Dec at the Fort

[Sara1Babe]

We are thinking of camping at the Fort next December. How quickly do the RV slots fill up?

Also what are the differences btw full hook-up, preferred, and premium?

Thanks

 

[FSU ED]

The Fort will fill up fast. The week that leads up to Christmas Week thru the New year will fill up the fastest. But the earlier weeks in the months are just as good. You will still have the feel of the Christmas season, but less people.

The sites just get bigger as you move thru the levels. I'm sure Bama Ed will post soon. He has the most up to date info on all the sites. I guess its just up to you, as to when you would like to go.

The Fort at Christmas time is just a wonderful feeling. My family just loves it that time of year. Good luck,

 

[eastatlantaguys]

I have found that December at the Fort fills up rather quickly. We have been the past 2 years and booked at least 6 months out and 2 years ago we couldn't add any time on the beginning or end of our trip when we decided to extend in October. We have always gone the first week of December so I can't imagine how hard it is to get sites for the last 2 weeks of December.

The difference between the 3 site types is pretty big. The full hookups have smaller pads and seem to further away from EVERYTHING in our experience. There are 3 loops that have preferred sites and they are all within close walking distance to the Marina, Trading Post and Pioneer Hall but once again these have smaller parking pads and more of the sand/shell mixture (I hate this stuff...it is impossible to get out of your camper).

The premium sites are scattered all over the campground but they have larger parking pads and less sand/shell and the tend to be larger sites in general. They also have upgraded grills and picnic tables.

The size of your trailer should also be a deciding factor. We have a 31ft trailer and have issues getting it to fit comfortably in any other than a premium site. My favorite loop is 500; we have always been lucky enough to get the loop we requested!

Get your site booked and start having fun planning. There is nothing better than the Fort in December!

 

[eastatlantaguys]

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[bama_ed]

Sara,

When EXACTLY in December were you planning to go? That makes a difference in the answer.

The full week before Christmas week through New Years is the highest cost time at the Fort and its also the busiest. Those periods require a reservation made at least 9 months in advance IMO and hopefully sooner. If you can come in the earlier half of December, its lower costs, less crowded, and just about the same camper decorations around the Fort. The parks are decorated for Christmas and the weather is generally better too.

FSU Ed and eastatlantaguys gave descriptions of the site types you asked about. Let me fill in - the Premium sites are the most expensive, widest/longest, and most numerous types of sites at the Fort. They are loops 400-1400 and are 18 feet wide paved concrete at least 50 feet long with no tent/sand pad. They are designed for the biggest campers/rv's and are easy to back into. They have a square picnic table and charcoal grill with a lid.

Preferred and Fulls are identical in amenities and only differ in location. Preferreds are loops 100-300 and have 12 foot wide concrete drives about 35-40 feet long with a tent/sand pad at the back. Preferred loops are up close to Bay Lake, Pioneer Hall, the boat docks, and a little bit more "in the action".

Full loops are 1600-1900 and are identical in size/shape/design to the Preferreds but are set back in the woods in one of the most quiet section of the Fort. Some sites back up to the canals. For folks that prefer peace and quiet, these are the sites for you.

Premiums are most expensive, Preferreds are next most expensive, then Fulls (with the Tent/Partial sites being the cheapeast). All site types have power, water, cabletv/internet, and sewer (no sewer in Tent/Partial). All loops are served by an internal bus system to get to the Trading Posts and external bus stops at either end of the Fort.

So what site type to get depends on how much you want to spend, do you want "peace and quiet" or "in the action", and how big your camper/rv is (the bigger should lean toward Premiums).

Hope this helps.

Bama Ed

 

[Sara1Babe]

Thanks FSU ED, EastAtlantaGuys, and bama_ed!

We want to vacation during that sweet spot after Thanksgiving but before the Christmas rush.

It sounds like although sites need to be reserved early, they don't need to be reserved 495 days out

 

[RVMH]

Previous posters are right; it's a great time of year, and it's getting more and more crowded at the Fort. Don't wait too long to make your reservations. Remember too that there's the pet/no pet loop distinction to confuse you a bit more! 300 loop is nice and certainly "in the action" but some of the sites are quite tight for big rigs. It will be fun at any rate.

