Classic VWs camping at the fort on upcoming FW visit

[VW camper Dan]

Hi, I'm Dan from Upstate, NY (Syracuse)
while I'm new here I've been reading these DIS forums for a few weeks.
I Still have a few questions regarding plans & booking for an upcoming family & friends trip to FW in May 2010 (5/3-5/6)

We are traveling down the atlantic coast as a group of about 6 vintage VW westfalia campers and WDW & FW are our last stops before heading home.
it'll be about 2200miles. I've already done this trip once in my 1980 VW camper and stayed @ FW during christmas, which was GREAT.
we're only 6 months out from our expected dates. I do hope we're not too late. but we are coming after spring break & the snowbirds leave in the middle of a week.

#1) is there a site/way for me to see what sites/or loops have availability for when we're coming in? 1500 & 2000 are the only tent/partial sites so they book fast?

#2) how would I go about requesting multiple sites in the same or very near loops? I don't want to have my senior citizen mother too far away. she'll be tired enough as it is from the theme parks. the best would be if we could have 3 sites for our 6 vehicles keeping to ~4adults per site.

#3) we're small vehicles and our site needs are quite basic, so we can use any site (partials preffered) and can we book 2 vehicles, maybe if we also put out a tent. (which is silly, but some campground rules require it.)

#4) Do I/we have to book our park tix at the same time as our site reservations? I am looking to try to do the "Give a Day, Get a Day" volunteering promotion.

Park Hopper, I'm still a WDW novice when it comes to the tix& bookings, but do I HAVE to have all of my days as a park hopper if I upgrade?

all in all we'll have ~6 VW couples at FW for 3days/4nights and try to hit 3 to 4 of the parks (I've been to all, mom has never been to WDW the reason we're coming down)
it would be good to meet some from the DIS boards while there, while we won't be hard to miss in our small VWs, I'll make sure I have my green ears out

Thanks not only for this reply but all of your other great posts on the DIS boards for camping.

Dan Stevens
VW Club of Central NY

 

[mnsprk]

There is no site that tells what is available. You need to call and make your reservations asap and they will not guarantee that the sites will be together or what loop but you can make that request when making the reservation. As to your mother that will be easier then getting all 6 close together. IMHO the best way to keep them together is for one of you to book all the sites. You will need all the names and addresses. They will try to accomodate you when you get there and you should reconfirm that request 10 days before your arrival.

It is my understanding they will not put 2 motorized units on one site (someone else hopefully will clarify that) they will do a motorized and a tent, trailer and a tent etc.

As to tickets, you really do not have to buy your tickets until you arrive and buying the "hopper" tickets does not add that much more to the ticket price. You can get the hopper without the water parks.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

First, let me say welcome to the Disboards!

Second, I think it's cool that you camp in a VW camper. I always thought those were cool, and every now and then I will see one at the Fort.

So, let me take a stab at answering your questions:

Q: Is there a site/way for me to see what sites/or loops have availability for when we're coming in? 1500 & 2000 are the only tent/partial sites so they book fast?

A: You can check on individual site availability on the WDW website- disneyworld.com. I do not know anyway that you can go online and check for multiple site availability simultaneously. To do that, you are going to need to call the central reservation number. I also wanted to add that my experience lately has been that it is easier to reserve the tent/partial sites than the other sites. I am not sure why it is, as there are less partial sites than the other designations, but for some reason, these seem to have greater availability for reservations. I would suggest that you call soon. While May is typically a slower month for WDW, there are often special events scheduled at Fort Wilderness which can fill it to capacity. This past May, there were two big triathlons hosted at the Fort, and it was packed for two weekends which otherwise would have been a slow time.

Q: How would I go about requesting multiple sites in the same or very near loops? I don't want to have my senior citizen mother too far away. she'll be tired enough as it is from the theme parks. the best would be if we could have 3 sites for our 6 vehicles keeping to ~4adults per site.

A: If you book all the sites under one name for the same site level (e.g. all partial sites), you are pretty much assured that you will be placed in close proximity, and more than likely right next to or across the loop from each other. If one person doesn't want to take on this responsibility, then you can ask for your reservations to be "linked," and you will probably be assigned to sites close to each other. They will require you to reserve one site for each vehicle. Only one motorized camping unit is allowed on each site.

Q: We're small vehicles and our site needs are quite basic, so we can use any site (partials preffered) and can we book 2 vehicles, maybe if we also put out a tent. (which is silly, but some campground rules require it.)

