Any Experience with the Cabins at Fort Wilderness?

[Tk0021]

My family is planning a trip for September 2017 and we planning a MK only trip. This will be me, my wife, two girls (5 and 3) and my parents. Budget is an issue with me and my wife paying for my parents room. So, we naturally are thinking of a suit type room instead of paying for two rooms and the cabins seem like a fit. It is close to MK and it holds 6 with it being budget friendly. We have never stayed there and are concerned about the size of the resort and the internal bus system. Any thoughts?

 

[Master Yoda]

The internal bus system at Ft Wilderness is pretty good. The routes are relatively short and all three will have a dedicated bus. You also might not need it depending on where your cabin is relative to the boat dock.

That being said, 2 rooms at a value resort and sometimes a moderate resort are often less expensive than a single cabin at Ft Wilderness. While you will loose the kitchen you will gain some privacy and a bathroom without gaining a great deal of travel time.

The boat from Ft Wilderness to MK comes in at 16 minutes, while the bus from the Value resort that is the farthest away from MK comes in at 23. The travel time from Port Orleans in only a minute longer than the boat at 17 minutes.

 

[BASS]

It'll be tight at the cabin, but not un-doable. I stayed earlier this year and while it was perfect for my family of 4, my parents joined us a day later and it was a bit cramped, particularly because there is only one bathroom. I probably wouldn't do it again (for 6), but it's doable. Everyone just needs to accommodate.

Otherwise, the cabins are wonderful. I'd like to stay there again. My kids loved it.

We stayed at the cabin closest to the boat dock so we did not need the internal bus system or the golf cart. Maybe you can ask?

If budget is an issue for you, also consider that you'll have a kitchen so you'll be able to cook and save a few bucks there. You won't have that opportunity at values.

Last, as a dad of 2 small children as well, the benefit of having the car right next to the cabin is a blessing. The convenience of not having to lug all the baby bags, toys, and other miscellaneous junk from the room to a parking lot blocks away is a hidden value. Arrival and departure at a hotel can be a real pain with kids but that burden is entirely removed with a cabin stay. Enjoy.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I love the cabins but I wouldn't do four adults and two children in one. The last time we were there, we were a party of seven and had two cabins. Even that felt tight on occasion. I view the cabins more suitable for single family units (two parents and 2-4 kids) that want extra space more than extended families traveling with multiple adult couples.

As @BASS said, I like to rent a car when I stay at Ft. Wilderness. However, as you're doing Magic Kingdom only, you won't benefit from it much.

 

[Tk0021]

Thanks for the responses. How about the cabins vs AOA suits? Any experience with them? I know they have two bathrooms vs one at the cabins but I have heard they are tight too.

 

[Master Yoda]

Thanks for the responses. How about the cabins vs AOA suits? Any experience with them? I know they have two bathrooms vs one at the cabins but I have heard they are tight too.

It will be a little better than the cabins, but not by much.

The two rooms at a value or moderate possibly being less expensive will be the case with the value suites as well.

 

[BASS]

LOL. I'm your man, I guess. I did that too. It's tight. But the cabins are much, much nicer.

We are South Florida residents so we go up with some frequency. Obviously, the grandparents want to come and spend time with the grandkids. We've tried to fit 6 in to both cabins and AoA and probably wouldn't do either again. Next time, we'll likely just get separate rooms.

How long are you planning on staying? Because if it's just a night or 2, might as well just rough it out. Screw it. Save a few bucks.

 

[Tk0021]

Again, thanks for your feedback. Does anyone have a recommendation for a moderate? Master Yoda made a comment about PO. Would that be the most convenient for an MK trip?

 

[Master Yoda]

Again, thanks for your feedback. Does anyone have a recommendation for a moderate? Master Yoda made a comment about PO. Would that be the most convenient for an MK trip?

Both of the Port Orleans resorts are the closest to MK. You can usually get a slightly better rate at Riverside, but the bus service can be better at French Quarter.

