Are we nuts?

[rayelias]

OK - we've never camped before. No, really. Never.

We were thinking about camping at FW. We were going to borrow a tent and bring some sleeping bags, pack it up and fly down.

1. Are we nuts? Having never camped before, is this feasable? Remember, we won't have a car or trailer or camper. Will our stuff be safe (clothes, toiletries, etc?)? Is there a place to put them?

2. How close are the rest rooms? Supposing you get the urge at 2AM - is it far? Is it lit?

3. Any times of years you would NOT recommend going? I don't want to be too hot or too cold in the middle of the night.

4. What tips can you offer first time campers? I figured, if we're going to try it, might as well be at WDW. If anything major went wrong, we could count on Disney to be there - unlike camping in the middle of the woods somewhere.

 

[corve77t]

There are lots of little things you will need to bring. Are you going to ship a box of supplies to fortwood? Pillows, sleeping bags. towels for swimming, or bathing,etc.............................................

 

[clkelley]

Yes, it is possible to fly and camp at Ft. Wilderness

See the following picture. That is one person's luggage allowance on Delta.

I used a plastic footlocker, a large duffle, a carryon size roller suitcase, and a medium sized backpack.

I had the following:

Two tents
Two rainshelters
air mattress
Linens
Chair
Lantern
Stool
Clothing
Toiletries
Electric Blanket
40 ft extension cord
Power Strip
Alarm Clock
Shower Shoes
Camera
Laptop
Cell Phone and Charger
Air Mattress Pump
Towels
Washcloths
Quarters for Laundry
Laundry detergent
Dryer Sheets

In the footlocker

1 tent, one rainshelter, my sheets, blanket, and pillow, stool, and other small stuff that could be stuffed in the corners.

In the large duffle, 1 tent, one rainshelter, my chair, and stool, and other small stuff and clothing that could be stuffed in the corners.

In my carryon, I had anything that was small but heavy such as my lantern, air mattress, air mattress pump, extra batteries, coins for laundry

In the backpack, had my toiletries, and anything else small, but heavy.

With two of you, you have twice the luggage allowance, so it should be easier.

I don't cook at Ft. Wilderness, so didn't need any cooking stuff.

 

[poohbearwithme]

Yes, it is possible to fly and camp at Ft. Wilderness

See the following picture. That is one person's luggage allowance on Delta.

I used a plastic footlocker, a large duffle, a carryon size roller suitcase, and a medium sized backpack.

I had the following:

Two tents
Two rainshelters
air mattress
Linens
Chair
Lantern
Stool
Clothing
Toiletries
Electric Blanket
40 ft extension cord
Power Strip
Alarm Clock
Shower Shoes
Camera
Laptop
Cell Phone and Charger
Air Mattress Pump
Towels
Washcloths
Quarters for Laundry
Laundry detergent
Dryer Sheets

In the footlocker

1 tent, one rainshelter, my sheets, blanket, and pillow, stool, and other small stuff that could be stuffed in the corners.

In the large duffle, 1 tent, one rainshelter, my chair, and stool, and other small stuff and clothing that could be stuffed in the corners.

In my carryon, I had anything that was small but heavy such as my lantern, air mattress, air mattress pump, extra batteries, coins for laundry

In the backpack, had my toiletries, and anything else small, but heavy.

With two of you, you have twice the luggage allowance, so it should be easier.

I don't cook at Ft. Wilderness, so didn't need any cooking stuff.

Carol, I have to say that I'm very impressed. Rayelias as for your questions. (please note that my answers come from someone who loves to camp). I would highly recommend you that before you get on a plane fly down to Disney with all you camping stuff that you try a quick weekend trip to a nearby state park or other camp ground with facilites. You need to see if camping is for you. And by the way you are not nuts. While I believe vacations should be a time for trying something new you must remember that camping is adventure within itself. (but that is part of the fun). The summer months would be a great time of the year to avoid especially if your not use to camping. Besides the heat, there are those late afternoon thundershowers that Florida is famous far. (we also won't mention that this is the heart of hurricane season). There is saying for the weather down south. "If don't the weather stick around for 10 minutes and it will change." Late fall, end of October, November and early December, and early Spring, March, April and early May, are good months to camp but again remember what I said about the weather. You could be in a jacket one day and wearing the shorts the next. As for the 2am urges: Well you can pretty much say if you get them at home, you will get them at a campground and if you don't you won't. But remember if you do get them that you have to get out of tent, find a flash light, find you passport key (because the bathrooms are locked during the late night and you need your key to access them) and walk to bathroom (so with that being said you need to give yourself some time-you can not be one of those you stay in bed until the last moment type persons when camping ) That's why I recommend staying for a weekend trip in a campground with facilities. See you can handle getting up walking to the bathroom early in morning and taking your showers in a public bathroom. I would hate for you to fly all the way down there and decide that camping is not for you then feel you either have to tough it out and stay and be unhappy or pay again for a hotel room when you have paid for a site at the Fort (which by the way is not the cheapest campground) Now don't get me wrong, Disney's Fort Wilderness is the campground of campgrounds. Camping can be one of the most fun things you can do and camping a Disney, well what else can I say about that except "WOW". Whatever you decide I hope you have fun because in the end that what Disney is all about.

