Camping, Really?

[lisajl]

Ok everyone. Help me out here. I need camping info. My DS, 10, just moved into Boy Scouts and had his first serious camp out last weekend.
I was informed by his leader that we would have a family campout in August.
I said, "Ok, we'll borrow inlaws motor home." Well that went over like a lead balloon. I see on this board that some of you use motor homes, does anyone camp in a tent at WDW? Just need some tips. If we can do it here in Ohio, we may be able to swing a trip to WDW this year if we use the camping area.

We could always borrow inlaws motor home to get there, but if we can't any ideas with the tent thing?
I AM NOT A CAMPER!! Can you tell?

 

[We4mickey]

There are alot of people who still camp in tents.

 

[lisajl]

Could someone tell me how? We are going to be getting into camping due to my son and I really want to make it fun and enjoyable.
If it goes well now, I could see us camping at WDW. I just need some help.

 

[Rhonda]

Hi!

We love tent camping at FW! Some of the necessities (for us anyway) are:

A big tent (we like dome tents)
Air mattress with pillows & blankets (instead of sleeping bags)
Big Rubbermaid tubs (for camping gear, keeps things neat and waterproof)
Screen tent (set up over picnic table area - keeps out rain and bugs)
Tent heater (for camping in colder months)
Fan (for camping in warmer months)
Mat for shoes to put outside tent (if you step into tent with shoes on, the floor gets sandy really quick)
Electric appliances (coffee maker, elec. frying pan, crockpot) - just because we're camping, doesn't mean we have to "rough it" LOL
water shoes or cheap sandals for wearing in the showers
Laundry soap (if you're staying long enough to do laundry)
Coleman plug-in cooler (easier than buying bags of ice every day)

I'm sure there's much, much more. Those are just the important things that I can think of off the top of my head.

Our favorite tent camping loop is 1500!

 

[lisajl]

Wow! Thanks for that info Rhonda. If we don't make it to WDW, that will surely help us here. When do you camp at WDW? Is it too cold in Nov?
Lisa

 

[duranfan]

if they're going as the boy scouts aren't they going to get the group tenting area? Thats a private area for groups such as the Scouts. Disney will even provide tent and set them up (charge of course). If you want something more comfy the cabins are nearby.

Far as borrowing someone's RV, yeah if they don't offer it to you its better not to ask. Thats a touchy subject with alot of RVrs... so don't feel bad if they don't offer it.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

I was going to chime in with the air mattresses (over 40 here) but Rhonda beat me to it.
One nice thing is the new lightweight headlamps, very useful while camping. LED now much more energy efficient than old flashlights.

DD will get one for her 4th birthday so we will each have our own for camping.
DH uses a propane 2 burner stove for cooking.

Both kids really love camping. Maybe because we adults are so much more present to them, instead of sitting in front of the TV or computer. I usually handle the morning shift and let DH sleep late. Then i nap while he takes the kids boating. We both swim with kids, then cook dinner and have a campfire.

Three links for shopping:
http://www.rei.com/
www.campmor.com
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/

 

[minkydog]

We love tent camping, but if you've never done it before you might want to "practice" a little closer to home. Make sure you actually like it--sleeping on the ground to save a few bucks will lose it's appeal if you really hate camping. I personally would not tent camp at FW in August because of the heat,the bugs, the heat, the humidity, the sand, the flies, and the heat. However we have camped in May and it was delightfully warm during the day and comfortable at night. Ft Wilderness is the premier of camping, the most fun campground we've ever been to.

If your ILs will let you take the RV, more power to you. You will feel like a king. If they won't, then consider tenting once you have some experience. It's not hard, but it takes some planning and some work. It's a lot of fun, but you will want to figure out "how it's done" before you drive all the way down there with all your stuff.

Do you have friends who camp? I find that getting started is much easier if you go with experienced friends. That way you have a ready resource if you can't figure out how to put the tent up or you forget the can opener. Maybe you could start by going to a state park for a long weekend.

