Newcomer with many questions!

[rm0530]

Hello! I booked our trip to the Fort this past Tuesday. We'll be there June 30-July 4. I've been reading all your wonderful posts ever since I booked. Your excitement, pictures, and love for the Fort has spread to me. I'm trying to convince hubby we need to go ahead and book an October stay as well!

Background:
This will be my second trip to the Fort. I went in 2000 with my parents and their RV. I don't remember many details about the Fort other than waiting for resort buses and the peacocks. I know we didn't do any activities around the Fort. My mom made dining reservations each day for lunch and dinner and we were asleep as soon as we made it back to the RV.

We will be spending two days at Universal and one day at Magic Kingdom. We spent a full week at WDW with hoppers last summer and it's been about 4 years since we've visited Universal. We chose Magic Kingdom as our only Disney park because it's the most magical to us

My hubby and I both went camping with our families while growing up but have yet to do so together. We are planning to camp close to home 2-3 times for practice before heading down to the Fort. We will be tent camping with hubby's sister and her boyfriend.

A lot of questions:
How many vehicles are allowed at each site? Can we drive two cars and park them both at the camp site?

To arrive at MK for rope drop, what time do we need to be at the marina to catch the boat?

We will be hitting MK on July 2. With the holiday weekend, should we be concerned about the park reaching capacity? We want to take the boat back over to the Fort for meals but do not want to be locked out of the park when we come back.

We will be using EMH at MK. The park is open till 2am. Will the boat still be running to take us back?

We do not have room for bikes and budget concerns will not allow for a golf cart. Is there car parking around the Fort's amenities or will we need to rely on the buses?

Can anyone share a good route to Universal from the Fort?

We are going to head down to the beach our first night for the water parade and Wishes. What else around the Fort do you recommend we not miss?

Any good recipes to share for low maintenance cooking while tent camping? We are still very new at all of this and do not want to stress about food while on vacation.

For future reference: When driving to the parks, does having a resort ID waive the parking fee?

We are driving down I-75 S. Found these directions on another thread:

I assume you will come down I-75 to the Florida Turnpike. From the Turnpike take exit 267A onto hiway 429 south. Continue on 429 to exit 8 (Western Way) until it dead ends at W Buena Vista Dr. Turn left and follow WBV to World Drive and turn left. Continue past the EPCOT exit. At the gate get in the right lane (not the most right...reserved for busses), tell the CM you are going to Ft Wilderness, and they will direct you toward the purple line on the road which will take you a short block to a right turn onto Vista Blvd which leads to the Fort entrance on the left. You have avoided all the Orlando and I-4 traffic.

I needed some clarification on At the gate get in the right lane (not the most right...reserved for buses), tell the CM you are going to Ft Wilderness, and they will direct you... Is this the gate where you pay for MK parking? If so, telling them we are headed to the Fort means not having to pay?

I'm so sorry for so many questions. I hope all you wonderful people can help me. I am definitely the planner of the group!

 

[BradyBz12]

First off....



I'll try and answer a few of your questions...

How many vehicles are allowed at each site? Can we drive two cars and park them both at the camp site?

One vehicle per site. You can park the 2nd in overflow out by the front Outpost area. Just be sure when you check in that you get parking passes for both vehicles.

We will be hitting MK on July 2. With the holiday weekend, should we be concerned about the park reaching capacity?

Unfortunately - yes. July 4th is one of the busiest times of the year at WDW. Staying on site helps, but probably good to know the phases of park closure, just in case...

The turnstile master computer at each park keeps track of both entries and exits. When a park capacity closes (which is done in stages) there has to be a certain number of people exiting, with the total "in park" below a certain number, before they start allowing people in again.

I am low enough on the totem pole that I have no idea what these numbers are.

There are four stages to park closing:

Stage 1 - The parking lot entrance is closed. You can only access the park if you are using Disney Transportation.

Stage 2 - The ticket windows are all closed (and the automated Ticket Vending Machines are turned off). Unless you already have a ticket you cannot get in.

Stage 3 - Only people with Annual Passes or current Resort IDs will be allowed in.

Stage 4 - Nobody is allowed in.

Note - having restaurant reservations in a park, even with written proof, will not override a stage closing for you.

Also, if you are staying at a Disney owned and operated Resort and have a ticket, you are guaranteed entry into A park. Not necessarily the one you want (unless you want to go into AK). And if you have entered and left a park and do not have a hopper you may not get into anything.

Is there car parking around the Fort's amenities or will we need to rely on the buses?

There is only 15 minute temporary parking at the Meadows Trading Post. Other than that you'll need to rely on the buses.

For future reference: When driving to the parks, does having a resort ID waive the parking fee?

Just make sure to have your resort parking pass in the car and you'll be all set.

Have a great trip!

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Dude/Dudette,,,
first,,step back, take a deep breath, calm down,,and no more coffee for you.

First of all,, WELCOME !!

