Cabins at Fort Wilderness Review
Fort Wilderness Resort Campground & Resort offers fully-furnished cabins that sleep 6 adults and have been refurbished recently. This Walt Disney World “hotel” review will share photos of the new-look living room, bedroom, modern kitchen, and offer thoughts on our experience staying in the cabins–plus the latest construction news. (Updated March 29, 2021.)
Next, let’s cover the construction, and some good news on that front. First, the significant work occurring around the Settlement Depot area of Fort Wilderness as ground was being cleared for a new Disney Vacation Club resort, Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge being built on the former site of the River Country water park has stopped. Construction crews removed concrete and rebar, mothballed the site, and haven’t been back since last summer.
Credible rumors at the time indicated Reflections Lakeside Lodge is cancelled. That is not official and certainly could change, especially as the travel industry has started to recover, and much sooner than previously expected. We’ll continue monitoring and update this section accordingly. The other good news is that the new Tri-Circle-D Ranch, its Draft Horse Barn and Pony Farm are now open and look great. Thanks to the lack of visible and audible construction and their isolated, spacious nature, we highly recommend the Cabins at Fort Wilderness during Walt Disney World’s phased reopening. This is among the most relaxed and laid back resort options for at least the remainder of 2021!
The Cabins at Fort Wilderness are interesting from the perspective that they’re technically a Moderate Resort, but with pricing and amenities more akin to a Family Suite or Deluxe Villa. Like a growing number of Walt Disney World resort rooms, these really defy categorization within the current system, which is probably at least part of the reason the current tiers are likely to disappear entirely in the coming years.
I’d say the Fort Wilderness Cabins ultimately compare most closely to the Family Suites at Art of Animation, but for parties with very different vacationing perspectives. Not withstanding the rooms, Art of Animation and Fort Wilderness are pretty much polar opposites of one another. One is a not-stop assault on the senses, the other is a place you’ll find serenity now.
You can read more about our thoughts on the similarities and differences between the two resorts in our Fort Wilderness v. Art of Animation post. While we actually enjoy both resorts quite a bit, we think there’s a good chance most people reading this will be polarized into one “camp” or the other, with there being an obvious choice as to which resort is right for your family.
We’re also not going to fixate on all the amenities of Fort Wilderness (of which there are many). Simultaneous to this review of the refurbished Cabins at Fort Wilderness, we’re doing a ‘refurbishment’ of our own, updating our Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground Review. There’s a lot to know about Fort Wilderness, so you might check that out if its amenities, perks, buses, etc. matter to you.
In doing research before our stay here, I read a bit of the fan reaction to the new Cabins at Fort Wilderness. Responses seemed generally positive, with the biggest complaint being the mattress quality of the sofa couch as compared to the old Murphy bed. While I didn’t think the sofa couch was bad in my testing, I think the Murphy bed was more comfortable. To the sofa bed’s credit, the mattress in it was thick and was not “springy” (I couldn’t feel any noticeable areas of springs or metal supports below.
It’s worth noting that my testing consisted of pulling it out and lying on it for 90 seconds. I did not sleep in it overnight, and certainly not over the course of a week. My parents did (before you think I’m a terrible son: they were offered the bedroom but wanted the additional space of the main room) and thought the bed was fine but nothing special. It certainly was not as nice as the mattress in our bedroom, which was shockingly comfortable.
In terms of this main room as a whole, here’s a before and after…
Above is the before view. The far wall with the framed tapestry is where the pull-down Murphy bed was previously located. This bed had a “normal” mattress, but (if I recall correctly) was shorter than normal. Reminiscent of the Murphy beds you can now find at some Walt Disney World resorts, albeit not as narrow.
Below is the after view. The main living area offers dramatically more storage space, which was definitely lacking from the previous version of the cabins due to the limitations imposed by the pull-down Murphy bed. Above that storage space, you also get a large television. Like a chump, I neglected to pack my tape measure, but the internet tells me this television is 55″. I’m guessing the old TV was a little over half that.
These are the gains by making the trade-off from the Murphy bed to the sofa bed, and from my perspective, they’re entirely worth it. The larger television alone (which can actually be seen from the entire living area, including the kitchen) would’ve been worth it, so the storage is just icing on the cake.
