1st Tent Camping Trip with the boys.....

[iluvtig2]

Are we nuts? My DS, 7, and nephew, same age, really want camping equip for Christmas, so we are looking into FW the beginning of January . We will probably have 3 tents. One each for the 2 adult couples, and one for the boys. Do we need two campsites?

Also, should we bring the bikes? Is it worth it? Where do you usually eat? We will not be cooking over a charcoal bbq - Last time we tried everything was very RARE......After hours on the grill........

Any input, suggestions, must bring items, must do's, will all be greatly appreciated.

Anyone who can convince me this is a good idea, please let me know. I prefer my camping to have beds with regular mattresses, A/C & heat, etc. I prefer to stay at the Poly or WL. Really not sure about FW.

Thanks for any help, input, and encouraging words!!!

iluvtig2

 

[Rhonda]

You will have a blast - and so will the kids!!

You should probably get two sites. Request that they be together. That way, you can have 2 tents on one site, and one tent & a screen tent on the other site. The screen tent will be for your picnic table, coolers, and other odds & ends.

The trick to cooking on charcoal, is to wait until the coals are all white before putting the food on. You probably put the food on before the coals were white, so they weren't hot enough yet. Once the coals are white, food cooks very quickly!!

But, you can also eat at the Trail's End Buffet, right there in the campground. They serve all 3 meals. You also have your pick of all the other hundreds of Disney restaurants!

Bikes are a great idea! Lots of places to ride around the campground!

Bring airmattresses to sleep on in the tent. We don't use sleeping bags because they're too uncomfortable. We make up our air mattress just like the bed at home with sheets, blankets and pillows.

Little tent heaters are nice too in the winter.

 

[iluvtig2]

I like the bed/blankets, instead of a sleeping bag. Also the screen tent. Thank you! I used to camp when I was in my 20's. Now I am not even in my 30's anymore, and it's been awhile. The space heater is an excellent idea, as well. We now live near Tampa, but used to be near Ft. Lauderdale, and last winter I almost froze!!!

Any other ideas, suggestions, and woo-woo's?

Thank you!

iluvtig2

 

[des1954]

Are we nuts? My DS, 7, and nephew, same age, really want camping equip for Christmas, so we are looking into FW the beginning of January . We will probably have 3 tents. One each for the 2 adult couples, and one for the boys. Do we need two campsites?

Also, should we bring the bikes? Is it worth it? Where do you usually eat? We will not be cooking over a charcoal bbq - Last time we tried everything was very RARE......After hours on the grill........

Any input, suggestions, must bring items, must do's, will all be greatly appreciated.

Anyone who can convince me this is a good idea, please let me know. I prefer my camping to have beds with regular mattresses, A/C & heat, etc. I prefer to stay at the Poly or WL. Really not sure about FW.

Thanks for any help, input, and encouraging words!!!

iluvtig2

I agree that you should get 2 sites. DEFINITELY BRING THE BIKES!!!

Air mattresses w/sheets & blankets, coolers, a fan for each tent & a heater for each tent - January can go either way temp wise. You don't want to use charcoal? I understand! Get a small portable gas grill and a propane stove! You can use them to cook everything on. Get inexpensive pots & pans & cooking utensils. Use disposable for everything else. Bring thin towels with you because they dry quicker on a clothes line. It can get expensive for a large group to eat out every meal. If nothing else, start the day off with breakfast at your site. Also, check & see how much the DDP is for your group. I did this in 2006 w/DBro & family & honestly could not use all the coupons! If you did, you'd come back fatter than Pooh Bear!!

There is so much for the boys to do at FW, you hardly need to go into any of the parks!!! There are two pools, miles of roads to bike on, plenty of playgrounds, petting zoo, horse stable, beaches oh - and did I say bike riding?Each evening you can go to a campfire sing-a-long & watch a Disney movie or go on a horse-drawn wagon ride. The late ride ends up on the beach behind the 300 loop so you can view the MK fireworks - SPECTACULAR!!

You can take a boat launch to WL or CR, and there is a direct boat to the MK. Buses service the entire campground, go to EC, AK, Dis Studio & Downtown Disney. From any park or Downtown, you can hop a bus to any of the resorts on property. Visiting the different resorts is an experience all its' own!!

WARNING!!!! Once you stay at FW, you will be hooked!

 

[iluvtig2]

I am starting to look forward to this! We pretty much are starting from scratch, equipment-wise - but thanks for mentioning the camp stove. I actually have one - It's in my hurricane box, and I forgot I had it!

Anyone else with ideas, let me know! We are definitely newbies to all of this!

