Bama Ed- this one's for you!

[serenitygr]

Hi Bama Ed! You have been such an awesome help on this board to me and so many others! Now I am coming to you again to take advantage of your expertise!

We've been debating which type of campsite to reserve for a few months. First we had a preferred, then after hearing advice from others, changed it to a premium. Then our boys decided they would like to stay in a tent, so we found a beautiful
14x9 foot tent for them, but then discovered premiums don't have a sand pad. Plus we decided to bring a couple of our little dogs with us. So that being said, I called today thinking I'd change our reservation to loop 1600, which was a full pet friendly loop close to the meadowspool. (our main request)

Lo and behold, there are no spots available at the fort over Christmas, other than some partials for just tents, or a few premiums! Amazing! I am SO GLAD I have our reservation! So after about an hour with this wonderful helpful lady on the phone, she put us in tentatively under loop 900. It is close to the pool, it is pet friendly, it is by a comfort station, by a bus stop, and has lots of room! The only thing it doesn't have is a sand pad, which we have decided there must be a way to work around that. I love the loop, when I look at the map, and I think you said it's one of your favorites. So I'm wondering if you can tell me more about it- is there any sites we could possibly get that would have room on the side of the paved area for a tent? Or is there a way you know works to anchor a tent down on pavement> I should add it's one of the coleman instant tents which supposedly sets up all by itself in one minute! Yeah- I know- too good to be true! But we can always hope, can't we? I've never in my life camped, so what could possibly go wrong?

So tell me anything you can about loop 900! The good, the bad, and the ugly! And for anyone else going at Christmas this year- we will be the old Pace Arrow motorhome with the totally awesome Mickey Mouse 7 foot high inflatable snow globe in front- $20 at Kmarts clearance- how lucky can a person be!

 

[becky1960]

I try to answer this for you, we have stayed in the 900 loop our last few trips as it has become our favorite. Each site we have stayed in has had room for a tent off the pad, and I have seen tents behind various RV's. I think the official rules say on the campsite but they don't seem to enforce it.

Our last trip we had the first site on right coming in and had the whole corner and picked Wi Fi from the Meadows Trading post.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

I requested the 900 loop for my stay as well. My friend stays in that loop all the time. We drove through the Fort on our last trip and I like the 900 loop for a few reasons. It is a smaller loop and was quiet when we visited. Because it is a small loop it is a short walk to the CS and the bus from whatever spot you are in. It is pet friendly, and we may bring our dog. I cannot wait for my first Fort tip in November!!

 

[whiplash]

We will be heading to the FORT in 43 days for a weeks stay. We have requested the 900 Loop. We will be staying in a 35' 5th whl with my DS, his wife and 3 grand kids AND our two small dogs. 900 IS pet friendly, quite large private sites with plenty of room for a tent. Check out the Fort Wilderness app for your phone....you can actually see every site in every loop. I'll give you guys a trip report when we return.

 

[serenitygr]

We will be heading to the FORT in 43 days for a weeks stay. We have requested the 900 Loop. We will be staying in a 35' 5th whl with my DS, his wife and 3 grand kids AND our two small dogs. 900 IS pet friendly, quite large private sites with plenty of room for a tent. Check out the Fort Wilderness app for your phone....you can actually see every site in every loop. I'll give you guys a trip report when we return.

Whiplash = only 45 days! So lucky!! Christmas seems so far away but I hope it goes by quickly! Hate to wish my life away, but I just want to speed it up until I get there! Then it can just go as slooooooowwwww as it wants!

I'd LOVE to see a trip report! And I bet everyone else would too! That's the only way we can get our "fix" here in cold snowy MN. 30 degrees BELOW zero yesterday- that's WITHOUT the windchill! They actually canceled the majority of schools in northern MN because it was too cold. Today's looking better- already it's up to just 5 below!

I don't have a cell phone or anytype phone I can put things on. Can you put it on an ipod or computer and see the sites? If so, can you give me a link for it? Much obliged!

We are so so so excited!

 

[happycamper47]

Check out the Fort Wilderness app for your phone....you can actually see every site in every loop.

It is a great APP "Sites at the Fort"..

 

[whiplash]

Just Google.........900 Loop Fort Wilderness videos..........enjoy........sorry 'bout the cold there.........warm here in Ohio, up to 7 degrees !!!!!

 

[happycamper47]

Sites at the Fort has individual pics of every site along with dimensions and utility locations. Also the sites are empty so you get a real good perspective.

