how many people actually tent camp

[sjc011]

I've been a long time lurker, but the OP convinced me to join. My family tent camped at FW when I was younger, and now I have my own tent to go to FW in a month and a half! I promise to do a pre-trip and post-trip report on my time as a tent camper.

 

[Nature Mom]

My DD12 and I are big tent campers. As a family, we have a TT, but because our family has changed with the big kids being off to college or on their own now and DH always working, she and I are usually the only people that are going camping anymore so we tent it. We have a nice set-up, are very comfortable and totally enjoy our time, even in the occasional 3 day monsoons that pop up (TS Debbie, I am looking at you! ). She and I camp often, not just at FW, but at least once a month we take off to somewhere. Always in our tent. I am considering a pop-up lately though, not because I am tired of tent living, but more of I am thinking of taking our little traveling schoolhouse on camping trips farther away from home and I like the idea of a small pop-up for our comfort and convenience.

I have never felt like I was being looked down on by RVers, if they were then that is their problem, not mine. For the most part, I think campers are a good type of people. Camping is a lifestyle and the people who embrace this lifestyle are usually looking for the same kind of thing I am; Simpler times, fresh air and away from the 'buzz' that is modern life, connect with nature, increase family bonds. That's all good to me.

I have started a TR before, but never finished, so there are tenting TRs out there. lol We just get busy with the next adventure and forget to finish up the old one.

 

[DizGurl4]

We are tent camping in November! Woohoo! We tent camp through the summer closer to home and love it! Decided this year to combine our 2 favorite things, Disney and a Tent! I would love to see more tent TRs also. Enjoy reading them all but would be fun to see if more people tent it.

 

[Skip2MyLou]

I have thought about tent camping at Disney. May main question is the weather.

I understand using a tarp to keep the falling rain out, but what about water on the ground? Are the sites slightly raised so that the water flows away from your tent?

 

[michael61]

My first time camping with my family was in Disney and because of the rain at set up and having a great time my new tent is 36 feet long with a slide out.

 

[michael61]

My first time out there was rain and cold now 10 years later my tent is 36 feet long with wheels

 

[jeffrey66]

My first time out there was rain and cold now 10 years later my tent is 36 feet long with wheels

micheal61, Im with you on that idea. I have been caught in the rain many times during a tent weekend so now I have a TT.
I will camp with a tent if I have an option when the weather turns bad. My son and I do a lot of paddling and camping on the lakes/rivers in the Adirondack mts.(NY) and will bring a tent with us to use if the weather is good. If the weather goes bad then we setup at one of the many state leantos which are used on a first come first serve basis.
Even though I own a TT I still believe that true camping is tent camping.

 

[North of Mouse]

My first time out there was rain and cold now 10 years later my tent is 36 feet long with wheels

Boy, do I agree with you! Our *only* experience with tenting years ago was limited to part of a trip - never again. We too, like to rough it gently off the ground - have to have our comforts and conveniences, but *love* to be in the outdoors

"Even though I own a TT I still believe that true camping is tent camping."

Sorry jeffrey66, we don't agree with you, but that's ok, we all think in our own way! :=}

 

[jeffrey66]

Boy, do I agree with you! Our *only* experience with tenting years ago was limited to part of a trip - never again. We too, like to rough it gently off the ground - have to have our comforts and conveniences, but *love* to be in the outdoors

"Even though I own a TT I still believe that true camping is tent camping."

Sorry jeffrey66, we don't agree with you, but that's ok, we all think in our own way! :=}

Yes. I agree that we disagree about the idea of "rough it"

 

[snowmedic]

We tent camped for 8 days at the Fort back at the end of Sept. and beginning of Oct. Stayed in the 2000 loop. It isn't as bad as every one says it is. Sure, your away from the Meadows and Pioneer hall, but if you don't like a lot of noise it is the perfect place. We checked-in on a Sat. early morning and it wasn't crowded, yet. After some time has passed the place began filling up. We would take the bus, (didn't rent a GC) to the meadows so the young ones could go swimming. It was rather noise at night, with the family reunion next site over, but your there to have a good time and so is everyone else. That Monday was nice, almost everyone left and we pretty much had the run of the place. The sites in the 2000 loop are spacious. There is 2 CS which I didn't find overly crowded. It was such a great time. We can't wait to get back there this year for Christmas / New Years.

 

[charliesmom86]

How is it tent camping in the Fall? We are thinking of going in October and have only camped once before and that was in the Spring. Is it cold at night?

