Is it worthwile to camp vs. restort?

deedeed

Gotta Love Disney!
Joined
Jan 27, 2006
I was just thinking of starting to plan our next disney trip and was wondering pros and cons of the camping thing. I was thinking of renting a r.v possibly because we wouldn' want to tent it but how is the campground. Is the transport to disney that difficult, how are the pools, restaurants, etc? Any tips, info or ideas would be great!
Thank you!
 
I think you find that the general consnsus among the general camping population is that Ft Wilderness is among the finest campgrounds on the planet.

I cannot WAIT to go back, but it will be next year at the earliest.
 
As much as I'm not a fan of Disney, everything they do is top notch. You may pay for it dearly, but they have never under-delivered for me...... The campground is probably the nicest on the planet, like the other person said.
 
I was just thinking of starting to plan our next disney trip and was wondering pros and cons of the camping thing. I was thinking of renting a r.v possibly because we wouldn' want to tent it but how is the campground. Is the transport to disney that difficult, how are the pools, restaurants, etc? Any tips, info or ideas would be great!
Thank you!


Well our feeling even though my wife and kids love camping is that when we go to Disney we want an at home feeling so we have a DVC membership and that is our home for 2 weeks full kitchen and washer and dryer etc that is our preference for going to Disney.
 
You probably need to lay out a little more information like how many people are in your party and what alternatives you'd consider if you weren't camping.

For example camping wouldn't be worth it to me from a financial perspective because I'm just one person and the cost per night is pretty steep considering you have to supply your own room and bedding. But if you needed two rooms it suddenly starts looking like a deal.
 
If you camp at Disney, do it because you love to camp! :goodvibes If you don't love to camp, you'll be happier at a resort. With that said, Fort Wilderness is a FANTASTIC campground!

The campground is enormous, so think of how you'll get around. You can't drive your car internally :drive: - only for entering and leaving the campground. They do rent golf carts, but they are very pricey. :eek: Your other options include the internal buses which come along every 15 minutes or so, walking, and biking. You can also bring your own golf cart.

Pools are nice, however, they are not as themed and updated as the pools at the resorts. Food is good, homecooked style - The Trail's End (the restaurant on property) is a buffet which we love. Crockett's Tavern is the lounge and you can get lighter food here. The Hoop-Dee-Doo is a dinner show (kind of an old Vaudeville comedy style show) and is lots of fun.

Happy Camping!
 
Camping is a lifestyle thing. We have always camped and the DS9 & DS7 have never stayed in a hotel/motel at all. It has been said on this board before that FW offers more family activitites than any other resort at WDW. Since I have only stayed at FW I can't say if it is true or not.

In my opinion camping is the best way to have a vacation. You don't have the noise of your neighbors next to you or above you. (There have been some neighbors in only a couple of campgrounds that have been loud after quiet hour.)

What other resort can you make friend with your neighbors so easy. When in the other resorts, do you ever meet and have a beer with the people across the hall?

Love the camping, Love the fort.

Will be there May 6th to 17th
 
We done both-stayed in a Disney resort and camped at the fort. It's so much more relaxing camping. It's less hussel-you get enough of that in the parks.
The ft. allows more to do vs. the other resorts. I love the fact the kids can ride their bikes or take a walk around the loop while dh and I sit in the "wilderness" and relax after a day at the park. Can't do this in a hotel. the kids would turn on the one tv and i bet they would watch a DISNEY show.

More options for us camping-we are FL Residents and it's the BEST campgrounds we've ever been too-not to mention the closest campgrounds to our house. I didn't say the cheapest but the best.
 
We are camping for the first time this time. For us it was a budget thing. There are 7 of us and 3 of my kids are considered adult age by Disney 10yrs + and a resort would mean 2 rooms vs. 1 campsite. Because we could save so much on lodging we were able to splurge on the Disney Dining Plan. We don't really spend much time at the resorts and my kids would rather be at the water parks than the pools so it just made sense this time around. I'm not a camping fanatic, but it is mostly cause I hate to cook and do dishes at a campsite. So, with the Dining Plan I don't have to!
 
We are camping for the first time this time. For us it was a budget thing. There are 7 of us and 3 of my kids are considered adult age by Disney 10yrs + and a resort would mean 2 rooms vs. 1 campsite. Because we could save so much on lodging we were able to splurge on the Disney Dining Plan. We don't really spend much time at the resorts and my kids would rather be at the water parks than the pools so it just made sense this time around. I'm not a camping fanatic, but it is mostly cause I hate to cook and do dishes at a campsite. So, with the Dining Plan I don't have to!


You should have looked into renting points for a 2 bedroom DVC villa and you could have had all teh space you needed plus a mommy and daddy only room. You can also get teh dining plan renting points. The other great thing is you have a full kitchen and a washer and dryer so you don't need to pack nearly as much stuff as you can throw the stuff in the wash and head out to the parks. We love the DVC villas for this reason precicely as we can pack half the clothes we used to and have clean clothes for the entire time plus we do all our laundry the night before checkout so we have no clothes to wash when we get home we just unpack and put them away.
 
I love camping and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Ft. Wilderness; however, if I was thinking of renting an RV, I'd rather spend my money on one of the cabins at the Fort. That way you are more comfortable and don't have to worry about towing/driving the RV (think gas $$$).

I think the cabins are just permanent high-end RV's!!
 
I think anyone who calls it "the camping thing" needs to seriously consider another resort option.;)
 
Did I read somewhere that there are not firepits at the campground? I guess that's probably a good thing... there's better food at Disney than Cheesedogs and mountain pies, but who can resist them?
 
