ckelly? flying tents

[Whosemom]

Hello,
I know there is someone who has flown and tent camped, but I'm not finding it...

How to you manage the luggage limits? We have a party of 5, and a new airline has opened where we can get round trip from Ohio for $80 each, but putting us in a hotel instead of camping eats the savings.

just for kicks, say we buy the dining plan and only need a cheepy cooler bought at the grocery there for drinks.

 

[clkelley]

Look at your airline's website. What is their checked luggage limit??

Most airlines allow 2 50 lb containers per person of checked luggage.

With 5 people that would mean 10 large bags/footlockers and 500 lbs of camping gear/clothes.

You need at least 1 large tent to sleep in and one small tent for storage.

Air mattresses, a pump and bedding.

The folding bag chairs for each of you.

Some type of shelter to sit under outside your tent. (This can be a tarp with ropes/bungies tied to trees or a collapsible shelter).

clothes for each of you (I recommend only 3-4 days worth and wash)

a shower kit for each of you.

Shower shoes

40 ft Outdoor extension cord and a power strip

Depending on what time of year you are going, you will either need a fan or heated mattress pads.

A battery lantern and batteries.

For one of your checked containers I would recommend a plastic locking footlocker so that you can lock up valuable items (like cell phone chargers, camera chargers, extra memory chips, whatever). Anything really valuable, you might want to keep on your person, or keep at the outpost safe deposit boxes.

Your normal camping stuff won't be bothered.

You can use Magical Express and they will deliver all your stuff to your campsite. I don't know what time of day you are arriving, but try to get an arrival fairly early in the day so you have plenty of time to get set up.

Since you say this is a new airline, they probably don't participate in Resort Airline Checkin, so you will have to check all your stuff at the airport yourself. With 5 of you that shouldn't be a problem. Once you arrive on the lower level, if the skycaps aren't available immediately, one of your party can go in search of one, or one of your party can go in search of a couple of carts while the rest of the party waits with the luggage.

I agree with you that you shouldn't try to cook on top of flying and camping. I never do. (I don't cook at Ft. Wilderness when I drive down either.)

If you have strollers, gate check those and they won't count against your limits.

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

Can you UPS your camping equipment to Fort Wilderness in advance? and then send it home when you leave.

Try calling FW and ask them 407-824-2727


Jeff

 

[Whosemom]

ohhhh jeff I like that idea too

thanks clkelley! my chicks are 11, 8 and 6, so no extra babystuff involved, but not much help carrying either

 

[Rhonda]

Another option would be to rent the tent and other equipment from FW! Then you don't have to bring/ship your own!

FW's direct number is 407-824-2900. You can call to find out what equipment they have, and the prices.

 

[TuckandStuiesMom]

I rented a tent last fall and was VERY pleased.

Nice clean super-roomy (You can stand up and walk around in it) tent: $33.75/night
Having someone else put it up for mericeless!

Here is the phone number I used to make my arrangements: 1.407.939.7807 -- Select option #4 for group camping -- it is my understanding that they will rent out the tents to private campers on an item availability basis -- If they are all spoken for because of a group event, you're outa luck but I'm definitely going to give them a call before our next family trip next March.

 

[clkelley]

The OP was saying that staying in a resort would negate the savings of the cheap airfare, so spending $30+ a night for equipment would probably also negate the savings.

 

[Whosemom]

Can you UPS your camping equipment to Fort Wilderness in advance? and then send it home when you leave.

Try calling FW and ask them 407-824-2727


Jeff

I called and asked them - the young man on the phone sounded like people do that all the time!

Now I just have to convince DH that plane tickets that cost less than gas to get there make it worth tenting vs pulling the popup. NOt to mention, adding 2 days to Disney time, or letting him miss 2 less days of work.

Actually, I stopped and did the math - 2,000 miles (round trip)/12mpg (I know, awful) x $3 = $500 for gas. So that's a wash. But by the time you add in food for the road, and a night's lodging down and up...