Say you arrive 1 night early to the fort

[stacktester]

I have been to FW several times and on a couple occassions we drove in from another place and stayed in the overflow lot til early morning and checked in, then went back to the camper, dressed and caught a bus to a park. Great way to get a head start. We come back around 2 p.m. and move the trailer to a site.

The first time we did this we came in around 1 a.m. and crashed til 6. This last time we were there at TG I pulled in around 11:45 and no more had we gotten in the trailer a guard knocks and says you have to be gone by midnight. I explained we were checking in and he said unless you had to check out because you didn't have a space for Thanksgiving Day you can't stay here.

There were about 6 other rigs of all sizes around and they didn't go. They didn't have parking passes either. I left and went to find a rest area or park close by but nothing. I guess with so many places to stop there aren't any rest areas. So about 1:30 I was too tired and went back and pulled in. I saw 2 Disney Security vehicles go right by and they didn't say a word.

I guess the moral to the ? is, has anybody else done this and had a problem. I was thinking that people who come from far away do this because they leave early and allow some extra time in case of traffic, weather, etc.

Also do you see a reason nobody should do this. On times we've been and pulled up to the toll booth I always see rigs parked in the overflow. Maybe because it was TG and it was a little crowded he was worried it would fill up.

[doubletrouble_vb]

I don't know about your first question but as to an answer of a reason not to do it... I dunno it looks an awful lot like stealing and/or trespassing to me. Not to be harsh or anything but Disney charges people to stay overnight in their facilities including the campground. If the earliest check in time for your stay as available through Disney had not yet arrived sleeping on the premises without paying constitutes taking/using something you weren't entitled to. Now if you are comfortable with that, rock on.

[ftwildernessguy]

Boondocking is not allowed in the overflow lot. Coming from Jacksonville, I would think you could time things a little better - arriving 13 hours before check in may be pushing it a bit. The primary purpose of the overflow lot is for those who have checked in early and their site is not ready yet, so they are directed to wait in the overflow lot until their site is ready.

A couple of years ago the boondocking got way out of hand. One guy was spending his entire vacation in the FW lot - had his generator going and awnings out. That did it for me - I called the front desk and asked if boondocking was allowed and was told absolutely not. Security cleared the lot. They have been pretty good the last couple of years keeping the lot clear.

[Paull117]

Personally I would not have a problem if you did this if you came from where I live in WI, and you did not judge the drive time right. You anticipated 3 days and it only took 2 1/2 days for example. Still I would ask if I could do it.

Coming from in state where the timing is only hrs and minutes. There is no real reason other than you want to spend extra time in the parks. If I where to do this I would park at a truck stop or wayside that had overnight parking then go to FW early the next day.

Paul

[bigdisneydaddy]

We have had times when the trip didnt go the way we had hoped. We drive 1200 miles and the weather doesnt always cooperate. Last March we arrived much earlier than we wanted to, couldnt find a spot in ANY rest area in Florida to sleep for a few hours. We even stopped at Wal mart and shopped before we arrived. IIRC we got there about 1:30 AM and pulled into the overflow lot. Unfortunately the people who intentionally boondock end up screwing it up for those of us who have legitimate schedule problems.
We even thought about trying to get into FW but decided that we wouldnt want neighbors pulling in at 2AM and with the tightness of the sites I wasnt comfortable trying to get into the site.
With all the space they have its too bad they couldnt put in a small section for early arrivers, I would gladly pay for a few hours of electricity. The ones on the Ohio turnpike would be a good model.

Scott

[auntie]

Haven't stayed at FW with our camper yet..and wonder..are you actually able to check in if you arrive during the night?...Is the check in open all night. I realize that it very well might disturb those around you if you were to be able to go to your site during the night..but is this even possible?
If you know you will be arriving late are you able to pay for the night and go to your site? I know we have stayed at campgrounds where if you arrive during the night they have several sites where you can go to..and then check in for your assigned site come daylight.

[ftwildernessguy]

It is not unheard of for people to arrive pretty late at night and are allowed to go to their site. May not make for happy neighbors, but it does happen. I think it is more likely these are late arrivals, not early ones, though. I travel 1100 miles from my front door to FW and the earliest I have arrived is 9 am. Jacksonville is only 3-4 hours down the road, so a midnight arrival is not necessary.

[John VN]

If you don't find it a problem parking in the overflow lot with your RV, then I guess there should be no problem with thousands of other guests parking in the GF lot or POP lot or where-ever until they can check-in.

The overflow lot has a private security company in charge of lot security and a sign is posted as you drive in. I myself follow the rules.

