Flying, tent camped, June, 3 adults 6 kids, two weeks

[KongKarls]

How did it go?

Awesome. We flew down with our six kids ages 1.75 - 11. 7 ticketed passengers. 14 checked bags, which included tent, air conditioner (under 50lbs each), and porta potti. We arrived during one of the first large (non-hurricane) storms of the season using DME. We retrieved our tent upon arrival to allow set up that afternoon (ran had ceased). The rest of our bags and garden grocer delivery arrived at around 8pm after we went to the Trails End for dinner. We blew up our air mattresses and got the AC set up in rough fashion. We slept, and the next day went about setting things up proper. Our tent was 10x20, and I brought 2 tarp poles and ran a line above the tent. I then pitched 50 feet of tarp over the tent and concrete driveway. This gave us a large, dry, and shaded patio (we move the picnic table underneath). I also brought a small 2man tent for storage, which was kept, under the tarp. Aside from a lot of sweating, set up day went well and we spent the rest of the day at the pool. The next morning we started day one of our 10 day park hopper at MK. We spent the whole day there, and Grandma (who was supposed to arrive that afternoon) arrived near midnight (1000pm Montana time) thanks to NWA. We got her settled with plans to hit another park next day.

Overall, we had great fun. The AC was a lifesaver, as was the double swivel-jogging stroller we bought for the trip. It didn’t take us long to get into the bus routine. Getting wet was not a major issue, the storage tent was hit with rain blown from the side, and I had a condensation issue with the AC in the main tent, both were quickly rectified and neither was as bad as my sweating.

We chose the camping option to allow our 4 boys to have some room to play, and to keep all nine of us together (vs 2 value rooms at 5 times the price). Don’t get me wrong, the tent was crowded and the logistics required work and preparation (which I enjoy), but we were comfortable and well rested throughout.

I recommend it.

 

[CottontailCurl]

Sounds like my crew and it sounds like a great time (what was that, 12 days total at FW?). Your set up sounds just like ours. Did you bring cooking equipment or did you keep your food choices to easy to put together stuff? Were you in the 1500 or 2000 loop or another?

So if staying at a value would have been 5 times as expensive that means you can come back 4 more times, right? I'm glad you guys had a good vacation.

(Nevermind about how many days, I just saw above that you were there for 2 weeks).

 

[bama_ed]

Wow! Always love to hear those summer tent camping reviews. Especially those two week stays...

Congrats and Kungaloosh!

Bama ED

 

[clkelley]

Sounds like you had a great time!! I used to fly and tent camp solo, now that was a challenge, but would do it again in a hearbeat with multiple folks to increase the luggage allowance.

Anything is possible if you put your mind to it!!!

 

[disneynewbeemom]

Kongkarls -- so glad you had a great time. Do you have any photos of your campsite that you could post? We are tent camping in October with a large size tent and are interested in specifics about how you put a tarp over your tent. Please help.

 

[christinou]

Wow I am impressed. I would love to hear more about your trip.

 

[Tent Camping Mom]

Flying, tent camped, June, 3 adults 6 kids, two weeks

Thanks for the report; sounds like you had a great time!

 

[loriandmatt]

Did you bring cooking equipment or did you keep your food choices to easy to put together stuff?

oh, i want to know that too.....i am very impressed with your set up. more power to you. i laugh at those who say they could never afford a WDW vacation....they just aren't trying hard enough. you have to put i the effort, but it is totally doable on a budget. (not to mention a love for camping.)

do tell about your cooking/food arrangements. we are leaving in a week and i am looking for ideas.

 

[KongKarls]

We tried for loop 1500, but go 2000 (it was fine).

Most of the food we ordered (a month before the trip from Gardengrocer) was dry breakfast foods (bagels, cereal) and snacks (chips, crackers, sweets). We brought 1 collapsible cooler and had 3 foam coolers delivered with the groceries for milk, cheese, and cream cheese. I also orderd a bag of charcoal just in case, but the only thing we cooked was a canned ham we had delivered (made some ham a cheese melts). Since we ate at the parks most days, at trailsend 3 times, and ordered pizza from trailsend for the campsite.

The way I strung the tarps was with 2 nine foot aluminum tarp poles and a rope running between the two. Guy lines held the poles tight, and I also ran a rope from and overhead branch to the main rope for extra support. One tarp was 30x20 and the other was 10x15, where the 2 met I used zip ties to hook them together at the grommets.

