First time camper needs some info...

[Holly in FL]

We are thinking of tent-camping at the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds in Orlando before it gets too hot. We usually stay in the cabins when we go at Christmas time...but, would like to try the campgrounds. Just to be clear...we have camped in tents many times...just not at Disney.

My questions:

1. How loud are the fireworks in the tent area? I can hear them from inside the cabin!...and, hope they are not too loud when staying in a tent.

2. Is there a "best loop" in your opinion for tent-camping?

3. I've been told that I should bring an extra tarp to hang over our tents because the dripping sap will be bad. Is that so?

4. Any other things we need to know/do to make it a great experience? We are a family with 3 kiddos...11yo, 9yo, and 7yo.

Thanks!
~Holly in FL

 

[Born 2 Fish]

First , let me say , WELCOME to the boards !!
I am not a tent camper,, but would like to address your first question about the fireworks.

Good news, the fireworks do stop after a few minutes.

 

[Bdawg]

We are thinking of tent-camping at the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds in Orlando before it gets too hot. We usually stay in the cabins when we go at Christmas time...but, would like to try the campgrounds. Just to be clear...we have camped in tents many times...just not at Disney.

My questions:

1. How loud are the fireworks in the tent area? I can hear them from inside the cabin!...and, hope they are not too loud when staying in a tent.

2. Is there a "best loop" in your opinion for tent-camping?

3. I've been told that I should bring an extra tarp to hang over our tents because the dripping sap will be bad. Is that so?

4. Any other things we need to know/do to make it a great experience? We are a family with 3 kiddos...11yo, 9yo, and 7yo.

Thanks!
~Holly in FL

We always tent camp and end up doing it during the blistering hot weather (June/July). Here are my thoughts on your questions:


1. How loud are the fireworks in the tent area? I can hear them from inside the cabin!...and, hope they are not too loud when staying in a tent.
The fireworks can definitely be heard but I don't see them being a problem because they don't last too long. Where we stay you can also hear the music from the water parade at night but that isn't loud enough to wake you up if you are asleep.


2. Is there a "best loop" in your opinion for tent-camping?
The 1500 loop is our favorite. We like being right across from the pool (major factor in the heat of summer), on the water (we love to fish), and only 2 or 3 stops from settlement and 1-2 stops from the outpost.

3. I've been told that I should bring an extra tarp to hang over our tents because the dripping sap will be bad. Is that so?
I have never really notced any sap as where we have stayed I have not had many trees that hang over the camp site but the tarp is a must for extra shade and if it down pours (as it does in June & July) helps keep the tent and other belongings a little drier.

4. Any other things we need to know/do to make it a great experience? We are a family with 3 kiddos...11yo, 9yo, and 7yo.
We started our kids around the same age and one thing they love to do is sit around a light at night and play games. Take a favorite card game, board game etc... (We love 'Pirates Dice').
Take extra rope, tape and plastic bags.. The combo of these can serve many purposes... plastic bags to put over the plug ins to keep them dry, tape it all up... rope can and will be used for MANY things.. hangin tarps, making clothes lines etc..
We always take some small radios to put in the tents, it helps to block out the outside noise. By no means do we crank them up but just a little music helps.. at least for us. I know there are a gazallion other things but I am sure everyone else will chime in. There is a "Packing List" thread you should take a look at... it reminds you of a lot of things you would normally forget. I am not sure where it is. Maybe someone can post the link.


HAVE FUN.....

 

[Holly in FL]

Thank you! This is very helpful.

~Holly

 

[seals]

7 nights in our tents (3 tents for 5 people) in the 2000 tent loop. We were in site 2003. Last time we were in site 2005. I like the 2000 loop but after walking around it we were definitely glad we were in the lower number sites --canal and cabins behind us instead of road or other campers, more shade trees than the other part of the loop and after a heavy rain storm on Sunday many of the other sites had water all around them. A couple had the tent pad and paved part and then only water. Our site flooded and DH had to dig under the wood surrounding it to drain it, but once the water was gone it was fairly dry around it. It isn't terribly convenient but we just took the buses. Before we left we drove around loop 1500 and it looked nice too (had tetherball which my DSs had been playing at the beach and they were jealous that there was one in that loop.) Neither time did we request any loop or site and just happened to end up where we did. When we looked at the non-tent loops we figured we'd be squished between the larger vehicles and they didn't seem to have as large a pad area.

