First Time Tent Campers - Fort Wilderness questions

[fantasmic323]

First Time poster!

My Husband and I have been on several camping trips but this is the first time with the kids daughter 9 and twin sons 6. We have a courtesy hold so we have to make a decision soon. We need your advice!

We would be tent camping June 14th-20th. They put in a request for the 1500 loop but of course its not definite. What other loops would be good for us? We are not renting a golf cart (Disney prices are too high). The twins birthday is June 16th so we wanted to do something special and could use some ideas. We are also thinking of not doing the parks which is something we've never done before. Is there enough to do at FW to keep the kids entertained? We wanted it to be more about the camping than Disney if that makes sense. We have the dining plan booked because from what I've heard grills are not allowed unless they are charcoal and my husband hates cooking on charcoal grills. I am excited because this is something we've never done before but at the same time want to make sure its not a waste of money. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Lisa+Mark

 

[ruthies12]

well if you are doing the dining plan then I would recommend breakfast at chef mickeys for the boys bday since that would include characters and they would probably be thrilled with the boat ride to get there. they might also like the lego store at downtown Disney?

 

[ilovedisneymm]

Hello Lisa! Welcome. Welcome. Welcome.

You have picked the very very best place to camp. The 1500 loop is great and we stayed in the 1500 loop this past January with our tents. There are only two tent loops, 1500 and 2000 loop.

I would call and have them note your ressie that you do not plan on renting a golf cart and would like to be close to the pool and movies. You can walk from both but the 1500 loop is right across the way and can't go wrong there.

There is another place you can rent a cart, Kenny? I believe and Tiggerdad on here rents from him. Lower cost than the $65 a day that Disney charges. Contact Tiggerdad and ask him for info if you choose to rent a cart.

There is a great deal to do at Fort. Two pools and kid friendly activities from 10 - 6. Crafts, games, from like 10 - 12 and again from 1 - 4. Hours vary. Don't forget visiting the horse barns, pony rides/trail rides. Nightly camp fire, sing-a-long, movie, fireworks, light parade. Oh yes, rent a fishing pole, canoe, bike.

Every family is different some would get board without the parks but we always have fun hanging out at the fort. We have more fun at FW than in the parks.

There is a grill at every campsite and we cook a lot!!! You don't need the dining plan and I would imagine you could get your $$$ back if you called about it. Message me if you need any tips requesting your $$$ back for the dining plan IF you decide to cancel that.

EDIT - I missed the park where your hubby hates to cook on charcoal. I didn't know gas grills were not allowed. Open fire pits, yes, but I didn't know that about gas grills. I would need someone else to confirm on that.

If you decide that you are bored and want to get out of the bubble for the day then pack a bag and head to the ocean.

Have a great trip.

PS - my signature has our last trip report and we did a lot around FW.

 

[ilovedisneymm]

Oh yes! DTD is a blast. I forgot about the Character Breakfasts you could do on the Dining Plan. We have never done Ohana or Chef Mickey but those are great options for the DD plan and to experience more of "Disney" without having to go into the parks.

 

[peg110]

We love the Ohana for Breakfast. My kids, however were not a big fan of the Luau at night. The show was fine but they just didn't care for the food. Well my DD 8 (at that time) did because she got chicken nuggets, my DD 16 and my DW just weren't into the Polynesian style dinner. I however enjoyed it.

Chef Mickey (dinner) was okay. I wouldn't say it was stellar. There was a good selection of food for both kids and adults and we certainly got plenty to eat. It just felt more "Assembly Line" than other ADRs we had before. (At the castle, Ackershus, Crystal Palace, etc...) I did enjoy it but again, something about it just left me not totally loving the "Chef Mickey". Maybe it was just a bad day for us and of course your mileage may differ. I certainly wouldn't say DON'T go.

We haven't done a lot of cooking at the fort (Grilling or otherwise) but I love to cook on charcoal. I just hate waiting for it to heat up. I have not seen anything that says you cannot use gas grills. It seems kind of silly that they wouldn't be allowed, but charcoal would, especially when you consider that some RV's have them built in on an outside compartment or even an outside "Stove" which is essentially the same thing. I tried searching and what I found was many other sites saying YES you can use your gas grill. Nothing definitive or official saying that you couldn't. Either way you can call the fort and just ask them directly. They will certainly be able to give you the answer.

