Campsite vs. Moderate

[Bubbie Girl]

We are planning a trip for June 2014 there will be 7 of us. 2 are children age 5 and 2. We have always stayed at the resorts but with this number DH and I were wondering about renting a RV that sleeps 7 and camping at WCS. We would be driving from up by Chicago and I know the gas would be high but airfare for all of us is too. We would want to rent golf carts most likely from off site. What are your pros and cons on this??? We are trying to figure out if this would be most cost effective for us or getting 2 rooms in a moderate. DH does not really like the value resorts!! Having never been to the campground not really sure of what to expect. Any help will be appreciated.

[vicster]

We have a camper but haven't driven to WDW since 2004 due to high gas prices. Do you plan on cooking your meaals in the camper? If so, you will save money there. If not, maybe you want to check out the new Art of Animation family suites.

[Bubbie Girl]

I don't believe that the Art of Animation Suites hold 7. They are only based on 6 occupants. We looked into that option. We do not plan on cooking all of our meals. Maybe a few breakfasts here and there.

[faline]

If you have not been campers in the past, I would suggest this would not be the time to start - go for the 2 moderate rooms.

If you are experienced campers and want to experience Fort Wilderness, then go for it!!

[BigB]

I have never camped in Disney and only a few times locally, but if you do not plan on cooking your meals you might as well stay at a resort. You will have about the same amount of room and wouldn't need a golf cart to get around. You still may want to drive down to save on airfare with seven people. I would look into villas or family suites.

Would the youngest be considered a "person" by Disney standards? I forget if it was age two or three.

[KylesMom]

My first instinct was the same as Faline's - are you seasoned RV'ers, or will this be your first trip with a rig for 7?

[joonyer]

We are experienced campers (both tent and RV), and I can tell you that 2 rooms at a moderate will give you much more room than even a large RV (Class A). The moderate rooms at WDW resorts are about 314 sq. ft., so you you'd have about 728 sq ft. between the 7 of you. AND you'd have TWO bathrooms. On the other hand he biggest (class A) RVs will have about 450 sq. ft total, IF they have some slide outs. That's a lot more cramped when you are all inside at the same time, not to mention only ONE bathroom, maybe 1&1/2 on the really fancy models.

Are you planning on driving the RV form Chicago, or renting one when you get there? Renting one in Orlando will save you some on the fuel costs, of course. Fuel mileage on those big rigs are atrocious, about 8 mpg at best. Round trip from Chicago to FW is about 2,300 miles. The current average price for diesel fuel in the U.S. $3.87/gal. That works out multiplies out to more than $1,100 just for fuel alone. OUCH! Driving a car will save a lot, but will still probably cost you about $400-500 depending on your mileage.

I haven't priced airline fares, but by the time you pay for the RV rental, the fuel to drive it to WDW and back from Chicago, (less for driving you car), and the campsite rental, golf-cart rentals, plus meals on the way down and back, I don't think you'll be saving a whole lot by RV'ing for your WDW vacation over the cost of flying and staying in a moderate. And that doesn't even factor in the travel time for driving cross-country, whether in an RV or a car. And 7 people in one car from Chicago to WDW and back does not sound like fun to me. Plus, If you stop for the night somewhere on the way down and back, you have additional expense for that.

Don't get me wrong, we love RV'ing and being on the road, but there are only 4 in our family (2 teenage boys). And Fort Wilderness is hands-down the nicest campground you'll find anywhere in the U.S. But if you are new to RV'ing, I would be hesitant to recommend that you begin that experience with a cross-country trek with 7 people, no matter how close and friendly you are. An RV, even the big ones, is like a very, very small apartment.

[Kenny1113]

We are experienced campers (both tent and RV), and I can tell you that 2 rooms at a moderate will give you much more room than even a large RV (Class A). The moderate rooms at WDW resorts are about 314 sq. ft., so you you'd have about 728 sq ft. between the 7 of you. AND you'd have TWO bathrooms. On the other hand he biggest (class A) RVs will have about 450 sq. ft total, IF they have some slide outs. That's a lot more cramped when you are all inside at the same time, not to mention only ONE bathroom, maybe 1&1/2 on the really fancy models.

