I don't believe the "free meal plan" is free anymore. There are a few qualifications and you also have to buy a Photo Pass thingy. It's still a lot cheaper, but it is no longer free.
For as long as we've been going to Fort Wilderness, we've never been able to get a free meal plan.
-Michael
Michael Girardo :: michael@ecxc.com
2009 Jayco Greyhawk 31FS Class C Motorhome
2006 Rockwood Roo 233 Hybrid Travel Trailer Four Green Feet
The Bride and I have stayed at Fort Wilderness twice, both over the New Years celebration. We have found out that the parks are nearly empty after January 1st.
As far as the meal plan, we have gotten one (and paid for it) every time. We get the one snack, one counter service, and one table service meal plan. Both times, we've had snacks left over and grab them on our last day at the Trading post.
From what I remember, it's true that they don't offer free dining for Fort Wilderness and I never questioned why.
Getting to the table service meals, you have a date that you can start making reservations. Some of the places in Epcot fill up FAST, like the Fwench restaurant.
We have another trip planned for an upcoming New Years. Our first trip almost set record low temps. Our second trip, we were able to go to a water park and enjoy ourselves (and not freeze).
They also offer a wine plan that lets you get a bottle of wine with every meal.
2003 Four-Winds Hurricane 30Q
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD (hers)-L
1985 F150 (his)-J
1988 Son (ours)
1990 Daughter (ours)
Off topic, but we stay at Tropical Palms for $50/night and love it. With the $50 plus we save by not staying at FW, we eat 3 meals a day for "free". Plus we get to decide what we want to eat, we aren't limited to what Disney offers.
We used to go immediately after Christmas and Disney and the RV parks were PACKED and stayed that way for at least the first week of January. Apparently the foreign schools are out for winter break through the first couple weeks of January, so there were a lot of non English speaking visitors...
You CAN get free dining at the Fort if you stay in the cabins. Free dining is NOT offered to guests at the campsites, because you are allowed up to 10 people to site and obviously they would lose money. You CAN purchase the Disney dining plan if you are staying at the campsites though. Also Trails End is on Fort property and is part of the Disney dining plan and there is also Hoop De Doo Revue and Mickey's BBQ that accept the dining plan. A good website on the Fort is www.fortfiends.net They have everything you need to know about the Fort, plus some.
We are headed there in November and we purchased the dining plan, we planned to do 3 character meals for our DD's and after doing the math, it cost only 200 more to get sit down meals for the other two days and 5 quick service meals plus snacks. Totally worth it in my opinion and we don't have to go back to the trailer to eat and lose time in the parks.
The dining plan may or may not work for you, definitely make your plans and what you want to do meal wise, and than do the math. Also, you have to make ADR's if you want to get in certain restaurants and character meals, don't think you will be able to just walk up all the time.
Best Regards,
Norm
* This post was
edited 09/29/11 01:29pm by parrothead7368 *
We love the Fort, but we decided to book at a moderate resort with free dining for our next trip. It was cheaper than staying at the Fort and paying OOP for dining...especially after figuring in gas to lug the RV down there. No cooking and maid service for less money was sort of a no brainer for us.
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As said it depends on time of year you camp and if you want their best sites or cheapest.For us ,we wouldn't go to Disney without staying in Fort Wilderness, its just the thing to do. We were there last March and got the best possible site and rented a golf cart from off site and it was great as usual.We don't go there but every 3-4 year so whats a little money to be able to enter the park early and stay late, even to 1-2 in the am.We will skimp on our other trips, but not Disney.We love that place just like our grand kids do.
spoon059 wrote: Off topic, but we stay at Tropical Palms for $50/night and love it. With the $50 plus we save by not staying at FW, we eat 3 meals a day for "free". Plus we get to decide what we want to eat, we aren't limited to what Disney offers.
We used to go immediately after Christmas and Disney and the RV parks were PACKED and stayed that way for at least the first week of January. Apparently the foreign schools are out for winter break through the first couple weeks of January, so there were a lot of non English speaking visitors...
Tropical Palms is nice and we stayed there years ago but it is no where near as nice as the Fort. It’s a nice CG but the Fort is a resort with tons to do. One of the nicest things about the Fort is you park your vehicle and it does not move until you leave. You still have the option to eat somewhere beside Disney by getting in your vehicle just like you would while staying at Tropical Palms. As far as being limited to what Disney offers that works for us. The restaurants throughout the parks are pretty amazing IMO. I would say it’s more you are unlimited than limited. We pay under 100 and get a premium site and spend nothing in fuel over the week we are there. IMO not having to drive while visiting the parks is worth every extra penny. Also the Fort during the day if you plan on not going to a park is amazing as well. Horseback riding, great pools, the lake….I could go on and on. Watching the fireworks from the Fort are great and taking a horse pulled hay ride to see them really tops off a great day.
We have stayed at the Fort the last two years and heading back early next year. Can’t wait. Ummmm….I mean, my girls can’t wait.
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