A: You are not allowed to have more than one motorized camping unit per site. A van and tent are OK, but two vans would not be OK.

Q: Do I/we have to book our park tix at the same time as our site reservations? I am looking to try to do the "Give a Day, Get a Day" volunteering promotion.

A: You can purchase tickets completely independent of your campsite reservation. There are other places on the Disboards other than the camping forum where you will find ticket expertise. Try the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies Thread. There is a good sticky post on there that answers a lot of basic questions about tickets, including whether to buy the park hopper option or not.

I hope this all helps, and that you have a great trip.

TCD

 

[chartle]

Park Hopper, I'm still a WDW novice when it comes to the tix& bookings, but do I HAVE to have all of my days as a park hopper if I upgrade?

Park hopping costs a fixed amount, around $52, per ticket no matter how many days. So yes you have to purchase park hopping for all the days of your ticket.

 

[VW camper Dan]

Thanks for the help everyone so far, it's been most helpful.
I've checked via the waltdisney.com booking site, followed to Fort Wilderness campsites and had a popup with a WDW CM for real time online Q&A.
I can request a "Grand Gathering Experiances" while making our booking. this is for families & groups of 8 or more, to help them plan and book together.
This will allow us hopefully to "LINK" our bookings, but we'll have to do so ASAP, we're having a family/group mtg this weds.
also if we're to have a VW & a tent, we'll have to enter that in "other party information" whiole making the booking rsvp.

I'll stay around here for the leadup and certainly offer out a TR to the fine flks here on DIS boards. I plan to share some of yoru TR images with our group to get them all worked up in the mood.

I only wish we could spend more time here, but it's a long drive down & back from NY. and our trip is spending 3 days @ Fort DeSoto in St Petersburg participating in a 250+ classic VW cruise & carshow.

Dan from NY

 

[Disney John]

Hi, I'm Dan from Upstate, NY (Syracuse)


Dan Stevens
VW Club of Central NY

Hi Neighbor ! Welcome to the DisBoards.

You won't find a nicer group of people to answer your questions.

 

[Cindy F]

In general I have found that camper vans move into that "shade of gray" area kinda like a popup camper.

A pop up can be considered either a tent or a travel trailer and a camper van can be considered either a camper or a tow vehicle.

Good luck and have a safe trip!

ETA*** Do you have any pictures of the Westies? We had one growing up that I adored! When looking for a camper van, we looked for Westies, Vanagons, and even Eurovans but they are apparently pretty scarce down here in the Southeast so we went with a Jayco conversion instead.

I'd love to see any pics if you wouldn't mind sharing!

 

[VW camper Dan]

Oh hhey neighbor, it is a small world

to some degrees that would be best. more $$ saved in Lodging is more $$ in parks. like a casino they know you're going to spend it all before you leave.

it's also the grey area we fit into in many places.
while I totally understand the reasoning for the rules: no 2 wheeled camping units. else they'd get 2 travel trailers trying to squeeze into one site.
our little VWs are smaller then a honda odyssey muchless a truck towing a XXft trailer.

in local state parks we just book as 2 vehicles & a tent, then omit the tent.
though what I/we don't want is to make our bookings this way and then have a problem with park rule enforcement and have to scramble to find a vacant spot on the actual days we're supposed to be enjoying.

really though 2 VWs and 3~4 adults on one site is very small impact and well compact for us taking 3 not 6sites out of the reservation system.

we'll play this one by ear. at the moment.

 

[3gr8kids]

Just wanted to welcome you to the boards!!
I love VW campers (or as I like to call them... "vampers")!

 

[2goofycampers]

welcome

 

[Born 2 Fish]

WELCOME,,go fishing,

 

[VW camper Dan]

We're workign on and making bookings now (this week) and have a "grand Gathering" number, though we're requesting "Partial sites" so either well be together or in the 2 seperate loops way away from each other.

I've read some other's on here who had bad grouping of sites and well we'll just do what we can and cross our fingers.
we're only here for 4days and will be hitting the parks pretty much open-close each day. I plan to tire mom out for the train ride back north.

I'll see if I can dig up an image from my VW camper when I was in Ft Wilderness last time. was rigth at christmas and it was just perfect (weather & scenery).

Thanks for all of the help and I'll be here, in & out till spring.
think in 6 months we'll just be returing from our grand trip down the coast and it'll just be fond memories.

