Fort Wilderness Campground

[Sue Sullivan]

Are the sites in Fort Wildernes campground big enouh for a pop-up camper and a tent? I know the limit is 10 people and there is a small fee for each extra adult over 2. We are planning a trip with another family and want to share a site if possible. How are the pools there? Thanks for all info. We just bought a pop-up and can't wait to try it out.

 

[Demosthenes]

They are plenty big enough. As long as you don't exceed 10 people (and I think it is actually 4 adults without a fee) in the campground, you can use 1 camper and as many tents as you can fit on there. We did this all of the time when I was growing up, and my borhter still does it to this day! Most of the sites are big enough with room to spare, but I'd make mention of the fact that you will set up a pop-up and a tent on your reservation.

 

[anniebell]

My friend and I were just talking about this today! They have a new camper and are renting a slot and asked if we wanted to join them...we were wondering the same thing about tents.......so THANK YOU for starting this thread!! I hope we can find out more info!!

Visited FW just last month and I have to say...that after staying at other resorts...I thought I wouldn't like it there...but we really did! The cabins are really really cute...nice size and sooooo clean!

Our kids LOVED all the stuff to do there! We didn't spend the nite...just visited cousins....but it is a really neat place!

 

[corve77t]

I believe that only one automobile is allowed at the camp site. The second one has to park by the gate.

 

[clkelley]

Just a note on sites.

The partial hookup sites have the larger sand areas and will have more room for tents and a shorter driveway. (Which is fine for a popup).

The full hookup sites have longer driveways and smaller sand areas.

Also, as other posters have said you can have the popup and as many tents/awnings as you need. However, it all must fit on your sand area and driveway. You can't use any of the surrounding area.

(We were tent camping once and had a small utility trailer. We moved it off to the side to get it out of the way and I received a note on my windshield that it had to be moved back to the sand area, driveway, or parked out in the public parking lot out front. Another time, I moved their picnic table out of the way, and got a similar note).

I would recommend getting a partial hookup site.

 

[tacomaranch]

Ok, I just have to ask. Why camp in florida? Aren't there a hundred biting bugs? I live out west and I camp. I like to camp, build fires, tell stories, the kids, the fun, but bugs that bite in a humid, hot place.

Please explain camping in florida to me. Maybe in the cooler months or maybe in a huge 5th wheel that really isn't camping, a house on wheels. Heck, I have one but it is old.

I just don't really understand. Please explain the joys of it in hot, humid, bug infested florida. Again, I am not being mean, I just don't get it.

Thanks so much,

 

[campingcorgi]

Tacomaranch, you'll just have to try it out. We love it so much that we moved to Florida from Tennessee (very little weather difference in the summer) just so we could camp at FW more often.

Wyoming, you have winter there, don't you? My rv starts acting like there is a nut loose behind the wheel whenever we head north--oh, yeah, that nut is my sister

 

[poohbearwithme]

Ok, I just have to ask. Why camp in florida? Aren't there a hundred biting bugs? I live out west and I camp. I like to camp, build fires, tell stories, the kids, the fun, but bugs that bite in a humid, hot place.

Please explain camping in florida to me. Maybe in the cooler months or maybe in a huge 5th wheel that really isn't camping, a house on wheels. Heck, I have one but it is old.

I just don't really understand. Please explain the joys of it in hot, humid, bug infested florida. Again, I am not being mean, I just don't get it.

Thanks so much,

Okay tacomaranch, let me see if I can shed some light on this. As someone who has just recently moved to Florida, I can say without a doubt that Florida has some of the best state parks, camp grounds and other places to camp in the South if not the USA. As for bugs that's what Off is for. Humid-yes, Hot-very much so but camping is Florida is worth it. I agree with you that a 5'er is not really camping but there are many down here. There are A/Cs on pop-ups and you can even get A/C in you tent. (don't ask I just found out about that one myself on this board). That brings us to camping in WDW: Camping in tent at FW is only way that many families can go to WDW. Most folks will be at the park during the hotest part of day and return at night. While nights in Florida are not that much relief, this is time that many families use the pool. Another good thing about FW is that the Comfort stations have AC so that is another place you can go for relief. It all comes down to the experience. Camping in Florida is just that. While not the coolest place in the country to camp it is one of the funnest.

 

[proudmomof4]

Are the sites in Fort Wildernes campground big enouh for a pop-up camper and a tent? I know the limit is 10 people and there is a small fee for each extra adult over 2. We are planning a trip with another family and want to share a site if possible. How are the pools there? Thanks for all info. We just bought a pop-up and can't wait to try it out.

We just did exactly this in May/June, we booked a partial hookup site and put a very large tent on the sand area and the pop-up on the pavement, as has been mentioned, you can have only one vehicle at the site. You are correct, the limit is 10 people and they do charge for each additional adult over the first 2. I know this because I used to be a reservations CM and also when we checked in to FW I needed to add my DS(20) to the ressie and the CM said she would add him in as a junior so that I would not have to pay the additional adult fee because she said he is still a child to me anyway. At the time I used to work in CRO the fee in campsites for additional adults was $2 per adult per night, it may have gone up since I left in 2000. The pools are very basic, no slides, no hot tubs, just very basic.

