Fort Novice ... Help!

[Main Street Matilda]

Ok, I'm a (somewhat) pathetic newbie to the whole camping thing. We're big WDW buffs, but we recently agreed to go to FW in an RV with some family, and I'm totally out of my element. On the plus side, I'm really, really looking forward to staying at the Fort (have wanted to do it since I was a kid) and I've been told that I'll love it - but I need some tips. We're staying in a Preferred site in November in a 32 ft class C.

The stuff I'm most concerned with is:
Getting around FW - is a golf cart a really good idea or just a luxury?

Tent at the site - should we pitch a tent for overflow items or perhaps just a screened tent for covering us from bugs, etc., or is any tent a bad idea?

Pools - anything especially neat or not so neat about the pools?

What not to do - Is there anything that "newbies" tend to do that drives other, more experienced campers a little crazy?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[PrincessNP]

First of all WELCOME!! This is the greatest forum on earth!

I really feel that is you have small children I see that your are not really small but there are "3" or if you are not able or into walking distances then a golf cart is a must. We always go the first 2 weeks in December and we love to go "loopin" to see all the lights so that is another plus. If you don't mind walking or waiting for the buses to get to the front or back of The Fort then you may be OK without a cart. My husband wants to add "a cart is part of the Fort Wilderness Culture".

I am not much help with the tent questions as we have a 5th wheel

The new pool behind the meadows is awesome! It has a great place for kids and the new waterslide is small but lots of fun. I think they did a great job with the space. I guess some of the other "bigger" resorts have fancier things at their pools but I am really partial to The Fort!

This is a really friendly place and I don't know that you can tell seasoned campers from novice ones - except at Christmas time b/c the frequent fliers have lots of lights.

We sure hope you have a great time at The Fort. It is surely a home away from home from all of us!!

 

[FloridaTeacher]

Again welcome to the forum. A golf cart is great fun but not a necessity. We've been camping there since our boys were little with no real NEED for a cart and they're expensive. It is fun to get one for just a day or two to go looping, but are too pricey for our whole week long stay.

Happy Camping!

 

[amylevan]

A golf cart is not a necessity. Nice to have, fun to check out the area, but not necessary. You could use bikes if you wanted to. Or just stick to the busses (and your feet - it is possible to walk where you need to get).

The bugs aren't really bad at the fort, we've sat out at night without a screened tent. I'm not sure that you'll need a tent for overflow either. My extended family all camp in an assortment of 5th wheels, class c's and pop ups and I don't think any of us use/need one. I guess that could depend on how many people will be in your rv tho. But in any case, they do allow a tent. So you could bring one along.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

Welcome!
Like others have said a golf cart is not necessarily a nessisity but they sure are nice to have. Kenny rent golf cart and he is reasonable and I would highly recomend him. You can put a tent or screen room in back of camper if there is room. Sometimes there is very little room but should that happen you can always request another site. You might even have them put that on your reservation that you will be putting a tent behind your camper.

 

[Memph1s]

Welcome

...The stuff I'm most concerned with is:
Getting around FW - is a golf cart a really good idea or just a luxury?

I think a cart on days you will be at the campground is a really good idea. They really change how you can enjoy the fort. A simple errand like going to the trading post for milk or bread becomes a fun thing to do instead of a chore. You can leave the campfire and run down to the lake for the water parade and fireworks on the beach and then run back to the campfire to finish the movie or catch the second movie. If you are going the second half of November there will be lots of Christmas decorations up at most of the campsites. You can do most of these things with bikes during the day but I would not want my kids on bikes at night at the age of yours.
I do think IF you are going to be at the parks all day and just use the cart to get back and forth from the campsite then it is a luxury.

Tent at the site - should we pitch a tent for overflow items or perhaps just a screened tent for covering us from bugs, etc., or is any tent a bad idea?

If you have a tent bring it and put it up. The kids will have fun with it and may even want to sleep in it one night. It can also serve as an extra dressing room.

Pools - anything especially neat or not so neat about the pools?

You will need to bring your own towels. We also bring a small cooler with our own drinks.(No glass) You can also bring noodle floats and goggles but some life guards frown on dive mask, fins and snorkels. No large floats are allowed.

What not to do - Is there anything that "newbie's" tend to do that drives other, more experienced campers a little crazy?

Sound travels a lot farther than you think. Try to keep after hours radios , TVs and conversations in check. Also, please do not cut through other peoples campsite.

Hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[Main Street Matilda]

Thanks so much for all the insight. I'm so excited about this trip - in some ways more than my other trips. When you're staying at a resort, there isn't much to think about other than touring the parks. By staying in the Fort, I get to ponder for hours (mostly when work is driving me nuts) what things to pack in the RV, what to cook and what things I can do at the Fort.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

What not to do - Is there anything that "newbies" tend to do that drives other, more experienced campers a little crazy?

Some folks tend to get a bit crazy if you put up a clothesline...

And

 

[retired and happy]

If you can find it, elsewhere in this there is a lime green Mickey head you can print out to identify yourself as one of us, unless that's too scary a thought. The head is like the one in PrincessNP's sig line above. Maybe someone can direct you to the right thread. We laminated ours and hang it on our Mickey Lamp Post (directions also elsewhere in this forum). Mainly enjoy yourself and don't over plan, especially the parks. There's lots to do at the Fort too.

 

[UMADDBG]

Bring towels for the pool. They don't have towels at the pool. Enjoy, the fort is the best!!
I am not a cart fan,,, we ride our bikes.

 

[Dizney_Luver]

The most important thing to remember is...Take plenty of pictures for sharing! to the boards, and have a Great Time!

 

[WDWFWfan]

Golf carts are a pure luxury. They are not necessary at all. I find that walking and/or riding a bike causes one to slow down enough to be able to take in the sights and sounds and really immerse myself in the experience.

A screen room might work better than a tent. While the bugs aren't usually bad, it doesn't hurt to have a place to get away from them...especially at dusk if you are eating outside.

Things that bug this camper? Hmm...people not understanding quiet time (10pm - 7am is pretty well the accepted norm at most campgrounds), reckless cart drivers, etc.

The fact that you show concern about your fellow campers tells me that you should not have a problem. Go and enjoy! We've been to the Fort over a dozen times and it is the only place that we will stay. While all of Disney is magical, there is something special about hearing the boat dock in the mornings, the buses beginning to run and smelling the bacon cooking (well...at least back when people cooked outside ).

 

[BradyBz12]

WELCOME!!

re: Golf Carts
Definitely not a "necessity" but really darned fun and a great way to enjoy the Fort to the fullest. If you haven't already, check out post #7 of the FAQ thread for GC info - including offsite rentals that are a LOT cheaper than Disney...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1818140

As for camping pet peeves, I'll echo what others have said - campers that don't have any consideration for their (veryclose) neighbors, be it leaving their dogs barking in the TT all day (or just general loudness - canine or human), dog owners not cleaning up after their dogs (large OR small), crazy cart shenanigans and folks that simply have no regard for the people around them.

We do our best to be considerate of the other campers, and just hope they will do the same in return. As PP said, if you're already asking how you can be a "good neighbor" - chances are you will be.