cars, bikes, and buses

[estherhead]

I have a reservation in March for my first time ever at the Fort. I'm excited, my dh is excited (he went a TON as a kid) and my sister is excited. But my b-i-l isn't and some of the kids aren't. They are at the Poly right now and he is loving every minute of it. But at Peak that's expensive! And we have a lot of kids. And I want to experience the Fort and know I never will if I don't stay there. We're going to switch to the Dolphin half way through the week to make the doubters willing to tent the first 4 nights.

Anyway. There are some misgivings. But my main questions are transportation. I know us & we won't like having to wait for internal buses and then other buses. We'll have two vans & bikes for all the kids. If we are only allowed one van at the site is there parking near the boat/bus depots? Where will our other van be parked? Is it convenient for us to bike to our van each morning?

I don't want to spend the money on a golf cart as we are bikers/walkers in general and would prefer to rely on our own power. But obviously I can't make my little kids hike forever!

The doubters are worried. We need to get to parks EASILY. As easy as from the Poly? Or at the very least as easy as from POR.

 

[YodaGirl]

Are the doubters doubting tent camping ingeneral, or are they doubting tent camping at Disney. If they don'tlike tent camping in general, being at the Fort won't change that.

As to tranportation, I've stayed at the Poly and the Fort, and I think it's about as easy either place, but as with anything, I'm sure others will have different opinion.

It depends on what loop as to whether or not it's a comfortable to walk to the Outpost or Settement.

There is parking at the Outpost; there is no parking by the boats. The policy states that only one vehicle per site, but as some will atest, that rule isn't followed very closely.

I hope that you find the perfect solution.

 

[estherhead]

Camping at the Fort. Everyone involved tent camps a few times a year. But my b-i-l can't understand two things: 1) Why the Fort is special and 2) Peak season is expensive!

He just feels like camping is camping and Disney is Disney. Why when a perfectly good Poly is right there would you stay in a tent? But they've only stayed onsite in off season. And we can afford more than tenting, that's true. But not enough to stay at the Poly a week during Peak season! We all really like to do Disney together and the Fort is a unique Disney experience that only one of us (my dh) has ever experienced. Dh & I are doing it for sure & I'm not trying to talk them into it. My sis is on her own for that! But just had a few final questions before I'll feel he has all the info he needs to make a call.

So we won't get in trouble if both vans are parked in the driveway? And if we do it'll be nice? Like "Could you move your van?" and not "You are horrible people, get outta here?" Or will they just not both fit? We'll have two tents which will fill up the tent area and the bikes & we'll probably bring fold up chairs for us to lounge in. But not a lot of other gear I see some with. We'll mostly eat at restaurants and be out & about doing all the things WDW and the Fort have to offer.

I'm not a rule breaker in general but I'm willing to break rules that aren't enforced or don't have a safety reason, etc. behind it. Oh, who am I kidding? If I can break a rule and not get caught I will.

 

[estherhead]

Are there spots for the bikes at the boats?

 

[YodaGirl]

I think that the concern comes when vehicles are hanging out in the road which makes it difficult for others to drive through the loop/back campers. Some would even argue that ALL vehicles should be parked at the Outpost. I've never heard of anyone getting into serious trouble with the Fort Police, but I guess anything is possible. Wouldn't think it'd be very likely, though. The worst that would happen, I'd assume, would be them asking you to move a vehicle...and probably nicely.

If everyone involved is already big into tent camping, then I'd say ya'll will have a blast! We had issues with our tow vehicle back in '96, which landed us in the Poly. We would walk over to the Fort pouting that we couldn't stay there. lol

 

[clkelley]

Are there spots for the bikes at the boats?

Yes, there are bike racks near the marina. Plenty of places to lock up the bikes.

There are also bike racks near the main parking lot/Outpost bus stop. So if you do want leave one or more vans out at the parking lot, it is not a problem to ride to the OUtpost and drive the vans to the parks.

The boat is most definitely the way to get to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[mikeymouse1]

Dont be afraid the Fort can break the toughest of cases! My teen son got so negative about camping we were going to do something else and when we laid out the plan his true colors shined!"WHY AREN'T WE GOING TO FORT WILDERNESS?!?!?!?!?!?!My sister in law Yuck camping!!! Now both have an almost unhealthy Fort addiction!The internal bus system is good the external is not bad! As for switching locations halfway threw the trip What A Pain! STAY AT THE FORT!!!!!

 

[estherhead]

Little update. My sister read this and informed me that my b-I-l went to the fort as a kid too! But his family had a really nice camper. So I think the big issue was with the bath house. But regardless, they are in all the way and he said even though he'd rather be at the Poly, he's going.

And we are going to take bikes. Thanks!