Looking into renting a camper

[chartle]

I haven't towed before so a bit nervous about that. If this is the route we go, I will definitely do some driving practice with the popup on my vehicle.

Just to add I'm sure others are more verse in this but the biggest issue is the weight of the trailer and the over all weight of the tow vehicle and trailer.

One rule of thumb I have heard is that the loaded weight of the trailer should not exceed 75% of the allowed tow weight of the tow vehicle. I have seen some very heavy pop ups.

You don't want this to happen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O69oRLQwLZc

 

[skyp4WDW]

A word of caution about tenting in Dec/Jan... Auntie mentioned that it could be chilly. It could also be freezing. (I flew down last Dec. just for an overnight to see the Christmas parade. The temps both days were at 31 degrees.) Most people were too cold to enjoy any outdoor activities. I stayed at another resort (thank goodness) ...I did go over to the Fort before heading back to the Airport to see the Christmas decorations. I didn't see many people outside because it was so cold. With 4 children, it's something you might want to think about.
There might be another option for your family. The Downtown Disney Hotels (across the street from DTD) might work. Some have the Extra Magic Hours. Doubletree Guest Suites has a 2 room Suite with a full kitchen for $184 per night. And you could easily use the Disney buses by walking to the DTD bus stop.

 

[chartle]

Doubletree Guest Suites has a 2 room Suite with a full kitchen for $184 per night. And you could easily use the Disney buses by walking to the DTD bus stop.

I think Doubletree have their own buses, anyway taking a bus from DTD to a park will take a min of 1 hour or more.

 

[Mama Steph]

Luckily we are from MI! Lol. Wehave camped in Oct before when it was below freezing. I haves heater for the tent to keep us cozy.

Does the Doubletree have EMH?

 

[auntie]

Seems to me you are a tried and true camper! So naturally it would be your choice to go with FW. I'm just concerned about your sister, who you mentioned whose preference would be that of hotel. While it being cold that time of year may not be an issue for you, it might be for the kids and your sis. I know having people along who aren't as "into it" as you are, (on any type of vacation) might put a damper on the entire trip. Personally, I wouldn't want that on me.
I mean, hey..as long as your sister and the kids are on board, then good for you. Go for it.
I certainly think you should plan a FW trip for yourself, as you are SURE to enjoy it. I just don't know that the time of year you're thinking of going and the accomodations would be suited to the rest of your family.
Then again...it's you're family. You would know them better than anyone on a Disney camping forum!

 

[bama_ed]

If you get a loaner pop-up I would strongly advise taking a weekend trip with it in the fall to set it up, take it down, and get used to towing it (with the vehicle you plan to use for the Disney trip). Having a tent helps off-load some of the capacity issues related to your crew.

I would NOT advise towing the loaner pup for the first time when you leave for WDW in Dec. But that's just me. And as others have said, when towing you have to know your weight limits. A minivan is NOT a great tow vehicle in some cases for a pup (trust me I know). Most minivans will tow a max of 3500 pounds (and that's with the tow pkg) so you need to know the weights fully packed for the pup you have. If it has a slide out it's close to 3000# on a 12-foot box. If no slide, 2500# fully loaded, packed, and prepped. Then you add the extra passengers to the car, suitcases, etc. and it's not hard to buy a new set of brakes.

Even if you rent the pup or pull one from home this will work. In a minivan you'll take about a 5 mpg hit on fuel and it is very sensitive to speed (60 mph gives much better mileage - maybe 2 mpg - than 70 would if you pull that fast).

1. Make your ressie now for a site. You can always cancel it up until about a week or so before arrival and they need only 1 night fee for deposit.

2. That gives you time to decide rent-or-loaner.

3. In addition to your ideas we also save money by packing a picnic lunch into the parks. Disney will let you as long as there's no glass (except baby food if needed) and no alchohol. Soft sided coolers work best. We rent a locker first thing going into each park and stash the lunch so we don't have to carry it around all day.

The crowds will be biggest through New Years weekend so you might choose to go to the parks after that for smaller crowds and enjoy the Fort decorations and activites. Lots of people decorate for Christmas and the Fort has kids activities 2-3 per day which are listed on the sheet with the movie schedule when you check in. I'll see if I can get mine from last week scanned and post it.

Weather into early Jan can be dicy but if you're from Michigan then it will be nothing new to you.

Good luck to you

Bama ED

 

[gillenkl]

If you get a loaner pop-up I would strongly advise taking a weekend trip with it in the fall to set it up, take it down, and get used to towing it (with the vehicle you plan to use for the Disney trip). Having a tent helps off-load some of the capacity issues related to your crew.

