Camping?

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

We up-sized to a 2-bedroom this summer to be able to invite some friends to join us. We're also going back for a week at Christmas. That's left our points for summer 2009 somewhat depleated.

We have enough points to do a studio for some nights, but won't be able to swing the weekend nights. We enjoy camping, but have never done it at Disney. A tent site at Fort Wilderness isn't very many points, even on the weekends.

I'm thinking online here... what are some of the pros and cons? I'd love some additional input from others who enjoy camping at Disney and have used their points to do it.

Pro: It would allow us to spend more days in Disney during our summer vacation. (Two nights in the tent will actually allow us to be able to afford five extra nights on the trip.)

Pro: We'd still be able to start and end the trip in the luxury we're accustomed to in a DVC resort.

Pro: We really do enjoy camping, and haven't had a camping trip since buying into DVC. (Guess where all our vacations have been?)

Con: To take the tent, sleeping bags and other gear, we'll have to drive instead of fly. (Coming from Virginia. We've never driven before.)

Pro: Driving will allow us to stop on the way and spend a night visiting family in northern Florida we don't see very often.

Con: The trip is in late July. Although we can bring a big box fan with us to make sleeping a little more comfortable, there won't be an air conditioned room to retreat to. I'm a pooh-sized guy, and I don't take very well to sleeping in the heat.

Con: The camping nights will be in the middle of the trip. We'll already be tired and possibly sun burned by then. Do we really want to sleep on an air matress and sleeping bag?

Pro: We'll have an premium annual pass. Come on, let's get all the days out of it we can.

Pro: Other than Hood-Dee-Doo Review, we've never spent much time exploring Fort Wilderness. This would give us the opportunity to do some of the things over there like the Back Yard BBQ and the camp fire marshmallow roast.

 

[gatorfreud]

I really enjoyed camping at FW... in MARCH! I would never, ever, ever not have an A/C place to retreat to in July. Insane, I think.

We went camping to camp, did not do any parks, and I thought it would be tough to do the parks and camp. However, I could see other folks, and I could see how it would be fun to come back after the parks and have a big BBQ. Again, though, NOT IN JULY!!!

Good luck with whatever you pick!

 

[backyardponder]

Camping at FTW is wonderful. I've done it 3 times, once in a pop-up, once in a tent, and once in a motor home. FTW is one of the best locations at DW...hop on the boat and you're at the Magic Kingdom. My wife's one complaint was that their bathrooms were cleaner than hers at home!

I wouldn't use points, however. You are much better off paying for the site. If you aren't going to use utilities, I think they have some sites which are less expensive.

 

[lizziepooh]

I would just rent a room at a value resort for the weekend. I would NOT sleep in a tent in July in Florida. Just my opinion.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I've seen pictures on the camping site that showed how to rig a tent to use a room air conditioner. Its not as "redneck" as it sounds really. You'd also be surprised at how cool the night air can be in July.

This might be a good question for the camping site.

 

[salmoneous]

I always planned to camp of FW, but never got around to it. Fly down (tent etc. as checked baggage), stay the weekend in the Ft, then off to DVC for weeknights.

Unfortunately, with the $95 booking fee, camping is no longer a "cheap" option for a night or two.

 

[hellerjw]

I agree, with the $95 booking fee you can pay for a night at one of the value resorts and have 2 beds, private bath, TV and most of all A/C! Its hot enough making your way through the parks each day in July, I can't imagine having to sleep in that humidity too.

Save the points, pay cash for camping or step up to the value resorts. Your comfort level each night will greatly affect your stamina/enjoyment level the following day so make sure you factor that into the equation too.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

The campsites used to only cost around $50. Why not just pay cash?

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

You're absolutely right. I'd forgotten all about the $95 booking fee. Now that I'm paying cash, maybe I will consider a resort room instead of a tent.

 

[musical2]

If you still want to camp and can't fly from Virginia, you always can take the Auto Train from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL. That way you don't have to drive and still have your vehicle (which is packed with camping gear) with you. We have taken the Auto Train several times to Florida.

 

[hakepb]

I really cannot imagine enjoying camping at WDW, unless that was the only way you could afford to go.
(Note, I love camping in national parks..)
Perhaps I had a bad experience, but I once tried the buffet at FW (I thought the food was marginal) and felt overall like I left WDW and was at a some second rate place. I did not find the landscaping any better than a national park, so it kinda felt dirty/dusty.
Some of my problems were my lack of planning/knowledge. I took a bus to FWV instead of the campground and then had to wait for the boat or 2 since there was too large a croud waiting. After we were done, we decided to leave FW via bus, to discover they have an internal only bus route (another kid threw up on that bus so it was not pleasant), then you have to wait at the entrance for a real park bus. (Which was 30+ min wait that time)

I did see a Travel Channel WDW Christmas special where several RV'ers using FW as their snowbird winter home which seemed intriguing if you did not need to go to the parks every day. Couldn't be much worse than any other FLA campground.

 

[spiceycat]

go with offsite for those 2 days - cheap and you can find something close to WDW.

or you find something close to US/IOA and go with that!!!

www.travelzoo.com

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

go with offsite for those 2 days - cheap and you can find something close to WDW.

or you find something close to US/IOA and go with that!!!

www.travelzoo.com

Now there's a thought. I've always wanted to do Universal with the special resort priviledges.