Just booked another stay-a compromise

[Cindy F]

I booked almost all the dates we wanted 1/30 - 2/8(haven't been able to get Saturday the 7th yet-but will keep trying). Jeeezz...it was like pulling hen's teeth, there was NOTHING available at first. I lucked up and got a tent site (Thank God we have a pop up). But I forgot to put a pet loop request on there.

Are all the pop up/tent sites on pet loops (PLEASE say yes, they are, don't worry)? Since I booked on line-do I need to call and make sure the powers that be know that it has to be a pet loop or we can't come? Will crying on the phone help? What about begging? Bribery? Liquor?

Also, the camper van has a holding tanks for the sink and toilet so that will be fine but since the pop up doesn't have any type of holding tank-I'll have to get one of those portable ones. The portable tank would just need to hold gray water from the sink and shower.

For those of you who have used these, what size portable tank would you recommend? I'm pretty much the only one that showers in the camper and we wash a few dishes here and there but mostly use disposable everything. Also, where is the dump station located at The Fort? Will they allow you to just empty gray water in the comfort station toilet or is that a no-no?

Thanks for any advice....can you tell I'm excited about going back!? I'm so glad our dog Brownie is allowing us to go (as long as we take him ~grin~)

 

[DRWalum]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but NEITHER tent loops 1500 or 2000 are pet loops. I would call ASAP & explain the situation (sp?). Maybe you could put Brownie in the kennel a couple days & a pet loop could free up !!! Good Luck & Hope things work out for You

 

[Cindy F]

Thanks for the help. I just wish you had brought better news! I'll call and see what can be done and hopefully something will open up before the trip. If not, I guess we'll just go some other time or stay at Turkey Lake.

So that means if you don't have a full hook up site, you can't take pets? That's a bit odd isn't it? I wonder what the rational behind that is?

 

[Shan-man]

Actually, you are not supposed to have pets in a tent or soft-walled RV, partially because of potential noise and partially for the safety of the animal. There was a dog, howling day and night, in a popup in 300 last month, that's why I say supposed. So, since motorhomes and trailers cannot stay in the partials, there is no need to have a pet partial.

 

[Cindy F]

Actually, you are not supposed to have pets in a tent or soft-walled RV, partially because of potential noise and partially for the safety of the animal. There was a dog, howling day and night, in a popup in 300 last month, that's why I say supposed. So, since motorhomes and trailers cannot stay in the partials, there is no need to have a pet partial.

But the website says you can also have camper vans and class B's in those sites--which are hard walled just like a travel trailer. Since the camper van is our tow vehicle, it's always our back up plan to put Brownie in the tow vehicle if he gets riled up (which is never). Actually, that should be every pop up dog owner's back up plan if their dog starts barking and howling all night-put them in the tow vehicle. Even as a dog owner myself, I can assure you-I report any continued barking or howling or any barking/howling that keeps me or the kids awake.

Well, I called and was on hold for about 30 minutes before giving up, I'll call back tomorrow and see what we can do. It's not the end of the world, we just went a few weeks ago. We can either stay at Turkey Lake like we normally did before "discovering" the Fort or we'll just cancel this trip and keep the Sept and December reservations.

Kindof a bummer after being excited about finally getting the reservations

 

[Shan-man]

Well, that's the best I can do in the "rationale" department. I guess the bottomline is you are only allowed to have pets in pet loops... unless of course you request a pet loop, pay the pet surcharge, and get assigned to a non-pet loop... which has been happening a lot recently. And, apparently Disney has been getting a little slack about the no-pets-in-soft-sided-rvs policy since there was one in a popup on 300... which is a pet loop, but not a pet-approved RV. Honestly, I didn't know that class B's could camp on partials, so what seemed a cut-and-dried rationale seems much more muddy. Ah, Disney! Keep trying to upgrade to a full-hookup, 1800 is a great loop.

 

[Cindy F]

........ pay the pet surcharge, and get assigned to a non-pet loop... which has been happening a lot recently. And, apparently Disney has been getting a little slack about the no-pets-in-soft-sided-rvs policy since there was one in a popup on 300... which is a pet loop, but not a pet-approved RV. Honestly, I didn't know that class B's could camp on partials, so what seemed a cut-and-dried rationale seems much more muddy. Ah, Disney! Keep trying to upgrade to a full-hookup, 1800 is a great loop.