 

[lisajl]

My SIL and Bil camp a lot. I have always hated tent camping, but my son, and his Boy Scout troop are showing me how fun it can be. Yes, I would try it closer to home first. We bought Kyle a tent for Christmas and we were thinking of the air mattresses also.
The reason I asked about tent camping at WDW is that I have NEVER thought of it. Wondered if people did it and how it was to do.
I prefer hotels, but I am going to have to get used to camping with my son.

BTW, my in laws want us to buy their motor home. My DH refuses to because we would not use it enough. They keep telling us to take it up north to MI and I think we will take them up on it this summer.

Thanks for the help everyone.
Lisa

 

[campingcorgi]

If borrowing the motorhome went over like a lead balloon with your son, just take the motorhome and put him in a small tent out back. You'll have the best of both worlds that way!!

 

[clkelley]

Where most Scout Troops go camping, there would be no place to even bring in a motor home.

As far as tent camping at Ft. Wilderness, it's great!!

Most posters have given you great advice.

The air mattress is a must! Also, you need the Coleman rechargeable air pump. You can charge it up at home before you leave on those Scout camping trips where there is no electricity, and it will blow up your air mattress super quick. The battery operated air pump drains those expensive D-Cell batteries too quick, and the one that hooks up to your car lighter is no good, because you may not be able to park near where you are setting up your stuff.

As far as a tent, I have a Wal-Mart dome tent ($39 and change). My boys each have their own tent also.

I camp at Ft. Wilderness in December. I use an electric blanket at Ft. Wilderness. When I'm camping in the winter with Scouts, I use a 20 degree sleeping bag.

Get those folding bag chairs. Great around the campfire for Scout trips, and great for sitting in front of your tent at Ft. Wilderness.

Carol

 

[loriandmatt]

was it the inlaws that balked on the RV loaning or the cub scouts that balked at the idea of you coming on their camping trip in an RV?

we have a pop up and when i suggested taking it on my son's scout camping trip i was told no - the boys and their partent(s) had to camp in a tent.

Well - can i tell you that i didn't go. i was 5 months pregnant at the time and very spoiled by my little pop up. DH and son went on camping trip and DH confided to me afterwards that he would never again camp in a tent. He apparently got enough roughing it in the Army. air matress, smair mattress - our bunk ends are much more comfy and you butt is more than a few inches off the ground.

- lori

 

[lisajl]

Lori,
It was the Boy Scouts that balked at the idea. Yea...I tried tent camping when I was 12, and hated it! I thought I would try because we have to for my son. I don't think I could do it at WDW. I just wanted to get some opinions about it. Everyone sure has given me ideas for when we do the family campout in August. I could handle the RV just fine, the tent thing does not do too much for me. I guess we will find out come August.
It is suppose to be at a Girl Scout camp here in Ohio. One mom told me they have tree houses to sleep in....ahhh..yea...tree houses!

Lisa

 

[Lord Fantasius]

Camping is probably the best family-building time available...period! If you're used to everyone with their own schedule, sleeping in their own rooms, cooking their meals, and generally acting independent of each other, well, you'll have to approach camping with a reality-check. But otherwise, yes, FW is the best campground in existence; the flipside, of course, is that if you experience FW too early in your camping career, you'll never be happy at any other campground where the family has to run into the bathroom/showers to check their cleanliness before deciding to stay there.

You'll either love it or hate it, and generally your opinion will be decided within the first two tries at camping.

Good luck and welcome to the camping experience!

-R

 

[auntie]

Nothing against tent camping..it's just not for me personally. Although my dad and brothers loved it for years.
I just wonder why if you have the opportunity to take a motor home why you would tent camp. You wouldn't have to worry as much about wheather if you had the motor home..and I just think it would make the trip to Disney more enjoyable..but that's just me. We are pretty far away..in NY..and I don't think I'd want to drive all that way to tent camp. If I were to do that I'd stick closer to home. If you haven't tent camped I'd definetly try that more locally before you make a trip to Disney to do it. I guees too..it would depend on the time of year. Personally I wouldn't want to do that durring the summer months..the heat can be brutal...and the weather unpredictable at that time of year in Fla.

