A Question for all Full Time RV-ers

[disney_rv_er]

Does anyone here fulltime rv in Orlando. I wasn't sure if the campground resort at Disney would allow this? But if they don't does anyone know of any rv resorts or campgrounds for full-timing near Disney that are nice. One more question to any full-timers this is all new to me and my husband. We are considering becoming full-timers for a while until we find our "oasis". Right now whe own a home (we are currently trying to sell) and a small travel trailer. We are looking to upgrade to a 5th wheel or motorhome and travel the United states until we find property to build a homesite on. I am just a little hesitant on doing the full-timing, being that you don't hear much about it and the economy in it's current state. But we both love to travel and I was just wondering how many people are out there that do full-time? My husband and I are in our late 20's with no children, and I know that it's not too popular among our age group being that we aren't retired and do have to find work where ever we do travel. But please anyone who full-times retired or working give some advice if you have the time I would love to hear from you! I just thought I would ask all of the DISers here because I used to get awesome information from you all!! I haven't logged on in a while and have forgotten my username/password so I made a new account. Anyhow any information or advice would be wonderful!! And I really really appreciate your time.
Thanks so much!!

 

[des1954]

Try Tropical Palms on US192E and Encore on US192W. Both are nice parks and offer monthly/seasonal rates.

We full-timed for 2 years while selling one house & building another. I LOVED it and could go back to it in a heartbeat. DH was okay with it, but prefers doing trips instead of full-timing it.

It's a different life-style, but a fun one! You're basically young, no kids, free to do as you wish. I'd say go for it, but hold back on some of the $$ from the sale of your home for a down-payment just in case you find that special place you want to settle into!

Don't worry about blending in with the retirees. Camping retirees are just little kids in old bodies! They will welcome your youthfulness.

 

[DaveInTN]

You may want to check out the forums at http://rv.net. In particular, they have an entire forum dedicated to full-timing. LOTS of folks do it, and there are even some in your age group that contribute to the forum.

 

[ilovetheg8rs]

I'm very jealous! I am soooo ready to full-time it! Are you asking how long you can actually stay at Disney during a single visit?

Tam

 

[Shan-man]

You can do long-term stays at the Fort, and many folks do. You have to break it into consecutive 30 day bookings. They used to impose a 9 month maximum stay, but that seems to have been done away with. The Fort does not offer any discounted rates for extended stays however. To do a year in a Preferred site runs about $28,600 and in a Premium about $32,700 (including tax) according to last years rates and seasons, so it costs about as much as a lot of folks' mortgages.

 

[medic9016]

Here is a website of a couple that fulltime. They have good info and links to some good website.

 

[twinklebug]

You can do long-term stays at the Fort, and many folks do. You have to break it into consecutive 30 day bookings. They used to impose a 9 month maximum stay, but that seems to have been done away with. The Fort does not offer any discounted rates for extended stays however. To do a year in a Preferred site runs about $28,600 and in a Premium about $32,700 (including tax) according to last years rates and seasons, so it costs about as much as a lot of folks' mortgages.

True, but no water, electric, home owners insurance or property taxes. Doesn't sound so bad now does it?

I know Disney has rules against anyone staying in a DVC unit for longer than ... I want to say it was 3 weeks at a time. The idea is Florida has residency laws that Disney's trying to keep people from crossing the line on. Not sure if it applies to RVs.

 

[clkelley]

It would be a bit more expensive for us.

Just did a rough add up. For mortgage, insurance, taxes, utilities, home phone, cable, and yard and home maintenance, it costs us roughly $17K per year to live in our home

 

[Robundrh2o]

My parents have been full timers for the last 6 years. They usually aternate between Amicalola State Park in North Georgia (close to us) and St James County park in Charleston SC (close to my sister). They have a 34 ft class A (winnebago I think) and have all the room they need. In addition to being full time they also do "Work-Camping". This is where you recieve full hook up amentities (parking, water, electric, etc) for 20 hrs worth or work per campsite per week. The work is basically checking the sites and making sure they are clean after others check out (no big physical activity, but the routine varies from park to park). This allows them to keep busy in their retirement, meet all kinds of new people and get all their utilities paid for while they are parked.

