First Time Tenting At Fort Wilderness

[Matthew Berg]

Hello Fellow Disney Fans!

We're planning our 12th trip to Walt Disney World, and this is our first trip to Fort Wilderness.

We're very excited, but I want to be properly prepared. From what I can see, the tent sites are all sand covered.

Does anyone have a tried and proven method for securing tent / tarps / etc into the sand? If you have specific tent pegs that you've purchased, do you have a location / site to purchase them from?

We're coming from Canada, and would prefer to have it purchased and packed before we go!

Thanks!

 

[ellie05]

You probably should try asking this question in the camping/fort wilderness forum.

 

[Matthew Berg]

Is this the correct forum? Should I just hit reply at the last comment?

http://www.disboards.com/threads/di...ation-questions.3218169/page-78#post-56157584

 

[bama_ed]

http://www.disboards.com/forums/camping-at-disney-world.24/

There is a separate entire forum for Camping at WDW on the DIS. The thread above is just a resort specific thread on the Resort forum (every resort seems to have one up and going). But for all things Fort Wilderness, go to the Camping Board.

 

[Matthew Berg]

http://www.disboards.com/forums/camping-at-disney-world.24/

There is a separate entire forum for Camping at WDW on the DIS. The thread above is just a resort specific thread on the Resort forum (every resort seems to have one up and going). But for all things Fort Wilderness, go to the Camping Board.

Thanks, I went and clicked 'New Thread' - it's posted at http://www.disboards.com/threads/first-time-tenting-at-fort-wilderness.3538713/ - hope its correct now!

 

[Westcoastwild]

I had snow stakes. You put them in at a 45 degree angle with the top pointing away from tent and the bottom in the sand towards the tent. Bought mine at rei. If you go with those, buy extra. The sand is not all that soft and if you don't hit them just right they crumple.

Most important thing is to stake out your rain fly tightly. If I hadn't done that, I would have come back to everything wet after a particularly bad storm.

You don't say when you are going? You may want a fan. And bring a tent broom- that sand sticks to everything.

 

[Matthew Berg]

I had snow stakes. You put them in at a 45 degree angle with the top pointing away from tent and the bottom in the sand towards the tent. Bought mine at rei. If you go with those, buy extra. The sand is not all that soft and if you don't hit them just right they crumple.

Most important thing is to stake out your rain fly tightly. If I hadn't done that, I would have come back to everything wet after a particularly bad storm.

You don't say when you are going? You may want a fan. And bring a tent broom- that sand sticks to everything.

We're arriving September 5th, departing on September 10th, and yes we are bringing a fan! Great tip about the tent broom! I looked up the pegs on REI, and I think I know what I need to purchase. Would you recommend digging first, then peg, then bury?

My tenting terminology isn't quite on par, but by Rain Fly, I'm guessing you are referring to the cover over top of the tent (either purchased with the tent or a tarp installed above....my tent has one, this is only our 2nd summer with it....love it...)

Thanks!

 

[Westcoastwild]

Yes, the cover. It should have loops or ties and those are for guy lines (I think that is the word) which are basically lines you tie those loops and then to a a stationary object or a stake- it makes the rain cover and tent taut so that rain runs off instead of pooling.

You can dig and bury if you have a shovel, I just didn't.

You may want to water proof your base of your tent- my tent's seams are sealed but I know some don't come that way. You have a tent footprint right? It's a tarp that is cut in the shape of your tent's bottom.

For further info, there's a forum called fort fiends- it's all about camping at fort wilderness and those folks really know their stuff.

If your fans are battery run, bring like a Costco size pack of batteries! If not, don't forget a surge protector with an extension cord!

If you've been before, you know about Florida heat. Don't plan to spend anytime in your tent between 9am and dark. And don't leave anything in there that is heat sensitive I.e. Could melt. Put that stuff in the cooler!

 

[Matthew Berg]

Yes, the cover. It should have loops or ties and those are for guy lines (I think that is the word) which are basically lines you tie those loops and then to a a stationary object or a stake- it makes the rain cover and tent taut so that rain runs off instead of pooling.

You can dig and bury if you have a shovel, I just didn't.

You may want to water proof your base of your tent- my tent's seams are sealed but I know some don't come that way. You have a tent footprint right? It's a tarp that is cut in the shape of your tent's bottom.

For further info, there's a forum called fort fiends- it's all about camping at fort wilderness and those folks really know their stuff.

If your fans are battery run, bring like a Costco size pack of batteries! If not, don't forget a surge protector with an extension cord!

If you've been before, you know about Florida heat. Don't plan to spend anytime in your tent between 9am and dark. And don't leave anything in there that is heat sensitive I.e. Could melt. Put that stuff in the cooler!

My 'Rain Guy' has loops that actually tie directly to my tent, but there are additional ones that I can stake in to direct water, so yeah I'll be buying extra sand pegs. Our tent is pretty water proof, we've survived several storms un-soaked, and I always place a tarp underneath it to add an extra layer of protection. Our fan is electrical, but you bring a good point about a surge protector. If we're not out at the park, or if we come back for a rest, It's very likely we'll have all the tent windows/doors open to allow that air to flow! Don't plan on spending any time in the tent outside of sleeping; my daughter might need a nap, but obviously that means all windows open and fans blazing! Good tip about the Costco sized batteries!

 

[Westcoastwild]

My 'Rain Guy' has loops that actually tie directly to my tent, but there are additional ones that I can stake in to direct water, so yeah I'll be buying extra sand pegs. Our tent is pretty water proof, we've survived several storms un-soaked, and I always place a tarp underneath it to add an extra layer of protection. Our fan is electrical, but you bring a good point about a surge protector. If we're not out at the park, or if we come back for a rest, It's very likely we'll have all the tent windows/doors open to allow that air to flow! Don't plan on spending any time in the tent outside of sleeping; my daughter might need a nap, but obviously that means all windows open and fans blazing! Good tip about the Costco sized batteries!

Yup, sorry, wasn't clear. There are ties on the cover for both connecting to the tent and to stake out. Good that you know your tent can withstand a storm! The rain on the east coast is different than what I'm used to, and I was a little worried- I rarely use my rain cover at home. Good luck on the nap- my tent has really good ventilation and I just found that it was like an oven even with the fans on during the day. I "napped" in the laundry room or one of the deluxe resort lobbies or on the buses.