Just me & the kids ?

[Dancemom03]

Last spring, I posted here saying that DD7 really wanted to tent camp. Once, many years ago, in a kingdom far, far, away, there lived a future mommy who was an awesome tent camper...
For the last 30+ years though my idea of camping is not staying in a club level room.

So, I come to you, oh fans of the roasted marshmallows, to beg your mercy and seek your guidance.
I'm taking them camping! Just checked and FW has tent sites available for the entire week before free dining begins. That's a bit much of course but, what I wondered is, how long/short is worth it when setting up a tent?

My brother, the owner of a very nice new RV & matching truck combo, has offered to lend us a tent. I tried to convince him to drive us 16 hrs and let us stay in his rig but the reply is not printable so we'll take his tent and pitch it! (Sort of close to what he told me actually)

Anyway, we will have a tent or two and a couple of air mattresses. I have a week with the girls and DD18's BF before DH flies in to meet us (he did all his camping in the army more than 30 yrs ago and doesn't care how much the youngest princess begs). I plan for a night or two at the NICK hotel and a couple at RPR to enjoy Universal but haven't actually booked that first week yet. I am thinking maybe 2 nights? or 3 at FW?

Are any nights better than others as far as activities go?
Preferred doesn't have to do with location at the Fort, right?
Is there a location or category I should reserve for optimum mommy/daughter camping?
I'd like somewhere I can park with my minivan by the tent. Do all FW sites have parking?
I've seen those parking lots by the trail riding/kennel area but was pretty sure you could park/drive inside FW as well, can't you?

I'm hiding it from DH but I'm actually getting excited about the adventure. The kid - BF20 - says he knows how to set up a tent, make a campfire, and hopefully do the grunt-type camping things so we won't have to. I'm hoping so.
I'm sure this will be great fun and very memorable for all of us - after all, anything that doesn't kill you makes you stronger - or at least provides fodder for lots good laughs later on...

 

[clkelley]

Last spring, I posted here saying that DD7 really wanted to tent camp. Once, many years ago, in a kingdom far, far, away, there lived a future mommy who was an awesome tent camper...
For the last 30+ years though my idea of camping is not staying in a club level room.

So, I come to you, oh fans of the roasted marshmallows, to beg your mercy and seek your guidance.
I'm taking them camping! Just checked and FW has tent sites available for the entire week before free dining begins. That's a bit much of course but, what I wondered is, how long/short is worth it when setting up a tent?

My brother, the owner of a very nice new RV & matching truck combo, has offered to lend us a tent. I tried to convince him to drive us 16 hrs and let us stay in his rig but the reply is not printable so we'll take his tent and pitch it! (Sort of close to what he told me actually)

Anyway, we will have a tent or two and a couple of air mattresses. I have a week with the girls and DD18's BF before DH flies in to meet us (he did all his camping in the army more than 30 yrs ago and doesn't care how much the youngest princess begs). I plan for a night or two at the NICK hotel and a couple at RPR to enjoy Universal but haven't actually booked that first week yet. I am thinking maybe 2 nights? or 3 at FW?

Are any nights better than others as far as activities go?

I have found every evening to be wonderful at the Fort
Preferred doesn't have to do with location at the Fort, right?

Tent sites usually refer to partial hookup, so that would mean Loop 1500 or 2000
Is there a location or category I should reserve for optimum mommy/daughter camping?

Many of the the full hookup or preferred hookup sites have smaller sand pads, less room for tents. DO NOT book a Premium site as it will be all concret and no place to put a stake in the ground

I'd like somewhere I can park with my minivan by the tent. Do all FW sites have parking?
I've seen those parking lots by the trail riding/kennel area but was pretty sure you could park/drive inside FW as well, can't you?

Yes you can park your vehicle at your site

I'm hiding it from DH but I'm actually getting excited about the adventure. The kid - BF20 - says he knows how to set up a tent, make a campfire, and hopefully do the grunt-type camping things so we won't have to. I'm hoping so.

No campfires allowed at your site, but there is a nightly campfire/marshmellow roast, singalong, movie

I'm sure this will be great fun and very memorable for all of us - after all, anything that doesn't kill you makes you stronger - or at least provides fodder for lots good laughs later on...

Hope this helps!!

 

[Colson39]

Carol, you can have campfires if they are in an enclosed firepit, and there isn't a fire warning in affect (which there is at various times throughout the year). We've had fires for years (minus a few times when there was a fire ban in place) without a problem

 

[Dancemom03]

Thanks so much

How many days do you think makes it worth it to put up a tent? We don't plan to do disney parks until after DH arrives (unless we do water parks on our own) so we'd just be camping for the sheer joy (?) of camping at FW and hoping a hurricane doesn't breeze thru. Realistically speaking, with teens and a 7 yr old, how much time do you think we might be able to keep them occupied for without park passes, tv, internet, ect?

