Here we go first time campers with more questions

[tinksgilrs251520]

Hey All,
So I am sitting here with so many questions running through my head and i need help and advice. My dates are Aug 3-17 2014. Here I go !!!

1.) How many park days do people normally do?
2.) My husband is a smoker can he still smoke at the campsite?
3.) GOLF CART.... Do i really need one?
4.) Where can I find a price list for recreation activities at the Fort?
5.) What is the closet grocery store to the Fort?
6.) How far is Coco Beach from Disney?

I also need dome advice on how to pull off a very special visitor for my daughter. Her best friend will be showing up and my daughter does not know it its one of her Birthday presents form me I am flying her in to come to the Fort for the vacation. her mother works for Delta and she will fly her down and she can take the magical express to the fort she will be 16 so the age I know is not the issue but should I add her on the reservation since I am buying my tickets through undercover tourist and I am not getting the dinning plan so i dont think its a problem correct me if I am wrong or help me out with how to do this

thanks all

 

[bama_ed]

Hey All,
So I am sitting here with so many questions running through my head and i need help and advice. My dates are Aug 3-17 2014. Here I go !!!

1.) How many park days do people normally do?
2.) My husband is a smoker can he still smoke at the campsite?
3.) GOLF CART.... Do i really need one?
4.) Where can I find a price list for recreation activities at the Fort?
5.) What is the closet grocery store to the Fort?
6.) How far is Coco Beach from Disney?

I also need dome advice on how to pull off a very special visitor for my daughter. Her best friend will be showing up and my daughter does not know it its one of her Birthday presents form me I am flying her in to come to the Fort for the vacation. her mother works for Delta and she will fly her down and she can take the magical express to the fort she will be 16 so the age I know is not the issue but should I add her on the reservation since I am buying my tickets through undercover tourist and I am not getting the dinning plan so i dont think its a problem correct me if I am wrong or help me out with how to do this

thanks all

Answers....

1. You are there for two weeks. I've never done more than a week at the Fort and we spend about half the days in the parks. Since the incremental days over 3 cost so little, you can get a 7-10 day pass and you can spend some half days at the parks, come back, nap/swim, and maybe go back at night. You might want to do each park as a full day the first time around but after that I think you can "pick and choose".

2. I'm pretty sure he can.

3. No you don't NEED one. We have gotten one ONCE in all our visits (senior citizens in our party). If you have money to burn, it's a nice plus. We bring bikes or walk everywhere in the Fort. Or you can take the bus and leave the "TYPE A" personality at the camper.

4. I'll find copies of the Boat Deck and Bike Barn and post pix.

5. The groceries on Hwy 535 are the closest - out the back door of the fort. It depends on if you want a Winn Dixie, Publix, Wal-Mart or something else. I shop the WD there. To get to 535, turn left out of the Fort. Go thru the light by the new Golden Oaks and Port Orleans, thru the stop sign in the back lot, over the speed humps to the T-intersection with the softball field on the left. This is Apopka-Vineland road. it's a big 4-lane. Turn right, follow it to the big 535 intersection about 2 miles, turn left. WD is up on your right about a mile. There is also a Walgreens, and all sorts of restaurants. Papa Johns pizza is in the strip mall with Winn Dixie.

6. Cocoa Beach is about 75 minutes on the toll road east toward the Kennedy Space Center. Tolls are mostly between the Fort and the airport. Maybe only one past that.

I WOULD add the 16 yo friend to your reservation. Obviously when she comes in on ME she should know to get off at the Fort and she should probably have your cell phone number. If it were me I'd want a call when she was on the bus and left the airport. Then maybe you can get an idea of when to get up to the checkin area to meet her/pick her up. That's a very nice thing for you to do for your daughter.

Bama Ed

 

[bama_ed]

These are courtesy of Denise. Ed

Here is the Boat Dock activity costs.


Here is the Bike Barn activity costs

BTW the top line of the Bike Barn is an Electric Golf Cart for $59/day plus tax.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

I'm a people watcher and I love first time campers and see'n things for the first time at the Fort. Ya'll are gonna have such a Magical time ya won't wanna leave. And a surprise Birthday visit too, HOW AWESOME IS THAT !!
Good stuff,,






We are AMERICANS,,,,,start acting like it.

 

[KristinU]

How cool that you're flying in your DD's best friend as a surprise!!! I agree that you'll want/need her on the reservation so you can book Magical Express for her. She'll need a DME boarding pass and luggage tags, which will arrive a few weeks in advance of your trip (they'll come to your address as the reservation holder.)

And my .02 on the golf cart - we've never rented one and get around on our bikes and the Disney busses just fine. But with the surprise arrival by plane (I can't think of how you'd get her bike to the Fort) and the age of the girls and the birthday aspect, I think I'd spluge for a cart from one of the off-site rental companies.

Happy planning!

