1st Time WDW Camping

[Houstonmouse]

Hi everyone! Although we have been to WDW 3 times previously, we are considering camping for the first time at Fort Wilderness....in August no less!! I have never ventured to this part of the discussion forums, and wow, I am learning a lot! I do have some newbie questions though, if any of you would be so kind as to provide this information:

1) We have a pop-up and although we have no need for sewer, I think we want a preferred site so we can have cable. Are there any other advantages to the preferred sites? Will our pop-up be out of place amongst the grander RVs?

2) Golf carts.....I am thinking a necessity after reading about the slow inner bus service. How do I reserve one? We are a family of 5 with the possibility of bringing along a 6th (teenage daughter's bff). Will we all fit in one cart? Will we be allowed to travel with 6? (kids ages 15, 15, 10, 7) Can the teen girls drive them if they want to go to the pool/trading post/ etc. alone? I think I read they are $50/day? Wow....is that right?

3) Boat routes. Does the boat go directly to MK? Or is there a stop at WL? Can you get to Contemporary from FW by boat?

4) Comfort stations....we will of course need them for showers and potties. Are there plenty of showers? Will we have to ever wait in line? Fortunately, for my husband, all 3 (possibly 4) of the kids are GIRLS, so guess who will be spending more time there?

OK...whew...long post! Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to give me. I hope we aren't crazy for trying to do this in August. Our last stay was in July.....but at the Poly! My girls love to camp though and this is our summer to take a camping trip, so what better place than Disney?

 

[neffernie]

Hi! I'm a FW newbie myself. I just booked our Partial site today for July 28-Aug 2nd.

We went with the partial because we figured we wouldn't need cable. if the kids get bored at Disney they may as well give up on life now.

We decided against the golf cart in favor of bringing our bikes. The golf carts look like fun but they cost almost as much as our site per day. I'd rather have that money for more character meals and dodads to bring home.

Besides all that...

Welcome!

 

[clkelley]

Hi everyone! Although we have been to WDW 3 times previously, we are considering camping for the first time at Fort Wilderness....in August no less!! I have never ventured to this part of the discussion forums, and wow, I am learning a lot! I do have some newbie questions though, if any of you would be so kind as to provide this information:

1) We have a pop-up and although we have no need for sewer, I think we want a preferred site so we can have cable. Are there any other advantages to the preferred sites? Will our pop-up be out of place amongst the grander RVs?

It depends on when you are going, August 2008, or August 2009. By the end of 2008, ALL sites at Ft. Wilderness will have cable. By the end of 2008, the categories will be partial hookup (with cable), preferred (WES, cable), and premium, WES, cable, LARGE pad for big rig, no sand

2) Golf carts.....I am thinking a necessity after reading about the slow inner bus service. How do I reserve one? We are a family of 5 with the possibility of bringing along a 6th (teenage daughter's bff). Will we all fit in one cart? Will we be allowed to travel with 6? (kids ages 15, 15, 10, 7) Can the teen girls drive them if they want to go to the pool/trading post/ etc. alone? I think I read they are $50/day? Wow....is that right?

They are expensive, and a Disney cart will not seat all of you. Technically, your children will not be allowed to drive the cart, they must have a driver's license. I've never found the need for a cart. I use my bicycle. They have bike racks at many places throughout the Fort.

3) Boat routes. Does the boat go directly to MK? Or is there a stop at WL? Can you get to Contemporary from FW by boat?
There is a boat that goes directly to MK. There is also a boat that goes in a circle between FW, Contemporary, and Wilderness Lodge. It varies which direction it goes.

4) Comfort stations....we will of course need them for showers and potties. Are there plenty of showers? Will we have to ever wait in line? Fortunately, for my husband, all 3 (possibly 4) of the kids are GIRLS, so guess who will be spending more time there?
I've never had to wait for a shower at the comfort station. (I do shower late at night) Each CS, has 3 regular showers, and 1 accesible shower. If you do go with a preferred loop, that will be an advantage as more folks have showers in their big rigs.

OK...whew...long post! Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to give me. I hope we aren't crazy for trying to do this in August. Our last stay was in July.....but at the Poly! My girls love to camp though and this is our summer to take a camping trip, so what better place than Disney?

As long as your popup has air conditioning, you'll have NO problems. The Fort is a great place to be!!!

 

[VACAMPER]

CS are great. Nice and clean. We never had to wait for a shower. I feel your pain. I have 3 daughters. There is a boat that goes directly to the MK. Also a smaller one that goes to WL. I think it also stops at the Con. but not positive. Golf Carts are a must. They are 4 seaters but if you have smaller kids you may fit.