Are you planning on driving the RV form Chicago, or renting one when you get there? Renting one in Orlando will save you some on the fuel costs, of course. Fuel mileage on those big rigs are atrocious, about 8 mpg at best. Round trip from Chicago to FW is about 2,300 miles. The current average price for diesel fuel in the U.S. $3.87/gal. That works out multiplies out to more than $1,100 just for fuel alone. OUCH! Driving a car will save a lot, but will still probably cost you about $400-500 depending on your mileage.

I haven't priced airline fares, but by the time you pay for the RV rental, the fuel to drive it to WDW and back from Chicago, (less for driving you car), and the campsite rental, golf-cart rentals, plus meals on the way down and back, I don't think you'll be saving a whole lot by RV'ing for your WDW vacation over the cost of flying and staying in a moderate. And that doesn't even factor in the travel time for driving cross-country, whether in an RV or a car. And 7 people in one car from Chicago to WDW and back does not sound like fun to me. Plus, If you stop for the night somewhere on the way down and back, you have additional expense for that.

Don't get me wrong, we love RV'ing and being on the road, but there are only 4 in our family (2 teenage boys). And Fort Wilderness is hands-down the nicest campground you'll find anywhere in the U.S. But if you are new to RV'ing, I would be hesitant to recommend that you begin that experience with a cross-country trek with 7 people, no matter how close and friendly you are. An RV, even the big ones, is like a very, very small apartment.

I agree with this. However I wanted to add that if you were to camp if you are close to the bath house (and your family is OK with using the bath house) this could add extra bathrooms and showers.

[CJDDS]

What is WCS?

[wdwcamper]

I agree with the popular vote here and would probably recommend against renting an rv to drive down if your not a seasoned rv'r....BUT I would recommend a cabin at the Wilderness. Pretty sure they say 6 in the cabins but with small kids it could easily hold 7.
I would say I am biased because I absolutely love Ft Wilderness! We tried a moderate this year to save on fuel driving from PA but we spent the whole trip agreeing that we wouldn't do anything but the campground ever again. Looping in the golf cart is probably my favorite non park pass time at Disney..

[MargaretMessler]

I don't believe that the Art of Animation Suites hold 7. They are only based on 6 occupants. We looked into that option. We do not plan on cooking all of our meals. Maybe a few breakfasts here and there.

I'm not sure that the 2 year old would count, so you may be ok here with the family suite.

[Jll3Sonex]

Chiming in very late here, but...

Remember that the '7 people capacity' is kind of more marketing fantasy than anything else. Take a REAL good look in that RV before you rent it, and picture everyone racked out and snoring. How's that going to work out? Two - three people in the rear bed, two people on the dinette, two on a fold-out couch?

And are you (and DH) comfortable with DRIVING and maneuvering Class A rig sized for 7 people? Think about driving through Chicago at rush hour - would you be comfortable doing that?

(Heard a funny story about ten years back - guy with no experience was thinking about getting an RV and hitting the road, so he sold his house and bought the biggest thing he could afford, a veritable palace on wheels. He drove it off the lot, made it to his first campground... then called the dealership to see if they'd take it back without too much of a hit. Turned out he HATED driving it. He mailed them the keys, told them where to find it.)

Also think about the logistics. The gray- and blackwater tanks on an RV will only hold so much - and if you're not used to messing with them it can be a bit unpleasant. (That said, the Disney sites are the best full-hookup sites I've seen ANYWHERE...) With 7 people, figure frequent emptying, and even the larger rigs usually just have a 10-gallon water heater...

If it all works for you, then happy travelling! But the point of a vacation is carefree enjoyment. (For most people, that is... some like a challenge. ) If this will be your first time with an RV of this size, it may well not be carefree!

By the way, if you're coming through Atlanta, you can take the HOV/Carpool Lane down I-75 through the city. It'll get you through without being peeled off by the I-20 interchange about midway through, or the I-85 split to the airport.

Have a good vacation!