Newbie Here-Need help with RV camping questions

[Mommyto2Mousers]

Hi there! This will be our first time taking an RV and camping at Disney. We are all soo excited! We have a 40' rv and have a preferred camping spot. We will be arriving dec. 16th-22nd. Question: What is the difference between preferred and premium spots? Is there anything you would recommend to us that we need to bring, RV related? We are not RV savvy, so any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[Elliott]

Preferred vs. premium is minimal to the untrained eye - basically location (premium being closer to the marina) and size of cement pad (premium being a few feet wider than preferred, although the size of the preferred pad was the norm for decades). For awhile the premiums also had newer grills and picnic tables, although they may have updated the preferreds by now as well.
As to what to bring that is rv related that depends on what you are going to do...you could need nothing but a blanket and pillow all the way to every item you would have in a normal home. Someone on here has some lists for you but everyone will tell you to do a couple of "shake-down" trips - a trip close to home or even in your drive way where you live in the rv like you would at a campground, writing down everything you come across that you need, then making a trip (or several) to walmart for those supplies. You could do that at the Fort but no one wants to spend their Disney vacation going back and forth to walmart.

 

[retired and happy]

I don't know how familiar you may be driving the RV, But at 40 foot, you might like to try backing into a campground parking space a few times in a large parking lot. Preferred spots can get a little tight for a large RV. Set up some cones, expendable family members, or whatever the size of the preferred concrete and practice backing in preserving as many members as you can.

On a more serious note, you need to decide if you will cook and/or eat out and prepare for whichever you need. Cooking and eating materials, food, money, etc. Establish where everyone will sleep. Do you need an outdoor tent or canopy? Will you tow a vehicle? Site decorations? More to come, but prepare to enjoy the experience and don't OVERPLAN. Leave some leisure time in the schedule.

 

[luckycharm19335]

Is it your RV?

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Preferred vs. premium is minimal to the untrained eye - basically location (premium being closer to the marina) and size of cement pad (premium being a few feet wider than preferred, although the size of the preferred pad was the norm for decades). For awhile the premiums also had newer grills and picnic tables, although they may have updated the preferreds by now as well.

For the sake of accuracy, there is a bit of incorrect info here.

1. There are only three preferred loops. These are 100, 200 and 300. The 100 and 200 loops are closer to the marina than any of the loops in the Fort. And the 300 loop is closer to the marina than most of the premium loops, too. So, it is not correct that the premium loops are closer to the marina.

2. The concrete pad on the premium loops is more than just a few feet wider than the preferred pads. They are also completely paved and have no sand pad. In most cases the cement pad on a premium site is at least double to size of the concrete pad on a preferred site.

3. The premium sites have square picnic tables and new grills with lids and a shelf. There have been no upgrades to the picnic tables or grills on any of the other sites, and there have been no announcements regarding any intention to make any other upgrades.

Hopefully, these photos will help:

This is a preferred site on the 300 loop:

This is a premium site on the 800 loop (notice all the concrete, and the picnic table and grill):

With a 40' RV, you might want to think about moving up to a premium site.

TCD

 

[luckycharm19335]

I was asking if it was your RV because I have this rule of thumb. If I love it at home, and can't live w/o it. I buy a 2nd then I don't have to carry back and forth from home to RV.
I keep the 3in1 laundry sheets stocked in the RV, that way you don't have to carry detergent and softener.
And, I would never leave home w/o my crockpot and liners. Virtually no clean up.
There are so many tips. I could go on forever.

 

[LONE-STAR]

I bought the same sheets for my camper that we sleep on at home. Feels more like home that way.

 

[luckycharm19335]

I have Mickey Mouse sheets in the RV.

 

[hotdogmj71]

If I were towing a 40' to FW, I would definitely practice backing in. Some spots in the loops are set up in the curve & will try your patience.

We never leave home without plenty of bottled water. You never know what is coming out of those pipes.

 

[retired and happy]

Is it a MH or 5er? Do they make a 40 foot TT?

 

[Jack Rabbit Run]

We generally like to get to the Fort about 10:00 am. Before the check-in rush gets there. That way I can take my time parking without the pressure of having people wait for me to get out of the way.

 

[LONE-STAR]

We generally like to get to the Fort about 10:00 am. Before the check-in rush gets there. That way I can take my time parking without the pressure of having people wait for me to get out of the way.

You can also pull in at 12:00 am. No line then. But the campers next to you give you some funny looks in the morning.

 

[Mommyto2Mousers]

Thank you so much for all of the advice. My parents will be driving the RV down and my family will meet them there in truck. We have Christmas decorations ready to go!!! If we do upgrade to a premium site, Is there still room to put all the decorations? We have about 6 blowups, are there places to stake them down? Also since we have so many decorations, we are going to bring plenty of power strips with us..is there anything else you all would suggest to bring regarding the decorations?