A Brit planning Tent Camping at Fort Wilderness am I the first Brit?

[weaverlfc]

I’ve just started planning a solo trip to Florida for Jan-Feb next year.

Originally I was looking at budget hotels in a decent location as I don’t drive. Then I started to wonder if camping was possible in Orlando. After first searching the UK Disney forum I post on it seemed like there was pretty much no such thing as camping in Orlando. No one had ever done it, and there was no information on it, i had pretty much given up on any plans to camp in Orlando.

Then I read about Fort Wilderness Campgrounds, and the idea of camping seemed plausible again, but the information on the Disney website about camping was limited so I still wasn’t sure.

Then I stumbled across this these forums, and most importantly the ‘camping in Disney world’ forum. After spending the past 5 hours reading through threads and looking at the 100’s of photos I am now 99% sure that camping at Fort Wilderness is the way I want to spend my first solo trip to Orlando.

I’ve still got a lot of research to do, but from what I’ve learnt so far, it seems there is no reason why I shouldn’t do it, even though it seems like I can’t find anyone from the UK who has camped in Orlando before, and none of the British Travel company’s offer prices or even mention the fact you can camp at Fort Wilderness, I am baffled as to why not and feel like I have stumbled upon a golden secret.

It seems like camping in Orlando to most Brits sounds like a ridiculous idea, but for me, I think I’ve just found a way I’m going to be spending many-a-holidays in Disney.

As I said earlier I’ve still got a lot of research and planning to do, and will really appreciate all the help I can get from you Orlando camping experts. There’s 100 of questions in my head, but I don’t want to bombard you all with questions……but i will ask one for now lol.

The current price guide that I have seen shows camping for a tent campsite at $46-$49 dollars a night in January not including tax. Now I don’t know how accurate this is and if there is any other hidden charges, but i just wanted to know am I right in thinking that I could book a tent campsite in January for $60 or under per night when all charges are added?

Thanks in advance for any advice that any of you can offer.

 

[JCJRSmith]

You have a number of options, from bringing/shipping your own equipment from the UK to RV rentals. There are even folks who will rent you an RV and they will set it up for you on site at Fort Wilderness so it is waiting for your arrival.

Here's an example: https://secure.netsolhost.com/campatthefort.com/terv/index.asp

 

[bama_ed]

Weaverlfc,

Lots of people tent camp in January at the Fort. This should work for you. Will you use Magical Express? Will you bring a tent with you in your luggage or buy one after you get to Orlando? We will be glad to help if you provide more details.

The cost of the site depends on the site type you reserve. Here is the link to 2011 pricing (2012 has not yet been released - due mid August or so):

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/campsites-at-fort-wilderness-resort/rates-rooms/

Sounds like you'll be coming in Value Season which is the cheapest time of year. Choose "Room Types and Pricing" from the link above, choose the "Value Season - Weekday" prices and rack rates for Partial Sites (appropriate for tent camping) start at $46. That will put you in loop 1500 or 2000 (the only Partial loops). There are also separate weekend rates for Value Season which are $2-3/night higher.

Weather can be a little dicey (as it gets) in Orlando for January. But some days can be nice. Here is the Weather Channel average temps for January http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/daily/USFL0372?climoMonth=1

You might want to get a Dining Plan added to your ressie to simplify your meal/dining needs. If you choose the cheapeast Quick/Counter Service plan, unfortunately, the Fort has limited options. But the good news is the nearby Wilderness Lodge and Contemporary Resort are a short boat/bus ride away and they have good CS plans. You can also rent a bike delivered by an off-site company. Here is a thread from not-too-long-ago http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2671236&highlight=bike+rentals.

So make your ressie for January (they will quote 2011 rates and then when 2012 rates come out they will update what your total cost is). Book your flight. Come on over to America.

Here is my most recent trip report thread from April too. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2694753

So tell us more as your plans shape up.

Bama ED

 

[weaverlfc]

Thanks for that link, definitely something else to consider.

At the moment im thinking about buying equipment (Tent/Sleeping Bag/Mattress) when i arrive in orlando as im thinking about spending the first 3 or 4 nights in one of the Universal hotels and this will give me time to go to a store to buy the equipment i need ready for my check-in date at Fort Wilderness.

 

[weaverlfc]

Big thanks for all that usefull info bama ed.

As i said in my last post i plan on buying a tent and other equipment that is needed when i arrive in Orlando. Im not sure if i will be using the disney magical express(never heard of it untill you mentioned it. From what ive just read about it, it seems like it would make arriving alot easier for me, but it won't give me time to buy the equipment first when i arrive, so thats something i need to think about.

