Help me sell DH

[Reese]

We are planning our fifth trip to WDW in Sept and one in Dec. We have decided to get AP's and I am ready to use them. Camping seems like a very good use of these. We generally camp locally atleast twice a year but have missed the last year and the kids really want a camping trip. To camp locally it ends up being more than a site at FW as they charge for the site and admission to the grounds per person each day. So it makes sense to me to cancel our flight for Sept drive 20 hrs and camp for a couple of weeks in after our Pop trip. I'm currently on maternity leave and he was going to take six weeks parental leave so it's the only time we would have the time to spend four weeks at WDW until we retire.

Here's where DH comes in. He doesn't think that camping and Disney can mix. They are two seperate types of vacations that cannot be combined. Sand in your sleeping bag and It's a Small World cannot exist together. His concerns are being hot and sweaty, he's sure that the showers will be VERY far away as well as the bathrooms. We are tent campers so these are all things that never concerns him on a normal trip. He likes to tour the park and than go back to an air conditioned room with a pool. I told him there is a pool. He also has reservations about not being able to have a fire. Hey how can you go wrong with a Chip and Dale sing along fire and a movie? The kids can take their marshmallow and hot dogs to the fire pits as a before bed snack. Besides when we camp he never worries about these things.

He'a also concerned about the buses. We have a lot of small children and a large stroller so he doesn't relish the thought of waiting for a bus getting on getting off and waiting for another bus. Is it a long walk to make it to either outposts. I know it's a mile as the crow flies across the park but along the path is it an okay walk? Also are the buses confusing? We went to FW last Sept to attend the campfire (and for me to try and sell him on it) and we were a little perplexed by the buses but I'm sure they are more straight foward than they seemed at first glance.

Also how crowded do the comfort stations get? I've had times camping that I've had to wait a half an hour for a shower.

Also any pesks to watch out for? When we camp the main concern is bears and raccoons if you don't put all your food and garbage away. Also rattlesnakes (I have yet to see one except for at the zoo). Are there any snakes or bugs that are a concern? I've seen the pics on the thread with the deer and the gators.

Also are the pads comfortable for tents? And also do they drain well when it rains? Does each site have a picnic table? Also I have a portable oven (it's like a large crockpot). Would it be okay to put supper in it in the kitchen tent and leave it unattended for the day? Also how large are the partial hookup sites? We have a four room tent, a kitchen tent and a twelve seater van.

 

[ntsammy5]

His concerns are being hot and sweaty, he's sure that the showers will be VERY far away as well as the bathrooms. .

I'll tackle this one. The comfort stations are close to all the sites and are very nice. Some people here would claim you could eat off the floor, but I wouldn't go that far. I do have a particular affinity to stall #2 (inside joke). as for being hot & sweaty, that is probably true, BUT, you can rig up a room AC to your tent and that will work well. There are threads here that explain how. I'm sure someone will post a link. You can wait until you get to the fort to buy that stuff though. Good luck.

let me add some more: pests: not many besides the drunken otters (another inside joke) and maybe some mosquitoes although they don't bother me. Never saw any poisonous snakes here or heard about any. CS do not get crowded as a rule. Buses can be a little bit of a problem, but if you treat them as part of the experience it's not bad. Boats take you to MK and the boats are great. There's a lot to do at the fort.

 

[clkelley]

The sites in Loop 2000 will be plenty big for your setup. One thing you could do for all parks except the MK is drive your van out to the parking lot, then catch a bus to the parks. Getting to the MK will mean a bus and a boat trip because from Loop 2000 the sidewalks are a long way around.

The sand pads are very comfortable, and do drain well.

One thing I always do is underneath my tent AND underneath my ground cloth is to put down an extra layer of the really thin painters plastic, then ditch it at the end of the trip. That keeps the bottom of your tent and your groundcloth clean. That sand stuff can get kind of gummy and hard to clean off when wet.

Unless you are going in the winter months, I would recommend some type of air conditioner. You can zip and duct tape a standard window air conditioner into a spare door in the tent (set it on a milk crate, or something similar). The 5,000 BTU units can be had for less than $100 US.

Also you may not be familiar with fighting humidity. Keep your windows cracked on the tent while sleeping and open them as much as possible and at least run a fan while you are out to keep airflow going and keep the humidity down.

 

[Reese]

Thanks for the replies.
ntsammy5 how do you find the temps compared to home. We're about two hours west of Buffalo. We generally camp in Aug so it's usually pretty hot anyways.
I love the idea of the a/c. We have two extra's in the attic since we just got central air installed.

Another? Do most sites have trees around them to tie things to? I've looked at he pics thread but most of them are RV's and they do look like they have trees. We generaly tarp our tent and kitchen tent are together to protect against rain and give a little extra shade. Also to tie the usual drying line to .

Do the buses get crowed? Also do they run as frequently as they do for the other resorts?

 

[clkelley]

Yes, there are plenty of trees to tie things off to.

 

[ntsammy5]

Temperature in August is generally in the mid 90s and very humid. I've only been to the Fort a couple of times in the summer and it's really not too bad. Plan to stay in the pools or AC for some of the tiime. Where are you from? I assume some where in Ontario?

 

[TG4AKV]

You mentioned that you have AP's. Would you consider staying in a cabin for all or part of your trip. I think the AP rate was about $174. While the cost is more, you will save substantially on food. You also have the added convenience of not having to lug everyone out to a restaurant or CS for breakfast. Having a relaxing bowl of cheerios in your PJ's while watching the Disney channel might be really nice. The cabins offer complete kitchen facilities; big stove, big fridge, microwave, dishwasher, dishes, etc. so the food preparation is easy. Also, the bedroom area is separate so if you wanted to, little one(s) could have a nap away from everyone else if need be.

