Convince me to stay at the Fort!

[arielmomma]

Well, not so much me as my DH.

Here's the situation. We are considering going to WDW the 1st week of Feb. According to the website there are tent sites open at the Fort (we only own a tent) and openings at the POP where we usually stay. As I understand it, I could get a 20% discount at the Fort with AAA since it is value season, but with the buy 5 get to free, even with the AAA discount, there would be less than a $200 difference to stay at the POP. To my DH, this savings is not worth giving up a "real room."

I have been wanting to camp at the Fort forever. I have read everything about it and all through these sites. It just sounds like there is so much more to do at the Fort. Plus, I love to camp. DH and I loved to together, but DH has changed his mind some since the kids came. He gets very anxious when we camp with them (ages 2 & 5).

Maybe I'm crazy, but I figure if anyone would understand my urge to camp out at the Fort it would be all of you.

So, please tell me the numerous advantages of staying at the Fort, or tell me I'm nuts! Thanks!

 

[mamaloya]

Nope, it is horrible. Stay away. Do NOT camp here. Make no reservations. Please don't. And tell everybody else to stay away too. The more people stay away, the better odds I have of getting a reservation when I want one. So, spread the word that the Fort is absolutely horrific and NO fun at all.

Just kidding. I just wish how awesome the Fort was would stay a secret. It is already hard enough to get ressies.

I have 6 kids. I have taken babies camping and don't even remember thinking about NOT camping with them. I remember my mom camping with my brother when he was like 3 months old the first time.

A 2 year old is plenty old enough. The Fort is lots of fun. If your kids are used to camping, then it should be no worries. There are several playgrounds sprinkled throughout the fort. The comfort stations (bath houses) are heated and cooled with an endless supply of hot water. Getting ready is faster because you don't have to share one bathroom. (especially a plus for my big family) The handicapped stall is great for bathing a 2 year old in as there is a fold down bench they can stand on to bring them to your level and a hand held shower head. Way easier than bending over a hotel room tub.

Bring shovels and buckets for them to dig in the sand at your campsite and bug boxes to catch critters and watch them if they like that kinda thing. If you are spending most of your time in the parks, then even less to worry about. We eat breakfast at the tent every morning which saves money. If you bring your camp stove and a tea kettle oatmeal and hot cocoa is very easy and quick. I bring muffins too. I have seen people bring small fridges, microwaves and toasters as well.

My kids were offered 2 choices before our last trip. A 3 bedroom condo just offsite with TVs in each bedroom or stay at the Fort. They didn't even consider the condo. They said it HAD to be the Fort. (I have to admit that the free washer/dryer in the kitchen of the condo did tempt me a little bit. LOL) If I stayed anywhere else, they would revolt!!!!

A word to the wise though, it can get COLD in February. Or it could be nice. It is unpredictable. In February, I brought a fan forced heater to use. Ceramic heaters work well too, but get hot to the touch so I never used them when my kids were that young. Long john's to sleep in as well as extra blankets and/or electric blankets. Don't forget heavy duty extension cords and power strips. If unusually cold weather is expected, the Fort does post warnings on the comfort station doors.

Happy Camping!!!

 

[mdoc]

I love the Fort and really have no desire to stay anywhere else at Disney, but in your situation (2 young kids and a husband who is not on board, plus a very small cost differential) I'd go for Pop. To tent camp with small children, I think all of the adults have to WANT to do it. If your husband is anxious camping with the kids, he's not going to have an ideal vacation. Stay at the hotel and come over to the Fort to enjoy some of the activities there. Go to Hoop dee Doo, the campfire program, the petting zoo, etc., and maybe your husband will decide the Fort is where he wants to stay next time.

 

[kaguilbeau]

I love the Fort and really have no desire to stay anywhere else at Disney, but in your situation (2 young kids and a husband who is not on board, plus a very small cost differential) I'd go for Pop. To tent camp with small children, I think all of the adults have to WANT to do it. If your husband is anxious camping with the kids, he's not going to have an ideal vacation. Stay at the hotel and come over to the Fort to enjoy some of the activities there. Go to Hoop dee Doo, the campfire program, the petting zoo, etc., and maybe your husband will decide the Fort is where he wants to stay next time.

I tend to agree with this, as much as my family loves the fort (and the close proximity to Magic Kingdom). If your DH is anxious while camping with the kids close to home, why would it be any different camping at the fort? I would hate for him to be stressed and have that flow over to you and ruin a vacation.

With that said, my DH was a little apprehensive the first time we camped at the fort. Now he won't consider staying anywhere else! So maybe if he agreed to try it once, he might become hooked!

 

[Dancemom03]

I too agree that all adults should be on board when camping with young kids, or going on vacation anywhere for that matter. I can totally empathize with you though b/c my DH won't tent camp any more. He says after 45+ years of family camping, plus DS31's boy scouts & being our cub pack's cubmaster, added to years in the military, he's camped enough to deserve a 5 star hotel room. These days tent camping with him would be really difficult, if not impossible, anyway though due to mobility issues.

DD8 had been begging for years to tent camp so I took her to FW myself last summer. After setting up the tent we went down to water to look around and I still remember my little concierge baby's first words - "Fort Wilderness is the best, most magical place on earth."

When I first announced we'd be staying on to camp after checking out of the BC when DH went home, I was met with astonishment. DH was fine with it but my parents were flipping out on the grandest scale ever that I'd even consider camping alone with a child. The friends we travel with were making bets that I'd be back at the BC within the day camping out on their daybed.
Originally, it was just going to be me & DD8 but, in the end, DD20 & BF couldn't resist the lure of golf carts and campfires so they stayed too. We had an incredible time - even more fun than the week before at the Beach Club.

DH has since agreed that he'd do the fort in a camper or one of the cabins next time after hearing how much the kids loved it. He's even willingly gone RV shopping with me.

Reading this board, you already know all the good things about staying at the fort. The big plus I can think of with small children is that you'll likely be spending most of your time at MK. FW is close to a lot of activities, POP isn't near much at all. Handling a stroller (or two) on the buses in standing room only crowds for twenty minutes or more while holding sleeping children is not my idea of fun. To be close enough to take the boat to MK, and have your GC waiting nearby when you get back - even with Barry the armadillo blocking your way on the drive back to site - is priceless in comparision.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Just my opinion, but if you have to be convinced, then you don't need to do it.

 

[LuckyinGa]

Just my opinion, but if you have to be convinced, then you don't need to do it.

Well said!

 

[photo_chick]

While I have not been camping at the Fort yet....

We are tent camping at the Fort next summer, I've got a 6 and 9 year old. The 6 year old is a Cub Scout, so we've done a bit of family camping. Both my kids love to camp, as does DH... to me that's a huge factor. Do your kids love to camp as much as you do?