Brand new

[bama_ed]

Okay well you know the numbers best. It just sounds kinda close to me.

Happy camping and enjoy the Fort!

Bama Ed

 

[thegoofyfamily]

I appreciate the concern but have done my homework and so has the place I am buying from. I work for a body shop so I am sure I will step up to another truck if I feel the need or unsafe. Right now I am only going to be using the trailer to drive an hour to Orlando. I have done tons of research and was going to get a fifth wheel but that was pushing our limits so we switched to make sure we were being safe. I don't know the exact numbers off the top of my head but I'm sure everything is ok.

I know you're excited and you're done "tons of research", but you came here saying you're "brand new" and buying your first trailer. The people on this board have decades of experience in towing and camping. We are not trying to diminish your excitement, but give you some safety expertise from experience. I just read an article where a woman lost her husband and child towing a trailer. Have fun on your first trip!

 

[KGMarie]

I know you're excited and you're done "tons of research", but you came here saying you're "brand new" and buying your first trailer. The people on this board have decades of experience in towing and camping. We are not trying to diminish your excitement, but give you some safety expertise from experience. I just read an article where a woman lost her husband and child towing a trailer. Have fun on your first trip!

I was looking more for advice about Ft Wilderness and what to bring. Not for advice about the trailer itself. My family has had trailers since I was young and my dad is helping me with everything so I'm not concerned about the trailer. More about what to do or bring so we can have a great time. We have never been to Ft Wilderness but I've heard it's amazing. And I am brand new to disboards

 

[KristinU]

I hope you're not feeling under attack KGMarie! And welcome to the DIS and the Camping forum. We're really not trying to pick you apart, just trying to keep all of our fellow campers (and folks on the road) safe so we can all arrive in one piece at the Fort and have fun! My last .02 on the trailering thing: think hard about that F250 your DH is drooling over, especially before heading up to Maine (which is gorgeous, BTW!) Also be thinking of a hitch system like Equal-i-zer, Hensley, or ProPride. And be thinking Prodigy if your Ford doesn't have a brake controller built in. OK, I'll take my mothering hat off now...

Fort specific stuff - do bring bikes (and a bike trailer or tag-along for your little one) if you have them. We have such a blast tooling around! Bring your own set-up for smores to take to the campfire sing-along. You can buy your fixings there but they're expensive. I've also seen folks roasting weenies at the campfire too - make a little picnic meal of it! Some people go crazy with light and site decorations. We don't but love walking and riding around to see what others have going. And do plan for some down time at the Fort, fun to just chill out and relax! Several fun playscapes for your DD, fishing, swimming, canoeing, etc! Enjoy!

 

[KGMarie]

I hope you're not feeling under attack KGMarie! And welcome to the DIS and the Camping forum. We're really not trying to pick you apart, just trying to keep all of our fellow campers (and folks on the road) safe so we can all arrive in one piece at the Fort and have fun! My last .02 on the trailering thing: think hard about that F250 your DH is drooling over, especially before heading up to Maine (which is gorgeous, BTW!) Also be thinking of a hitch system like Equal-i-zer, Hensley, or ProPride. And be thinking Prodigy if your Ford doesn't have a brake controller built in. OK, I'll take my mothering hat off now...

Fort specific stuff - do bring bikes (and a bike trailer or tag-along for your little one) if you have them. We have such a blast tooling around! Bring your own set-up for smores to take to the campfire sing-along. You can buy your fixings there but they're expensive. I've also seen folks roasting weenies at the campfire too - make a little picnic meal of it! Some people go crazy with light and site decorations. We don't but love walking and riding around to see what others have going. And do plan for some down time at the Fort, fun to just chill out and relax! Several fun playscapes for your DD, fishing, swimming, canoeing, etc! Enjoy!

We got a hitch system and we have trailer brakes already equipped in the truck. I appreciate concern but safety is my biggest concern too and I work in the collision business so I know my fair share about all of that.

My DD is super excited about having s'mores with Chip and Dale. Do they do movies every night outside??

 

[Flametamr]

Yes every night on the movies. Someone usually posts the list at the first of each month on here. Hope you have a great trip.

 

[tiggerdad]

We got a hitch system and we have trailer brakes already equipped in the truck. I appreciate concern but safety is my biggest concern too and I work in the collision business so I know my fair share about all of that.

My DD is super excited about having s'mores with Chip and Dale. Do they do movies every night outside??

You can bring your own marshmallows or you can buy a smores kit at the program before the movie starts. I also saw some people cook a hotdog on the firepit as well. All around it is good fun.

Sent from my Desire HD using DISBoards

 

[bama_ed]

Yes every night on the movies. Someone usually posts the list at the first of each month on here. Hope you have a great trip.

Here is this month's movie list as FYI. In the middle of the Fort is the big trading post (Meadow), the big pool, the Bike Barn, a pond, and a small amphitheater with a big screen where the Chip & Dale singalong is. It will start at 8pm and C&D mix/mingle in the crowd for pictures and autographs. The movie starts about 840pm.

July 01 - Lilo & Stitch (PG)
July 02 - Cars
July 03 - National Treasure (PG)
July 04 - National Treasure: Book of Secrets (PG)
July 05 - Wreck-it Ralph (PG)
July 06 - Cinderella
July 07 - Peter Pan
July 08 - Bolt (PG)
July 09 - Monsters, Inc.
July 10 - Up (PG)
July 11 - The Sorcerer's Apprentice (PG)
July 12 - Toy Story
July 13 - Brave (PG)
July 14 - Tangled (PG))
July 15 - Lilo & Stitch (PG)
July 16 - Cars
July 17 - National Treasure (PG)
July 18 - National Treasure: Book of Secrets (PG)
July 19 - Teen Beach Movie
July 20 - Cinderella
July 21 - Peter Pan
July 22 - Bolt (PG)
July 23 - Monsters, Inc.
July 24 - Up (PG)
July 25 - The Sorcerer's Apprentice (PG)
July 26 - Toy Story
July 27 - Brave (PG)
July 28 - Tangled (PG)
July 29 - Lilo & Stitch (PG)
July 30 - Cars
July 31 - National Treasure (PG)

Camping at the Fort is no different than camping anywhere else. The camper is a nice home base to come back to if you get tired mid-day to swim or nap.

