AT FORT WILDERNESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

[FtW Mike]

Backstory on CHUBBS. she is 20 years now and her buddy Chester passed 2 years this coming Jan just days after we got home so she is making her second trip to Ft Wilderness. Lucille brought her home from NJ one Saturday soon after 9/11 from the Market we were a vendor at. I was working that day so couldn't go but was off the next and I said she was going back. Long story short she came back home with us the next day and has been with us since.
As a Kitten she despised me today when she comes out is P.O.'ed if I am not home ( Hint it is nothing more than act to lull me into a false sense of security so she can eat me like she tried as a kitten )
When she raises Cain at dinner time to supervise the preparation of her bowl that is the cue that I need to take the girls out.

 

[4077]

Today was supposed to be a down day after 4 days on the road.

I can’t yet even begin to imagine the ability to do this on a drive to FL… 4 days on the road AND THEN a down day still… all before arriving at destination!!! I can’t wait until it’s possible!

 

[FtW Mike]

I can’t yet even begin to imagine the ability to do this on a drive to FL… 4 days on the road AND THEN a down day still… all before arriving at destination!!! I can’t wait until it’s possible!

Jim retardedment is wonderful and I heartily recommend it.
Four day trek down is a little longer than I normally like . I find 3 is fine . My wife thinks it is pushing it. As i are the sole driver , set up take down person, head dog walker and trip planner I book places that work for me. We took off a day earlier than normal to avoid DC traffic so we added Holiday KOA to try them.

 

[bama_ed]

Jim retardedment is wonderful and I heartily recommend it.

I second that sentiment. Ed

 

[jbrostek]

Happy travels!!! I say take the time you are most comfortable with.

While I still have my youth I make that trip in 2 days, I think if I made it in 3 it would be weird with so much down time. Even being a few hours south of you (Carolina Crossroads is about 3 hours south of us.) I think if I ever wanted to cut down my other days driving I could make that a stop after work on the outbound. Then form there 8 hours to Savannah and 6 to Disney.

Last summer we stayed at Camp Lake Jasper, my only frown was the pool closed early and by the time we got settled it was past pool closing. We had not anticipated the lack of any delivery there, which was part of our travel plan to just get pizza delivered. I think that is the main reason (at least for a summer trip) I would stick with Savannah South KOA is because we can get delivery and that makes the long haul day possible, and I can still get a swim in.

 

[team bradfield]

in November, we took 5 days down, 250 to 300 miles a day. I agree on the retirement thing, its nice not having to "hurry back" for work. It was also nice not having to check email/voicemails, of course the trade off is you aren't on vacation anymore, its just a trip. This March we are taking 7 days back, stopping off at Raccoon Mtn/Caverns and Rock City in Chattanooga for a side trip

 

[FtW Mike]

Day 6
Today we went over to Dinosaur World. Lucille never outgrew her Dinosaur phase so figured it would be right up her alley. For those with kids it is likely a better half day excursion than for me. I did appreciate some of the plaques with information about the dinosaurs represented in the assorted displays. By the time we got back the weekenders were starting to come in.
Cabana Club is hosting a NEWMAR rally this weekend and they are all arriving. Some of last weeks Holiday Rambler attendees are here as well.
Besides Hosting Rallies on weekends the resort host a multitude of activities mostly in the pool area for the kids. On Friday and Saturday Food Trucks come in and open shop. On THE GREEN they have some larger fire pits surrounded by Adorandiak Chairs( These are staked out early by some of the larger groups well in advance ) There is a TIKI BAR for assorted Adult Beverages and a small stage with Live Entertainment One of The Staff assured me that 51 weekends the bands are very good.

 

[FtW Mike]

This is the Main reception area and store as viewed when you come through Guard post at the entrance. We checked in at the guard station and provided an escort to lead us to our site

The tidal buoy marker you see after leaving the guard post


THE GREEN side of the Office Building. You can access THE HIDEAWAY from here or Pool side. I understand it is used for Formal meetings and as a business center

 

[FtW Mike]

As I previously indicated THE GREEN has a variety of social and recreational opportunities for the young and young at heart
The Entrance As It was daylight I chose avoid the fire pits
The FREE miniature golf course

At night this ring is inflated and the kids have a ball running into jumping on and climbing over it

The TIKI BAR and Stage on the right

 

[Teamubr]

Cabana Club looks nice, but the January prices are higher than the Fort. I just looked at a Wednesday/Thursday night the 1st week of January.