Thank you, all of you!

iluvtig2

 

[CottontailCurl]

Another idea for cooking is to bring an electric griddle. You can cook almost anything that is cooked on a grill, skillet or frying pan on it and you can cook enough at one time for a big group. If you want to cook at WDW and like to maximize park time a griddle will get you on the road quickly. For breakfast you can make pancakes and/or fried eggs (for less packaging when you pack you can measure out your dry ingredients into a storage/freezer bag and write your liquid measure on the outside of the bag, then you can pour or scoop batter onto the griddle after you've mixed it at the site). You can make about 8 medium sized Mickey Mouse pancakes at once on a griddle. Clean-up is very easy, too. Other griddle ideas are: French toast, omelettes, fajitas, grilled cheese sandwiches, grilled Reuben sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, quesadillas, etc,

This will be the perfect time for Fort Wilderness if the 7 year olds are asking for camping equipment, I hope you guys have a blast.

 

[mamaloya]

I second the electric skillet/griddle idea. That was the best tip I ever got before my first trip to the fort. With a group that size, I would bring one of each. Just don't forget to bring a long outdoor extension cord as well. When you set up your tent, the electric pole will be behind it. The long cord will bring the electricity to the front. Bring 2 if you can. You can use this cord for your skillet and your heater/fans. I would not do FW w/o it.

Another tip on the pancake thing is that Bisquick sells them in premeasured pitchers. They are yellow and have a handle. I also believe there is a fill line of where to stop when you add the water. I keep a stockpile of those in our camper. No measuring or mixing containers and it pours perfect. If you like thicker batter though make sure to stop before the fill line and add little by little until you have it the way you like it. If you fill to the line, the batter is very thin. I also bring chocolate chips to add to the batter.

Also, precooked bacon does very well on a griddle with almost no mess. Just don't forget to put it into a ziploc before you toss it in the cooler after you open it. Oh, speaking of coolers. Bring at least 2. One that you will open a lot that will hold stuff that won't go bad but that you will access a lot like soda and juice boxes (by the way, juice boxes don't do well in melted ice, we use capri suns). The other you can put your meats, eggs, and milks in and keep it closed as much as possible. We also buy milk and juice in the boxes that won't go bad if they get warm. Sunny D also works well.

If you get to sites, make sure they link your ressies so you are together. You could also use one site to put the sleeping tents and set the other site up as the "mess hall". A place to hang out and eat. You will more than likely all fit on one as I have seen many sites with many many tents on them, but 2 sites may be more roomy.

Happy Camping!

 

[Jill in Chicago]

If this is your first camping trip be sure to do a trial run, even if it's in your backyard, prior to your big trip. You will be amazed at all the things you think of, that unless you were actually camping, you would not have thought of. You also want to be a pro at setting up the tent, not re-reading directions and getting frustrated at Disney.

My biggest concern with tent camping is that it is exhausting. First you have camp set up, versus walking in to a ready to go hotel room. Then you have all the constant bending over to unzip things. (Each time you go into your tent, zip, into the screen tent, zip..... Make yourself squat down, NOT bend over. This will save your back.) Whenever you need to use the bathroom it is a bit of a hike....

I am not knocking camping at all, just want you to go in with realistic expectations. Many folks trailer camp which is a breeze compared to tent camping.

The air mattresses are truly comfy with the sheets and blankets...

Make your own "camp kitchen." Buy a huge rubbermaid container and line it with empty wine box dividers. (You can get these at the liquor store.) Bend them to fit. In one space put your paper plates standing on edge. In another space put paper towels... Then all you have to do is open the lid and you can easily grab what you need. (Garbage bags, napkins, plastic silverware, cooking tools, cups, dish soap, rope for a clothesline...

NEVER bring food into the tent you sleep in. Food attracts animals. At night store you food in your car.

 

[djblu883]

also bring extra blankets to go under your air mattresses...the cold air from the ground can make a nice snuggly bed into a nightmare icebox!!! lots of layers for clothing as well so you can shed and add as the day goes on....cold in the early am....pretty warm by noon...cold again by dark...you are going to have so much fun!!!

 

[Cndrsgrl]

We've been there in Dec. My sister and her husband stay in the tent and have an electric blanket. That would help if it gets cold. Also you can buy air mattresses that are at least 2 ft off the floor. We call them double highs. These are really comfortable and you don't feel like you're laying on the ground. Also, put clothes in plastic tubs. The tubs then can double as a night stand...

 

[rjan67]

Just my 2 cents to say bring the bikes! We used ours the whole time to get around as we opted not to get the cart and save some money.