We have a large family cruise coming up in a few months and we will also be staying at FW after. I called to see if I could leave our RV in the lot before the cruise and then on Thursday when we return check in for our stay. The answer was no but if I just reserved the night before departure I could then get a pass for parking until our return. Not only did I get a reservation for the night before but added 2 additional besides.

Other people come from far away also, they just don't bring their home with them.

[clkelley]

It is not unheard of for people to arrive pretty late at night and are allowed to go to their site. May not make for happy neighbors, but it does happen. I think it is more likely these are late arrivals, not early ones, though. I travel 1100 miles from my front door to FW and the earliest I have arrived is 9 am. Jacksonville is only 3-4 hours down the road, so a midnight arrival is not necessary.

Why isn't a midnight arrival necessary?. Get off work Friday about 5pm, gather the family and the last minute stuff, then it is 7pm before one hits the road, then it is easily midnite before one arrives. If you have a reservation for Friday night, then I see no problem with it.

When I flew in and camped, I usually took the late night flight in, and then took the better part of the night setting up. Then relaxed in my chair and watched the sun come up.

I do agree though that if you don't have a reservation then you should not be allowed to park in the overflow lot. There are 3 Super Wal-Marts within 10 minutes of Ft. Wilderness. Go to one of them and get your supplies.

[clkelley]

We have a large family cruise coming up in a few months and we will also be staying at FW after. I called to see if I could leave our RV in the lot before the cruise and then on Thursday when we return check in for our stay. The answer was no but if I just reserved the night before departure I could then get a pass for parking until our return. Not only did I get a reservation for the night before but added 2 additional besides.

That is good to know. I am in the very early planning stages of an around the world (literally) trip to every Disney park (In about 5 years). I was hoping to start the trip by driving to WDW with the teardrop and staying at the Fort one or two nights. I was then hoping I could leave the truck and teardrop in the overflow lot at the Fort while gone, then when I return stay an additional two weeks at the Fort. If they tell me no, I will gladly just go to the airport and pay the airport parking, but I feel the security at the Fort is probably better than at MCO.

[John VN]

That is good to know. I am in the very early planning stages of an around the world (literally) trip to every Disney park (In about 5 years). I was hoping to start the trip by driving to WDW with the teardrop and staying at the Fort one or two nights. I was then hoping I could leave the truck and teardrop in the overflow lot at the Fort while gone, then when I return stay an additional two weeks at the Fort. If they tell me no, I will gladly just go to the airport and pay the airport parking, but I feel the security at the Fort is probably better than at MCO.

Sounds really cool. Give FW a call and check with them. Bet they would find it interesting.

Sending a PM to you.

[kimluvswdw]

I have been to FW several times and on a couple occassions we drove in from another place and stayed in the overflow lot til early morning and checked in, then went back to the camper, dressed and caught a bus to a park. Great way to get a head start. We come back around 2 p.m. and move the trailer to a site.

The first time we did this we came in around 1 a.m. and crashed til 6. This last time we were there at TG I pulled in around 11:45 and no more had we gotten in the trailer a guard knocks and says you have to be gone by midnight. I explained we were checking in and he said unless you had to check out because you didn't have a space for Thanksgiving Day you can't stay here.

There were about 6 other rigs of all sizes around and they didn't go. They didn't have parking passes either. I left and went to find a rest area or park close by but nothing. I guess with so many places to stop there aren't any rest areas. So about 1:30 I was too tired and went back and pulled in. I saw 2 Disney Security vehicles go right by and they didn't say a word.

I guess the moral to the ? is, has anybody else done this and had a problem. I was thinking that people who come from far away do this because they leave early and allow some extra time in case of traffic, weather, etc.

Also do you see a reason nobody should do this. On times we've been and pulled up to the toll booth I always see rigs parked in the overflow. Maybe because it was TG and it was a little crowded he was worried it would fill up.


Have you thought about calling the Fort Wilderness reception and asking them if you can stay if you pull in around midnight? If they have no problem with it maybe they can give you something to put in the window so security is aware. We live in Virginia Beach and usually get to Kissimmee around midnight as well. We always check into Tropical Palms RV Resort for the night (no reservation needed usually). It is nice to have the electricity. It is worth the 35 or 40 dollars. In the morning you can head over to Fort Wilderness. Please post the answer if you call them. :)

[DisCamper]

When I worked at FW we would let guest leave their RV's in overflow lot if they where leaving and had res. to come back within a month, But that was before 911 and i'm sure thing have changed,

[kimluvswdw]

I just called Fort Wilderness directly and asked them if it was ok for someone to pull into the overflow lot if they arrived In the middle of the night, and wait till morning to check in. We face a similiar problem this March, we hit town about midnight. The answer is NO. The front desk told told me there is absolutly NO overnight parking. She also said that you are not supposed to come to the campground before 7am to check in. She said those who park overnight will have the sheriffs dept knocking on the camper door. Hopes this helps.