 

[KongKarls]

Last part of photo url is: IMG_0504.JPG not IMG_0

Here's a photo: kind of dark, but you can see the storage tent in the front and where the rain was blowing in on the ground. This proved not to be a problem as we carfully stacked our items on old grocery boxes in the storage tent (the thin tent material dried quickly). The rain wasn't a problem in our 10x20 tent (seen in the rear with a large rain fly). Also, you can see the support rope coming up from betweent he tarps... I brought a lot of rope, and managed to get a line to a high branch tying it to a hammer and tossing it over. Pitched in this way, water puddling on the tarps was never a problem. We also brought Christmas lights (strung over the picnic table). We left them plugged in to have a welcoming and well lit patio waiting for us late in the evening.

 

[homemaker]

Sounds like you all had a wonderful time! How did you manage with the smaller children? Was it difficult to keep an eye on everyone. DH and I are camping in October for just 5 nights with our 4 boys (2.75-11). We will be in our popup or a new camper if we can decide on one. Anyway you give me hope that my children will behave and everything will be okay. Thanks

 

[disneynewbeemom]

Thank you so much for the tarp directions. Where did you get tarp poles? I've never heard of them. We are camping in October for 9 nights and it always rains whenever we camp (and we always get water inside our tent!). We have sprayed the seams, sprayed campdry all over the tent, and plan on bringing a tarp to put over our air mattresses before we leave for the park each day. I am packing our clothes in plastic drawer totes. I showed my husband your reply. We weren't able to pull up the picture -- but I am hoping that he is able to do something like this! Thanks for the help. I would still love to see the photo!

 

[Gillian]

http://bp3.blogger.com/_Y6p3LelZ_yE/RqARrVbUN4I/AAAAAAAAABc/cSKC7xkD1Tc/s1600-h/IMG_0504.JPG

 

[Gillian]

Sounds like a fun time! Thanks for sharing.

 

[disneynewbeemom]

Thank you so much for the picture! I'm trying to make things go as smoothly as possible. My husband is not sold on the tarp idea, so I am hoping your picture will help! I am sick of getting wet!!

 

[KongKarls]

Thank you so much for the picture! I'm trying to make things go as smoothly as possible. My husband is not sold on the tarp idea, so I am hoping your picture will help! I am sick of getting wet!!

My tarp poles are a Kelty product you can find a REI.com. I tried to insert a link, but I couldn't make it work without getting an error. Maybe Gillian can tell me what I'm doing wrong.

I can tell you, we had HEAVY rain and the tarp directed the majority of it away from the tent.

The tent we used was a cabelas deluxe family tent with a full rain fly, I siliconed the lower section, but didn't use any seam seal. The only water we dealt with came from condensation from the AC (which I fixed without a problem).

 

[KongKarls]

Sounds like you all had a wonderful time! How did you manage with the smaller children? Was it difficult to keep an eye on everyone. DH and I are camping in October for just 5 nights with our 4 boys (2.75-11). We will be in our popup or a new camper if we can decide on one. Anyway you give me hope that my children will behave and everything will be okay. Thanks

Our dd's were 1.75 and 4. We purchased an Instep Double jogging stroller with the swivel front wheel. Many said this would be too bulky on the buses, but any inconvenience was more than made up for with easy pushing and storage in the parks. Having 2 kids safely strapped in allowed our attention to the 4 boys, who were a challenge. 2 would always seem to race ahead, and 2 would drag. In general though, we kept everyone together. At the campground, we gave the boys some rules, and let them run.

 

[disneynewbeemom]

Thanks for the information on the tarp poles. I checked the website you gave me and saw them on the website. I'm assuming you purchased two tarp poles ($40 each)? We camp several times a year so I don't feel bad investing in these poles. Usually we end up cutting our trips short due to rain issues, so this can be our solution!! Thanks.

 

[novdisneydreams]

Wow! I am just fascinated by your story. Are you a family of seasoned campers? I have been eyeing the Fort lately as a possible solution to my extreme-budget-gotta-get-back-to-Disney-before-the-kids-are-much-older problem. I am wondering how you use the AC in the tent - is it propped up on something? Is it just a regular window AC for a house or is it specific to camping? THANKS

 

[Daydreamer64]

I love to camp but am very heat intolerant- wow never thought of bringing an airconditioner for the tent! We only camp in the winter becasue it's easier to wrap up/snuggle to get warm then it is in the summer to try to get cool.

When we are in Florida, all I can think about at the end of a hot day at the parks is getting to the room for some cold air and nice long ice cold shower. I would die if I was camping in the summer heat in Florida with the high humidity.

Also, I hold you all in high esteem ----I know you must be a very calm and relaxed family because - well- I think I would have been devorced after 2 weeks in a tent with all of the boys and my DH!

I'm impressed with the camp set-up and your family's patience for each other!