valerieb
Registered: February 2011
Location: Toledo, OH
Posts: 7
|
|
Review Date: Thu May 9, 2013
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 9
|
|
Pros:
|
Quiet relaxing place to stay. Plenty of room for a family of six.
|
|
Cons:
|
We feel Disney transportation treats the campground like the "ugly stepsister" with fewer buses then to other resorts.
|
|
This was our fourth stay in a cabin at Fort Wilderness since 2007. We stayed nine nights in April. We love the cabins and the awesome feel of the campground. We highly recommend splurging on a golf cart which gives you much more flexibility.
|
|
Tiffany62590
Registered: March 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 1
|
|
Review Date: Sat March 23, 2013
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
Plenty of space, privacy, full kitchen, housekeeping, plenty of fun things to do in Ft Wilderness
|
|
Cons:
|
Navigating the resort can be confusing
|
|
My family has stayed at Ft. Wilderness more times than I can count, and plan to go again in a few months (May 2013). It is our #1 favorite place in Disney to stay as there are 5 adults in our family (parents, adult daughter (myself) and two teenage sons). If we stay at any of the other resorts we either need two rooms or somebody ends up sleeping on the sleeper sofa - and even Disney sleeper sofas leave something to be desired.
Here is an overview of the cabins:
The Basics: The cabins are PERFECT for groups of adults - 6 adults could easily and comfortably stay in a single cabin. They are one of the largest accommodation you'll find in Disney at this cost, each with:
-Full Kitchen: a full size fridge, small sink, stove, coffee pot and all the dishes and utensils a group of 6 would need as well as dish soap, paper towels and coffee filters. There is also a table that comfortably seats 6.
-Living area: couch, cupboards, TV with DVD player, footstool/coffee table, small table with two small chairs (to me, this looks like an side table with two children's chairs - two little children could use it to eat at though it's not much use for adults)and a Murphy bed that sleeps two can be pulled down.
-Bedroom: with a queen bed and bunk beds, as well as a vanity. The bedroom is down a little hall and has a door for privacy.
-Bathroom: large and comfortable, stocked with soap and shampoo
-Deck: a private wooden deck on each cabin that has a picnic table and grill for the guest's use. A very pleasant place to have an early morning breakfast before heading to the parks!
-Household supplies: like I said before, the cabins are fully equipped with soap, paper towels, extra blankets and pillows, ironing board, TV and DVD player, etc. All you really need are your clothes, toothpaste/toothbrush and groceries.
Housekeeping and cleanliness: while you're out at the parks, housekeeping will come and clean and do any dishes you have left, leaving a sparkling clean cabin ready for you to make dinner or watch a movie. Our housekeepers have also always left cute towel animals behind, for that extra touch of Disney magic. It's great to be able to come back and have all the dishes done so you can grill dinner right away. The cabins themselves are in very good condition and always very clean. They are up kept very well.
Privacy: This is probably one of the most private places you can stay in Disney World. The cabins are close, yes, but not as close as most of the camping spots and not nearly as close as you'd be to the other guests staying in a regular hotel. There are trees all around which give it a woodsy-secluded feel and though we've stayed there multiple times it never feels busy or crowded around the cabins. Usually you'll see a few people going about their business but it's quite peaceful. We've never heard our neighbors from inside our cabin - in fact, it's so quite at night we often use a white noise maker because we aren't used to it!
The surrounding area: Ft. Wilderness in itself is a great place to stay as there are tons of things to do, plus many great free things families can enjoy such as the walking and bike trails, basketball courts, swimming pools, playgrounds, Movies Under the Stars, a dog park, easy viewing of the Electrical Water Pageant from the beach and a campfire sing along with Chip and Dale! Not to mention the arcades, restaurants, two stores (stocked with groceries and other supplies you might need), horse rides and canoe rentals for various fees. My family enjoys going to Ft. Wilderness even if we don't go into a park 
|
|
cap20rv
Registered: February 2013
Location: Albany, New York
Posts: 2
|
|
Review Date: Sun February 17, 2013
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 10
|
|
Stayed twice this winter and highly recommend this RV park. We had an RV not a cabin. The sites roomy, clean, everything worked. The bathrooms and showers were nicer than my home. Bike trails,hot tubs, tennis and even fishing. You can visit the other resorts and theme parks without starting your car. It can be pricey to stay here but it's worth it.
