Fort Wilderness Questions

[Midnightmoon]

We are Disney regulars and have traveled there at least 25 times in the last 20 years. We usually stay at either Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge. We are considering staying at Fort Wilderness campground next summer when we travel to Disney World. We have been there several times in the past to go to the Hoop Dee Doo Review, but we have never stayed there.

A couple of quick questions for you Fort Wilderness regulars. First, what is the the difference between the "Full Hookup", "Preferred" and "Premium" sites? Second, is it worth renting a golf cart while we are there? If so, what is the average cost per day? I haven't been able to find the rental info on the Disney site.

Thanks in advance.

[Grumpy]

All sites come with w,e,s,c & wi-fi. Full hook-up are loops 1600,1700,1800, 1900 and 2100 they are the farthest away from the Marina, come with an average size concrete pad and also a sand pad to the rear. Preferred 100, 200 & 300 are basically the same size pads, but are closest to the Marina. Premium 400 thru 1400 have a large concrete pad and very little if any sand pad. 1500 & 2000 do not have sewer and are for tents and pop-ups.

There is an "app" Ft.Wilderness Sites that has pictures of each individual site as well as their length.(conc pad).

Golf carts are a very nice convenience for long stays, but DISNEY carts are expensive, around $70 per day and are only rented using the daily rate. If you are a bike rider that works just as well for many since there are places to park them, be sure to bring locks, some bikes have walked away.

You will also find a lot of info on www.FortFiends.net.

Have fun.....

[Midnightmoon]

Excellent info. Thank you!!

We are planning for 11 days this year so we want to make sure we do it right.

If I understand correctly, you can take the internal bus to the main station and transfer to a main Disney bus if you want to go anywhere not accessed by the boat. Is that correct?

[Sundancer330]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

Excellent info. Thank you!!

We are planning for 11 days this year so we want to make sure we do it right.

If I understand correctly, you can take the internal bus to the main station and transfer to a main Disney bus if you want to go anywhere not accessed by the boat. Is that correct?

Yes you are correct about the bus to other parks. You can also take the boat to the Contemporary hotel and jump on the monorail over to Epcot. The disney golf carts are expensive but you can rent from an outside company which will deliver, they charge around $200 a week but you have to make reservations early.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by Sundancer330

Yes you are correct about the bus to other parks. You can also take the boat to the Contemporary hotel and jump on the monorail over to Epcot. The disney golf carts are expensive but you can rent from an outside company which will deliver, they charge around $200 a week but you have to make reservations early.

Excellent. Thanks.

[oldmanAZ]

Just to add to the information already provided:

If you have kids at The Fort, having a golf cart speeds up transportation and can ease situations with impatient kids. The internal bus system will get you from point to point, but you may need to walk to a bus stop and then have to wait.

Unless things have changed recently, outside cart rental companies are no longer allowed to deliver onto WDW property. You will need to drive your TV to their location, take their trailer and the cart to The Fort, unload the cart, and then return the trailer. Not really a serious hassle to save serious $$. It took us ~40min for the pick up process. We've used the same rental vendor for a number of years and he's been great. PM me if you'd like the name.

Also, since you've stayed on property you probably already know that you can make dining and fast pass reservations early. Staying at The Fort counts for that, too.

[RAurand]

When we were there several years ago, we were so busy going to all the parks and all that we were only at out trailer for Breakfast and to sleep. Renting golf carts wouldn't have been worth it since the bus has a lot of stops in the campground as well.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by oldmanAZ

Just to add to the information already provided:

If you have kids at The Fort, having a golf cart speeds up transportation and can ease situations with impatient kids. The internal bus system will get you from point to point, but you may need to walk to a bus stop and then have to wait.

Unless things have changed recently, outside cart rental companies are no longer allowed to deliver onto WDW property. You will need to drive your TV to their location, take their trailer and the cart to The Fort, unload the cart, and then return the trailer. Not really a serious hassle to save serious $$. It took us ~40min for the pick up process. We've used the same rental vendor for a number of years and he's been great. PM me if you'd like the name.

Also, since you've stayed on property you probably already know that you can make dining and fast pass reservations early. Staying at The Fort counts for that, too.

Yea, we always book in December for the following year's trip, just so we are outside 6 month window for dining reservations. You better believe that the first moment that the window opens, my wife is on the App or on the phone getting everything booked. Tiffins in Animal Kingdom is currently our favorite on property. But the ones that fill up fast, Le Cellier, Cinderella's Royal Table, and Be Our Guest get booked first and then we fill in our schedule around them.

