And if you tent....

[LegoMom3]

rwenzel2 had a good idea with trying to get things moving in the "telll us about your rig" thread....

But alas, I don't have a rig to write about!

So, who still tents (esp. at FW) and tell us what you use and why you tent!

Me: We are a family of 5 so we use a large Coleman tent. It's technically 3 rooms but we've never closed off the two ends. I like it wide open. I put up a screen house right outside the door to create a large eating & food prep space and it really makes for some nice extra room. Basically we tent for two reasons: a)we still just love it (DH and I were backpackers prior to having kids, and hope to resume it this summer), and b)while we'd love to get into a camper, we've found that many pop-ups actually have less interior space to move around in than our tent, and as of right now we don't have a vehicle to tow anything larger in a hard-side.

So for now, we love our tent and will continue to use it for many happy camping trips!

 

[tinkerbell211]

We will be "tenting" at FW for the 1st time the week before Easter. Just have a 2 room "off" brand tent I bought on clearance @ Walmart.
Haven't camped anywhere in a LONG time. Used to love it. Hoping my bones will still take it.
I've always wanted to camp at FW, but was afraid the heat would be unbearable. Thus the decision to go @ Easter w/ the masses.

 

[clkelley]

I have a Coleman 3-Room tent (L-Shaped) that I use all by my lonesome!! The main room is where I sleep, one of the side rooms is where my clothes are in a plastic drawer set and a portable clothes rack, and the other side room is where my computer lives on a portable table. (I lock it up when I'm away). I have a Wal-Mart RainFly that I put up in front of my tent for my chair and for hanging up my rainsuit and a plastic bin for my shoes. I have graduated to one of those accordian cots with the air mattress. Since my Ft. Wilderness trips are in December, I have an electric blanket and an electric mattress pad that keeps me toasty.

Hubby doesn't camp, so I can't justify a camper for the one Ft. Wilderness trip I take a year. Plus, I'm not real keen on towing. The rest of my camping is with Boy Scouts. I also have a smaller tent for weekend Boy Scout camping trips, as the big one is a pain to set up for just one or two nights.

I don't cook when I camp at Ft. Wilderness, so don't fool with that kind of stuff.

However, when I camp with the Scouts, they have a full portable kitchen with gas stove and oven (somebody took a stove/oven from an old camper, attached a countertop and legs to it and we attach a propane tank to it), dishwashing station, storage bins, picnic table.

Carol

 

[jonimce]

We love tent camping. 13ft X 13ft coleman, threeroom tent, 15 x 17ft screenhouse, Aero bed (more comfy than the beds at WL) down pillow, and every kitchen gadget you can think of. DH is a boy scout leader so he knows all the cool dutch oven cooking tricks. Of course when we are in FW, the only cooking we do is a toaster, hot pot, coffee pot and fridge. Always do meal plans.

We also are backpackers, loving our National Parks. The last two National Park vacations were over 8,000 miles each, so we wouldn't want to tow a camper that far. Altho our van can tow 12,000 pounds. When we are not in a tent, we always do the deluxe resorts, going from one extreme to the other.

 

[clkelley]

Wow, all you folks that still backpack!! That is one thing I don't do anymore. About 4 years ago, I did a horseriding trip where we camped at a different place each night and I discovered that once I set up, I don't want to tear down for at least a couple of days, and I really like to at least have a port a potty where I'm camping. My days of a small shovel and a stick are over

Carol

 

[staylor]

We will be tent camping at FW March 13-17. I have always wanted to camp at FW and we decided since we are driving to FL this trip, we would bring our tent and give it a try. This will be our first visit to FW as well. We have a Coleman 4 room tent. We always leave the rooms open so we have one large room. We are just bringing the bare necessities this time: Tent, air mattress, chairs. No cooking stuff.
I am so excited about this trip and cannot wait!
Staci

 

[jonimce]

You'll love it. FW is one of the best campgrounds we have been to. Now I'm starting to regrete not staying there this summer. Were at WL, so we'll have to hike over to the fort for a visit.

