Checking in at the Fort

[nascar-j]

For those Fort veterans.
Our first trip to FW was 3 years ago, When we arrived we drove into one of the queue's and waited our turn to pull up to the booth and get our assignment. Unfortunately, we arrived at rush hour (3pm on a Sunday in June) and all the lanes were full. We were the 5th or 6th rig in our line and it took us 1 1/2 hours to get through. I timed the RV infront of us and it was 22 minutes from when they pulled to the booth and drove off.

The pic collage for FW on the WDW site shows a lobby and people checking in.

Can you park somewhere and walk in to get your site assignment? If so, where do you park? I pull a 31 ft 5er with a crewcab.. I'm not exactly short. Is walking in any faster?

I never saw anyone parking and walking up to the building or I would have done it after the first 30 minutes in line..

Thanks.

j

 

[BigDaddyRog]

The walk in is on the otherside of the same building, so you definately wouldnt have seen anyone walking in....I saw several rigs in the parking lot, so I assume people were checking in on the inside where the cabin guests check in.

 

[disneystick]

Need advice here too...never been camping at FW...we are tent camping...do we wait in the line too...or is there a parking lot where we park the cars, then go inside to check in? Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[LarryJ]

I've never consider this and I can't see why you couldn't. Park in the overflow lot and go inside and register. Just be advised the inside can be crowded as well depending on the time of day. There are only like 4 or maybe 5 check in stations vs. the multiple lanes at the main check in area. If you are considering this I would call the FW front desk and ask.

Larry

 

[2goofycampers]

I've never consider this and I can't see why you couldn't. Park in the overflow lot and go inside and register. Just be advised the inside can be crowded as well depending on the time of day. There are only like 4 or maybe 5 check in stations vs. the multiple lanes at the main check in area. If you are considering this I would call the FW front desk and ask.

Larry

I thought that too. but you would have to go back to entry, thru security gate and snake thru parking lot to go to your site. might not be so easy. am I right?

 

[nascar-j]

Larry and Rog,

Thanks for the replies. It sounds like you both have always used the outside lines. How long did you waiting to get through?
I don't know if it was exceptionally busy or they were slow when we checked. We're also going to try to get in earlier and we're coming in on Saturday. I'm hoping this helps.

j

 

[2goofycampers]

Larry and Rog,

Thanks for the replies. It sounds like you both have always used the outside lines. How long did you waiting to get through?
I don't know if it was exceptionally busy or they were slow when we checked. We're also going to try to get in earlier and we're coming in on Saturday. I'm hoping this helps.

j

we have never waited more then 10 minutes..

 

[LONE-STAR]

There has never been a line when we check in.

 

[terri01p]

We also waited about 50 minutes whenever we checked in, but because we were in the cool, sitting on our butts we were fine..hehe...I think it might have to do with the time you checked in because we checked in about three also and there were 5 campers in front of us in each lane. We even ended up going back because we got someone elses paper work and didn't notice until it was to late that it wasn't ours.
I say just be prepared to wait and stick it out in the cool of your truck.

And then the dude in front of us took out the guard shack so we had a whole show going on, we couldn't beleive it, it tore the heck out of the side of his huge 5th wheel, we felt so bad for them, it took a fork clift to get him off of it and we were directed into another lane .

 

[LarryJ]

Larry and Rog,

Thanks for the replies. It sounds like you both have always used the outside lines. How long did you waiting to get through?
I don't know if it was exceptionally busy or they were slow when we checked. We're also going to try to get in earlier and we're coming in on Saturday. I'm hoping this helps.

j

It varies a lot and we've waited anywhere from 5min to 45min. We try and get there around noon. This last Dec we got there just after 11am and they checked us in and we were at our site by 11:30AM.

Larry

 

[lisa8200]

Before we got the 5'er we would stay in the cabins. When you leave the guard shack the road goes forward to the drive up and to the right to park and walk in. We are directed to the drive up with the 5'er, I think due to size of the parking lot( small ). Most likely you would have to use the overflow parking when pulling or driving a rig. we haven't had to wait to long when checking in but, we try to go when it's as slow as possible ( Time of year,,, I have no Idea when alot of people are checking in ).

And then the dude in front of us took out the guard shack so we had a whole show going on, we couldn't beleive it, it tore the heck out of the side of his huge 5th wheel, we felt so bad for them, it took a fork clift to get him off of it and we were directed into another lane .

The last time we were there they had put domes (??) in the road to keep you away from the guard shack..I haven't got close to the shack yet but, I have hit the domes .Just got to remember to swing a little wider next time..Maybe this month

By the way, I'll appologize in advance if I didn't answer anything..I tend to do that so I'm told..

Mike

 

[nascar-j]

Great help everyone. And you did answer a question, Lisa.

We are driving to south Georgia on Friday and then the last 4 hours or so on Saturday morning. I'll just make sure we plan on getting in by noon.

We have reservations starting on March 15th so I'm sure the place will be packed.

And I don't remember the guard shack being that big of a risk but I'll be sure to miss it on the way in.

j

 

[tim5055]

Another option that I have used in the past is to get in line with the other campers outside, but then walk inside. Usually we have checked in slightly faster inside, walked back out and when you get to the front just drive through. Always leave someone with the vehicle to keep it moving in line. Another thing we have done if the line is long is one of us will grab one of the bikes and cruse the pet loops and take note of open sites. That way when we get to check in we have a list of "available" sites we like.