driving from MI with new 5th wheel

[Calway]

Hi everyone. I'm back to the boards after mostly lurking back in 2006 when we were flying to Disney to stay at Port Orleans in June.

Now that we have a 5th wheel we decided to do the drive to WDW in October and stay at FW. Our birthdays are 10/23 and 10/24 so we bought the hopper and will get back money to buy souviners. We also bought the dining plan. We had it in 2006 and liked it. I like to plan. Just two of us.

Any encouragement will help. We are tenters to 5th wheel. The most challenging thing is backing up. I found sites on the way down and back home with pull thru sites. We do have all summer to practice.

I used bing on MSN to help with my mapping and finding RV campgrounds. I sent some info to someone else from MI who is driving here. It is a nice little program.

I'm waiting for snail mail confirmation from Disney before I call back to see what loop we are in. Disney's website had their preferred and full mixed up. Both CM's told be that since I had to call back and redo reservations to add meal plan. I think they have us close to the marina. We have no pets either.

We won't get down there until 10/19 in the evening. We plan to leave FW on the 25th.

I know we were offered the preferred. (trying to save a little money)We have a 30' with an 09' extended cab GMC Sierra. We did our share stimulating the economy. Speaking of money..we wonder how much money we will spend in gas hauling this baby.

Has anyone used Disney Rewards? I'm trying to figure out how to pay my balance with them. Disney expects to be paid in full very close to our arrival date.

Also...how is the weather in that week of October. We don't have water parks on our hopper but do know about the pools on site. I also have been reading about Aquatica...is that far from WDW?

How's that for a long introduction. Thanks in advance for any info one would like to share.

 

[becky1960]

I answer a couple for you, they wont let you know which loop your in untill you arrive. The loops have all been redone and the Preferred loops 100,200,300 have not been touched. Its luck of the draw on which site you will get. The last time we were inn 300 loop I could not fit our 30' in the site (a back site) the time before it was easy.
We are reserving Preminum sites which have been made larger. A good campground club for us is Passport America ( 50% off). You can check them on the web its $ 44.00 a year. and they have a US map you can use on their site.. Good luck our 5th wheel was the best purchase we have made.
By the way, we have an 04 Gmc Sierra Dually Crew Diesel and get 12 mpg with trailer, the trailer weighs about 10,900 empty, high profile..

 

[mdoc]

They won't tell you what loop you're in until you check in. You can express a preference and they'll note it on your reservation, but it's no guarantee. I'm not up to date with all the loop conversions, but I'm guessing that if you're in a preferred loop you'll end up in 100, 200 or 300 - all nice loops close to the settlement area. Some sites are bigger than others, but we got a 34' trailer and tow vehicle into sites in the 200 loop with no problem. The only site we've been assigned to and haven't fit into was a premium site in the 1400 loop - go figure.

I've used Disney Rewards to pay for my campsite several times. I just go online and get the Rewards card a couple weeks before we go, and then give it to a cast member when we check in. I've never had a "package" that had to be paid in advance, so I was always paying at check-in.

 

[team bradfield]

I faxed my request for 730-731 or 732 4 days in advance. I checked in online the day before, When we arrived, paperwork was complete and I checked in at site 730.

5th wheel from northern illinois.

 

[I'mDownWithDisney]

Practice, practice, practice on the backing. After a while it will become easy. Although, my dad still can't back a trailer after years of pulling them.

We will be checking on the 24th....hopefully in a new 5th wheel too. See ya there.

 

[Duane]

Calway,

Welcome to the site!

SInce you are going to make that long trek to the Fort in October, I would suggest, if you haven't already, enroll in some type of road service that specializes in RV's. We have Good Sam's Road Service and have had good luck with them so far. Anyway we blew a tire a couple of years ago on the way down from NC, and their road service proved to be invaluable to help me get the trailer jacked up. Not trying to put the hex on you, but something to think about...

Another thing is make sure all lug nuts on the trailer are snug and air pressure in the tires is at spec. At each stop, do a "walk around" to make sure all is well.

One good thing about traveling with your "house" behind you is the ability to bypass all of the nasty restrooms on the road, and being able to stop to have a snack or sandwich on the way. We always travel with some water in the fresh water tanks for flushing and hand washing. We don't fill it to capacity because to us, there is no need to travel with that extra weight.

Not sure what type of truck you're pulling with is, whether diesel or gas... If its diesel, don't be afraid of fueling up at truck stops. Its much easier to pull through the "BIG" truck fuel lanes than trying to thread 60' of truck and trailer around a car island. Flying J's usually have RV pumps, but on interstates, I can go through the truck lanes faster.

If you like to stop someplace to sit and eat, Cracker Barrel restaurants are going to be your friend. Each location as RV parking whether along side of the building or behind. Be prepared though, as folks in cars seem to think they can park there and take up precious parking that you are going to need. As you travel on the road more and more, you are going to develop a keen eye as to all of the places that you can pull into and not get hemmed in.

Other than that, you will have a blast. We will be there the last week in October to take in MNSSHP, and trick or treating at the fort. This is one of our most favorite times to go to WDW. Crowds are usually lower and the weather is great.

If there are other questions, you are among some of the most helpful folks around, so don't hesitate to ask!

Be safe, and have fun practicing over the summer!

 

[SCCamper]

Congrats on your new 5th Wheel camper. It looks we are going to be there about the same time. We will be there 10/16 - 10/26. Can't wait.

If possible, find a large empty parking lot and practice backing the camper. I've never tried to back a 5th wheel before, but I did that with my TT. I'm no expert by any means, but I'm getting better...just takes practice. Also, always have somebody at the rear guiding you so you don't hit anything by accident.

 

[Calway]

Thanks to you all for your input.

 

[Calway]

We are driving a 2009 2500 GMC Extended Cab, gas milage is about 12-13 mpg..... lots sa moolah for duh gas eh?

 

[dfchelbay]

My SUV only gets 13.9 mpg...WITHOUT towing anything. Can't imagine how much lower it would go if I were to tow a travel trailer. We have a 40' Class A, and it only gets between 4 and 5 mph...that's ALOT of cash for the gas...ugh!

Have fun on your maiden Ft. Wilderness 5th wheel voyage.