 

[LuckyinGa]

My husband and I have been planning on going full time, once the kids left home, for our entire marriage. We were ready to sell the house last year but the realtor told us if we didn't have to sell we should hold on to it so that's what we are doing.

We aren't retirement age yet but we are lucky to own our own business and we can run that business from the laptop in the RV. We've spoken to many full timers during our travels and many of them do the work camper programs where they work a few hours a week (usually 20) for free campground stays.

Here is a good link: http://www.workamper.com/

Many of the national parks also let you stay for free for working for several hours and the KOA campgrounds do as well.

The fact that you can go full time at your age is wonderful. Everyone is so friendly and helpful out there. You'll have a blast.

Happy Travels.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Hmm interesting.
I'd never thought about full timing it -ever.
But just our house pymt, insurance and property taxes per year adds up to just over the preferred site per year price quoted above. And that's not counting utilities, water, etc. Interesting.....

I always told Jeff I'd never move from Texas- then later amended that -that the only way I'd ever move from Texas is if we moved to FL near the mouse but still wasn't really meaning it.. the weather is pretty close but it sure does rain a lot there. I dunno. But gosh that sounds interesting -after the kids are grown. LOL I think I'd go nuts living in our TT ALL the time with the kids! A bit too crowded for me. LOL But it's still interesting- something I'd never thought about before.

Are you considered a resident of FL if you fulltime there? (or anywhere you full time) How would you get mail? I guess a post office box somewhere. Just interesting to think about these things. LOL I did wonder, once upon a time, if some people stayed at FW like all the time or most of the year.

 

[disney_rv_er]

Wow you all have such wonderful information!! Thank you all so much and keep it coming . I think what interests me the most about full-timing at Disney for a little bit (until the homesite is found and built) is possibly working for Disney as well as living at the Fort Wilderness Campground. We camped at the Fort last year for a week and LOVED it!! And you feel really safe and it's beautiful and hey it's DISNEY!!!!! I wonder if you work for Disney if they give you any perks like maybe staying there full-time for half price or something? I do think it would be an adventure to full-time for a while until we found where we wanted to stay permanently. A great start would be Disney work there, stay there, play there Let me know what ya'll think???

 

[des1954]

Wow you all have such wonderful information!! Thank you all so much and keep it coming . I think what interests me the most about full-timing at Disney for a little bit (until the homesite is found and built) is possibly working for Disney as well as living at the Fort Wilderness Campground. We camped at the Fort last year for a week and LOVED it!! And you feel really safe and it's beautiful and hey it's DISNEY!!!!! I wonder if you work for Disney if they give you any perks like maybe staying there full-time for half price or something? I do think it would be an adventure to full-time for a while until we found where we wanted to stay permanently. A great start would be Disney work there, stay there, play there Let me know what ya'll think???

I tried working for Disney during one of our extended stays. I wouldn't recommend it. It took away a little of the Disney magic for me. Tiggerinbama who frequents the boards did this last summer. Maybe she would tell you a different story. As for me...the only perks I received were the standard perks every hourly person gets. No discount on the campsite. Disney, like every corporation in this economy, is cutting back on what employees receive.

 

[bord1niowa]

Of course staying at Fort Wilderness would be the best desire but if you were to stay at another campground in the area it may surprise you the difference in cost. We have been looking at campgrounds in that area and they run anywhere from $300 per month to maybe $450 per month on an annual basis. As little as 1/10th of what it would cost at Fort Wilderness. This would keep you close enough to visit WDW and maybe move that camper in there frequently at less cost than staying there full-time. If you like moving around, then a campground membership, bought from a broker, not directly from the campground may entitle you to rates of about $10 a day at some of the private campgrounds. They have a membership called Coast to Coast and one other that I know of. In that, you have to move every two weeks though, but can usually come back after 1 week. We are planning on full-timing when we hit 55 in 2 1/2 years and have been researching this for some time now. Can't wait! If you like the midwest there are places in North central and western Illinois that are as low as $150 a month plus your electric usage metered. We went to an RV show and found many campgrounds offering this. Good luck!