Not all Premium Sites are Big Rig Friendly

[mdoc]

I thought that the idea of the premium sites was that they'd be big rig friendly - plenty of room for the larger RVs to park and maneuver. I was mistaken. When we arrived at the Fort last Saturday, we were assigned site 1428. Our 45 foot motorhome just fit. It covered the site from front to back, and there was no room at all for our car, not even on an angle. I called the front desk and they then tried to put us in Little Bear (the interior loop of 1400), but I told them it would be difficult for us to make it around the loop there. We were eventually relocated to a perfectly adequate site in the 400 loop which we liked a lot, but it became apparent that the premium sites are for Disney to make more money, not for Disney to accommodate the needs of larger rigs. When I made my reservation I was very clear on the size of our motorhome, and I called a week before we arrived to make sure they had all the size/slide/awning details, so I can't imagine why we were given the site we were. I think the sites in the 1700 loop are larger than many of the premium sites I saw. I'm now thinking about reserving a preferred site for our next trip - I no longer see the advantage of the premium sites.

 

[Shan-man]

I was wondering if this would be a problem in 1400, as the former sites seemed too small to be expanded sufficiently (especially in little bear). Sorry you had such trouble. I think Disney is going to have difficulty justifying the premium rate for these sites, personally. Do I smell a new level of site classification? Semi-Premium, Extra-Preferred? Ugh! LOL

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Obviously no one who has to park a trailer or motorhome had anything to do with the conversion of sites to "big rig" friendly. You can pave over the sand pads and put in new grills, but the location of the sites remains the same and, in many cases, were determined based on the size of rv's in the 70's. So a bigger paved area doesn't make it any easier to back into.

 

[dfchelbay]

I heard Hannah Montana and crew were recently at the Fort there with a bunch of tour bus sized RVs. Maybe those of us with larger Motorhomes should ask for the Hannah Montana sites when making reservations.

 

[tderonne]

**** cough **** new big rig area by the lake **** cough ****

 

[des1954]

Obviously no one who has to park a trailer or motorhome had anything to do with the conversion of sites to "big rig" friendly. You can pave over the sand pads and put in new grills, but the location of the sites remains the same and, in many cases, were determined based on the size of rv's in the 70's. So a bigger paved area doesn't make it any easier to back into.

Here, here, Jim!!

When I first heard about the loop improvements I thought....OH BOY!! They are going to wipe out all the sites & roads in the loops and start from scratch!!!

Then when I saw 800 conversion starting and realized they were paving the existing sites I thought....OH CRAP! Same roads, same sites, more concrete. We had a 45 ft mh and on some loops (300 & 500 in particular) it was difficult to drive through the loop without getting the sh$t scratched out of your paint job due to the roads being so narrow. Backing into some of those sites with a 45' or a 5'er? Dream on!!! It's no different for the big rigs just because they fully paved over the coquina shell. The roads are no wider and the actual sites are physically no larger.

When I saw what the "site improvement" were actually going to be, I was very disappointed. And come summer....all that concrete is going to get mighty hot and make those sites uncomfortable. Not to mention dangerous to those who like to go barefoot. YIKES!!!

 

[Tigger1966]

Good luck getting a Prefered site since there are only three loops now

 

[team bradfield]

Good luck getting a Prefered site since there are only three loops now

I believe there are 7 preferred loops. This is from allears.net

Loop 100 - Preferred
Loop 200 - Preferred
Loop 300 - Preferred (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 400 - Premium
Loop 500 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 600 - Premium
Loop 700 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 800 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 900 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1000 - Premium
Loop 1100 - Premium
Loop 1200 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1300 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1400 - Premium
Loop 1500 - Partial
Loop 1600 - Preferred (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1700 - Preferred
Loop 1800 - Preferred (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1900 - Preferred
Loop 2000 - Partial

 

[CampingBandit]

Now I'm worried. We're no experts when it comes to parking our monster. I'd say we're "intermediates". Even had to have help once, from a CG staffer. Our TT is 37 ft long, 2 slide outs. I booked a Premium/pet loop. Is there a particular loop I should request - and any we should avoid - and if when I arrive I've been given a "bad" loop, will they switch me before we try to park? And when can I request a loop, when I arrive, or before? I made my ressie last Oct....

 

[des1954]

Now I'm worried. We're no experts when it comes to parking our monster. I'd say we're "intermediates". Even had to have help once, from a CG staffer. Our TT is 37 ft long, 2 slide outs. I booked a Premium/pet loop. Is there a particular loop I should request - and any we should avoid - and if when I arrive I've been given a "bad" loop, will they switch me before we try to park? And when can I request a loop, when I arrive, or before? I made my ressie last Oct....

The 700, 1200 & 1300 are IMHO probably the easiest loops to back a 5'er or a big rig into if you have requested a premium, pet friendly site. If you would like a particular loop, fax your request to the front desk 5-7 days before you check in.

