Newbie camping...

[dormouse72]

We are planning a trip to the Fort next February (2/13 - 2/20/2013). We are a large-ish travel group (8) and most of us are NOT campers. We are 5 adults (2 couples - sister and BIL/me and BF - with an extra adult called Dear Friend David thrown in; he is my BF's best friend since Middle School) and 3 kids (the ones in my signature below).

My sister (who is a camper and lives in FL) found a travel trailer rental with complete set-up and golf cart deal which fits our budget. It's a 2006 Hornet by Keystone 31BHS which the company says sleeps 10. Some things I've read (mostly ads) say it sleeps 8; others say it sleeps 10. I really like the 4 bunk beds for the kids. The kitchen area looks very nice. The bathroom looks small but the Fort has facilities. We've all travelled together before (to Disney in October 2009 - stayed in two rooms at POR Riverside) and not only were still speaking to each other at the end of 8 days but also want to do it again.

Here are my questions:

1) Everything I read about the trailer says "sofa sleeper" but not what size it is (Queen? Full?). I can't find any pics with the sofa bed pulled out, etc. If there are two in the Queen, 4 in the bunks, and 2 on the sofa...where do people #9 and #10 sleep? Does the dinette convert into a bed? If so, how long is it? BF is 6'. Dear Friend David is 6'1 and not of "slight and slender build". My BIL is maybe 5'9 - 5'10. My sister has a tent we can bring with us but we figured it would be more of an option for the girls if they wanted more "privacy" - particularly DD#1.

2) I also don't see any pics of the trailer with stuff in it. Like luggage. I spent a week at Disney 12 years ago in a Class A motorhome with 6 people (3 adults and 3 kids under 5) and I remember clothes and suitcases everywhere. Even if everyone brought 1 airline approved carry-on sized suitcase and 1 small handheld bag each...that's still a lot of stuff. And that's before we go shopping. We can keep one car at the site (probably my sister's since she's definitely driving up from Miami) so we can keep some things in the car I guess but...how much storage space for clothes, etc is there in a trailer this size? Any tips to handle the chaos better?

3) Which site would this camper fit on? - "Premium" or "Preferred"? My sister booked a "premium" site with the mindset that a camper which sleeps 10 isn't small. The company says this model has "extra-headroom" but it's not going to compare with the large Class A's in terms of size. Looking at the map on-line, I'll admit I'm already drooling over loops 100 - 300, which are "preferred" rather than "premium" according to other WDW planning websites. Can we use either size or should we stick with "premium"? And if we do want to use the tent, are we still able to set it up on a "premium" site or is it harder with so much concrete - other sites are saying it could be an issue?

4) Golf Cart Rules? Dear Friend David has some mobility issues and after walking through the parks all day, I'd love for him to be able to have an easier time getting back to the camper to relax. The trailer rental comes with a golf cart but I'm assuming you can't just toodle on down to the marina and park your golf cart while you spend a day at the parks. Are there "parking rules"? And how old do you have to be to drive one? Do you need to already have a license? I'm anticipating "Mom can I drive it?" from people who don't have their license yet...

Any tips or advice you can provide on these or other questions I don't know enough to ask yet are greatly appreciated.

 

[amylevan]

See answers below in red...

Here are my questions:

1) Everything I read about the trailer says "sofa sleeper" but not what size it is (Queen? Full?). I can't find any pics with the sofa bed pulled out, etc. If there are two in the Queen, 4 in the bunks, and 2 on the sofa...where do people #9 and #10 sleep? Does the dinette convert into a bed? Not familar with this particular floorplan, but a lot of campers have a dinette that converts. If so, how long is it? Tight.BF is 6'. Dear Friend David is 6'1 and not of "slight and slender build". My BIL is maybe 5'9 - 5'10. My sister has a tent we can bring with us but we figured it would be more of an option for the girls if they wanted more "privacy" - particularly DD#1.We had a fifth wheel that "slept 8". No way would I have wanted more than 4 in there. Cramped, tight and when the sofa bed was pulled out, you could not maneuver.

2) I also don't see any pics of the trailer with stuff in it. Like luggage. I spent a week at Disney 12 years ago in a Class A motorhome with 6 people (3 adults and 3 kids under 5) and I remember clothes and suitcases everywhere. Even if everyone brought 1 airline approved carry-on sized suitcase and 1 small handheld bag each...that's still a lot of stuff. And that's before we go shopping. We can keep one car at the site (probably my sister's since she's definitely driving up from Miami) so we can keep some things in the car I guess but...how much storage space for clothes, etc is there in a trailer this size? As I said above, in my mind, not enough for your party (especially considering 5 are adults....you are going to be tripping over stuff everywhere. Any tips to handle the chaos better?Make some of your party stay in the tent.

