Need a Back-Up Plan

[pell]

Friends, I've been trying to book the Fort for April vacation week (4/11-4/17) with no luck at all. I'm stubborn and have been checking for cancellations online daily- multiple times- for a couple months now. I know, why did I wait this long? The fact is that we have no business going back to the Fort since we were just there at Christmas. But we need sunshine & a little magic. Desperately.

My question is this... Can anyone suggest a back-up plan for a nearby campground in case I do not score a FW ressie? Perhaps we'll do the "other" parks (Sea World & Universal). I've looked around online, but it's really hard to judge the campgrounds without seeing them first hand. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance!

 

[TheFlame]

Many on here will help, I hope......but I have been told that Turkey Lake is nearby Disney and a really nice place to stay.

Donnie(Stacktester) has stayed here as have a few others and some of the locals might could tell you more about it. We have thought of staying here and would consider it if the Fort wasn't available when we planned on going.



Hopefully others will be along shortly to help!

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

I would keep calling, especially at 7AM on Mondays.

 

[AuburnJen92]

For some reason, late Sunday afternoons always gets us in as well. I have found two reservations recently on Sun. afternoons, one for me and one for someone else. I just thought it strange, but try it.

 

[mjmoon]

We arrived a night early and ended up staying at a place very, very close to Disney (in Kissimmee, I believe) called Tropical Palms. They consider themselves a luxury resort and charge Fort Wilderness prices ($70 for a premium full hookup site). It was a decent place if you have to camp, be close to DW, and can't get into FW.. but it's no FW, especially for the price.

 

[hopeisb4u]

i've learned that sometimes it is best to play with the dates some. for memorial day, and labor day i had to make our check in day like 2 days before we would actually get in. Then i called back a week later and had them change it to what i actually needed. not really sure why they didn't just let me book those days in the first place though...

 

[Mickey Mobile]

i've learned that sometimes it is best to play with the dates some. for memorial day, and labor day i had to make our check in day like 2 days before we would actually get in. Then i called back a week later and had them change it to what i actually needed. not really sure why they didn't just let me book those days in the first place though...

I totally agree with Hopeisb4u. I have also learned to play with the arrival and departure dates. Try adding a day at a time before or after your trip dates. Once you get a reservation, then you can call back to have modified for the dates that you only need.

 

[mdoc]

When I've been in that situation (and it's happened more than once!) I've made ressies at Tropical Palms. I've never actually had to stay there because I've always managed to get a site at FW, but I've heard decent things about it. What I've done when I needed Fort reservations is to call twice a day every day and have them check every day during my stay. If a day is available, I take it. Somehow it's more likely that you can cobble together a week over time than that you can get the entire week in one shot. I got reservations for Thanksgiving weekend (the last remaining days of that week I hadn't managed to get in my months of trying) 5 days before we got there - it was obvious that a new premium loop had just opened up. So keep calling and don't give up hope - there are loops under construction that should open up.

 

[Shan-man]

I don't care for Tropical Palms (it was Encore when we were there). It is basically a sand and grass field with no shade in sight. The facilities were clean enough, I used them: if they were bad I'd just use the moho. But there is no way I would pay their rates now that I know about Turkey Lake.

 

[RNmomnFL]

When I've been in that situation (and it's happened more than once!) I've made ressies at Tropical Palms. I've never actually had to stay there because I've always managed to get a site at FW, but I've heard decent things about it. What I've done when I needed Fort reservations is to call twice a day every day and have them check every day during my stay. If a day is available, I take it. So keep calling and don't give up hope - there are loops under construction that should open up.

We've stayed at the Haines City campground one holiday after I gave up on the Fort. It was just OK (might be a KOA facility?) but had I known more of the tricks for getting last minutes ressies, I don't think I would've had to do this. The tips that have been mentioned abve are good i.e., continuing to call even up to your departure date or reserving for more days than you need as it opens up more availability. I've heard of some campers just showing up at the Fort & getting sites. You could also reserve at a moderate priced WDW resort close by (thinking like the Port Orleans) & switch to the Fort when you can. Hope it works out. We may be shortening our Spring Break Fort Wilderness trip & not check in on 4/5 but 4/7 instead, but I guess that won't help for your dates.