Just make sure when you make your ressie that you tell the CM exactly what you plan on setting up at the site and the sizes for everything so FW can do their best to assign you a site for your needs.

And most importantly, enjoy your new pop-up!!!

 

[bord1niowa]

We just got back two weeks ago from camping in a pop up at the 2000 loop at fort wilderness. We were in site 2008 and also had a screen house measuring 12 feet by 20 feet on the site with us. We didn't put up the canopy because the screen house was there almost up to the side of the camper, but enough room to open the door. The camper was 22 feet opened up and there was some space in front of it behind the van. Our site was a fairly typical size in the 2000 loop, although we did see some smaller, not many. Mosquitos are not really a problem there. They pretty much spray every early morning and it keeps them away. In fact the day we were leaving we had to get out by 6 a.m. and didn't want to have to be tearing down at 5 in the morning so we took down the camper and loaded up and reclined the seats and slept in the van, all hooked up and ready to go. We just opened the doors and it was about 75 at night, and no rain, thank God. NO BUGS either! I was amazed at that, being from Iowa. So if the site they assign you won't do the trick, just ask them for another, they try to accommodate you. BTW, the air conditioning EVERYWHERE works GREAT, puts you in a deep freeze actually, even in the buses! We did have a portable free standing Air conditioner, the kind that actually cools, not a dehumidifier one, well it does that too, but. It worked great for us. We also used the silver emergency blankets on the end. I am amazed at how well those work! The few inches of the top of the outside ends that weren't covered were very warm, under the blanket it stayed cool. You'll love it there. As I have heard in the past, Fort Wildreness IS the standard to which all other campgrounds will be judged from now on. This site has a few pics of the site with our equipment on it http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1709337 Good luck and have fun

 

[Gillian]

Think about bringing extension cords for the pop up - both extra long hoses and an electric extension cord (this is probably a special kind, we don't have one)

We were somewhat unlucky (although no big deal in the end) because we had to park our popup on the sand. The water was waaaay at the front of the site and the electric was waaaay at the back of the site. I'd guess our electric cord is 15 feet, and our hose 25. We couldn't reach the electric with the camper on the driveway, and could barely reach the water when we were back on the sand! The sewer was in the middle, so no problems there.

Not all the sites were set up the same, but we tried to get a different site nearby and were told they were closed because of renovations.

 

[proudmomof4]

We also used the silver emergency blankets on the end. I am amazed at how well those work! The few inches of the top of the outside ends that weren't covered were very warm, under the blanket it stayed cool.

May I ask where you found those? we looked in camping world and couldn't find any to fit the bunk ends of our pop-up. TIA

 

[tim5055]

May I ask where you found those? we looked in camping world and couldn't find any to fit the bunk ends of our pop-up. TIA

Here is the "history" of pop up reflective end covers.

The fist thing folks used was Reflectix®, which is a 5/16" thick, seven layer, reflective insulation which is available in rolls of various widths and lengths. It is used by the owners of some pop-up campers on the top (exterior) of the bed ends to reflect light and heat to keep the pop-up cooler during summer use. It is unfortunate that it is not available in a width to cover the entire bed end and because of this it must be spliced to cover the end. Most users add grommets to the corners to allow it to be tied into place. A standard roll of reflectix of sufficient size for a pop-up is around $50 (with lots left over). It is available from most home improvement stores (Home Depot/Lowe's).

Other options include Mylar "space emergency blankets", which while highly reflective but are thin and susceptible to tearing and holes.

Cabellas sells a "Sportsmans Blanket" which is highly reflective on one side, but is slightly smaller than larger pop up bunks.

Some people use silver or gray tarps which are heavy duty, but are not as reflective.

The newest (and best product in my opinion) is PopupGizmos Custom Sized Solar Bunkend Covers for all popup and hybrid camping trailers. These are manufacturered by a gentelman (Bob Pitney) in Texas who was looking for a way to keep his pop up cool in the Texas sun.

Personally, I started with Mylar "space emergency blankets", then picked up the Cabellas Sprtsmens Blankets and quickly moved to the Popupgizmos. While they are not "inexpensive", they ae custom fabricated for the exact size of your bunk ends.

 

[bord1niowa]

The emergency blankets are about 54 inches X 84 inches or so. One fit very close to completely over our double side and for the king side I taped two together with a clear packing tape. These are widely available at many stores, including Walmart, Target Etc. Coleman makes one that you cannot see through, so I would think it reflects better than the off brand sold. They only cost less than $2 each too. Ours lasted the 10 days there plus they are still quite usable yet. A very inexpensive way to keep the sun from heating up your ends and they take very little space in your camper too, since they fold up to a little larger than a deck of cards! I had considered buying one of the custom made covers mentioned above but decided to try this first. For me, I like the small amount of space needed to keep them on hand and the cost is very minimal. They can be afstened down a number of ways. I just used clothespins since I forgot my clips at home. Pictures can be seen of our site at this website, also the blankets on the ends. Not sure if I gave this here before, sorry if I already did. http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1709337

 

[proudmomof4]

Thanks TIM5055 and BORD1NIOWA for the great info, I will look into all of those options. We have 2 King size bunk ends so I will see which will be most cost effective and I will also consider that we live in FL so we will get much more use out of them in the longer summers we have here.