Fort Time Versus Park Time - Poll

Yellowstonetim · Aug 30, 2015

I am new to the Fort. My wife, Patty, and I are making our first stay for 10 nights starting October 29th. Our adult son, daughter, and daughters boyfriend have their own reservations at Port Orleans - French Quarter. (It is fun having our own place and the kids doing their own thing now.

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We have historically been "park" people. In 8 to 10 day trips we may take an afternoon off for a nap, special restaurant, or DTD, but we don't hang out at pools except for an evening dip sometimes. This time we are following our kids plans which include 2 days at Universal and every other day in the Park for at least most of the day.

We have camped many times over the years and it is a "different" way of doing things. For many camping IS the destination, not just the sleeping accommodations. It appears that many DISers spend a good bit of time hanging out in the Fort. I was just curious to see how much time everyone spends in the fort compared with the parks. It is, of course, a very general poll. Times change and you may do one trip very differently from another. Just take a best guess and explain anything about your vote or your reasons for spending that amount of time in the Fort. It will be interesting to see the numbers as well as learning why.

My vote is 0-10% because the kids have planned a full schedule. They are both Disney fanatics and don't want to hang around camp or even the resort. But in future trips this might change for Patty and I.

I hope this hasn't been done recently...

serenitygr · Aug 30, 2015

This will be our 3rd trip to the Fort, and honestly after the first time, I keep saying I'd be happy just coming there to camp and not going to any park. But this trip, we are fortunate enough to have my brother and sister in law, and their 5 kids, joining us. They've never been to Disney, so we are going to each park once with them, and then the 2 waterparks as well. I think in the future I'd be ok missing Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios (until it's redone) but the allure of Magic Kingdom calling to me across the lake will always make me go there, I think

North of Mouse · Aug 30, 2015

We really love the Fort, but, we 'really' love the parks and don't drive 630 miles just to stay around the Fort, no matter how nice it is. We enjoy resort hopping, dining also. Everyone has their relaxing point, and there is only one way for each family to vacation - 'their' way!! :mickeybar

We usually have AP's so can come and go whenever.
Also would not pay Disney campground prices except for location, location, location!!!

That's not to say we don't enjoy taking breaks at the campsite - love walking to/from the boats/buses, by the lake, etc. I don't feel like there is a wrong/right way to enjoy FW.

Jimsig · Aug 30, 2015

Last year was our first time at The Fort (with DW and then 5yo DD) and went arrived Fri night and left Thur noon time, so we did the parks Sat to Wed. Wed after the morning at MK we spent the afternoon at the pool before dinner at the HDDR. This year we arrive again on a Fri for 9 nights and depart on Sunday. With that many days we plan on at least one day at The Fort, probably Tuesday and one waterpark day, most likely Friday, w probably w some time at The Fort in the afternoon. Tue we plan on doing MVMCP so we figure a day by the pool would be nice and Fri we have dinner at Mickey's BBQ so the WP would be nice that day. Along w the pool we hope to have my daughter do a pony ride.

I went with the second choice, 11 to 25%

bama_ed · Aug 30, 2015

Since we are annual visitors and Ep, DHS, and AK have very little new or recent stuff to justify the cost, we tend to spend at least half our vacation not in the parks and mostly around the Fort. We always do MK and maybe one of the other parks. Our Fort days might include DTD or putt putt or being monorail hobos or visiting other resorts.

So i voted for 51-75%.

Bama Ed

2goofycampers · Aug 31, 2015

Started out doing parks 100% of the time. Then it went to 50%. Our last 2 trips we didn't do parks at all. Next trip it will be 4 days.

jsmla · Aug 31, 2015

We went to the parks pretty much every day when the kids were little. As empty nesters we plan to spend 5 days out of eight at Ft Wilderness. We'll probably spend some of that time at mini golf and DTD.

peg110 · Aug 31, 2015

We have only done the "Fort" 2 times and loved it both times. First time was because DW doesn't like to FLY but also likes the convenience of a bathroom nearby. The camper is a logical choice. You always have facilities (for whatever, food, bathroom, sleeping, etc..) and no flying (well in the air). Fort Wilderness, of course is the logical choice for our Disney trips then. While we don't spend full days at the Fort, we do spend a fair amount of time there. on a 9 day stay, we probably do 5 or 6 days in the Disney parks, 1 or 2 days at Sea world. In between, we will do Downtown Disney, or some downtime at the Fort. It just depends upon our mood and how the weather/schedule is going. We do plan out our trips and typically plan at least 1 down day at the Fort and the pool is usually on that agenda too. Since we are "Driving" over 1000 miles, last day at the fort is spent, mostly, packing and getting set to pull out. Since I do all the driving, I am a bigger factor on that and how I feel (If I need more or less sleep or if I want to leave to get through some traffic at a particular time..)

So we probably spend a full (or mostly full) day at the fort and maybe a couple of half (or similar) days at the Fort depending on the daily schedule/weather or even mood. Of course this isn't talking about the typical "Sleep time" or the Morning/Evening getting ready to go/sleep time either.

I will say that I would much rather spend downtime or a down day at the fort as opposed to the actual hotels/resorts. I just don't think they have as much to offer (personally).

KristinU · Aug 31, 2015

Hard for me to vote since we don't really do full days in and full days out of the parks, but rather we do abbreviated days and spend more time at the Fort than we did when we were at most other resorts. Though we stayed out of the parks altogether on Christmas day 2014 and hit Blizzard Beach.

