New to Disney Camping Purdy Please HELP with Questions ??

[Britt_HeartsDisney]

First of all thank you for all the help you DIS'ers have given me lately ya'll are the greatest! I have a few questions about Camping at Fort Wilderness it is my first time to do so. Also I am bringing my family who has never even been to Disney World so I want to make it special for them. OK-To the questions: I am really confused on how the bus system works at Ft. Wilderness campground? I see many pictures of bus stops in the resort area is there a bus stop at the end of each loop? Also I keep hearing things about colors?? Does the buses take you to another destination with more buses which then take you to the parks? Or do you just walk to a main bus stop area and it is labled for which park the bus takes you too? I have only stayed at POFQ so I know how the buses work there, but this seems more complicated. Also I reserved a preferred non-pet site, is there a particular site loop that is close to the buses and possibly not jammed next to your neighbor? When I reserved she didn't ask the length of my rv and I thought they needed to know that to assign you to a particular loop. It seems that from what others are saying different sites are different sizes? One more thing I am going in the beginning Jan of 2008 is this a time when the campground will be packed? If not do you think they would let me pick the site I want when I get there, oh that brings me to a quick last minute question: Since I wasn't given a campsite # when I reserved via telephone does this mean they assign the actual sight to you upon arrival? Purdy Please help with my questions!!! I love you guys ya'll are ALWAYS SOOOOO IMFORMATIVE and NICE!!!!!! This is my FAVORITE website!!! I reallllly appreciate it and I don't mean to have so many questions to bug ya'll with. But thank you!!!
Brittany

 

[djblu883]

the busses run from end to end of the campground...to get to the parks you have to get to the outpost then wait for a bus that will take you to the park you desire or to DTD. I've done the bus thing alone and with family. With young kids in tow I prefer taking my own car to the parks...your parking pass gets you free parking to all the parks...I do however enjoy the boat rides from Settlement End to reach MK!!!! (or Epcot). The busses run on the outside of the loops. It can be a short walk from your campsite or quiet near. You can't pick your own site they do however need to knpw the size of the RV...you must have reached a new reservatons person for them not to ask. They will assign you a spot when you arrive . You can request a loop you would like to be in but it doesn't mean you will get it.I've never had a site I didn't like...some are a bit closer than others but my neighbors have always been quiet. All day in the parks you are too tired to get too rowdy anyway lol...You are going to LOVE the Fort and it will go to the top of your lists of places to be even if you don't go into WDW! Have a magical vacation!

 

[SunshineCamper]

I am really confused on how the bus system works at Ft. Wilderness campground? The bus system sounds hard but it isn't. Once you know what loop you're in you will know what color bus to catch. They give you a map of the campgrounds along with the color of the bus that will pick up and drop off in your loop section. Like at the resorts or the parks you ahve to READ the front of the bus as to where the bus is going.

Does the buses take you to another destination with more buses which then take you to the parks?
The bus system with in the campgrounds is it's own. Then you have to catch another bus at either the outpost or settlement for another bus to get over to the parks.

Also I reserved a preferred non-pet site, is there a particular site loop that is close to the buses and possibly not jammed next to your neighbor? Most of the loops are not going to be a problem-yet many of the loops are pet loops-it's not a problem really.
It seems that from what others are saying different sites are different sizes? yes, they do have bigger site but it looks like they are updating many of the loops to handle more big rigs which helps us 30ft. rv. We were at the ft. in May and they were updating the loop by the meadows pool.

One more thing I am going in the beginning Jan of 2008 is this a time when the campground will be packed? I'll be there the first week of jan. and it's busy but not like the week of christmas. I'm just happy that it's not HOT like now. Since I wasn't given a campsite # when I reserved via telephone does this mean they assign the actual sight to you upon arrival? You can requests a loop but I've always given them the size of my rv along with any slideouts so it's noted in case it's really busy when you arrive. I've only requested once when asked b/c it really doesn't matter to me where I am on the grounds. We arrived right at 1p and I asked for loop 900 since it's right across from the Meadows pool. they said it would be available later but we didn't want to wait. It all depends on your personal needs and wants. I would let them know what size your rv is and if you have awnings or slideouts.

i hope this answers most of your questions. Remember to check your map once you check-in as to the color bus you will need. You can always check the color once you hope on the bus at the loop. There are maps at all bus stops. Disney has most basis covered.

See you at the ft.

 

[FloridaTeacher]

Hi and welcome! You've gotten great advice and you're going to the Fort at a great time. Do take jackets, it does (contrary to popular belief) get cold in Florida.

Don't worry about the bus thing - once you're there it all makes sense. My advice, however, is (if possible) drive your own vehicle to all parks except Magic Kingdom. Take the boat to Magic Kingdom. This keeps you from having to wait on and change busses. Since it's your family's first time, DO take the monorail to Epcot at least once. Just don't do it when your going to be there at closing because as everyone tries to leave at the same time both monorail and bus system get REALLY BACKED UP!

Also, call back and tell them the size of your rv (length, # of slides & awning). They need to know that to assign you a site. If the "new" reservations representative doesn't think they need it (we just made another reservation and they didn't ask us either), tell them anyway and just ask them to note it on your reservation. Then when you get your confirmation, check to make sure it's noted.

Happy Camping!

 

[Britt_HeartsDisney]

Thank you thank you THANK YOU!!!! GREAT advice Ya'll! I understand the bus thing now, oh and I can't wait to take the boat to MK!! I'm defenantly calling back to give them my rv length. Cool SunshineCamper you'll be there when I'm going.

 

[kc5grw]

Please heed FloridaTeacher's advice and remember jackets/cold weather clothing. We've made 3 trips to WDW, March 1998, Dec 2003, June 2007. Mar 98 the temps dropped to lows near 40. On the Dec 2003 trip we had low temps in the mid 30's for the first part of the trip. We didn't have a clue in 1998 that the weather might get that cool. We had light jackets, but it wasn't enough. Add some wind and it gets cold, fast. In 2003 we were much better prepared, it also helps to be able to pack a ton of stuff in our fifth wheel. Make sure you are prepared and it will be a much more enjoyable trip.

 

[Britt_HeartsDisney]

Jackets and long sleeved shirts are on my packing list