Camping questions from a newbie

[Reese]

We have a house booked off site but I've been reading in hear and realized how much cheaper it would be to camp on site, but I can't seem to find a map of the campground so I don't know about showers or bathrooms. We tent camp so we don't require sewer hook ups.

Also how is the weather in Florida at the end of Feb? I'de be coming from blizzards so it's hard for me to fathom actually camping at that time of year.

Has anyone done the dining plan with camping? Or do you just bring in your own food? Also has anyone flown with their camping gear? Did you have any problems? How does transportation work with camping to and from the parks? Are you still entitled to the hour early and later hours offered to resort guests?

Thanks in Advance for answering my numerouse questions. I just found out that I'm expecting number 6 so I'm trying to still enjoy our planned vacation but save a little money at the same time.

 

[sixAMmom]

We got back from tent camping at FW 3 weeks ago. We used the dinning plan the 4 days we were there. We stayed in the 1500 loop I highly recomend. The comfort station was nt more than 50 yards away from the farthest campsite. The campfire program is right accross the street and so are the playground, trading post and pool(although you might not need it in Feb)! I live in Florida and in Feb its cold some days and hot others. We actually had to turn our air conditioning on in the house by the end of Feb this year ! Its not extremly hot but hot enough to wear shorts during the day in the sun. Nights are a bit colder. We plan to go back camping at FW in Feb too.

As for the dinning plan we didn't eat once at FW. We took the boat to Comp. and ate at Chef Mickey's for breakfast(we had a late breakfast and that was also lunch), then we went Poly to look around and rented a surry bike :thewave: so much fun!! We then went to DTD and got something to eat at Earl of Sandwich(very good). We went back to the campsite exuasted but happy !! The next day we went to MK and had breakfast at the Main Street Bakery(good food but not alot of space to eat), we had a late lunch at CRT and used a couple of our snacks that day. The next day we had breakfast a Boma at the AKL and LOVED it !! In our opinion the best place to eat for breakfast on property!!! We had snacks left over on our last day there and we went to DTD and got popcorn and sodas for the trip home. We always felt stuffed and never hungery. We did keep a few snacks at our campsite for late night and early morning snacking but ended up taking alot of that back home with us !

Camping was so much fun(even with the super heat ) we can't wait to go back!!!

DH 30
DW 32
DD 8 Jasmine
DD 7 Ariel
DS 4 Capt Jack
DD 16 months Belle

 

[ajm1107]

Ok so I haven't done it but we are going in March. At least that is the latest plan. I will be flying with my gear. I called and verified that if I took ME how I would get my gear to camp. They have a van and will take me and my stuff to the site. We are iffy on the dining plan yet but I know that you can use it. Can't wait to get there. We were there in June for the HDDR and I fell in love with it.

 

[3kidsmommy]

Lots of good suggestions here for me, too. We are going in April and I can't wait. We will be pulling a pop up from KY to FL and we don't need sewer either. I guess 1500 would be the loop for us as well. How early can you make a loop request?

 

[Reese]

on your own site? Also how do you get from your site to DisneyWorld?

I was also wondering if anyone knows if there is a map somewhere that I can download that shows the positions of sites, bathrooms, showers ect.?

 

[geniegirl]

Check out this site for tons of info and a map at the bottom

http://www.title-3.com/FWFacts.htm

 

[Reese]

That site is awsome. I printed the map, it is exactly what I was looking for.

 

[sixAMmom]

Unfortunatly you can't have open fires at your campsite . But there is a campfire at FW. You can go there and buy sticks and marshmellows etc or you can bring your own. They have live music and funny skits too!! If you stay at the 1500 loop your right accross the street. I'm not sure if its everynight or just certain nights . Hope that helps alittle.

DH 30
DW 32
DD 8 Jasmine
DD 7 Ariel
DS 4 Capt Jack
DD 16 months Belle

 

[mrsgus06]

The campfire sing a long is every night. Ms. Sundee is awsome! She interacts with the audience very well!

 

[clkelley]

I fly in and camp at Ft. Wilderness every December.

Here are links to a couple of threads on lists to bring when flying and tent camping at Ft. Wilderness.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=896544

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=820662

Hope this helps!

Carol

 

[Reese]

Those threads were very useful. With us having 6 or 7 seats on the plane that would mean a lot of weight that we could take.

Having camped there before maybe you could tell me how big the space is to set up your tent? I have an 18x11 foot tent, a kitchen tent but I'de probably have to take a smaller tent to keep all the extra luggage in too.