The travel time for Caribbean Beach to MK is about the same as Port Orleans, but I really do not care much for that resort. I would recommend staying at a value and pocketing the savings vs staying at Caribbean Beach.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Again, thanks for your feedback. Does anyone have a recommendation for a moderate? Master Yoda made a comment about PO. Would that be the most convenient for an MK trip?

The convenience of a moderate depends almost entirely on how close your room is to a bus stop. There's relatively little to differentiate between them on a resort-wide level. You're looking at a 5ish minute difference.

 

[BASS]

Can't you do adjoining rooms somewhere? Never done it myself, but that may resolve the space issue; and if you can find a decently priced resort, two rooms shouldn't be a fortune.

 

[Tk0021]

We have been looking at two rooms at a moderate also. I have only stayed at the Contemporary, but my parents have stayed at Riverside a few years ago and they thought the buses took long and their room was pretty far from the main building, so they were not really happy with their stay.

I was thinking of the cabins mostly because of their location, but it sounds like most people think the travel time would be the same.

It also sounds like resorts with multiple bus stops can take longer than resorts with one stop. Are there any moderates with one stop?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

It also sounds like resorts with multiple bus stops can take longer than resorts with one stop. Are there any moderates with one stop?

Port Orleans French Quarter, but it shares with Riverside on occasion.

 

[jaklgreen]

I would go with 2 rooms at a moderate. There is no way that I would stay in the same room as my in-laws. Plus you would be putting your parents on the sofa bed. Those are not the most comfortable things. We stay at POFQ a lot and it is our favorite moderate resort. Everything is very close and have never had issues with the bus. Even if the bus stops at POR, you are only really adding maybe 10 minutes. Unless you are planning on going back and forth all day, then I would not worry too much about trying to stay at the very closest resort. It really is not that big of a time difference.

 

[Tk0021]

This is great feedback and I appreciate everyone's time.

 

[AndrewsJ]

Again, thanks for your feedback. Does anyone have a recommendation for a moderate? Master Yoda made a comment about PO. Would that be the most convenient for an MK trip?

Look into renting DVC points. You'll pay about the same and have a lot more space.

 

[Tk0021]

Look into renting DVC points. You'll pay about the same and have a lot more space.

Do you have any recommendations?

 

[kverdon]

We have stayed at a the cabins and tend to enjoy them.

The good points:
Very relaxed atmosphere, nestled in among the trees.
Full Kitchen
Nice deck with a BBQ charcoal grill.
Would sleep your whole family ok. Cabin has a comfy Murphy bed and a separate bedroom with a double bed and a set of twin bunk beds.
The "Settlement' are has a nice buffet in Trails End and a nice little grocery gift shop.

The Bad points.
Just one Bathroom which can make getting ready in the morning a challenge.
The bus system is ok but it is a 2 stop process. You either take a bus to "The Settlement" and then a boat to Magic Kingdom or a Bus to the Front Gate and another bus to everywhere else. Adds time to your trips. This can be mitigated somewhat by a rental car that you can park at your cabin and we really love the boat trip to/from MK.
There is not a lot of storage for clothes in the cabins. There is a small, narrow dresser/TV Stand in the Bedroom along with an open closet along with some cabinets in the living area. You may find yourself living out of your suitcases a bit.

We have enjoyed our trips at the cabins. Our trips with ourselves, ourselves, two youn g nephews, 7 and 9 and my Mother in law were great. The trip with our friends and their 2 sons ages 18 and 21 was a bit cramped.

Thanks,

Kevin and Mona

 

[Tk0021]

Thanks everyone. I think with the feedback we are not going to do the cabins and I am now looking at POFQ with two rooms.

I just spoke to a friend that is a DVC member and he said if they have any points left over he will rent them to us at cost, so I am really hoping that happens, but I am not planning on it.

 

[Wrangler-Rick]

We had a family get together vacation a few years ago and did the cabins. They were nice! If you have small kids, I highly suggest renting a golf cart. We tried not getting one and by the third day we had one - it made things so much easier!