|
|
princessheather314
Registered: December 2012
Posts: 4
|
|
Review Date: Wed December 5, 2012
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
EVERYTHING!!!!
|
|
Cons:
|
NONE
|
|
First off let me say my husband and son LOVE to camp, I on the other hand prefer a hot shower and a bed with no "creepy creatures". This place is AMAZING. We love the grounds. It is a beautiful. The staff was super friendly and helpful. The bus system (once you get it figured out) is really easy and very convenient.
The first part of our trip we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and transferred to the cabins when my mom joined us. Riverside LOST our luggage and the staff at Fort Wilderness went out of their way to find it and bring it to us.
My husband had an early morning fishing excursion (before the buses started running) and they sent a car to pick up my husband and son at our cabin and drove them down to the marina. We did a horse drawn carriage ride and it was awesome. Only drawback to that is you are not allowed to pet the horses and my 5 year old desperately wanted too.
The boat to Magic Kingdom was quick, easy and NEVER crowded. The buses to the other parks ran quickly and were very accommodating. There is A LOT to do here to get away from the crowds and hassle of the parks. Chip n Dale's sing along was awesome. I can not say enough good things about this place!!!
|
|
bmdisney
Registered: March 2011
Posts: 11
|
|
Review Date: Tue December 4, 2012
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 9
|
|
Pros:
|
peace and quiet right in the middle of everything
|
|
Cons:
|
confusing transportation for the uninitiated, limited on site dining
|
|
I have stayed in the cabins on 3 vacations. This is a wonderful option as long as you know what you're getting.
First of all, you may not want to stay here unless you have your own car. The resort covers a lot of space and there is an internal bus system just to get you to the buses to the parks. But if you have your own car, you park right beside your cabin and can drive to any of the parks (parking pass included in reservation). My family left our cabin and walked into Epcot within 10 minutes. You catch a ferry to MK and that never takes long and it drops you off right at the park entrance.
Secondly, the on-site dining options are very limited and you cannot easily walk to any of them. This is also not a great resort for the refillable mug.
Those are things to be aware of. Now, let me say what we love about the resort:
It is quiet and a wonderful change of pace, in my opinion, after a day at the parks. It includes a full kitchen. There is a separate bedroom and 2 TVs so children can have a little of their own space. We enjoy not being on top of each other when we get back to the room.
We rented a golf cart to get around the resort this time and enjoyed it tremendously. My children love the swimming pool and the pool activities.
In short - this is a great resort for families who want a little peace and quiet in the midst of a Disney vacation.
|
|
NOSaintsfan1970
Registered: October 2012
Location: NO Louisiana
Posts: 15
|
|
Review Date: Sun November 11, 2012
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 7
|
|
Pros:
|
Very relaxing atmosphere
|
|
Cons:
|
Buses and beds weren't very comfortable
|
|
My wife and stayed at the cabins at Fort Wilderness and we were very impressed on the appearance and the space that the cabin has. The only downfall was the beds weren't comfortable. While you are staying in cabins at Fort Wilderness, if you have any reservations or you have to be at one of the parks at a specific time you have to leave at least an hour ahead of time because you either take a boat or a bus or buses and sometimes they are not always on time.
|
|
KCKAS
Registered: April 2008
Posts: 38
|
|
Review Date: Tue October 2, 2012
|
Would you recommend the product? No
| Rating: 6
|
|
Pros:
|
Roomy cabin, wildlife
|
|
Cons:
|
Waiting for buses to everything
|
|
We are a family of 5 and stayed in the cabins in September 2012. Cabin is clean and spacious. Beds were comfy. Brought cereal and poptarts for breakfasts, bought milk and water there. On free dining plan, so did not cook at all. Air conditioning and tv broke while we there. Needed bus to go everywhere. And I mean everywhere: including pools and food, and to the bustop and boat to the parks. Refillable mugs were a hassle. Quick serve, not open for long blocks of time. Had to bring a take out meal on the bus, including drinks. Buses for everything requires a lot of waiting, on top of the waiting for the transportation to the parks. Saw many deer and an armadillo. It was a lovely area but I do not want this atmosphere for my disney vacation. I prefer this atmosphere for a national park vacation. I would not stay here again.
