Most vacant resort

Tonka's Skipper

Well-Known Member
I can only assume the least would be Fort Wilderness when it comes to all of the options available to stay at! I can't imagine there are to many people these days who want to go camping in Florida's hot weather and then have to share a shower + other facilities with other campers and then go out in such a public place like a Disney park. Obviously this would not apply to persons who are staying in there own campers or the Fort Wilderness Cabins.


I am afraid your wrong here about the campsites, It can be very hard to get reservations at FW. It is rated as one of the top 1-3 campgrounds in the country and most campers today are in Motorhomes, five wheels and trailers.

I cannot comment on the cabins, but most posts I see seem to show they are well liked.

AKK
 

slappy magoo

Well-Known Member
As much as I like SSR, I would guess it's amongst the resorts with lowest occupancy. All the Values have more rooms, but with the possible exception of the suites, they're all significantly cheaper. Same deal with the mods, especially when you consider how many units at OKW & SSR are suites. So for people who are on a tighter budget and/or consider themselves park commandos who are barely in their rooms or at their resorts, Values and Mods are better use of their money. You will also find some people in those categories who just might not dig the themes of the resorts, find them less "magical" than the over-the-top decorations at Pop or AoA at least. Then when you get to people who tend to go Deluxe/DVC, it's often a combination of themes and locations that leave guests indifferent. The rooms are very nice, the resorts have great amenities, but compared to the gut check you get walking into the lobbies of Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge, or the thrill of being on the monorail or right next to Epcot's back door...well for some people having quick access to DtD, even by boat, isn't as exciting. The charms are there, but more subdued. Most of the other Deluxes are the date with the super cute gal or guy that knocks your socks off. OKW & SSR are the Bill Pullman and post-Princess Bride, Liar Liar-era Cary Elwes of WDW resorts, nice, dependable, charming, but your socks are never in any danger of getting knocked off.
 

zero creativity

Active Member
I don't know if it means anything, but POFQ never seemed crowded to me. But POR seemed to always be packed. We went once for POR and they overbooked and we got upgraded (I use that term loosely) to OKW. But if the discounts are any indication a couple of summers ago they only had a 5% discount for the Poly when we went. This year we got at 35% discount for the Wilderness Lodge. So here's hoping it isn't that crowded.
 

NiarrNDisney

Well-Known Member
I am afraid your wrong here about the campsites, It can be very hard to get reservations at FW. It is rated as one of the top 1-3 campgrounds in the country and most campers today are in Motorhomes, five wheels and trailers.

I cannot comment on the cabins, but most posts I see seem to show they are well liked.

AKK

Well I guess you schooled me! Though I was discussing the camp sites (tents & such) and not the Cabins and Motorhomes which you can clearly see that I mentioned at the end of my post.
 

Tonka's Skipper

Well-Known Member
Well I guess you schooled me! Though I was discussing the camp sites (tents & such) and not the Cabins and Motorhomes which you can clearly see that I mentioned at the end of my post.

No problem and I was not trying to school you . However the motorhomes, 5th wheels and trailers go on the same campsites as the pop ups and tents. FW does not have separate campsites for small units or tents like many other campgrounds.

The point being the *campsites* are pretty full most of the time and FW is never near empty.
 
Last edited:

slappy magoo

Well-Known Member
No problem and I was not trying to school you . However the motorhomes, 5th wheels and trailers go on the same campsites as the pop ups and tents. FW does not have separate campsites for small units or tents like many other campgrounds.

The point being the *campsites* are pretty full most of the time and FW is never near empty.

From allears.net, italics mine.
***There are four categories of campsites at FW, premium, preferred, full-hookup, and partial.

The Premium Site is billed as "big-rig" friendly. They accommodate RVs larger than 45 feet in length and those that have multiple slide outs. The sites are wider (up to 24 ft), and deeper (up to 60 ft) meaning they have a larger, level-paved pad. They also feature all of the amenities - water, power, sewer, cable, and access to the high-speed Internet, plus upgraded picnic tables and grills as well as prime locations.