Second,, if you wanna know bout try'n to fish, I'll try an help.
Otherwise the fine folk of these boards will be along shortly to help.

I know your excited,,congrats on your up coming trips.

 

[kampfirekim]

Hello! I booked our trip to the Fort this past Tuesday. We'll be there June 30-July 4. I've been reading all your wonderful posts ever since I booked. Your excitement, pictures, and love for the Fort has spread to me. I'm trying to convince hubby we need to go ahead and book an October stay as well!


We will be spending two days at Universal and one day at Magic Kingdom. We spent a full week at WDW with hoppers last summer and it's been about 4 years since we've visited Universal. We chose Magic Kingdom as our only Disney park because it's the most magical to us

A lot of questions:
How many vehicles are allowed at each site? Can we drive two cars and park them both at the camp site?

To arrive at MK for rope drop, what time do we need to be at the marina to catch the boat?

We will be hitting MK on July 2. With the holiday weekend, should we be concerned about the park reaching capacity? We want to take the boat back over to the Fort for meals but do not want to be locked out of the park when we come back.

We will be using EMH at MK. The park is open till 2am. Will the boat still be running to take us back?

We do not have room for bikes and budget concerns will not allow for a golf cart. Is there car parking around the Fort's amenities or will we need to rely on the buses?

Can anyone share a good route to Universal from the Fort?

We are going to head down to the beach our first night for the water parade and Wishes. What else around the Fort do you recommend we not miss?

Any good recipes to share for low maintenance cooking while tent camping? We are still very new at all of this and do not want to stress about food while on vacation.

For future reference: When driving to the parks, does having a resort ID waive the parking fee?

We are driving down I-75 S. Found these directions on another thread:

I assume you will come down I-75 to the Florida Turnpike. From the Turnpike take exit 267A onto hiway 429 south. Continue on 429 to exit 8 (Western Way) until it dead ends at W Buena Vista Dr. Turn left and follow WBV to World Drive and turn left. Continue past the EPCOT exit. At the gate get in the right lane (not the most right...reserved for busses), tell the CM you are going to Ft Wilderness, and they will direct you toward the purple line on the road which will take you a short block to a right turn onto Vista Blvd which leads to the Fort entrance on the left. You have avoided all the Orlando and I-4 traffic.

I needed some clarification on At the gate get in the right lane (not the most right...reserved for buses), tell the CM you are going to Ft Wilderness, and they will direct you... Is this the gate where you pay for MK parking? If so, telling them we are headed to the Fort means not having to pay?

I'm so sorry for so many questions. I hope all you wonderful people can help me. I am definitely the planner of the group!

*One vehicle per site (We were called out even w/spec permission from a manager.)

* To be at MK for rope drop, I recommend being at the marina 1 hr in advance.

*MK on July 2: We've never had a prob getting into the parks even on July 4. We were there on the 4th last year and went in a couple of hours before the fireworks. Mind you it was shoulder to shoulder traffic in MK moving at a snail's pace, but we got in and had a blast! (Never had a prob on other trips either.)

*The boats run for 1 hour after park closing. As for the EMH, just ask one of the boat crew on your way in the a.m. to be absolutely sure. Now that I think of it, we did EMH at Epcot, took the monorail back to MK and then a boat back to the Fort. (We'll do anything not to have to fold up a stroller and carry a sleeping kid! Besides the m/r and boat ride was much nicer than packing onto a crowded bus!) If nothings changed, you have your answer.

*Sorry, no parking at the Fort, except for 15 min parking at the Meadows Trading Post...NOT the Settlement.

*Don't miss the campfire singalong w/Chip and Dale. You can roast marshmallows, make smores, get your pic w/the chipmunks and there is a nightly outdoor movie following. Great Fun! There are pony rides for the kids, a petting farm and you can go into the horse stalls to see the big horses as well as some Disney memorabelia. The Hoopdee doo Review is a great dinner show if you are so inclined. There are also canoes for rent and you can fish too. The list could keep going...so just explore and have fun! Anyway, they will give you a FW Gazette which will give you the info you need on activities. Glad to see you're not going to miss Wishes and the water parade from the beach. It's one of my favorite things to do!

*You are correct about being in the far right car line (not the one for buses). Let the CM know you're camping at the Fort and they will direct you. Have a terrific time.

*Sorry, I cn't help w/the turnpike and all of that. I'm usually managing the kids and not paying attention to DH's driving. Although I do know that we took the turnpike last year and yes we avoided the terrible Orlando fiasco.

No need to apologize for questions. It's the only way to find out what ya need to know. Just take a deep breath and allow yourself to feel the magic! Oh yeah and have a Zipadee do da trip!

Oh, and BTW, MK is our most magical park too...and yes book for October. I love to keep a reservation, gives me something to look forward to. You can always cancel, with plenty of notice of course, if you need to.