The weather doesn't bother me as i am not a big fan of the heat and the only worry i have is about it being to warm in the tent. After camping in Wales and welsh weather(camped last week and it rained all day) i certainly won't be worried about the weather in Orlando.

I'll have to have a look at that rented bike link as well, as that was something i needed to think about. (Your answering my questions before i even ask them! lol)

 

[2goofycampers]

Hi, welcome. In the Jan Feb time frame you might need a good sleeping bag or a heater. This past Jan it got into the 20's F several nights. Other times I have seen it only go into the 50's F.
There is also a campground close to Universal called Turkey Lake. It is run by the city of Orlando. There is no transportation that I know of to theme parks, other than a taxi/cab. It is $15.00 per night.

 

[weaverlfc]

There is also a campground close to Universal called Turkey Lake. It is run by the city of Orlando. There is no transportation that I know of to theme parks, other than a taxi/cab. It is $15.00 per night.

Can i just say thank you for extending my planned holiday for another week. Im now going for 7 weeks lol.

Just read up on that campground, it sounds brilliant and so close to Universal as well which is awesome as i also plan on buying Universal annual Passes.

Its $10 a day for tent camping.......$70 for an extra week in Orlando? This is starting to get too good to be true now.

 

[bama_ed]

Weaver,

Magical Express is a bus service run by Disney but contracted to a company called Mears to take passengers/guests from the Orlando airport straight onto Disney property. They also bring your luggage/bags at no additional charge (although they arrive at your resort few hours after you do). It obviously would not help if you planned to head over to Universal for a few days.

Disney tries to make it easy for people to get to them and then trap them on property causing tourists to spend all their food/room/entertainment money on the Mouse. Plan your trip and maximize your fun but it will take work on your part to do anything off property.

If you camped in Wales (I rode the train from London to Wales nearly 22 years ago) then January weather won't bother you at all.

Bama ED

 

[crashbb]

Just to let you know that 2012 pricing is up as of today.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/campsites-at-fort-wilderness-resort/rates-rooms/?showYear=2012+Value+Season+-+Weekday

 

[weaverlfc]

Weaver,

Magical Express is a bus service run by Disney but contracted to a company called Mears to take passengers/guests from the Orlando airport straight onto Disney property. They also bring your luggage/bags at no additional charge (although they arrive at your resort few hours after you do). It obviously would not help if you planned to head over to Universal for a few days.

Disney tries to make it easy for people to get to them and then trap them on property causing tourists to spend all their food/room/entertainment money on the Mouse. Plan your trip and maximize your fun but it will take work on your part to do anything off property.

If you camped in Wales (I rode the train from London to Wales nearly 22 years ago) then January weather won't bother you at all.

Bama ED

Im from Wales, so yea i've camped locally quite a few times and the weather never bothers me, in fact i kind of like it when the rain and wind is hammering the tent.

I do plan on going to Universal as well, but this is flexible and i can go to Universal after my stay at FW, so using the magical express is a possibilty, especially if it makes it alot easier to get to FW and get set up when i first arrive.

If i did do this i would have to bring my own equipment with me from the UK, or atleast bring a tent so i can use that the first night to get set up untill i get a chance to buy the rest of the equipment i need. My only worry about bringing a tent from the UK is the luggage allowance, im not sure how much a tent ways to be honest, something else for me to look in to.

 

[weaverlfc]

Just to let you know that 2012 pricing is up as of today.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/campsites-at-fort-wilderness-resort/rates-rooms/?showYear=2012+Value+Season+-+Weekday

thanks, good timing! looks like it's meant to be.

$2 rise in price, i can cope with that.

 

[2goofycampers]

Here is a link to a great discount site for WDW and UO (Universal Orlando).
http://www.mousesavers.com/

For a cheap meal at UO go here
http://www.universalorlando.com/Ove...ng.html&expID=13-5798&contentID=13-3764&seq=1

Best meal for the price is at DTD (Down Town Disney) Earl of Sandwich.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=335#menu

Are we up to 8 weeks?

 

[Bearikens]

Welcome to the boards! In addition to some of the advice you've already received I should mention that electricity is also available in all the campsites, but it is based on the American standard of 110V 60hz 20A.

If you decide to cook in your campsite you have several options: Charcoal grill, electrical hotplate, or propane stove. The last time my wife and I flew into Orlando we brought our single burner propane stove and bought the 1 lb propane canister to fuel it there. The campsites also have a picnic table so you will have a place to sit and eat.

I like to light my campsite after dark using a string of Christmas lights, which I connect to a photocell timer (so the lights turn on when it gets dark). The campground can be pretty dark, so you might want to bring/buy a small flashlight to help light your way to/from your campsite.

