Goin' for our first trip to the Fort!

[anniem8]

Hi all! I've just gotten the ok to book a trip to WDW as long as we take our camper. (Money is very tight right now) I have lots of questions because we have only been to WDW one time before and never to camp. We have a 'hybrid' type camper with a bathroom and cooking area- but it is still really small. We are planning a trip April 30- May 5. How cold will it be in the mornings usually? Also, how bad are the mosquitos in Florida? I'm really excited, and I'm sure my questions are silly, but- I'm a crazy planner!

 

[proudmomof4]

Welcome to the camping board, you'll have a great time at FW.

The weather at the time of year you are coming is great, the mornings will be very comfortable and the mosquitoes shouldn't be too bad, it may be too early in the season for them.

 

[Sparkie]

We have camped at FW twice. Once in March in a small motorhome type camper and the second time - which I call- camping "Clampet's style" we took a utility trailer that my husb. hauls his dirt bikes in, put down some carpet, pulled the mattresses off the beds, grabbed a couple of coolers, folding chairs, and a table and an e-z up tent, installed a window unit ac and off we went. The trip in March warm days and cool nights - no bug issues. The trip - "Clampet style" was at the end of JULY. Bugs werent the issue, rain and heat. It was really hot! But we too were on a budget and this was like tent camping except the tent didnt leak. (Some people - me included- will do anything to go). The campground is really nice as far as campgrounds go. The bathhouses are very clean and are cleaned several times daily. We hardly ever had to wait to shower- we are early risers though and either shower early to be ready for the bus at 7am to get to the parks or we showered late after we got home. The main dislike I have is the internal bus system. You have to take a bus(Chip or Dale) to get to a bus or a boat to take you everywhere else- just plan for extra bus time- sometimes its faster to walk back to your site if your legs are up to it. We stayed in the 1300 loop. It's close to the Meadow trading post and the main pool- short walk or bike ride. And we love the campfire program - take a blanket and lay out under the stars and enjoy the Disney Magic.


My "Clampet" trip started out with a vehicle breakdown on I-75 at Unadilla, Georgia- where I spent the night on the side of the interstate in my makeshift camper waiting for a wrecker to bring us another vehicle from home and tow our disabled truck home - like I said - some people will do anything to go!

 

[anniem8]

Thanks for your responses. Now a couple more questions! Our friends are planning to go to Disney the same week as we are- but they don't own an RV. We had heard that Fort Wilderness had rental campers set up but I hadn't read anything about those. Anybody know of any such thing?

 

[proudmomof4]

Thanks for your responses. Now a couple more questions! Our friends are planning to go to Disney the same week as we are- but they don't own an RV. We had heard that Fort Wilderness had rental campers set up but I hadn't read anything about those. Anybody know of any such thing?

FW has cabins but no rental campers, your friends can rent a camper from an outside company and have it set up at FW. Check out gorving.com, they have info on renting an RV.

Have a great time.

 

[MousekaMaddi]

and love it, showers are spotless and trails end buffet is cheap and great(cheapest deal in WDW) Poolis nice and lots of cool local amimals to see! We will be ther mid March...U?

 

[anniem8]

We'll be there April 30-May 5. Can't wait!! It will be me, my DH and my DD10. My DD16 will be in her own car with her friend. They will be staying most of the time with his sister in Orlando. I noticed that on the FW site they list parking for one vehicle. Is that one in addition to the truck towing the camper- or one total? I assume there is parking at the front of the resort for visitors? Sorry I have so many questions. Can you tell I am a worrier? I just like to know as many answers to any possible problems before I go. I'm a real pain!

 

[rapriebe]

My DD16 will be in her own car with her friend. They will be staying most of the time with his sister in Orlando. I noticed that on the FW site they list parking for one vehicle. Is that one in addition to the truck towing the camper- or one total? I assume there is parking at the front of the resort for visitors?

It is one vehicle total. You are allowed your camper or motorhome and one vehicle so you will need to park the extra vehicle at the overflow parking lot at the entrance. Make sure you get a vehicle pass to put on the vehicle when you check in or it might get towed.

 

[alloyd1170]

RE-rental rvs....we are going in about a month and rented a rv from Cruise America. They have a place in Kissimee and I think very reasonable. Normally we stay at Contemporary, but my dad is coming from the Daytona 500 with his camper/van and my son has been wanting to camp in a rv. My family used to rv it at FW when I was younger ('80s). With two little ones (18 mos and 5) Im not too crazy about it, but heck why not. I dont like the bus stories though. I love the monorail and hated the bus with having to lug a double stroller. Not fun..

alison

 

[Mickster]

RE With two little ones (18 mos and 5) Im not too crazy about it, but heck why not. I dont like the bus stories though. I love the monorail and hated the bus with having to lug a double stroller. Not fun..

I was at FW with a 20 mo and an almost 5 yo and it was great! We had 2 umbrella strollers (perfect for the buses) and they could play without really bothering any one else. We could go for walks or check out the movie and be back for naps or bedtime. You'll have a great time!

 

[Sparkie]

I checked into a couple of sites when we were first planning our most recent trip. And for me- the cost of a 10 rental with delivery/set up and the daily rate at FW just didnt make sense. In my opinion, you can stay at a value resort just as cheaply - if money is the issue. The only way I can see that you save is if you already have your tent, trailer or RV. Plus if you are renting you either have to pack all your linens, towels, dishes and cookware or rent those items at an additional fee from the rental place. But check it out for yourself. I looked at cruiseamerica and onfreewheels (camp USA). The camp USA site lists that they will deliver,set up and pick up and show a picture of Fort Wilderness on their site but there is an extra charge. I also checked into renting locally so we could pack our own stuff ahead of time and haul the trailer to orlando ourselves but it didnt seem to save money so we decided to opt for the value resort. We really did love FW - its quiet and relaxing- and if you dont opt for cable hookup , it can be a TV free vacation.

 

[anniem8]

Telling my husband that we could camp at WDW is the only reason he has committed to go! If he hadn't, my girls and I would have stayed at Pop because I certainly am not hauling our camper down there by myself! His brother has a big, fancy motorhome that he takes down every once and a while and is always bragging about FW- now my husband is excited to check it out for himself. He is not a fan of amusement parks, so he may stay at the Fort all week while we go play. Fine with me... he can have dinner ready when we return!

 

[Sparkie]

Sorry I made you angry. I was just offering my opinion. For us the rental cost would be about $1500 plus the resort rates. If you have your own camper its a great value and a great way to do Disney on a budget. If I still had our camper or trailer, we would be at FW. I hope you get everything worked out and have a great time- This is my last post - Sparkie -signing off.

 

[anniem8]

Sorry I made you angry. I was just offering my opinion. For us the rental cost would be about $1500 plus the resort rates. If you have your own camper its a great value and a great way to do Disney on a budget. If I still had our camper or trailer, we would be at FW. I hope you get everything worked out and have a great time- This is my last post - Sparkie -signing off.

So sorry! You didn't make me angry. I didn't take it that you thought it wasn't a cost effective stay at all! My husband is just weird- I believe he would live outside if he could. He's a displaced mountain man from West Virginia. We're all good!