Do you spend more time at the parks or at the campground?

[WDWFWfan]

WOW!
To all you moms and dads that
pack up your families,
trek to Disney,
set up,
clean up ,
cook....
HOW do you relax???? It sounds like so much WORK to me When I go on vacation I want to eat out, not make beds and RELAX.....
I always thought we'd try a camper, but we never have.....it always sounds like such a fun family bonding time but I guess it just never worked out for us....

I am just amazed at how many families camp, I really think its great actually. My parents went cross country and up to Alaska in a HUGE rv years back, a 3 1/2 month trek and LOVED every minute of it (though mom said they stayed at hotels just to change it up at least 2 times a month), they were also with friends at the time....

So again, WOW to all you supermoms and dads...CAMP ON!!

Whoever said that you're supposed to RELAX on vacation???

I relax at home, vacations are something that I only have the privilege of enjoying for a few days every year and I plan to make the most of every moment. Maybe I'm a little odd, but I'm a lot more type "B" at home, but on vacation...type "A" all the way! I may come home physically drained...but I'm mentally refreshed.

And camping? There's a peace about camping that one will never experience in a motel/hotel room.

 

[ctot216]

wow, I can't imagine!
We've been countless times- but we only really sleep there now.
I've spent plenty of time there in the past- but now I only see it early morning and late at night.

We are in parks all day every day- well, not just parks, but also exploring the other resorts and dtd. Basically, its not quite light when we get up and leave, and very late when we come back and sleep.
And its not like I feel I have to rush and see everything several times and run run run- we do the parks efficiently and at a good pace; but I just don't feel the need or desire to hang back at the campground

 

[ancfun]

We always spend more time at the Fort than the parks. We have stayed offsite before and spent everyday at the parks. While it was fun, we came home totally worn out. Since then, we only camp and spend more time relaxing and usually just 1 or 2 days at the parks. We will make a few outings to DTD and visiting other resorts but mostly let the boys play at the fort while we enjoy some R&R. I also haven't figured out how to put a hammock up at the hotels so camping is the only way to go for us.

 

[nikkipowell1]

I have been married for almost 14 years and before the kids were born (DS5, DD3) we used to camp at least 5 times a year, you can't do much more in Michigan. We camped in tents with another family and loved it and still do. We haven't taken the kids camping yet, but we are going to try a backyard tent up this summer. Camping is a way for me to relax, enjoy nature, go on walks and just hang out peacefully with friends and family. We will be at the fort for 7 days staying in a cabin and we only have plans to go to MK 1 day and HS 1 day. The rest of the time I want to enjoy the Fort, get to know it, and all it has to offer, since this is our first time there, but what I get out of all you great DISusers, this trip to the Fort will definately not be the last. Happy camping to all and look for us at the cabins in 55 days. Peace.

 

[Comptech]

In May we are spending 11 nights @ FW and have planned to buy a 5 day hopper pass for the parks. We also want to go to sea World for a day or so....
Well I think we will spend one or two days of just FW time, but when you have to drive all the way from Virginia and only come every few years, you want to do as much as possible without killing your self.

 

[gillenkl]

We'll be there 12 nights - spending 10 days in the parks. Although we do go to DD one night and spend most afternoons at the FW pool or checking out other resorts.

 

[69RoadRunner]

I have a 2.5 year old and a 5 year old. What is this "relax" word?

 

[LONE-STAR]

I have a 2.5 year old and a 5 year old. What is this "relax" word?

We are expecting our 1st baby in September. So soon I will no longer know the word relax. Maybe in another 25 years.

 

[Mmketeer]

Wow, I hope Disney deson't see this post of mine, cause I have to say we spend almost ALL of our time at the fort with our BT's. Disney is finally gonna get me back though into theme park at the end of the month since they are offering the "get in free" thing for your birthday. But, normall we just go bike riding around the fort or to the Wildreness Lodge, shop, eat and be merry. Okay sometimes we will venture to Downtown Disney, an Epcot resort or two or even go to Winter Summerland put-putt. But, usually we just enjoy the ammenities at the Fort.

 

[♥Ariel♥]

what parks? they had the one by 300 loop closed for renovations, so we stayed by the camper most of last trip.

As in the theme park...you know Magic Kingdom, MGM, Animal Kingdom, etc.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

We have been going to Disney every year for awhile so this last trip we parked at FW for the hole week and did not do the parks. It was a really nice vacation. We went Down Down Disney, Boardwalk in other words we just did the free stuff (LOL). I have plans to go back for New Years and I'm debating on getting another pass. I don't know though!