 

[Colson39]

Hi everyone! Although we have been to WDW 3 times previously, we are considering camping for the first time at Fort Wilderness....in August no less!! I have never ventured to this part of the discussion forums, and wow, I am learning a lot! I do have some newbie questions though, if any of you would be so kind as to provide this information:

1) We have a pop-up and although we have no need for sewer, I think we want a preferred site so we can have cable. Are there any other advantages to the preferred sites? Will our pop-up be out of place amongst the grander RVs?

2) Golf carts.....I am thinking a necessity after reading about the slow inner bus service. How do I reserve one? We are a family of 5 with the possibility of bringing along a 6th (teenage daughter's bff). Will we all fit in one cart? Will we be allowed to travel with 6? (kids ages 15, 15, 10, 7) Can the teen girls drive them if they want to go to the pool/trading post/ etc. alone? I think I read they are $50/day? Wow....is that right?

3) Boat routes. Does the boat go directly to MK? Or is there a stop at WL? Can you get to Contemporary from FW by boat?

4) Comfort stations....we will of course need them for showers and potties. Are there plenty of showers? Will we have to ever wait in line? Fortunately, for my husband, all 3 (possibly 4) of the kids are GIRLS, so guess who will be spending more time there?

OK...whew...long post! Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to give me. I hope we aren't crazy for trying to do this in August. Our last stay was in July.....but at the Poly! My girls love to camp though and this is our summer to take a camping trip, so what better place than Disney?

A couple things in response

- The buses really aren't that slow. Of course, taking the golf carts is faster, but overall, you really won't wait very long for a bus either. Although, I'm with others, I prefer the golf cart.

- You won't be able to fit 6 people into the golf cart. Not even if you really try. Even 5 can be a really tight fit, and I also don't think they like it too much if you try. Your daughters can drive as long as they have a valid drivers license and are at least 16.

- You can get to the Contemporary by boat from FW. There is also now a boat that goes directly to the MK.

- Each comfort station has about 4-5 showers in it. Depending on what time you go, you might have to wait. I've only had to wait a couple times in recent years, but it all depends on how busy it is, what time, etc...

August isn't a bad time to go, but it's going to be hot mind you. So just be prepared. I mean hot hot, not just kind of hot Crowds should be average to busy, although lately the Fort has had a lot of reports about being kind of empty, so you might be picking a good year to go in August.

Have fun!

 

[VACAMPER]

i also agree that the waits for buses are not bad.

 

[Houstonmouse]

Thank you so much for your quick replies everyone! Everything said has been very helpful. That's why I love these boards.

Our trip would be for this August, so I guess if we want cable (and really, only because we have to watch the DisneyWorld channels....nothing else....but the hotels have spoiled us with the tips of the day, etc), we will be booking a preferred site. I hadn't thought that an advantage of that would be less crowded comfort stations since RVs don't generally use them, so I am definitely thinking a preferred site would be the way to go.

We have a bike rack atop our pop-up, but will have to check with DH to see how many bikes it holds. I don't think 6, but I am not paying for 2 golf carts/day for the 6 of us. And, I am rethinking the buses....maybe they are not has bad/slow as everyone has made out.

And, the HEAT. Yes, our pop-up has air-conditioning, so we will be fine in the camper. And, as my user name suggests, we live in Houston.....so, yeah, we know hot, even really hot....more like sweltering hot. So it should be no different than home, except for, oh, yeah, WE'D BE IN DISNEYWORLD.

Y'all are great! Thanks for the info and advice. Now I just need to actually make the reservation!

 

[clkelley]

Happy to help!! Oh, and by the way, WELCOME!!!!!!! We're a great bunch of folks here on the camping board.

 

[becky1960]

Well we live in the Houston area too and I think its a little different when you are running around outside all day. I would take about 5 cases of water and drinks with you and it will save you a lot of money. In the summer at Disney we usually take 5 water and 5 soft drinks. Enjoy the trip, you will be glad you went, we switched from hotels to FW a few years back..

 

[Houstonmouse]

Thank you Carol! My name is Tracey, by the way. You ARE a great bunch...I can already tell. Though it is not surprising, because campers in general are so friendly and willing to help and that is partly what makes camping so appealing to us.

And hi Becky, fellow Houstonian! You are right about the heat being different when you are in it all day. We have an all day swim meet this Saturday that I am just dreading. I think if we can survive that, we should be in okay shape at Disneyworld.

 

[des1954]

Welcome, Tracey!!