Tent campers can use premium sites, but since they have a full pad with no sand area at all, unlike the preferred, full, and partial, it can be impossible to find a place to put in tent stakes. The actual size and shape of each site "will depend on Mother Nature", as Disney likes to say.

To Disney, preferred sites means those that are located near the Settlement Trading Post, Pioneer Hall, Meadows and marina areas (meaning the preferred/in demand areas). Preferred Campsites include: water, power, sewer, cable. Internet Access is free. There will be a $125 deposit hold on credit card. Once kit is returned the hold will be released). Campsite sizes vary in length and width and some can accommodate equipment up to 10' X 60'.

Sites in loops 1600, 1700, 1800, and 1900 have been equipped with cable and Internet, but due to their location, will remain Full Hookup.

Non-preferred sites are located farther from the Pioneer Hall/marina area. A Full Hookup site in a Preferred area will include cable, but you can have a non-cable (Partial Hookup) site in a Preferred loop.

Loops 1500 and 2000 remain as partial hook-up sites for campers using tents, pop-up campers and van campers. As now, RV will not be allowed on these sites. All sites include cable TV and offer high-speed Internet access. Picnic tables and grills will remain as they are now. As of now, there are no pet loops in this category.

Fort Wilderness also has an area called Creekside Meadow: it is a primitive campsite area and will remain unchanged for use by scout troops, schools and other group campers.

Here is an easy guide to what loops have what kind of sites (once the premium site construction is complete). Pet Friendly loops are also noted.

Loop 100 - Preferred
Loop 200 - Preferred
Loop 300 - Preferred (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 400 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 500 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 600 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 700 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 800 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 900 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1000 - Premium
Loop 1100 - Premium
Loop 1200 - Premium
Loop 1300 - Premium
Loop 1400 - Premium
Loop 1500 - Partial
Loop 1600 - Full (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1700 - Full (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1800 - Full (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1900 - Full (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 2000 - Partial

There is room to park one vehicle per site (in addition to the camping vehicle) and each site is limited to 10 people. Additional parking is available at the main parking lot. Check-in time for the campsites is 1 p.m., check-out is at 11 a.m. Multiple tents or combinations of campers and tents can occupy a site; however, there is a $2 charge per adult when there are more than two adults per campsite. Weekly and monthly discounts are available in the off season.***

So there are some full sites with all the fixin's that tent dwellers can use, whether or not it's a good use of their money notwithstanding. But depending on the size of your camper, you might not be able to use certain categories
 

Tonka's Skipper

Well-Known Member
From allears.net, italics mine.
***There are four categories of campsites at FW, premium, preferred, full-hookup, and partial.

The Premium Site is billed as "big-rig" friendly. They accommodate RVs larger than 45 feet in length and those that have multiple slide outs. The sites are wider (up to 24 ft), and deeper (up to 60 ft) meaning they have a larger, level-paved pad. They also feature all of the amenities - water, power, sewer, cable, and access to the high-speed Internet, plus upgraded picnic tables and grills as well as prime locations.

Tent campers can use premium sites, but since they have a full pad with no sand area at all, unlike the preferred, full, and partial, it can be impossible to find a place to put in tent stakes. The actual size and shape of each site "will depend on Mother Nature", as Disney likes to say.

To Disney, preferred sites means those that are located near the Settlement Trading Post, Pioneer Hall, Meadows and marina areas (meaning the preferred/in demand areas). Preferred Campsites include: water, power, sewer, cable. Internet Access is free. There will be a $125 deposit hold on credit card. Once kit is returned the hold will be released). Campsite sizes vary in length and width and some can accommodate equipment up to 10' X 60'.

Sites in loops 1600, 1700, 1800, and 1900 have been equipped with cable and Internet, but due to their location, will remain Full Hookup.

Non-preferred sites are located farther from the Pioneer Hall/marina area. A Full Hookup site in a Preferred area will include cable, but you can have a non-cable (Partial Hookup) site in a Preferred loop.