 

[patches4me]

It is a great APP "Sites at the Fort"..

I second this recommendation. Very easy and informative

 

[serenitygr]

I second this recommendation. Very easy and informative

Guess I can't get it on my laptop-l tried but it's not compatible with whatever my laptop is.

 

[happycamper47]

Guess I can't get it on my laptop-l tried but it's not compatible with whatever my laptop is.

It's for a smart phone, don't think it works on any computer.

 

[bama_ed]

It's not a big deal. You don't need the app.

I mean, it's a great app once you know what site you have (once you check in on your arrival day).

Although since it has the measurements of the pads the "one big tent" approach can't really use it since some sites have their grills (and trees on a few) inside the timbers which limit the size of what you can put down on the site.

Plus it's a lot of detail that really doesn't help the process.

So serentitygr, let me answer your direct question:

900 Loop is my preferred Premium loop (that is, when I reserve a Premium site). I like the location (close to the Meadow TP and Pool), a bus stop at the entrance, wide paved sites (Premium - duh!). I've requested a Premium site four times in the last couple visits and got 900 three of those (the fourth time I got site 1003 right behind the 900 Comfort Station). 1500 is my preferred/requested Partial loop (although I need to try other loops in the Fort, don't I?).

900 is not a big loop - only 32 Premium sites.



My standing recommendation is for a tent larger than a pup tent, always have the size of your tent added as a comment on your reservation.

There is room to put a tent off the paved pad in sites primarily on the outside from 903 to 918. Sites on the inside of the circle, if memory serves, have lots of tree roots (and trees) that might negate putting a big tent down comfortably; on the outside past 918 the sites back up to a canal/ditch and might have less room behind them or 1000 loop (same reason) or the Comfort Station (same reason).

You're coming at Christmas time which will be more crowded so my advice is once you check in and get your site assignment, drive down and check it out. If it can accomodate the tent, great. If not, go to the nearest Comfort Station and use the house phone to call the Fort front desk and ask for any empty site you might have seen in the loop/area. Chances are they will swap you to it over the phone (you don't have to drive back up to the checkin).

Yours is a nice big tent (I've recommended the Coleman Instatent in the past here on this forum) but not all Premium sites might have a big enough flat spot for it. But try for 900 and if you get it you won't be disappointed.

Bama ED

PS - we have lots of other great posters on the DIS who know a lot more than me too

PPS - try to check in as early as you can on your check-in day. Even if your site is not yet ready, they will "lock you in" to that loop/site (900 if you can get it). Even if you can't drive down and set up yet, once you go thru the check-in process you are BUMP PROOF. The Fort CM usually will take your cell phone number and send you a text when your site is ready. Your text will tell you the site number so you can drive right down to it and set up/unload.

 

[bama_ed]

serenitygr,

I forgot to add "Congratulations" to you and everyone else who got those Christmas 2013 reservations in already.

Your 7' Christmas globe will represent you but you will come back probably wanting to "up your game" once you see all the other displays.

You ROCK girl

Bama ED

 

[serenitygr]

It's not a big deal. You don't need the app.

I mean, it's a great app once you know what site you have (once you check in on your arrival day).

Although since it has the measurements of the pads the "one big tent" approach can't really use it since some sites have their grills (and trees on a few) inside the timbers which limit the size of what you can put down on the site.

Plus it's a lot of detail that really doesn't help the process.

So serentitygr, let me answer your direct question:

900 Loop is my preferred Premium loop (that is, when I reserve a Premium site). I like the location (close to the Meadow TP and Pool), a bus stop at the entrance, wide paved sites (Premium - duh!). I've requested a Premium site four times in the last couple visits and got 900 three of those (the fourth time I got site 1003 right behind the 900 Comfort Station). 1500 is my preferred/requested Partial loop (although I need to try other loops in the Fort, don't I?).

900 is not a big loop - only 32 Premium sites.



My standing recommendation is for a tent larger than a pup tent, always have the size of your tent added as a comment on your reservation.

There is room to put a tent off the paved pad in sites primarily on the outside from 903 to 918. Sites on the inside of the circle, if memory serves, have lots of tree roots (and trees) that might negate putting a big tent down comfortably; on the outside past 918 the sites back up to a canal/ditch and might have less room behind them or 1000 loop (same reason) or the Comfort Station (same reason).

