Campsite Loop Requests With MDE

Back to the original post, can you mark more than one preferred loop?

We requested a specific loop for our March 2015 stay, through MDE, and didn't get it. We have made requests in previous years the old fashioned way and it has been hit and miss whether we got the loop we wanted. Mind you, all of our stays at FW have been at the busiest time of year. They do a great job of keeping the tenting sites quite private, although there are some that are more private than others. One year, we got there before noon, and they let us drive around our assigned loop. We looked at sites that were being prepped, and we picked a few that we really liked. Then we went back to check-in and they gave us the site we liked most! It doesn't hurt to ask! But honestly, we've stayed in a dozen different sites and loved most of them.

tmoo said:

Back to the original post, can you mark more than one preferred loop?

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I'm the OP, tmoo, and to tell you the truth I don't know if you can mark more than one but I don't think you need to. The last three trips I've always checked "100 Loop" and "Close to a Comfort Station". In those three trips, one time I got 100 loop, a second time I got 200 loop, and the third time I got 400 loop (I rode through 100 & 200 and there were no empties at the moment I checked in and 400 is the closest Premium to 100). So I don't think it gains you much even if you can because they will try to put you in the site level you paid for in or close to the loop requested. (I am assuming you didn't want a Preferred pet loop which the only choice is 300).

Other past trips when I requested 900 loop, the one time I didn't get it they put me as close to it as they could in the 1000 loop - which was fine because I wanted to be close to the Meadow Trading Post and pool anyway.

The one thing I will say if you are really HUNG up on getting a particular loop is if you don't get it when you check in, offer to wait if one is coming available. We like to check in early (before the official 1pm check-in time) and the Fort Cast Members need time to clean/prep sites people leave that day so sometimes they aren't even available for assignment until later in the afternoon. Of course, that's only if someone left in the loop you wanted and it has to wait for the prep. But we have done that too - I wanted 1500 in 2012 and got there a little early. But I waited and the CM said one would come available later that day and she assigned me to it - she just didn't tell me the number. But she said she would text me and she did and I got the 1500 site number in the text and drove down right to it.

Remember it's a request, not a guarantee but the Fort CM's try to do what they can to meet visitors' requests. Sorry for being long-winded but to answer your question, I firmly believe double checking loop numbers doesn't help (if empties are available in both, how do they know what your first preference is?).

Bama Ed

Hey Ed, had a great stay this past weekend! We ended up renting a camper from Greenberg because our motorhome didn't get out of the shop in time. It was a great experience though, super friendly people all around. The best part was driving all the loops at looking at everyone's decorations.

Do you know if they still take the fax "requests" as well or is it just MDE now? As you mentioned we picked out a "first choice" and a "second choice" but there's no way to define that in MDE so for our next trip I'd really like to try to pass that info to them somehow.

tmoo said:

Back to the original post, can you mark more than one preferred loop?

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You can only make two choices, so it can be 2 loops or let's say you had a dog then you could only pick 1 loop and choose that you needed a pet loop (another example you could chose a loop and the other option is "woods view.") I did 2 loops this past weekend I said I either wanted 1600 or 1800 and for the first time they actually granted my request and I got loop 1600. As Ed said, there is no way to tell it I'd like this loop as my first choice and this one as my second choice.

Bishoparc said:

Hey Ed, had a great stay this past weekend! We ended up renting a camper from Greenberg because our motorhome didn't get out of the shop in time. It was a great experience though, super friendly people all around. The best part was driving all the loops at looking at everyone's decorations.

Do you know if they still take the fax "requests" as well or is it just MDE now? As you mentioned we picked out a "first choice" and a "second choice" but there's no way to define that in MDE so for our next trip I'd really like to try to pass that info to them somehow.

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Bishoparc, pix on your recent visit or it didnt happen....

There may still be a fax number but i wont hand it out anymore. TheRustyScupper has said nowadays in the backroom of the Fort Outpost building that faxes get "File 13'd". The online technique can flow through without human intervention.

My earlier post is self explanatory. One loop preference is enough. Your best bet to ultimately get the loop you want are brief and sincere negotiations with the CM checking you in if you are initially assigned a different loop.

I am just doing the best i can.



Bama Ed

Thanks for the replies. The reason I want to ask for multiple loops is I am arriving on Wednesday of Thanksgiving week for a 10 night stay. I imagine there are not many spots opening up that day. In 2011 we arrived on Saturday and got a great spot in loop 900. In 2013 we arrived on Thanksgiving day and they said the pickings were slim. There wasn't a lot the CM could do for us. We ended up with a (relatively) poor spot in 800. I would like to try something different this time in loop 400, but if that isn't available I would like 900, then 1300, then 1400. If can mark 2 then I will choose 400 and 900 and negotiate with the CM from there. We won't have a golf cart so proximity to laundry, bus stop, and store with refill drink machine matters.

It is Fort Wilderness, so at the end of the day any spot will be better than camping somewhere else.

bama_ed said:

Folks,

When I started going regularly to the Fort, there was a fax number to send in your request (for those of you who are old enough to remember a fax machine).

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Thanks, Bama Ed for sharing this. Today's To-Do list has 'contact FW to make loop request' on it. I realized that the way I used to request loops might not be the way now (used to send in that fax which would include a poem the kids and I wrote to make our request). I'll go check the MDE page and check my loop but I have another question. I realized that I have not been asked what kind of equipment I have as they used to when I booked in the past. Usually that would not be an issue because we were simple 'one vehicle one tent' campers but the family is bigger and we will have more tents than usual. Is there I a way that I can let them know the loop we'd like and that we'd need a larger tent pad?

bama_ed said:

for those of you who are old enough to remember a fax

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.
Or, Sgt Jack Webb, Badge Number 714.

TheRustyScupper said:

.
Or, Sgt Jack Webb, Badge Number 714.

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Good ole Dragnet...

I'm wondering the best way to get what is important to me...any advice? I want it AWAY from a canal because I have a wandering toddler that doesn't swim yet (plus I really don't like canals). I like the location of 1500 but have stayed in 2000 and have made peace with it. We usually go in the summer and if we don't like the site they assign us at check-in, we have driven around and noted a couple that we like and go back to the check-in desk where we've easily been reassigned. I imagine that on December 27 there will not be that luxury. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. 17 days to go!!!

CottontailCurl4two said:

Thanks, Bama Ed for sharing this. Today's To-Do list has 'contact FW to make loop request' on it. I realized that the way I used to request loops might not be the way now (used to send in that fax which would include a poem the kids and I wrote to make our request). I'll go check the MDE page and check my loop but I have another question. I realized that I have not been asked what kind of equipment I have as they used to when I booked in the past. Usually that would not be an issue because we were simple 'one vehicle one tent' campers but the family is bigger and we will have more tents than usual. Is there I a way that I can let them know the loop we'd like and that we'd need a larger tent pad?

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If the size of the tent footprint is a concern, CC42, call the reservation number and ask the CM to add a note on your reservation with your tent sizes (10x12, 8x10, etc.). This is one of the examples where it helps to still call and talk to a CM.

amcc, ask the CM who checks you in to double check your site is not on a canal. That sounds like something to negotiate when arriving. If it is, ask to be moved. But like you said, if you see one available that you like better, you can go back and ask for it. I did that once-I was assigned a site and went to it and someone was set up on it! So I found a vacant one, called the front desk from a Comfort Station house phone, and got swapped over on the phone.

Yours is a legit concern. My problem is the people who have their list of "favorite" sites and will go down the list with the CM checking if one on their list is available... holding up the line.

Bama Ed