May 8-18 Trip Report!

[Disbug]

Was your wait for Anna and Elsa long? We have the fp for this in July but was wondering with FP is it a long wait? We will have 5 kids with us and some of them are impatient,

With FP+ it was a 5 minute wait for us about 2 weeks ago...

 

[tci1212]

With FP+ it was a 5 minute wait for us about 2 weeks ago...

Thank you ! I wasn't sure about the wait with FP good to hear!

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Thanks so much for all the nice comments!

Also, it's my little girl's second birthday today! I can't believe how time flies!

What a wonderful trip report, too bad you where comming back when literally 4+ inches of rain was falling from SC to PA. So I don't blame you on take the hotel, after the front passed the weather got chilly. In the panhandle of WV that night it got down to 39, enough for me to turn the heat in the 5th wheel on as I was out camping in it.

I think you have a good plan going for the trip, I will say for the Marathon weekend you should pack for 3 seasons. And you might see all 3 in a single day (cold rain, sun and 60's, followed by warm rain.) Going with the popup is a great idea and I would only suggest a couple of 1500 watt heaters (one for each rental) as you will need heat at night and its helps reduce propane use of the built in heater.

With all of the reviews I hear about Fancy Gap KOA, I think I will have to look into that as one of my long weekend destinations. It is not a very far tow for me and could be as fun as going to Luray, VA. Which BTW the Jellystone Luray is a good alternate heading northbound even though its a bit off the highway.

4 inches seems about right! We got drenched at Disney on the Thursday, and then it rained almost the entire drive up to SC. A tornado warning popped up on my phone around Jacksonville, too! Eek!

Thanks for the advice on the heaters! I've done marathon weekend in 2010 when it was snowing, and I did it in 2013 when they were issuing heat warnings for the course. We know to expect anything on that weekend - but I've never done it at a campground!

Loved your report and the adorable pix of the kids! You made me homesick for the fort (had our first tent camping trip last summer and LOVED it!).
We stayed in 1500 last summer and they also dried out very quickly after the rain. The biggest "water" problem we had was the lack of sunny space to dry our towels. lol.
I'll be looking forward to your January report. How many of the Disney runs have you participated in? Any favorites? Minis, marathons, or both? I did my first mini in 2012 and loved it. I fell off the wagon last year because I started nursing school and just couldn't keep up with the running, but I'm currently back at it, and my daughter started running last summer. She has participated in a few 5K and 10K runs since then. I would love to participate in one of the Disney minis with her someday. Sounds like such fun!

The Disney races are FANTASTIC! I've done all the races for marathon weekend (this year, all in the same weekend....the Dopey Challenge! ) and I've done the Disneyland half marathon. They are really a great experience, and great for a beginner runner.

What a great report. I am so impressed about how you portrayed tent camping with small kids. So many folks don’t think it is possible, but most of my generation vacationed that way, before everybody and their brother owned RVs. It is the least expensive way to travel and such fun, too. It helps to be flexible (motel if rainy or cold / take a nap til the rain stops, etc.). Your kids will have such grand memories of these times

Thanks so much for your comments! We really expected tent camping with little ones to be much harder than it actually was. The kids are just happy to be outside, and to be doing fun stuff with us. And fresh air is perfect for getting kids to sleep like the dead for 12 hours straight! We just had to give up expectations on everyone NOT being covered with dirt 90% of the time, and everything was good!

Great TR! What brand of bike trailer/stroller is that? It looks more sturdy than the In-Step one we had that I finally sold b/c the kiddo had a hard time sitting upright in it.

We have a double Chariot. Ours is the CX-2 model, which is more of a jogging-oriented version, with a hardcore handlebar and a handbrake. The Cougar is Chariot's more biking/walking version. We are very happy with it, for running, biking, and strolling around the parks!

Alright, now you've gone and done it.

I had come to terms with not going to the fort this year. We are re doing our kitchen from the studs up and that ate into a WDW budget. Going to the mountains for a week around one of my races outside Denver instead.

But now that I read your amazing TR and saw the pics (kids are adorable and you are also a cutie), I'm trying to find a way to get to the fort instead.

It would probably be easier to swing if we tented like you, but my DW has had her days of tent camping and I'm pretty sure she was serious when she said "NEVER AGAIN!" Just the diesel fuel bill to tow the 5er down and back is $1000.

Have fun at the marathon(s). If you need a 50 year old, race car driver, nanny to watch your kids instead of grandma and grandpa, let me know. That's a valid reason to go to the fort... I'm helping out fellow DIS'ers.

j

Be careful with offering childcare services! I might just take you up on it!

Hope you get your Fort trip and your kitchen renos! It's hard when real life interferes with vacation plans!

What a wonderful trip report. 76 days and we get to return "home" again, too! The Fort is the only place I've ever stayed on Disney property (the first time was way back in 1976!!), and I have such fond memories. My family wouldn't stay anywhere else!

Have a great trip!

Loved your trip report We will be camping there in July,renting an RV fromFlorida camper rental. This will be the first time actually camping there , always stay in a cabin. I purchased the same Ft wilderness mug word of caution do not put in dishwasher or microwave, I did and now the logo is gone completely . Was your wait for Anna and Elsa long? We have the fp for this in July but was wondering with FP is it a long wait? We will have 5 kids with us and some of them are impatient,

We waited 10-15 minutes for Anna and Elsa. They stopped both the standby line and the FP line for several minutes while we were waiting to scan our MBs, to allow A&E to "catch up" with the line. It didn't take us very long once we were able to get past the first wrist band scan, tough.

Thanks for the advice on the mug and the dishwasher! Mine was actually sitting in the dishwasher ready to be cleaned, when I read your post! It quickly got pulled out! Good timing!

 

[friendofeeyore]

Wow!! What a trip!! Thank you for sharing the good times & pictures. I loved the children asleep in the stroller getting off the boat. grumpyaggie & myself tent camped for years & loved it. But our children are four legged & they enjoyed it also. I have been in many storms inside our great tent. Now we have a 5th wheel & sometimes miss the tent camping, until it is 40 degrees outside.

 

[garneska]

Sara_Rose that was a wonderful trip report. I too run most of the disney races, have seen your posts on the wish board. Am glad you had a great trip. We were at the Fort the sametime you were but we rented an RV. I have never tent camped and I have no intention on starting. However I loved the RV. We may be staying at the Fort for marathon weekend as well. My hubby will do the half and i am in for Goofy.

I just have to say i am so impressed that you drove the whole way from torronto (i hate driving) and that you tent camped with a 2 and 4 year old. I have no idea how you or anyone can do that. I guess i have my own special set of patience, i brought my handicap dog with me to the fort.

Hope to see you in Jan at the Fort!!

 

[lindsey]

Thank you for taking the time to post your trip. We have been away from the fort for awhile but we plan to stay next year for two weeks, once I retire! My daughter in law is the runner in our family. We were at Disney 2013 for marathon weekend (my first 5k). We loved the excitement and seeing everyone wearing their medals.