|
|
artgal227
Registered: June 2009
Posts: 16
|
|
Review Date: Tue September 25, 2012
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 9
|
|
Pros:
|
The relaxing atmosphere
|
|
Cons:
|
Beds
|
|
The cabins are the best. The only thing that would make them better would be larger and more comfortable beds. Other than that, you can't beat the cabins! We have stayed at Ft. Wilderness since the 70's and love everything they offer, (miss the petting zoo). We have tried other resorts but always come back here.
|
|
writergal
Registered: September 2012
Location: Indiana
Posts: 2
|
|
Review Date: Wed September 19, 2012
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 10
|
|
Pros:
|
quiet, private. parking at cabin, transportation to parks
|
|
Cons:
|
|
|
This is our second stay in the cabins, the first being in the late 90s--latest stay the week of 17 Sept, 2012. Our unit was updated and slept 4 adults quite comfortably. We did not have issues with storage or space. Mattress on the murphy bed was comfortable, but could have used a comforter or heavier blanket than provided. Mousekeeping provided plenty of fresh towels daily and did a great job. In 2700 loop--close to quiet pool and bus transportation. Great place to stay for the price! No fighting for a parking spot and screaming kids running down your hallway like at the value (and some moderate...) resorts. Perfect for a party of adults.
|
|
JD
Registered: August 2012
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 4
|
|
Review Date: Thu September 6, 2012
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 9
|
|
Pros:
|
lots of space, nature, not a typical hotel feel
|
|
Cons:
|
none
|
|
We stayed at the cabins from Aug 17-26 and had an amazing time. We had a group of 12 so we got three cabins and had more than enough room. The full kitchen was great. It allowed us to get groceries and have breakfast in the rooms instead of at the parks. The murphy bed in the living room and the bed in the room were very comfortable. The bunk beds are definitely made for kids. An adult can sleep on the bottom bunk but only if they are short in stature. The maid service was great. Every day when we got back from the park the cabins were clean and our maid left towel animals in the room, kitchen, and bathroom which the kids in our party really enjoyed.
Our biggest worry staying at the cabins was were we going to need a golf cart. Some of the reviews said a cart was necessary but I would say for the price(about $60 per day) a cart is not needed. We were in the 2700 loop and we never felt like we needed one. The bus stop was close to our cabin and the bus service was mostly good. I would say average wait time for a bus was less than 7 minutes. Every day we left our cabins at 8am and we were at the parks with at least 15 minutes to spare before the 9am openings.
As I mentioned we were in the 2700 loop and it could not have fit us better. The pool was less than a 5 minute walk. And it only took a 5 minute bus ride to get to the marina which is on the other side of the resort.
The best part of the resort was that it did not feel like you were at a hotel. If you hate the noises of a regular hotel, this is the resort for you. We also loved seeing the nature. Every day we saw no less than 10 deer and more lizard than we could count. For us it was great to get away from the noises and congestion of the parks and hear the silence of nature every night.
|
|
billys5764
Registered: June 2010
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 6
|
|
Review Date: Mon August 6, 2012
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 8
|
|
This was our first stay in the cabins. We usually stay at Wilderness Lodge, but the bunk bed rooms were sold out. We stayed from 7/18-7/21.
We arrived at 9am and were able to check in quickly and go to our cabin. We unloaded the car and proceeded to the parks. We were in the 2600 loop. We were lucky that our cabin backed up to a bus stop. We could walk behind our cabin (through the woods) and were right at the stop.
We have two teenagers. Our 16 year old son is 6'2". He didn't fit in the bunk beds. So my wife and I took the bunk beds and gave him the queen bed. Our daughter took the murphey bed in the living room.
We didn't really use the kitchen other than to keep our groceries for the beach in the fridge.
One night when we got back to the cabin after midnight, we couldn't get into our cabin. We had to drive to check in and then wait for security to come and let us in. The key reader's battery had died. They had to replace the battery in the lock. We finally got to bed at 2 am.