There's a pet surcharge? Sigh...oh for Pete's sake...how much is the pet surcharge?

Yep, I went back and checked and they also allow truck campers....which begs the question--well then why can't a little travel trailer like a burro or casita go in a partial? Not being "gripe-y" truly just wondering. Maybe "back in the day" camper vans, class B's, and truck campers didn't have bathrooms?

 

[Memph1s]

I have been in the 2000 loop while there were dogs staying in the loop. I don’t know if they were "officially" there or not. You are allowed to have pets at the campsite with soft sided camping rigs but they are not supposed to be left unattended.

 

[Shan-man]

Yes, there is a $5 per day pet surcharge. I have read conflicting reports if that is per pet or not. I have always been charged just $5 for 2 dogs (and a bird and a rabbit, once).

 

[Shan-man]

I have been in the 2000 loop while there were dogs staying in the loop. I don’t know if they were "officially" there or not. You are allowed to have pets at the campsite with soft sided camping rigs but they are not supposed to be left unattended.

I don't think they could have been in 2000 "officially". Maybe someone could have requested a full-hookup pet loop and were unable to be accommodated and were offered a partial (though I've never heard of someone being displaced into another class of site)? I think it is more likely they snuck the pet in. Or it was classified as a service animal... don't laugh, I have seen teacup poodles in Epcot who were supposed to alert when the owner's blood sugar was off! I need a Dr who will write those kinda 'scripts. LOL

 

[DRWalum]

Yeah ......... Maybe I could take my dog Trinity , stay in one of the partial loops & save some $$$$$. She could be my sevice dog & alert me when I need another BEER !!

 

[clkelley]

I have a tiny travel trailer (T@B) and stay in the partials all the time. I think it's more size than anything. I've also seen a big Class A stay in the partial loops for a couple of nights also. There were also folks that had pets in the partial loop each and every stay I've been there.

Also, technically the rule is you can have pets in a soft-sided camper, but you must kennel them when you are away.

Not sure if it's been answered, but Ft. Wilderness has no dumping stations. Their official response is to take a portable holding tank and roll it to the nearest empty full hookup site and dump there. I always dump my portapotty contents in the toilet at the comfort station, same thing with my grey water container. I only have sink/dishwater, so I have a 5 gallon collapsible grey water container.

 

[Shan-man]

Well, I don't know what else to say except someone is breaking rules: be it the dog owners or Fort Wilderness. Neither partial is designated a pet loop. Pets, attended or not, are supposed to only be allowed in pet loops. Yes, Disney has been breaking this rule with some regularity during loop upgrades (leading to questions whether all of FW will becoming pet friendly). You are not even supposed to walk your pet through a non-pet loop, and there are many signs to that effect (No Pets Beyond this Point). The lack of a cut-and-dried rule makes it very difficult to advise people what to do. I would hate to suggest someone take their dog to camp in a partial and have Disney decide to enforce the rule and ruin a vacation. I guess the best we can do is share the rule, share what we've seen in actuality, and let the camper plan for the contingencies.

 

[2goofycampers]

$5.00 per day per camper with pets, not per pet.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

No pets unattended in tents/popups, but pets are allowed as long as the owners are with them.

Florida law prohibits unattended pets in motor vehicles regardless of the outside temperature or circumstances. No pets allowed unattended in tow vehicles- not my rule or Disney's, it is the state of Florida's.

Since Disney owns the property, they can change the rules whenever they want. If they have a lot of pet owners checking in and want to designate another loop as a pet overflow loop, they can do it. If they want to let a certain trailer type in a loop but ban another, they can do it.

There are no dump stations at FW.

Any other questions or controversy re. rules, just let me know and I will ask Bobby and Johnny next time I see them.