 

[arielmomma]

Hey All,
So I am sitting here with so many questions running through my head and i need help and advice. My dates are Aug 3-17 2014. Here I go !!!

This is from my family's personal experience.

1.) How many park days do people normally do?

We went for 2 weeks last November and loved it! We also took a short trip in August. The 2 week trip was just right for us. During that time, we visited the park almost every day. Since we took 2 trips last year, we had annual passes. We mainly visited the parks early in the morning and late into the evenings, staying at the fort midday
2.) My husband is a smoker can he still smoke at the campsite?

I'm pretty sure he can. I've seen plenty of people doing it.
3.) GOLF CART.... Do i really need one?

We've never gotten one. It would be convenient, but not necessary. Even from the 2000 loop, they meadows pool is only a 10 minute walk.
4.) Where can I find a price list for recreation activities at the Fort?

A PP covered this
5.) What is the closet grocery store to the Fort?

A PP covered this. There are a variety of stores in the area
6.) How far is Coco Beach from Disney?

About 1.5 hours

I also need dome advice on how to pull off a very special visitor for my daughter. Her best friend will be showing up and my daughter does not know it its one of her Birthday presents form me I am flying her in to come to the Fort for the vacation. her mother works for Delta and she will fly her down and she can take the magical express to the fort she will be 16 so the age I know is not the issue but should I add her on the reservation since I am buying my tickets through undercover tourist and I am not getting the dinning plan so i dont think its a problem correct me if I am wrong or help me out with how to do this

I would add the friend to the reservation. I think you'll have to anyway for her to take ME

thanks all

Have a great trip!

 

[thegoofyfamily]

We would never camp at the Fort without a golf cart, but we like looping. It's relaxing to drive around looking at sites. We have our own cart now....and it seems like the ONLY time we use it anymore is at the Fort. You're there at a "not very busy" time, so rent one for a day or two. If you like it, keep it. If not, turn it in. At that time of year, there are always carts available.

 

[RVMH]

I agree with all other info you've received and can add that you will definitely need to have the friend on your reservation. Had a similar problem last year when our son arrived unexpectedly and he couldn't get on ME without a ressie - had to jump through some hoops to get him listed at the last minute so do it well in advance. You'll have a wonderful time - great birthday surprise!

 

[loislane]

# of park days - here are our experiences.

First trip - 2 adults, 7 park days with hoppers. We felt like we got to see and do a lot!

Second trip - 2 adults, 3 kids - visiting with another family with 2 adults, 2 kids. 5 park days with hoppers. We felt like we MISSED a ton on this trip and didn't get to see many of the things we wanted to.

This upcoming trip - 2 adults, 3 kids - we have 10 park days with hoppers, plus the water parks and more option. We'll see how it goes!

 

[jbrostek]

Hey All,

1.) How many park days do people normally do?
2.) My husband is a smoker can he still smoke at the campsite?
3.) GOLF CART.... Do i really need one?
4.) Where can I find a price list for recreation activities at the Fort?
5.) What is the closet grocery store to the Fort?
6.) How far is Coco Beach from Disney?

I also need dome advice on how to pull off a very special visitor for my daughter. Her best friend will be showing up and my daughter does not know it its one of her Birthday presents form me I am flying her in to come to the Fort for the vacation. her mother works for Delta and she will fly her down and she can take the magical express to the fort she will be 16 so the age I know is not the issue but should I add her on the reservation since I am buying my tickets through undercover tourist and I am not getting the dinning plan so i dont think its a problem correct me if I am wrong or help me out with how to do this

thanks all

1. I get a ticket with hopper to cover 80% of my stay knowing I wont want to hit the parks every day and I wont head to the parks the day I arrive or leave.

2. Yes, there is no smoking restriction at the sites. I am also a smoker (yes bad habit...etc.) I do my best to be neighborly, like moving to another area of my site if the smoke wants to waft next door as neighbors are trying to enjoy there time. And of course dont leave butts all over the place....I keep an ashtray around and dump it regularly so the winds wont blow them around.

3. Depends on how you do disney. We bring them because we are a large group (6-12 and 3-4 campsites.) Using the bus is more of a hastle for us to get the whole group somewhere and since we own carts, we just bring them down.

4. Activities costs vary but not all have a cost. Here is a good link

5. There are several in the area Publix, Walmart. I dont know why, but chicken is always very expensive down there compared to the DC area, since we stay there for up for 14 days, we bring as much as we can and go out only to resupply things such as milk or other items we cannot carry enough of.

6. its about an hour and a half drive.


For bringing someone in on magical express, our group learned the hard way. If your reservation for the Fort includes anything (tickets, meal plan, etc.) they they must be part of the package to use magical express. If your site reservation is just the site on its own, then you only need to supply her name and arrival time and they will arrange transportation. After learning this (and lucking out that out of 4 site reservations I was the only one with a site only reservation) we now always keep one reservation seperate of tickets in case someone needs to fly in.