New to the boards and to FW Camping!

[Tigger0624]

Hello everyone! I am new to the boards here as well as new to camping at the Fort I've been reading through several threads and wanted to just post one to introduce myself...

I will be camping 3-29 to 4-4 with my hubby, 4DS ages 10, 7, 5, and 2 as well as our 2 Disney Doggies- Tuggs, a 9 mo old Basset Hound and Huggs our 4 month old Newfoundland We're seasoned tent campers, but have recently purchased a Coleman Pop Up camper so this will be our second time using that as well!

Any tips for a First time camper at the Fort?

Thanks!!!

 

[stacktester]

Hello everyone! I am new to the boards here as well as new to camping at the Fort I've been reading through several threads and wanted to just post one to introduce myself...

I will be camping 3-29 to 4-4 with my hubby, 4DS ages 10, 7, 5, and 2 as well as our 2 Disney Doggies- Tuggs, a 9 mo old Basset Hound and Huggs our 4 month old Newfoundland We're seasoned tent campers, but have recently purchased a Coleman Pop Up camper so this will be our second time using that as well!

Any tips for a First time camper at the Fort?

Thanks!!!

We'll be there 4-1 to 4-5

 

[2goofycampers]

Welcome to The Dis.

The one thing people do is over plan, over book and over think, relax, plan what you have to and go with the flow and have FUN.

 

[Tigger0624]

Welcome to The Dis.

The one thing people do is over plan, over book and over think, relax, plan what you have to and go with the flow and have FUN.

That is one thing I am guilty of :-/ Not only will it be our first trip to Fort Wilderness, but my parents are flying down and staying with is and it will be the first time ever that they are camping- they are more accustomed to hotels with room service etc... so I am really nervous about that as well

My DH just bought a golf cart today and is like a little kid waiting to use it at the campground We have heard that the campground is huge and you can only park at your campsite- so instead of rentong one- he went out and bought one...

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Smart man.........you should win WIFE OF THE YEAR for allowing him to buy one without the usual "But you dont really NEED that...its just another one of your toys that you wont ever play with!!"

What??? Am I the only one who had to beg, plead and rub feet for a golf cart???? Dagnabbit!!!!

 

[BradyBz12]

There's some good recent info in this thread about camping at FW with your pups...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2098269

Have a wonderful trip and welcome to the Dis Boards. It's the "funnest" place to be when you can't actually be AT the Fort.

 

[Tigger0624]

Smart man.........you should win WIFE OF THE YEAR for allowing him to buy one without the usual "But you dont really NEED that...its just another one of your toys that you wont ever play with!!"

What??? Am I the only one who had to beg, plead and rub feet for a golf cart???? Dagnabbit!!!!

He did his share of begging and pleading as well- Though I had to talk him out of the jacked up Limo Cart with neons and spinners and make him settle for a regular cart with the flip flop back seat and basic lift- he got me when he booked 4th of July weekend and showed me pics of the Golf Cart Parade at the campground then gave me the- "I dont want the kids to feel left out of hte parade cause we dont have a golf cart" speach... he knows the way to get me to cave to anything is to bring up the big D- aka Disney- and I'm a gonner

 

[DWFan4Life]

Welcome to DISboards. This is a great source of info and I'm sure you'll find answers to all of your questions, also be prepared to become addicted to DIS.

Have a nice and safe trip coming.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Um, are you tenting too? I read this and thought okay DW, DH, 4 kids, 2 dogs, AND mom and dad are flying in and staying with you? We have a 28ft TT that sleeps 8 and we'd be crowded with 8ppl and 2 dogs I think. LOL Is it a huge popup? NOT trying to offend you- just trying to get a visual of this and really not sure how big popups get. LOL

I've never stayed at FW (this will be our first time to stay there) but we've visited often when staying at other resorts.

DON'T miss the campfire singalong- try to see if you'll have an evening to do that? We used to take hours (there and back by buses) just to go to that at FW. We love it. It must be like a best kept secret with the rest of the resort guests and those at FW must be bored with it by now or something- everytime we've gone even in the busiest times of the year (at WDW) and it's always practically just us there but we love it. LOL

We're trying HDDMR for the first time- have you done that? I've head such good things about it!

I don't know if this is a good tip or not- but considering you're a large family that will be there... I know with our family of 5 we're going to make sure we make time to make quite a few meals in our TT and save a ton of money!!!!

 

[des1954]

Welcome to the camping board!!

You are going to LOVE FtW.

Double check on the dogs though. I don't think they're allowed in tents or pop-ups. I could be wrong - rules do change. But, at one time you had to kennel your dogs if you were staying in a tent or pop-up.

Other than that - let each moment unfold for itself. Don't do too much planning. You live close enough to go for weekend trips through out the year - so try to use this trip for exploration. There's plenty to do at the Fort without killing yourselves doing the parks - and your kids won't be bored.