 

[clkelley]

[/I]
I needed some clarification on At the gate get in the right lane (not the most right...reserved for buses), tell the CM you are going to Ft Wilderness, and they will direct you... Is this the gate where you pay for MK parking? If so, telling them we are headed to the Fort means not having to pay?

I'm so sorry for so many questions. I hope all you wonderful people can help me. I am definitely the planner of the group!

Yes, this is the MK toll booth. It is about 12 lanes across, there are two lanes to the far right that are for Disney buses and CM traffic. You need to go through the open lane that is farthest to the right, because you will then make an immediate right hand turn onto Vista Way.

 

[rm0530]

Thanks for all the answers so far!

I just called and added another night so we can stay through the 4th. It'll be nice to have a relaxing day at the Fort before heading back home.

FYI, the online booking didn't list any sites (in any category) available for the night of the 4th. The CM I spoke with though had no trouble adding it on and the rate stayed the same as the other nights.

Does anyone have any information about special fireworks for that night? The MK calendar right now only has "SpectroMagic" Parade listed at 10:30pm.

 

[AuburnJen92]

Yes, there are special fireworks on the 4th. They wrap around MK and the lake. They are super cool. We watch them from the Fort because we are not into the crowds on the 4th at MK.

 

[kampfirekim]

True, they really ARE super cool! If you don't mind muscling your way through a ridiculous crowd, they are totally worth it! I have never seen anything so spectacular (with exception of the birth of my children, of course.) We watched from dead center of Main Street and when I looked around I realized the FW were also being fired from over the Train Station. Then at a dramatic point in the display, they went up from all over MK completely encircling us. Very awesome indeed. So you can imagine my surprise at a young couple in front of us not even paying attention! Afterward I realized, he had just proposed. How romantic! Since you're staying through the 4th, try not to miss it! You won't regret it!

 

[Magicbus]

Yes, this is the MK toll booth. It is about 12 lanes across, there are two lanes to the far right that are for Disney buses and CM traffic. You need to go through the open lane that is farthest to the right, because you will then make an immediate right hand turn onto Vista Way.

Slight corrections.
The CM lane does not exist any longer.
The first lane is for all buses.
Vista Way is Vista Blvd.

 

[BradyBz12]

Yes, there are special fireworks on the 4th. They wrap around MK and the lake. They are super cool. We watch them from the Fort because we are not into the crowds on the 4th at MK.

I saw a video online of this year's July 4th fireworks.... WOW!!!


IIRC they also do the same display July 3rd too.

 

[kampfirekim]

IIRC they also do the same display July 3rd too.

Yes indeed they do.

 

[lathamary]

I can give you some advice on cooking. I did this and it worked well...

I made a bunch of meals before we left home and froze them. I made things that I could put in a large freezer storage bag (chili, sloppy joes, bbq pulled pork, lasagna cut into pieces). In the morning, I would get one out of the cooler and put it into the crock pot on "warm". Nothing has to cook, as it's already cooked. It just has to thaw and warm and stay warm.

I'm assuming the tent sites have plug ins. You should just be able to set the crock pot on the picnic table. I left the crock pot on warm, so that the food wouldn't scorch, and we had a nice warm home cooked meal when we got back in the evening.

Have fun!!!

 

[retired and happy]

One thing I don't recall seeing above. You can keep one vehicle at your site. Others can be parked in the overflow lot near the entrance with the proper permit (obtained at check-in). There is no where to drive and park within FW except as mentioned, the 15 minutes parking at the Meadows Trading Post.

 

[rm0530]

I've appreciated all your help!

Question about requesting sites. Should I call FW directly or go back through the reservation number and tell them which sites I would like? I'd like 1500 loop. Right now I'm looking at 1501-05. We will have two 4-person tents.

Anyone with experience on these sites able to provide feedback?

 

[kampfirekim]

You'll need to call the reservation number. They will note which loop you want, but there are NO guarantees. Believe me, we've tried. The best luck we've had is parking the camper and going inside to register. They will work with you to get you into a loop you like if there is availability. (I have heard that you can call FW directly within a week of your trip, as that's when they get the ressies there and try to request a certain loop. I don't know if you can...it's just something I've heard.) Might try it this year ourselves. We keep the FW phone number in the cell in case the assigned site doesn't work. I just remembered you said you are tent camping so disregard that statement. That way we can call and get another site without having to go back to the Outpost, repark and go back inside. That gives me a headache just typing about it! (I just remembered you said you are tent camping so disregard that.) That's how we do it. If anyone has other suggestions, I'd like to hear them too.

Sorry, I don't have experience in the 1500 loop. I'm sure someone will come along who does.

 

[BradyBz12]

Tough to put in a site request during a super busy time, but it's worth a shot. We always have our request noted on our reservation, then fax the Fort directly about 4 days prior to arrival.

Best bet is to give them what you need in a site vs specific #s - i.e., close to comfort station, need to fit XYZ, close to bus stop, etc. That gives them a lot more flexibility to find something that will work for you.

Good luck and have fun!