My first time camping at FW...can I invoke the veterans please? Lels go!

[Wanna go to Disney?]

Ok My brother and sister have camped here before, and I once rented a cabin however this particular trip is special to me...Mom and Dad are geting older and the kids are all getting bigger. You get it, serious family time! This being said, we know really nothing about the campgrounds in the detail you all seem to have learned and would like to make this trip really memorable. I have read many threads here, but as you can imagine 100 pages a pop takes some time. So...

1) Where is the best loop, or number to stay in? (We have 4 campers, want to be together, and want to be away from alot of noise.)

2) We have bikes but with my Mom and Dad should I rent a golf cart? I found some of your recomendations here and have inquired already.

3) We did find that the 28% discount offered by Disney applied to camping at FW, but are there any other values we could learn about? We look at cooking for ourselves a value, but I keep hearing about a dining plan?

4) If there are one or two things that you could comment on ,regarding pros and cons of the campsite would you please do so...

5) On an off site but Disney related question, is there something I could request special to do for my nieces and nephew at Disney. Princess? or Prince? Or what thing could I request to do for my kids even if there is a price? I really need this particular trip to be extra special and memory making time for my family.

I am a fact finder and probably most of you here are as well, and for the record, I also contribute to forums and try to pay it forward for details that others request when I have knowledge.

Your help is greatly apprieciated! Have a great day, and thank you!

Tell everyone you love that you do!

 

[Wanna go to Disney?]

PS... We are going the first week in November, and we do not have pets with us, (my babies are staying home this time) I'm very confused with Premium vs. Prefered, and where the optimum would be for us? We don't mind pets per se' (hence my babes) but I want to be in a good enviorment for my folks.

Case in point... the last time I camped, (and I'm not a real camper) with Mom and Dad and the fam...the local lodge had a DJ night for all the kids till 12 am! Funny thing is I'm a DJ myself and found this ludicrious! I mean not that is late on one hand but when you are trying to sleep with children it is. As far as the pets were concerned, I did have my pups with me, and they don't bark on vacation (weird but true) I can confess all the other pups I saw were great too!

 

[LORNADUCK]

How old are your nieces and nephew We took our grandchildren to the Princess breakfast at the castle and they love it, including my grandson who was 4 at the time. The girls really loved it.

 

[cmaee]

We are looking forward the evening campfire/smore time/outdoor movie at the Fort Wilderness. I think our kids will like that a lot.

Another great activity for your neice and nephews if they are at least 4 is the Pirate Adventure cruises that take place around Disney property. There are 4 of them and they take place from the Grand Floridian, Yacht Club, Carribean Beach Resort, and Port Orleans-Riverside. Our boys did the one from Yacht Club...it was called the Albatross Pirate Adventure, I think. They were gone on an adventure for 2 hours....without parents. They had a blast. They put the kids in life jackets and give the parents a pager if needed to be contacted. The kids each got a pirate bandana and they served them lunch on it...PB&J uncrustable, goldfish, and some dessert. At the end of the adventure, they each got a pirate bag with their own treasure chest and sword and eye patch. My boys still play with that stuff and talk about it and we were there in April. One the Albatross cruise, they "sneak" into Epcot and go to some countries in the World Showcase...the World Showcase isn't open yet, so you don't have to worry about crowds of people and the kids getting separated. Our boys couldn't get over how the "sneaked" into Epcot without having to use their tickets. The storyline that they use is searching for the Pirate Stinkyfeet's treasure. Be sure to arrive to pick them up a few minutes early so you can see the last bit of the story....they have a tame boat chase in the harbor after Stinkyfeet. It was so much fun to see the kids faces.

 

[liv luvs disney]

Keep in mind that I have never personally stayed at FW, but because of my obsession with this board, I may be able to help you with some of your questions. What I can't help you with or what I don't get right, a REAL veteran will come along and fix.

1) Where is the best loop, or number to stay in? (We have 4 campers, want to be together, and want to be away from alot of noise.)There is no "best loop" or site. Partials are typically for tents and pop-ups, fulls are a little more secluded from the action and less expensive, preferreds are closer to the marina area and cost a bit more, premiums may be closer to some of the action FW has to offer. They have a few upgrades like a bigger concrete pad, nicer grill and pic-nic table, but they also cost the most.

2) We have bikes but with my Mom and Dad should I rent a golf cart? I found some of your recomendations here and have inquired already.Personally, I love biking any time, but especially while camping. Golf carts are debatable. Some swear by them, others get along just fine without them. If your parents have mobility issues, it might be a good idea for them. There is an internal bus system that would take your whole group anywhere on the grounds. So if $ is an issue, it is possible to get around without GCs and bikes for that matter.

3) We did find that the 28% discount offered by Disney applied to camping at FW, but are there any other values we could learn about? We look at cooking for ourselves a value, but I keep hearing about a dining plan?Consider yourself lucky that you are aware of a 28% discount. With the exception of AP holders, AAA discounts, and FL resident discounts, I know of no other. (But please do share regarding the 28%!)The DP is a pre-paid plan where you pay for your food up front. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/benefits/disney-dining-plan/ will explain the dining plan.