3) Which site would this camper fit on? - "Premium" or "Preferred"? You will fit on preferred sites (even full hook up sites.) My sister booked a "premium" site with the mindset that a camper which sleeps 10 isn't small. The company says this model has "extra-headroom" but it's not going to compare with the large Class A's in terms of size. No, not even close to a Class A or even my 38' fifth wheel. (The 31 in 31bhs is 31' long.) Looking at the map on-line, I'll admit I'm already drooling over loops 100 - 300, which are "preferred" rather than "premium" according to other WDW planning websites. Can we use either size or should we stick with "premium"? Yes, you can, but know that we love the 400 loop (premium) and its just across the street from 100...no real difference.And if we do want to use the tent, are we still able to set it up on a "premium" site or is it harder with so much concrete - other sites are saying it could be an issue?Yes, it could be an issue, you might be better not in a premium with a tent.

4) Golf Cart Rules? Dear Friend David has some mobility issues and after walking through the parks all day, I'd love for him to be able to have an easier time getting back to the camper to relax. The trailer rental comes with a golf cart but I'm assuming you can't just toodle on down to the marina and park your golf cart while you spend a day at the parks. Actually there are golf cart parking spaces at the marina and the outpost (where the other park busses are. Are there "parking rules"? And how old do you have to be to drive one? Not sure. I feel like I saw 16 somewhere, but I could be completely making that up.Do you need to already have a license? I'm anticipating "Mom can I drive it?" from people who don't have their license yet...

Any tips or advice you can provide on these or other questions I don't know enough to ask yet are greatly appreciated.

I really think your party is going to be tight in the camper. Usually when campers say sleeps 8-10, I think they mean 2 adults and 6-8 kids. They aren't big inside. My brother and I crashed my parents fifth wheel at FW a number of years ago, and we were tight. And they own a big fancy thing. There was stuff everywhere - made my Type A personality cringe. Your tall male traveling partners are also going to be uncomfortable. They usually aren't full size beds.

 

[nmb1dsnefan]

Congrats on your upcoming trip! The sleeper sofa can sleep two and is what I would call a small full. The dinette does fold down into a bed and can sleep two small ppl. Unfortunately all the beds are very short. My DH is 6'2 on his feet hang off every bed in our camper and we have a king in our MB! There should be some storage in the BH as well as in the MB for clothes. There are some cupboards above the couch that you can use for clothes. Also below the camper in the front there is a large storage compartment that you can throw some suitcases into. You could always set up the tent and use it strictly for storage purposes. As for the rest of your questions, I don't have any answers for you. Sorry, but Bahama Ed is a great resource! He can fill in the blanks I'm sure. Good luck, and I hope you have a great time!

 

[bigredbill]

Not seeing a floor-plan, I am guessing that this trailer is similar to mine. There are four bunks in the back that usually accommodate kids, but adults could sleep on the bottom beds -- just a little short. The dinette will make into a bed. My guess is they state two could sleep there -- which is possible. The sofa sleeper will be short -- probably for a child or short adult. Most likely there is also a queen bed in the "master" bedroom.

We have had as many as nine in our trailer (4 adults and 5 kids) -- that is pretty cramped though. I am sure you will be fine - it will be tight. You probably won't be spending a large amount of time in the trailer. Where you may have struggles will be with luggage and storage. These trailers are fairly intimate -- you will probably want to use the comfort stations often.

 

[bama_ed]

... but Bahama Ed is a great resource! He can fill in the blanks I'm sure.

Uh thanks nmb1dsnefan, I'll try to help. BTW it's Bama (as in the great state of Alabama) Ed. But I promise you, if I win the lottery today I will come back tomorrow to the DIS as Bahama Ed.

I agree with amylevan's reply that 8 people in a 31 ft trailer will be tight quarters (especially if everyone has at least one bag/suitcase). I would go with your suggestion of putting as many of the kids as you can in a tent on your site. February has sunny cool pleasant days but nights can still be chilly (40/50s). I would suggest electric blankets for whomever was in the tent. That will give adults more elbow room inside the trailer.

As for the site, any of the trailer sites will accomodate a 31' trailer, a tent, and a car. You've got a Premium site which accomodate a 45' motorhome plus a towed vehicle plus room to spare. You would fit fine on a Preferred (loops 100-300) which have a great location close to the beach/boats, etc and are cheaper than a Premiums (Fulls are cheaper still but in a nice quiet side of the Fort loops 1600-1900). In the Preferred, Loop 300 is the designated pet loop and 100/200 are overflow pet loops if needed.

If you stick with a Premium and do the tent, if it's a stake-down type tent it will need to be set up off to the side which may not always be big enough, smooth enough, and/or level enough. The Preferred and Full sites have a sand pad (actually coquina which is finely crushed seashell-like material) which is level and easier to stake into. If you want to stay with the Premium, request 400 loop as amy said.

