Bare minimum camping

[soccermomof3]

This will be our 2nd time camping at Fort Wilderness. We will be tent camping again, but won't have near the room to bring everything we want. Besides bringing tents, what are the bare necessities that we will need to bring? We are doing the dining plan again, so we won't have to worry about food, other than something quick for breakfast.

 

[retired and happy]

By then you likely won't need any heating, but you may need some cooling. Some bedding, a ground "cloth", mosquito repellant, snack foods, an alarm clock, toiletries, a cooler. Others will probably have more suggestions. Enjoy. Oh, MONEY. This is Disney!

 

[Born 2 Fish]

fish'n poles,

 

[Shasta]

Are you driving down? If so, you can offload the item you have to haul down and drive to a Walmart to pickup a cheap Styrofoam cooler (to be left behind), snacks/food, toiletries, etc.

There is a laundry so try and match the type clothing your group is taking so that you can wash all clothes together. One load, mid week while your showering can cut your clothing packed in half.

I'd bring some type of lighting for the tent interior. You could buy a cheap flashlight when you are on the Walmart trip though. I can't think of anything else but I guess it depends on how much of a minimalist you want to be.

I used to motorcycle camp and still do long distance, over night bicycle trips so I've been there but more often I haul as much as possible to a fault. Looking at out campsites, you'd never believe all that stuff came out of one car.

 

[BradyBz12]

There is a laundry... One load, mid week while your showering can cut your clothing packed in half.

Great tip. We don't have a ton of storage space in our hybrid TT, and the ability to do a quick load of laundry helps tremendously.

I'd bring some type of lighting for the tent interior.

The battery powered LED lights are great for this - small, lightweight, throw tons of light - and they make some that are perfect for a tent.

 

[scboyd]

Great Post!
This has me thinking of all the things I could remove from our tent trailer before this trip. As it will only be used for sleeping, why lug all of our cooking equipment with us.

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[ehmickey]

We are doing the dining plan again, so we won't have to worry about food, other than something quick for breakfast.

We are camping at FW for the first time this May. When I made my reservations, I was told we could not do the dining plan staying at the campground. Was I given bad information??

 

[byejou]

Yes you can do DDP with campground, we are. You have to buy at least a 1 day park pass to add dining. It must be in a package. We are camping 6 nights, 4 day pass + Dining.

 

[ehmickey]

Yes you can do DDP with campground, we are. You have to buy at least a 1 day park pass to add dining. It must be in a package. We are camping 6 nights, 4 day pass + Dining.

Thank you!! We are staying 7 nights with 6 day park hoppers & the guy on the phone told me I could not do the dining plan. I will be calling back today.

 

[byejou]

Definitely call back. I know you can not get discounts since campground is the cheapest stay, that is depending on time of year and site. But you should be able to get dining.

 

[soccermomof3]

Thanks for all the suggestions. We were thinking about making a quick trip to Walmart for a cheap box fan and other small essential items. Things we can donate to fellow campers when we leave.

 

[BradyBz12]

Thank you!! We are staying 7 nights with 6 day park hoppers & the guy on the phone told me I could not do the dining plan. I will be calling back today.

You can't get in on the FREE dining promotions, but you absolutely can book a campsite package with the DDP - we've done it a few times.

 

[bxtx]

You can;t do free but you can do paid DDP - we've done it twice and booked again for Thanksgiving. Makes it a fabulous vacation for me And its so much easier with the kids to just eat when they are hungry rather than get back to the trailer.

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

Folding comfy chairs are a good thing to bring.

 

[SandrA9810]

Don't forget the extension cords... I never remember to bring enough. But we usually do a whole big set up.

Flashlights are a good thing. and figure out how you want to do your sleeping arrangments. We don't use an air mattress, so I use tons of blankets/comforters/sleeping bags to make a bed. There's no way I can sleep on the ground.
Bring a cooler, it might be handy. And well it'll make for a good box when not in use. I usually like to hold onto my deserts for a later time, or you can use your snack credits for bottles of soda/water to keep at the site.
You can use those purex 3 in 1 detergent things for your clothes. If you check the budget board, one of the "freebies" topics has a way to get some samples free. You probably won't need more than a few.
And I usually like to lay down rope light just outside the tent, so it's easier to find at night.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Heres a clothes tip,,
you can wear the same undies for two days, then turn them inside out and wear two more days,,then you'll need to take a shower,with your clothes on (to wash them) afterward go for a run to dry your clothes

that should save some packing,

 

[5stljayhawks]

If you have space issues packing the car, I picked up a soft car topper at REI sherpak 15. It attached under the luggage rack and works great.

Costco also has a number of LED lights some are flashlights other are lanterns. A few camp chairs and maybe a screen room.