Also, are there any things I should definitely take along besides the tent, mattress, and bedding? I'm driving now instead of flying so we can do this but do like to travel light and I don't typically cook on vacation. I don't expect much help from the teens either in that dept - if it doesn't go in a microwave DD18 can't cook it! Honestly, I have no clue that girl will ever make it alone at college...

 

[clkelley]

Carol, you can have campfires if they are in an enclosed firepit, and there isn't a fire warning in affect (which there is at various times throughout the year). We've had fires for years (minus a few times when there was a fire ban in place) without a problem

Yeah, I know that, but for such a short trip, dragging a fire pit along doesn't seem like it would be worth it.

 

[Colson39]

Yea, I agree, would seem like a bit of overkill...lol

 

[2goofycampers]

Thanks so much

How many days do you think makes it worth it to put up a tent? We don't plan to do disney parks until after DH arrives (unless we do water parks on our own) so we'd just be camping for the sheer joy (?) of camping at FW and hoping a hurricane doesn't breeze thru. Realistically speaking, with teens and a 7 yr old, how much time do you think we might be able to keep them occupied for without park passes, tv, internet, ect?

Also, are there any things I should definitely take along besides the tent, mattress, and bedding? I'm driving now instead of flying so we can do this but do like to travel light and I don't typically cook on vacation. I don't expect much help from the teens either in that dept - if it doesn't go in a microwave DD18 can't cook it! Honestly, I have no clue that girl will ever make it alone at college...

I think 3 nites should allow you to do the Fort and maybe DTD and visit other resotrs.

 

[clkelley]

Thanks so much

How many days do you think makes it worth it to put up a tent? We don't plan to do disney parks until after DH arrives (unless we do water parks on our own) so we'd just be camping for the sheer joy (?) of camping at FW and hoping a hurricane doesn't breeze thru. Realistically speaking, with teens and a 7 yr old, how much time do you think we might be able to keep them occupied for without park passes, tv, internet, ect?

Also, are there any things I should definitely take along besides the tent, mattress, and bedding? I'm driving now instead of flying so we can do this but do like to travel light and I don't typically cook on vacation. I don't expect much help from the teens either in that dept - if it doesn't go in a microwave DD18 can't cook it! Honestly, I have no clue that girl will ever make it alone at college...

Make sure everyone has their own shower bag with their own toiletries, so that you are not waiting on each other to take showers. You need your own towels.

I never cooked when I tent camped at Disney either. There are plenty of counter service restaurants outside the parks to keep you fed.

You might want to borrow or pick up some type of screen room shelter or collapsible awning to sit under if it is raining. Bring chairs. Just having the picnic table to sit at is a drag.

A fan for the tent would be good and a lantern (battery operated). You need a 40-50 ft outdoor extension cord and a power strip for cell phone chargers, camera chargers, alarm clock,etc.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

It looks like your questions have been adequetly answered. I agree that you would want at least 3 days to feel like all the set up was worth it. You don't need park tickets with all there is to do at FW! You are going to have a wonderful adventure!

So, at risking hijacking your thread, I have just one last thing to say......

"Dearest, Darlingest Mumsy and Popsicle....."

 

[Dancemom03]

It looks like your questions have been adequetly answered. I agree that you would want at least 3 days to feel like all the set up was worth it. You don't need park tickets with all there is to do at FW! You are going to have a wonderful adventure!

So, at risking hijacking your thread, I have just one last thing to say......

"Dearest, Darlingest Mumsy and Popsicle....."

All the questions I was able to think of to voice anyway. It probably sounds odd to you guys but a fan, light, and extension cord never even occurred to me. I did think of our folding chairs but that was as far as I got.
Thanks so much everyone! Maybe we'll see someone at the campfire and you can point and laugh.
You'll recognize us right off, I'll be the exceedingly unusual and altogether quite impossible to describe mom with a huge smile and two long haired girls - both (you got me, pixie) BLONDE at least on the inside...

 

[PolynesianPixie]

All the questions I was able to think of to voice anyway. It probably sounds odd to you guys but a fan, light, and extension cord never even occurred to me. I did think of our folding chairs but that was as far as I got.
Thanks so much everyone! Maybe we'll see someone at the campfire and you can point and laugh.
You'll recognize us right off, I'll be the exceedingly unusual and altogether quite impossible to describe mom with a huge smile and two long haired girls - both (you got me, pixie) BLONDE at least on the inside...

That's probably my favorite line!

If you have any other questions, please come back and ask! clkelly is the best camper around and she's bored right now, so ask away! (like how I'm giving you something to do, Carol?)

What you can be assured of is that you will have an adventure and adventures are memorable! Plus, FW is the most swankified campground around!

 

[Mickey Canada]

Carol rocks!!

Great source of information and I love the set up she has!

 

[clkelley]

I'm blushing!! But thanks for the compliments!! If anybody has any questions, just ask away!!!