Yes, you hear the fireworks, but it's kind of nice especially if you've seen Wishes at MK or even from the beach. We would just sing along with them as we went to bed each night. There are a lot of other noises at night though ranging from birds to vehicles to campers who feel they need to be loud (thankfully few of those). Plus someone set off their car alarm around 5:30 one morning. But I figured they were probably embarrassed enough that it didn't bother me. Unlike at home where my DH's snoring and having the tv on can prevent me from sleeping, I found I was able to sleep through the noises after the first night or so.

We did not have a tarp over our tent. There was some sap but the sand probably annoyed me more (every morning I spent time sweeping out my tent, wishing I'd brought a shop vac). However, after the heavy rain storm we wished we'd had a tarp for that. Our tents got flooded, esp. the pup tent and all my older DS' clothes got soaked. Walking around we saw a number of people with big tarps over their tents and angled down -- that's what we will do next time. Our tents are semi waterproof/resistent -- but it was a persistent heavy rain.

My only other issue was vehicles -- I just felt there were a lot of vehicles going through our loop day and night. WDW maintenance, custodians, who knows what else and the golf carts. I know it isn't a popular opinion, but I just don't think of joy riding in a golf cart as a campground activitiy. Especially with children driving. My DSs are 11, 9, 9 and not too good about noticing their surroundings. We live in a rural area and don't walk on roads too often. Every time they went to the comfort station I reminded them to look out for "cars and carts." And if Disney would make some connections between the loops (bridges over the canal?) that maybe were off limits to vehicles, it would make it easier to walk places.

Other than that, we had a great time. The comfort stations are pretty clean although the sinks in the women's were often crowded with people doing their daily toiletries. I never had to wait for a shower though. One night the sinks/toilets weren't working but at least we had water at our site for teeth brushing. They said it would be fixed in an hour but I didn't need to go back until morning so I don't know if it was longer. The water and electricity at the site are a great convenience. I used a two burner stove thing to heat water, cook soup, make pancakes, etc. to save money.

 

[bama_ed]

We are thinking of tent-camping at the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds in Orlando before it gets too hot. We usually stay in the cabins when we go at Christmas time...but, would like to try the campgrounds. Just to be clear...we have camped in tents many times...just not at Disney.

My questions:

1. How loud are the fireworks in the tent area? I can hear them from inside the cabin!...and, hope they are not too loud when staying in a tent.

2. Is there a "best loop" in your opinion for tent-camping?

3. I've been told that I should bring an extra tarp to hang over our tents because the dripping sap will be bad. Is that so?

4. Any other things we need to know/do to make it a great experience? We are a family with 3 kiddos...11yo, 9yo, and 7yo.

Thanks!
~Holly in FL

Answers for Holly:]

1. When I'm outside at the Fort I can hear the MK fireworks slightly and the Epcot fireworks less so. If you are in one of the Partial hookup loops it won't be bad. If you were down in 100-300 Loops by the lakes edge it might be worse but if you're tired the sounds won't keep anyone awake.

2. I'm partial to the 1500 loop (as opposed to the 2000 loop) because it is close to the main pool /campfile/ trading post area. It's a quick convenient walk for us.

3. Extra tarps suspended over tents are insurance for people who have not waterproofed their tent or sealed the seams. Sap is not an issue - water intrusion can be. Since you are a tent camper already you should know what I mean.

4. Since you have 3 kids I would suggest having them participate in Fort activities posted at each bathhouse. There's usually activities around noon or early in the PM in the pool area run by a lifeguard: might be bingo one day, a hula hoop contest the next, flag football another, etc. May sound corny but will definitely be fun.

I would also encourage you to take advantage of the kid-friendly activities at the Fort like the pony ride (for the youngest), renting a canoe, fishing in the canals, riding bikes, roasting hot dogs and/or marshmellows at the campfire / singalong with Chip and Dale, and watching the movie. Plus the pool and slide and hottub.

The Fort is the best campground you'll ever encounter so enjoy it for what it is!

Bama ED