 

[emeraldlover]

We went from Tent Camping (did it twice at FW) both times in March, once cold the other warm; then to a pop-up, now to a 33' travel trailer. Unlike some people who have trailers or motorhomes (not everyone mind you, but some), we use the trailer for just about sleeping only. If it is rainy it is nice to get inside to eat or sit out of the rain. When we camp, we do all of our cooking outside, we sit outside all the time to read, relax, sit around the campfire. We don't watch TV, hardly use the microwave. The refrigerator is a great help. My husband and kids usually use the bathrooms at the campgrounds except at night. I prefer my own toilet and shower, but the facilities at FW are definitely top notch.

I don't mind the tent camping, but I have a bad back and definitely needed the air mattress. It is just so much more convenient having the trailer in that you pack it once, and don't have to unpack it until you get home. We even bring a small refrigerator and plug it in outside under the awning so we don't have to keep going in and out.

I have noticed quite a few people who camp with trailers and motorhomes and you never see them outside enjoying a fire or exploring. I guess they just use it as a traveling hotel.

Melissa

 

[lisajl]

Melissa,
Thanks for that info. We are not real camping type people. Well...we really have not tried yet. We will be tent camping with our son this summer (Boy Scout stuff). So we will see how it goes. It's funny, but my inlaws, like I said before, are trying to get us to buy their motor home. It is not a nice one, but it is okay. I got online the other night to look up pop-up campers.
I think I could handle either of those better than tent camping.

It is interesting to read what you wrote about people in motor homes.
My DH is really interested in staying at FW, but we thought only of renting one of the cabins, very expensive of course. Now you all have given us a new idea. Well, you and the Scouts.
It will be fun to work through this info. My son had a great time camping last weekend and is looking forward to it again. We really need to get on the bandwagon with him and make it a family experience.

Thanks
Lisa

 

[emeraldlover]

Lisajl,

I never really camped before I moved up to MA and met my husband. I never felt I was truly an outdoorsy type. Believe me we have been to some campgrounds that are not very nice. We try and research everything. Sometimes when you just "wing" it, you get what you can find.

I really do enjoy spending the time outdoors. I work in an office all day and then come home to take care of a husband, DD (15), and DS (11), plus 2 dogs. When we go camping, my DD does all the cooking, and I can just kick back in my lounge chair and relax. You also seem to sleep so much better after being out in the fresh air all day.

We figure with the camping, we can eat breakfast and dinner at the camp, maybe even lunch if we decide to take it easy. It will certainly save on money. Like DH says - most of what you buy for lunch is hamburgers, chicken fingers, hot dogs, FF, and we can make all those things for a lot less than $10/pp.

Give it a try. If you in-laws let you borrow the MH then you can get the feel without making a huge investment.

Enjoy!

Melissa

 

[madisonsmom]

Wow, never new that RVing was camping! I think there has been lots of good advice, especially with suggestions on practice camping and NOT camping in the summer months. Besides the dreaded heat there are also nasty thunderstorms in the mid afternoon and if you buy the cheap tents at (insert megastore of choice) they are not usually all that waterproof unless you seal them really well with your own sealant. So on top of being uncomfortable your stuff also gets soaked.

I say that if you are not sure if you like to camp check into renting an RV, there are many rental places and I would assume there are some in Orlando that you could pick up there so you don't have to pay for the RV gas! Camping is so much fun to me and DH, always has been since I was a child, but I know that it is not for everyone, we have friends that wouldn't camp if you paid them. FW looked like it was mainly RVer's when we were there in Feb.(didn't stay there but went there for petting zoo, campfire sing along, etc) Didn't see very many campers(in tents)! Sounds nice though that they have electrical outlets at the sites along with cable! That sounds like some serious resort camping! Puts a new standard on "roughing it"

 

[tinan]

Hello! What area of Ohio are you in? We're located in the NE quadrant and I can give you some nice places around here to try out. We started off as tent campers, but have since moved on to a large pop up. I am just getting too old to be on the ground. I like my pop up where I am warm and dry