooms, 2 amoires, queen bed in bedroom, desk in bedroom, side chair in bedroom and the quick and easy access to a full service food court.