[UrsulasShadow]

When I flew in and camped, I usually took the late night flight in, and then took the better part of the night setting up. Then relaxed in my chair and watched the sun come up.
.

Not flaming here, but I have a legit question on this. In almost every campground I've stayed in, there's a quiet period, lights out, usually from 11pm to 7am or thereabouts. Does FW not institute a "quiet hours/lights out" policy?

I guess that would be hard to do, though, what with EMH and PI hours and all...

[bigdisneydaddy]

seems that once again the abusers have screwed it up for everyone else.

[DisCamper]

When I worked at FW quiet time was 10pm to 7am.

[tim5055]

Not flaming here, but I have a legit question on this. In almost every campground I've stayed in, there's a quiet period, lights out, usually from 11pm to 7am or thereabouts. Does FW not institute a "quiet hours/lights out" policy?

I guess that would be hard to do, though, what with EMH and PI hours and all...

Included in the Fort Wilderness Gazette that you receive at check in is the "Public Notices" (meaning rules). One of them is: "Quiet Hours: Please avoid unnecessary noise from 10:00p.m. until 7:00a.m."

[DisCamper]

sorry

[auntie]

If you have a reservation..how late can you arrive and be able to go to your site?

[DisCamper]

If you have a Res. you can checkin anytime but you may honkoff your new neighbors if you are Loud coming in to your site.

[clkelley]

Not flaming here, but I have a legit question on this. In almost every campground I've stayed in, there's a quiet period, lights out, usually from 11pm to 7am or thereabouts. Does FW not institute a "quiet hours/lights out" policy?

I guess that would be hard to do, though, what with EMH and PI hours and all...

I never said I was noisy and shining bright lights, I just said I was setting up. The first thing I did when arriving was set up my chair and sit there for a bit enjoying the night and also acclimating my eyes, so I was able to set up with just one small lantern that doesn't cast much past my own campsite.

Plus, the Disney busses are running through the campground till 3am every single morning. They are not quiet.

[stacktester]

I think I'll just book over at one of the other cg's when I arrive too early. I am a little leary about sleeping at Wal-Mart. A truck stop maybe if other campers were there. I didn't realize that it was a growing problem in the over fill lot.

I'm still not believing somebody let their awning out. I see a lot of different vehicles when we've been before. Boats, enclosed trailers, semi trailers and you name it. I heard if you are there for like Mon.-Wed. and u don't have Thurs. but have days after that, they let you stay in that lot Thurs. and then you can check back in Friday. Anyway I think I got my answer.

[rajak73]

We drove in from eastern Nebraska in 2004, actually put in longer driving hours than expected during the day, arrived almost a day early, we had camped at Ft Summit before so we just stayed there until our reservation time at FW. :cool1:

[Tricializ]

from the get go. Then, I know when I arrive, it will be ready. If, for some reason I arrive the following day, then so be it. In the scope of things, 1 night's reservation is a drop in the bucket to what the trip costs with reservations, golf cart, park tickets and FUEL (ugh). Peace of mind to me. I can see if you arrive early morning and sleep a few hours before check in. But much more than that is taking a free night of camping in my opinion. I figure if I pay for my site, you should too.

[stacktester]

From now on I'm leaving to where we can be at FW around 0600. They do not mind at all directing you over to the overflow lot. I'm sure if you want to shower or eat breakfast before you catch a bus that would be acceptable. I would not put the awning out or crank the genny up lol.

[Donna]

This is a little unrelated but i was wondering...when we stayed at POP in October for an impromptu trip, we noticed several RVs (Cs and As) in their parking lot the whole week, unoccupied. We were trying to figure out why someone would bring their RV and either stay at POP or park there and stay somewhere else. They were there for 5 days and never moved! :confused3

[clkelley]

Several reasons, maybe WDW is part of a longer trip and they want to take a break from the RV for a few days, or they are full-timers stopping at WDW and there is no room at Ft. Wilderness, but wanted to stay on-site. Also, I know some friends that travel in their motorhome because all 8 of them can travel in the motorhome, then stay at OKW on their DVC points, and have an inexpensive way to stop on the way down and back.