Despite this blog often reading as if it were written by a 6-year old, I’ve come to believe that most readers of it are adults. Given that and also given that most people who will find the cabins appealing is families with numerous children, the obvious solution here is to make the kids sleep on that sofa bed. Just lie and tell them it’s where their favorite character likes to sleep. Or tell the truth and remind them that until they have jobs and start pulling their own weight, they best not complain about the free shelter you provide them. 😉
One more complaint about this sofa bed before we move on: the sofa’s light and airy colors look out of place with the rest of the cabin. Maybe there’s some convoluted backstory about how early settlers of Ft. Wilderness risked life and limb to import this gem by ox and wagon from the enchanted Victorian homesteads of the Grand Floridian. If that’s the case, then it makes total sense. Otherwise, it’s a bit at odds with the otherwise rustic style.
The good news is that aside from these complaints, the new Cabins at Fort Wilderness are a dramatic improvement over the old ones. As far as “rustic” goes, this is about as high-quality as you’re going to get anywhere.
I think the new rooms do an excellent job of staying true to theme (details like the Fort Wilderness Railroad print, light fixtures, and “carved” chairs are nice touches) while also offering functional and quality improvements to the cabins.
The new kitchen features upgraded appliances that look considerably better. New countertops and cabinets improve the look, with the sink and appliances having been shuffled around a bit. In the process, Disney removed the stove and oven, replacing both with a two burner cooktop and convection/microwave unit.
My general cooking philosophy is “if something cannot be microwaved, it is not worth consuming.” I’m partially kidding there, but the reality is that I have no idea what the difference (in terms of prepared food’s taste) is between a convection and normal oven. Maybe there’s some huge difference and this is a travesty, but I’m clueless on that front. Nonetheless, the kitchens look exceptional–almost too nice for a rustic cabin.
Another significant change is the addition of a queen bed in the bedroom in addition to the existing bunkbeds. This is a bit tighter than before, but it’s still sufficiently open.
Perhaps most importantly, this was the most comfortable bedding we’ve ever had at Walt Disney World.
I’m still not sure whether Disney has been quietly replacing their old mattresses with ones that are not made of plywood, but mattress quality at Walt Disney World has been on the upswing with every refurbishment. This continues–and improves upon–that trend.
There’s also room for luggage storage under the bed. Clearly, that lack of storage space was a common complaint about the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, and with the refurbishment, Walt Disney World has rectified that problem (and then some).
The bathrooms feature a new countertop and tile backsplash. To my knowledge, this is all cosmetic. The downside is there’s still only one bathroom in the cabins (I should’ve mentioned this earlier, but no structural changes were made to the units), but they were nice bathrooms before, so I guess don’t fix what isn’t broken.
Overall, we were incredibly satisfied with the Cabins at Fort Wilderness before the refurbishment and love them even more post-refurbishment. Reasonable minds could quibble over the gains and losses in swapping out the Murphy bed for a sofa bed plus 55″ television and storage, but that’s a trade I’ll happily make. For a party of 4 adults sharing a room, perhaps the equation differs. The improvements to the bedroom are unequivocal gains, as are the aesthetics (save for that couch) all around the cabin.
If you’re looking for a serene place to decompress after a chaotic day in the parks at Walt Disney World but still want modern amenities at one of Walt Disney World’s loveliest and most serene resorts, the Cabins at Fort Wilderness offer an option that’s tough to beat. Hands down, these are among our favorite accommodations at Walt Disney World. The Cabins at Fort Wilderness are like a “poor man’s Treehouse Villa.” That may sound like a dig, but given how much we love the Treehouses, it’s about the highest praise possible!
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Your Thoughts
Do you agree or disagree with our assessment of the redone Cabins at Fort Wilderness? What do you think the pros and cons are of the refurbishment? Did you sleep on the sofa bed? Do the Fort Wilderness Cabins look appealing to your party? Share any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
I may be in a different camp (ha!) on this one, but I think the “new” interior design/ decorating is awful. From the now blank wall space to the right of kitchen, to the lime green couch, to the ugly countertops (IMO) It’s a disjointed mess. And agree about the loss of the Murphy bed. That being said, it’s the only place we stay every year.
