Early Check In Questions

[jsmla]

I tried using the search but couldn't get it to work so could someone please help?

We'll probably arrive at Ft. Wilderness somewhere around 9:00-10:00 am. From this board I've gathered that we'll be allowed to check-in but probably won't get our campsite till later. Will we be able to leave the camper in the parking lot or will we have to drag it around Orlando with us? We'll probably spend the time having breakfast and picking up a few groceries.

How will we know when our site is available?

We'll have Jack the Shih Tzu with us and we'll need to put him into a kennel until we get our site. He is very well travelled and is quite used to a kennel. There's a kennel at Ft. Wilderness, right? Do we need reservations? What do we need to bring with him besides his shot records/travel papers? Crate? Food? I prefer that he has his usual drinking water to avoid an upset tummy. Will they allow me to bring his water bottle? He should only be there a few hours.

Thanks so much!

Jennifer

 

[ftwildernessguy]

If your site is not ready, you will be checked in, given a card with a phone number on to call later, and directed to the overflow lot where you can leave your RV. The Kennel is adjacent to the lot. No reservations are accepted. They will need your shot record. You can bring water, food, bowls, toys, favorite blanket etc, but no crate is necessary. They are very accomodating.

Call the number on the card later and they will give you the site number when it is available.

 

[jsmla]

Thanks so much! Jack will be happy to know he can have his moo-cow and favorite blankie. Can you tell I'm an empty-nester and missing my babies? Jack is my replacement for my two kids now off at college.

Just one more question if you don't mind. Does the kennel usually fill up? We plan on dropping him off around 10:00 am on Sunday, January 6.

Jennifer

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

Now that they have pet loops the kennel at the campground is not that busy.
The last time I was there only 4 dogs were in it. (OCT 06)

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I have never been turned away because they were full. Like FW, they do get busy there. The time you are going and on a Sunday when a lot of people check out, I don't think you will have a problem.

 

[fldisneymommyto2]

We were at the Fort a few weekends ago and got their early. We checked in and then were given the card to call after 1. I found the girl that checked us in to be a little uninformative and basically didn't seem to know what was going on... maybe she was new. Any how, instead of going to over flow, we drove through 2 loops and then being the impatient person that I am, I called the number. I got a very helpful lady who worked hard to get us in then. I had to wait a little bit on the phone but that was only because she was trying to find the right spot for us. So my advice is after you check in and they give you the card, call the ##. The worse thing they can do is tell you there is nothing ready yet, but you may be lucky and get someone who wants to get you settled into your home away from home!! Good luck and have a great trip!!

 

[Camping Cat]

I tried using the search but couldn't get it to work so could someone please help?

We'll probably arrive at Ft. Wilderness somewhere around 9:00-10:00 am. From this board I've gathered that we'll be allowed to check-in but probably won't get our campsite till later. Will we be able to leave the camper in the parking lot or will we have to drag it around Orlando with us? We'll probably spend the time having breakfast and picking up a few groceries.

I have a couple of questions. What is your setup? Will you have to unhitch in order to pick up those groceries? If so, I think I would make that grocery stop before you check in. Then you could leave your whole rig there in the overflow parking lot and hop on a Disney bus to get that breakfast. Or, am I misunderstanding the situation?

We'll have Jack the Shih Tzu with us and we'll need to put him into a kennel until we get our site. He is very well travelled and is quite used to a kennel. There's a kennel at Ft. Wilderness, right? Do we need reservations? What do we need to bring with him besides his shot records/travel papers? Crate? Food? I prefer that he has his usual drinking water to avoid an upset tummy. Will they allow me to bring his water bottle? He should only be there a few hours.

Thanks so much!

Jennifer

Another question. Is there really a need to put him in the kennel for what could turn out to be a very short time? Is he used to staying in the camper? I see that you are making the trip in 5 months so the weather will be cool enough to leave him in the camper. Unless there is some rule about this that I haven't heard of. The only time we got to FW and our site wasn't ready yet, we pulled into the parking lot, opened a few windows for our cat and took off exploring FW. She was fine until we were able to get our site and set up camp.

And by the way, hi neighbor! We'll miss you by a month or so. Have a great trip!

 

[jsmla]

Hi neighbor Cat!

If the weather is cool we'll probably just leave Jack in the camper. We go to WDW every other year around that time (It's our anniversary.) and on several trips it's been in the 80s during the day. Shih Tzu are very sensitive to warm weather and I wouldn't want to chance it. I'm pretty sure that Florida law prohibits leaving your pet in the car. I don't know what the law is regarding RVs. The kennel is pretty cheap and he's used to them since he spends a day at his groomer's once every two weeks.

You make a good point about just lugging the camper around. Even if we do put Jack in the kennel it would probably be easier than all of that unhitching/hitching/unhitching. I'll have to ask hubby. He's in charge of that stuff.

We won't be eating breakfast on site that day. We won't have the dining plan and will probably be looking for something fairly inexpensive. We'll probably end up somewhere like Cracker Barrel if I don't find something better.

Hope y'all have a great trip!

Jennifer

 

[John VN]

If your site is not ready at time of check-in, just ask if there is any available Disney Majic that might show another site open that would fit your needs.

We have done this and many times get a site.