Camping is great I did many years tent camping and now only camp by RV.
It is very easy to get around and to the theme parks. There is a Disney bus system or you can take the boat to Magic Kingdom or you can take the boat to the Contempory Hotel and get on the monorail also you can take the disney bus to Downtown Disney. So getting around is no problem. I would reccomend getting a golf cart for getting around the camp you need to reserve them when you make reservations for they do run out of them or you can bring your own. For the cost of renting an rv and paying for that, the gas and the generator use which won;t be much you might want to consider staying in one of the cabins. The pools are very nice plus you can take the boat over to Fort Wilderness Lodge and use the pool over there which is much more a resort pool with waterfalls.

Hope this helped. Also you need to make reservations now FOrt Wilderness fills up fast I have already booked for next Novemeber and next spring 2008 which is just about full for next spring.

Happy camping
 
The Wilderness Lodge does not share it's resort pool with the guests of FORT Wilderness. They are two different resorts. As with any resort, guests of the campground are asked not to "pool hop" to the Lodge to use the pool. The pool at the Lodge is for the guests staying there. Of course this doesn't mean that some campground guests don't do it..just that you do also run the risk of being asked for resort ID and that might prove to be a bit embarrassing when you don't have it.;) I've been asked for resort ID while staying there. If you do have a friend who is a guest of the Lodge..they may be able to secure permission from management at the Lodge for you to swim. We traveled with friends to the WL. She had her brother visiting for the day...he and his family were permited to swim..but again..she of course had resort ID and arrange it in advance so as to avoid any embarrassment.
Another reason why so many us wish they would indeed put a new themed pool with a water slide in FW...as many of the resorts already have.

As far as expense involved in camping vs. a resort. For most people camping at FW is more a lifestyle. Many stay in their trailers/or Motor Homes..and these are not inexpensive..they are their preferred way to travel.:thumbsup2 Sites at FW can run from $50.00 to near $100.00 depending on the time of year you travel, and the number of adults on site. If you need to purchase camping equipment..then you have that added expense also. If you are renting a trailer or Motor home...that can be pricey. I'm not sure if you would intend to rent a Motor Home from where you live..or use a company in Florida that would place a trailer on site for you in FW. I do believe there is a company that does just that. I don't recall the name of it..but I'm sure someone will come along and let you know..or you can do a search on this forum. It is unlikely that it will save you money to camp..if that is your intention. Not sure if it is or not. FW offers many amenities. They do have a fairly good sized pool..though not themed with a slide. They also have two Trading Posts where you can purchase some grocery type items and gifts. Bikes, canoes, Kayaks for rent from the Bike Barn..and also they rent Golf Carts..which are a fun way to get around FW. The Magic Kingdom is easily accessible from FW by a water launch. Bus transportation to the other parks. There is a walking/biking trail that does connect FW to the Wilderness Lodge, where you can also go to eat. Whispering Canyon is a fun spot to eat..and the Roaring Forks is good for quick counter service meals. You can also take a bus or water launch to the WL. FW itself offers buffet dining at the Trails End. Drinks and appetizers at Crocketts Tavern. FW has a marina on Bay Lake where you access the water launch to MK..which is really a lovely, relaxing way to reach the park. The marina also rents mouse sprites, and pontoon boats for your enjoyment. If you have little ones, there is a campfire movie and sing-a-long featured most nights. The Electric Water Pagent is another nightly feature and can be seen from the marina. Nice way to end the evening. Good luck with your decsion and trip.;)
 
Basically that is the same thing I said just more words LOL.
As far as the pool at wilderness lodge i have no idea if it is true but we and many many other use the pool there who are staying at campground along with contemporary never been approached by anyone. I guess it is a chance you can take. We travel by motorhome 40' DP and love it. You will love renting one as well it is just a matter of the expense you want to spend that is why i said you may want to check into the cabins. We go to the theme parks a whole lot and downtown Disney and spend our evenings at the camp.
Good luck with your choices.
 
It is a chance you take..;) as long as they know that they may be asked to leave. I've seen it happen a few times. Personally..it doesn't bother me that campground guests use the pool..but it does irritate a good many others, and when the pool is crowded..the pool staff will ask for resort ID. My mom had friends who stayed three weeks at the Fort..and they went over to the Lodge pool..and during one of the sneak visits they were asked for the ID.. of course they didn't have it..were mortified :eek: when asked to leave. I think the staff picked up on seeing them there so often over such a long period of time..it became obvious they weren't staying in the Lodge. Needless to say..they haven't been back.
 
ColleenFL The pools are very nice plus you can take the boat over to Fort Wilderness Lodge and use the pool over there which is much more a resort pool with waterfalls.

Your statement is false you can't use the pool/s at Wilderness Lodge they are for WL guests only and for DVC members that have booked stays at a DVC resort on points.



I am hoping DVC will institute a resort ID check policy especially at DVC resorts and all resorts honestly I pay for the priveledge of using the other pools around Disney it is one of the PERKS to being a DVC member. People not staying at teh resort or not DVC members should stick to using their own pools. Sorry about your luck if the pools at FW are lacking in amenities and are boring this is one main reason we never ever use the pool over there. The only reosrts DVC members are not able to hop to are AKL and SAB. If you want to be able to use them then join DVC problem solved. If you aren't please stick to your own resort pools.
 
The official answer on pool hopping is No, you cannot use the WL (or any other) pool while you're staying at FW. It's against Disney's rules, and you run the risk of getting kicked out when they check your resort ID.

Let's please move on to another subject before this gets out of control. Thanks!
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!











facebook twitter
Top