You're coming at Christmas time which will be more crowded so my advice is once you check in and get your site assignment, drive down and check it out. If it can accomodate the tent, great. If not, go to the nearest Comfort Station and use the house phone to call the Fort front desk and ask for any empty site you might have seen in the loop/area. Chances are they will swap you to it over the phone (you don't have to drive back up to the checkin).

Yours is a nice big tent (I've recommended the Coleman Instatent in the past here on this forum) but not all Premium sites might have a big enough flat spot for it. But try for 900 and if you get it you won't be disappointed.

Bama ED

PS - we have lots of other great posters on the DIS who know a lot more than me too

PPS - try to check in as early as you can on your check-in day. Even if your site is not yet ready, they will "lock you in" to that loop/site (900 if you can get it). Even if you can't drive down and set up yet, once you go thru the check-in process you are BUMP PROOF. The Fort CM usually will take your cell phone number and send you a text when your site is ready. Your text will tell you the site number so you can drive right down to it and set up/unload.

Aw Bama Ed- don't sell yourself short! Yep there' a lot of fantastic people on these boards- in particular the camping ones, I think! But I have seen many many helpful posts from you to many people, and you know what really stands out? The fact that you are ALWAYS so nice! I have never seen a sarcastic, or mean comment from you- you are just plain nice and helpful to people, and I think that's wonderful!

PLUS you are a HUGE help! You just gave me a ton of wonderful information and I thank you for that! The google earth thing was great! Wish I was better with a computer! I did give that helpful Disney lady the dimensions of our tent- do you think I need to call again and ask to be put in the area you think has more tent room? Or will they see the tent size and when they assign our actual site take that into consideration?

Couple more questions: we are thinking of using long ropes and stakes- just in case we end up with the tent on the paved portion- so we can anchor it down into the ground OFF the pavement- has anyone done this?

And kind of off the subject, but completely new to us- we are bringing our puppies, I think- what all kinds of things can people tell me about dog etiquette at the fort? Other than the obvious please don't let my dog bark a lot. We are going to do some practicing camping this summer to be sure that's not a problem. Things I'm curious about: is it normal for dogs to once in awhile bark a couple barks if they see something exciting to them, and do people get mad about that? I mean just the 5-10 second barking they sometimes do when they see a dog go by on our road- that kind of thing... How do people handle "clean-up"? Where are dogs allowed to walk, and where aren't they allowed? If you are all sitting outside the motorhome visiting, are the dogs allowed to be tied on a cable to lay out there with you. (I wouldn't trust them not hooked up, but to have them on a leash constantly would be hard to even get up to get a drink or anything- I'm thinking of a 20 foot cable approximately) Can dogs ride in golf carts? And any other questions people can come up with!

 

[serenitygr]

serenitygr,

I forgot to add "Congratulations" to you and everyone else who got those Christmas 2013 reservations in already.

Your 7' Christmas globe will represent you but you will come back probably wanting to "up your game" once you see all the other displays.

You ROCK girl

Bama ED

Thanks Bama Ed! LOL- I know my snow globe wont' seem like much compared to what others do- the $20 is what was the best thing to me! But I have to confess- I have a ton of other stuff too- that was just the highlight to me. But even so, we still won't be CLOSE to what I bet others do down there . I just didn't want to be an embarrassment to all those other beautifully decorated motor home sites in whatever loop they have us in, so we have to do SOMETHING! I hope to meet some other DISer's down there- that would be awesome! I think you said once you weren't going to be there over Christmas this year- I wish you were so we could meet you!

If we are in the 900 loop, what is the best thing to do to get good internet? Do we go somewhere with our laptop, or do we rent something from the fort?

 

[1Grumpy9]

Thanks Bama Ed! LOL- I know my snow globe wont' seem like much compared to what others do- the $20 is what was the best thing to me! But I have to confess- I have a ton of other stuff too- that was just the highlight to me. But even so, we still won't be CLOSE to what I bet others do down there . I just didn't want to be an embarrassment to all those other beautifully decorated motor home sites in whatever loop they have us in, so we have to do SOMETHING! I hope to meet some other DISer's down there- that would be awesome! I think you said once you weren't going to be there over Christmas this year- I wish you were so we could meet you!

If we are in the 900 loop, what is the best thing to do to get good internet? Do we go somewhere with our laptop, or do we rent something from the fort?

My parents and I will be down for Christmas 2013, but I don't know what loop we will be in. We didn't request a particular loop.