 

[clkelley]

I think you have to kennel your dogs when you are AWAY from the camper in a popup or hybrid. You can keep them there with you when you are at the camper.

WELCOME!!!

 

[eagles]

Smart man.........you should win WIFE OF THE YEAR for allowing him to buy one without the usual "But you dont really NEED that...its just another one of your toys that you wont ever play with!!"

What??? Am I the only one who had to beg, plead and rub feet for a golf cart???? Dagnabbit!!!!

this is what i have to do to get anything! either that or i just buy it and then hide it for a few months, til we get to discusing it again, then i blurt it out.

 

[Tigger0624]

Um, are you tenting too? I read this and thought okay DW, DH, 4 kids, 2 dogs, AND mom and dad are flying in and staying with you? We have a 28ft TT that sleeps 8 and we'd be crowded with 8ppl and 2 dogs I think. LOL Is it a huge popup? NOT trying to offend you- just trying to get a visual of this and really not sure how big popups get. LOL

It is one of the larger pop ups that I have seen- unfolded it is about 25 ft long with a slide out dinette area. Sleeps 7 adults comfortably. We are brining along a tent and the air beds just in case though.

When we went camping over Pres Weekend in Ft Myers- it was the 6 of us and the dogs- we didnt even need to flod down the table or slide the "couch" out I put my 3 older DS in one king bed, and my youngest was with DH and I in the other king bed- the dogs crate slid right in where the table sits... it was a funny site, but it worked...

I'm figuring this trip DH, my youngest and I will get the one bed, my parents will take the other with my 5yo, and the older boys can share the dinette bed... knowing my mom and her obsessiveness for everything to be spotless and clean- the dogs will probably end up getting a vacation away from the kids and spend the week at the kennel- I just called today and its only 18 per dog per day for them to stay overnight- so its a pretty good deal compared to all the other kennels around here. They also said I could take the dogs out dring hte day to play with them when we are around the campsite- so that will probbly be the route we go with the dogs...

 

[keylime359]

Not to hijack, but where did you camp in Ft.Myers? Did you like it? We live there and would love feedback on places we could go for the weekend! PM me if you want! Thanks!

 

[Tigger0624]

Not to hijack, but where did you camp in Ft.Myers? Did you like it? We live there and would love feedback on places we could go for the weekend! PM me if you want! Thanks!

We camped at the Fort Myers Beach RV resort- and we only did that because it was the only spot in all of southern FL available that weekend- it depends on what style of camping you like if its for you or not. Personally- I dont like being able to hear my neigbors snoring all night long or tripping over their grill/picnic table when i walk out my camper door . It seemed to be mostly a Snow Bird resort and there were only 4 other children in the entire resort. We normally camp at State Parks- usually in the more wooded areas etc. Sites similiar to what I have heard about FW actually. If that is what you like- this place would not be for you LOL... We were really only there to sleep anyway...

During the day we did some sightseeing- one day we went to Sanibel, another Dog Beach by Lovers Key State Park- which is awesome if you have dogs that love the water and beach- its the only off leash beach I've seen down here- and we went to Lovers key State Park- the kids had a blast at all 3 but I'd have to say their fav was when we took the pups to Dog Beach... Sanibel was really fun too- I loved searching for all the different shells

Hope that helped a little...

 

[Tiggntaz]

Smart man.........

What??? Am I the only one who had to beg, plead and rub feet for a golf cart???? Dagnabbit!!!!

I have been rubbing feet for 11 years and begging for 2. I not only got her season passes this year but I also Moved her to FL from NJ!!!!!!

 

[kaguilbeau]

I have been rubbing feet for 11 years and begging for 2. I not only got her season passes this year but I also Moved her to FL from NJ!!!!!!

That's a man! bet she was excited about moving to FL

 

[Tigger0624]

I have been rubbing feet for 11 years and begging for 2. I not only got her season passes this year but I also Moved her to FL from NJ!!!!!!

OK Silly if thats how its gonna be...

dont mention the 2 huge HDTV's monsterous grill, 3 Xbox 360s and all the other "toys" that you get ... geeze.. the latest on hte begging list is an outdoor movie screen and projector for "while we are camping at the Fort"

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Hey...he rescued you from JERSEY...he deserves an outdoor screen!!!

 

[Tigger0624]

He's getting it- he just has to wait until next years tax return- he spent this one on the golf cart, lift kit, tires, rims, lights, battery to run the lights, custom paint job, custom windshield......... oh and the ramps to get the dang thing up in the truck!

Never believe him when he claims to be deprived or cheated out of anything!!! He is more spoiled than my kids are- heck, he's more spoiled than my DOGS are- and thats saying something