Holy heat wave I think wife and kids want to go to Disney this July. So is ft wilderness worth it? Any other campgrounds? Worth it to drag the Jeep behind motorhome? I’ve only been to magic kingdom one time. This time would be 4 day package. What everyone thoughts?

Expensive, hot, sticky, crowded.

We were just in Disney at the beginning of last November and stayed at Fort Wilderness. It was COLD then. It was the start of the Christmas celebration and the parks were crowded.It will be hot and expect a rain shower daily around 2pm. Doesn't normally last to long. When staying at Fort Wilderness you shouldn't need a car. To get to the Magic Kingdom take a internal Fort Bus to the docks and take the boat over. All other parks take the internal bus to the main bus stop and then take a bus to whatever park your going to. Also the internal buses will take you to the pool, horseback riding, restaurants and other attractions in the Fort. Having to take two busses does add some travel time.When we first looked into going the campground was full. I started looking at other campgrounds and the issue of driving to them was the cost of parking. Daily parking at the Magic Kingdom was around $30. You then take a tram to the transportation center and then a boat to Magic Kingdom. A travel agent on this forum messaged me that he could get us a spot in the Fort and he came through with flying colors. If you need his info PM me and I will forward it along to you.Fort Wilderness is a very nice park and if we ever go back would stay there again.Have a great trip!Dave

Even at 74 now I still love Disneyworld. We have been 5 times since 2004 on family trips (us, our kids, our grandkids, and my son's in-laws). But not in summer. We have always gone around Thanksgiving due to school holidays and even then some days were quite warm to even being hot if no wind. Can't even imagine being there in summer. Especially if kids are still very young.Parking is actually $25 per day, but you can leave and return or even leave one park and go to another park on that same $25 parking pass.(disclosure: we did not take the RV as that would have taken us 2 long days to get there and 2 to get back).

Lwiddis wrote:Expensive, hot, sticky, crowded.X2

My .02 the best for Disney is 2nd week of January. People are broke from Christmas, lines are shorter, weather is cooler, take kids out of school for a week and enjoy!

Disney world in July | Good Sam Community

ependydad
Explorer
Feb 14, 2020
DallasSteve wrote:
Is Universal Park any less crowded and expensive?

Nope.
WTP-GC
Explorer
Feb 14, 2020
We’ve stayed at FW many times in all seasons.
It’s 100% worth it IF you intend on doing the parks. Warning...plan to bring all food and misc. pantry/camper needs because coming and going from there is very time consuming, plus it’s Orlando which has become one of the worst driving experiences in the universe.

Also, bring bug zappers, citronella candles, bee keeper suits and a bulk supply of Benadryl cream. The can of bug spray they give you at check-in will barely get you through the night ;-)
spoon059
Explorer II
Feb 13, 2020
davelinde wrote:

Just outside the parks near Celebration is a campground called Tropical Palms. We spent several winters there and liked it a lot. For that you would need a vehicle to get into the parks (and pay to park it).

This is what we did the last time we were there. We LOVE Tropical Palms, great little campground and close to Old Town which is a cool walk to some nice restaurants.
DallasSteve
Nomad
Feb 12, 2020
July sounds good. July, 1989. Disney anything is too expensive and too crowded now and I don't want to pay a lot of money to watch rich (or foolish) people who pay a lot more money get to cut in lines. I can stand in line at the DMV for a lot less money, and they have air conditioning. But I'm not going to do that, either. I went 10 years ago. I used to say that in about 20 years I'll want to go again. I don't think I would go again in 50 years. Is Universal Park any less crowded and expensive?
ACZL
Explorer
Feb 12, 2020
Above 2 replies are SPOT ON !!!!!!
2_Retired
Explorer
Feb 12, 2020
Took our whole family to Disney for our 40th Anniversary. It was August, and it was very hot and humid. Have stayed in Ft. Wilderness several times, and recommend it for just about everything. Convenience cannot be understated. Pricy? Yes, but CGs anywhere near MIckey are close to same cost and not nearly as good. (One was Tropical Palms and we will never go back). If you are only going to be there 4 days and do not plan to go anywhere else but Disney, no need for a car. You can get everywhere using Disney transportation and really don't need to leave the parks. Suggest renting a golf cart though. Great for around the CG, which is like an extra resort in and of itself. Yes, they're not cheap, but it was worth it for us. Best thing about staying in Ft Wilderness is being able to save a few $ by eating meals 'at home' & you can come and go as you like - not stuck all day and evening in the park to 'get your money's worth'. We would be in the park early, break back to the RV for lunch (and naps if required), go back to park, return for pool time and dinner, and then go back for evening and fireworks. Couldn't make this work when outside Disneyworld.
jbc28
Explorer
Feb 12, 2020
stew47 wrote:
Holy heat wave I think wife and kids want to go to Disney this July. So is ft wilderness worth it? Any other campgrounds? Worth it to drag the Jeep behind motorhome? I’ve only been to magic kingdom one time. This time would be 4 day package. What everyone thoughts?

We have spent the week of July 4th at the Fort for the last 2 years, and we have this year booked. We have annual passes and go multiple times per year. So we don't try to ride everything or see everything. We spend a lot of time at the Fort and in the pool or riding bikes/golf cart. It will super hot and super crowded. If you spend all day in the parks you will need a vacation from the vacation. My advice is to rope each morning then leave by 11am. Hit the pool, relax at the camper, go on a resort tour, or visit Disney Springs, then head back into the park late in the evening. Take advantage of the extra magic hours. 11am to 6pm at the parks will be a crowded hot hell.
DavidandDayle
Explorer
Feb 12, 2020
It wasn't asked but FW is the only place on the Disney property that you can stay in with your pets. But you might be cautious about leaving them in the MH in July.
On a scale of 1-10, I rate FW a 12-12-12.
magnusfide
Explorer II
Feb 11, 2020
Lwiddis wrote:
Expensive, hot, sticky, crowded.

Double ditto.
ford_truck_guy
Nomad
Feb 10, 2020
IF you are having issues getting a reservation, drop me a PM. I am a Disney travel agent as side work and will work on it for you. I have already booked for a couple of RV.net folks.

Joe