Bama Ed

PS there is a movie schedule in the paperwork you will be given at checkin so you will probably know the schedule before we get it posted on the web.

 

[RVMH]

I am brand new to all of this. Just bought a trailer (which hasn't even arrived yet) and will be going to Ft Wilderness for Labor Day weekend!! Any advice? It's going to be me, my husband and my 3 years old DD. thanks!

Don't want to belabor the trailer thing and you may have lots of experience in backing things up - but since you're so close you might want to drive over and preview some sites as not all sites will be easy back-ins for a 37' unit. It often helps to have a list of sites that will not work. The folks who assign sites know only length and width and don't take into account the turning radius - or the inconveniently placed trash containers, trees etc. It's a pain to find that you can't get into the site when you're blocking traffic on the loop! That being said, you'll love the Fort and the many fun things to do.

 

[super_camper]

We got a hitch system and we have trailer brakes already equipped in the truck. I appreciate concern but safety is my biggest concern too and I work in the collision business so I know my fair share about all of that.

My DD is super excited about having s'mores with Chip and Dale. Do they do movies every night outside??

I wouldn't normally post about towing as I have little experience with it as I own a MH but recently a friend of mine was killed in an accident while towing an RV.

If you do a little research I think you will see a 37' TT is beyond the capability of an F150. If safety is in fact your biggest concern please visit a scale with your F150 and TT all loaded up for a trip before you hit the highway.

 

[KGMarie]

I wouldn't normally post about towing as I have little experience with it as I own a MH but recently a friend of mine was killed in an accident while towing an RV.

If you do a little research I think you will see a 37' TT is beyond the capability of an F150. If safety is in fact your biggest concern please visit a scale with your F150 and TT all loaded up for a trip before you hit the highway.

Just so everyone can lay off the advice on the truck, I now own a 2012 F150 and a 2011 F350 so either way I am good.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

k,,,,,

 

[thegoofyfamily]

k,,,,,

May I join you?

 

[Born 2 Fish]

May I join you?

Absolutely,,there's plenty of popcorn.

 

[KristinU]

Just so everyone can lay off the advice on the truck, I now own a 2012 F150 and a 2011 F350 so either way I am good.

Congrats on the new truck!

 

[KGMarie]

Congrats on the new truck!

Thanks! Exciting things happening around here!! Still waiting on my trailer to be finished.

 

[ClaudeZ767]

I am brand new to all of this. Just bought a trailer (which hasn't even arrived yet) and will be going to Ft Wilderness for Labor Day weekend!! Any advice? It's going to be me, my husband and my 3 years old DD. thanks!

Hello! Congrats on the new RV! It IS very exciting! I would suggest that you visit your local camping supply place, like Camping world or the like ( though some of the stuff you may want can be found at walmart, believe it or not) I would say get an in-line water filter(they filter out the plastic taste from your supply hose) Panchos for all ( rains often), they also make drive up ramps that you can use if you ever get a flat with a tandem trailer that makes changing the flat easier. Stock up on toilet chemicals and camping TP. The sites are usually groomed volcanic ash/ sand so buy an area mat and you won't track too much of it in and out of your camper. I'm sure there are more things that others can fill in here. Oh, and for sanity's sake.. if you don't already have one, get your kid a portable dvd player with headphones that they can enjoy in the camper when you're not tearing up the Magic Kingdom. Also, most of the better loops and the premium loops have a cable tv pedestal, so if your camper comes with it installed, get about a 50 ft coax cable (camping world, Bestbuy, etc)and you can enjoy 100+ channels and Disney programming) Important thing is to not be overwhelmed and have fun.

 

[SoccerDad]

Also, most of the better loops and the premium loops have a cable tv pedestal, so if your camper comes with it installed, get about a 50 ft coax cable (camping world, Bestbuy, etc)and you can enjoy 100+ channels and Disney programming)

Is the 100+ channels part true? If so then this is better than the Value or Moderate resorts we have stayed in, that seem to get 12 Disney channels and 4 other channels...of course I'm exaggerating slightly, but really it is kind of annoying to spend all day at a park and then be faced with only Disney stuff on the tube!

 

[ClaudeZ767]

Is the 100+ channels part true? If so then this is better than the Value or Moderate resorts we have stayed in, that seem to get 12 Disney channels and 4 other channels...of course I'm exaggerating slightly, but really it is kind of annoying to spend all day at a park and then be faced with only Disney stuff on the tube!

Our last trip was last May and at that time, my tuner found over 100 channels. Granted, 20 of them were Disney related. One channel we watched continually was one that played classic Disney cartoons 24 hours..

 

[bama_ed]

Our last trip was last May and at that time, my tuner found over 100 channels. Granted, 20 of them were Disney related. One channel we watched continually was one that played classic Disney cartoons 24 hours..

The 100 channels could be true.

When I was there in April 2013, I requested a channel printed lineup and it had about 40 channels listed. But the front desk folks also said they were in the midst of changing the service (I think they were going to DIRECTV channels) and they said they couldn't promise that the channel lineup would be correct.

More channels is a good thing.

Bama Ed