Arriving in the wee hours at FW

[Princess Bette]

We are still in the early planning stages of our upcoming first trip to WDW and FW in December. My DH and I were discussing what time to leave, where we might stay overnight, etc. He wondered if we decided to leave when DS gets out of school and drive straight through and arrive in the early wee hours of our check-in day, can we park in the overflow lot and "sleep" a few hours until we check-in or head to one of the parks until our site is ready. Has anyone ever done this or does anyone know if it is allowed? If it isn't allowed, how early have you arrived and parked in the overflow lot until your sight was ready? We are trying to drive during the night when DS will be sleeping. TIA.

 

[KPSmithSr]

In 2006, we arrived at about 4:00 AM, checked-in (went inside since no one was at the booth), got our "room keys", parked in the overflow lot, walked a bit (DD napped) and went to the rope drop for EPCOT. If you give FW staff a cell number, they will send you a text or voice mail when your site is ready. We were at the EPCOT with the 5'er parked in the overflow lot until around 12:00 - 1:00 when our site was ready. Unless they changed the policy, there you go! Have fun.

 

[djblu883]

I do know they won't let you pull in and sleep in overflow until your spot is ready or haven't in the past. I got in late last Oct. and they just sent me to a spot(had to pay) for the night becasue mine wasn't ready....great spot too BTW and I drove in ahead of my family and had no one to help me get parked so they had to assist...next AM at check out time I told them my family hadn't arrived yet and i'd need assistance to park in the next location...they just let me stay where I was. I also know in Fla. Wal Mart doesn't allow campers to park in their lots any longer.There are quite a few nice campgrounds along the way from Al. to WDW along the way and are easily accessed. Hope you have a great trip! Be safe...BTW the turn to get on the Fla. turnpike is a little tricky for some! slown down a bit! I have seen more than one vacation ruined by an overturned camper in that spot!

 

[retired and happy]

If you arrive late at night, don't wake me or our kids up! There's a reason they call it "Quiet Hours".

 

[BearwithMouseEars]

If you arrive late at night, don't wake me or our kids up! There's a reason they call it "Quiet Hours".

The OP is asking about parking in the overflow lot . Not actually getting into a site . There is no quiet hour rule for the parking lot that I know of .

And to the OP , that is exactly what the overflow is for . We have arrived as early as 9:00 am and went and had breakfast in MK till they texted us .

 

[Princess Bette]

If you arrive late at night, don't wake me or our kids up! There's a reason they call it "Quiet Hours".

Not to worry - we are very courteous people as well as campers. I was asking about the overflow lot, not parking on a site in the middle of the night.

 

[Princess Bette]

The OP is asking about parking in the overflow lot . Not actually getting into a site . There is no quiet hour rule for the parking lot that I know of .

And to the OP , that is exactly what the overflow is for . We have arrived as early as 9:00 am and went and had breakfast in MK till they texted us .

Thank you!

 

[Princess Bette]

I do know they won't let you pull in and sleep in overflow until your spot is ready or haven't in the past. I got in late last Oct. and they just sent me to a spot(had to pay) for the night becasue mine wasn't ready....great spot too BTW and I drove in ahead of my family and had no one to help me get parked so they had to assist...next AM at check out time I told them my family hadn't arrived yet and i'd need assistance to park in the next location...they just let me stay where I was. I also know in Fla. Wal Mart doesn't allow campers to park in their lots any longer.There are quite a few nice campgrounds along the way from Al. to WDW along the way and are easily accessed. Hope you have a great trip! Be safe...BTW the turn to get on the Fla. turnpike is a little tricky for some! slown down a bit! I have seen more than one vacation ruined by an overturned camper in that spot!

Thanks for the info. Wasn't aware that FL Walmarts didn't allow you to park in their parking lots anymore. I know TN doesn't either. Oh well, we will find a campground to pull into somewhere along the way I'm sure. I will do some more research.

 

[retired and happy]

My apologies and I appreciate your consideration of others. Some "campers" are not so considerate. I was under the impression you could sleep in the overflow, but maybe it depends on what time you arrive. I guess it's not an overnight parking area, but there should be some consideration for anyone arriving late at night. Also, for others perhaps, is the ban on overnighting in Wal Mart lots state wide or local? How about Flying J or Cracker barrel? Thanks.