So anyway, I said 26%-50%

amylevan · Aug 31, 2015

We love to camp, and all that goes with that; but as mentioned above, we don't pull our camper 1000 miles to just camp. There are plenty of beautiful (and cheaper) campgrounds much closer to home.

That said, our last trip was 12 days and we had 1 full day at the fort plus a day where the kids stayed with their grandparents at the fort while me & DH went into Epcot for dinner & Illuminations only.

We also take afternoon breaks back at the Fort most days, but we do that when in a hotel too.

Nan P · Aug 31, 2015

Back in 1989 we spent 95% of the time at the parks and visited twice a year. Up early for rope drop, lunch and dinner at the parks and stay late for fireworks.

Fast forward to 2015.... typically, we hit the parks later in the morning or afternoon or evening and really enjoy about 4 hours park time. At the Fort we relax, watch a movie, cook out, swim, read, go looping, just chill at the Fort. About 2 - 3 days out of our 8 days we don't do the parks at all.

tiggerdad · Aug 31, 2015

With my kids being 10 and 4 it's pretty hard to spend a big chunk of time at the Fort because they are all about the rides and characters. Since we first started going to Disney we have been able to see most of the sites and ride most of the attractions, so we are trimming them back. This year there are no character meals booked and we are planning on a day to day planning with at least 3 out of our 10 days having no park tickets. EPCOT is our least favorite, but this year is our first time to be able to attend Food and Wine so we will be giving it a run to get it out of our system.

My kids are our steering mechanism still, I take them because they won't to go and see the magic of Disney, and to them that is the parks. As they get older that will trend back but we will also be trending to more grown up things like our national parks and bigger rides and thrills of different resorts in different states.

If it were up to me I would have 4 days downtime from the parks to just relax, ride around, swim, play golf, get a massage, etc.

peg110 · Aug 31, 2015

Ah... A massage sounds nice. Wish I could get one now. I could really use it.

GoofyBob60 · Sep 1, 2015

We always have one down day every trip. Either DTD pool or just hanging around watching the laundry get clean, lol.

peg110 · Sep 1, 2015

GoofyBob60 said:
We always have one down day every trip. Either DTD pool or just hanging around watching the laundry get clean, lol.

We usually plan one "Full" non-park day. I wouldn't necessarily call it a "Down Day". While I could certainly spend a day just "Relaxing" at the site doing nothing (Yes, call it being lazy) the DW and kids usually want to do SOMETHING. Unfortunately, it usually involves me spending more money!

We also get a fair amount of down time by doing "Partial" days at the park. In between maybe a nap or pool time or even the "Dreaded" Laundry! (Ugh!)

GoofyBob60 · Sep 1, 2015

True, but after chasing five kids around a relaxing down days seems needed.

JETS70 · Sep 1, 2015

North of Mouse said:
We really love the Fort, but, we 'really' love the parks and don't drive 630 miles just to stay around the Fort, no matter how nice it is. We enjoy resort hopping, dining also. Everyone has their relaxing point, and there is only one way for each family to vacation - 'their' way!! We usually have AP's so can come and go whenever.
Also would not pay Disney campground prices except for location, location, location!!!

That's not to say we don't enjoy taking breaks at the campsite - love walking to/from the boats/buses, by the lake, etc. I don't feel like there is a wrong/right way to enjoy FW.

I agree with you North of Mouse. Everybody does their vacation their way. We have gone to Disney with and without our older children. How we do our vacation has a lot to do with whom we are with. The DW and I like to relax a little more now. If visiting without the kids, that's what we do. If we are with the kids, we spend a lot of time in the parks. That's what we like to do as a family.

You said it best........ the best vacations are done "their way".

themojosupreme · Sep 1, 2015

Each trip has had a different emphasis for us based on new attractions, who we are with, and length of trip. Our upcoming trip will be leisurely and not pre-planned other than ADRs and tours. As we will travel without kids - first time ever , we will likely hit the parks 25% and sightsee resorts and DT on other days. Somehow or another, Disney will still get a lot of our $$ but not necessarily via park tickets.

peg110 · Sep 1, 2015

GoofyBob60 said:
True, but after chasing five kids around a relaxing down days seems needed.

I am not disputing the need (or desire) for the "Down Day." I just don't get the "Down Day" that I want. As the "Good DH" I follow the DW's wishes.

Teamubr · Sep 1, 2015

We pretty much do like North of Mouse. We spend parts of everyday away from the Fort. Sometimes it's all day in a park. Others it's mornings at a park and afternoon at the Fort or vice versa. We only make it to WDW every 2-3 years, so we like to take in ALL of it while we are there. The Fort just being one part.

j

Fort Time Versus Park Time - Poll

How much time as a percentage of days do you spend in the Fort without going to the Parks?

0 to 10% (From zero time in the Fort to 1 day out of 10)

11 to 25% (More than 1 day in 10 to 1 day in 4)

26 to 50%( More than 1 day in 4 to Half)

51 to 75% (More than half to 3 out of 4 days)

76 to 99% ( More than 3 out of 4 days but not 100%)

100% (You don't visit the parks.)

DIS Veteran

2021: trip number six to the Fort!!

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

It's kind of fun to do the impossible-Walt Disney

Sounds like something a camping trip could cure!

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Pixie Dust Every Day. Patriots Fan.

I don't always get distracted but whe...SQUIRREL!

DIS Veteran

Earning My Ears

DIS Veteran

Earning My Ears

Teardrop camping at the Fort

No wifi, but a great connection!

DIS Veteran

From somewhere outside StL

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