Loops 1500 and 2000 remain as partial hook-up sites for campers using tents, pop-up campers and van campers. As now, RV will not be allowed on these sites. All sites include cable TV and offer high-speed Internet access. Picnic tables and grills will remain as they are now. As of now, there are no pet loops in this category.

Fort Wilderness also has an area called Creekside Meadow: it is a primitive campsite area and will remain unchanged for use by scout troops, schools and other group campers.

Here is an easy guide to what loops have what kind of sites (once the premium site construction is complete). Pet Friendly loops are also noted.

Loop 100 - Preferred
Loop 200 - Preferred
Loop 300 - Preferred (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 400 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 500 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 600 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 700 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 800 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 900 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1000 - Premium
Loop 1100 - Premium
Loop 1200 - Premium
Loop 1300 - Premium
Loop 1400 - Premium
Loop 1500 - Partial
Loop 1600 - Full (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1700 - Full (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1800 - Full (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1900 - Full (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 2000 - Partial

There is room to park one vehicle per site (in addition to the camping vehicle) and each site is limited to 10 people. Additional parking is available at the main parking lot. Check-in time for the campsites is 1 p.m., check-out is at 11 a.m. Multiple tents or combinations of campers and tents can occupy a site; however, there is a $2 charge per adult when there are more than two adults per campsite. Weekly and monthly discounts are available in the off season.***

So there are some full sites with all the fixin's that tent dwellers can use, whether or not it's a good use of their money notwithstanding. But depending on the size of your camper, you might not be able to use certain categories[/QUOTE



See you learn something every day., I did not know they had loops just for tents and pop ups.

My original point was to show that FW is almost full or if not full most of the year. That FW is far from a vacant resort.


AKK
 

Magenta Panther

Well-Known Member
I would guess Saratoga Springs or Old Key West as well. I know that Saratoga Springs is one of the last resorts I would choose. I'm sure it is a nice resort, just doesn't appeal to me, just like the Grand Floridian doesn't appeal to me either.

I don't get why it's so high-end. I've walked through it and I've seen pictures of the rooms. They're not all that impressive to me.
 

psukardi

Well-Known Member
This is only true if you assume any discount means trouble. Truth is, WDW treats their rooms like Macy's treats their merchandise - they overprice everything because some schnooks don't second guess their prices, they just buy what they want if they can afford it. But the "sale" prices, oh those glorious sale prices, help move merchandise because now customers think they're getting a bargain. In fact Macy's can sell everything routinely for 70% of current prices and still do fine, except those who look for perceived bargains won't feel like they're getting on if they're paying rack prices even if those rack prices are now cheaper. THat's what WalMart and Target are for. Those WDW deluxes have deeper discounts because their profit margins are big enough that 30% off still makes WDW some serious coin but it inspires some customers to splurge because they figure now they're getting a real deal. It's all perception.

Bingo! Read "The Cost OF Everything" or "Freakonomics" this is discussed quite a bit. Raise the cost of something to have an artificial sale & people go nuts. Macy's could charge 39.99 all year round for a blouse or they could charge 49.99 and have the occasional 20% off and people go insane for it.
 

brokedad

Active Member
I can only assume the least would be Fort Wilderness when it comes to all of the options available to stay at! I can't imagine there are to many people these days who want to go camping in Florida's hot weather and then have to share a shower + other facilities with other campers and then go out in such a public place like a Disney park. Obviously this would not apply to persons who are staying in there own campers or the Fort Wilderness Cabins.
If you think it's the most, fw I'm talking about, call or ask someone how far in advance they had to make the reservations, that place is almost always packed
 

slappy magoo

Well-Known Member
See you learn something every day., I did not know they had loops just for tents and pop ups.