I would NOT advise towing the loaner pup for the first time when you leave for WDW in Dec. But that's just me. And as others have said, when towing you have to know your weight limits. A minivan is NOT a great tow vehicle in some cases for a pup (trust me I know). Most minivans will tow a max of 3500 pounds (and that's with the tow pkg) so you need to know the weights fully packed for the pup you have. If it has a slide out it's close to 3000# on a 12-foot box. If no slide, 2500# fully loaded, packed, and prepped. Then you add the extra passengers to the car, suitcases, etc. and it's not hard to buy a new set of brakes.

Even if you rent the pup or pull one from home this will work. In a minivan you'll take about a 5 mpg hit on fuel and it is very sensitive to speed (60 mph gives much better mileage - maybe 2 mpg - than 70 would if you pull that fast).

1. Make your ressie now for a site. You can always cancel it up until about a week or so before arrival and they need only 1 night fee for deposit.

2. That gives you time to decide rent-or-loaner.

3. In addition to your ideas we also save money by packing a picnic lunch into the parks. Disney will let you as long as there's no glass (except baby food if needed) and no alchohol. Soft sided coolers work best. We rent a locker first thing going into each park and stash the lunch so we don't have to carry it around all day.

The crowds will be biggest through New Years weekend so you might choose to go to the parks after that for smaller crowds and enjoy the Fort decorations and activites. Lots of people decorate for Christmas and the Fort has kids activities 2-3 per day which are listed on the sheet with the movie schedule when you check in. I'll see if I can get mine from last week scanned and post it.

Weather into early Jan can be dicy but if you're from Michigan then it will be nothing new to you.

Good luck to you

Bama ED

Ditto everything Bama Ed has said. I own a PUP. Towing a popup with a minivan isn't a great idea - I speak from experience. Do not go by what the dealer tells you it can pull because they don't add in all the extras - read what Ed wrote.

As a side note - the maiden voyage we took in our PUP/with the minivanrolleyes1) and our first time ever camping as a family was to the Fort.....

 

[bama_ed]

Steph,

Although unrelated to your original question, here are the weekly activities offered at the Fort. This was from a week ago so no guarantee the same will be offered when you're there but things like this will be and it helps to know what's available to keep kids busy with something new/fresh that doesn't always cost a fistful of dollars. You're given this sheet at check-in.

Bama ED

 

[shellcruiser]

My sister and I are trying to plan a somewhat budget trip to WDW and I would love to camp. I would be happy in my tent with air mattresses but her idea of camping is a Holiday Inn.

Has anyone rented from Cheaprvrental.com? Their prices seem to be really good. I also can't tell if they will deliver right to the sight. I will most likely be driving my van which doesnt have a hitch.

Thanks

Really depends on what experience you are looking for. Budget wise you would be better off staying at Pop Century and hoping for a free dining PIN code. We love staying in our fifth wheel and will be staying at the Fort in July. Sadly staying 1 week at FW with 8 day base tix (and cooking for ourselves) will cost more than 7 nights at POP w/ 8 day tix and quick-service dining plan (I have free dining PIN). That is not even accounting for the actual RV rental you will encounter. Like I said it depends on what you are looking for. The Fort is a destination itself, and if it is nature and fun you are looking for the fort will deliver. If you really just need a crash pad with easy park access I would recommend Pop or All-Stars.

 

[mgsmom]

I can't vouch for towing or any of that - we like to stay in the cabins. I love the cabins, but it would be a tight squeeze for your group. The cabins are considered "moderate", but we are going during value season this summer for $285 a night. There are many times a year that you can price it out and staying in a cabin is really not much cheaper than staying at the Contemporary. I know it has more people capacity, I'm just saying if budget is a concern...

If you want to go the pop-up route, I think you can get campsites that will accomodate both a pop-up AND a tent - then you all can spread out and do both!

Personally, if it is a cost factor and a pop-up is comparable to camping, I would go camping. I feel that you get so much more "space" at the Fort - and it's so relaxing - and you have a boat to MK - and if you get near a comfort station it will help with everyone using the bathroom... I could go on and on...

 

[Mama Steph]

Thanks so much for all the info. Ed, the activity sheet is great info! I guess I need to clarify budget trip. I know the cheapest option would be for us to get an offsite hotel but that is really not an option, we Love the onsite benefits and are not willing to give them up. Being that there are 6 of us the busiest time of the year and an extremely slim chance any discounts would be offered, FW is the cheapest. It is also where I really want to stay! We are doing an adults only tip in May and staying at All Stars. We know the
cost of tickets and would like to bring and prepare a lot of our own food like we always do
camping. We spent a Ton of money on our trip last August and know we can't do that again for a while, that is why I say budget. My sis and I are still working on details.

All that being said, dh and I have been talking and may try to get our travel trailer this year rather than next. If we choose to do that, I would have to use the Disney money. We would then bring our own camper down next Christmas instead. This is still just an idea but it may seriously change my plans for this year. I think we will go ahead and make the ressie for the site and just go from there.