I stayed in a cabin at Fort Wilderness last week with my daughter and her family. Three adults, two children 5 and 9. The last time we stayed at Fort Wilderness was about 40 years ago when the cabins were actually camper trailers, but although both the cabin and Fort Wilderness itself are much larger the atmosphere seemed the same. People seemed much more relaxed and friendly than at the hotels. The kids loved both of the pools (we were near the smaller one), the playgrounds, and just being able to run around. We had a car and a golf cart so transportation was not an issue for us which made it easy to come back to the cabin and relax in the heat of the afternoon. The food trucks were a great idea and the boat to the Magic Kingdom was quick and fun. We drove to the other parks. We were a little anxious about having only one bathroom, but it worked out ok. The two downsides were that the sofa bed was the worst I have ever tried to sleep on, and the kitchenware didn’t seem to be intended for a family with children who actually planned to do some cooking. The bowls were too tiny for cereal and the only drinking vessels other than coffee cups were Mason Jar mugs, totally unsuitable for small children (and I didn’t like drinking from them either). There were no serving utensils. We flew to Orlando, so even if we’d known of the lack of kitchen items it wouldn’t have been practical to bring our own. I’d still recommend the cabins to an adult couple or a family with children under 10 or so. More adults or larger children would probably not work with the one bathroom.
Hello! We’re scheduled to stay in a cabin May 10-14, 2021. Is it true that the waterslide at the pool will be closed (mid-April through May)? Thank you!
I have a family of six we stayed at cabin 118 we were close to the marina playground store we stayed a week. We had a great time I give it a 2 thumbs up. Loop 100 only has 2 cabins very quiet playground marina and store over a block away loved the location.
I have a family of six we stayed at cabin 118 we were close to the marina playground store we stayed a week. We had a great time I give it a 2 thumbs up. Loop 100 only has 2 cabins very quiet playground marina and store over a block away loved the location.
Having stayed at the actual Treehouse Villas (and fulfilling a childhood dream) I can say these look pretty nice and at a much more realistic price point. I am SO glad they didn’t follow this ridiculous trend of painted white (or any paint, really) cabinets and bland, bland, bland yuck, vomit kitchen “design”. Even in health care design we’ve gone away from ugly institutional white.
Staying at the cabins with my family early in May. Just wondering how strictly mask wearing is enforced on the grounds. Are they required while walking from your cabin to the pool or around the loops? Are they required while riding on a golf cart?
Thanks!
We stayed in the cabins years ago when my kids were young and we loved them. They are comfortable and well equipped. Back then they had the murphy bed in the living area where the tv is now. Loved coming back to a clean kitchen after long days in the parks. Our only issue was the one bathroom and 5 people can be challenging. I’ve heard people say they use the bathrooms/showers near the pools. We also enjoyed the peacocks roaming around.
We consider this place our home resort. I fear that they will soon be popular and priced at a deluxe report price (much like Disney in October buses to be off season now it’s peak). We will be back in 25 days. It’s been a long 2 years away but we cannot wait!!! Hopefully we can keep this place a little bit of a secret for a bit longer 🙂
Loved the “Poor man’s Treehouse Villa’s line!! Because as I was reading this I was thinking, “No, this isn’t Cabins v. AoA; it’s like your Poly v. CBR analogies…I hadn’t gotten to the poor man language in my brain by the time.
But it is the perfect analogy. The Cabins are not as secluded as the Treehouses, or elevated, or as roomy, but they are in an absolute sweet spot for pricing. They’ll sleep the same 6 adults as a family suite at AoA, but usually for around $70-100 a night cheaper. Of course, AoA is now a Skyliner Resort, but the real comparison is with these being compared to the Treehouses. There’s less privacy with the Cabins, and they’re smaller. Treehouses for the win! Not a fair fight, of course, but both are out in nature and a good way to chill if you don’t need to be surrounded by theme park reminders all the time.
