Making my first reservation

[TwoOwls]

Wow, I've lurked so long it feels weird writing out my first post.

This is the first time I will be making a reservation, everytime I have gone I was a teenager.

My plan is to make a reservation between June 20-June 28 (somewhere in there). Now I'm stuck on a few things:
1) We are a government family- will there be a lower price if I go through a military place?
2) Right now we are tenters, but we are thinking about a pop-up. I was thinking about loops 100 or 200 but was wondering with a baby and a 6 year old if I should be looking at another loop.

I have another question, but it has escaped me right now.

[mouseketeer_mom]

:cool1: Congrats on your trip! I'm going for the first time in about 4 weeks so I can't answer your questions. My only tip would be to make that reservation ASAP. I tried to change our March reservation by just one day last August. Couldn't, the Fort was booked! :scared1:

[John VN]

Wow, I've lurked so long it feels weird writing out my first post.

This is the first time I will be making a reservation, everytime I have gone I was a teenager.

My plan is to make a reservation between June 20-June 28 (somewhere in there). Now I'm stuck on a few things:
1) We are a government family- will there be a lower price if I go through a military place? not sure but nothing ventured, nothing gained
2) Right now we are tenters, but we are thinking about a pop-up. I was thinking about loops 100 or 200 but was wondering with a baby and a 6 year old if I should be looking at another loop.great loops to be close to Settlement and boats to MK

I have another question, but it has escaped me right now.

Welcome:thumbsup2

[ftwildernessguy]

FW does not offer discounts for military. You can purchase discounted park tickets either on base or at SOG. The discount is not great, mainly because there is no tax, but it's something.

[TwoOwls]

FW does not offer discounts for military. You can purchase discounted park tickets either on base or at SOG. The discount is not great, mainly because there is no tax, but it's something.

thank you and Thank you everyone else.

I think for our first trip we will stick with the tent and then in the future attempt the pop-up.

[FloridaTeacher]

Absolutely buy your tickets on base. It saves us enough to make it worth doing. We live in North Florida and buy seasonal passes and that helps too. Buying them (4 for us) on base saves us enough for an extra night. :thumbsup2 Luckily, you won't have to buy a ticket for the baby. He or she is a guest of Mickey until 2 or 3 (I can't remember which - it's been too long ago).

Those are great loops especially if you have little ones 'cause it's just a short walk to the marina. Just know that those loops are going to have mostly motorhomes and rv's. I know some tenters don't really like camping in the midst of rv's.

With that said - if you aren't able to get a reservation for those loops, Ft. Wilderness has 3 internal bus loops so there is usually a bus within 15 minutes of each stop to take you where you want to go.

Happy Camping!
Fort Wilderness Rocks!

[TwoOwls]

That is good to know (re:busses) I'm not a fan of camping among RVs with my tent, so I might opt for a loop more away from the crowd.

[clkelley]

Also, those loops are know as "preferred sites" They have water, sewer, electric and cable.

As tent campers all you really need is water and electric. Quite a bit less expensive to book a "partial hookup site".

Another downside to the preferred sites is that while tents are always welcome there, the sites are really designed for the big campers. They have a long paved driveway, and only a small amount of "sand pad" (actually a sand/crushed shell mixute called coquina).

The partial hookup sites, especially Loop 2000 is designed with tent campers in mind. A large tent pad (usually about 30 ft long by 25 ft wide) with an extra little section for the grill. Then they have a shorter paved driveway for your vehicle.

Loop 2000 is a very short bus ride on the "Purple" bus to the Marina area.