a newbie and then some

[PacNWNomad]

Bullet point intro!

I'm from the PacNW, currently living in TX for the last 16 mos. I'm married.

I have six kids. Three boys, three girls. Oldest is almost 18. Youngest is 5.

I also have two dogs, an 80 lb black lab/chow chow, and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

We currently own a 2003 KZ Frontier 2505. Eyeballing a Heartland Caliber 325 OKBH (hmmm. Drooling would be a more appropriate way to describe it, I think).

I've been to Disney once for two days, when I was 13.

I just made reservations for Fort Wilderness for June/July.

No, I'm not thrilled with the timing, but we'll be in Orlando for a conference, and there's no way we can drag six kids to FL five miles from WDW and *not go. That would be like, criminal. Right?

I have multiple children with autism.

We are GFCF (gluten free, casien free).

The youngest turns 6 while we're scheduled to be at WDW.

So, I've gotten as far as making our reservations for Fort Wilderness.

I have no idea what to do next.

The End.


Signed,
OverwhelmedPacNWNomad

 

[stefa70]

Yes it would be a crime to not take the kids to the Fort! Don't be overwhelmed! If you have 6 children you can handle anything!

The first thing I would say is prepare to be HOT! Our summers are brutal. Other than that, everything will work itself out. If you have any specific questions about the fort, I'll try to answer them. We live close and go about 6 times a year.....LOVE IT!!

 

[PixieCamper]

The best advice I can give you is relax! I know, easier said than done right?

What type of conference/WDW touring schedule are you looking at? I've been in Orlando for conference time during the day and WDW late afternoon/evening with a full day Sat and Sunday. Is that about the same time thing you're planning to do? If so, that would work fine because you usually won't be in the parks during the hottest time of day.

Here's a breakdown of busiest days for each park according to the WDW website.

"During regular attendance periods the Theme Parks tend to be the busiest on the following days:
Magic Kingdom® Park: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
Epcot®: Tuesday and Friday
Disney's Hollywood Studios™: Sunday and Wednesday
Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday"

There are plenty of things to do at the Fort as well. You'll have a fantastic time if you just remember it's all about relaxing and having a good time with family!

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Welcome to the camping boards !
We can talk till we are blue in the face,,but you will figure out how & what to do the Fort and Disney as you go,,your first experience will be the one you don't forget.(usaully it's a great experience)
There are tons of things to do at the Fort.
Do ya'll plan on doing any parks or just the Fort ? Do ya'll plan on doing most meals at the camper or eat out mostly ?

 

[PacNWNomad]

Do ya'll plan on doing any parks or just the Fort ?

Yes to the parks. We'll get there a couple days before the conference, and hang out at Ft. Wilderness. After the conference is over we will do the parks.

Do ya'll plan on doing most meals at the camper or eat out mostly ?

Due to the sheer volume of people and food restrictions, we'll do most of our meals at the camper.

Signed,
GlutenFreePacNWNomad

 

[PacNWNomad]

Don't be overwhelmed! If you have 6 children you can handle anything!

I have hauled our camper around the country with all the kids and the dogs by myself, and I'm afraid of WDW.

There.

I said it.

My name is PacNWNomad, and I have DisneyPhobia.

The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem, right?

Signed,
FraidyCatPacNWNomad

 

[Born 2 Fish]

I have hauled our camper around the country with all the kids and the dogs by myself, and I'm afraid of WDW.

There.

I said it.

My name is PacNWNomad, and I have DisneyPhobia.

The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem, right?

well, yes, admitting it and then maybe a little fishing to help relax. There is some good fishing at the Fort,(by the way)

 

[TheBird]

Luckily there is a lot to do just at The Fort alone. There are lots of activities to keep the kids busy and the adults can relax or join in on any of the activities as well.

The summer is super duper hot so a lot of folks go the park early, back swimming or to nap in the afternoon and lunch, then enjoy the evening at the park when the sun goes down. The Fort is the best choice IMO if you have kids for a trip to disney.

 

[becky1960]

Water, buy your water before you go and each can carry a bottle and refill at parks. We take about 5 cases in the summer and have run out, but we go offsite to buy more..

 

[PacNWNomad]

The summer is super duper hot so a lot of folks go the park early

Yes, this is what we were planning on. My cousin went to DL last summer, and that is what they did - went early, left, went back late in the day. It worked well.

This is where you can insert a rant on WHY IN THE WORLD do conferences set up shop in cities at times of year where it is just friggin' miserable? New Orleans in JUNE comes to mind. Not super miserable, but miserable enough!


Signed,
WellAcquaintedWithHeatPacNWNomad

 

[PacNWNomad]

Water, buy your water before you go and each can carry a bottle and refill at parks. We take about 5 cases in the summer and have run out, but we go offsite to buy more..

Score one for the Sigg bottles I just bought on clearance at Target! Yay! I got some rubbermaid blue ice packets, too.

WellHydratedPacNWNomad

 

[cdsulhoff]

WELCOME

IM a newbie as well and learning the tricks and tips of Disney and the ppl here are amazing with the wealth of information that they share! I feel so ready for my trip because of this site!!!

My name is Dana My hubby and I have been married for 13 years!! I have 3 kids 15 (B) 11 (B) and 2 (G). We aregoing to disney for a family vaca and I CANT WAIT!!!!

 

[TheBird]

Another good thing to bring are the rain ponchos from the dollar tree. It always rains in the summer it seems at one point in the day.

One good thing about the rain is a lot of people take cover, but if you don't mind putting a rain poncho on you can usually get on some rides while people are getting out of the rain.

 

[aggielawyer]

Just signed up today and already running up your post count, huh?

Just kidding. Welcome to the boards my friend!

 

[PacNWNomad]

Just signed up today and already running up your post count, huh?

Just kidding. Welcome to the boards my friend!

Yes. You know how I am. I may BE a newbie, but I don't want to *look like a newbie! Heh.

PostingManiacPacNWNomad

 

[PacNWNomad]

Oh, Courtney - the kids are asking for a countdown calendar. Like, one IN the house? Is there somewhere I can print out such an animal?

 

[Pinkee77]

My daughter is allergic (anaphylactic) to peanut and milk (no whey casein, etc).....if you should decide to try any of the restaurants, they can prepare allergy-free meals if you call ahead. There is more info on this in the Disabilities thread.

However, one of the things we love about camping at the Fort is being able to cook our own meals.

Did you know they opened Babycakes at downtown Disney? http://www.babycakesnyc.com/2010/11/its-truebabycakes-nyc-now-in-downtown-disney.html

We haven't tried it yet, but it's at the top of our To-Do list for next weekend!

 

[PacNWNomad]

Did you know they opened Babycakes at downtown Disney?

YES! A Celiac friend just told me about it! I am super excited about that one!



SweetToothPacNWNomad

 

[aggielawyer]

Oh, Courtney - the kids are asking for a countdown calendar. Like, one IN the house? Is there somewhere I can print out such an animal?

You can probably print one. What I did was found a cheap calendar at Target (in the dollar bins) and counted off the days. You can get more elaborate, but I didn't really have time for elaborate. I've heard of people doing those chains where you take off a link too.

 

[motherwild]

I have hauled our camper around the country with all the kids and the dogs by myself, and I'm afraid of WDW.

There.

I said it.

My name is PacNWNomad, and I have DisneyPhobia.

The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem, right?

Signed,
FraidyCatPacNWNomad

Fort Wilderness is the best place I have ever camped after one trip I am sure you wil not have Disney Phobia. You will probably develope a disney addiction to the fort,