1st Time at FtW_Tent on Premium Crazy?

[noogagirl]

We've been going back and forth on travel dates for Disney for the past few months, and trying to decide between a Value resort and Ft Wilderness. We're regular backpackers and campers and have probably kept REI and the local retailer in business just by ourselves. Camping from the car or in the middle of nowhere in a tiny tent is no different to us.

I was tired of waiting on DH to decide on something so I took it upon myself to go ahead and book the dang vacation this afternoon. We'll be driving down from TN for October 8-11 and staying on a Premium campsite. It's all that was available (still cheaper than resort we usually stay in), and I plan on calling back until our trip to downgrade if possible.

I've read elsewhere on the boards that we could try and stake the tent on three sides by backing it into a rear corner of the concrete pad, and DH is ok with it.

Anything else I should consider with staying on a Premium site if I can't downgrade?

 

[mikeymouse1]

We were once Earth Dwellers too and we always stayed in the full hookup premium sights. If you have a dome tent you can set it up on the pad if you have a drop cloth and good bedding.

 

[mousebrain]

I would probably try for a "preferred" site over a "premium" site if I have my lingo right..... the preferred sites are closest to the boat docks and the oldest sites at FW. The preferred sites are still tent campable if I am right..... they don't have the big slabs.... if you do get a "premium" site Loop 1400 is close to the pool and campfire/movie sites..... we tent camped that loop until they turned it into concrete slabs...

Just an idea for you...

MB

 

[becky1960]

I have seen tents before on concrete pads, one year in the 800 Loop there was 3 tents on concrete close to us. Another plus is you wont have as much of the shell/sand to track into the tent, this was a plus for us. I am not sure how they stake them down.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Welcome to the camping boards.

It is a complete waste of money to put a tent on a premium site.

Do you realize that the price difference for a premium site is $30 more that for a partial site?

A night!

For your four night trip, that's $120! With tax $135!

For what?

No way is it worth it. I can show you many premium sites that are far inferior to the partial hook up sites (don't get me started on site 617).

And, luckily for you, there are partial sites available for your dates.

Look, I just checked:

The well known trick that we share amongst friends here is that you have to sometimes expand your dates when searching on-line. Then, go ahead and make your reservation. You only have to pay one night's rental as a deposit. As soon as you have your reservation number, you can then immediately call the central reservation line (1-407-WDISNEY) and cancel the nights you don't need with no penalty whatsoever.

Try it.

And I have found that it is far easier to just cancel the existing reservation that you already have rather than try to get the poorly trained knuckleheads who answer the phone for Disney to transfer your earlier reservation. Your deposit will be refunded, so it's easier just to make a completely new reservation and cancel the old one.

Have a great trip!

TCD

 

[noogagirl]

Welcome to the camping boards.

It is a complete waste of money to put a tent on a premium site.

Do you realize that the price difference for a premium site is $30 more that for a partial site?

A night!

For your four night trip, that's $120! With tax $135!

For what?

No way is it worth it. I can show you many premium sites that are far inferior to the partial hook up sites (don't get me started on site 617).

And, luckily for you, there are partial sites available for your dates.

Look, I just checked:

The well known trick that we share amongst friends here is that you have to sometimes expand your dates when searching on-line. Then, go ahead and make your reservation. You only have to pay one night's rental as a deposit. As soon as you have your reservation number, you can then immediately call the central reservation line (1-407-WDISNEY) and cancel the nights you don't need with no penalty whatsoever.

Try it.

And I have found that it is far easier to just cancel the existing reservation that you already have rather than try to get the poorly trained knuckleheads who answer the phone for Disney to transfer your earlier reservation. Your deposit will be refunded, so it's easier just to make a completely new reservation and cancel the old one.

Have a great trip!

TCD

Yes I agree it's way too much for a campsite. I intended to call back often to downgrade, but your idea is much better! I never considered expanding available dates and canceling days we don't need. I'll take care of this at lunch time today! Now we'll have more money to spend on pins...um, I mean bills and such.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Yes I agree it's way too much for a campsite. I intended to call back often to downgrade, but your idea is much better! I never considered expanding available dates and canceling days we don't need. I'll take care of this at lunch time today! Now we'll have more money to spend on pins...um, I mean bills and such.

Good going.

Please come back here and post to let us know how this turns out.

