Introducing Myself

[TOGA]

Hi all, I've lurked these boards for quite a while before officially joining and have always found the information to be thorough and extremely useful.

I used quite a bit of the advice and information for my Jan. 2009 trip to the Fort, so a belated thank-you to everyone for all of the great tips.

I'm in the Dayton, OH. area and camp with a 2002 Coleman Bayside Elite that has 2 king-sized beds, slide-out dinette, dorm fridge, 20 gallon fresh water tank, furnace, separate indoor/outdoor propane burner stoves, sink, battery, outside shower and dual propane tanks. Some pics of my unofficial 3rd child:

Thanks again and I look forward to sharing my love of Fort Wilderness Campgrounds!


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[BigDaddyRog]

Well....welcome to the boards buddy....why did ya wait so long to make a post??? We look scary...but as you probably know...theres a great group of fun lovin' fiends(no typo there) that gather here and share info and even more importantly...laughs. Pull up a chair and set a spell!!!

 

[Tigger0624]

Welcome!!!

 

[2goofycampers]

Welcome TOGA, glad to have another Fort lover aboard.

 

[TOGA]

Usually I was able to find answers to any questions I had simply by searching previous posts, so posting/asking questions wasn't really needed.

Plus I'm sort of new to the whole forum thing. That's traditionally been my wife's thing.

However, I've had quite a good many laughs reading all of the various posts here. Keep 'em coming!

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Welcome. Thanks for posting your photos! When were you at the Fort? How did you like the 1600 loop? The sites in the area where you were are nice. I am a Coleman pop-up owner, too (Utah CP). What do you use that wooden box on top of your battery for? (I'm a little nosey) (OK I'm a lot nosey).

TCD

 

[TOGA]

I was at the Fort this past January 2009 and me and my family just love it! Definitely one of the best campgrounds we've ever stayed in if not the very best. We were particualarly impressed with the comfort stations. Always immaculate and never anybody in there {this might be slow, end of January season talking}.

Loop 1600 was just perfect and I'd reserve the same loop again...even though we don't have pets that we travel with. We originally had a reservation for a partial hook-up site {limiting us to either loop 1500 or 2000}. I tried to request the 1500 loop prior to showing up and then again at check-in, but they couldn't accommodate me, so it was off to loop 2000 to setup. When we pulled in we were a little astonished at how packed in everyone was. There was people everywhere and kids in the street and camping gear just all over the place. It didn't look like it would be quiet at all in the evenings. I was just beginning to size-up and figure out how I might get our 25' pop-up {after fully deployed} and my car in the same camping spot when we came upon our designated site.....and there was camping gear on it. Not the 'packed-up-ready-to-check-out' type of gear, but 'we've-been-here-a-week-we're-at-the-park-and-won't-be-leaving-anytime-soon' type of gear. We kept driving to check-in, explained our situation {again asking if I could get to loop 1500...nope}. The supervisor told us to "hang-on" and they'd get the squatters off of our site {apparently this is a known, common problem?} and then we could move in. I think our bleary eyed, 6 hour driving in the car look told him that was unacceptable {knowing the wait would be considerable}. Then, some Disney magic happened and we got upgraded for free to loop 1600. Loved it amongst all of the big rigs. That probably kept the comfort stations free for us since they typically have their own 'facilities' on-board.

That wooden box is used to hold my extension cords and electric cord adapters and hose adapters, flashlights, batteries and any other little catch-all type things that I need to keep track of. It's not a permanent fixture to the battery box, it's just sitting there under the bed to stay dry should it rain. It gets packed away in the pop-up when we're moving.


TOGA

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[Tri-circle-D]

The supervisor told us to "hang-on" and they'd get the squatters off of our site {apparently this is a known, common problem?} and then we could move in.

That wooden box is used to hold my extension cords and electric cord adapters and hose adapters, flashlights, batteries and any other little catch-all type things that I need to keep track of. It's not a permanent fixture to the battery box, it's just sitting there under the bed to stay dry should it rain. It gets packed away in the pop-up when we're moving.


TOGA

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Wow, I think that is the second time recently that someone has mentioned finding someone in their site when they went to pull in. That has never happened to us (thankfully). I don't think it is a common problem at the Fort.

I have an old milk crate that I use for the same purpose as your wooden box It fits under the pop-up when not in use.

Again, welcome to the Disboards.

TCD

 

[Mmketeer]

Welcome! Glad to see you posting.

 

[Luv2Camp]

Welcome from another fellow Buckeye!

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Welcome !
You do fish, right ?

 

[dfchelbay]

Welcome to the board. This is truly a great place to gain information and, as well, to share your knowledge and experiences at WDW and Ft. Wilderness with others. I enjoy so many of the stories I read and pictures that are posted. They bring a smile to my face and remind me of our good times spent on WDW property. They also make me anxious for the next trip too.

Again, welcome...we look forward to your imput too.

 

[DisneyDadinOhio]

Welcome to the boards..NEIGHBOR..!!

Glad you had a fantastic time in January, we leave for the fort on the 26th..!

 

[TOGA]

Thanks, neighbor.

My first time pulling our pop-up in the winter was when we went to the Fort this January 2009. Fortunately for us, the weather cooperated and it was nice and sunny and a balmy 32 degrees with no snow. As you know, this is not typical at the end of January in Ohio.

On the way home, the universe corrected itself and slammed us with icy roads, snowstorms and freezing conditions. But I was on my way home from the Fort, so I didn't care by that time!!

 

[DisneyDadinOhio]

That sounds about right...a couple years ago we came home to temps in the 20's and light snow. We really were not prepared (no jeans or winter clothes!), but it was still an absolute blast..! Lesson learned...

Curious - did you just go straight thru on 75..? Where did you overnight along the way..? There are several of us northerners going down over the next few weeks...

 

[TOGA]

Yup, I took I-75 down the whole way and didn't turn until I hit the Florida Turnpike, then followed that to I-4.

We only made 1 stop on the way down at that was at the KOA in Cordele, GA.
Not too bad for an overnight stop. Clean bathroom and shower facilities. Not too technically literate though since no one there could tell me what I needed to know to hop onto their WiFi. Lots of blank stares when I asked for passwords and such.

We stopped there on the way back too.

 

[2goofycampers]

You can now skip I-4 and take the new 429 quicker and easier, it is now the first WDW exit off the Fl turnpike.

 

[TOGA]

I believe we took that on the way home. I followed signs on Disney property that pointed me to the Turnpike and I noticed I never got on I-4. If I recall, it was indeed 429. Not too much out that way as I recall.....

 

[Shan-man]

Yes! 429 is Excellent! 429 to Western Way. Left at the dead end (W Buena Vista). Ignore the signs and stay on it until Bonnet Creek for another left. Another left at the dead end and the Fort will be on your right in less than a mile... and you will have avoided all the craziness at the MK parking plaza. Not to mention the I-4 CrAzInEsS! Love it!