The comfort stations have a loo (toilet) and showers, plus they have coin laundry machines and coin ice machine. The laundry is helpful when you are limited in the amount of clothes you can pack. I bring several dollars worth of quarter dollar coins just to use for the laundry...but be sure to have laundry supplies on hand.

We also bring those small telescoping umbrellas and rain jackets/ponchos for when it rains.

If you get homesick for English food, there is an English pub and restaurant over at Epcot (Rose and Crown). The Fort also has a pub (which we call a bar) called Crockett's Tavern.

When you arrive in the campground and get checked in, ask the cast member behind the check-in counter for transportation to your campsite. You might also want to look for a campsite displaying a lime green Mickey Mouse head sign. These are Dis Board members and I am sure they will be happy to give you any assistance or advice you may require.

The camping section of this board also has a FAQ (frequently asked question) thread that contains a lot of great information to help and please feel free to ask if you have any questions...we love to help

 

[mskermit]

ok question about tent camping... what about the bugs, snakes,gekos, and other critters???? there are a ton of bugs in florida!!!! im from jersey, we have mosquitos

 

[2goofycampers]

ok question about tent camping... what about the bugs, snakes,gekos, and other critters???? there are a ton of bugs in florida!!!! im from jersey, we have mosquitos

The Fort has no more/less bugs/critters than does any other WDW Resort.

 

[mskermit]

The Fort has no more/less bugs/critters than does any other WDW Resort.

but do they try to creep into your tent??? i am petrified of snakes!

 

[Karenj2]

Hi - I'm a lurker on the camping boards (I was looking for some info for myself), but I wanted to let you know something that I learned on the Budget/Family boards, where I normally post.

Depending on your trip plans, you might be able to buy your tent & other equipment from Walmart (or perhaps REI, or another good outdoors site) and have it shipped directly to the Fort. (I'm sure others will correct me if I'm wrong, but you can definately do that for the resorts.)

I did that on my last trip with my daughter's diapers/food & other items, and it was SO nice to not have to pack all that in my suitcase!

I'm not sure if that'd work for you if you go to Universal first, knowing nothing about the other campsite, but I wanted to throw that out there...

 

[2goofycampers]

Depending on your trip plans, you might be able to buy your tent & other equipment from Walmart (or perhaps REI, or another good outdoors site) and have it shipped directly to the Fort. (I'm sure others will correct me if I'm wrong, but you can definately do that for the resorts.)

Yes, this can also be done for campsites. Good idea I had forgotten about that.

 

[weaverlfc]

It’s now official!!! I’ve just booked Fort Wilderness for 4weeks

Arriving in Orlando Monday January 10th in the evening, spending 1 night in the Disney pop resort first as I didn’t fancy trying to set up in the dark. Checking in at FW on the 11th of January for 28 days, checking out February 7th.

Haven’t booked flights yet as im not sure how long I will be staying after the 4 weeks at FW, when I plan on going to the Universal area for around 2 weeks.

Got sooo much planning and researching to do over the next 6 months. I have never travelled solo before and never really gone on real camping trips before,(jumping in at the deep end, I know) so equipment & knowledge wise I am very much starting from scratch.

Big thanks for all the help and advice I’ve already been given though(JCJRSmith, bama_ed, 2goofycampers, crashbb, Bearikens, Karenj2). Helped massively with giving me the confidence to go ahead and just get it booked.

Im going to have 100’s of more questions over the next few months of planning, but I’ll just start with a couple for now.

1) As far as the electrics at the sites are concerned. Is it just a standard American socket? Would I just need to buy a standard European –to American adaptor? Or is there other equipment I will need to buy to be able to use the electric?

2) Does anyone know how much the safe deposit boxes at reception cost?

3) Im really interested about making an order on the Walmart website and having it shipped to FW, as it would make getting set up on my first day a lot easier. How easy would it to be to organise this? And have any of you here done it before? Do the orders get left at reception and you pick it up from there? Or does a work a different way?

Looks like im going to have to pick up a small tv from walmart as well when I arrive to make the most of the cable and have a bit of American tv in the mornings.

I haven’t slept for the past 2 days!!! Im still buzzing having found this golden hidden secret that is Camping in Disney, which all of you Americans have been keeping to yourself.

 

[2goofycampers]

The safe boxes are FREE!
There are standard electric boxes on the site.
They will hold your things at bell services. I would call and let the Fort know of your plans.

Here is a packing list you can look through and see what you will need.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1115732

Is that Jan 10, 2012 ? That would be a Tuesday. Wouldn't want the time difference to mess up your reservations.