I would stay here again, but I do prefer the hotels.
|
|
chrisfam4
Registered: June 2011
Posts: 18
|
|
Review Date: Thu July 19, 2012
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 8
|
|
Pros:
|
Serenity, Close to MK, privacy
|
|
Cons:
|
cost, size of beds, layout of cabins
|
|
I have stayed at Fort Wilderness off and on for over 25 yrs. As a child, we stayed in our camper but my most recent stay was in a cabin for 3 nights in April. We were assigned the 2500 loop with convenient walking distance to a bus stop and the quiet pool.
The magic of Disney is still the biggest pro to staying on property. Here you are totally immersed in the experience and all the cares of the outside world are a distant memory. My DH and I have camped at the fort twice but with a baby on this most recent stay, we opted for a cabin this time. The cost was probably the biggest drawback.
We didn't utilize mousekeeping during this trip because of our schedule and needing to put the baby down for a nap during the day. They always left clean towels, fresh soap and shampoos on our porch each day. I didn't mind cleaning up after the family myself.
The cabin is great for families who need space and privacy. However as another poster suggested, it would be nice to have a half bath somehow. One bathroom with only 1 sink makes getting ready in the mornings or evenings difficult. DH and I slept on the full-size murphy bed (a tight fit) in the LR and the kids took the bedroom. Storage was not a big issue for us because we just put our suitcases on the spare bed in the bedroom.
The kitchen was so convenient. We cooked breakfast and prepared dinner on more than one occasion.
We rode our bikes all over the resort. With shaded winding paths, this is as much a treat as any other. We visited the barn and saw the horses used at MK. We explored the Meadows and Settlement Trading posts. We also swam at both the Meadows pool and the Wilderness quiet pool. At the Meadows pool, the kiddie area is superb. Completely fenced in and full of fun. Parents can drag a chair right into the zero entry shallow pool or climb the steps and send their little one down the fun slide. We were there during peak Easter week, but the play area was never too crowded.
We also enjoyed lunch at the Meadows snack bar before returning to our cabin for a nap. DH had the huge turkey sandwich with homemade potato chips. DD and I enjoyed our own personal pizzas, piping hot from the oven. DS had the standby uncrustables PB&J. The covered seating area was a nice respite from the hot Florida sun. It was surrounded by trees and was the breezeway between the cart parking and the pool. The fresh breeze was constant.
We didn't use the changing rooms this time because we had our bikes. I have used them before however when I knew I was riding the bus and they are like all Fort Wilderness facilities, CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN!!! Our other swim was a quick dip at the Wilderness quiet pool after a long day at the park. This pool was also not very crowded but wasn't as small-kid friendly. DH had to hold our little one because there was no place for him to get in the water unassisted. Not a problem, he loved it anyway.
We also ate at the Trails End Restaurant for lunch. It was good but the menu seemed a little heavy for lunch. I know most people eat lunch in the parks or prepare food at their campsites. I just would have liked a little lighter fare. DH had the spicy grilled shrimp with sausage, I had the pulled pork sandwich with house made chips and DD had the kids hamburger. We have also eaten at there for breakfast and dinner and the buffet is wonderful. Just the right amount of options and a great price.
We used the bus transportation to catch the boat to MK but we drove our car when we visited the other parks. This is my biggest recommendation. Parking is free because you are a resort guest. Your travel time is under 15 minutes and with strollers, diaper bags and sleeping babies on your return to the cabin, the car was a no-brainer. Having to carry everything and fold the stroller when boarding the buses is a major inconvenience. Along with the longer travel time when taking two buses. If you have a car, I suggest using it in this instance. Disney bus transportation is more than adequate as long as you don't have strollers to fold. The MK boat is a nice feature as well. It would be nice to have some type of shelter on the dock as you wait for your boat however. One night on a return to the campground the captain of the boat stopped briefly so we could watch Wishes over the water. What a treat! We didn't rent a golf cart but they are a major bonus if you can afford the extra cost. With bikes they really aren't necessary, just fun!