 

[tmanaster]

We love tent camping! We are a family of 6 (kids are 8, 6, and almost 3 yo twins). We have been camping at least one longer trip (usually a week or so) every summer as well as a few long weekends for years. Before we had kids, DH and I used to backpack but it will be at least a couple of years before we can do that again. I also find I have become much more of a chicken as I became a mom. I much prefer to have people near us when we camp. I know it is nuerotic, but I feel vulnerable when there are no other people around. We have a large 3 room tent as well as a dining shelter. We bring air matresses for us all. The thing I love most about tent camping is to be able to relax and really have only three things to worry about- breakfast, lunch and dinner. We are heading to FW in November. We had hoped to get a pop up this summer because we felt it would make spur of the moment trips and short trips much easier. We decided it against it though because we were not sure my minivan could tow a pop up reliably and DH's SUV does not hold us all . So we will be tent camping at FW instead. I have been there as a teenager, but in the cabins. It is one of my fondest childhood vacation memories . I can't wait for this trip! Hopefully the weather will not be too hot. That is my only concern. We were at WDW at POR last summer and we were so tired at the end of the day from the heat it was great to get to our air conditioned room.

 

[LegoMom3]

We love tent camping! We are a family of 6 (kids are 8, 6, and almost 3 yo twins). We have been camping at least one longer trip (usually a week or so) every summer as well as a few long weekends for years. Before we had kids, DH and I used to backpack but it will be at least a couple of years before we can do that again. I also find I have become much more of a chicken as I became a mom. I much prefer to have people near us when we camp. I know it is nuerotic, but I feel vulnerable when there are no other people around. We have a large 3 room tent as well as a dining shelter. We bring air matresses for us all. The thing I love most about tent camping is to be able to relax and really have only three things to worry about- breakfast, lunch and dinner. We are heading to FW in November. We had hoped to get a pop up this summer because we felt it would make spur of the moment trips and short trips much easier. We decided it against it though because we were not sure my minivan could tow a pop up reliably and DH's SUV does not hold us all . So we will be tent camping at FW instead. I have been there as a teenager, but in the cabins. It is one of my fondest childhood vacation memories . I can't wait for this trip! Hopefully the weather will not be too hot. That is my only concern. We were at WDW at POR last summer and we were so tired at the end of the day from the heat it was great to get to our air conditioned room.

Looks like a lot of us who do or used to backpack tend to still feel at home in that tent! And re: preferring to have people around you....Is that a mom thing or what?! I've felt that way for years now but DH and I used to LOVE to get out and away from everyone! Now it just weirds me out and even when we get out backpacking again, we'll probaby stay at a designated area rather than blaze our own remote spot (not hard in the Whites anyway....getting too crowded and there's hardly anywhere left that you ARE allowed to camp in... )

Maybe we'll see you there in November! When are you going? 4th - 11th for us!

 

[babytrees]

We are doing the first time camping at WDW this July...We have a one room Coleman dome tent and a meshed in canopy thingie(can you tell we got it specifically for our trip and haven't used it yet?) The dome tent is because mom (me) is clausterphobic and this was the only one...including "roomed" ones that I could stand being in for more than a minute!! We've got air mattresses and bedding and comfy chairs and we are set!!!

 

[jonimce]

Don't worry about the heat. Just pick up a couple cheep box fans. We always camp at the fort in August and they work fine. pixiedus

 

[clkelley]

Make sure you set up that screen house before you get there and make sure all the parts are there!!!

Carol

 

[babytrees]

Thanks for the suggestions!!! We have a little "cyclone" fan that was bought specifically for camping. The screen house will go up probably May for the girls birthday.

 

[doughcwjt]

I am not a camper but wouldn't mind giving it a try. In the last 6 years we have stayed at resorts ranging from Riverside to Grand Floridian. Just a few questions about camping at FW. Where are the bathrooms and are they clean? Is it noisey staying in the campground in a tent? What about all your things.aren't you worried about someone helping themselves to your things. We are not campers and I doubt my wife would try it, but maybe just maybe I could convince her to try it fot a night or two.