 

[big kahuna1]

I don't care for Tropical Palms (it was Encore when we were there). It is basically a sand and grass field with no shade in sight. The facilities were clean enough, I used them: if they were bad I'd just use the moho. But there is no way I would pay their rates now that I know about Turkey Lake.

You must be thinking of somewhere else or stayed there a long time ago. The sand and grass field is no longer. They replaced that area with cottage type rentals now. The premium sites are all concrete pull thrus, some with Oaks for shade but not all. Then there are paved pull thrus and some paved and some grass back-in sites with water and electric, some with shade also.

Tropic Palms is next door to Old Town for some activities. They have a Motorcyle Show on Thursday Nights, A Rice Burner show on Friday nights and a Classic Car Show on Saturday nights. They also have some carnival type rides and games, different Bungee type thrills, Goonie Golf next door, go carts, Life size air powered drag racing, bars and restaurants and other stuff to keep you busy for a night or 2.

I prefer Tropical Palms over Turkey Lake but it is priced higher.

Here are a couple of links:

http://www.tropicalpalmsresortfl.com/rv/


http://www.old-town.com/

 

[Mary2e]

Instead of trying to get the whole thing at one shot, why don't you try getting whatever dates they have available? That may mean some 1 night reservations, but I've managed to piece together an entire vacation week doing just that.

But you will have to remember to call at least every single morning and again in the afternoon.

It's not easy, but it can be done

 

[OK GRUMPY]

I've stayed at Turkey Lake. It's nice and the price it right I think it's closer to US and SW. It's not Fort Wilderness but the price was very reasonable.
Donnie (stacktester) I think has stayed there more and can give you his opinion.

 

[pell]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! Yes, I may start piecing the days together one by one... I have tried extending the stay to two weeks, etc. (then I would cancel days), but even that has not worked.

I will definitely try Sunday afternoons and Mon. right at 7:00a.m. Those were helpful tips- thank you so much! I couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of HOPEISB4U's post. Maybe that's a sign that this will be my lucky week!

I'll look into Tropical Palms & Turkey Lake. My only hesitation with Turkey Lake (and wow, the price is right!!) is that I don't really get a sense of the place from the limited info available online. That's why personal recommendations are so important. Thanks again... I really appreciate all of your ideas and encouragement.

 

[Shan-man]

You're right Steve, I was mistaken. RVParkReviews.com had Tropical Palms listed noting that it used to be Encore. So I assumed it was the Encore I've stayed at and that they have since changed their name. But no, the place I intended to slam is still called Encore. It is on 192 near the 27 interchange, and I would NOT recommend it. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[pell]

Just wanted to update all of you "helpful folks..." We were able to piece together a few days at a time, as many of you suggested. Then we tried calling on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning (another suggestion). I'm happy to report that we now have secured ALL of our days! Our first night is full hook up, and the remaining 5 nights are premium. I'm going to keep trying to convert that first day so we don't have to change sites.

The moral of the story is... It's a bit of a pain to do the piecing together route. But it DOES work. Thanks so much to all of you! Best part of this April trip (leaving in 29 days, but who's counting?): NO PARKS. We are simply there to enjoy the Fort and relax. I missed out on the importance of this last time. Now I know.

Thanks again, and I hope to meet some of you next month.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Just wanted to update all of you "helpful folks..." We were able to piece together a few days at a time, as many of you suggested. Then we tried calling on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning (another suggestion). I'm happy to report that we now have secured ALL of our days! Our first night is full hook up, and the remaining 5 nights are premium. I'm going to keep trying to convert that first day so we don't have to change sites.

The moral of the story is... It's a bit of a pain to do the piecing together route. But it DOES work. Thanks so much to all of you! Best part of this April trip (leaving in 29 days, but who's counting?): NO PARKS. We are simply there to enjoy the Fort and relax. I missed out on the importance of this last time. Now I know.

Thanks again, and I hope to meet some of you next month.

How awesome that all the tips here worked! Congrats on getting your stay at FW like you desired!

 

[Mickey Mobile]

 

[poohbearwithme]

Congrats! Have a great time.