arriving at the fort early

[rlcartie]

first time we will be camping at fort wilderness...we are leaving new orleans on saturday march 5th with fort reservations starting on sunday the 6th. If we arrive around 1am sunday would we be allowed in the overflow lot for zzz's and to explore sunday till site is ready?

 

[mnsprk]

That is normally not a problem.

 

[2goofycampers]

We have checked in as early as 7am before, hopefully, you can do the same.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

May the Magic be with you !

 

[rlcartie]

by check in, you mean go to your site?
we were debating trying to get 2 hours from disney saturday night and then head in around noon on sunday. then just ride around the parks and maybe downtown disney before coming back and setting up camp.

but if we could just get to the fort late saturday night and sleep in the camper, that may be a better option

 

[4mickey2]

a couple weeks ago we arrived around 3 am, parked in overflow, unloaded the car and cart-then went loopin'..

 

[2goofycampers]

by check in, you mean go to your site?
we were debating trying to get 2 hours from disney saturday night and then head in around noon on sunday. then just ride around the parks and maybe downtown disney before coming back and setting up camp.

but if we could just get to the fort late saturday night and sleep in the camper, that may be a better option

Yes, go to your site, sorry should have clarified. I'd go as far as I could without getting too tired.

 

[stpetedisneydad]

Last year we arrived about 7AM. Our site was ready so we went ahead and set up. Other times we've arrived at varying hours of the morning and our sites haven't been ready so they took our cell number and called us when they were.

 

[beagles7278]

first time we will be camping at fort wilderness...we are leaving new orleans on saturday march 5th with fort reservations starting on sunday the 6th. If we arrive around 1am sunday would we be allowed in the overflow lot for zzz's and to explore sunday till site is ready?

Let me know how it goes for you, I would like to do the same thing in Novemeber. We normally stop in Valdosta, Ga for the night and arrive early morning, but I would prefer just to keep driving and get to FW around 2am.

 

[ftwildernessrick]

Don't try to arrive too early (like before midnight), beacuse there is a chance they may not let you boon dock till check in. Technically, they don't allow boon docking, but if you arrive a few hours early & your site is not ready, they will tell you to park in the overflow parking & they will call/text you when it is ready.

What I am saying is that there is no guarantee they will let you park almost overnight. It just depends on if they are being strict on the rules or not. I have arrived at 2:00 before & was allowed to park & wait, and I have arrived at 4:00 and was told to come back later.

 

[rlcartie]

sounds 50/50...

i think we are now going to leave a little later on saturday and try to arrive at the Fort around 2-3am, pile into the camper for the next couple of hours and get some rest then head out to Downtown Disney and ride the monorail around until the site is ready.

 

[TheBird]

Just something to keep in mind, if they do allow you to go to your site before sunrise or the wee hours of the morning your neighbors may not be too happy.

I know a lot of folks have complained to Disney about letting people check in and set up in the middle of the night. We have not had that experience, but I don't think I would be crazy about back up beeping and too much noise in the middle of the night. Just something to think about.

 

[krimi]

We had to wait in overflow (we as in me, popup and pickup, etc ) while site was being, basically hosed and blown off a few times. Sometimes the communication between cleanup crew and Disney and your cell phone can get delayed. If you can find out the actual site number early, you can have the wife swing by, if site is empty I would move right in..cleanup crew will just spruce up around you. Better than waiting for that 1:00 pm call back.

 

[rlcartie]

Just something to keep in mind, if they do allow you to go to your site before sunrise or the wee hours of the morning your neighbors may not be too happy.

I know a lot of folks have complained to Disney about letting people check in and set up in the middle of the night. We have not had that experience, but I don't think I would be crazy about back up beeping and too much noise in the middle of the night. Just something to think about.

i am not neccessarily wanting to get to my site that early, i have no problem waiting till 1:00 check in time, i would just rather get there and be able to sleep in the camper for a few hours till kids get up.

I like that idea better than locating a place a few hours away, pulling off, setting up at night, waking up and breaking camp to go 2 or so hours to the fort where we will most likely be in overflow anyway!

i know once we get on the road and i am that close....i am not going to want to stop!!

 

[rlcartie]

i also meant to add....we have not "requested" a site and i am sure we are a bit late to the party on this one? is it worth requesting or just waiting till we check in to request a site? do they give you options at certain loops or is it you get what you get? my kids are scared to death of dogs and i am afraid i may end up on a pet loop...

 

[retired and happy]

You may find dogs in most any loop these days. The designated pet loops don't seem to limit any placements. Of course all dogs are supposed to be on leashs, but we saw at least two wandering free on our last visit.

I'm glad you clarified that you don't necessarily want to move in early. My family sleeps late, so 6-7 a.m. noise is not wanted, much less 3 a.m.

 

[rlcartie]

You may find dogs in most any loop these days. The designated pet loops don't seem to limit any placements. Of course all dogs are supposed to be on leashs, but we saw at least two wandering free on our last visit.

I'm glad you clarified that you don't necessarily want to move in early. My family sleeps late, so 6-7 a.m. noise is not wanted, much less 3 a.m.

i really don't want to overnight anywhere. if they will let us hide out in the camper in the overflow lot from 1am till they tell us to go to our sites, i will be happy!

 

[krichards]

If it's not really a busy time of year and you do the online check-in process you will have a better chance at checking in early!

 

[rlcartie]

If it's not really a busy time of year and you do the online check-in process you will have a better chance at checking in early!

what is this early check in process you speak of?

is mardi gras normally a busy time?

 

[beagles7278]

i also meant to add....we have not "requested" a site and i am sure we are a bit late to the party on this one? is it worth requesting or just waiting till we check in to request a site?

We usually fax a letter to FW 5 days before we are scheduled to arrive with our loop requests and have never been disappointed. When we noted it on the reservation we usually did not get it. I will search for the letter, but someone will probably be along before me with it. Check the FAQ section, it might be there. I think member clkelley is the one I got it from. I am pretty sure that if you wait until check in it is too late, but I might be wrong.