 

[LegoMom3]

I am not a camper but wouldn't mind giving it a try. In the last 6 years we have stayed at resorts ranging from Riverside to Grand Floridian. Just a few questions about camping at FW. Where are the bathrooms and are they clean? Is it noisey staying in the campground in a tent? What about all your things.aren't you worried about someone helping themselves to your things. We are not campers and I doubt my wife would try it, but maybe just maybe I could convince her to try it fot a night or two.

Well, if you've never camped before, FW is probably the best place to start! (or not, depending on your point of view...It could also spoil you on anyplace else! ).

Each loop has at least one Comfort Station (bath house). I believe Disney is in the process of upgrading them, and while they were nice before, you likely won't find better now!

As for noise, sure, you're going to hear more than if you were in a hard-side camper, but unless you are a really, really light sleeper or get a site up front right near a bus stop, it's no more than anyplace else. I like the noise you CAN hear like crickets, birds, and even a gentle rain on the roof.

Finally, you just don't leave valuables in the tent where they can be accessed. I'd lock them in my vehicle, and covered or out of sight. As for your general camping stuff, it's highly unlikely that anyone will walk off with that.

Most of all, you just want to enjoy the experience of a place as wonderful as FW!

 

[tmanaster]

Looks like a lot of us who do or used to backpack tend to still feel at home in that tent! And re: preferring to have people around you....Is that a mom thing or what?! I've felt that way for years now but DH and I used to LOVE to get out and away from everyone! Now it just weirds me out and even when we get out backpacking again, we'll probaby stay at a designated area rather than blaze our own remote spot (not hard in the Whites anyway....getting too crowded and there's hardly anywhere left that you ARE allowed to camp in... )

Maybe we'll see you there in November! When are you going? 4th - 11th for us!

Hi there! We will just miss you. We will be there the 16th-26th. I cannot wait! I'm glad to know I am not the only one who has tamed down as I get older! My DH thinks I am crazy! Anyway, have a GREAT trip!

 

[jonimce]

At what age are we taming down? Tour scaring me. I turn 50 in a few weeks and I don't want to stop backpacking, ever. Last summer I hiked the Narrows in Zion and several day hikes. Summer 2007, I hope to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon,and the Hipity Falls.

 

[tmanaster]

At what age are we taming down? Tour scaring me. I turn 50 in a few weeks and I don't want to stop backpacking, ever. Last summer I hiked the Narrows in Zion and several day hikes. Summer 2007, I hope to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon,and the Hipity Falls.

You are so funny! For me it's not so much age taming me down (I turn 30 next month ), it's my mama bear instinct! Many of the things I do on my own without a second thought, I feel nervous to do with my kiddoes. I do feel much better about some things as they get older and more predictable. You've inspired me! I'll tell DH there may be hope for me yet to join him in the wild again!

 

[LegoMom3]

At what age are we taming down? Tour scaring me. I turn 50 in a few weeks and I don't want to stop backpacking, ever. Last summer I hiked the Narrows in Zion and several day hikes. Summer 2007, I hope to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon,and the Hipity Falls.

It's not an age-based "taming down;" I just turned 40 and have every intention of backpacking again and hope to continue for years to come (haven't done it in some years simply because of being busy with our boys - we've taken them all car-camping, though, from their earliest days). It's not being out in the wilds - I love that! I'd like to think that everyone else out there with a pack on their back is harmless, but unfortunately in this day we live in, you just have to use more caution. I just feel safer if I'm tenting in an area where there are others around (like the designated areas up in the White Mts. of NH or some of the similar places in the Adirondacks of NY). During the day when I'm hiking, the more solitude the better. But unless I am somewhere SO remote that there's just no one else around (and certainly NOT the case here in the northeast....but I did have that pleasure in Alaska some years ago) I just prefer to bunk down amidst a group!

 

[jonimce]

OK, now I understand. I take my baby backpacking with me. It was him and Dh who got me into it. My baby is about to turn 19. 3 DH's are all married. I hope to hike Alaska someday.