First-timer questions

[Zhoen]

Hi Y'all!

Ok, so I'm not even the one going to be driving down and camping, it's my parents, but they don't like to ask questions, or as they say "overthink things." I, on the other hand, am stalking you all relentlessly trying to be prepared... so... (and btw, they are arriving 24 June)

#1- At what point, precisely, is final payment due? I thought it might be like the vacation packages where you have to pay 30 days in advance, but reading some of the comments on here, maybe not? They are "room only" and will be staying for about 2 weeks. Do they pay the balance at check-in? If they do "early check in" do they have to pay the balance however many days early?

#2- How do they request their loop requests and how far out should they do it? I am pretty sure they will not be doing early-morning arrival, but if it's really the best choice, tell me and I'll try to sell it... They are still waffling between taking 2 days to drive down or 3... if they go with 3, it might be workable.

#3- They have reserved a "Premium" site in a pet loop, but I can't see anywhere in their MDX where it actually says "pet." Should I have them call and double check that?

#4- They would be upset if I referred to them as "elderly" so let's just say "retirees," and Mom has a bad knee that will get worse as the days go by. Is there a pet-friendly premium loop that they should request due to proximity to bus stops or anything? Their RV is not huge, only about 28ish feet--it's sitting comfortably in my driveway right now, I think Mom just liked the word "premium."

#5 Last one for now... I will be staying offsite but will be driving to pick them up on certain mornings we are leaving the "bubble"... Will I be able to get to them to pick them up at their site (like is there a gate or something?) They aren't bringing a chase car, so I was thinking that they might be able to list my car as their +1, in which case, do I need to be added to their reservation?

#6 Ok, I lied, that made me think of another... If there are 3 of them on the reservation now, but the site claims it's good for up to 10, how much extra is it to add an extra person/people to the ressie? I'm thinking that would get us free MBs and should make parking free at the other resorts we're planning to visit, but not worth it if it's too much extra.

Alright, that's enough for this one... I'll be bugging you later for other things! ;P

 

[2goofycampers]

#1 You pay in full at check-in.
#2 Put your loop request on your reservation.
#3 Be sure it says pet loop on the reservation.
#4 They can also request to be close to the transportation.
#5 Tell the guard at the shack why you are there.
#6 Call and ask if this can be done.

Ready and waiting for more.

 

[bama_ed]

Zhoen, we were all newbs once. I'll give your questions a whirl:

1. Visits to the resorts are just like the Fort - room only reservations or packages. Same rules apply. I always do room only and you pay one night as a deposit and can make payments periodically over the phone or pay the balance due when checking in (which is what I am doing tomorrow). So they can do the same.

2. Loop requests are added as a comment to your reservation over the phone. They are not guaranteed to be fulfilled.

3. MDE used to have a pet box to check but not anymore. There is also a $5 per night fee for pets I believe. Just have them check in, tell the CM they have a pet, and they will attempt to place them in a pet Premium (400-1000 IIRC). That's while they're paying their balance.

4. There are several bus stops in the pet Premium section. A common request when checking in or with the loop request in advance is "close to a bus stop" or "close to transportation".

5. You will drive into the front entrance of the Fort and get in the line for the security guard and tell him, "I'm here to see the Smith family in site 502" and he will let you in after confirming your parents are Fort guests.

6. I agree with Denise. Call and ask if you can get on-site perks while staying off-site.

Hit us up with more questions if you need to.

Bama Ed

PS - man, Denise is in front of me by just a minute or two on several threads. That's why she's the sheriff.

 

[Zhoen]

Hi guys!

Thanks a bunch! Mom says she's going to call and find out how much it would cost to add either all of us or just my husband to the reservation. (I might've purposely planted a seed of doubt regarding the pet thing to help motivate her.) Chances it won't be worth it, but I'll wait and see what she finds out.

Huge thanks for the explanation about the gate!

 

[KristinU]

I think I'd have them add you to their reservation just to simplify the access in picking them up here and there (but if they're on a package this might not be worth it since there would be a charge) but at the very least, have them give your car's information for a parking pass when they check in since they won't have their own vehicle aside from their RV. That way you can just drive in and get them.

Editing to add that I just remembered that it is all done on Magic Bands now, I think. So the paper parking pass thing might not work. You might need a magic band on the reservation.

 

[peg110]

Editing to add that I just remembered that it is all done on Magic Bands now, I think. So the paper parking pass thing might not work. You might need a magic band on the reservation.

I was going to add that as well. The Paper parking pass would be useful for things such parking at the TTC (or other locations) but won't get you access to the resort. For that you need a MB.

That being said, it could still work if you have another MB that is linked to one fo the guests. You could then use that MB to get through the gate of the Fort. Since you can have multiple MB's (and/or the older "Cards") linked to a user, and all of them are (generally) valid, this should work. You'd just want to make sure it's linked properly in their MDE.

Of course you couldn't use it to access the parks because of the Bio-metrics, but for what you are doing, it should work.

I should add that this is also a "Bending" of the rules. Personally, I don't see this as doing something wrong as you are not trying to "take advantage" of the Fort, rather just make dropping off (and picking up) the kiddo as well as visiting with family, easier.

Either way, hope you have an awesome trip.

 

[Zhoen]

The magicband thing is why we are considering putting just my husband on the reservation. He'll be picking them up alone one morning, and be in the car the rest of the times. But Mom hasn't called yet (the meticulous over-planning gene skipped a generation...) She's going to be stranded her for a few hours tomorrow, though, so I'm hopeful... ;P

New question--
Do people do any decorating of their campsites in the summertime? Most of the pictures I've seen look like Halloween and Christmas (which makes sense). I have some plain white party lights I was planning on doing up with the Rapunzel design for them, and I am debating some Dory string-lights I saw yesterday, but what else have some of you guys seen?

(We did a week at Assateague last summer, and some of the camp hosts were REALLY settled in... )

 

[2goofycampers]

There are some sort of decoration lights up at The Fort year round. Bring all you want!

 

[peg110]

New question--
Do people do any decorating of their campsites in the summertime? Most of the pictures I've seen look like Halloween and Christmas (which makes sense). I have some plain white party lights I was planning on doing up with the Rapunzel design for them, and I am debating some Dory string-lights I saw yesterday, but what else have some of you guys seen?

Yup... Bring it on....

I don't think they go quite as crazy as they do for Christmas or Halloween, but they will still decorate

 

[Zhoen]

An update, in case anyone is ever researching the same question and runs across this thread:

Mom called today and was able to add us to the reservation for no added cost (bear in mind, they are already dropping over TWO THOUSAND for their little patch of land.) I'm so excited! This will make coming and going SOOOOooo much easier. And while I was already planning on getting the MemoryMaker thingie and linking it to them, it's a bit easier if we're all on the same MDX account.

YAY!!!

(And thanks for all the other input, too!)