2 q's: tent campers taking MME to FW/setting up camp after dark

[dreambound]

Hello all! Looks like we may be flying afterall. Does anyone have experience with flying, using MME and tent camping? We'll have at least 4 passengers and the appropriate luggage allowance and we will not be taking cooking gear. Does MME deliver your luggage to your campsite? Or do you have to lug your luggage from the reception area to the campsite yourself?

Also, depending on how long it takes MME to get us to FW, we may be setting up camp after dark. Any tips? We've never set up camp after dark before.

Thanks!

Meg

 

[becky1960]

i hace seen MME drop and pickup at the outpost checkin, and I believe they will take you to you site. As for setting up tents in the dark I will have to let tent campers answer that. I do know that the loops are pretty dark.

 

[clkelley]

I've done it before. Just bring a couple of good lanterns (not flashlights) that you can set on the table, or bring a couple of those halogen head flashlights. Holding a flashlight in your teeth while trying to do something is hard!! Most battery operated lanterns put out enough light to be useful, but not so bright that it's annoying to your neighbors.

Yes, once you arrive, the Ft. Wilderness folks will take you to your site, and will deliver your stuff to your site. The time I did this with DME, once I arrived, went to the restroom, and checked in, the DME luggage truck arrived with my stuff. (It was very late, about 11:00 pm), so they loaded me and my stuff in the Ft. Wilderness van, and off we went. I then proceeded to set up what I needed to go to bed, then finished everything the next morning. (This was back in December 2005, so there was not the late night luggage hold till the next morning, back then.)

 

[dreambound]

Is it DME? I don't know why I thought it was Mickey's Magical Express.

Thanks for the tips. Our flight gets in at 4:45, but in the event there are delays and given the time it would take to get to our site with our stuff, I'm going to consider that it might be dark. We'll see.

Thanks again!


Meg

I've done it before. Just bring a couple of good lanterns (not flashlights) that you can set on the table, or bring a couple of those halogen head flashlights. Holding a flashlight in your teeth while trying to do something is hard!! Most battery operated lanterns put out enough light to be useful, but not so bright that it's annoying to your neighbors.

Yes, once you arrive, the Ft. Wilderness folks will take you to your site, and will deliver your stuff to your site. The time I did this with DME, once I arrived, went to the restroom, and checked in, the DME luggage truck arrived with my stuff. (It was very late, about 11:00 pm), so they loaded me and my stuff in the Ft. Wilderness van, and off we went. I then proceeded to set up what I needed to go to bed, then finished everything the next morning. (This was back in December 2005, so there was not the late night luggage hold till the next morning, back then.)

 

[des1954]

Also, depending on how long it takes MME to get us to FW, we may be setting up camp after dark. Any tips? We've never set up camp after dark before.

Thanks!

Meg

If you're not real familiar with setting up your equipment - practice (many times) before you get to the Fort. I agree with OP'r - make sure you have plenty of light. You may want to pack an electric hanging light - similar to one a mechanic might use - to plug in and hang from a tree. Ah....gotta love sites with electricity!

 

[Gillian]

Setting up in the dark shouldn't be a huge problem. I'd worry much more about luggage delays, since the luggage does not go with you.

Have you looked into taking a car service from the airport? The luggage might be a little tight in the car, and you'd have to get it all yourself, but at least you'd know where it is. You could use DME on the way home.

You might want to check over on the transportation board to see how luggage delivery times are these days.

I'm just a control freak, sorry!

 

[clkelley]

One thing you could do, so you could get started setting up earlier, is one of two things. If any of your tents pack down small enough to be considered carryon size, carryon the tent and then you'll have it with you to begin the setup process. (If you are on a 35 or 50 passenger commuter jet, where they put the carryons under the plane anyway, it doesn't really matter what size your tent is, make that your carryon, and they will gate check it under the plane, and you'll get it back as soon as you get off.)

OR Pack your tent(s) as a separate checked item, and DON'T put the yellow tag on it. Have one or two members of your party hustle down to baggage claim and get that tent(s), then meet the rest of your group at the DME check in and have it transported under the bus with you.

Either solution will get you started on setting up as soon as you get to the site.