 

[eastatlantaguys]

Make sure you come with all of your Christmas decorations so you can decorate your site! Thats one of the things I enjoy the most!

 

[RVEd]

I tried to reserve a slot for the first week in Dec 2014 and the web page shows nothing available, is this true or am I too early? We have a 36-foot class A motorhome, is there a preferred site to reserve? This is my first post and thanks for any response.

 

[Bayoumama]

I just called yesterday and booked the first week in December 2014 so it is available and ready to book. It will be our first time at the Fort and we are very excited.

 

[amcc]

I'm trying to get a 3-day weekend in December using the website and no luck. I will try calling.

 

[bostongrl88]

We're booked for Dec 5-8 after our cruise and were almost non successful in getting a site even booking 7-8 months in advance. The website said only cabins were available, but we called and were able to get a site for two of the nights. We called back a few days later and there was an opening the 3rd night.

 

[RVMH]

I tried to reserve a slot for the first week in Dec 2014 and the web page shows nothing available, is this true or am I too early? We have a 36-foot class A motorhome, is there a preferred site to reserve? This is my first post and thanks for any response.

You might want to call rather than booking on line. Often the dates that are a year or more out are available by phone but not on line. Probably this has something to do with rates not being available for that time. Good Luck !

 

[bama_ed]

I tried to reserve a slot for the first week in Dec 2014 and the web page shows nothing available, is this true or am I too early? We have a 36-foot class A motorhome, is there a preferred site to reserve? This is my first post and thanks for any response.

RVEd to the DIS Camping Board!

I used the WDW ressie site for arrivals for 11/31/14 for 6 nights and 12/7/14 for 6 nights and it showed all four levels of sites available so I don't know what happened to you but it's out there.

amcc, I don't know what dates you were looking at but I tried arriving Thursday 12/11/14 for 3 nights and got all four levels there too. Were you maybe trying for 2013? Arriving Thursday 12/12 does show nothing available and 2013 Christmas has filled up quickly the closer you get to Christmas week. You may want to enlist the service of a travel agent who is familiar with the Disney system.

My advice is even if it's a whim or a slim chance, book the ressie and go longer than you think because you can always trim/modify as your plans firm up. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Bama Ed

 

[2goofycampers]

Call call call, type type type, never give up!

 

[RVEd]

We have made reservations for a full hook up site for Nov 29 - Dec 6, 2014. Thanks for the help. RVEd

 

[RVEd]

We have reservations for a full hook up site, at the Fort, Nov 29 - Dec 6, 2014. Thanks for the help.

RVEd

 

[bama_ed]

We have reservations for a full hook up site, at the Fort, Nov 29 - Dec 6, 2014. Thanks for the help.

RVEd

Glad you got it. Feel free to ask questions or chip in an answer in the meantime. It's a fabulous time to visit.

Bama Ed

 

[Bayoumama]

Sara,

Preferred and Fulls are identical in amenities and only differ in location. Preferreds are loops 100-300 and have 12 foot wide concrete drives about 35-40 feet long with a tent/sand pad at the back. Preferred loops are up close to Bay Lake, Pioneer Hall, the boat docks, and a little bit more "in the action".

Full loops are 1600-1900 and are identical in size/shape/design to the Preferreds but are set back in the woods in one of the most quiet section of the Fort. Some sites back up to the canals. For folks that prefer peace and quiet, these are the sites for you.


Bama Ed

I have a question. I just booked a full site and this will be our first time at the Fort. We will be buying a camper around January/February of 2014 (Yes I've made reservations at the Fort and I don't even have my camper yet....that's how desperate I am to have something to look forward to !!!) We are looking at a TT about 30' with one slide. We shouldn't have to book a premium site for that size camper right? I really want to stay away from the action and have a little peace and quiet so I opted to go with a full site. I would like to park our truck on the site too but if we have to park in the lot I'll get over it.

 

[articfox676]

You will be fine in a full hook up. Welcome to the Fort and our camping family.