4) If there are one or two things that you could comment on ,regarding pros and cons of the campsite would you please do so...Again, having never stayed at FW, I can't comment personally, but from what I understand, everything FW has to offer is a pro! The kids would probably enjoy the nightly movie, the horses, and in honor of Frank,,,some fishing.

5) On an off site but Disney related question, is there something I could request special to do for my nieces and nephew at Disney. Princess? or Prince? Or what thing could I request to do for my kids even if there is a price? I really need this particular trip to be extra special and memory making time for my family.Have you looked into Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique? Also there are some tours that Disney offers though there may an age requirement. I can't help you much here. We think Disney itself is special so we've never done any "extras."

I am a fact finder and probably most of you here are as well, and for the record, I also contribute to forums and try to pay it forward for details that others request when I have knowledge.

Your help is greatly apprieciated! Have a great day, and thank you!

Tell everyone you love that you do!

I hope my non-expertise has helped a little.

 

[Wanna go to Disney?]

Already great suggestions thank you so much! I'm going to do some research on these! Can't thank you enough for your time! Oh and the neices are 3 12 and 13, and my two nephews are 2 and 10...I know wide variety. We are a pretty tight family that goes with the flow we just looking for some flow to go...LOL

 

[Tri-circle-D]

For someone who has never been to the Fort, Liv Luvs Disney has already given you very good advice!

So we can help you, please give us some more information:

1. When you say that you have four campers, I assume you mean four RV's of some type. What kind of equipment will you be camping in? Motorhome, travel trailer, pop-up, tents, what do you have? How many folks are there total?

2. Are you talking about November 2009 or 2010?

3. Do the folks in your group like to go to the pool? Even in November? I'm trying to see if being close to the pool is important for you.

4. How many days total do you plan on spending at the Fort? Do you plan on going to the theme parks? Every day? Are you park commandos?

If you can provide a little more info, I think we can get you pointed in the right direction.

TCD

 

[LONE-STAR]

Please tell more about this 28% discount.

 

[liv luvs disney]

For someone who has never been to the Fort, Liv Luvs Disney has already given you very good advice!
TCD

Well as I said, I am obsessed with this board. I have done more searching than asking and I do try to pay attention. In fact, I'm certain some of my answers are things I've read from your threads/posts TCD.

(In 23 days I will have my own experience to speak from.)

 

[SCCamper]

Please tell more about this 28% discount.

Ditto

 

[Wanna go to Disney?]

Please tell more about this 28% discount.

Ok this was a pop up I kept seeing and when I went to inquire of it the Disney rep wouldn't give me the code and said I had to find it myself...So...I found it and the code is "FSC" and this is what you tell them for the 28% off in November 2009. Now there is also a 35% discount availible now through October, but it didn't include our dates... That one is well stated on Disney.com

Hope this helps...

 

[Wanna go to Disney?]

For someone who has never been to the Fort, Liv Luvs Disney has already given you very good advice!

So we can help you, please give us some more information:

1. When you say that you have four campers, I assume you mean four RV's of some type. What kind of equipment will you be camping in? Motorhome, travel trailer, pop-up, tents, what do you have? How many folks are there total?Ok we have four campers, yes RV's, and I just found out one tent. Each camper has 3-5 people and the total peoples amount to 19.

2. Are you talking about November 2009 or 2010? This November, 2009.

3. Do the folks in your group like to go to the pool? Even in November? I'm trying to see if being close to the pool is important for you. LOL Yes, we are from New England so November in FL, would likely be good for the kids, however, with the bikes and possible golf carts, we would likely rather not be close to the noise if possible.

4. How many days total do you plan on spending at the Fort? Do you plan on going to the theme parks? Every day? Are you park commandos? We are planning be there almost 10 days, some not to long, and no, we are not planning a park every day, although I'm not sure how many days we are going to go. At least 4 for sure.

If you can provide a little more info, I think we can get you pointed in the right direction. Thank you again for all your help!

TCD

Thanks

 

[Wanna go to Disney?]

Keep in mind that I have never personally stayed at FW, but because of my obsession with this board, I may be able to help you with some of your questions. What I can't help you with or what I don't get right, a REAL veteran will come along and fix.



I hope my non-expertise has helped a little.

Thank you so much,,,I have a running list of suggestions and this really helps!

 

[Wanna go to Disney?]

We are looking forward the evening campfire/smore time/outdoor movie at the Fort Wilderness. I think our kids will like that a lot.

Another great activity for your neice and nephews if they are at least 4 is the Pirate Adventure cruises that take place around Disney property. There are 4 of them and they take place from the Grand Floridian, Yacht Club, Carribean Beach Resort, and Port Orleans-Riverside. Our boys did the one from Yacht Club...it was called the Albatross Pirate Adventure, I think. They were gone on an adventure for 2 hours....without parents. They had a blast. They put the kids in life jackets and give the parents a pager if needed to be contacted. The kids each got a pirate bandana and they served them lunch on it...PB&J uncrustable, goldfish, and some dessert. At the end of the adventure, they each got a pirate bag with their own treasure chest and sword and eye patch. My boys still play with that stuff and talk about it and we were there in April. One the Albatross cruise, they "sneak" into Epcot and go to some countries in the World Showcase...the World Showcase isn't open yet, so you don't have to worry about crowds of people and the kids getting separated. Our boys couldn't get over how the "sneaked" into Epcot without having to use their tickets. The storyline that they use is searching for the Pirate Stinkyfeet's treasure. Be sure to arrive to pick them up a few minutes early so you can see the last bit of the story....they have a tame boat chase in the harbor after Stinkyfeet. It was so much fun to see the kids faces.