My original point was to show that FW is almost full or if not full most of the year. That FW is far from a vacant resort.
Yeah, I figured that was your original gist, my copy-paste job was more in case the alternate point ever came up again, a knowing-is-half-the-battle kind of deal. And since any of the sites may be booked by campers using tents, no matter how few of the amenities they can use because they don't have the hookups for them, or even if the ground can support the spikes needed to secure most tents, it supports your argument that FW books early and often. You can have the simplest bare bones ratty tent still technically a tent, if you're willing to pony up the extra dough for a preferred campsite and it's available, you can book it. I'd even wager that there are times where some campers HAVE TO poop for the extra money because tent/pop-up campsite options are all booked.
 

Glasgow

Well-Known Member
Check the General Public Discounts at Mouse Savers....

The "emptiest" resorts will probably be the ones that are most heavily discounted.

Example: "Summer Savings Offer"

Value Resorts: get up to 15% off, except:
Art of Animation Family Suites: get up to 10% off

Moderate Resorts: get up to 20% off

Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts: get up to 30% off, except:
Animal Kingdom Lodge Savannah View & Club Level, Beach Club Resort, Contemporary Resort: up to 20% off
Animal Kingdom Villas, Beach Club Villas, Villas at Wilderness Lodge: up to 20% off

Reading this backwards - the Values are doing fairly well, Moderates in a LITTLE trouble, Deluxes BAD, except for Beach Club Resort, Contemporary Resort, Animal Kingdom Villas, Beach Club Villas, Villas at Wilderness Lodge.

This sort of follows our observations from our April-May 2014 trip.... WDW is having trouble filling the Deluxe Resorts at current "rack" pricing. We're hearing from a number of our wait staff friends that the RESTAURANTS are pretty busy - but that HOTELS aren't very full.
I agree with this up to the point that there is more margin for discounts on the more expensive resorts, so I imagine they can afford to offer a greater discount. Just a guess, dunno the actual markups. So even though they are offering a larger discount, I imagine they make a lot more profit on the higher end resorts so there is more room for discount .. I don't think the linear discounts necessarily dictate occupancy or lack thereof. Interesting topic nonetheless!
 

HRHPrincessAriel

Well-Known Member
Check the General Public Discounts at Mouse Savers....

The "emptiest" resorts will probably be the ones that are most heavily discounted.

Example: "Summer Savings Offer"

Value Resorts: get up to 15% off, except:
Art of Animation Family Suites: get up to 10% off

Moderate Resorts: get up to 20% off

Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts: get up to 30% off, except:
Animal Kingdom Lodge Savannah View & Club Level, Beach Club Resort, Contemporary Resort: up to 20% off
Animal Kingdom Villas, Beach Club Villas, Villas at Wilderness Lodge: up to 20% off

Reading this backwards - the Values are doing fairly well, Moderates in a LITTLE trouble, Deluxes BAD, except for Beach Club Resort, Contemporary Resort, Animal Kingdom Villas, Beach Club Villas, Villas at Wilderness Lodge.

This sort of follows our observations from our April-May 2014 trip.... WDW is having trouble filling the Deluxe Resorts at current "rack" pricing. We're hearing from a number of our wait staff friends that the RESTAURANTS are pretty busy - but that HOTELS aren't very full.
I don't know if the discount is based on how the want to fill up the hotel vs. the pricing. 30% off a value would be pretty cheap. 30% off a deluxe they are still turning a good profit.
 

worldfanatic

Well-Known Member
WDW's occupancy rates are amazingly high compared to the rest of the hotel industry.
It's my understanding the Yacht Club has the lowest occupancy rate of the Disney owned hotels, but is still very high versus outside competition.
 
I have stayed at SSR twice. The first time we stayed there, we were in a building that was not very close to the main building and I was 8 months pregnant (and it was August), so I complained about the "trek" I had to take to get to the main building. But I think for this exact reason, how large and spread out the resort is, may be a good reason that their occupancy might not always be high. The second time we stayed there, we had a room much closer to the main building and pools, including the new kid areas. I personally enjoy this resort and would definitely stay there again. However, they reallllly need to update their food choices in the quick service restaurant for lunch and dinner...
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom