Community Forums

Ted S. · 12-14-2014, 09:31 PM

I am planning a trip to Ft Wilderness in the Spring and have a couple questions for those who know this place. I am planning 2-3 days going to the parks and 1-2 days staying in the campground.

Does that sound like a good mix of time in and out of the park ground?

Would you reserve a golf cart for all of the days or just the days you are in the campground?

Thanks.

stink · 12-14-2014, 09:41 PM

All days as some or most park attractions will be "miles" away. And yup you want to go to Mickie's campfire!

Cousin Ed · 12-15-2014, 08:21 AM

We spend the winter there. We are always amazed at how many carts sit at the bus stops all day. For the $70 + rental I would want to use it all day long, not park it. We have our own cart now but for many years we didn't, and had a great time without one (never rented). You can't drive a cart out of the campground. To get to the Parks you take a bus or boat, or you can drive your car. We usually use Disney Transport as it part of the fun.

DSL417 · 12-15-2014, 08:26 AM

Carts are convenient, but expensive. You have the bus through the area every 10-15 mins. Use the bus and save the price. Plenty to spend on at Disney.

Also recommend the premium sites if you are large/long. The cheaper sites are a bear to get into.

Three days for all the parks in the parks is almost impossible because of the crowds. JMHO

DSL417 · 12-15-2014, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cousin Ed

We spend the winter there. We are always amazed at how many carts sit at the bus stops all day. For the $70 + rental I would want to use it all day long, not park it. We have our own cart now but for many years we didn't, and had a great time without one (never rented). You can't drive a cart out of the campground. To get to the Parks you take a bus or boat, or you can drive your car. We usually use Disney Transport as it part of the fun.

Just curious, do the have a notably rate for staying the Winter. I've heard several say they do this. How much per month?

Cousin Ed · 12-15-2014, 01:41 PM

We are in a group that gets a small discount, but it is still very expensive. I think groups can get a discount anytime of the year. You need at least eight units to be a group. That works for their hotels too.

XBoater · 12-15-2014, 09:05 PM

Like said carts are about 70 bucks a day, but they save time and are convienant when traveling around the Fort. If first timer or you go infrequently a cart may be fun.

Site cost is relative. To stay at Blue Water Key in Key West is 150 a night no rates other than daily. To stay at Fort Wilderness is a little more than half that in January, prices go up in Mid-February, that's when we leave. You can stay outside WDW for half again as much.

It's all about location and amenities you want to pay for.

Tom222 · 12-16-2014, 08:19 AM

If you don't have kids, it's over priced, VERY tight RV sites and lacks a retirement feel. It was a very big disappointment for our family, (with two teenagers).

XBoater · 12-16-2014, 10:22 AM

Sorry you feel that way, it is a campground primarily for people that will be spending their time at the parks.

I agree it is not an rv resort to sit quietly at a huge site, though there are many sites that are very well suited for just that. We have no kids and spend about 6 wks there annually. There is a lot to do, pools, biking, movies, boat rides, fishing, canoeing, tours, segways, horseback riding, and of course 4 theme parks. In WDW there are over 100 restaurants & bars, bowling, movie theater, water parks and of course nightly fireworks from the beach, dock or other resorts.

The other 3 resorts at the Magic Kingdom easily charge 2-3 times more per night, I think the Fort is a bargain in comparison.

JMonroe · 12-16-2014, 10:45 AM

OK, if you can't enjoy yourself at Fort Wilderness, regardless of the theme parks, you've officially entered the world of Grinchdom.

As for the carts, we've always considered them a PITA (exceptions made for the disabled). You can get anywhere you need or want to be using the free Disney internal transportation.

GaryKD · 12-16-2014, 02:47 PM

Hi Ted S.,
Your OP does not mention if kids are involved and their ages. There is also no mention of any mobility restrictions. Assuming no mobility restrictions and kids that can walk without whining consider:
1. Look at the attractions and shows FW offers. Determine what you will attend and make reservations.
2. Completing #1 tells you the time left to see the parks. Transport to/from the parks is 35 minutes minimum (bus pickup to entry turnstile)
3. Spend as much time (days) at the parks as you can stand.
4. Do not park hop. Pick a park and stay in that park the entire day. Transporting between the parks take away quite a bit of time.
5. Completing #1 and #2 tells you if you'll do a park in a day or do a park for as long as possible and then a FW activity.
6. If you plan to spend an entire day at FW, make it the last day you are there. You will need to rest up for the drive.

Notice I really did not answer your question. This is because DW is loaded with neat things to do for the entire family. When you're done with the time at DW, everybody in the family should be very happily tired. Schedule everything around activities. Fill each day. Everyone (but you) can sleep on the way out.

Lastly, take advantage of being a guest at DW and make meal reservations well in advance of your arrival. The good places to eat get reserved first.

Bigg-limo · 12-17-2014, 04:33 PM

We went to WDW and stayed at Ft. Wilderness for 6 days. 2 days were spent entirely at the Fort. The other days were spent at the parks. Even if you go to the parks, there is still a lot of time, or things to do at the Fort. We rented the carts while we were there, and we made use of them. Then again, there were 3 rigs in our group, which included 7 adults and 4 kids.

wsimpson · 12-30-2014, 02:43 PM

We spent two weeks at the RV park. Stayed in a loop a short (walking) distance from the pool and outpost (store). We rented one of the carts for the first full (down) day after arrival to tour the complete grounds and get oriented before attacking the parks over the next 10 days. The carts were rather pricey.

We used the ground shuttles to go back and forth to the busses, boat or restaurant. They were timely and great.

No disrespect to Micky but if you have the opportunity and are a Potter fan, spend a day at Universal...

JMonroe · 12-31-2014, 07:42 AM

While I addressed your question on the carts, I forgot to respond to your time estimates.

Do you want to see everything there is to see in the theme parks? Two or three days won't be enough. Disney has been very successful in their efforts to attract more people to the parks in what used to be very low attendance times of year. Special events (Food & Wine festival, Flower and garden, incentives for large tour groups [Brazil moves to central Florida in February]). While there are better times than others (January to mid February definitely qualifies), there are no really slow times anymore. Gone are the days when you could count of getting on all of the rides, into all of the shows and all at a leisurely pace and in one day per park. To keep from burning out you'll need to do some advance planning (take advantage of the fastpass plus) and maybe split at least the Magic Kingdom into two days, I'd do the same for EPCOT,

That said, we're helping friends plan a visit in a couple of weeks and our general plan is to secure the highest priority attractions with fastpass reservations for mid day and hope that getting to the parks the moment they open will get us into other major attractions before the crowds build.

And contrary to a few other's stated opinions, we love Ft Wilderness as a destination all in its self. You can rent a canoe, watch a Disney movie around a campfire (complete with smores), rent a boat for a self tour of the lakes or just ride the Disney boats to explore the Wilderness Lodge, the Contemporary, the Polynesian, or the Grand Floridian), or just to go for a boat ride. The pools are very nice and you can walk a few miles either within the loops or on forest trails. It's an older park so there can be some tight areas for maneuvering a big rig, but they've made progress in that area over the last decade. If you've got a big rig, ask for a premium site. If you get to the site and it won't work for you (happened to us once a couple of years ago), just ask for another. Any employee has a walkie and can communicate with the reservation desk and get you moved without having to go back to the check in area.

Lastly, Have fun!