TCD

 

[Nature Mom]

Hi Nooga girl! Just wanted to say that I too thought that it needed to be a premium to have a good site but the AAA agent couldn't get that for my dates so I went on line, investigated myself and changed my dates by only one day and got a partial site. We too keep REI in business, lol, and since the partials have every hook-up you could need for tent camping, it was a win/win! (And then another win, because when I called into reservation, they added my AAA discount-which took off over $50! Wahoo!! --also important for pins...err, bills. )

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Hi Nooga girl! Just wanted to say that I too thought that it needed to be a premium to have a good site but the AAA agent couldn't get that for my dates so I went on line, investigated myself and changed my dates by only one day and got a partial site. We too keep REI in business, lol, and since the partials have every hook-up you could need for tent camping, it was a win/win! (And then another win, because when I called into reservation, they added my AAA discount-which took off over $50! Wahoo!! --also important for pins...err, bills. )

To be clear- the only differences between a premium site and a partial site are:

1. There is no tent pad- premium sites are all concrete.

2. Premium sites have a new square picnic table. Seats 8 people cozily. Partial sites have an old rectangular picnic table- which also will seat 8.

3. Premium sites have a lid and shelf on the grill. which kind of is useless anyway.

That is it.

As far as location in the campground, some of the premium loops are close to the marina, and some are close to the Meadow Trading Post and pool, but one partial loop (1500) is closer to the Meadow Trading Post and pool than some of the premium loops. Also, two premium loops (600 and 700) do not even have their own comfort station- not a good thing if you are a tent camper. Admittedly, the other partial loop (2000) is a bit off the beaten path, but that is a good thing if you like to have space and peace and quiet. And, even from the 2000 loop, the Meadow area is not far enough away to justify paying for a premium site if you are camping in a tent.

TCD

 

[noogagirl]

Hi Nooga girl! Just wanted to say that I too thought that it needed to be a premium to have a good site but the AAA agent couldn't get that for my dates so I went on line, investigated myself and changed my dates by only one day and got a partial site. We too keep REI in business, lol, and since the partials have every hook-up you could need for tent camping, it was a win/win! (And then another win, because when I called into reservation, they added my AAA discount-which took off over $50! Wahoo!! --also important for pins...err, bills. )

I just noticed that you're leaving in a few days for your trip. Hope you have fun!

We're just up the road from you in Chattanooga, and I work in Dalton.

 

[noogagirl]

Good going.

Please come back here and post to let us know how this turns out.

TCD

I canceled the original reservation over the phone first and booked the dates online that you suggested as soon as I got a free moment at work. (Man they're gonna be ticked if they check my internet usage. ) Didn't call back to cancel the first two days of the new reservation, but I'll do that in the morning. Trying to weed through grad school homework at the moment. And check the Dis of course.

What's crazy is that the full hookup site that showed up in the screenshot you took earlier was ALREADY GONE when I went to book my tent site. Do they go that fast at FtW?

Now I'm looking forward to digging out all of our gear and trying to determine how many of our inflatable mattresses have holes in them. Most likely it's every last one.

 

[Nature Mom]

I just noticed that you're leaving in a few days for your trip. Hope you have fun!

We're just up the road from you in Chattanooga, and I work in Dalton.

Thank you so much, we are all excited, except for one. My DD15 bailed on us! She is the one anyway who isn't too into the camping scene right now and she did not want to be away from her friends for a week either. Oh well, her loss.

Oh, I am in Marietta! Hi there! I figured you must be in Chattanooga with your user name, lol.

I'm hoping for the 2000 loop. I didn't request it in advance though, but we would rather be farther away than nearer. I have a GC coming from Kenny. Thanks to you Tri-C-D...you led me to all the right places!

Good community here.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Thank you so much, we are all excited, except for one. My DD15 bailed on us! She is the one anyway who isn't too into the camping scene right now and she did not want to be away from her friends for a week either. Oh well, her loss.

Oh, I am in Marietta! Hi there! I figured you must be in Chattanooga with your user name, lol.

I'm hoping for the 2000 loop. I didn't request it in advance though, but we would rather be farther away than nearer. I have a GC coming from Kenny. Thanks to you Tri-C-D...you led me to all the right places!

Good community here.

Too bad about your 15 year old DD.

I have 15 year old twin DD's.

And, they love the Fort.

But, I understand about 15 year old DD's.

I hope you have a magical trip.

And, please be sure to come back on board here and tell us about your trip!

TCD

 

[Soladaddy]

If your tent requires staking, like our big one does, then you want the sand pad of a full hook-up, preffered or partial.

 

[SandrA9810]

I have a huge tent, and after the first time of trying to stake it... I gave up. They've stayed in the cute little baggie inside the tent bag since.

I make a bed up of a mattress topper, and several blankets and comforters. So there's quite a bit of weight in the middle of the tent. I guess I could see there being a problem with an air mattress as that would weigh less.