Brand new to camping

[runner_princess]

Hi all! While I have been to WDW many times, I fell in love with Fort Wilderness during our last visit and DH and I are considering tent camping for our next trip to the World. I feel like I have a million, probably obvious questions, and have already looked through this board's awesome FAQ and other threads. I was wondering: what other resources can we use to get info on the Fort? I hate to ask a zillion questions, but we are specifically looking into rental options for camping supplies, and/or advice on how to get our gear there if we fly in.

Thanks!!

 

[PaHunter]

Hi all! While I have been to WDW many times, I fell in love with Fort Wilderness during our last visit and DH and I are considering tent camping for our next trip to the World. I feel like I have a million, probably obvious questions, and have already looked through this board's awesome FAQ and other threads. I was wondering: what other resources can we use to get info on the Fort? I hate to ask a zillion questions, but we are specifically looking into rental options for camping supplies, and/or advice on how to get our gear there if we fly in.

Thanks!!

If you are flying in you can always ship stuff here via UPS.

 

[tiggerdad]

Agree with PaHunter on the use of UPS to ship in some stuff. Garden Grocer can deliver food items if you need. That might leave an issue like keeping things cold because you will need a cooler if you're staying in a tent. Speaking of tents, the Fort does rent tents and cots for that matter and will have them setup for you on arrival. Here is probably the best picture I have of these tents from some of my past visits.



Having looked through the Faq thread you found a lot of good information there. To better help you out, is there anything specific that you were looking for information wise that you did not find?

 

[madjohn]

Best advice to a new camper, buy a tent and other supplies and book a long weekend at a campground close to you and try it out a few times. Camping is not for everyone. It can look more fun then it is. When I was younger I enjoyed it. Can't get me to do it now. I pull a 25' Airstream, and that's not camping. That is just a really small house!

 

[runner_princess]

Thank you for all your kind replies! We are avid campers locally - in Colorado - but have never traveled with our camping equipment. A couple specific questions:

- Is it generally cheaper to mail a few boxes down than to check the equivalent amount of items on a flight? How do we send it back home?
- I had read that the tents and cots were only available for large groups.....can I count on these being available for our trip?
- It doesn't seem to me that we would need a lot more than our tent and cots, bedding, flash lights, and changes of clothes/standard stuff for a short trip. Are there other items you deem "essential" that wouldn't be on a normal disney packing list?

 

[Chickp]

I don't know about shipping and such, but about what you really need to camp, it all depends. Are you literally only going to sleep at your campsite? Are you going to eat all meals out and stay in the parks all day? If so, you might be able to get by with just bedding and such. If not, you will need a cooler and way to cook food, plus utensils. There is only a charcoal grill at the site and a picnic table. It also rains basically every day in Florida (way more than in Colorado!) so you would also need a plan for that.

I keep thinking I will start a gear rental business down there....maybe after my kids are out of the house in 10 years, lol!

 

[bama_ed]

Individuals can rent tents which Disney sets up and takes down for you. The rate is $35 per day. You can also rent a folding cot to get you off the ground and the rate is $5 per day per cot.

There is a stickied thread about shipping things to Disney Resorts over on the DIS Resorts Board. Here it is: http://www.disboards.com/threads/shipping-to-and-from-disney-resorts-faq-new.3435904/

Tent camping can be uncomfortable due to the heat, rain, and humidity from about mid-June to mid-September. You didn't say when you wanted to come. Also be forewarned that the nice camping weather weekends in the fall and spring (before mid-June and after mid-September) tend to fill up with "locals" coming in for just the weekend and they tend to book well in advance. So if I were you I would get a reservation on the books first (can always cancel or push it out) and then worry about the details.

Bama Ed

 

[Bubblegum1286]

We regularly tent camp, and I'll say- get some good practice in at setting up and taking down before making a big trip like this. You might find that you don't enjoy even one night in a tent, much less a longer period of time for a vacation such as this. We have a large tent. It's a 10 person tent, and cost about $300. We use air mattresses. Depending on when you're going, you may or may not need an air conditioner. I would say just practice practice practice to know the ins and outs of camping before diving in. You may love it or you may hate it. But it'd be better to decide you hate it just a few miles from home at your local state park than in Disney World

 

[Bubblegum1286]

Oh! Dumb me! I just now saw that you are already avid campers! Sorry! Ha!

 

[2goofycampers]

I'd see which was cheaper, flying your gear, shipping it, renting it versus ordering a tent from Wal-Mart and having it shipped free to the Ft. When you're done you can ship it home or find someone who'd like a tent.

 

[peg110]

I hesitated to suggest the "Wal-Mart" tent option, but in some cases, it can be a good choice too. Depending on your needs, it may actually be cheaper to buy the tent/gear from Wal-Mart once you get there (or order it online and have it shipped to the Fort for you) and then give it away (or ship it home or find someone else who may want it.)

I will say I highly doubt bringing it with you on the plane will be the most cost effective.
Shipping by UPS or USPS is probably fairly inexpensive in comparison (to bringing it on the Airplane)
If you do go with the "Buy at Wal-Mart" option and you want to "Pass it on" the Disboards is probably a good place to see if anyone is there when you are that may want it. You never know, might also find some one close to you who could even bring it back for you.

I don't know what your family size is and your Tent needs (or desires) might be but a quick look on Walmarts site shows larger tents (with free shipping) from a little over $130 on up. I found a decent one on Amazon for $170 (Wenzel Blue Ridge 14x9 Feet 2 Room Seven Person Tent). At $35 a day for renting from the Fort (assuming it's available) a 5 day stay will be a "Break Even" point (plus you now OWN the tent).

Which ever way you go, I do hope you have an awesome time.

 

[Flametamr]

I would think shipping would be the cheapest route. Then maybe you could prepay the return shipment and have it picked up at the Fort. Maybe Therustyskupper can comment on that part. He works at the Fort. Ask all the questions you have here. We don't mind. This bunch is always helpful.

 

[runner_princess]

Thank you all for the kind replies! Shipping is appealing, especially since the $35 a night pushes the rate of the campsite up quite a bit!

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

I personally would rent from them, just seems a lot easier and less stress. Or why don't you just rent a cabin, by the time you pay for all the added things and stress of trying to have things shipped in, etc. Be aware too that there are these weird flies and they really bite. Please, please, please post and let us know what you ended up doing and how you made out on your trip! So wish I was there now, we were there last March and so wish we were there again but a family member is about to give birth and we don't want to miss that.

 

[MotherRunner]

If you buy stuff off Amazon and ship it there I wonder if you could start a thread on this board and see if you can sell gear before you leave to an incoming camper....might be worth a shot.

 

[2goofycampers]

If you buy stuff off Amazon and ship it there I wonder if you could start a thread on this board and see if you can sell gear before you leave to an incoming camper....might be worth a shot.

It would be a great idea, but, the DIS boards have a strict no selling policy.