 

[chartle]

We have the dining plan booked because from what I've heard grills are not allowed unless they are charcoal and my husband hates cooking on charcoal grills.

Not sure what you mean. You can't have an open fire so therefor can't cook over it but if propane cooking wasn't allowed very few campers could cook.

But for cooking you also have electric so even a single "burner" electric hot plate and maybe an electric kettle (if you don't have one at home you need one) should handle most if not all your cooking needs if you plan well and bring things like precooked bacon and sausage. You can even bring a toaster for the morning and for coffee get a over the cup funnel setup.

We don't like "grilling" while camping because we don't like to carry raw meat and cooking raw meat creates a lot of grease which were we camp brings out the critters.

You say this is going to be your first time tent camping? You may want to try a week end somewhere close to figure out what you need and don't need and how to set up.

have fun

 

[tltay2005]

Not sure about the gas grill issue, but you can definitely use a propane gas camp stove. If you love to camp, then you should be fine with out going to the parks. There is also Downtown Disney and a miniature golf course as other options. Not sure how you are traveling to the fort, but if you can bring them, bicycles are a great way to get around without the expense of a cart.

 

[fantasmic323]

OP

When I was making the reservation the lady said she called over to FW and they said no propane and fires have to be covered she gave an example of a mesh fire pit??? Based on the replies I by I am thinking it might be worth another call to FW to look into what is allowed. This would be our first tent trip with the kids. We did the cabins before but it's so much money. We have DVC but it seems like a waste of points to use them at a non DVC resort. This is all sort of last minute so wanted to do it for as little as possible. Anyone know what the weather is normally like in June? Oh and thank you for the very warm welcome. My husband is an avid reader of the Boards but has never posted

 

[bama_ed]

fantasmic,

I think what the CM was referring to was propane-powered fire pits and unapproved fire pits that refer to this flyer.

Propane cooking grills are definitely allowed with no restrictions.

The one thing about the dining plan is there aren't many places at the Fort to use it so it's a trek anywhere every morning to get breakfast. It's not like rolling out of the tent and 2 minutes later digging into my raisin bran (with extra raisins).

Mid June is warm but likely pleasant at night for tent camping. Those typical daily Florida afternoon thunderstorms get cranked up about then so you need a good plan for dealing with the rain. Of course, typically it rains hard for 30 minutes and then it's over.

I would suggest building one big activity each day then pad it with Fort down time. For example, the kids like the putt course over by Blizzard Beach (best ones for kids). Then back to the Fort for naps, bike rides, chasing lizards, the afternoon activities by the pool, etc. The next day might be exploring Downtown Disney. Then back to the Fort for <blah blah>. Third day is monorail ride time visiting the Monorail resorts and looping around Epcot. And Fort time. Maybe splurge on a water park like Typhoon Lagoon one day.

Besides the nightly campfire singalong and movie with Chip & Dale, the Electric Water Parade and fireworks at the Fort beach, visiting the horse barn and stables, canoeing, fishing, and playing on the various playgrounds around the Fort, there are activities at the pool area every afternoon. Here is a list from last summer as an example. You get a sheet like this at check-in and they are usually posted at each Comfort Station.



Bama Ed

PS - we even cooked hot dogs for supper one night at the campfire singalong if the kids have the patience to wait for the dogs to cook. The Fort is a great kids place.

 

[2goofycampers]

I've seen tons of gas grills.

 

[amylevan]

Used our baby weber gas grill at FW many times on all our trips. We don't like to mess with charcoal either.

 

[chartle]

OP

When I was making the reservation the lady said she called over to FW and they said no propane and fires have to be covered she gave an example of a mesh fire pit??? Based on the replies I by I am thinking it might be worth another call to FW to look into what is allowed.

fantasmic,

I think what the CM was referring to was propane-powered fire pits and unapproved fire pits that refer to this flyer. ....

Calling my not help because sometimes even CMs don't know what the rules are or what you are really asking. I would trust bama ed more than most CMs you get on the phone.

But I second that what the CM is referring to is open flame pits whether they be wood or propane.