[Eeyore'sthebest]

This is a little unrelated but i was wondering...when we stayed at POP in October for an impromptu trip, we noticed several RVs (Cs and As) in their parking lot the whole week, unoccupied. We were trying to figure out why someone would bring their RV and either stay at POP or park there and stay somewhere else. They were there for 5 days and never moved! :confused3
We did this at SSR this past November. We had a big family trip planned with my parents coming in from CO. We had already booked the resort using our DVC points 11 months ahead of time. We then invited my DSis and her DD. So we had 5 people driving from NJ. Since we all bring LOTS of stuff my DH was thinking about dragging the trailer along for luggage. About a month before the trip my DH bought a used Class C. We thought that it would make our trip more comfortable on the drive down and back. Called SSR prior to the trip and they had no problem with us parking it in the lot for the week. The RV came in very handy when my poor DH was overloaded with my family (his own little escape pod:rotfl2: ). Besides that, it also gave him the chance to really get his feet wet driving it. It was a great trip down and back! And we realized that we need to figure out how to work the heater in the back!!:lmao:
Next trip though is at FW. Reservations already made for October!!!:cool1:

[Donna]

Several reasons, maybe WDW is part of a longer trip and they want to take a break from the RV for a few days, or they are full-timers stopping at WDW and there is no room at Ft. Wilderness, but wanted to stay on-site. Also, I know some friends that travel in their motorhome because all 8 of them can travel in the motorhome, then stay at OKW on their DVC points, and have an inexpensive way to stop on the way down and back.

This is what we sort of figured but i wasn't sure if that was allowed. Good to know that it is. I just wonder what they tell the guard when pulling that big rig through the entrance! The one i saw was a big 40 footer, really nice.

[tderonne]

Coming from Michigan in the winter months we have a similar problem. No bad weather or traffic and we can be there for Saturday night, leaving Friday after work. But I hate to make a reservation for Saturday night that we may not use.

Lake Louisa state park (and Lake Griffin before Louisa had camping) has been our solution. A $20 state park night is a lot easier to miss if we don't make it. If we do, it gives us a good place to sleep. Sunday morning we have either gone straight to the fort, or to a park (right when it opened) then the fort.

There's always what happened to my mom on her last visit. She arrived at about 3:00 am. Her site was ready! She just pulled in and parked, then setup after some sleep.

[stacktester]

There is a campground just east of Orlando near a big rest area. I'm going to find out the name and I'll post later.

[goscudder]

Coming from Michigan in the winter months we have a similar problem. No bad weather or traffic and we can be there for Saturday night, leaving Friday after work. But I hate to make a reservation for Saturday night that we may not use.

Lake Louisa state park (and Lake Griffin before Louisa had camping) has been our solution. A $20 state park night is a lot easier to miss if we don't make it. If we do, it gives us a good place to sleep. Sunday morning we have either gone straight to the fort, or to a park (right when it opened) then the fort.

There's always what happened to my mom on her last visit. She arrived at about 3:00 am. Her site was ready! She just pulled in and parked, then setup after some sleep.


Hi Tim! We're also from Michigan (Troy) and driving down for the first time next month? Any suggestions? How is the drive, and how long does it usually take you? Any areas to watch out for, especially in the winter? Thanks!

[VAN]

We drive down with a pop-up every year from SW Michigan. We get on the road at 3:30 am and drive through to Tifton, GA and then spend the night at a hotel. The next day we are on the road by 7:30 and usually pull into FW between 11:00-11:30 am.

This has worked real well for us.

On the way back, we are on the road by 6:00 am and manage to just get ahead of the big exit from Florida. (one year we left at 7:00 am and the traffic was terrible!!)

We drive through to Elizabethtown, KY (getting there about 7:00-8:00 pm) and spend the night at a hotel. We get on the road by 7:00 the next morning and are home by 12:30-1:00 pm.

This works out well because we arrive somewhat refreshed. Staying at a hotel also helps because I just have an overnight bag packed and we order pizza. Helps to just unwind from a long day on the road.

We have gotten stuck in traffic the last few years in Nashville because of construction (last year on the way home because of Tornados!!). Atlanta can be bad depending on the day you travel. We normally take the camper straight through downtown.

We have had problems getting a hotel at the last minute, so now I go ahead and make my reservation months ahead, always checking to see if there is a safe place to park our RV.

We've done this many years so kind of have it worked out to a science, so to speak.

[goscudder]

Sounds like the drive from Michigan shouldn't be too horrible (as long as the weather cooperates!). Thanks for sharing!

[my3princes]

We arrived early once and were turned away as there was no available sites. We ended up in a parking lot of a store overnight then were able to check in the next morning for our reservation. Another time we were able to pay for an extra day and check in early. I guess it depends on how full they are and who you are dealing with.

[tderonne]

goscudder, check your PM.