 

[poohbearwithme]

PS: My husband would like to add his 2 cents:
1. He recommends several camping trips before trying to camp far from home.
2. Make a list of everything you forget or don't have while camping. You will learn more about what you need and don't.
3. Camp with someone with experience camping.
4. If you do camp in summer remember the bug spray...lots of bug spray.

 

[clkelley]

Let me also add a few things I forgot in my previous post.

As you can see in the picture, I brought painters plastic and placed it under the tents. Just throw that away after the trip. It keeps your groundcloth clean so you can pack it all back up.

I brought two tents because for a whole week, I didn't want to be crammed in my tent with my clothes and stuff. One tent is where I slept, the other tent held my clothes and other stuff.

Set up the tent you are borrowing ahead of time and make sure you know how to set it up and see if it you feel it is big enough for you.

Don't rely on the tent package on how many people the tent will sleep. Divide that number by at least half!! (They mean 5ft kids right next to each other with no gear!!)

Disney's comfort stations are some of the nicest in the industry. They are well lit and well maintained.

There is a men's side, women's side and a laundry room in the middle. Make sure you EACH have your own toiletries so you can shower at the same time, (unless of course you agree that one of you has a night shower, and the other has a morning shower). The shower houses have plenty of plugs and power for hair dryers, curling irons, electric razors, etc.

The extension cord needs to be an outdoor cord.

Some other handy items are cable ties for tying off the extension cords

I use those biner clips to hang my lantern from under the shelter. Also, if there is rain, if you set up the shelter at the entrance of your tent, you can shuck the rain gear outside and hang it from the shelter.

I would also bring some garbage bags. There are cans and recycle bins around the loops, but not necessarily right next to each site. This way you don't have to run to the garbage can for every little piece of trash.

Oh, I forgot to mention a stake mallet.

As the previous poster mentioned, if you need to run to the comfort station between midnite and 6am, you MUST have your resort ID card with you as the doors are locked.

You can request a site near the comfort station.

The loops for tents are loop 1500 and 2000. Loop 1500 is small and just about every site is close to the comfort station.

Loop 2000 is large and has two comfort stations, but it is possible to be a good distance from one in that loop.

I would recommend late October, early November for the best camping weather at Ft. Wilderness. I usually go in December. It can get cold, but I use an electric blanket and sleep in sweats and am usually pretty comfortable. No matter what the weather, open up your tent doors and use a fan during the day to air out the humidity. When it is cold, and you are sleeping don't close up that tent all the way, leave a window cracked for airflow. Your own breathing will create enough humidity to make you cold!!

Another thing you might want to bring is a collapsible cooler. That way you can keep sodas and/or water cool. Ice is dispensed in machines near the comfort stations for $2.00 a bag.

 

[rayelias]

Wow. Thanks for the very informative replies!

May I ask, what do we do with our personal items when we're at the parks? Since we won't have a car/camper to lock things in, will our luggage be safe? I'd hate to come home from Magic Kingdom and find out our clothes, tent, sleeping bags, etc are gone. Or, is there a "code of honor" among campers, and I shouldn't worry.

Keep the tips coming!

 

[clkelley]

You really don't need to worry about basic items such as clothing, toiletries, camping stuff. I've camped at Ft. Wilderness without a car on 4 different occasions and NEVER had anything bothered.

If you are really worried, you could put a small lock through the zipper pulls on your tent. (Most tent doors have two zipper pulls, lock them together). I did that the first year I tent camped at Disney, but really found it more trouble than it was worth.

Anything more valuable, you could lock inside the footlocker inside your tent or drop it with the safekeeping boxes at the front desk.

 

[clkelley]

FYI, the plastic footlocker I mention is most readily available in the automotive section of Wal-Mart for less than $20. It is airline legal size, and can be locked.

 

[corve77t]

my camper does not lock, and knowbody has ever bothered anything in it.