Motorhome site $184/night. A lowly "RV" site was still $94

j

 

[bama_ed]

Cabana Club looks nice, but the January prices are higher than the Fort. I just looked at a Wednesday/Thursday night the 1st week of January.

Motorhome site $184/night. A lowly "RV" site was still $94

j

Yes but how much for a little ol' pop-up camper site?

 

[FtW Mike]

Cabana Club looks nice, but the January prices are higher than the Fort. I just looked at a Wednesday/Thursday night the 1st week of January.

Motorhome site $184/night. A lowly "RV" site was still $94

j

Jim was the $184 a night one of their premium pull in sites. For that you get lake front view. 2 Adirondack chairs and Hammocks and a KOKOMO JOE SMOKER GRILL, $94 a night was that pull thru or back in. I will say Landscaping of Back ins is way nicer than Pull thru

 

[Teamubr]

Yes but how much for a little ol' pop-up camper site?

That was the $94. "RV back in" site. for $103 you could get a pull through. For the $94, you did get full hook ups and a picnic table.

Jim was the $184 a night one of their premium pull in sites. For that you get lake front view. 2 Adirondack chairs and Hammocks and a KOKOMO JOE SMOKER GRILL, $94 a night was that pull thru or back in. I will say Landscaping of Back ins is way nicer than Pull thru

The $184 was for the "Premium Motorhome" only sites with lake view and a private Tiki Hut with the smoker grill.

I didn't see any mention of boats to MK, view of the fireworks or a nightly Electrical Water Pageant

j

 

[Stratman50th]

Our site was right around $125 for the night. We only went to check it out for others. I'm not sure what our site was called, and didn't realize there were more than a couple different levels. I remember thinking that they were getting Disney prices but they seem to be full every time we drive by.

Our site was #166
This was March this year and the landscaping was new. I will admit it did hurt some to pay that much for staying 10 minutes from home.

 

[FtW Mike]

I have noticed prices here fluctuate with day of week and holiday events.
This is a premium pull in site

This a Premium Pull thru
This is Back in site

This is our site

These pictures don't tell whole story. The Pull Thru sites are built on a slope. The nose of units until you level out are lower than the back end, in some instances significantly. Our auto level function had my front wheels 0.5 inches off the ground corrected that forthwith. I saw other people with front wheels 4+ inches off the ground

 

[FtW Mike]

The pool area is very nice and kid friendly. At one end it is a zero entry. Behind the slide is SPLASH PAD for the toddler set.
The zero entry is down by green palm tree on the left
That is the poolside entrance to THE HIDEAWAY There are access to both Men's and Ladies Rooms inside
The slide on the right

In the pool are to the right is also a building housing a Laundry Men and Woman's Comfort station and Fitness Center. Sorry forgot take Picture .

 

[FtW Mike]

Behind the Bldg that I just described above is the the dog washing station and a small dog park.

OOPS did get a pic of the Multi use Bldg in pool area

 

[FtW Mike]

The Primary dog Park. This one is just outside the pool area.

 

[Teamubr]

The resort looks really nice. The unlevel sites seems a little odd for a new resort. I don't carry boards anymore and my levelers only have 3-4 inches of lift with the air bags down. That might be an issue to get level there.

j

 

[FtW Mike]

The resort looks really nice. The unlevel sites seems a little odd for a new resort. I don't carry boards anymore and my levelers only have 3-4 inches of lift with the air bags down. That might be an issue to get level there.

j

Went to LOWES down the road to get a 2x12 and have it cut to 4ft lengths and their saw is Out of Order. Our site 107 has a slope of about 1 inch every 4 feet. Talking with a maintenance staff if was laid out with slope to assist with drainage during summer storms
Prior to this, this property was a blue berry field. it was a small knoll and as much as they could they kept the original contour