Dan in NY
VW Club of Central NY

 

[VW camper Dan]

OK We made our family reservations (for 3 sites on one booking/rsvp session) so hopefully at the least my immediate family will be grouped close toegther.
the rest of our VW Treffen campers are calling the Grand Gathering line and linking via our GG#.

we're having about ~12 VWs travel down the coast and should have at least 5-7 while @ FW for the 4nights.
I'm not sure if we'll be in 1500 or 2000, it doesn't really matter to us, there aren't any mid aged children in our group and we'll be spending each day in the parks open/close.
Which should leave us quite tired for the return trip via Amtrak Autotrain.

in 6 months this'll all be too fond of a memory.

WDW here we come. May 2010.

Dan in Syracuse NY
VW Club of Central NY

 

[VW camper Dan]

I can't believe it's APRIL already and we're less then 4weeks away from our NY to FLorida Coastal VW Roadtrip. we'll have at least 4 VW campers staying at the fort and hopefully the GG will keep us together.
I'll call/fax our info in the next day or 2.

Soo Excited and Soo far to drive a ~25+yr old VW, let alone 8+ of them (FL bound)

I'll try to have a Green sign in front of my camper pad, but we're only in FW for 4 days and the parks for 3days so we won't be at our sites but in the early am and late nights.

but we're a friendly group and will be more then happy to talk with other FW campers about our VWs our trip from NY and WDW.

Dan

OK We made our family reservations (for 3 sites on one booking/rsvp session) so hopefully at the least my immediate family will be grouped close toegther.
the rest of our VW Treffen campers are calling the Grand Gathering line and linking via our GG#.

we're having about ~12 VWs travel down the coast and should have at least 5-7 while @ FW for the 4nights.
I'm not sure if we'll be in 1500 or 2000, it doesn't really matter to us, there aren't any mid aged children in our group and we'll be spending each day in the parks open/close.
Which should leave us quite tired for the return trip via Amtrak Autotrain.

in 6 months this'll all be too fond of a memory.

WDW here we come. May 2010.

Dan in Syracuse NY
VW Club of Central NY

 

[Disneylitch]

Welcome,
Do you have any pictures of your VW campers? We have been driving our 1983 Pace Arrow 1000 miles each way to The Fort for the past 10 years. We just take it a little slower. The older units weren't really made to go 70+ miles per hour, plus it helps with the gas mileage. Have a great time and arive safely.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I can't believe it's APRIL already and we're less then 4weeks away from our NY to FLorida Coastal VW Roadtrip. we'll have at least 4 VW campers staying at the fort and hopefully the GG will keep us together.
I'll call/fax our info in the next day or 2.

Soo Excited and Soo far to drive a ~25+yr old VW, let alone 8+ of them (FL bound)

I'll try to have a Green sign in front of my camper pad, but we're only in FW for 4 days and the parks for 3days so we won't be at our sites but in the early am and late nights.

but we're a friendly group and will be more then happy to talk with other FW campers about our VWs our trip from NY and WDW.

Dan

Dan I would love to be at the Fort entrance when you all pull in WOW what an an adventure ! I just wanted to say "Hi!" as a former NYer and would also love to see pics my DH used to have an org/whi one...ah the memories Ruthie

 

[VW camper Dan]

I don't have any (yet) at the fort or WDW anyplace from previous trips,
but here's a few images of ourselves & friends VW campers from upstate NY
we're coming down to Florida to participate in the VW Events in St Petersburg may 1+2 with a BIG 250+ VW cruise over the Sunshine Skyway bridge before we come to WDW FW campground.

*oops sorry for the BIG images..

Here's a linup of some campers during our annual VW show in Syracuse, NY
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/468542.jpg

Enjoying a "Run on The Glen" at Watkins Glen Intl raceway

and ours on the track on a sunnier day

 

[Magicbus]

How'd they get the 50 inch flat panel tv, microwave, and full bath in those things? Do they have hydraulic auto leveling?
I'll be stopping by to say hi.

 

[bradisgoofy]

Hi Dan: We'll be there at the same time as you are so maybe we'll get a chance to stop by and say "Hi". I requested the 900 loop so we won't be too far apart. BTW, I grew up in the Glens Falls area, so I am a former NYer, too.

 

[justcynn]

Have fun at Fort Desoto! - we did a similar trip last year, started at Fort Desoto, then Fort Wilderness and then St Andrews in Panama City, we thought all 3 were excellent!