 

[serenitygr]

My parents and I will be down for Christmas 2013, but I don't know what loop we will be in. We didn't request a particular loop.

A fellow DISer! A fellow camper! Maybe we need to start a thread just to see how many of us will be there- when is your arrival and departure dates?

 

[bama_ed]

I did give that helpful Disney lady the dimensions of our tent- do you think I need to call again and ask to be put in the area you think has more tent room? Or will they see the tent size and when they assign our actual site take that into consideration?

Couple more questions: we are thinking of using long ropes and stakes- just in case we end up with the tent on the paved portion- so we can anchor it down into the ground OFF the pavement- has anyone done this?

And kind of off the subject, but completely new to us- we are bringing our puppies, I think- what all kinds of things can people tell me about dog etiquette at the fort? Other than the obvious please don't let my dog bark a lot. We are going to do some practicing camping this summer to be sure that's not a problem. Things I'm curious about: is it normal for dogs to once in awhile bark a couple barks if they see something exciting to them, and do people get mad about that? I mean just the 5-10 second barking they sometimes do when they see a dog go by on our road- that kind of thing... How do people handle "clean-up"? Where are dogs allowed to walk, and where aren't they allowed? If you are all sitting outside the motorhome visiting, are the dogs allowed to be tied on a cable to lay out there with you. (I wouldn't trust them not hooked up, but to have them on a leash constantly would be hard to even get up to get a drink or anything- I'm thinking of a 20 foot cable approximately) Can dogs ride in golf carts? And any other questions people can come up with!

Thanks for the kind words. There's no need for me to be mean, rude, or sarcastic. Everyone here, for the most part, is pleasant and interested in learning about or sharing their knowledge of the Fort. Things have been that way for right at two years now.

Now to your questions: I bet with the tent info on the ressie they will try to get you a site where you can set it up off pad. But even if they don't, you should take any 900 site you can get if you end up with one. I went back and watched a Youtube video of the Coleman tent product managers setting up an instant tent. It should be self-supporting even if you have to put it up on the concrete pad.

If you have to set it up on the pad, put it at the back. If it's 14x9 (and Premiums are 18' wide paved), then set it up 14' on the wide side so you only have 2' of concrete on either side. In the video there appear to be guy lines at the top which you can, if desired, stake down at least more than 2' away from the tent. Obviously you can't stake it into concrete. If it is extremely windy you might have an issue but otherwise you don't have to stake or guy. But I would probably guy. As long as there are sleeping bags, luggage, and other "stuff" in the tent it won't blow away under normal conditions. One other pointer-I would probably put a tarp or piece of plastic under the tent but on top of the ground/concrete to prevent rain from seeping up (it will help).

As to internet connectivity, if you want a "good" connection then check out a cable modem from the Fort front desk. There is no charge but they will hold about a $125 deposit on your credit card until you return the modem. The camper loops have no Wi-Fi but the cabins sound like they do. There are also hot spots (not very fast) at the check-in area, Meadow TP, and Trails End area. Some campsites near cabins and the hot spots can pick up some free Wi-Fi if the wind blows the bits in their direction.

I'm not a pet owner so others can give you better answers to the pet questions than I can. I will say it looks like you can walk pets on a leash just about anywhere plus let them run loose in the dog park near 300 loop. The main concern people seem to have with pets/dogs is when they are left outside in a pen or on a cable and the owner leaves the site and the dog is left to bark constantly if it is so inclined. As long as owners are present when the pet is outside and try to control it within reason, there's not a problem. Also when you walk your pet if he drops a load on a camper site that's not yours, please clean it up - don't leave it.

You might want to use the "Search this Forum" function to look up the recent pet threads. People get passionate about the subject and I think as long as the owners are responsible then there are no problems.

As far as your dog in the golf cart, well, I don't know. Can his feet reach the brake pedal?

Bama ED

 

[2goofycampers]

All dogs are gonna bark. I even enjoy short bursts of "happy" barking.

Dogs are allowed to walk in all loops that are dog loops. Sometimes you will even get assigned to a loop that isn't officially a dog loop. Feel free to walk them there also. There are 3 dog walk areas, behind 300, behind 800 and behind 1600/1800. There is also a off leash dog park. You can also walk the sidewalks of the main roads to get back and forth to the dog park. I've also seen dogs on golf carts being transported to the dog park.

There are clean up bags at all of the areas mentioned above and plenty of trash cans.