Are you allowed to check in early at FW?

[lovemy4sweeties]

I read in the FAQ that check in is at 1pm. I'm trying to organize our schedule and I was thinking of doing one of the parks on our arrival day. If 1pm is the earliest we can check in, by the time we set everything up, it may not be worth it to use one of our park passes for the remainder of the day. Maybe I'll have to reorganize and have our first day at the parks on our 2nd day. What does everyone else do?


Kerri
dd 6
ds 5
ds 2.5
ds 1

 

[2goofycampers]

we always use our first day as a set-up, enjoy the Fort, dinner at Cape May Cafe and relax day.

 

[1goofy1]

Just an idea...You could use that day and see the fireworks at Magic Kingdom later that day as a start to your vacation.

 

[bord1niowa]

Since this will be the first vist for a few people in our group, when we get there we will either pull into our spot, if it's ready, or just leave the rig in the overflow until we come back in the afternoon after going to MK for a few hours. There is no way the kids could wait any longer than they had to. We'll set up camp in the afternoon and get supplies as needed and then go back into a late night at whichever park has EMH on that night. Set up only takes about 1 hour from start to finish, less if everyone helps. It would be difficult for us and the kids to see the MK across the lake and not go the first day.

 

[terri01p]

Our first day is always just a set-up camp day ;

What we did was set up camp, then took the golf cart around and checked out the campground, then we went to Beaches and Cream ate a great burger and had ice cream, topped off the day with fireworks at the beach and tryed to get in bed at a fairly decent time.

Wish I was there right now !

 

[lovemy4sweeties]

Since this will be the first vist for a few people in our group, when we get there we will either pull into our spot, if it's ready, or just leave the rig in the overflow until we come back in the afternoon after going to MK for a few hours. There is no way the kids could wait any longer than they had to. We'll set up camp in the afternoon and get supplies as needed and then go back into a late night at whichever park has EMH on that night. Set up only takes about 1 hour from start to finish, less if everyone helps. It would be difficult for us and the kids to see the MK across the lake and not go the first day.

I agree, I don't think my kids will be able to wait until the next day. Who am I fooling, I don't think dh or I will be able to wait either LOL. I was planning on buying an 8 day pass and stay 10 nights, but since it's not that much to upgrade to a 10 pass, I'm thinking I might do that. We may extend our stay at the Fort to 11 or 12 nights (this will be cheaper for us than getting Hopper passes). That way, even if we only get in half a day the first day, it really wont be a waste of a ticket. How early can you park in the overflow. I wouldn't mind going for the first part of the day to MK and coming back to set up just after dinner. Hopefully, we'll be all set up in time for the campfire and movie.

I can't wait. January seems soooooooooo far away!!!




Kerri, dh Dan
dd 6
ds 5
ds 2.5
ds 1

 

[terri01p]

That's exactly what I would do upgrading to a 10 day pass is but a few dollars more.

 

[lovemy4sweeties]

Now I'm thinking that maybe we should stay at the Fort a few days more. Maybe 13 or 14 nights. It's such a long drive (from Toronto, On area), that maybe we should make the most of it and stay as long as possible. With a 10 day pass and a 14 day stay, that will give us plenty of down time at the Fort.

 

[kmurawski]

The longer the better

 

[HappyCamper87]

Just added one more night to our October stay. Even though we're close, we don't do a real trip that often. October will be our first time back to Epcot since 2004.

I'm going to make the most of this trip that I possibly can because I know we wont' get back again for this type of stay anyway for many years. Thank goodness for the possiblity of weekends at the fort only and day trips to the parks on rare occassions.

I'm also trying to figure out what exactly to do our first day, Sunday. I want it to be relaxing but I would also like to do a nice meal that night to celebrate our vacation, just me and DH. Considering Artist Point because the menu looks amazing and Trails End because it would be very convenient.

Any thoughts about a first day plan would be helpful to me too.

 

[2goofycampers]

Just added one more night to our October stay. Even though we're close, we don't do a real trip that often. October will be our first time back to Epcot since 2004.

I'm going to make the most of this trip that I possibly can because I know we wont' get back again for this type of stay anyway for many years. Thank goodness for the possiblity of weekends at the fort only and day trips to the parks on rare occassions.

I'm also trying to figure out what exactly to do our first day, Sunday. I want it to be relaxing but I would also like to do a nice meal that night to celebrate our vacation, just me and DH. Considering Artist Point because the menu looks amazing and Trails End because it would be very convenient.

Any thoughts about a first day plan would be helpful to me too.

we would go with Artist Point, great restaurant.

 

[HappyCamper87]

we would go with Artist Point, great restaurant.

Thank you!

I was leaning towards that anyway. This will be our first trip to the fort. I'm thinking we take the boat to the Wilderness Lodge, is that right?

 

[2goofycampers]

Thank you!

I was leaning towards that anyway. This will be our first trip to the fort. I'm thinking we take the boat to the Wilderness Lodge, is that right?

Yes. You could also walk the path or bike ride over there.

 

[HappyCamper87]

Okay, I don't want to be annoying, but what is the nicest way to get to WL?

Bikes are out, but we will have the golf cart.

Is it a long walk on the path?

I really do appreciate your input.

 

[2goofycampers]

You can't take the golf cart. I would say it is a 20 minute walk from the Fort to the Lodge. There are 2 ways to go, there is a sidewalk along the road which starts by the bus stop at the petting farm [ pony rides]. There is also a sand path by the beach at the marina. During the daylight the paths are nice. At night I would stick to the boat.

 

[bord1niowa]

Do the boats still stop at WL?

 

[lovemy4sweeties]

Okay, I don't want to be annoying, but what is the nicest way to get to WL?

Bikes are out, but we will have the golf cart.

Is it a long walk on the path?

I really do appreciate your input.

Great questions, thanks . It will save me from having to ask them later LOL.

And, thank you for the responses

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Do the boats still stop at WL?

Yep!

 

[All7OfUs]

We did. That is we went through the check in process at about 11:00, but we couldn't get our site number until 1:00. They gave a us a number to call to get that. We just parked our vehicles in the overflow lot and went ahead and did some fort stuff for a couple hours (Tri Circle D Ranch, playground, getting our re-fillable mugs, etc...) then checked back. We could have left the cars there until evening, but our plans were open on check in day.

 

[lovemy4sweeties]

We did. That is we went through the check in process at about 11:00, but we couldn't get our site number until 1:00. They gave a us a number to call to get that. We just parked our vehicles in the overflow lot and went ahead and did some fort stuff for a couple hours (Tri Circle D Ranch, playground, getting our re-fillable mugs, etc...) then checked back. We could have left the cars there until evening, but our plans were open on check in day.

Oh, that's great! Thanks Liesa.