Despite the cost of the cabin, we more than enjoyed our stay at Fort Wilderness. We will return to the Fort next year but with the baby being two and a half, we will be camping next time. For anyone looking to "rough it" the easy way, Fort Wilderness cabins are the way to go. I would absolutely choose this over any moderate resort. All in all, I have only GREAT things to say about the Fort and I can't wait for our return trip next spring!
|
|
hbswilliams
Registered: July 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 3
|
|
Review Date: Wed July 11, 2012
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 9
|
|
Pros:
|
serenity while on WDW property, roominess
|
|
Cons:
|
|
|
Our family consists of me and my husband (both 33) and two daughters (14 & 8). We were there 06/01/12 - 06/10/12. This was our first time staying at Ft. Wilderness. The main factors in deciding to stay here were the kitchen and the space. It's always a stretch trying to cook in someone else's kitchen but Ft. Wilderness had enough essential utensils and pans that I was able to make it work with minimal need to bring things from home. I felt like we had plenty of room to spread out and keep from crowding each other, too. I wish that the cabins had more adequate storage space for unpacking/luggage storage. I felt like our bags were out in the floor most of the time and I don't like that. The cabin was clean and mousekeeping did a great job every day. Even when we forgot to put out our tip envelope...
I would definitely recommend renting a golf cart. The property is huge and I'm impatient so I knew beforehand that I wouldn't be a fan of waiting on a bus. We drove to every park except for MK so I can't comment on the bus-to-park experience. Word of warning to those on a touring plan/tight schedule: The water taxi to MK does not start running until 30 minutes before the park opens!! However, you can catch a boat to the Contemporary(starting at 6:45AM, maybe?) and walk or ride the monorail to MK.
We will definitely stay here again when/if we take another long trip. Our food costs were ridiculously low because we were able to make 2 meals/day and carry our own snacks. Also, being able to come back to some peace and quiet after the intensity of park touring was wonderful. Knowing that we didn't have to worry about noisy neighbors keeping us up was nice, too. Oh, FYI, I discovered that I could hear the fireworks from all over property!
|
|
sdgarris
Registered: April 2008
Location: Sylacauga Alabama
Posts: 29
|
|
Review Date: Thu July 5, 2012
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 9
|
|
Pros:
|
Still as beautiful as ever!!
|
|
Cons:
|
Nothing.
|
|
The cabins are getting a little dated, but not a big deal...Trails End buffet has dropped a few items we really like, but the price still has went way up..24.00 for a adult. I'm not one to complain about prices (It's Disney!!) but kinda high for lite eaters...Still love the place!!!!!
|
|
bmdisney
Registered: March 2011
Posts: 11
|
|
Review Date: Fri April 13, 2012
|
Would you recommend the product? Yes
| Rating: 9
|
|
Pros:
|
quiet, right on site but feels separated
|
|
Cons:
|
bus system takes a little time to catch on
|
|
My family (3 small children) loves Fort Wilderness! If you are looking for a plan right in the middle of everything while at the same time having plenty of your own space, the cabins are a great option. My wife loves the full kitchen (mousekeeping even does the dishes!!!). The separate bedroom helps us all be together without being on right on top of each other. I don't have to worry about my children being too loud or others intruding on us. (I once stayed at Pop and was awakened at midnight by a returning family and heard everything they said for the next 2 hrs). That won't happen at FW. The people who gravitate to this place bring a more laid-back attitude and just seem friendlier than other places. The campfire sing-along is great for little children, the pool included a nice play area specifically for 3-8 yr olds. The resort is large and has its own internal bus system. We have stayed multiple times so we have it all figured out, but would have been better served at registration if they had explained the transportation system a little better. We waited 30 minutes for a Magic Kingdom bus before realizing there is no MK bus (you take the ferry, and it's on the other side of the resort from the bus station). In the cabin, you can park your car in your own driveway and you have a parking pass to all the parks included, so it's always an option to drive yourself to the park. Our family has always enjoyed being able to return to such a quiet place after a day at the parks. We were initially hesitant about Fort Wilderness, but one stay there had us hooked. We've stayed twice and plan to stay there again on our next visit.
|
|
|
Subscribe
to AllEars.Net's RSS feed.
New to RSS? Click HERE for more info.
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
;)