But the Cabins hold up well against the Treehouses, and completely win on one thing: Bang for the Buck. Your own private cabin, for a family of 6; I don’t think you’ll find a better bargain on WDW property.
in 2013 I had to rent a cabin for the night because an early departure to the airport, my son and I had a great time Tent camping, upon arrival from airport at 6pm and received our luggage about 9pm to set up the tent for a week stay, had lots of fun going to the parks and the swimming pools and water parks,, it was funny, how the visitors went to Typhoon Lagoon to getting wet, but when the rain came, everyone took shelter.. hot rain.. we went to Disney Springs for entainment at Disney quest, went back to the camping site to break camp and enter the cabin for the night …have reservations for Nov. 2021
Have stayed at Fort Wilderness Cabins 3 times since 2012. Booked again for this year but cancelled because of COVID. We’re from Canada. Looking forward to booking again hopefully late 2021. Cannot imagine staying anywhere else. Beautiful surroundings. A wonderful break from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks. Especially love morning coffee on the deck and some cocktails later in the evening. Florida Special cabin perfect for scooter users.
Stayed there 6 times and always rented a golf cart, have never taken a bus there. Loved it every time. Felt a kinship with Tom when he had a real job, now just jealous.
Is there any wiggle room in numbers.
We have 7, 4 adults 3 teens.
Maybe cots etc.
I would seriously advise against it. You’ll just be way too on top of each other in that space.
We had 7 when one was a baby and the rest will all children under age 12 (with 2 parents). But having 4 adults and 3 teens in that space would be horrible – especially with only one bathroom.
In fact, the one bathroom made these cabins a never again for us. Even if they just had 1 and a half bathrooms we would have gone back.
The second bathroom is even more important because you are nowhere near another bathroom – the way someone can always go down to the lobby in the other resorts. Here you remote and it’s too difficult.
The Art of Animation family suites has less space, but 2 bathrooms.
For your group, I would get 2 single rooms OR a 2 bedroom at Saratoga Springs or Old Key West. Those suites are huge.
Just stayed at a Cabin in December, first time at Fort Wilderness. Loved it!!! Only complaint ( and it’s a small one) is that for 2 adults sharingthe queen bed, it’s inevitably awkward for the person who has to sleep next to the wall. You either have to climb over the other person or try to ninja-maneuver your way out of the bed without disturbing them.
Stayed here in September. Absolutely fell in love. It will be really hard to go anywhere else after this. I wish we had planned more days just to hang out at the resort. It’s like a little sanctuary. We came back to our cabin one night and had a dance party! Music on, jumping all around. You couldn’t do that in a normal hotel. We will definitely be back!
We just stayed 5 nights in a cabin checking out this past Tuesday. Fort Wilderness will always have a special place in my heart. We have loved staying at the cabins and it would be our first choice if we ever go back to WDW. (This last one was our 11th visit in 18 years).
Staying at Fort Wilderness sends you back in time to the feeling that I think Walt had originally envisioned. We’ve stayed at other resorts always on property within a mono-rail or boat ride of MK and do not get this same overall feeling of originality.
Since this review was written the rooms have generally held up. The sofa bed is still comfortable, but the upholstery (who in the heck picked that color/style) is looking a bit tired, and very much out of place to the rustic theme. Our microwave/convection oven digital screen was worn out and barely or partially displayed numbers. This is important because the instructions refer you to the screen. I gave up on it. The dishwasher soap dispenser had a broken latch which was frustrating.
We rented a golf cart which I would consider as part of the room cost, especially if you do not like to be beholden to a bus schedule. The golf cart parking at the boat launch will fill up so you have to plan accordingly. Then from the launch you can get to the MK or the Contemporary and have a host of options for transportation between the parks avoiding the bus. We utilized the boats/monorail/gondolas pretty effectively between parks. Except for AK and rope drop at DHS our car wasn’t needed.
The reason I earlier mentioned if we ever go back to Disney is because of park management. If you are reading this because you are planning a trip, I would heartily recommend the Cabins. Please read though about the Fort Wilderness area construction in another article and the accompanying comments. Spot on observations. We’ve never experienced this level of frenzy and crowds at Disney before (and we’ve been there during Thanksgiving). Yes all of it had to do with ROtR I’m sure and the holiday. I think Disney has gone into a money grab mentality. Profit is important we are also Disney shareholders, but this was something else entirely.
All that said, Fort Wilderness is a wonderful respite from the parks–try to stay further away from the lake and construction.
We want to stay in the cabins. Looking for a loop that is quiet, away from the pools and bus stops. Help please
We were just there and stayed in the 2700 loop and were quite secluded from the construction. This would be closer to the smaller pool (Meadow). I agree with everything Tom had to say about these rooms. Fort Wilderness is our favorite before refurbishments and after (even my now adult children agree).