Need Recommendations/advice

[Beavers5]

Hi, Everyone! Thank you all for so much info and tips!

I have been to Magic Kingdom several times over the years, but none of the other parks. I usually stay with my great-grandmother who lives nearby. For our next WDW trip, my family and I(DH, 10DS, 2DD, will be-2 month old, and possibly the dog) want to stay at the fort. We love tent camping and go year round, we have a nice size 3 room tent and a large dining tent. My DH is Navy so we already have our park tickets, now we just need to reserve our campsite!

We usually visit between Easter and Summer, the weather is great and it isn't too crowded. But this year I am pregnant and am making the family wait until fall so I will be able to ride stuff too. So, we are looking at September/October. Any recommendations on a "good" week? I'm thinking September may be too hot for a 1-2 month old; but DH is thinking October is further away and he'd have to wait longer . Any experiences on weather/crowds during those months?

I'm also trying to figure out which loop we want/need. Are there any partial hook up sites that allow pets? Is the sand area in a preferred site large enough for a multi-room tent? I'd planned on bringing our dog, until I read some of the bad reviews on the kennels. Has anyone had any good experiences with them lately?

And one more for now... Any 2yos out there enjoy the Hoop-de-Doo or should I stick to the BBQ?

Thanks in advance for any/all help
Alisa

 

[Shan-man]

I would shoot for late October and enjoy the cooler weather and the Halloween decorations and activities. I would definitely try to get tickets for MNSSHP. Staying in tents, you will most likely want 1500 or 2000, the two partial hookup loops. Go for 1500 if you want to be close to the pool, or 2000 if you want to be more secluded with a larger site (possibly). And no, neither is a pet loop, but you can't keep a pet in a tent anyhow. I would look for a kennel near home personally. For a 2 yo I think MBYBBQ is the better fit... HDDR is more "cerebral" than visual humor (i.e., you need some command of the language to get most of the jokes)!.

Oh, and

 

[Whipperwhirl]

We are bringing DD9 and DS4 (will be 5) the last week of October - September is just too hot to tent camp - There is a fort friends grand gathering at the end of october if you like to socialize. Enjoy and see you at the fort - Whip.

 

[Kagoguen]

I recommend the end of October also, I have not been disappointed yet. So far the temps have always been in the 80's and very low humidity, knock on wood.
I also recommend going to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, the kids will love it and the lines to get on the rides aren't that bad.

 

[Goingtoseethemouse]

October is a great month to visit. We ALWAYS spend Halloween at the fort. It is a blast! However if you are planing on going into the parks I would suggest coming a little earlier in the month. It gets kind of busy Halloween week. I would visit a week or two before Halloween (and you can still do the NOt So Scary Halloween Party.) OR I would visit the first week of November. Remember it still is HURRICANE SEASON! Frances hit Sept 5th 2004, Jeanne hit Sept 26th 2004 and Wilma hit October 24th 2005. Good luck regardless.

 

[Mickey Mobile]

We are bringing DD9 and DS4 (will be 5) the last week of October - September is just too hot to tent camp - There is a fort friends grand gathering at the end of october if you like to socialize. Enjoy and see you at the fort - Whip.

Whipperwhirl, What are the dates of the Fort Friends grand gathering? We will be at the Fort Oct 23 - Nov 1. Any info on the gathering would be awesome.

 

[2goofycampers]

Another vote for October, the extra month wait will be worth the cooler temps. I would also kennel the dogs close to home since they aren't allowed in tents.

 

[Beavers5]

Well, with all of your wonderful help... I think we have decided to request 1500 loop. I like the "seclusion" of the 2000, but didn't see a playground nearby on the map. And I think we are going to stay Oct 18-25th; that way we are after Columbus Day, but before Halloween. The tentative Halloween Party dates showed a party on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday that week; so we'll probably try for Tuesday tickets and squeeze in the BBQ and Breakfast with Chef Mickey sometime through the week.

Anyone that's been to the Halloween Party: What ages are usually dressed up? DS 10 is thinking he's too old for a Halloween Party; I'd say he'll be fine once he's a few states away from his friends

 

[Shan-man]

Mark July 20th on your calendar, that's the day to make your ADRs! You will want to get on it first thing in the morning (7am eastern) as Chef Mickey's is near impossible to get into anymore (in my experience, anyhow).

 

[Goingtoseethemouse]

OMG..... 10 is too old??? NO WAY!!!! My kids are 10, 11, 12 and 22 and they dress up every year. In fact my husband and I also dress up every year! EVERYONE dresses up for the party! He is not too old at all! Think about it....short lines for rides, free candy, and lots of fun! Yeah..... He is going to love it! Good choices on everything else- Backyard BBQ and breakfast at Chef Mickeys! Have a blast!

 

[2goofycampers]

People dress-up from birth till ????? at the MNSSHP !

You're never too old.

 

[Kagoguen]

In 2007, went to Disney as a Grand Gathering, 11 of us, we dressed as 101 Dalmations, even my mother and mother-in-law dressed up, and my daughter was Cruella, we had a great time. Going this year ,not sure what we're going to dress up as, only 5 of us this time.

 

[Beavers5]

We have our reservations! We have a partial hookup site reserved from Oct 18-25th! We tried the military discount code, but it didn't work. I also tried to request a spot near a playground, but the guy said that he couldn't request that? He did let me request loop 1500 though. The same guy tried to tell me that Halloween Party tickets wouldn't be on sale until September. But I think I will go ahead and call around May 1st to try to get them and call on July 20th for our BBQ and Chef Mickey tickets!