 

[FlaFortCampster]

As far as I understand, the only reason 1500 and 2000 loops are tent/popup only is because there are no hookups for black water, only electric and water.
Therefore, you big guys can't come into our neighborhood. Nay, nay......, but we can come into the high rent district. The best of both worlds.
And I saw a dog in the 2000 loop a couple of weeks ago. Love animals as long as they are taken care of, quiet and don't leave little presents everywhere. Even asked my dog if he wanted to come to the Fort and he said no way, he stays on the couch and watches Animal Planet the whole time I'm gone.

 

[Cindy F]

Well, I don't know what else to say except someone is breaking rules: be it the dog owners or Fort Wilderness. .

Uhh...let me assure you....after chatting (via Disney Chat) with a Disney representative-it is IMPOSSIBLE that Fort Wilderness would even CONSIDER breaking or bending the rules. NO NO NO NO NO NO DOGGIES ON A NON PET LOOP FOR ANY REASON! IS THAT CLEAR!? yes, she was very adamant and not a just little snippy-fied ~grin~

Disney Pet Police: "No, there are no pet friendly tent sites....etc, blah, blah, yada, yada...."

Me: "Ok, I'm sorry- I didn't know when I booked. I'll call Monday and cancel the tent site since dogs aren't allowed.

Disney Police: "We can not allow animals in the tent sites, it isn't safe...yada...yada...yada..."

Me: "Uh, ok-I didn't know-so I'll just call and cancel Monday so someone else can have the spot."

Disney Police: "You can see if they can find a full hook up for you instead of canceling but pets are not allowed in the partial tent sites."

Yes....as a matter of fact at that point I WAS tempted to ask her "So what are you trying to tell me? Are pets allowed in the tent sites or not-you're not being very clear" LOL, I know....that is wicked of me to think that is funny ~grin~

I need a Dr who will write those kinda 'scripts. LOL

You mean I could write myself a prescription saying I need my dog to sniff out any available chocolate nearby? No, writing a prescription for myself would be wrong!

Florida law prohibits unattended pets in motor vehicles regardless of the outside temperature or circumstances. No pets allowed unattended in tow vehicles- not my rule or Disney's, it is the state of Florida's.........there are no dump stations at FW.

OMG! I didn't mean put them in the tow vehicle by themselves! Regardless of weather.... that would just be cruel. Brownie just about has a coronary when I shut the bathroom door, I can't imagine the drama if I put him in a car and left him. However, I did read where RV's equipped with A/C are exempt from this rule--STILL, I would be scared to death, what if the A/C broke? or there was a fire, etc.........yes, I am a professional worrier

I guess unless a miracle occurs and a full hook up site becomes available-we will be staying at Turkey Lake or forgo camping altogether and just stay at a hotel ~gag~

 

[Cindy F]

Was able to upgrade to full hook up pet loop! But.... I'm going to be responsible and cancel to stay at Turkey Lake. It's $450 cheaper, we were just at the Fort last month and we will truly be spending most of our time in the parks since our annual passes will expire in March and we're not renewing.

We still have our Sept and Dec trips booked. This is the responsible thing to do....right? This is where everyone says "Yes, you are doing the right, responsible thing...do it and do it tomorrow before you chicken out"

 

[Shan-man]

Uh, sure, I guess. Man, you sure worked hard to get what you don't want! LOL. I'd do the Fort and then have a garage sale between now and Sept to try and make back the $450!

 

[Cindy F]

Uh, sure, I guess. Man, you sure worked hard to get what you don't want! LOL. I'd do the Fort and then have a garage sale between now and Sept to try and make back the $450!

Well, it was a battle between the good, responsible, reasonable me and the rotten, I don't care-let me do what I want me. Not that anyone is waiting with baited breath ~grin~ but.... a reasonable compromise has been obtained thanks to the unavailability of 1 continuous campsite at Turkey Lake.

The first 6 days will be at Turkey Lake and since we would have to move to another site at Turkey Lake for the remaining 2 days.......we decided "well....if we have to move for those 2 days, we might as well move on over to the Fort."

All things considered, it will only increase our cost by a grand total of $65 so "Let Me Do What I Want Me" was able to back Tight-Wad Me into a corner. I'm pretty happy with that. Tight Wad Me is a real pain in the ( / ) sometimes.