Just stayed at Ft. Wilderness

[Jll3Sonex]

We just stayed on loop 1600 - I don't know about the other loops, but the vegetation seems to have been thinned out quite a bit. There wasn't much in the way of brush, and not a whole lot of what I'd consider privacy.

That said - it was the best campground we've stayed in yet. The checkin process was seamless and thorough, the site was spotless, the only complaint I might have was that the busses weren't always at the stop when we wanted them! The Trading Posts had ice (and some minor RV items like hoses and bulbs) for a reasonable price - and were less than five minutes away on a bike.

Actually, staying at Ft. Wilderness was the best choice I think we could have made. You can save a considerable amount of money by taking sandwiches into the parks, and fixing meals in a crock-pot prior to coming down and freezing them in 2-quart blocks ensures they stay frozen (with applications of ice, of course) until you want them thawed. Go to the park with EMH in the morning, stay until about 1 or so, go back to Ft. Wilderness, hang out at the pool until dinner thaws, warm it up and then head over to the evening EMH park around 7 or so. Pirates of the Caribbean is pretty much a walkon after midnight!

The new Meadows pool is pretty nice, also - though I've got to admit the water was a trifle murky. The water slide was great and the pool wasn't terribly crowded.

We'll definitely consider doing it again this way. Might be a couple of years, though - I want to wait until some new rides are built!

[Camping Mom]

We rarely stay anywhere else when at Disney. We put the crock pot on in the morning and when we come back to the trailer, dinner is ready. It is so peaceful and the whole atmosphere is just great. We don't have a trailer right now and will be going in December and it just won't be the same staying in a resort. Our hearts will be at FtW but not our bodies unfortunately.

[ibrowse17]

I grew up staying at FW, and we continue to do so now. It really is our favorite place at Disney to stay. In the last year they really cleared out a lot of the undergrowth, and while it looks a bit bare now, it really did need it.

[Jll3Sonex]

We rarely stay anywhere else when at Disney. We put the crock pot on in the morning and when we come back to the trailer, dinner is ready.

I suggested that - but DW didn't want to deal with hauling the ingredients, and didn't want to leave the crockpot going all day long. So we did our cooking beforehand!

Also, DS11 had mentioned before that the water tasted funny at the parks and resort. I don't mind (then again, I actually like Beverly) but a simple water filter improved the taste from the tap considerably. So much so that the water bladders in our backpacks got a lot more use than I was expecting! (FWIW, WalMart has some nice, fairly roomy backpacks (their Outdoor Products label) which are designed to hold water bladders like a Camelbak. The backpack and bladder together are considerably cheaper than a Camelbak alone...) Hydration wasn't a problem at all.

As far as chopping down the underbrush goes - I can understand that - it'll help keep the critters down. Just thought it was odd that all the pictures I'd seen of sites practically had them walled in with bushes and such...

[tjstrike]

I really hope they decide to reseed all the loops and cabin areas because it looks horrible with all the tree roots and exposed dirt everywhere and no grass or shrubs to cover them up.

[joonyer]

Most of the vegetation and brush around campsites was removed as part of a campground wide refurb and upgrading of most sites (new & larger pads, adding cable TV, etc.)

Over time, a lot of that vegetation will grow back.

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

From what I understand they did the clear out for 2 reasons. Upgrading the sites and to stop the potato vine from cloking out everything. Or a plant like the potato vine. In the next couple of years natural growth will occure and fill in nicely. Glad you enjoyed your stay at the Fort. We are still planning our Fort trip for April / May 2010.