 

[mikron]

My apologies and I appreciate your consideration of others. Some "campers" are not so considerate. I was under the impression you could sleep in the overflow, but maybe it depends on what time you arrive. I guess it's not an overnight parking area, but there should be some consideration for anyone arriving late at night. Also, for others perhaps, is the ban on overnighting in Wal Mart lots state wide or local? How about Flying J or Cracker barrel? Thanks.

Store by store, call and ask manager first and if local campground owners haven't put up a fuss you could park at Walmart. Crackerbarell also has overnight parking, again ask manager.

 

[Pooh2]

If you arrive late at night, don't wake me or our kids up! There's a reason they call it "Quiet Hours".

When we stayed at the Fort years ago, this did happen to us in the 1500 loop. They allowed a large family in at 11pm and we listened to car doors open and slam and talking until about 1am!!

 

[luckycharm19335]

The Walmart's in the Orlando area do not allow over night parking.

 

[mightyexplorers]

I would love to know if anyone has a firm answer to this question. How, late, or I guess early can I arrive at FW and be able to park until my site is ready?

12Am 1AM 5AM? Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[beagles7278]

I would love to know if anyone has a firm answer to this question. How, late, or I guess early can I arrive at FW and be able to park until my site is ready?

12Am 1AM 5AM? Does anyone have any experience with this?

You would probably have to call the front desk to get the official answer, but I would bet that if you called everyday of the week you would get a different answer.

My experience this past November, we arrived on Thanksgiving day. We stopped at one of the rest areas on I-75, the 2nd to the last before the turnpike for the night on Wednesday. Hit the road in the morning and arrived at the Fort at 8-9am. Checked in, was told they would text us when the site was ready. Parked in the overflow, walked around and toured FW. Got a text at 12:30 that our site was ready and off we went.

Hope this helps.

 

[Danibelle]

Store by store, call and ask manager first and if local campground owners haven't put up a fuss you could park at Walmart. Crackerbarell also has overnight parking, again ask manager.

I would definitely check with the manager of Cracker Barrel. I am not sure that they allow this. And many Walmarts no longer allow overnight parking.

 

[John VN]

I would love to know if anyone has a firm answer to this question. How, late, or I guess early can I arrive at FW and be able to park until my site is ready?

12Am 1AM 5AM? Does anyone have any experience with this?

We were at FW last weekend for our 39th anniversary. Arrived at 7:35AM, DW went and into Outpost to check-in. Received our site and were settled in by 8:05AM.

Our earliest check-in and getting site was a 4:00AM arrival when we had to evacuate house because of approaching hurricane. We already had reservations so I called the Outpost and spoke to manager about our situation. We were told to come up and they would see what could be done. Got there, was assigned a site, drove motorhome to site and quietly backed in. Hooked up electric, turned on air conditioner and went to sleep.

 

[Princess Bette]

I would love to know if anyone has a firm answer to this question. How, late, or I guess early can I arrive at FW and be able to park until my site is ready?

12Am 1AM 5AM? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Mighty Explorers - that's exactly what I wanted to know. When I said "wee hours", I was referring to 1-5 a.m. Also, I am not asking about parking on a site, but parking in the overflow lot until the proper check-in time. My DH would rather drive straight through while DS (who has Aspergers) sleeps. Makes the trip easier on everyone - except DH!

 

[AuntBJ]

Someone posted before that they pulled in shortly after midnight and security came and made them leave. I would think you might have a little more luck if it was close to daylight.

 

[John VN]

Mighty Explorers - that's exactly what I wanted to know. When I said "wee hours", I was referring to 1-5 a.m. Also, I am not asking about parking on a site, but parking in the overflow lot until the proper check-in time. My DH would rather drive straight through while DS (who has Aspergers) sleeps. Makes the trip easier on everyone - except DH!

You can not get into the over-flow lot unless you check-in. It is no longer open to road traffic. The over-flow lot is not a "wee hours of the morning" place to sleep. Insurance liability situation.

Why not call the Outpost, talk to the manager, explain your situation, give him an idea of when you might be arriving and receive an answer.

 

[2goofycampers]

As long as you have a parking pass you're OK. Just check in when you get there.