1st timer to Fort with no park visit... what to do?

[Adreyer]

We're driving our hybrid TT down from Michigan in August. We just hit the parks for a few days in February, so this will be a camping only type of trip. Do many others do that... come to camp at WDW but not do anything at WDW? If so, what are the recommendations for meals... do you cook, mostly eat out...? I was thinking of splurging one night at the dinner show and staying really low key the rest of the trip. My boys will be 7 & 8 and I want them to have an amazing time.

 

[bjschil]

We're driving our hybrid TT down from Michigan in August. We just hit the parks for a few days in February, so this will be a camping only type of trip. Do many others do that... come to camp at WDW but not do anything at WDW? If so, what are the recommendations for meals... do you cook, mostly eat out...? I was thinking of splurging one night at the dinner show and staying really low key the rest of the trip. My boys will be 7 & 8 and I want them to have an amazing time.

Adreyer, you will have so much fun doing "nothing"! You can ride bikes, rent a canoe, fish, swim, go looping in all the sites, find the hidden railroad, play games with your kids, feed the squirrels, play basketball, go down to the beach and watch the fun. If money is not an issue, the sea racers are fun. Hop on the boat to view a few other resorts close by. Then, there are the numerous scheduled events at the pool, the center for kids, movies at night, sing alongside, the Electric Water Parade on the beach, watching the Mak fireworks. The list is long and free for almost all. We love the Hoop Dee Doo, but for some, it does not fit the bill. I tend to think upper Midwest people like us, like the humor! Take some sidewalk chalk, bring your bikes, have a Wilkie talkie, and enjoy. You will meet new friends with a love of Disney, learn new cooking ideas. Movies every night with marshmallows, sing along with chip and dale. Swimming if fun at the Fort, and you can even take your food up and leave in a cooler should you not want to go back. We cook lots of meals, try something more challenging or out of our comfort zone! Enjoy, it is so much fun.

 

[5stljayhawks]

I would look at precooking a few meals to help max time out of camper at the fort. Such as taco meat, cook and freeze before hand. Gravy for biscuits.... Also fried chicken and pizza to go from trails end is great options.

Make sure AC is working. On our hybrid I used reflective material on the tent parts and the windows makes a world of difference. PM and I will provide details.
Offsite, take the kids to gator land. bring your own hotdogs. Really. This place rocks, as you walk over gator swampland and toss out hotdogs and they eat them.. There is a cat walk in the back swamp and a tower.. I took my boy early one day and it was just the two of us.. Dude it was Awesome.

Other boy stuff.
Lego store at downtown disney.
Fishing at the lake. Walmart dozen worms and 6 pack for dad!
Costco for steaks ,the sites have grills, will need charcoal
bring your own smores for chip n dale.
water parks are good. but cost.
Mini Golf, there is also par 3 course. Maybe check out kissmee area for other items.

Dad could you do just 1 star wars day at Hollywood studio? would look at extra magic hours. Also if you do it, and plan on doing jedi training, be there at rope drop and find out where signup is at. it fills up fast.

Heck, maybe you take a COCO beach/NASA day.

To {}{} & beyond.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

DAILY ACTIVITES at THE FORT:
CM-Led or Monitored Games and Activities:
. . . temporary tattoos
. . . build-a-button ($)
. . . pin trading
. . . design your own ($)
. . . lawn games
. . . goofy bingo
. . . giant games
. . . dodge ball
. . . memory games
. . . name that tune
. . . hoedown dance party
. . . swimmin' hole jamboree
. . . disney trivia
. . . musical shapes
. . . bingo
. . . notable quotes
. . . what's in your beach bag
. . . chalk art
. . . mickey tie-dye ($)
. . . arcade games
. . . charades
. . . evening Chip-n-Dale campfire
Self-Paced Activities:
. . . boat rental ($)
. . . basketball
. . . tether ball
. . . bike rental ($)
. . . shuffleboard

 

[5stljayhawks]

ohhhh pin trading... buy before you go.. great thought RC. Also there is the arcade in DTD

 

[2goofycampers]

We have done this a few times. We cooked at the TT, went off property to eat and splurge on a WDW meal or 2.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

We have done this a few times. We cooked at the TT, went off property to eat and splurge on a WDW meal or 2.