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

I agree with the other poster the recommended taking one trial weekend camp trip before your Disney Trip. This will give you feel if you like it or not. Have you considered getting a rental car? I am not sure when you are planning your trip, but if you have enough time you could get a rental car at low price. Back in April, I got a mid-sized SUV for $106 including taxes and fees. If you use the discount codes, you get some good deals. At least if you had a car and you felt like you needed something, you could run to the Walmart and pick it up. Plus you might want to pick up some bottled water or cold drinks. To answer your queston, no you are not nuts. You came to the right place for advice.

 

[magicforever]

You are not crazy!!! Do go camping at least once before hand. You do not have to an experienced camper with you. You will figure it out when you go on your own. We overpacked our first camping trip. Having some kind of transportaion to Wal-Mart is huge. You will forget something. I would get the dining package, if it is possible. It will give you a sence of luxary and good food while on this vacation. Just a suggestion. I know it is expensive. I would not camp without it though. Good luck and have fun.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I'd definitely try it out beforehand! I've gone camping twice and am still working on figuring out what I need to have and what I don't. In your case you are going to need to travel light. I think its hard to figure out how to travel light when you haven't traveled at all.

If you dont want to go to a camp ground you could camp in your (or someone else's) back yard. Camping 101 says set up the tent before you leave so you can try an overnighter while you are at it.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Personally, I can think of nothing that could ruin a Disney trip more than combining it with a first camping trip with borrowed equipment. One camping trip prior to going I believe is insufficient. With all the excitement of Disney and trying to go to and enjoy the parks, the last thing you need is to be trying to iron out your camping technique. Get the technique down first with a FEW camping trips, then consider combining it with a Disney trip. Everyone who has tent camped has experienced that first trip in the rain and knows how miserable that can be - would you really like that to have been your Disney vacation? Just my 2 cents.

 

[loveDmouse]

I agree with ftwildernessguy. I would absolutely not make it my first camping trip. You should have multiple times under your belt for sure.
Good luck!

 

[minkydog]

Wow. Thanks for the very informative replies!

May I ask, what do we do with our personal items when we're at the parks? Since we won't have a car/camper to lock things in, will our luggage be safe? I'd hate to come home from Magic Kingdom and find out our clothes, tent, sleeping bags, etc are gone. Or, is there a "code of honor" among campers, and I shouldn't worry.

Keep the tips coming!

I have been camping all my life and never had anything stolen, anywhere. I dunno why Of course, we don't take valuable stuff with us, just our basics. And a lot of our basics came from the thrift store so I figure if someone wants to tote it away, I can replace most of our stuff for under $50

 

[tazdeb]

While it wasn't our first time camping, the first time we ever used our new pop-up was at FW. Bought it on wednesday, drove 1400 miles to Fw on Saturday- Sunday. What a great place for a first timer to learn about camping...I remember it took me 12 tries just to back it into our site, and what now takes us under an hour to setup took all morning that time. But still if we got stuck figuring something out ,we would stop look around and knew we were in Disney.....I would rent a car like others recomend....other than that keep your sense of humor and go for it......TAZ

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

Very interesting! I want to camp, been camping alot, but want to fly down. I may decide to just eat out. Its mostly because its the cheaper way to stay onsite. I don't want to drive down. It seems as though others fly camping stuff down. I was thinking Feb. I have a small electric heater that heats up my tent very nicely but is cool to the touch and shuts off it tipped over. Any other suggestions?

 

[clkelley]

Very interesting! I want to camp, been camping alot, but want to fly down. I may decide to just eat out. Its mostly because its the cheaper way to stay onsite. I don't want to drive down. It seems as though others fly camping stuff down. I was thinking Feb. I have a small electric heater that heats up my tent very nicely but is cool to the touch and shuts off it tipped over. Any other suggestions?

There are too many great restaurants at WDW!! I don't cook when I camp there!! Many people have used the small electric heaters in their tents, I'm just too phobic to do so. I use an electric mattress pad and electric blanket on my air mattress to stay warm. Even in the winter, also bring a fan to run during the day to help combat the humidity.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

There are too many great restaurants at WDW!! I don't cook when I camp there!! Many people have used the small electric heaters in their tents, I'm just too phobic to do so. I use an electric mattress pad and electric blanket on my air mattress to stay warm. Even in the winter, also bring a fan to run during the day to help combat the humidity.

The electric blanket is a good idea. If I were driving down, I would definitly eat more at the campsite and eat out less, and of course bring more stuff , but I am trying to do a quick trip down, the kids don't want to go, so I thought maybe camping would be a good idea for me. We are going down for Christmas 2007, this will be the family, and stay at ASM. But I thought of a get away for myself, I have a airline voucher that I have to use. I was making a list of things I would HAVE to bring, and it does sound doable when flying. I would bring just the basics of what I actually need. Any more ideas let me know. This may be a silly question for some, but is it safe for a woman alone to camp there?