 

[kimluvswdw]

We spend more time at Fort Wilderness than at the parks.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Well... I think if we lived closer and could go more often we would probably spend a lot more time at the Fort. As it is we haven't been to WDW since 2006 and won't be able to go back until atleast 2011 if then... and although this is our first trip to stay at FW- we have visited and done things there before. With that said- we'd love to spend more time at FW than at the parks- but we have to get some park time in, we're doing the cruise, and have a limited amount of time to be able to go (DH vacation from work). So I'm trying to do a "compromise"- we're only going one day to each park and have 2 "no park" days in which we'll spend most of the time at the fort but might also go to a water park one day and DQ one day. Also each day at the park will NOT be like we used to when staying at other resorts- it will NOT be there at rope drop or am EMH and staying until they close. Instead we'll be getting up later, having breakfast in our TT, getting to the parks when we get there- and don't plan on staying there late enough for dinner. When we get hungry for dinner we'll be going back to FW and eat dinner at our TT and then spend the evenings there (pool, campfire, HDDR one evening, etc.)

So we'll probably be spending about half/half at the parks and FW but we'll be spending a lot more time at the campground than we would at our resort if we stayed anywhere else- and a lot less time at the parks while staying at FW than we would if we were staying anywhere else onsite. So it is competiing for our time while there, but can't say that we'll spend more time at FW than in the parks. It might end up that way- but we ARE going to atleast be in one park each day for 4 days during our 6 day FW stay.... if we weren't also going on the cruise and if we were staying 2wks at FW instead- for SURE we'd end up spending more time at the campground than in the parks. for sure.

 

[rosanafamily]

We are going for 10 days in July, plan on spending about 5 or 6 days in the parks. We like to go resort hopping!! By this I mean we like to visit the different resorts to see what they are like.

 

[LU2IAB]

Always more at the campground!!!! Once in awhile we will visit the park for a day. The entire time I'm thinking of getting back to the Fort.
FW is a theme park in itself!!!!

 

[CCIntrigue]

Kids are grown, usually it's just the two of us. Occasionally kids/grandkids will visit us at the fort for a day or two. We've been to WDW 15+ times.

The fort is just a place to park the MH, eat, and sleep. We spend all our waking hours in the parks and other resorts. FW just doesn't have enough amenities to hold our interest. If it weren't for the parks, we wouldn't make the long drive to FW.

 

[PoshMom]

We plan to be there for 5 nights, but we only plan to go to Disney parks for 2 days. We want to do seaworld too.

a1tinkfans, we camp about every other weekend if we can. someone once asked me why we camped and this was my answer:

I guess it really brings me back to a simpler time. Peoples live’s have gotten so busy that they have forgotten about the simple things in life. When I was young neighbors knew neighbors and a neighborhood was more than a place where your house stands. People actually talked to each other and sometimes even had a bar-b-que. Now it seems like people go to work when its dawn and get home when its dusk and then play catchup on the weekends. This lifestyle has led us to an entire generation that will never know the simple things in life.

I must admit, we live one of those lifestyles…busy, busy, busy. However, we have found our peephole to the past in camping. As soon as you pull into the park you get that feeling of a mid 1960-70’s night. Kids playing on bicycles, families having dinner together and people being just down right neighborly. We really didn’t do much this weekend, but enjoyed the simple things. We WALKED to the playground, we played kickball with the kids, we even chased a frog. We had a campfire, we grilled out and we even met some of our neighbors and fellow campers. We took long walks and watched our kids ride there bikes, well Owen sort of pushed his. Camping is more than a retreat for us, its like a step back in time. It allows my boys to experience a world as it used to be, where kids could play freely without all the turmoil’s of life and it allows me to step back to a place I thought was long gone.

I am so in agreement. Couldn't have put it better myself. We camped as kids w my parents, and it was a wonderful time. I haven't been yet to FW, but I'm quickly making arrangements to get there in break neck speed. Love all the posts and ideas I get from here. From the pics and posts it looks like what I remember camping to be.

 

[Skyw]

Last two trips we spent 4 hours at the parks, came back to the fort at lunch time and spent the rest of the time there. Occasionally, going back in the evening.

This time, we are taking the inlaws. I am hoping to get everyone on the same plan!! But we will still head back at lunch with or without them. And we have one day of no parks out of 6.

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

When we were there earlier this month, we definitely spent more time at the Fort. The parks were absolutely packed and I just don't have the patience for the crowds. It was only the second time that we had stayed at the Fort, but it is such a relaxing place that I think I came back from that trip more rested than any other vacation before.

 

[Goofyseven]

Being its a two day trip to and two days from and having limited vacation time, on our last trip we spent most of the time in the parks and at other resorts we haven't seen before. For our next trip, we hope to be able to spend much more time at the Fort as we plan to be there for a couple of months