I don't know about staying in a tent for two weeks. It will be really hot, really humid and it will rain as you are there in hurricane season. But if you really want the camping experience I read on one of the threads here awhile back that you can rent an RV. They bring it to the fort for you, set it up & take it away when you are done. It sounded like a beautiful 5th wheel model. It might be a more economical option than renting the cabin but you would have to check it out for yourself. Good luck.

 

[Reese]

Temperature in August is generally in the mid 90s and very humid. I've only been to the Fort a couple of times in the summer and it's really not too bad. Plan to stay in the pools or AC for some of the tiime. Where are you from? I assume some where in Ontario?

I always find the temp seem to be cooler when your camping than when your inside or at home. I'm from near Hamilton. Do you drive when you go? We've never driven it so I'm guessing it's about 20 hours.

 

[TG4AKV]

I see now from your post that you have too many people to stay in a cabin. I found the old post about the RV rental. It's a 32 ft 5th wheel and sleeps 9. According to the website, the rental fee is $135 a day. I don't now how to post a link but if you type in RV rental and use the search engine, it should come up.

 

[toostsmom]

From your subject title I thought you wanted to sell your DH.

 

[ntsammy5]

Gee, Hamilton is less than an hour away! We usually fly. When I stay at the fort I stay with my sister in her RV - but I tent camp all the time too.

We drive to Charlotte about 3 times a year though, my daughter kidnapped my grandsons and took them to Charlotte with her! It's not a bad drive though. We drove down once in 1995 to WDW and I think it took about 20 hours or less.

 

[2goofycampers]

I see now from your post that you have too many people to stay in a cabin. I found the old post about the RV rental. It's a 32 ft 5th wheel and sleeps 9. According to the website, the rental fee is $135 a day. I don't now how to post a link but if you type in RV rental and use the search engine, it should come up.

http://www.campatthefort.com/

this may be the link

 

[Escape Artist]

I just wanted to say that I'm impressed! I've done a fair amount of camping in a fair number of "unique" situations, but tent camping just after childbirth, with a reluctant husband, 7 kids including a teenager, a toddler and a new baby, in September, far away from home...my hat's off to you!!!

You sound like you have a great attitude and approach to life.

Have a *great* trip!!!!

Sue in Texas

 

[TheFlame]

OMG....You have 7 kids????????????? what possessed you...oh nevermind!?!?

I don't tent camp but could not imagine doing so with the clan you will bring along...ESPECIALLY THAT TIME OF YEAR!

Anywho, it will be miserable hot in August and September and I understand your husbands concerns. The Fort and WDW are great places to be, just not when it is 95 outside and the humidity is 100% and you don't have an a/c camper, cabin or room to put 9 people in after a day at the parks. A vacation is supposed to be a time to relax and rest AND have fun and what you are describing to ME doesn't sound like any of those things.

That being said, if you want that adventure, more power to you. The bath houses are nice, but will be a pain with that many kids. I wouldn't leave food "outside" for an extended period of time either. We have seen deer, and the normal outside critters but no snakes(except of course the brown ones from stupid dog owners, I mean dogs. ) There are no animals that we have seen that we have worried about but I wouldn't leave food outside. We leave our crockpot going all day when in the parks but it is inside our camper.
The bugs are not bad, except maybe the love bugs but then again I don't rough it so I am NOT an expert on that! We saw quite a few last Oct. but not many in Jan. I would really research this website to find out the best campsite for your situation. We like the preferred loops(non-pet) because of location but I am not sure what you would want with a tent. There are still alot of trees left to tie up to and you should have plenty of shade most everywhere.

The bus transportation is awful but at least you aren't having to drive and use your own gas....make the best of it, we always do.

I would suggest looking into renting Tina's RV. It would save you on gas, time and lots of work with the tent city, not to mention your sanity. I would hope this vacation is for you too but it wouldn't be much of one in my opinion if you go the route you are looking at! JMHO...Best of luck to ya!

 

[Reese]

From your subject title I thought you wanted to sell your DH.

Open to offers .

 

[Reese]

Thanks for all your helpful insite.

As for camping we've been doing it forever. The older kids are all quiet good at setting up camp. I think the youngest chikd we've taken camping was 3 weeks old. My main problem with camping is trying to find something to occupy them all (with their varying ages) during the day. That is why I thought FW might be ideal. The kids get WDW to entertain them during the day but still have the fun of camping.

Is there ample parking if we were to drive and catch the bus.

 

[clkelley]

Thanks for all your helpful insite.

As for camping we've been doing it forever. The older kids are all quiet good at setting up camp. I think the youngest chikd we've taken camping was 3 weeks old. My main problem with camping is trying to find something to occupy them all (with their varying ages) during the day. That is why I thought FW might be ideal. The kids get WDW to entertain them during the day but still have the fun of camping.

Is there ample parking if we were to drive and catch the bus.

Between the regular lot and the overflow lot, there is plenty of parking at the Outpost at the Fort.

 

[momoffive]

We were there in December with 5 children. Although none were infants and all can walk and can help now, I found the CS very clean and and by the end of our vacation I had a pretty good routine going. DH would not take any of the boys in with him to shower, said it wasn't clean enough. After all I have read on these boards I find that so hard to believe. He won't have a choice this year. I want a vacation too.

Sounds to me you have a pretty good set up and with a few modifications sound like you could make it work. Need the air conditioner for the window. We'll be trying that this summer too. Good luck but nothing duck tape can't fix. A month is a long time, have a great time.
Loretta aka momoffive

 

[DisneySoccerScouts]

From your subject title I thought you wanted to sell your DH.

This is what I thought so i had to read the thread just to see why she was selling him!

 

[Reese]

This is what I thought so i had to read the thread just to see why she was selling him!

I'll post the list of reasons with the pic on Ebay .