First Time at Fort. Check-In ??

[tboogie0503]

Good day to all. This is my first post to the forum and first Disney trip so please excuse my ignorance!

I arrive at Disney this Saturday with my wife, 2 kids, mom/dad and a 40' 5th wheel in tow! Really looking forward to the trip but I like to be "overly" prepared especially when visiting a new CG.

I'm sure there are plenty of signs and employees to direct me but can someone tell me the parking/check-in procedure once we arrive? There is no more stressful thing for me than to show up at a CG for the first time and make a wrong turn or end up in the wrong place and create a huge nightmare for myself and everyone around me!

Looking at Google Earth it kind of looks like there is an RV/Camper parking area around the check-in building? Do I park there and walk to check in or is there another procedure?

 

[tiggerdad]

If you arrive during the day you have no need to leave your vehicle. You will be directed by the initial security guard and placed in line. You simply pull up as the other campers move through. They will do all your checkin from inside the vehicle. No worries, easiest I have ever seen at a CG.

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[tboogie0503]

"If you arrive during the day you have no need to leave your vehicle. You will be directed by the initial security guard and placed in line. You simply pull up as the other campers move through. They will do all your checkin from inside the vehicle. No worries, easiest I have ever seen at a CG."

Thanks so much. Had no idea that would be the case! Now, any suggestions on how to occupy a 2 and 5 year old for 600 miles? Ha! Thanks again.

 

[ArielRae]

Now, any suggestions on how to occupy a 2 and 5 year old for 600 miles? Ha! Thanks again.

We will be doing over 1,000 miles with our 3yr old in a few weeks to the Fort. We plan for lots of movies, IPad with plenty of Apps, and other activities like coloring, play dough, stickers, and puzzles.

 

[tiggerdad]

Thanks so much. Had no idea that would be the case! Now, any suggestions on how to occupy a 2 and 5 year old for 600 miles? Ha! Thanks again.[/QUOTE]

We travel roughly same distance from MS. Both trips left out around midnight. I had caught a late evening nap. Drive through the night, kids sleep most of the way. After that it's dvds galore. Excellent opportunity for the kids to catch up on Disney movies before you arrive.

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[tboogie0503]

Actually we plan to break the drive up into two days, spending 1 night in Jacksonville. Hopefully it won't be so hard on the kids and we can roll into the Fort around mid-day Saturday. When my daughter was just 2 we rode 11 hours straight from PA back home to SC. Man she was a trooper. My son on the other hand can't make it 10 minutes to daycare!

As for the iPads and DVDs I thank goodness for Apple and Disney every time I hook up the 5th wheel!

Thanks for the info. I feel better knowing what to expect upon arrival. Happy Camping to all!

 

[KristinU]

Not as much for the 2 year old, but the 5 year old might enjoy listening to audio books. We listened to a lot of the Magic Tree House series when DS was around 5-6. It is nice to break up the screen time, even my little vidiot gets sick of watching the screen and welcomes an audio book every now and again. We've done some reading aloud as well, but DH gets carsick when reading and I get hoarse after a while. (DS also gets carsick when reading) So maybe you're more talented than we are in that department and good old books might do the trick.

And just a ditto on the easy check in at the CG...you kind of can't mess up and go the wrong way

 

[jbrostek]

I think you are on the right track to stop for the night. We run from the DC Metro area to Disney and stop right around the SC/GA boarder and that is between 10 and 12 hours "road time" before stopping for the night. I am sure we could shave some of the downtime and make better time. But we are on vacation and not trying to run ourselves down to the bone. If your stopping in the Jacksonville area you are looking at a clear drive to disney in 2-3 hours depending on your stopping point.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) It is correct that you can use the Drive-Thru to check in.
. . . your credit card (if used for charging rights) can be ran
. . . you get a map and brochures
. . . you get your site
2) Being the First Time at The Fort, I recommend parking and going inside.
. . . the Front Desk can answer lots of questions
. . . for First Timers, they know questions to answer before they are asked
. . . they can give lots of advice
. . . the Concierge is available for questions
. . . this is the best way for a newcomer to get ahead of the game

NOTE: We see First Timers weekly. They check in at the Drive Thru, and
end up coming back for questions. Remember, this is not "just a campground".
It is huge, has lots of activities, is attached to theme parks, and people do
consider this as Their Campground. There is a wide gap between you other
campground experiences and The Fort.

 

[RVMH]

Rusty Scupper knows whereof he speaks so I'd sure listen to him; however, you can't go wrong in any case. In Jacksonville, Pecan Park is a very nice campground with long pull thrus - no reason to unhook and you can even order pizza or chinese to be delivered to the site if you don't feel like cooking. Enjoy the Fort - you'll love it - something for all generations as well.

 

[jmrothermel]

So, for the drive though checkin for RV's - do they check you in on the drivers side (very tall in the MH) or the door side? Stupid question, Im sure!

 

[tiggerdad]

So, for the drive though checkin for RV's - do they check you in on the drivers side (very tall in the MH) or the door side? Stupid question, Im sure!

Both actually. When we came in we were pulling camper and since we had done early check-in online we were directed to a different line. The castmember was on the passenger side, so my wife did all the paper handling.

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[TheRustyScupper]

Both actually. When we came in we were pulling camper and since we had done early check-in online we were directed to a different line. The castmember was on the passenger side, so my wife did all the paper handling.

1) There are four lanes, and two booths. *
2) So, the CM comes out either on left or right side of vehicle.
3) But, in both cases, they walk to your door.

* Usually, the furthermost left lane lane is used for CM driving access
to The Fort, so it is left blocked off to RV's. (We have to drive to CM
parking places for HDDR, Settlement, docks, etc)

 

[photofreak]

Here's an old photo I have of the drive up checkin lanes and also the middle building of them. Taken in 2010 but it hasn't changed much, my dd on the other hand...... Lol

 

[jmrothermel]

Here's an old photo I have of the drive up checkin lanes and also the middle building of them. Taken in 2010 but it hasn't changed much, my dd on the other hand...... Lol

Thank you, that is helpful! Your daughter is adorable too

 

[retired and happy]

And note that all sites are back in, no pull-throughs.

 

[tiggerdad]

There is an app. Called "sites at the fort" from fortfriends.com that actually shows each site, how wide and long it is, and how difficult it is to back into. It will give you a general idea anyway.

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[2goofycampers]

Have fun!

 

[tboogie0503]

Rusty Scupper knows whereof he speaks so I'd sure listen to him; however, you can't go wrong in any case. In Jacksonville, Pecan Park is a very nice campground with long pull thrus - no reason to unhook and you can even order pizza or chinese to be delivered to the site if you don't feel like cooking. Enjoy the Fort - you'll love it - something for all generations as well.

As it just so happens, Pecan Park is where we are staying. Looks to be right off interstate and an easy in/out CG. I did notice that the CG appears to be right in the flight path of the airport! Hope it's not too LOUD.

Thanks for all the great advice everyone. Awesome board with lots of good helpful info. I'm soon to be 43 and this is the first time any of my family has been to Disney. I'm sure it won't be the last.

 

[jbrostek]

Careful, could turn out like me. I am 38 and since a kid first time I went to disney was 2001, in 2010 I found a group of friends that like to take a vacation in the middle of winter. Since then we been going to FL via RV for 1-2 weeks and since 2010 Disney has been part of that vacation.