Everyone else pretty much answered your questions... but I also want to let you know that you should bring rain ponchos with you. August is rainy season in Florida and you definitely do NOT want to pay WDW prices for a poncho you can get at Dollar General for $3-4.

While DH & I have our own GC, we highly recommend riding bikes around FtW. You can also take them on the path that connects FtW to WL.

If you're assigned to the right loop,,, (100, 200, 400, 700) you're only a short walk away to Settlement area where there's a bus stop, marina, HDDR, T.E. and Settlement TP. The pool & campfire program is walkable from these loops, but I'm old, so I'd take the bus!!

 

[Tippy 6]

We just got back from a 2 week stay at the fort and did not rent a golf cart. (my husband would have loved one!) We were very impressed with the busses and boats. The kids never wiated for a shower either. We were in the 900 loop. Have fun!

 

[Escape Artist]

We're also in Houston and have 3 kids and a popup, and if you're in Coles Crossing, we'll be at the same swim meet all day Saturday...and we're going to FW this August, too!!!

I also have a 15yo DD, but she's leaving her BFF at home...we're going camping with Grandma, which, somehow, just isn't the same. Fun nevertheless, but just not the same.

I wanted to add that we don't bother renting a golf cart for days when we know we'll be in the parks most of the time. We tend to pick a day when we'll be around the campground alot, and get one then for fun cruising around. The rental fee is kind of high for just parking it at the boat dock all day. Bikes work great for running around and I would definitely bring them if you plan a few days to hang around the campsite, as opposed to doing "Orlando Commando" the whole time you're there, in which case it really isn't worth it.

Somebody else recommended bringing lots of water...one of the nice parts of bringing a popup is you can leave your trailer at the campsite and easily run to Wal-Mart in your tow vehicle to pick up any heavy or bulky stuff that you really didn't want to drag all the way to Florida from Texas anyways. It's also handy for driving to the parks when you don't feel like using the buses or renting a golf cart. We use the car to drive most of us to/from the parks, and the buses for anyone who doesn't want to stay with the group.

We got a partial site before, but I'm going with a full hookup site this time. It is really nice to have that sewer line to drain away gray water, even if you use the CS for potties and showers. I know not having to monitor the gray water tank and haul it away periodically really improves the quality of my DH's Disney vacation!

Have a great trip! We get there August 8th.

Sue in Texas, too!

 

[Houstonmouse]

Okay, Debbie and Tippy, thanks to your comments, I think we will just bring the bikes and plan to use the buses. I would rather use the golf cart $ for character meals! And Debbie, thanks for the heads up on the ponchos too!

And nice to meet you Sue in Cypress! We are actually in Gleannloch Farms, so I won't see you this Saturday, but good luck at your meet too! I think we are going the week before you arrive (haven't made reservations yet.) And I am sure your 15 yr old will love Disney with grandma, but I know what you mean, friends are their world!!

We will definitely stock up on water while in Orlando. I think we will try to make the pop-up as light as possible for the trip over since gas prices are so high, and we will shop when we get there. And you know, it didn't even occur to me that we could use the sewer to drain gray water....my husband will be in heaven not having to dump it. Another compelling reason to reserve a preferred site!

Again, many thanks to everyone for all the information. I am learning so much about Fort Wilderness. Now I guess I better bite the bullet and make reservations before there are none to make!

Tracey

 

[4daubers]

I'm just up the road a bit...near Bryan/College Station. Orlando heat is no different than our heat and humidity.

I do recommend shopping before you get into Orlando. It's amazing how the prices jump the closer you get. We usually stock up on last supplies closer to the Florida Panhandle. We do like the new Wal-mart near WDW but every time we have gone, it's been very crowded and much more expensive.

You can also have items shipped to FW before you leave and pick them up there. I've never done that but plan to ship some Christmas gifts for our December trip.

We don't get preferred sites because we have satellite TV. We get a full hook up. We also put up the antenna to get local news. If you can't get a preferred, don't let that stop you from going.

We've done one trip without a golf cart and one trip with a golf cart. We'll always get a golf cart. We had 2 other families for a group of 12 and my family had a cart.. If needed, we would ferry people back and forth to the bus stations or marina. Some would walk, some would ride, whatever the need or mood. We love the evening loop drives and after a long park day, it is nice to ride back to the site. Certainly not a necessity but is fun.

I was worried that my teens wouldn't enjoy WDW and FW as they did when they were younger. They had such a blast last summer...that's why we're going back in December. I think at each age, they find something different and still enjoy traditions of past trips. Everyone whines and jokes about riding It's a Small World...but it's a on the not to be missed ride list....along with EE.