One thing about tent camping in the Preferred loops is it can be noisy but this can work to your advantage. Every time a boat comes in to the Fort dock it blows its horn. Every time a boat leaves the Fort dock it toots its horn twice while backing up. You can hear the steam whistle of the train as it circles the Magic Kingdom on the Space Mountain side. The nightly Water Electric Parade music is loud (it blasted me out of my new found sleep once). The thump of the Magic Kingdom fireworks can be heard at night too. But I kinda like the noises and you can build it to be a positive. Besides the sights of the Fort and WDW, those are also the sounds. It's a wonderful sensory menagerie.

Golf cart rules are pretty much basic common sense. Licensed drivers only 16 and older. Everyone must be seated ("butts in seats") and not standing on the edge hanging on to a moving cart. Most carts are designed for 4 but you might squeeze five as long as you have butts in seats. Drive responsibly. Carts travel on the road but should pull over to allow bigger traffic (cars, busses) to pass if necessary. There are cart parking spaces at most destination points in the Fort (pool, trading post, comfort station, bus outposts, marina).

Depending on how many days in the parks you plan, you might want to spend a day relaxing at the Fort. Your younger two kids might want to participate in the afternoon kids activities (organized sports by Cast Members like a game of volleyball, tie-dye shirt making, a hula hoop contest, etc). They're fun and most don't cost anything (tye-dye does for a blank white shirt). Most activities are around the Meadow Pool area. Schedules are posted at the Comfort Stations in the announcement window case and you also get a copy when you check in. You can also rent fishing poles and get bait to fish (or just use a chunk of a hot dog or bread), rent a kayak or a canoe (there is a nice 30-minute loop possible in the canals through the Fort) which is inexpensive, plus the campfire singalong with Chip & Dale followed by a movie nightly (campfires for roasting marshmellows are lit). I admit I'm just big ol' kid at the Fort.

I've blathered on long enough. I'll stop now.

Bama ED

PS - Since you are a newbie to camping I will give you the wagon treatment.

 

[nmb1dsnefan]

Lol. Sorry about that Ed. I saw it and was going to fix it and thought eh, he knows what I mean. But now I'm gonna hold ya to the lottery thing!!! Lol

 

[dormouse72]

I really appreciate all the advice. Not really what I wanted to hear but certainly what I need to know in order to make sure we are all as comfortable as possible.

DD#1 will be mad about the golf cart as she doesn't have her license yet (she needs a steady job to pay for my insurance increase before she can get that!!) but I'm relieved. I really liked the suggestions of using the tent for storage and the electric blankets if we have to use it as sleeping space. Any other ideas to warm it up? I've read about fans or even portable a/c units for summer camping. Anything similar for a Florida winter?

How easy is it to request a loop? We're debating switching to a preferred while we can. The idea of train whistles, boat horns, electric parade, etc doesn't bother me - we're from NYC so the noise will make it seem more like home!!

I am also a bit of a Type-A personality and looked on-line for floorplans for this camper model. According to the manufacturer, the stationary beds (meaning the Queen and the bunk beds) are 74" long so even DD#2 (who is already 5'8 at 13) should be comfortable. Dear Friend David has to have the Queen. Not just because he is a big guy all around, but as the only single adult I think he'll be more comfortable with a bit more privacy. Math is not my strong point but if 6 ft = 72" and the bed is 74", he should just fit at 6'1. That just leaves my sister, BIL, BF and me.

Of course the manufacturer's site gave me no specs as to the size of the sofa bed or dinette. Any ideas where I could find out? My sister is going to call the camper people and ask them but if they are marketing it as "sleeping 10" I'm wondering if it will be accurate. Does anyone have something similar to this that they could measure for me (dinette as bed and sofa bed pulled out) so I know how short is "short"? And how much room is left to walk around when the sofa bed is pulled out?

 

[retired and happy]

Sofabed size will depend a lot on whether it is a jackknife or fold out sofabed with a full mattress. It will also depend on whether it is a sofa or loveseat.

 

[KristinU]

I did a Google search on the modeland year - a good way to see pics is to look for dealer listings on used models. Here's a good set of pics: http://www.camperkingdom.com/2012/02/2006-keystone-hornet-31bhs-l0442-12995/

Ken's point about the sofa - looks like from the pics that it is a pullout.

But still, I think with 8 all week you're going to be tight and end up irritated. No privacy sleeping for any of the adults. You probably are also going to want to horizontal surfaces avalable for your park paraphrenalia (maps, water bottles, wallets/bags, etc) I'd probably look into renting two trailers or snagging a tent. I know I'd rather tent it than to share sleeping space with so many people. No offense whatsoever, just thinking of a recent experience sleeping over at some friends' log home with open ceilings and being able to hear everything between the bedrooms - not to be TMI or anything, but you know, sometimes one might need to pass gass or something (especially after indulging in rich vacation foods.)

 

[5stljayhawks]

We spent two weeks in a 25' with six people - 3A 3K. Well actull there was five in the camper, I slept in the family tent. Prefferred site loop 300.

In the tent, I had just about every everything else with me. Clothes, food, cot to sleep on, TV..........

I take the total number of sleeping on the camper with a grain of salt. setting up and taking down the table and sofa each morning and night is a PIA.