Check In Questions

[allmydisneydreams]

How early can you check in at the Fort? Does everyone in your party have to be there or can we just get everyone's KTTW cards when we arrive? Some family members would be arriving separately. Thanks!

 

[bama_ed]

Allmy,

It's been two days and nobody has responded. I'll take a stab at it (if anyone has actual field experience please correct me if needed).

The first folks checking in will have to pay any amounts due at check-in and can collect all cards. As long as EVERYONE in your party is listed on your reservation they will be listed on the guest list held by the guard at the entrance gate.

Your late arriving party, since they are on the list, can give the guards their names (and site number assigned to the first arrivers if you gave that to them) and they will be allowed to enter.

Assuming the first arrivers will have a car at the site the second arrivers can probably drive down, unload, then park the car in the FW check in lot (get a separate dashboard parking pass for this vehicle). Bus or walk back to your site. Or park in the lot initially and take your luggage on the bus to the site.

As long as everyone is listed on the ressie the first arrivers can take care of everyone else.

Bama ED

 

[NHcampers]

I have checked in as early as 7am before. If your site/cabin is not ready then you get kttw cards and you have to park car/camper in parking lot. You can take bus and head to the parks and front desk can call or text you when site/cabin is ready.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Since I work at The Fort as a Concierge from time-to-time . . .

1) Check-in as early as 6:05am. *
2) Anyone on the ressie (over 18) can check-in.
. . . needs government-issued ID, such as driver's license
. . . rest of party need not be there for KTTW cards
. . . if in cabin with Free Dining, we may need to see everyone
. . . credit/debit card not necessary if site/cabin paid in full
. . . credit/debit card necessary for KTTW charging or to pay the balance
3) Your site/cabin may not be ready, but you can get keys and tix
4) You can get the parking pass at check-in time
. . . one per cabin
. . . two per site
5) Anyone coming later can just tell the guard shack the ressie name.

* At one time, people could check in any time after midnight. But, folks
started to do this and use the hours as a free night before starting off
in the morning to the parks. In approx. 1994, it was decided to not allow
check-in until 6:00am, though the computers re-generated 2:00a-3:30a.

 

[storyteller]

Since I work at The Fort as a Concierge from time-to-time . . .

1) Check-in as early as 6:05am. *
2) Anyone on the ressie (over 18) can check-in.
. . . needs government-issued ID, such as driver's license
. . . rest of party need not be there for KTTW cards
. . . if in cabin with Free Dining, we may need to see everyone
. . . credit/debit card not necessary if site/cabin paid in full
. . . credit/debit card necessary for KTTW charging or to pay the balance
3) Your site/cabin may not be ready, but you can get keys and tix
4) You can get the parking pass at check-in time
. . . one per cabin
. . . two per site
5) Anyone coming later can just tell the guard shack the ressie name.

* At one time, people could check in any time after midnight. But, folks
started to do this and use the hours as a free night before starting off
in the morning to the parks. In approx. 1994, it was decided to not allow
check-in until 6:00am, though the computers re-generated 2:00a-3:30a.

Wow, thanks I did not know that... super

 

[bama_ed]

I thank you too, Scupper, those are some great details.

Bama ED

 

[allmydisneydreams]

Thanks everyone

 

[jojosam]

Thanks from me, too! My SIL and nephew will be arriving after we do, so it's good to know we can pick up all the cards, etc when we arrive.

 

[musket mickey]

Can you still go into the parking lot to check in ? I used to like to park the motrohome in the lot and go inside to register instead of waiting in that line. If you can do this without entering that line how would you enter to accomplish this?

 

[2goofycampers]

Can you still go into the parking lot to check in ? I used to like to park the motrohome in the lot and go inside to register instead of waiting in that line. If you can do this without entering that line how would you enter to accomplish this?

You'd have to find a parking place in the overflow lot and walk up to the Outpost. We usually find the lines aren't too bad.

 

[articfox676]

Can you still go into the parking lot to check in ? I used to like to park the motrohome in the lot and go inside to register instead of waiting in that line. If you can do this without entering that line how would you enter to accomplish this?

Keep in mind there are also people inside checking in for the cabins. Have seen long lines in there also depending in time of day.

 

[CampFanatic]

If we're checking in at Noon or 1:00 p.m., do you usually find that the sites are ready?

 

[John VN]

If we're checking in at Noon or 1:00 p.m., do you usually find that the sites are ready?

Yes and no, same as when we generally check-in at 0730. A couple of times our site was not ready until after 1300 because the previous campers did not abide to the 1100 check-out time.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, FW was very accommodating when we had to evacuated because of an approaching hurricane. We had reservations for a Friday check-in but our County suggested on Thursday that residents evacuate ASAP. I called the Outpost on Thursday evening and spoke to the manager on duty about our situation and asked how early we could arrive. He said come when you can and be safe. We arrived at FW around 0400. DW went into the Outpost and took care of the paperwork. They gave us a site so we drove to it, backed in very quietly, hooked up the electric and went to bed.

 

[bama_ed]

To follow up on what John said:

Every reservation is pre-assigned a site number for day of arrival. If someone camped on it the night before you arrive and then they check out, the Fort CMs need some time to get to it, clean it, and prepare it for your arrival. If you get there before it is ready, you have two options.

1. You can wait for it.

2. You can ask for a similar type site that is already prepared and ready to accept new guests.

If you made a request of a specific loop, etc you might lose that if you want a site right away. My experience has been that when my site wasn't ready, the CM would at least tell me the loop number I was pre-assigned to so at least I knew where it was, but not the site number. So sometimes it's enough to know if you got the loop you wanted, it's worth the wait.

The choice is yours.

Bama ED

 

[1Grumpy9]

Since I work at The Fort as a Concierge from time-to-time . . .

1) Check-in as early as 6:05am. *
2) Anyone on the ressie (over 18) can check-in.
. . . needs government-issued ID, such as driver's license
. . . rest of party need not be there for KTTW cards
. . . if in cabin with Free Dining, we may need to see everyone
. . . credit/debit card not necessary if site/cabin paid in full
. . . credit/debit card necessary for KTTW charging or to pay the balance
3) Your site/cabin may not be ready, but you can get keys and tix
4) You can get the parking pass at check-in time
. . . one per cabin
. . . two per site
5) Anyone coming later can just tell the guard shack the ressie name.

* At one time, people could check in any time after midnight. But, folks
started to do this and use the hours as a free night before starting off
in the morning to the parks. In approx. 1994, it was decided to not allow
check-in until 6:00am, though the computers re-generated 2:00a-3:30a.

Thanks for the info...This Christmas will be our first time camping at FW. So there are some things that we have questions about. Since I will be flying in and my parents will be bringing in the camper we will be arriving different times and I need to let them know when they can check in.