Best time Day/Week to check in at the Fort

[yay_camper]

Hello Everyone! I sound like a broken record, but I have been watching and researching this board for a very long time and this is my first post. Yay! First of all, thanks to all the regulars I see on here for being so welcoming to new-comers and boundless with their information and experience for those of us that can use it. Very much appreciated!
I am in preliminary stages of planning a trip to FW and the parks for Oct 2016. It will be my first visit since I was a child, I think there were only 3 loops last time I was there. It will be me, husband and kids (boy 9, girl 7) pulling our pop-up camper from Chicago-area and we would like to spend 5-9 nights camping in FW. I would like to encompass the Columbus Day weekend somehow, to (slightly) minimize time away from school. We are experienced campers and do most of our camping in state parks and more woodsy locations, but have never traveled as far as Disney. We do not have a bathroom in our camper and I am concerned about CS proximity to our site. I have not yet decided if we will reserve a preferred or premium site. Although we admire (and envy) the big RVs, we don't want to feel dwarfed.
So here is my real question. I understand that we will be at the mercy of Disney, but is there a better time of day or week to arrive that will give us the best opportunity to switch sites should we get there and find the site we are assigned will not suit us?
We are still open to anything at this point and can plan accordingly. Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

So excited to be here, BTW!

 

[KristinU]

Welcome out of lurkdom Yay!

No matter where you are in a loop you'l never be THAT far from a comfort station since each loop has one. If you choose Preferred or Premium you'll have the added benefit of the CS being used even less by other people since many will use their on-board bathrooms. I don't think you'll feel dwarfed - people camp in just about everything at the Fort on all levels of loops. The big thing to be aware of is the full cement pads on the Premiums. I'm guessing you use stakes to set up your awning, so you'll just want to be aware of the need to extend beyond the pad or rig something else if you choose a Premium.

I will yield to others much more knowledgeable than me for the ideal arrival day/time...we've always just arrived on the soonest day we can make it without really paying attention! Sometimes we've waited and sometimes not, but I didn't really pay attention.

 

[parrothead64]

Not all loops have comfort stations, 1000, 600, & 700 don't. These loops share, 1200-1300, 1800-1600, 1900-1700, 100-200, and
400-500, but as mentioned the bigger the equipment you are around a lot less comfort stations will be used as frequently.

 

[themojosupreme]

Welcome! We share the excitement for October 2016: we booked a preferred site for our 34ft travel trailer. The preferred sites mean we can easily walk to the beach, the boats, the settlement posts. Like KristinU, we arrive when we can. However, this November, we are doing a tent site and since we want a specific loop, I've learned to change my arrival to Friday, instead of Saturday when apparently many are checking in. And, to get there early. The night before our reservation, we may stay about 2 hours out and then arrive at the Fort bright and early and fresh to set up before heading to Trails End

 

[yay_camper]

Thanks so much for the responses so far.

I do like the idea of getting "almost" there and spending the night so that there is a short drive the next day. My instincts tell me if campers are leaving they will probably be gone by mid-late morning, so this should free up the sites.

I also like the idea that big rigs mean a quiet CS.

The info on the loops wo CSs is duly noted.

I need to do a bit more research on Loop preferences for sure. This is so hard! LOL

 

[tiggerdad]

yay camper,

Welcome to the Dis and especially welcome to probably the most laid back and drama-less forum on the Disboards. Hope to keep hearing from you.

I have always arrived on Fridays, and always in the morning around 8 or 9 am. The first trip I didn't have a preference and my assigned site was ready. Last year my site wasn't ready, but the CM gave me a list of the sites that were open and I was able to pick which one I wanted. I chose poorly and got the inner loop of 1400. Never again. The next morning I spotted a really great site on the outer loop of 1400 was vacated and I called the front desk and they told me I could move to it no problem. Luckily I had not really setup or unpacked a lot, so the move was very easy for me.

That's about as far as I know. I travel about 11 hours to get there, and I typically choose to just drive straight through the night so the kids can sleep (which is better on me). In 2012 I stopped at a rest area just north of Wildwood around 5 AM and napped in the truck until 8 when I finished driving down. Last year I went straight through and arrived at the Fort at 8, I did just a basic setup and took a nap until noon then we roamed the Fort for the rest of the day. Everybody has their own tactic.

Some others will hopefully provide their experience as well

 

[bama_ed]

yay, welcome to the DIS Camping Board.

My advice is:

1. Check in on any day other than a Friday or Saturday.

2. Arrive early in the day and if you don't get the loop you want, offer to wait if one will come available that morning after someone checks out.

3. If you drive down to your site and see one you like better, call back to the Fort lobby and ask if you can be swapped to that one instead. The worst they can do is say No - usually they say Yes.

I have a popup too and like the flexibility it affords. We've been through Fort phases: the Tent sites to save money, the Premium sites for their proximity to the main pool area, and the Preferred sites for their proximity to the boat dock (MK is our most visited park by a wide margin).

Not long ago we stayed in a Premium again (loop 400) and it was HUGE for my little popup. So I would go with Preferred as my recommendation.

Also, fall weekends in October are VERY popular so don't delay making that reservation. A year out may sound extreme, but it's one night deposit no matter when you book for a room-only reservation. Also, when booking now book the max trip window you might use - you can drop unneeded days later which is easier than trying to add days.

Good luck!

Bama Ed

 

[J&Afort camper]

We stay at the fort twice a year, Feb. and usually Aug. but this year we will be there next week. I have checked in most days except for Monday and it never takes much time. Yes we have waited behind a long line before, but it just depends on how many people arrive at the same time. But I look at it as I have arrived.

 

[yay_camper]

Thank you all for taking the time to respond.

Tigger Dad and Bama Ed- You are confirming my tentative plan to arrive fresh and early Sun morning after having spent the previous night somewhere close to the Fort. I like the idea of having a full afternoon/evening to get our bearings and hang out.

Tigger Dad- Just curious, why was the outer loop in 1400 better than the inner? Do you find that true in all the loops?

Bama Ed- I was initially leaning towards preferred loops, but then my research here sent me into info overload and confusion. Too much of a good thing, I guess. We will bring bikes with us, so a ride to the pool will be no problem. I feel we may be happier, closer to the marina and such.

My kid reminded me that one year ago right now we were staying at the Wilderness for a few days before heading off on the Disney cruise. Oh Boy!
I hope I can contain my excitement for the next 13 months.

 

[CooperPrincesses]

We are heading down on Saturday, and we will stop in Ocala to visit my parents. It just breaks up the trip for our girls. We'll get up nice and early on Sunday and head down to the Fort. This is our first time camping (we have stayed in the cabins) and requested a Preferred site. I'll try to remember to post some pictures of the Preferred loop that we get, CS and all that good stuff.

Good luck with the planning, its part of the fun for sure.

 

[yay_camper]

CooperPrincesses--Sounds like your trip may be similar to what I'm hoping to do next year. I would love to hear all about your experiences when you get back. Have a great trip!

 

[CooperPrincesses]

Absolutely!