This sounds great! Thanks

 

[Wanna go to Disney?]

We are looking forward the evening campfire/smore time/outdoor movie at the Fort Wilderness. I think our kids will like that a lot.

Another great activity for your neice and nephews if they are at least 4 is the Pirate Adventure cruises that take place around Disney property. There are 4 of them and they take place from the Grand Floridian, Yacht Club, Carribean Beach Resort, and Port Orleans-Riverside. Our boys did the one from Yacht Club...it was called the Albatross Pirate Adventure, I think. They were gone on an adventure for 2 hours....without parents. They had a blast. They put the kids in life jackets and give the parents a pager if needed to be contacted. The kids each got a pirate bandana and they served them lunch on it...PB&J uncrustable, goldfish, and some dessert. At the end of the adventure, they each got a pirate bag with their own treasure chest and sword and eye patch. My boys still play with that stuff and talk about it and we were there in April. One the Albatross cruise, they "sneak" into Epcot and go to some countries in the World Showcase...the World Showcase isn't open yet, so you don't have to worry about crowds of people and the kids getting separated. Our boys couldn't get over how the "sneaked" into Epcot without having to use their tickets. The storyline that they use is searching for the Pirate Stinkyfeet's treasure. Be sure to arrive to pick them up a few minutes early so you can see the last bit of the story....they have a tame boat chase in the harbor after Stinkyfeet. It was so much fun to see the kids faces.

This is a wonderful idea! Do you have to take a car or transport to the Grand Floridean or is close to FW? And to find out the details do I call the GF? My nephew who is 10 would love that. Also my nephew that is 3 might like it, but he would have to have his mommy there. Can mommies go too?

sorry for the double post

 

[cmaee]

This is a wonderful idea! Do you have to take a car or transport to the Grand Floridean or is close to FW? And to find out the details do I call the GF? My nephew who is 10 would love that. Also my nephew that is 3 might like it, but he would have to have his mommy there. Can mommies go too?

sorry for the double post

You could take the boat from FW to Grand Floridian. I assume you could take the resort boat or take the MK boat and then transfer to the Grand Floridian boat. Someone who has stayed at the Fort before could answer that question better than I...we are staying at Fort Wilderness in April 2010 for the first time.

You would call Disney Dining to do this experience. You should also be able to book it online dining reservation page. You will have to secure your reservation with a credit card. The age requirement is strict...you have to be 4 and no parents are allowed on the cruise...it is a kids program. I think they are so strict with the age 4 requirement because of Floridia daycare laws. They are probably only licensed for a certain age group. That is just speculation, but that is what I have heard on other forums about this experience. There are 2 CM's who supervise the kids. I think they only let a max of 12 or 13 kids participate. Our boys had a great time and I think part of that was that they were without us. If you want to get more info, do a search for the pirate cruises. The DIS family board has a ton of threads regarding this. They show pictures and could give you a better idea if the 10 year old would like it or not.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

If you are hoping to reserve four campsites for ten nights in November, 2009, you had better either go on-line or call for reservations before proceeding any further with your planning. I am not sure that you will be able to choose what type of campsite you want to reserve. There are fewer preferred and full hook up sites than there are premium sites. Before giving you suggestions on what to ask for, you had better find out what, if anything, is available for you to choose from.

TCD

 

[Wanna go to Disney?]

If you are hoping to reserve four campsites for ten nights in November, 2009, you had better either go on-line or call for reservations before proceeding any further with your planning. I am not sure that you will be able to choose what type of campsite you want to reserve. There are fewer preferred and full hook up sites than there are premium sites. Before giving you suggestions on what to ask for, you had better find out what, if anything, is available for you to choose from.

TCD

Thank you they have been reserved already. I was lookiing for the optimum spot, if it were to be requested. I see on other threads that people have disctint preferences but am still at a loss as to why? I'm sure we will just be happy with what we get. Disney don't do a bad job with anything, just looking for some inside insight. You've all been very helpful. So for all intent and purpose were locked and loaded!

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Thank you they have been reserved already. I was lookiing for the optimum spot, if it were to be requested. I see on other threads that people have disctint preferences but am still at a loss as to why? I'm sure we will just be happy with what we get. Disney don't do a bad job with anything, just looking for some inside insight. You've all been very helpful. So for all intent and purpose were locked and loaded!

You already have your sites reserved? Well, then that will make giving you a recommendation easier. What type of sites do you have? Premium, Preferred or Full? Depending on what you have reserved, there are nuances between the loops in each category. Tell us what you got, and I'm sure folks will be happy to chime in with pros and cons of the loops within your category.

TCD