While I'm thinking about it, does Disney still issue Magic Bands if you are staying in the campground or are those reserved for the hotel guests? As dumb as that sounds, my girls go crazy over those things. They decorate them to the max every year.

I send you a PM on the Golf Cart rental. Thanks

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by RAurand

When we were there several years ago, we were so busy going to all the parks and all that we were only at out trailer for Breakfast and to sleep. Renting golf carts wouldn't have been worth it since the bus has a lot of stops in the campground as well.

That's basically how we vacation also. We open and close the parks most every night.

It's interesting that you mentioned about not needing a cart. Two of my friends stayed there last year. One stayed in the cabins and said they wished that they would have rented a cart. The one that stayed in their trailer said that their spot was just a short walk to the bus stop and they really didn't need it. I'd rather be safe than sorry, but my luck will be that I rent one and I'll never use it.

We are still weighing our options between Fort Wilderness and going back to Wilderness Lodge. So please, keep your details coming everyone.

[NC Roamer]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

While I'm thinking about it, does Disney still issue Magic Bands if you are staying in the campground or are those reserved for the hotel guests? As dumb as that sounds, my girls go crazy over those things. They decorate them to the max every year.

Yes. We stayed at The Fort this past August and received Magic Bands.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by NC Roamer

Yes. We stayed at The Fort this past August and received Magic Bands.

Excellent. Thanks

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

One stayed in the cabins and said they wished that they would have rented a cart.

The walk to a bus stop in some cabin loops can really be a hike. Also 100, 200, 400 and 700 do not have their own bus stop. You either have to walk to the Settlement stop or walk up to 300/500 or 600/800 stops.

[triplebvalp]

We were at the Fort campgrounds the first week of October this year. It was our first time camping at Disneyworld and all I can say is WOW! Extremely nice campground with most camping "loops" not far from a bus stop. The buses run either to the Settlement ( that's where Hoop De Doo revue is, one of the camp stores, other places to eat, and the boat to the Magic Kingdom ) the other bus run is to the Outpost where you can get other buses to the different parks and Disney Springs.

If you are going to spend all day in the parks, a golf cart is not necessary. If you are going to have a few days of "down time" then a golf cart or at least bicycles is a good way to do some sight seeing in the campground. The campground is big so walking may not be an option. We took our bikes and "toured" the area several times.

Pic of our site in the 1900 ( full hook up ) loop:

[Midnightmoon]

So what site type would you recommend? My trailer is 26.5' hitch to bumper so length will not be an issue anywhere.

Essentially, I'm asking where you would stay when you go back.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

The walk to a bus stop in some cabin loops can really be a hike. Also 100, 200, 400 and 700 do not have their own bus stop. You either have to walk to the Settlement stop or walk up to 300/500 or 600/800 stops.

Where do you stay when you have gone? I'm familiar with the settlement area due to Hoop Dee Do.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

So what site type would you recommend? My trailer is 26.5' hitch to bumper so length will not be an issue anywhere.

Essentially, I'm asking where you would stay when you go back.

With that rig I'd go full hookup and ask for 1600 or 1700, they are the closest to the pool and campfire.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

With that rig I'd go full hookup and ask for 1600 or 1700, they are the closest to the pool and campfire.

Excellent. Thanks

[triplebvalp]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

So what site type would you recommend? My trailer is 26.5' hitch to bumper so length will not be an issue anywhere.

Essentially, I'm asking where you would stay when you go back.

It really depends on what you want to be in the middle of so to speak. If you want the peace and quite that camping usually allows then the 1600 - 1900 loops are great ( full hook up ). If you want to be nearer the "action" i.e. swimming pool, camp store, other activities, then select a premium site, if you want to be nearer the settlement ( Hoop de Doo revue, camp store, Magic Kingdom boat transportation, and other stuff, then a Preferred site is the way to go.

Here is a link to the Fort campground site map:
Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground map - wdwinfo.com

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by triplebvalp

It really depends on what you want to be in the middle of so to speak. If you want the peace and quite that camping usually allows then the 1600 - 1900 loops are great ( full hook up ). If you want to be nearer the "action" i.e. swimming pool, camp store, other activities, then select a premium site, if you want to be nearer the settlement ( Hoop de Doo revue, camp store, Magic Kingdom boat transportation, and other stuff, then a Preferred site is the way to go.

Here is a link to the Fort campground site map:
Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground map - wdwinfo.com

Thank you

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

Where do you stay when you have gone? I'm familiar with the settlement area due to Hoop Dee Do.

We've always been in 400, but we have a golf cart and we used to do Jan-April as well as Oct. They did away with the winter settler rates so we bought a lot in Clermont about 8 miles away.