2 weeks too long

[kilee]

We just bought (I actually don't even have it in my driveway yet) a new pop-up. We love to camp-- we do both tent and cabin (semi-rustic) camping a few times a year. Usually we only go for 4-5 days though.

However, to make the drive worth while-- I HATE the drive-- we would stay about 12 days. We are planning on attempting to bring this thing down to Fort Wilderness. I've been really wanting to go there-- but didn't want to tent camp there. It would be in February (probably somewhere within the first 3 weeks so I could suprise DH w/ Daytona 500 tickets for Christmas). Anyhow, I'm wondering if that would be too long. We won't have A/C we do have 2 fans hanging above the beds kind of though. We've gone early February before-- and wore long pants and long sleeves. We do have a heater and real (not foam so comfort should be okay) heated matteresses.

Is it too long to camp? My other question is how many showers does each comfort station have?? I know when we camp at the KOA's. The bathrooms will only have 2-3 showers and you can sometimes have to wait all day to get in.

 

[We4mickey]

At that time of the year you shouldn't have to worry about air conditioning. I prefer to go for 2 weeks at a time. It is not worth pulling the camper down if it is any shorter. Although we have done it, by the time you get settled you have to pack it up and head home. You will have a great time at Fort Wilderness.

 

[Disney Campers]

comfort stations usually have 4 showers each, very rarely have we had to wait to use them,

staying 12 days should be very fun and relaxing, you won't feel rushed to get everything in.

 

[mrsgus06]

We just ordered our new camper also! We had a travel trailer, but moved up to a fifth wheel. Starting June 11, we will be staying 7 weeks and some change! However, our camper has 2 A/C's so heat should not be a problem. I was just there in Feb of this year (stayed in the cabins) and actually had to turn on the heat one night! No, I don't think 12 days is too long, go, enjoy your new camper! As for the showers, I go at night and have never had to wait and the 1500 loop (partial hook up sites for pop ups) have the best shower when it comes to hot water!

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Don't tell anyone, because we need to keep this a secret, but February is one of the nicest months of the year to camp at Ft. Wilderness. We have not stayed for two weeks during February, but almost always camp during Presidents' Day weekend. The campground is not crowded. It is not humid. It cools off nicely at night, but it has been warm and sunny enough for us to swim during the day. The bugs are non-existent. There are, however, usually some pretty cold days in February. We live in Florida, and I tell my kids that some of the cold days in February are still warmer than some summer days I remember growing up in New Jersey!

 

[kilee]

Thank you for the encouragement!! I am a little overwhelmed by this whole thing. I've been reading and there are so many little things I haven't thought of in owning this.
We take delivery next Friday (the 22nd) after the hitch and "stuff" is installed on our vehicle.

 

[DisneyDotty]

12 days--you won't want to leave! It will be heavenly! We've camped for 3 weeks in our pop-up, but never 12 days in a row in one place. IMO, there's a lot of work to set up/take down a pop-up, so 12 days will give you a lot of time to relax. I am jealous. You will love it.

 

[RocklandRVers]

For us 2 weeks is not enough! Our last 3 stays have been for 2 weeks and we hated to leave. Like everyone else we dread the drive down and back, but its worth it once you arrive. Every second is fun at FtW!

DW and I still love going and are still keen on the idea of retiring (actually semi retiring) well before age 60 and spending the colder months at FtW while working as a CM just enough to pay our way. We dream about how neat it will be to someday have grandkids come down to visit us at Christmas. Talk about magical. If that doesn't quench our thirst for Disney nothing will.

 

[susancl]

You will have such a great time. FW is so nice and relaxing. The comfort stations are so clean and I've never had to wait for a shower. You'll find that many campers are in RV's and Travel Trailers, so they have their own showers.

 

[fanofmickey]

Well, I'm trying to talk DH into buying us a new camper. We have a pop-up which we bought used several years ago, when we were 2 adults and 4 kids. Now, we are physically 4 adults and 2 kids (DD is 19 and DS is 16 but taller than DH! and twins are 9). We have ressies for two rooms at Pop Century for September, but I would love to change it to FW. It would be our first time camping there. We are looking at the "expandable travel trailers", which are hard sided but have beds that pop out at the end similiar to a pop-up. Does anyone here have any experience with these?

 

[elastigirlfan]

I just wanted to congratulate you on your new camper. You're going to love it and you will love staying at FW! I think 12 days is awesome, definetly not too long - enough time to do and see everything you want to and relax too! Enjoy!

Alyssa

 

[LMC]

Will you be going to any theme parks? I don't think 12 days is too long when you have plenty to do. You stated that you all like to camp so I am sure you will enjoy FW. We went for one week last year for a camping only trip and my kids were so bummed. They are used to "doing" things like going to the theme park or the beach that they didn't know what to do just being in a campground. I don't know how much swimming you can do in February so that may curtail some activity but take your bikes.
FW is soooooo nice and relaxing that you won't want to go back home!

 

[NHcampers]

Better get your reservations for Feb. Partial hook up were the only sites left for Feb,06. Electric heaters work great for pop up campers. Feb AM are sometimes cool.

 

[striker3636]

12 days is not too long! We stayed 14 days and loved having the time to visit the parks several times without putting in killer days. We loved coming back to FW to rest, or at the end of the day have BBQ and go see the campfire and movie. It would be a shame to stay at FW and not have the time to enjoy all that it has to offer. We were very lucky and had awesome weather (except for 2 days with pants and jackets, we had high 70's and low 80's) We had the heat on every night as it cools off pretty quickly. Its nice to have a day or two, or the odd afternoon, to kick back and enjoy the beach/pool/pony rides/etc etc. We are a 24hr drive to WDW, so we also like to make the holiday worth the drive.

I too found that it was difficult to get ressies for Feb/06. We tried a year in advance (ok when we pulled in the driveway coming home from WDW basically) and could not get anything with sewer until last week. I've been told by a CM that "maybe" CRO holds back sites for a later release, no idea if this is true. I booked this past trip 6 months in advance with no trouble.

fanofmickey - we have a 2005 23' Coyote CT which is a hybrid trailer with 3 beds that fold out. We love it and really like that the beds don't compromise your floor space. We originally were looking at pop-ups, but once we saw this we were hooked (gotta love the full bathroom with a door!!) PM me if you have any questions, I'll be glad to answer/

 

[lindsey]

I don't think 12 days is too much. Our best trip was for 10 days because we were able to take our time and do other things like visiting Downtown Disney at a slow pace, DisneyQuest, visit the outlets in Orlando, visit the other hotels on site, Sports Complex, mini golf, etc.

 

[VAN]

When the kids were in school, we would go for 9 nites ... not long enough!!! The last two years we have been there 14 nites - getting better, but I could easily stay longer!!

 

[minkydog]

Well, I'm trying to talk DH into buying us a new camper. We have a pop-up which we bought used several years ago, when we were 2 adults and 4 kids. Now, we are physically 4 adults and 2 kids (DD is 19 and DS is 16 but taller than DH! and twins are 9).

Dont let that stop you from camping! Unless they won't fit on the beds anymore, LOL. We have a small pop-up(10ft box) without a potty and we take DH & me, DD12 & DS10(both kids over 90lb) DS18(over 6ft & still growing) AND Grandma, 71. It looks like a flop-house in there, but we have a great time. I'd much rather stay in my pop-up, if it means I get to go to Disney World.