Y'all will have a great trip...once you make down IH 10 to Florida.

 

[disney4dan]

Well we live in the Houston area too and I think its a little different when you are running around outside all day. I would take about 5 cases of water and drinks with you and it will save you a lot of money. In the summer at Disney we usually take 5 water and 5 soft drinks. Enjoy the trip, you will be glad you went, we switched from hotels to FW a few years back..

A while back we got the tip to try the Brita filtration sport bottle as an alternative to the disposable bottles and have really saved a fortune on the water. We use them all summer long, as some of the places around here charge more than $3 for a water bottle! Unfortunately, Brita stopped making them a while ago. We stocked up on a bunch of replacement filters and probably have enough to get through two more summers. This looks like a great alternative, and LL Bean has one called the Katadyn. This one is much cheaper:

http://www.************.com/bottles.html

The CMs at the counter service places would give us a free cup of ice if we asked nice while ordering a snack or a meal, helped to keep the water cooler longer in the August heat on the last two trips.

Dan

 

[DisCamper]

I read some of the post but not all. In August Florida got daily afternoon thunder storms about 3pm every day so plan for that.

 

[Escape Artist]

I'm just up the road a bit...near Bryan/College Station. Orlando heat is no different than our heat and humidity.
...
I was worried that my teens wouldn't enjoy WDW and FW as they did when they were younger. They had such a blast last summer...that's why we're going back in December. I think at each age, they find something different and still enjoy traditions of past trips. Everyone whines and jokes about riding It's a Small World...but it's a on the not to be missed ride list....along with EE.
...

Well, Howdy, then!

I'm glad you said that about the heat/humidity. We're pretty used to it in Houston now, so I guess I won't worry so much about how it will be at FW in August. We were there in early June last year, but have never done August before. I was hoping that mid-to-late August might be a little less hot and crowded than July...hope that bet pays off for us!

My teens still love travelling with us, too. I think getting them away from home with us now and then is a really good thing...keeps them bonded with the family and not just their friends/Wii, and gives us more time with them before they're gone. It seems to depend so much on the attitude of the teens, but I think teens that have grown up camping with their families are their own breed of "campground people"...certainly not like a lot of other teens we see!

Sue in Texas

 

[Escape Artist]

And nice to meet you Sue in Cypress! We are actually in Gleannloch Farms...
Now I guess I better bite the bullet and make reservations before there are none to make!

Tracey

Hi Tracey --

Good to meet you, too! We seriously considered a house in Gleannloch, but ended up in Fairfield and are pretty happy here. My husband would have preferred his commute from your neighborhood, though!

Yup, you'd better get your reservations right away. I bet you've already seen the advice about how if you can't get the reservation you want, just book the parts you can get and keep trying for the rest. Especially this summer with the gas prices spiking, I bet they'll have lots of sites opening up and you'll get exactly what you want.

Sherri had some good advice about buying stuff outside Orlando. I didn't compare prices in Orlando vs. non-Orlando Wal-Marts (I was a captive audience since we made several trips to the Wal-Mart pharmacy--DS had to go to urgent care twice during our trip and got Rx's to fill), I just appreciated not packing and hauling everything from home, and not paying Disney prices. We used an in-line water filter from the camping aisle on the water inlet for the popup, and that seemed to give us decent water quality for cooking, dishwashing and toothbrushing. My kids get one water bottle per day and then they can refill it at meals or the Disney fountains. I hate generating all that empty bottle/can trash, and I refuse to be their water-bottle Sherpa!

Good luck with your reservations and have a great trip. Hopefully we'll both get lucky with the heat, humidity and thunderstorms in August!

Sue in Texas

 

[Houstonmouse]

Thanks Sherri, I guess I do need to take into consideration the higher cost of food near WDW. I guess we won't really be saving money by pulling an empty camper only to pay 5 times the food prices once we get there. Also, I will be in College Station on Sunday! I am dropping off my 15 yr old at A&M tennis camp for the week. I love College Station...it's the perfect size and I just love that college town feel it has.

Sue...what a small world! I have been to Fairfield to play tennis. It's a beautiful community. I need to get back over your way to see the new outlet mall.

You know, my teen daughter is the reason we are booking this trip. It started out as a joke about what we were going to do this summer, and she would just yell Disney World every time vacation was brought up. Well, it kind of stuck. And she still loves the family camping trips too, even though we were warned that once she became a teen, she would shun those kinds of trips. We are asking her friend along only because she is practically a 4th daughter, she's never been to WDW and her birthday is in August, so we figured, why not?

OK, today is the day....I must make those reservations!
Tracey