 

[DisneyDiva8401]

I have tent camped twice at the fort before upgrading to a pop-up. I would suggest getting a site in the tent loop, the first time we weren't in a tent loop and we felt really out of place surrounded by rvs and campers. And it was in the dead heat of summer but it wasn't too bad. We had fans, and it was shady, but our tent leaked and we came home to wet beds in several occasions (which is why the decision was made to get a pop-up!!)

 

[bama_ed]

How is it tent camping in the Fall? We are thinking of going in October and have only camped once before and that was in the Spring. Is it cold at night?

Check Accuweather.com or Weather Channel.com for Orlando for historical averages for the time you want to visit. But remember it's only an average.

October is generally nice weather wise - very comfortable for tent camping (on average). As such it's popular with locals that come in on weekends (it's easier to get Mon-Thurs ressies during this period). So you might want to make a ressie now for the dates under consideration and then work out the details later. You can cancel and get your deposit back if you cancel a week before you arrive.

Also the closer you get to Halloween the more crowded those weekends become and book up.

Bama ED

 

[stky6]

We went in August of '08 and for us tent camping is the only way to go. We live in SW Ohio and go to Lake Erie alot thru the year, can't pull a camper because we pull the boat. Out tent is 15x15 with a 6 foot ceiling at the sides and 7 foot in the center so there is plenty of room for four of us. We have a setup that would rival any MH, even have AC in the tent.

Some people complain it is too hard to set everything up and take it down....we have everything packed so we can have the tent, dining canopy, "kitchen canopy" and evertyhing setup in about a half an hour.

Rain and downpours are no problem, you just have to setup for them. We survive storms/wind coming off Lake Erie and stay bone dry, just takes a little prep.

We stayed in the 2000 loop when we came down...one thing I can tell you is get a tarp or some plastic and lay it at the entrance to your tent...put a carpet there so you can knock the crushed shells off your shoes before you go into your tent...5 years later and still find a shell piece or two

 

[leafE]

I've never camped any other way, and I love it! Now, I wouldn't say no to a camper, but unless one falls out of the sky into our front yard, it aint gonna happen

 

[gilesmt]

I would never look down on a tent camper. I have never done it at the world, but as a single mother I have tent camped several times with my girls when they were little. When they got a little older, or was that me, like 10 and 12 I got a pop up and camped like that for years. I then got a travel trailer and we camped like that for a few years. I then bought a 5th wheel and lived in it for 3 years, now I rent it out. Camping is the absolute best way to meet the nicest people w you will ever meet. I just can not justify it at wdw, since I am from WA and it would cost me so much to get there anyway and then I do get SoG, so I am paying just a fraction more to stay there, but if I could I would.

 

[Running_Bell]

We tent camp everywhere and in rain, sleet, wind and snow ... we have tent camped at FW several times. When we go with several people, each has their own tent so it works well for space. We have a 14x12 that we take to FW and other places where we stay for longer periods. We also have a backpack tent when we hike. We love the outdoors"ness" of tent camping and it can be what you want to make of it... roughing it or more comfort. You can go all out and spend quite a lot on tent and gear... or keep it simple. You'll have a blast either way.

 

[CarolineB]

I tent camped for a few days twice by myself both times with my son.

The first trip he was 2 1/2 years old and it was August.

The second trip he was just turning 3 years old and it was the end of October to the first week of November.

I liked all of the dining options available at the Fort and of course the theme parks so this was important to me because I didn't want to cook anything with a young child around.

My camping neighbors were very friendly with helping me put my tent up.

I didn't like using the internal bus system by myself with a stroller and a toddler but now that I've used it a few times, I think I would be able to manage it better or use an umbrella stroller.

I didn't like walking back to my camp site at night in the dark -- preferred driving.

Both times were extremely hot -- I'm considering another tent stay this year over Halloween but haven't decided yet because of the heat and also I'm local now (15 minutes away so the stay would be just for DS to enjoy the activities at the Fort -- we won't have our APs at that time.)

I would look into the air conditioner / box fan options.

The main reason for tent camping was for the EMH.

 

[Disneyaddictz]

Even as a local we only camped in dec/jan. we needed the cool air to sleep comfortably. I think if you have a big enough tent you can do some nice size fans??

 

[North of Mouse]

How is it tent camping in the Fall? We are thinking of going in October and have only camped once before and that was in the Spring. Is it cold at night?

Being a deep south girl, trust me when I say *most* of the time it will be hot in October. There are exceptions, but *very* few. The nights can be a little cool, but mostly I still find them humid and warm.