1) People do forget that this IS a campground.
2) Sure, an amusement park or theme park is convenient to it.
3) But, still, a campground.
4) Cook and play here just like one would any other large campground.
. . . play-swim-enjoy the camp
. . . cook in your RV unit as desired
. . . jump in your car and go off site for eats when the mood hits

 

[tltay2005]

We camp at the Fort at least three times a year, and only do parks on one of them. You will have plenty to do, plus it's nice not to be on a schedule. Enjoy!

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

Bikes for sure. Bike over to Wilderness Lodge to explore or eat so much fun. Take the boat over to MK and ride the monorail around to dine or just explore the monorail resorts, we love that.

 

[peg110]

Relax! If you aren't going to the parks you have taken the first step to "Relaxing" by taking the stress of the parks out of the picture.

 

[Chickp]

We've done a few trips with no parks and had a great time! We tried to plan one thing per day that we were going to aim for (ride the boat to the monorail, loop around, swim, ride horses, rent canoes, etc) and then the rest we just hung out. Our kids made friends and spent a lot of time at the tether ball court (there is one in every couple loops, I think). Old school fun. Bikes are a must for us for transportation and also to ride the trail to wilderness lodge for fun.

 

[CDNCruiser]

This old blog may give you some ideas!

http://land.allears.net/blogs/guestblog/2012/08/think_outside_the_parks_part_2.html

 

[Camping Disney Man]

Catch the boat to MK and then grab a bus straight to Caribean Beach to spend an afternoon swimming in the "Pirate Town" Themed Pool. My boys are the same age and loved doing that this past year.

We always cook all our own food when we stay. Including when we are Park Hopping. But, I like to splurge when we cook our own dinners by going to the take out counter at trails end restaurant and getting a to go order of their mashed potatoes. Best in the land!

 

[bama_ed]

Catch the boat to MK and then grab a bus straight to Caribean Beach to spend an afternoon swimming in the "Pirate Town" Themed Pool. My boys are the same age and loved doing that this past year.

Please do not suggest this. Staying at one resort/complex and using the pool at a different resort/complex is known as "pool hopping" and it is expressly against the rules at WDW.

Some DVC members can pool hop in some situations but that's it.

Bama Ed

Ps - there is a pinned thread on the DIS Resorts forum to this effect.

 

[Camping Disney Man]

Please do not suggest this. Staying at one resort/complex and using the pool at a different resort/complex is known as "pool hopping" and it is expressly against the rules at WDW.

Some DVC members can pool hop in some situations but that's it.

Bama Ed

Ps - there is a pinned thread on the DIS Resorts forum to this effect.

Oops! Sorry about that. This was suggested to us years back by a cast member as a way to pick out the next resort to stay at. No rule breaking intended by me. Thanks for letting me know. This is why I joined Disboards, to learn something knew and to share our experiences. Thanks!

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

Even if you can't use the pools, it is SO much fun to just go explore the other resorts. It doesn't have to be just the monorail resorts, it's very easy to catch buses everywhere. Boardwalk is a lot of fun and downtown Disney too.

 

[Adreyer]

Please do not suggest this. Staying at one resort/complex and using the pool at a different resort/complex is known as "pool hopping" and it is expressly against the rules at WDW.

Some DVC members can pool hop in some situations but that's it.

Bama Ed

Ps - there is a pinned thread on the DIS Resorts forum to this effect.

I was always told that if you're staying in a WDW resort, that one if the bennies is pool hopping. Did they change this recently? Or maybe it's s DVC thing? My parents are members and suggested it too.

 

[bama_ed]

I was always told that if you're staying in a WDW resort, that one if the bennies is pool hopping. Did they change this recently? Or maybe it's s DVC thing? My parents are members and suggested it too.

It's not a recent change for regular WDW resort guests, been that way for a long time. No hopping.

It's a DVC thing. Best thing would be for your parents to look into the DVC documentation about DVC hopping rules. Here is the link to the pinned thread on the DIS Resorts board for them to compare what they find to. http://www.disboards.com/threads/using-pools-at-other-resorts-faq-and-questions-new.3435293/

Bama Ed

PS - but I agree with tinkeradorabelle, it is neat to go look at and check out other resorts.