I know All-Ears is showing 1200 & 1300 as pet loops, but I'm not sure about that. Can anyone give us a definite confirmation on this?

 

[CampingBandit]

Thanks Debbie, I was eyballing 700 on the map, due to location....thanks for the advice!

I checked the website, it says they are fully booked, no sites available when we are scheduled to be there. WOW!

 

[OK GRUMPY]

I came to that conclusion when we were there. It looked like to me that they just paved the sand part and put in a new grill. Maybe they widen the pad?? But the length looked the same. Which lead me to believe that the Premium spot are still basicly the same lenght as before with more width.We stayed in the 1700 loop and our sight was really great. We had plenty of room to spread out.

 

[AuburnJen92]

Do I smell a new level of site classification? Semi-Premium, Extra-Preferred? Ugh! LOL

Ugh! Please don't suggest that, please please please please please....it makes my poor brain hurt....

 

[DisneyDadinOhio]

This is exactly why I requested loop 800, and not 1400. Just by looking at the loops on the map, I knew getting our 38' fiver into a site in the 1400 might be trouble. After seeing the now completed 600 and 700 loops, these would be very easy to back a big rig into (the "new" 600 sites). When we arrived last Saturday, and took my first trip around 800, I thought I might have some issues, but since the site was on a "turn", it was very easy to get into. I was thinking why the heck didn't they widen the roads as well..?? The back of 800 is very congested and crowded...! Need to get a camper working for the FORT..!!

 

[Tigger1966]

I believe there are 7 preferred loops. This is from allears.net

Loop 100 - Preferred
Loop 200 - Preferred
Loop 300 - Preferred (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 400 - Premium
Loop 500 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 600 - Premium
Loop 700 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 800 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 900 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1000 - Premium
Loop 1100 - Premium
Loop 1200 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1300 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1400 - Premium
Loop 1500 - Partial
Loop 1600 - Preferred (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1700 - Preferred
Loop 1800 - Preferred (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1900 - Preferred
Loop 2000 - Partial

They still list 1600 -1900 as full hook up. That is what we have booked for the end of May. We wanted 100 or 200 but no luck even 4 months before our trip.

 

[clkelley]

They still list 1600 -1900 as full hook up. That is what we have booked for the end of May. We wanted 100 or 200 but no luck even 4 months before our trip.

The list on All Ears is from the original news release on the upgrades. Since that time, it is highly likely that 1600 - 1900 will remain full hookup after all of the conversions are complete. (The Disney reservations system is showing full hookup available all the way through December 09.)

Also, 900, 1000, and 1100 have not been touched except for adding cable. Not sure if they are going to be upgraded, or left alone. If left alone, also not sure if they are going to be preferred or remain full hookup.

 

[mdoc]

Now I'm worried. We're no experts when it comes to parking our monster. I'd say we're "intermediates". Even had to have help once, from a CG staffer. Our TT is 37 ft long, 2 slide outs. I booked a Premium/pet loop. Is there a particular loop I should request - and any we should avoid - and if when I arrive I've been given a "bad" loop, will they switch me before we try to park? And when can I request a loop, when I arrive, or before? I made my ressie last Oct....

OP here. For what it's worth, we had absolutely no problem backing the 45' motorhome into the 1400 loop site - that was easy. The problem was that the site was not long enough to accommodate camper and car. Although the roads have not been widened at all (and that can be a problem, particularly when someone parks a car or golf cart hanging over a little), the wider aprons help. We were in the 400 loop in November, and again last week, and had zero problems getting in. I have seen a few sites where getting in could be a problem, though. As for the process, I called the front desk on my cell phone just as soon as DH backed into the site, because it was apparent there wasn't room for anything other than the camper (including the picnic table!). It took them 5 minutes to give me the Little Bear alternative, and another 5 minutes for me to wander around the loop and realize it was in Little Bear. It then took them another 5 minutes to rearrange things and offer us an acceptable site. I'd call them just as soon as you realize the site won't work for you. Also, it sounded to me like they'll send someone to help you get in - when I told them we wouldn't be able to get into Little Bear, they offered to send someone to help - guess they didn't realize it just wasn't mathematically possible to make that turn. . . .

 

[clkelley]

If there's not enough room front to back, just park your vehicle out in the overflow lot. No need to hang out into the road!! Even though I'll always have oodles of room front to back, as soon as I can my TV gets parked out front!!

 

[mdoc]

If there's not enough room front to back, just park your vehicle out in the overflow lot. No need to hang out into the road!! Even though I'll always have oodles of room front to back, as soon as I can my TV gets parked out front!!

That's an alternative, but not a very good one for those of us who drive to the parks. For the price one pays for a premium site (well over $100 last week), there should be room on the site for the car.