Welcome to the Disboards!
You have asked too many questions for one post, but I will take a stab at them.
You have also made some incorrect assumptions, which I will point out in my responses.
Before responding, the big point I want to make is don't over-plan.
There are no bad campsites at the Fort.
And, what some folks like, others don't.
Since you've never been before, why not roll the dice and take what they give you?
You won't be disappointed.
So, here we go
#1
We don't have pets right now, so looking for a premium no pet loop. Are those loops 600, 1000, 1100 and 1400? (I can't seem to get a straight answer on that!)
While it may appear, as Discamper said above, that all loops are pet loops, that is not true if you ask a manager at the front desk. Officially, there are still pet and non-pet loops. There are poop bag dispensers on the pet loops. The non-pet loops do not have poop bag dispensers.
One incorrect statement in your question is that 600 is a non-pet loop. 600 is definitely an official pet loop. The official non-pet premium loops are: 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300 and 1400.
The reason I used the word officially above, is that pets do seem to get placed in every loop these days, including 1500 and 2000. I am not sure if management even is aware of this, or if this happens because folks show up with pets, and they didn't reserve a pet loop. It doesn't help the situation that the on-line reservation system does not ask if you wish to reserve a pet loop or not.
The bottom line is that even if you don't want to be camped next to a pet, you might be. On any loop.
#2
I noticed 600 doesn't have a bus stop, 1000 doesn't have a comfort station, 1400 bus stop is on the back road, not the main road.
600 has access to two bus stops: The 900 loop bus stop is almost directly across the street from the entrance to the 600 loop, and the 800 loop bus stop may be accessed via a paved sidewalk mid-way around the 600 loop.
For some unknown reason, management has failed to update the official FW map by showing the entrance to the 600 loop in the correct location. In 2009, the 600 loop was expanded. Its new entrance is just a little past the entrance to the 900 loop. The old entrance used to be across the street from the 800 loop entrance, and this is where the map still shows the 600 loop entrance. The map is wrong.
The 1000 loop shares a comfort station with the 900 loop. There is a paved sidewalk leading from the 1000 loop to the comfort station. This is no different from the set-up on 400/500 or 1200/1300. The 600 and 700 loops are the loops with no comfort station.
As already pointed out, Big Pine Drive is not really a back road. The buses travel this road just as frequently as they do Fort Wilderness Trail. In fact, there is a whole bus route (the Yellow bus) dedicated to this road.
#3
Do the buses run frequently though that back road?
As already stated, it's not a back road, and there is a dedicated bus route.
#4
Which of these area's have a playground with slide, etc...? Does 1400's playground have swings?
The 1400 loop doesn't have a playground.
It used to.
But, it doesn't anymore.
Sadly, there is one swing-set in all of Fort Wilderness.
One.
With four swings.
And two of these are "baby" swings.
Do the math.
It wasn't always this way.
But it is now.
The one and only swing-set is located at the Settlement playground. It is at the Settlement. By Trail's End. Not in or adjacent to any premium loops.
There is a nice, modern-style (read safe) playground at the entrance to the 1200/1300 loop. There are slides. And tunnels. And things to climb on. But no swings.
There is also a nice playground across from the 500 loop, but it is closer to the 300 loop (preferred loop).
The other playground is in the Meadow area, near the pool.
#5
So.... Of the premium no pet loops, which is best, and what area of that loop, inside, outside, certain sites, etc...?
There is no "best" loop. They all have good features, and maybe some not-so-good features. Asking which is best is like asking someone what flavor ice cream is the best. What they think is great, you might not like so much. But all ice cream is good. You should try one at random, and see what works for your family.
#6
My other concern... how deep are the streams behind the sites? Our daughter had a near drowning this August, and I don't want to be worried all day long if the stream is 3 feet deep. If it's just a foot or so, my kids would love to play in it. Do they allow that?
There are no streams behind the sites.
There are drainage ditches behind some of the sites.
Most of which have steep banks, and are deep enough to be dangerous.
Here are some photos of the ditch that runs between the 500, 600 and 1400 loop:
This is a campsite on the 600 loop, just past the bridge:
And, this site is on 1400:
This site is on the 500 loop:
That green slime is gross.
I wouldn't let my kids play in it.
And, I'm not very particular.
Also, not to be an alarmist, but there have, from time to time, been alligators spotted in the drainage canals.
Keep your kids away.
#7
Also, is it faster to go by boat to the contemporary resort then to Epcot on the monorail? or is it faster to take the bus from FW?
I think you have a bit of a misconception here.
If you want to go to Epcot by monorail, you would need to take the boat to either the MK or Contemporary. And, then take the MK monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center, and then transfer to the Epcot monorail. The MK monorail does not go to Epcot, it just goes in a circle around the Seven Seas Lagoon.
The bus from FW to Epcot is a direct route, so it would be faster.
But faster isn't always better.
#8
Was that too many questions for one thread??!!!
Yes. I think so.
But, I think I covered them all.
Have fun.
Don't over-plan.
TCD