 

[clkelley]

The sites vary. The two loops that are partial hookup are loop 1500 and loop 2000.

Loop 1500 is close to the Meadows recreation area (pool, trading post, bike barn and campfire. It is a smaller loop and no site is more than 50 yards away from the comfort station. It is also central to the campground and an easy walk or bus ride to either Settlement Bus Stop/Boat Dock or Outpost Bus stops.

Loop 2000 is kind of remote and huge, and it is possible that you could be a bit of a distance from the comfort station, but it is newer and has very large tent pads.

Site 1503 is quite large and always has plenty of room. Site 1506 is narrow and has a tree in a weird spot so that isn't real good for spreading out.

Site 1517 is pretty large and has plenty of room.

When you make your reservations, just tell CRO what size equipment you have and request a large site close to a comfort station. Also fax Ft. Wilderness a few days before you arrive and reiterate your requests. When you arrive if it is daytime and your site doesn't meet your needs, just wander around your loop to see if there is a bigger site empty and then call to see if you can switch.

Hope this helps.

Carol

 

[Reese]

I have one more question for you (probably more as time goes on ) How do you lock up? Once concern I have with flying is we will have no place to store anything.

 

[clkelley]

I havn't worried about it too much, but I do bring a lock for the footlocker and lock the laptop in it. I have an AirCard for the laptop so can use it at the campsite. They also have secure storage at the Reception Area if you have something you feel needs to be totally locked away. One year I did keep the computer there because I didn't have the AirCard and had to go there for dialup access anyway.

The first time I went to Ft. Wilderness, I brought some small luggage combination locks and put them through the zipper pulls. That will keep the casual thief from just grabbing something. The tent would have to be cut then to get something out of it. My chair, stool, lantern hanging, and towels hanging on the line have never been bothered just sitting out at the campsite.

Carol

 

[minkydog]

I just found out that I'm expecting number 6 so I'm trying to still enjoy our planned vacation but save a little money at the same time.

I'm sorry, i just got distracted by your last line. If you just found out you're PG, then you'll be what, 7-8months along in Feb? Have you ever been camping in your 3rd trimester? Will flying be an option at all?

i would be concerned about whether you could get adequate rest during a trip like this, especially sleeping in a tent. Not that i'm against pregnant women camping,but it is more strenuous than you might think.

 

[Reese]

thought about that aspect and am checking other on site options too. I'll be 30 weeks when we go and the cut off for flying is 32 weeks so it will be close. I have gone camping at 34 weeks before so I know what to expect, of course I was a couple years younger than, lol.

 

[minkydog]

I'm just thinking about camping out, in February, in the rain with 5 little kids and 30 wks pregnant.

 

[clkelley]

So what?? It sounds like the OP is an experienced camper and their kids seem to be too.

Camping at Ft. Wilderness is NOT camping in the traditional sense. There are great bathrooms nearby. The sites are flat, level, and drain really well. There is electricity and water to run fans and/or electric blankets as needed. They will be able to bring chairs, air mattresses, and everything else they need to be comfortable. As long as they waterproof their tents and awnings/shelters appropriately, they will be dry as anyone else at WDW if it rains.

I think it's great!! Enjoy!!

Carol

 

[minkydog]

So what?? It sounds like the OP is an experienced camper and their kids seem to be too.

Camping at Ft. Wilderness is NOT camping in the traditional sense. There are great bathrooms nearby. The sites are flat, level, and drain really well. There is electricity and water to run fans and/or electric blankets as needed. They will be able to bring chairs, air mattresses, and everything else they need to be comfortable. As long as they waterproof their tents and awnings/shelters appropriately, they will be dry as anyone else at WDW if it rains.

I think it's great!! Enjoy!!

Carol

Oh, I'm sorry. I was just thinking about our last trip to WDW last February when it rained much of the week. I'm an experienced camper too, but I was more than glad to curl up in my nice, dry bed at AKL at the end of the day There's a limit to my tolerance for with being uncomfortable for an entire week, especially when I'm pregnant. I only brought it up because I've done it.

 

[Reese]

I think that some people might choose camping at Disney because it is a cheaper alternative to the resorts. I have to say that is one reason I originally looked at it. Also the fact that we just came back from a week camping. My entire family loves camping and I have no doubt that they would absolutely adore this. We have however decided to splurge and go with the resort. I think next trip we will plan in March when I can rest assured that the weather will be at a nice temp. Does anyone know if we can still go over for the campfire one night and sort of check it out?